Dr. Kabir Duggal C.Arb
Partner
kduggal@akingump.com
Areas of Focus
- International Arbitration
- International Investment Disputes
- International Disputes
- Energy Disputes
- Construction Litigation
- Commercial Arbitration & International Commercial Disputes
- Mining
- Climate Change
- Oil & Gas
- Energy & Environment Policy
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Energy & Natural Resources Funds
- Environment & Natural Resources
- Projects & Energy Transition
- Refining, Petrochemicals & Processing
- Renewable Energy
- Renewable Fuels
- Renewables & Energy Transition
- Energy Transition
- Liquefied Natural Gas
- Upstream Oil & Gas
- Wind
- Conventional Energy
- Conventional Power
- Technology
- Claims, Disputes & Litigation
- Disputes & Investigations
- Administrative & Regulatory Litigation
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Political Law & Government Ethics
- Space Law & Policy
Biography
- A tri-qualified, trilingual lawyer who represents clients in both civil and common-law jurisdictions.
- Acts in investor-state arbitrations, treaty-based arbitrations and public international law matters.
- Sat as arbitrator in both domestic and international arbitrations on over 70 occasions.
- One of the leading academics of his generation.
- Global Elite Thought Leader: International Arbitration, Lexology Index (2024 - 2026).
Professor Duggal is a partner in Akin’s international arbitration practice based in New York. He has extensive experience as counsel in complex, high-stakes investor-state and international commercial arbitrations across regions and industries. His practice spans disputes arising under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties and sophisticated commercial contracts, involving states, state-owned entities and multinational corporations, in the energy, infrastructure, construction, mining and telecom, media and technology (TMT) sectors.
Alongside his work as counsel, Kabir has served as arbitrator in more than 70 disputes. He is a Chartered Arbitrator, a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) accredited mediator and is listed on, or appointed to, the rosters of leading arbitral institutions worldwide.
Kabir has taught international arbitration at Columbia Law School for over 15 years, where he serves as a Senior Fellow and Advisor to the Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration. He is also an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School, and has been a visiting professor to the University of São Paulo, Universidad de Los Andes, Universidad Externardo de Colombia and the National Law School of Jodhpur.
Kabir is a widely cited authority and keynote speaker on international arbitration and public international law. He has authored over seven books and 50 articles, with his work frequently cited by arbitral tribunals and national courts. He serves as an expert before arbitral tribunals and has spoken at over 500 conferences, symposia and professional events around the world.
Beyond his practice and scholarship, Kabir is deeply engaged in arbitration policy, institution-building and capacity development. He is appointed to the United Nations Steering Committee for Least Developed Countries and also works closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development program. He has advised and trained governments and institutions worldwide on treaty negotiation, dispute prevention, and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) strategy. His public international law experience includes work with the World Bank and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Representative Work
- Represented a South American State in an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) arbitration brought by a U.S. oil major concerning alleged expropriation of energy assets valued over $15 billion.
- Represented a North African state in a Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) administered United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) investment treaty arbitration brought by a state-owned flag carrier seeking $5 billion in damages arising from airspace closure and regulatory measures.
- Represented a Southeast Asian state in a PCA administered UNCITRAL arbitration brought by a listed Australian mining conglomerate involving an allegedly unlawful closure worth approximately $1 billion.
- Represented a U.S. based natural resources company in connection with a high-stakes, billion-dollar dispute arising from gold mining operations and related state measures in an Eastern European country.
- Represented a South Asian state in a multibillion dollar dispute against a Mauritian entity arising from the award, renewal and regulatory administration of telecommunications licenses, including the integrity of the licensing process and related governmental decision-making.
- Represented a private satellite/telecom operator in an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration against a state-owned enterprise in a billion dollar dispute.
- Represented a large multinational real estate company in an ICC arbitration against a private aviation company over high-value aircraft transactions.
