Justice Deepak Verma

Justice Deepak Verma: A Distinguished Arbitrator and Mediator

Experience

Justice Verma’s career in law spans over five decades and combines extensive practice at the bar and distinguished service in Indian judiciary. In the year 2012, he retired as Judge of the Supreme Court of India and now acts as an independent mediator and arbitrator in domestic and international disputes as well as an expert on matters of Indian law before foreign courts and international tribunals. His legal opinion is regularly sought by leading national and international law firms and global corporations on complex legal situations relating to various areas of law such as arbitration, banking and finance, constitutional law, corporate law and governance, criminal law including extradition laws, insolvency, insurance, securities law, trusts and taxation etc. He has also acted as the inquiry authority and overseen internal investigations for several multinational corporations and banking and financial institutions.

Specialty

Justice Deepak Verma is primarily known for his expertise in arbitration and mediation. Post-retirement from the Indian judiciary, he established himself as a prominent arbitrator and mediator in both domestic and international disputes. He has presided over more than 200 domestic and international arbitrations, rendering awards in complex cases valued at several billion dollars. His expertise spans a wide range of sectors, including construction, energy, insurance, maritime, international trade, and more.

Education

Justice Deepak Verma was born on August 28, 1947, in Jabalpur. He completed his schooling from Christ Church, Mahakaushal High School, Model High School, and finally matriculation from Naveen Vidya Bhawan, Jabalpur. He then pursued a B.A. from St. Aloysius College, Jabalpur, after initially taking admission in B.Sc. in Government Science College, Jabalpur. He completed his LL.B. from Jabalpur University and was enrolled as an Advocate in the year 1972.

Achievements and Recognition

• Awards:
  • \”Most Notable & Top Distinguished Judge Of The 21st Century\” by ICWLS Global Golden Awards
  • \”Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year\” at Indian Legal Awards 2018-19, Legal Era

Professional Experience

Bar & Bench- (1972-2012)

• After completing his bachelor’s degree in law and humanities, he was admitted to the bar in the year 1972 and started practicing predominantly before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh under the tutelage and mentorship of his father late Shri R.P. Verma, who was a distinguished lawyer of his time. As a lead counsel, he was often instructed by renowned law firms in complex and challenging disputes before the trial and appellate courts. He practiced as an advocate until his elevation as a Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in the year 1994. He was appointed as the Administrative Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in 2005. During this period, he also served as the Welfare Commissioner for the victims of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. In 2008, he was transferred to the High Court of Karnataka as the senior most judge on the bench and served as the Acting Chief Justice until his appointment as the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court. Thereafter, from 2009 to 2012, he served as Judge of the Supreme Court of India.

• As an appellate court judge from 1994 to 2012, he was involved in several hundred judgements both as a judge in three different High Courts and the Supreme Court of India in matters concerning administrative law, arbitration law, criminal law, constitutional law, insurance law, family law, company law, service law, taxation etc. 

Arbitrator & Mediator- (2012-Present)

• Post retirement from the Indian judiciary, he has acted as an arbitrator and an expert witness in over 200 domestic and international arbitrations seated in India, Singapore, London and Paris under both ad hoc (UNCITRAL, Indian Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996) and institutional arbitration rules (ICC, LCIA, SIAC, ICA, DIAC, ICADR, etc.). As an arbitrator, he has rendered award in over hundred complex arbitrations under Indian law, English law, Singapore law etc. with claims in dispute valued in several billion dollars. He has considerable experience in disputes pertaining to Airports & Aviation, Construction & Projects, Energy (Natural Resources, Renewable and Non-Renewable), Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Insurance & Reinsurance, International Trade and Commence, Maritime/Shipping, Joint Ventures & Shareholders Agreements etc.

• He has rendered expert opinions on multiple occasions before International Tribunals, Courts in New York and Washington D.C., Senior Courts of England & Wales, Westminster Court, Courts in Netherlands, INTERPOL, and before the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague on behalf of a European State in an inter-state arbitration under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He has also acted as Mediator & Conciliator in several high-stake commercial disputes. 

Professional Memberships/Empanelment

• Arbitration Centre, Karnataka High Court, Bangalore
• Bangalore International Mediation, Arbitration & Conciliation Centre (Vice Chairman & Executive Board- Arbitration)
• Centre for Arbitration & Consultancy Development
• Centre for Mediation and Conciliation, Bombay Chamber of Commerce
• Delhi International Arbitration Centre
• DIFC- LCIA Arbitration Centre, Dubai
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre- Panel of Arbitrators
• Indian Council of Arbitration, New Delhi
• International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution, New Delhi
• London Court of International Arbitration, London
• Pacific International Arbitration Centre, Vietnam
• SCOPE Forum of Conciliation and Arbitration, New Delhi
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Panel of Arbitrators

Other Appointments

• Chairperson: High Powered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India to oversee import, transfer, procurement, rescue, and rehabilitation of wild animals, including those in captivity, across India- 2022.
• Ombudsman: Delhi & District Cricket Association- 2020
• Ombudsman: Hyderabad Cricket Association- 2021
• Electoral Officer: Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh- 2022
• Chairman: Justice Deepak Verma Committee constituted by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in a Public Interest Litigation- 2018
• Chairman: Three Member High Level Committee of the All-India Tennis Association (AITA)- 2013.
• Chairperson: High Powered Committee constituted by the High Court of Agartala in a Public Interest Litigation- 2022
• Chairperson: High Powered Judicial Committee to oversee the interstate transfer/import/export of wild animals in India.

Academic Interests & Publications

He regularly speaks in academic and industry conferences and has published articles covering various areas of law. He is also the co-author of the leading commentary on Indian Civil Procedure Code, Mulla, 19th Edition & Civil Procedure Code, Mulla, 17th Edition. He also serves as the Chairperson and member of the Advisory Board of several academic institutions and universities in India: Chairman- Fee Structure Committee, Symbiosis International University; Chairman- Fee Fixation Committee, Bharati Vidyapeeth University; Chairman- Pension Committee, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University; Member- Governing Council, Uttrakhand Sanskrit University; Member- Centre for Law & Good Governance, Shobhit University; Member- Executive Council, Kumaun University etc.