Legafin Advocates acts for Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited — the Government of India's nodal entity for strategic crude-oil reserves — in a series of connected arbitrations and post-award proceedings concerning the construction of underground rock-cavern storage facilities at Mangalore and Padur in Karnataka. The firm's instructions on this mandate have run end-to-end through the dispute cycle:
— in arbitration with Hindustan Construction Company under the EPC contract for the Padur facility (contract value ~INR 374 crore), successfully defending ISPRL against delay and prolongation claims in excess of INR 141 crore;
— in arbitration with the SK Engineering & Construction – KCT Joint Venture under the EPC contract for the Mangalore facility (contract value ~INR 403 crore), defending ISPRL against delay and prolongation claims in excess of INR 240 crore;
— in arbitration with the SK Engineering & Construction – KCT Joint Venture under the EPC contract for the Padur facility (contract value ~INR 403 crore), defending ISPRL against delay and prolongation claims in excess of INR 83 crore; and
— before the Delhi High Court in Section 34 proceedings challenging two arbitral awards arising from the Mangalore (~INR 403.50 crore) and Padur (~INR 375.92 crore) contracts. The firm prepared the Written Submissions setting out the grounds of challenge under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, prepared the written arguments and convenience compilation, briefed Senior Counsel for the final hearing, and prepared the reply to the contractor's execution petitions, including the filing of the list of assets of the judgment-debtor.
Legafin Advocates acted for Reliance Industries Limited, NIKO (NECO) Ltd. and BP Exploration Alpha Ltd. in international arbitration against the Government of India under the Production Sharing Contract governing petroleum operations in Block KG-DWN-98/3 — within India's territorial waters, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone — preparing and prosecuting claims in excess of USD 2.376 billion. The firm has additionally appeared for Reliance Industries in international arbitrations relating to the Panna–Mukta–Tapti and KG-D6 oil and gas fields, including the Gas Migration matter against ONGC.
Legafin Advocates acted for the Gas Authority of India Limited in arbitration with Man Industries arising out of the contract for the erection and supply of a section of the Dabhol–Bangalore pipeline, defending GAIL against the contractor's claims for delay damages, the imposition of liquidated damages and related heads.
Legafin Advocates acted for the Gas Authority of India Limited in arbitration with Lalit Pipes & Pipes Limited arising under a procurement contract for long-radius bends for the Barauni–Guwahati Pipeline Project, defending GAIL on the termination of the contract and the consequential claims.