ROSHNI CHADDA

A common law qualified attorney with substantial knowledge and experience of working in common law and civil law jurisdictions. I completed my undergraduate law degree from a reputable National Law University of India in 2013. In 2017, I secured the British Government-funded GREAT Scholarship that enabled me to pursue MSc. in Law and Finance at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. I have cumulative post-qualification work experience of over seven (7) years in India and the UAE. Currently, I am working with Kochhar & Co. Inc. (Legal Consultants), the Dubai branch office of a top-tier Indian law firm. 

Prior to joining Kochhar Dubai, I worked with India’s largest law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. I have also worked as an in-house legal counsel at Hughes Network Systems India Limited (the Indian operations of the world’s leading satellite network services conglomerate). 

As a part of my postgraduate degree course in the UK, I had written my dissertation on a topic relating to international commercial arbitration and mediation under the expert supervision of Professor Emmanuel Guinchard. Since then, I have developed a keen interest in the field of international commercial arbitration. 
 

Attorney, Kochhar & Co Inc., Legal Consultants (Dubai Office) [January 2019- Present]:

• General Corporate & Commercial Advisory / M & A:

• Drafted legal opinions / advice pertaining to applicable UAE laws and free zone laws, including DIFC and ADGM laws and regulations.

• Drafted several legal notices, response letters, MoUs, cease & desist notices, consumer protection complaints, power of attorney, board/ shareholders’ resolutions and various commercial agreements, including franchise agreements and settlements agreements.

• Conducted legal and regulatory audit of a precious metals’ company based in the Fujairah Free Zone and prepared a high-level legal due diligence report.

• Advised a large private-equity firm (listed on the London Stock Exchange) in relation to acquisition of 15% stake in a DMCC free zone company. The legal advice entailed preparation of a due diligence report, preparation and negotiation of a share subscription cum shareholders’ agreement and closing formalities in view of DMCC laws and regulations.

• Banking & Finance / Funds: 

• Acted as the lenders’ counsel in several credit facility transactions and facility default matters. Prepared facility agreements and the relevant security documents in accordance with underlying sanction letters issued by banks. 

• Advised an investment company domiciled in the DIFC on all aspects of a closed-ended and qualified investor fund. Advised and prepared all fund documents for a hedge fund in line with applicable DIFC laws and DFSA regulations. Advised in respect of establishing a health & wellness fund to raise monies from GCC-based investors. The legal advice included preparation of a fund management agreement, subscription agreement and a private placement memorandum in view of applicable DIFC laws and DFSA regulations.

• White-collar offence: Advised at various stages of a matter pertaining to a financial fraud allegedly perpetrated by the accountant of a large Dubai-based general trading company. Worked alongside a UAE-based forensic audit team for the preparation of a forensic audit report to establish a robust case against the key accused and the co-perpetrators.

• Litigation (DIFC Courts) and Alternative Dispute Resolution:

• Represented the DIFC branches of Indian banks against defaulting borrowers in the DIFC Court of First Instance. Prepared the pre-action protocol notices to be served by the banks, prepared the claim form and particulars of claims under Part 7 of the Rules of the DIFC Courts (“RDC”).

• Represented a majority shareholder of an investment advisory firm in a dispute, against a minority shareholder, before the DIFC Court of First Instance. Prepared the particulars of the claim form and witness statements to be filed under Part 7 of the RDC. 

• Assisted in a mediation for resolving a commercial dispute between the business partners of an immigration business based in Dubai.

• Assisted a DIFC-registered arbitrator with preparation of an arbitral award, in relation to a construction dispute, according to the erstwhile DIFC-LCIA Rules. 

• Represented a UAE-based company in an ad-hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules. 

POST-QUALIFICATION WORK EXPERIENCE IN INDIA

• Registered Neutral on SAMA- India’sfirst successful OnlineDispute Resolution platform [May 2020- Present]: Acted as the Case Manager to assist a senior arbitrator in an arbitration matter between a leading bank and a doctor (claiming to be a victim of a Ponzi Scheme).

• Attorney, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (India’s largest full-service law firm), National Capital Region [2016- 2017]- Corporate / M & A team.

• Legal Counsel, Hughes Network Systems India Limited (India operations of the world’s leading broadband services conglomerate) New Delhi [2014 –2016]

• Attorney, Groverlaw (Intellectual Property Boutique Law Firm) New Delhi [2013- 2014]

EDUCATION:

• MSc. in Law and Finance, University of Leeds, United Kingdom [2017-2018]

     Secured the British Government- funded GREAT Scholarship 2017 to pursue the degree.

• B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, India [2008- 2013]