The Student Bar Association (SBA) of the National Law Institute University, Bhopal, is poised to host the 2nd NLIU SBA Law Conclave to be held on 11–12 April 2026. Continuing its legacy of fostering dialogue and collaboration, the Conclave seeks to provide a collaborative platform for judges, practitioners, academicians, law firms and students to engage in discussions on pressing legal and policy issues. The theme for this edition is Reimagining Law and Justice in the 21st Century: Challenges, Accountability and Reforms. Sessions will explore sub-themes ranging from judicial reforms and labour rights to arbitration and global governance. The two-day event will feature panel discussions, podcast sessions, a national quiz, and a street play competition. By bringing together thought leaders from the Bar, Bench, Corporate and Academia, the Conclave reaffirms NLIU’s commitment to nurturing meaningful legal discourse.
The University works under the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, as well as in close association with the National Judicial Academy. Established in 1997, the University has earned a strong reputation for excellence in legal education, cutting-edge research, and a vibrant mooting and advocacy culture. With a robust alumni network spread across the judiciary, academia, and top law firms in India and abroad, NLIU continues to shape leaders of the legal profession. Over the years, the Student Bar Association of NLIU has been at the forefront of creating a space for policy discussions, taking proactive steps toward improving student welfare and institutional governance.
The Chief Guest for this year’s Conclave is Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Karol (Judge, Supreme Court of India). He is known for his proactive governance and approach, especially for reducing case pendency.
The central theme of the conclave will further part into 4 sub-themes which would be discussed over a course of two days. The first sub-theme isStrengthening India’s Arbitration Framework: Revisiting and Reforming the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 with HMJ Sanjay Karol (Judge, Supreme Court of India) as the Chair Speaker. The second sub-theme is Strengthening the Grassroots of Indian Judiciary: Blending Access to Justice with Technology in the 21st Centurywith HMJ M.I. Arun (Judge, High Court of Karnataka) being the special guest. The third sub-theme is Beyond Degrees: Building Industry-Ready Lawyers Through Academic Reformwith Mr.C.V. Raghu (Managing Partner, CVR Law Partners LLP & Independent Director, HCL Infosystems Ltd.) leading the panel. The fourth sub-theme is Beyond Colonial Hangovers: Rethinking & Reforming the Western Influence on India’s Legal Systemwith HMJ N. Kotiswar Singh (Judge, Supreme Court of India) as the Chair speaker & HMJ Sushrut A. Dharmadhikari (Chief Justice, Madras High Court).
NLIU is all set to host its biggest academic gathering of the year featuring the most intellectually stimulating conversations with Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Senior Advocates practicing in various jurisdictions, Partners and Senior Counsels from Leading Law Firms and Corporate Houses. The event will be conducted under the aegis of the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) S. Suryaprakash.
THE NLIU LAW CONCLA VE IS SET TO BEGIN: ALL ABOUT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE 2-DAYS DISCOURSE
The NLIU Law Conclave is set to begin on 11th April 2026. The University will soon host numerous eminent personalities from different facets of the legal field. The Conclave is envisaged to be an amalgamation of thoughts, ideas, debates and discussions which would be carried on by speakers from Bar, Bench, Corporate and Academia. The Central theme for the event is Reimagining Law and Justice in the 21st Century: Challenges, Accountability and Reforms, which will further part into 4 sub-themes, each of which would be taken up in the sessions spanning across two days.
The youtube link for the first session has been attached –
The First Session will delve into the sub-theme of Strengthening India’s Arbitration Framework: Revisiting and Reforming the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996. India’s Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 has served as the cornerstone of alternative dispute resolution in the country for nearly three decades, and successive amendments in 2015, 2019, and 2021 reflect the legislature’s strong commitment to making India a globally competitive arbitration hub. With the establishment of the Arbitration Council of India and increased emphasis on institutional arbitration, the framework has steadily evolved to reduce court intervention, ensure arbitrator neutrality, and expedite dispute resolution. The Conclave will provide a timely discourse on the next wave of reforms needed to align India’s arbitration ecosystem with internationally acclaimed models such as those of Singapore and London.
Bringing together legal minds, practitioners, and policy thinkers, this theme aims to chart a forward-looking roadmap that strengthens India’s arbitration framework and cements its place as a preferred destination for both domestic and international commercial dispute resolution.
The panel will be led by the Chief Guest of the Event, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Karol (Judge, Supreme Court of India). HMJ Sanjay Karol has demonstrated considerable expertise in arbitration law through his rulings at the Supreme Court. In S.V . Samudram v. State of Karnataka (2024), he co-authored a significant judgment reaffirming that courts exercising jurisdiction under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 have no power to modify an arbitral award, strongly upholding the finality and sanctity of the arbitral process. In another notable ruling, a bench led by Justice Karol held that pre-award interest cannot begranted by an arbitral tribunal in the form of compensation when the contract expressly prohibits it, reinforcing the principle of party autonomy in arbitration agreements. His background as a practitioner in constitutional, corporate, and civil matters, combined with these impactful arbitration rulings, makes him an eminent voice on reforming and strengthening India’s arbitration framework, lending significant weight and authority to the deliberations at this Conclave.
