Amir Singh Pasrich, Senior Counsel, Founder and MP, International Law Affiliates

Amir Singh Pasrich, Senior Counsel, Founder and Managing Partner, International Law Affiliates

Amir Singh Pasrich read law at Oxford and trained in London before returning to India at a time when the Government of India had just started liberalising the economy in 1991-92. 

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“There was a time when it was perfectly normal for the judges to be on the golf course”- Amir Singh Pasrich

In this episode, Ashutosh Garg engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Amir Singh Pasrich, Founder and MP, International Law Affairs, who is an experienced commercial lawyer. Amir is an alumnus of St. Stephens, Delhi, and Oxford University.

Amir reminisces about his early life and the inception of his career as a lawyer. He explains the role played by him in the famous ‘Hindu Succession Act’ reform. He says why he decided to specialize in corporate advisory matters and commercial dispute arbitrations.

Being someone who practices law internationally, Amir shares his experiences working with different countries and international organizations. Later he talks about the justice system in India by quoting real stories and anecdotes.

Amir analyzes the pros and cons of video hearings. He attempts to explain the difference between the Indian and foreign justice systems and shares his experiences working with courts overseas.

Amir Singh Pasrich read law at Oxford and trained in London before returning to India at a time when the Government of India had just started liberalising the economy in 1991-92. From 1992 to 1996 he was an associate with the legendary Indian law firm of J. B. Dadachanji & Co. as an advocate in the Supreme Court of India and as a corporate lawyer. He co-founded International Law Affiliates (I.L.A.) with a Mumbai partner from the same Oxford College in 1998. The dispute resolution practice of I.L.A. was transferred to Pasrich & Company in 2004 until 2012 when both International Law Affiliates and Pasrich & Company were rolled into one firm i.e. I.L.A. Pasrich & Company, of which he is the Managing Partner. Mr.Pasrich has handled a wide variety of corporate advisory work, litigation and arbitration. His special expertise involves commercial disputes, arbitration and specialist practice areas like foreign direct investment into India, employment, competition law, aviation, public procurement, product liability and real estate. As an advocate, he has had exposure to original side practice in courts ranging from district courts in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh etc. up to various High Courts in 8 States of India. In 2006, Pasrich was appointed “Agent of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada”; he has represented the Government of Canada as Legal Counsel since 1995 and was confirmed as such in 2017 after a formal competitive process. In March 2018, Mr.Pasrich was appointed Honorary Legal Advisor to His Excellency the British High Commissioner. He is advisor to several Governments and High Commissions/Embassies in India. He has advised the Delegation of the European Union, the Singapore High Commission, the French Embassy and several Fortune500 companies. He has been external General Counsel in India to Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (2003-2014), Turkish Airlines (2011-17) and for Fabindia Overseas Pvt. Ltd. from 2007-2013. Pasrich was elected as a Council Member, Legal Practice Division 2019-22 of the International Bar Association (“IBA”), he is currently on the Policy Committee of the Bar Issues Commission of the IBA (up to December 2021). His previous appointments include Co-opted Council Member of the Legal Practice Division of the IBA (2015-16), Co-chair of the International Sales Committee (from 2011 13) of the IBA and a member of the IBA Council (2012-14). Pasrich is also currently (in 2019) the Chairman of the Law & Justice Committee of the PHD Chambers of Commerce & Industry. He was an independent director on the board of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd., up to 2007. From 2007 to 2009, he was Chair of the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (North India). He has been a member of the International Council of Jurists. He has also been Co- chairman of the National Council on Legal Affairs & Regulatory Committee of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), India. He has handled corporate contentious matters in the Supreme Court of India, various Indian High Courts and before specialist Tribunals/Commissions for competition
law (the Competition Commission of India and Competition Appellate Tribunal), labour law, insolvency and financial reconstruction etc.