Justice Hima Kohli delivered a keynote address at the launch of the Queen Mary India Law Centre, highlighting the importance of academic and institutional collaboration in strengthening legal ties between India and the United Kingdom.

In her address, Justice Kohli described such institutions as “living bridges between jurisdictions,” enabling legal systems to find common ground through dialogue, scholarship, and shared intellectual purpose.

She noted that while India and the UK share a common law foundation, their relationship has evolved significantly over the past six decades from post-independence continuity to a phase of constitutional assertion, and now to one of renewed global engagement driven by cross-border commerce and technological change.

Highlighting contemporary challenges, Justice Kohli observed that both jurisdictions face mounting case backlogs, increasing complexity of disputes, and the need for efficient justice delivery, prompting reforms such as digitisation of courts, virtual hearings, and technology-enabled case management systems.

She emphasised that emerging areas such as data protection, artificial intelligence, climate governance, and digital regulation require collaborative, cross-border legal responses, making comparative engagement between jurisdictions increasingly vital.

On dispute resolution, Justice Kohli pointed to the growing convergence in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, with both India and the UK striving to create systems that are efficient, flexible, and globally credible.

She also referred to evolving developments in the legal profession, including gradual opening of legal services and increased cross-border engagement, noting that lawyers must increasingly operate within a global legal framework.

Justice Kohli highlighted the role of the Queen Mary India Law Centre in fostering comparative scholarship, bridging academia and practice, and nurturing future-ready legal professionals capable of navigating an interconnected legal landscape.

Concluding her address, she stated that the Centre represents a shared commitment to the rule of law, justice, and collaborative growth, marking an important step in deepening India–UK legal engagement.