Gautam Bhatikar

Partner
Mumbai

Gautam is dual-qualified in India and England, and is a veteran with nearly two decades of wide-ranging experience in offshore maritime & shipping, insurance, environment, international trade, oil & gas, energy, commercial litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Gautam has acted for various large banks, shipowners, PSUs, oil companies and insurers in high-stakes and complex cross-border litigation and arbitration. He has been advising and representing domestic and international clients from a variety of jurisdictions including the UK, US, Europe, Middle East and South East Asia.

Gautam has represented one of the world's largest shipping companies in its joint venture dispute before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and has been regularly representing clients at the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA), and Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA).

Over the years, Gautam has been regularly featured in the 'Recommended Lawyers' list of leading publications such as Chambers & Partners and Legal500, and ranked as a 'Distinguished Practitioner' by Asialaw Profiles.

Represented China Merchants Bank on enforcement of mortgage in India and arrest of vessel.
Represented Italian Ship Owners and their P&I Standard against a multi-jurisdiction dispute and release of the vessel in Gujarat.
Represented Trafigura for arrest of vessel in Kolkata against claim for bunkers supplied.
Advised and represented a ship owner in an Arbitration against OW Bunkers and its Liquidators ING under the LMAA Rules dealing with supply of contaminated bunkers.
Advised ChemOil, Singapore in their joint venture with Adani Enterprises.
Advised Oldendorff Carriers GmBH on laws applicable and regulatory frame work for setting up floating transshipment facility off Andaman & Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal.
Advised AG Shipping Singapore on purchase of FPSO from Norway for deploying in at the East Coast of India for an ONGC project and the contract with ONGC.
Represented APCO, UAE on their claim against an Indian contractor for a claim for non-completion of works, various delays and quality issues on FPSO Cyrus and damages suffered by APCO.
Represented and advised National Bank of Fujairah on their recovery actions against Indian personal guarantors on non-payment of the outstanding loan amounts under various facilities and enforcement of UAE Court’s Judgement.
Advised and represented GMMOS, Dubai against various facilities provided by Banks in Dubai and Bahrain and personal guarantees issued by the promoters.

Gautam Bhatikar has been listed among "India Super 50 Lawyers" by Legal Business for 2023.
Ranked as a Leading individuals in Shipping- Legal500 2023.
Legal500 2022 quotes Gautam in various practice areas:
- ‘Gautam Bhatikar is a good manager and professional lawyer.’ Shipping.
- ‘Gautam Bhatikar is a good manager of cases.’ Dispute Resolution, Litigation.
Gautam has been regularly featured in the ‘Recommended Lawyersr’ list of leading publications such as Chambers & Partners and Legal500.
Gautam has been ranked as a ‘Distinguished Practitioner’ by Asialaw Profiles for the Dispute Resolution practice.
Featured as leading lawyer in Maritime and Shipping practice by Expert Guides and Leaders in Law.
Awarded Admiralty and Maritime Law ‐ Lawyer of the Year ‐ India by Finance Monthly Legal Awards 2019.
Recognised for excellence in Maritime and Shipping practice by India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) ‐ Rising Stars Report 2019.

Authored an article on ’India’s changing litigation landscape’ published by International Bar Association (IBA) in 2020.
Speaker–International Shipping conference on PPP projects in India.
Speaker – South East Asia Logistics Shipping and Ports Conference on 2012 and 2014.
Speaker – International Port Finance Conference held in 2011.
Gautam has contributed to India Chapter covering Investment for Ports in India at the World Bank –Doing Business In India.
Authored article on Ports and Terminals in India at Lexology.

Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa.
The Law Society of England & Wales.
Life Member – Indo American Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Board Member – Indo African Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Member – Indo Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Member – Indo China Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
International Bar Association.
Dubai International Arbitration Centre.
IR Global Member – India Maritime & Disputes Lawyer.