Neerja Gurnani is a commercial disputes solicitor specialising in High Court litigation, international commercial and investment treaty arbitration, advising multinational corporations, high-net-worth individuals and sovereign states on complex disputes.
Neerja is dual-qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and an advocate in India. She represents corporates, investors, insolvency office-holders and sovereign states in high-stakes commercial disputes. Her practice spans English High Court litigation, appellate disputes and international arbitration, including ICSID, ICC, LCIA, PCA and UNCITRAL proceedings, as well as award enforcement and cross-border investigations. She brings multi-jurisdictional insight to disputes in the financial services, energy, insurance and technology sectors.
Representative Experience
- Represented the Official Receiver as liquidator of a major UK oil refinery in opposing a c. $250 million proprietary claim involving complex insolvency, tracing and trust issues before the English High Court.
- Successfully defended former executives of an oil trading company in a $335 million Commercial Court fraud claim following a 13-week trial and related Swiss proceedings.
- Successfully defended Ukraine in a $100 million UNCITRAL investment-treaty arbitration concerning alleged expropriation, treaty interpretation, jurisdictional objections and quantum issues.
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- Achieved a successful settlement for the administrators of NMC Health in a $2.7 billion professional negligence claim against Ernst & Young arising from the collapse of the former FTSE 100 healthcare group.
- Represented the administrators of Carillion plc in a £1.3 billion professional negligence claim against KPMG arising from one of the UK's largest corporate insolvencies, culminating in a successful settlement.
- Acted for the administrators of Phones 4u in a £1 billion competition and breach of contract claim against major mobile network operators, including a 12-week High Court trial and related appellate proceedings.
- Represented a major Latvian bank in ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Latvia concerning alleged treaty breaches, expropriation and sanctions, including complex intra-EU jurisdictional issues following Achmea.
- Assisted in the successful cross-border enforcement of a $1.2 billion arbitral award against the Republic of India, addressing complex issues of sovereign immunity and international enforcement strategy.
- Represented trustees in a successful Part 8 Commercial Court claim concerning contractual interpretation and information rights relating to asset sales valued at approximately €500 million.
- Advised a leading Namibian financial services provider in multiple Court of Appeal proceedings involving claims exceeding $35 million, alongside parallel litigation before the Namibian courts.
- Represented a claimant shareholder in a $330 million ICC arbitration concerning warranty claims arising from a share purchase agreement and related allegations of misrepresentation and dishonest receipt.
- Advised a major UK energy supplier in a high-profile regulatory enforcement investigation involving potential financial exposure exceeding £200 million, including submissions on limitation, regulatory methodology, consumer redress and penalty assessment.
- Provided strategic advice to a British company on cross-border expropriation risks involving mining licences and alleged unlawful trade across the Middle East and Africa, coordinating with local counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
- Advised an Eastern European sovereign state on cross-border expropriation disputes with a neighbouring state, including diplomatic negotiations, state immunity issues and proceedings across multiple domestic and international forums.
- Acted for a film production company in an arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996 against its insurers concerning coverage for losses arising during the production of a major motion picture.
- Defended an aquaculture technology developer in a $50 million ICC arbitration involving joint venture disputes, including claims for misrepresentation and breach of confidentiality.
- Successfully represented a non-profit organisation in a $20 million arbitration under the CPR Arbitration Rules concerning contractual and licensing disputes with a pharmaceutical company.
Professional Highlights
- Served as an adjudicator for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition UK rounds since 2017.
- Worked with Oxford Pro Bono Publico on a successful constitutional challenge supporting marriage rights for same-sex couples in South Africa.
- Provides ongoing pro bono legal advice through RCJ Advice on civil, housing and immigration matters.
Education
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M.Phil. (Law), University of Oxford
DistinctionB.C.L., University of Oxford
MeritLL.B. (Hons), GGS Indraprastha University (New Delhi)
First
Admissions
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England and Wales
Advocate (Bar Counsel of India)
Languages
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French
Hindi
English