LanguagesHindi
Urdu
Hindi
Urdu
Education
- SJ.D., Historical Assessment of the Fair and Equitable Treatment Standard, Harvard Law School, 2026
- Ph.D., Principles of Evidence in Investor-State Arbitration, Leiden Law School, 2019 as CEPANI Award Winner
- LL.M., International Legal Studies, NYU School of Law, as Hauser Global Scholar and a Transitional Justice Fellow, 2008
- BC.L., Master’s Degree in Law, University of Oxford, as Law Faculty Scholar, DHL-Times of India Scholar, Oxford-Cambridge Society of India Scholar, 2007
- Post Graduate Diploma, International Humanitarian Law, with Gold Medal, NALSAR, Hyderabad, 2006
- Post Graduate Diploma, Human Rights, with Gold Medal, Mumbai University, 2005
- LL.B., Government Law College, with Gold Medal, Mumbai University, 2004
- SJ.D., Historical Assessment of the Fair and Equitable Treatment Standard, Harvard Law School, 2026
- Ph.D., Principles of Evidence in Investor-State Arbitration, Leiden Law School, 2019 as CEPANI Award Winner
- LL.M., International Legal Studies, NYU School of Law, as Hauser Global Scholar and a Transitional Justice Fellow, 2008
- BC.L., Master’s Degree in Law, University of Oxford, as Law Faculty Scholar, DHL-Times of India Scholar, Oxford-Cambridge Society of India Scholar, 2007
- Post Graduate Diploma, International Humanitarian Law, with Gold Medal, NALSAR, Hyderabad, 2006
- Post Graduate Diploma, Human Rights, with Gold Medal, Mumbai University, 2005
- LL.B., Government Law College, with Gold Medal, Mumbai University, 2004
Bar AdmissionsBar Council of Maharashtra & Goa, India
Bar of England and Wales
District of Columbia
New York
Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa, India
Bar of England and Wales
District of Columbia
New York
Recognitions
- Lexology, Client Choice Award, New York, 2026.
- Lexology, Global Elite Thought Leader in International Arbitration, United States, 2024-2026.
- Chambers Global, Arbitration, 2025.
- Chambers USA, Arbitration, 2023-2025.
- The Legal 500, Arbitration, 2022.
- Lexology, Global Thought Leader in International Arbitration, 2021-2023.
- Lexology, Future Leader in International Arbitration, 2017-2020.
Affiliations and Public Service
- Lecturer-in-Law, Columbia Law School.
- Senior Fellow and Advisor, Center of International Commercial and Investment Arbitration.
- Adjunct Professor, Fordham Law School.
- Managing Editor, The American Review of International Arbitration.
- Council Member, American Arbitration Association.
- Executive Council Member, American Society of International Law.
- Executive Council Member, Institute for Transnational Arbitration.
- Council Member, ICC Institute of World Business Law.
- Co-Chair, AAA-ICDR Committee on Complex Arbitrations.
- Advisory Board, Investment and Commercial Arbitration Review.
- Editor, ICSID Review.
- Accredited Mediator, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.
- Chartered Arbitrator, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
- Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators.
Speeches and Publications
In excess of 500 speeches and 50 publications between 2015 and 2025.
2025 Speeches:
- Moderator, “International Arbitration and Rule of Law,” New York Arbitration Week (November 18, 2025).
- Moderator, “True or False: International investment law and arbitration are ill-equipped to address climate change related disputes,” 19th Annual Juris Investment Arbitration Conference (October 31, 2025).
- Moderator, “Evidence in Investment Arbitration,” University of Los Andes Certificate in Investment Arbitration (September 27, 2025).
- Moderator, “Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards,” University of Los Andes Certificate in Investment Arbitration (September 26, 2025).
- Moderator, “ISDS Reform: A Discussion with Government Representatives,” Columbia Arbitration Day 2 (January 31, 2025).
- Moderator, “All Roads Lead to Arbitration? A Discussion with Government Representatives,” Columbia Arbitration Day 1 (January 30, 2025).
- Speaker, “Atomic Arbitration: Working Smarter, Thriving Together,” London Arbitration Week (December 5, 2025).
- Speaker, “The New Trade Wars: Navigating Tariffs, Sanctions, and Arbitration Across Borders,” London Arbitration Week (December 5, 2025).
