The Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation (IIAM) hosted the IIAM Excellence Awards for Women on the occasion of International Women’s Day at Neeti Bagh Club. The event celebrated the achievements of distinguished women professionals in law, arbitration, mediation, academia, and public service, highlighting their contributions to strengthening India’s dispute resolution ecosystem.

The evening commenced with welcome remarks by Iram Majid, Director IIAM and Executive Director, APCAM, who emphasised the importance of recognising women leaders who are reshaping the legal and dispute resolution landscape in India.

Chief Guest Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, Judge of the Delhi High Court, congratulated the awardees and reflected on the evolving participation of women in the legal profession. He recalled the historic struggle for women’s entry into the legal profession, referring to early pioneers who fought for the right to practise law. Justice Shankar highlighted that arbitration and mediation today offer greater flexibility and opportunities for women practitioners and expressed optimism that women will increasingly take leadership roles in these fields. He also called upon the legal fraternity to consciously dismantle lingering stereotypes and ensure equal opportunities.

Guest of Honour Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, spoke about the transformation of arbitration and mediation from niche practices to central pillars of modern commercial dispute resolution. He noted that while the profession historically had limited visibility for women in leadership roles, the landscape is steadily changing with more women appearing as lead counsel, mediators, and arbitrators. Justice Bhat emphasised that diversity in decision-making spaces strengthens the legitimacy and credibility of dispute resolution systems and encouraged younger practitioners to build expertise, credibility, and confidence.

Guest of Honour Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, Secretary of the Law Commission of India, reflected on the changing dynamics of the legal profession and the growing importance of arbitration and mediation in resolving complex commercial disputes. She noted that as commercial relationships expand globally, businesses increasingly seek dispute resolution processes that are efficient, predictable, and professionally managed. Dr. Rana also highlighted the importance of recognising women’s contributions in these fields and encouraging greater representation at senior levels of decision-making.

Guest of Honour Chetan Sharma, Additional Solicitor General of India, congratulated the awardees and remarked that every day should be seen as a celebration of women’s contributions to society. He acknowledged the determination and commitment shown by women professionals in the legal field and emphasised the need to continue encouraging young women lawyers to pursue excellence and leadership in arbitration and mediation.

Dr. Pinky Anand, Senior Advocate and former Additional Solicitor General of India, delivered a thought-provoking address highlighting the evolving role of dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration, mediation, and hybrid systems in resolving complex disputes across sectors including infrastructure, energy, and commercial transactions. She emphasised the need to build an inclusive ecosystem that supports women’s advancement in the legal profession and spoke about the importance of mentorship, institutional support, and equal opportunities.

Dr. Anand also reflected on the concept of the “leaky pipeline” in professional advancement, where women enter the profession in large numbers but are underrepresented at senior levels. She emphasised the importance of systemic changes, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities to ensure greater participation of women in leadership positions.

The IIAM Excellence Awards recognised the contributions of distinguished women across the legal and dispute resolution sectors. The awardees included:

• Hon’ble Ms. Justice Gita Mittal (Retd.)

• Dr. Anju Rathi Rana

• Dr. Pinky Anand

• Ms. Laila Ollapally

• Ms. Susheela Sarathi

• Ms. Vibha Datta Makhija

• Ms. Diya Kapur

• Ms. Veena Ralli

• Ms. Sandhya Yadav

• Ms. Lalit Mohini Bhat

• Ms. Deepali Chandhoke

• Ms. Shruti Sabharwal

• Ms. Neeti Sachdeva

• Ms. Tine Abraham

• Ms. Shwetha Bidhuri

• Ms. Ishani Vora

• Ms. Mehak Oberoi

• Ms. Priya Sidharth Sethi

• Dr. Karuna Akshay Malviya

• Ms. Manini Brar

• Ms. Zeba Khair

• Ms. Bhumika Indulia

• Dr. Alisha Khatun

• Dr. Apoorva Dixit

The awards highlighted the diverse contributions of women in litigation, arbitration, mediation, academia, and public policy.

The ceremony was presided over by IIAM President Anil Xavier, Senior Advocate and Chairman of APCAM. Delivering the vote of thanks, he expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests, speakers, awardees, and participants for making the event a meaningful celebration of women’s leadership in the legal profession.