The panel will be graced by the expertise of various other keynote speakers as well. Mr. Vikram Pooserla (Senior Advocate., High Court of Telangana) has extensive experience in domestic arbitration tribunals as well as international arbitration forums including the SIAC and LCIA, particularly in matters relating to shareholders’ disputes and foreign investments. He has also been actively involved in significant arbitration-related litigation before the Telangana High Court, including matters concerning the governance and viability of institutional arbitration centres, underscoring his deep engagement with India’s evolving arbitration ecosystem.
Mr. Jayant Mehta (Senior Advocate, High Court of Delhi) has over 24 years of experience in commercial litigation. He has been involved in several landmark cases in arbitration law and has appeared both as counsel and as arbitrator in numerous international and domestic adhoc and institutional arbitrations, and is empaneled with the Delhi International Arbitration Centre.
Mr. Siddharth R. Gupta (Advocate, Supreme Court of India) is an alumnus of NLIU Bhopal.
He practices before the Supreme Court of India and multiple High Courts, handling a wide range of matters involving arbitration.
Mr. Abhishek Kumar (Partner, Singhania & Partners) is widely recognised for his work in both domestic and international arbitrations, frequently appearing before the Supreme Court, High Courts, and the NCLT, with particular inclination towards complex infrastructure and contractual disputes. He has been ranked by Benchmark Litigation and recognised as a
Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (Asia-Pacific) for three consecutive years. His practice reflects sustained excellence in arbitration and dispute resolution at the highest levels.
The First Session of the Conclave, with the presence of such distinguished jurists and seasoned practitioners at the helm, will set the stage for a discourse that promises to be a landmark forum for intellectually stimulating discussions.
Reforming The Western Influence On India’s Legal System: All About the Fourth Session of The NLIU Law Conclave, 2026
The last session of the NLIU Law Conclave will tie together the discourse that will take place over the course of the event. The event, which would revolve around its central theme of Reimagining Law and Justice in the 21st Century: Challenges, Accountability and Reforms will conclude with the session dealing with the sub-theme of Beyond Colonial Hangovers: Rethinking & Reforming the Western Influence on India’s Legal System. India’s legal system, built substantially on colonial-era statutes such as the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, carries deep structural imprints of British rule that continue to shape judicial thinking, procedural norms, and the very language of law in the country. While recent legislative efforts such as the introduction of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam mark a significant step toward decolonising India’s criminal law framework, the broader question of replacing western legal paradigms with indigenous jurisprudence rooted in Dharma, equity, and local legal traditions remains largely unaddressed. The Conclave will provide a much-needed dialogue examining how India can reclaim its legal identity by drawing from its rich civilizational heritage while navigating the demands of a globalized world. Through this theme, eminent jurists and practitioners will deliberate on the path forward for a legal system that is truly Indian, in both spirit and substance.
The youtube link for the session https://www.youtube.com/live/aqQwGfkzXgw?si=_2fw287BLErH5xlO
The Session will be led by Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Kotiswar Singh (Judge, Supreme Court of India) and Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari (Chief Justice, High Court of Madras). HMJ N. Kotiswar Singh has dealt with the lasting legacy of colonial law, notably as part of a Supreme Court bench that remarked that even after 78 years of independence, the Court remains engaged in resolving controversies arising out of land rights conferred by colonial powers. Asthe first Judge from the State of Manipur to be elevated to the Supreme Court, Justice Singh also brings a unique perspective from the Northeast, a region whose legal and constitutional experience has often been shaped by extraordinary statutes and colonial administrative frameworks, making his insights on decolonising India’s legal system particularly compelling.
His presence at the Conclave lends authoritative judicial voice to this conversation on rethinking inherited legal structures. HMJ Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari began his legal career in 1992 and practiced for over 24 years in civil, criminal, and constitutional law at the Madhya Pradesh High Court. He brings deep grounding in the foundational statutes of India’s legal system, many of which trace their origins directly to the colonial period. HMJ Dharmadhikari brings in a nuanced perspective and decades of experience to this dialogue.
Joining them on panel are two more eminent legal personalities who would add depth and perspective to the dialogue. Mr. Atul Sharma (Executive Chairman, Dentons Link Legal) has over four decades of experience spanning project advisory, corporate litigation, mediation, and international commercial arbitration. He brings an unparalleled vantage point on how western legal frameworks have shaped commercial and transactional practice in India, and what a reimagined, India-centric legal architecture could look like. As the driving force behind Dentons Link Legal’s historic combination with Dentons, he has been at the forefront of engaging India’s legal system with global standards, giving him unique insight into both the constraints of colonial legal structures and the opportunities that reform presents.
Mr. Saket Shukla (Co-founding Partner, Phoenix Legal) is a partner of one of India’s fastest-growing law firms with over two decades of experience in strategic advisory, infrastructure, and cross-border transactions. He has consistently navigated the complexities of an Indian regulatory framework that remains heavily influenced by colonial-era legislative design. He has been recognised among the ALB India Super 50 Lawyers and is known for his work on high-stakes matters involving regulatory enforcement and crisis management. His practice experience offers a practitioner’s lens on where colonial legal hangovers create friction in India’s modern commercial and regulatory landscape.The convergence of these distinguished judicial minds and leading practitioners at this Conclave promises a rich and transformative dialogue, one that moves beyond inherited legal frameworks to envision a jurisprudence that is authentically Indian and fit for the aspirations of a sovereign nation
The two day itinerary of the event is attached with the story.
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