- Speaker, “Silence in Arbitration,” IX Oxford Arbitration Day (November 21, 2025).
- Speaker, “Reform to Arbitration Frameworks Across the Globe,” IX Oxford Arbitration Day (November 21, 2025).
- Speaker, “When East Meets West: Comparative Analysis of Arbitration in China and the U.S.,” New York Arbitration Week (November 18, 2025).
- Speaker, “Evidentiary Production in International Arbitration,” IV Arbitration Two World's Conference (November 14, 2025).
- Speaker, “Resolving Financial Disputes in the Digital Age: Arbitration in the Era of Fintech,” American Arbitration Association (October 15, 2025).
- Speaker, “The End of Investment Arbitration? Reforms and New Forms of Protection,” Colombia Arbitration Week (September 23, 2025).
- Speaker, “What Institutional Design for the Standing Investment Court and Appellate Mechanism,” Czech Ministry of Finance Conference on Investment Arbitration (September 18, 2025).
- Speaker, “Role of Soft Law in International Arbitration’s Evidence,” GEAArb Brazil (June 23, 2025).
- Speaker, “Navigating First Steps: Setting the Foundation for Success,” AAA/ICDR Asia Case Management Team (June 11, 2025).
- Speaker, “History of the Fair and Equitable Treatment: An Archival Examination,” Leicester Law School (June 11, 2025).
- Speaker, “ArbitralWomen Presents Accelerate Action with Arbitral Allies,” London International Dispute Week (June 4, 2025).
- Speaker, “Who is best placed to regulate (the use of) AI in international arbitrations?,” London International Dispute Week (June 4, 2025).
- Speaker, “Building Your ADR Profile,” AAA/ICDR’s Higginbotham Fellowship (May 9, 2025).
- Speaker, “Ancient & Traditional Approaches to Dispute Resolution: What Modern Practitioners Can Learn,” New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section (April 23, 2025).
- Speaker, “Cyber-Security in International Arbitration,” University of Navarra-IESE Program (April 7, 2025).
- Speaker, “Business, Human Rights and International Arbitration,” Georgetown University Law Center (March 15, 2025).
- Speaker, “Critical Evaluation of Investor-State Arbitration: Theorizing and Evaluating It,” Byse Lecture, Harvard Law School (March 6, 2025).
- Speaker, “Investor-State Arbitration,” Centre of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India (March 5, 2025).
- Speaker, “Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards,” Columbia Law School Practicum (March 4, 2025).
- Speaker, “Drafting an Effective Arbitration Clause,” Centre of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India (February 25, 2025).
- Speaker, “Investor-State Arbitration,” Speaker, “Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in International Arbitration,” Certificate Course in International Arbitration in Tbilisi, Georgia supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (January 18, 2025).
- Speaker, “Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in International Arbitration,” Certificate Course in International Arbitration in Tbilisi, Georgia supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (January 17, 2025).
2025 Publications:
- “U.S. Supreme Court Precedents on Arbitration: Shaping the American Arbitration Law and Practice,” Brill Publishing (2025).
- “First Options of Chicago, Inc v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938 (1995): To Delegate or Not to Delegate, Forty Years On,” in “U.S. Supreme Court Precedents on Arbitration: Shaping the American Arbitration Law and Practice” (Brill Publishing 2025).
- “Caveat Arbitrator!: Examining the Responsibility of Arbitrators to Probe Corruption: Lessons to be Learned from the P&ID Saga,” Journal of International Arbitration (Vol. 42(2) 2025).
- “The Modernization of International Investment Agreements in the Western Balkans: What Do the New Model BITs Tell Us?,” in International Investment Law and Dispute Resolution in the Western Balkans: Regional Prospects for a European Future.
- “Addressing Diversity in International Arbitration in Reforming Arbitration Reform,” in “Emerging Voices, New Strategies and Evolving Values” (Kluwer Arbitration 2025) (co-author).
- “2024 Year in Review: Human Rights and ISDS—Continued Convergence of Human Rights and the Environment,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog, January 30, 2025 (co-author).
