Neil Hildreth

Experience

Neil Hildreth is the Founder & Managing Partner of Channel 1 Law Partners, an Indian law firm that advises both domestic and international clients across a range of legal disciplines. The firm describes its leadership as combining extensive experience with a pragmatic approach to complex legal challenges. Neil has played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s vision and operations since its inception. Prior to founding Channel 1 Law Partners, Neil was a partner at Lumiere Law Partners, a firm that formed part of the Ernst & Young’s Global Law Network, underscoring a background in large-firm-style advisory and cross-border legal work. Neil’s practice spans commercial, regulatory, and labour laws, with a client base that includes multinational and domestic companies across multiple sectors.

• Professional background: Founder & Managing Partner of Channel 1 Law Partners; former partner at Lumiere Law Partners (EY Global Law Network); over two decades of legal experience; focuses on commercial, regulatory, and labour law matters for domestic and international clients.
• Career history: Neil has worked at several large law firms in India and was previously a partner at Lumiere Law Partners (EY Global Law Network Firm). He is currently leading Channel 1 Law Partners as its chief strategist and Managing Partner, with a track record of developing litigation strategies and providing strategic guidance on multiple complex commercial litigation and arbitration disputes across multiple sectors including oil & gas, construction, FMCG, automobile etc.
• Notable roles: Over a period of two decades, Neil has advised clients from multiple jurisdictions and diverse industries on complex legal issues including those relating to environment, antitrust, company law, labour, and other regulatory legislations. He has actively represented large corporate conglomerates before the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts and regulatory authorities on a pan-India basis.

Specialty

Neil’s practice centers on dispute resolution within India’s commercial and regulatory landscape, with a focus on navigating high-stakes litigation, regulatory and commercial advisory. The firm’s offerings in litigation and dispute resolution are complemented by regulatory and advisory services, and a broader corporate and employment law footprint. The team emphasizes end-to-end support for complex disputes, including drafting, strategy development, and representation before courts and tribunals across India, with an emphasis on aligning litigation strategy with clients’ commercial objectives.

• Practice areas: Litigation & Dispute Resolution; Regulatory & Advisory; Employment and Labour; General Corporate & Commercial. The firm highlights its capability to handle original-side matters, appeals, constitutional challenges, and enforcement concerns across High Courts and the Supreme Court of India, along with a network of external lawyers for nationwide coordination.
• Focus industries: Construction; Ed-Tech, Automotive; Technology; Business Consulting; Manufacturing. Neil regularly advises multinational companies and domestic firms across these sectors, with experience spanning disputes, compliance, risk-management, and governance matters.
• Types of cases handled: Complex commercial disputes and regulatory matters; labour law compliance, environment, antitrust, company law; and broader regulatory compliance and governance work. He also holds expertise in representing clients before regulatory authorities and courts, and in crafting litigation strategies tailored to clients’ commercial needs.