Dr. Harisankar K Sathyapalan

Education

• B.Sc. (Physics), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala
• LL.B, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala
• LL.M, Indian Law Institute, New Delhi
• Ph.D., Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore

Profile

Harisankar joined NLSIU as an Associate Professor of Law in May 2023. Prior to joining the National Law School, he was an Assistant Professor at the School of Legal Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at the National Law University, Jodhpur, and an Assistant Lecturer at the Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur. He attended the Hague Academy of International Law on a full scholarship. He has been a visiting scholar at UNIDROIT, Rome.

Hari’s research interests include international economic law and maritime law with a focus on international arbitration, and he has published in reputed journals in the field. He has also contributed opinion articles in the leading national newspapers and international law blogs. He has presented his works at various places including the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, iCourts (University of Copenhagen), and the South Asian University, New Delhi. Hari is also a Research Fellow with the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi.

Publications

Book Chapters:

• Indo-Pacific and the dream of a rules-based order, In: Vijay Sakhuja & Lawrence Prabhakar (eds), Maritime Security Complexes of the Indo-Pacific Region, (ICWA-CPPR Pub) 2022.
• A case against the destabilisation of the international legal architecture of oceans, In: Nutan Kapoor Mahawar (et al), 1982 UNCLOS: Perspectives from the Indian Ocean, (Indian Council of World Affairs) 2021.
• India – the 1985 Model Law and the 1996 Act: a survey of the Indian arbitration landscape (with Aakanksha Kumar), In Gary F. Bell (ed.), The UNCITRAL Model Law and Asian Arbitration Laws: Implementation and Comparisons, (Cambridge University Press) 2018.
• Public Policy vis-a-vis Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards: Some Reflections on the Indian Approach, In Surya Prakash (ed.), Critical Issues in International Commercial Arbitration, (National Law Institute University, Bhopal) 2013.

Journal Articles:

• Greening the Blue Economy: The role of investment treaty law and climate adjudication, The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law (forthcoming, 2023)
• Indian judiciary and international arbitration: a BIT of a control? Arbitration International, Oxford University Press, 33(3) 2017.
• Annulment versus Enforcement of International Arbitral Awards: Does the New York Convention permit Issue Estoppel? International Arbitration Law Review, Sweet & Maxwell, 18(3) 2015.
• Contemporary International Arbitration in Asia: A Stock Take, Indian Journal of Arbitration Law, 3(1) 2014.
• International Commercial Arbitration in Asia and the Choice of Law Determination, Journal of International Arbitration, Kluwer Law International 30(6) 2014.
• Rethinking Dispute Resolution in Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Development in India (with Sreeparvathy G), Journal of Infrastructure Development, SAGE Publications, 5 (1) 2013.
• State Courts and State Responsibility: A Response to Prof. Prabhash Ranjan’s ‘Can BIT claims be made against India for the actions of the Indian judiciary?’ NLUJ Law Review 2(1) 2013.
• Supervisory Jurisdiction of Indian Courts in Foreign Seated Arbitration: The beginning of a new era or just the end of Bhatia doctrine? The Arbitration Brief, American University Washington College of Law 3(1) 2013.

Public Commentary (Op-eds & Blogs): 

• The Devas Saga: Another Twist and the Ghost of a Past BIT Case (with Prabhash Ranjan), Bloomberg Quint. February 8, 2022
• The Departure of Enrica Lexie: Complete Justice or Diplomatic Success? The Wire. June 23, 2021
• Corporate polluters must watch out, The Hindu Business Line. June 8, 2021.
• Climate Change: The Many Victories in the Dutch Court’s Ruling Against Shell, The Wire Science. June 5, 2021.
• Is there a trade-off between life and privacy amid a pandemic?, The Economic Times. May 5, 2020.
• A lot still needs to be done for India to fulfil its international arbitration ambitions (with Madhu Sivaraman), The Wire. November 2, 2016.
• What India, Pakistan can learn from the Marshall Islands’ nuclear disarmament crusade, The Wire. October 10, 2016
• The dark matter in Antrix-Devas deal, The Hindu Business Line. July 28, 2016.
• Second Look at the Foreign Award Forbidden on Enforcement – Indian Supreme Court, Kluwer Arbitration Blog, August 1, 2013.
• Jurisdictional and Immunity Issues in the Story of Enrica Lexie: A Case of Shoot & Scoot turns around, EJIL: Talk! – Official Blog of the European Journal of International Law, March 25, 2013.