Dispute resolution boutique Keystone Partners was formed by a group of first-generation lawyers who specialise in commercial litigation, international arbitration, construction disputes and contentious regulatory matters. Each partner has a particular focus, allowing the team to cover a varied suite of disputes practice areas, and one partner is an Advocate on Record of the Supreme Court. The firm also routinely handles contentious energy, technology and trade sector matters. In the past year, its instructions grew in the technology, media and telecommunications law arenaand it boasts multiple panel appointments representing the state of Karnataka in the Central Sales Tax Appellate Authority at New Delhi, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Competition Commission of India. Keystone has offices in Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi. This year, the firm climbs up a notch in the construction, government and regulatory, and international arbitration rankings.
Senior partner Pradeep Nayak leads a seven-partner strong disputes group that includes notable names such as Sita Kapadia, Pritha Srikumar Iyer, Arun Sri Kumar, Sulabh Rewari, Anupama Hebbar and Vikas Mahendra.
One highlight is the firm acting for a global power conglomerate in arbitration proceedings against a contractor in relation to a solar power project in Tamil Nadu. In another matter, the construction experts are representing an Indian and Spanish joint venture company in a dispute arising out of the termination of an EPC contract for the construction of an LNG import, storage and regasification terminal in Maharashtra. The dispute involves complex issues of parties’ intent to construct such an integrated terminal, confidentiality obligations, claims for costs incurred by parent companies of a joint venture, and reference of technical disputes to a sole expert.
A domestic electricity regulator has enlisted the firm for several writ petitions filed by electricity distribution licensees in a major city aggrieved by matters relating to fixation of electricity retail tariff and recovery of costs incurred by the licensees. The petitioners have challenged the actions of the client, alleging that tariff fixation over time has not been cost-reflective, resulting in accumulation of a revenue gap. The matter is of immense public importance as the final outcome will influence the determination of retail electricity tariff in the affected city – which will affect consumers — and will have a significant impact on electricity tariff regulation in the country. The team is additionally representing one of India’s largest automobile manufacturers in proceedings seeking to challenge caps on the number of autorickshaws permitted to ply in Delhi.
“The lawyers give quick and clear advice. They are always available and able to break down the issues in a simple manner to give clarity on next steps.” – Energy
“They know the jurisdiction and the local courts well, and are very timely in their responses and updates.” – Intellectual property
“She is well versed in the subject and extremely attentive to our needs.”
“We appreciate her availability, ability to simplify the problem and that fact that she gives clear strategy.”