1 July 2026

ArbBoutique expands its global team and footprint, welcoming India-qualified Tarunima Vijra as Managing Counsel in Brussels and adding Hong Kong to its existing offices in Berlin, Brussels, London, Paris and Singapore.

Partners Prof.Maxi Scherer, Niuscha Bassiri, Chiann Bao, Emily Hay and Dr. Ole Jensen welcome the developments: “Tarunima is a sharp lawyer with significant global experience.  She is a great asset to our team, and brings a well-rounded practice to ArbBoutique.”

Speaking on their new office, they comment that “Hong Kong is a natural addition, in light of our strong connections to the region”. With a second office in Asia, the expanded global footprint represents the international nature of ArbBoutique’s cases.

ArbBoutique has also recently added Jean Chai, a Singapore-qualified associate, reflecting ArbBoutique’s continued commitment to building a team of exceptional global talent”.

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Vijra is admitted to the Bar Council of New Delhi and registered with the Brussels Bar.  She sits as arbitrator, tribunal secretary and assistant to the tribunal in international commercial and investment arbitrations, and acts as counsel in international arbitrations and in court litigation related to the setting aside and enforcement of arbitral awards. Vijra will continue the global expansion of ArbBoutique, splitting her time between Brussels and New Delhi.

Vijra brings fifteen years of experience, including nearly a decade working alongside Prof. Albert Jan van den Berg. She has significant experience practising under a variety of institutional rules (CEPANI, DIFC-LCIA, ICC, ICSID, LCIA, MCIA, NAI, SCC and SIAC) and in ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. Her experience spans a broad range of industry sectors, including aviation, banking, broadcasting, construction and infrastructure, energy, food and beverage, luxury and leisure, mining, oil and gas, retail, steel, telecommunications and third-party funding.

As counsel, Vijra is advising the Republic of India in setting aside and revocation proceedings before the Dutch courts in relation to investment awards arising from the Devas satellite dispute. Alongside van den Berg and Bassiri, she also advised India in proceedings leading to the annulment of the investment award in Cairn Energy v. India.

Vijra regularly writes and teaches on issues of international commercial and investment arbitration. Amongst others, Vijra has authored the Kluwer Practical Insights module on “Joinder and Consolidation in Arbitral Proceedings” and co-authored a forthcoming commentary on the ICSID Additional Facility Arbitration Rules. She is the rapporteur of the IBA Task Force on the “Nationality of the Arbitrator as a Proxy for Independence and Impartiality”. In addition, she lectures at various universities and is actively involved in various mentorship and training programmes, including offering tribunal secretary training in construction arbitration.

Before moving to Brussels, Vijra worked at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas in New Delhi. She holds a B.A.LL.B (Hons.) from the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, and an LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS) from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and the University of Geneva. She is a native speaker of English and Hindi.

Vijra comments: “I am thrilled to be joining the visionary team at ArbBoutique. The platform gives me the unique opportunity to work alongside some of the finest minds in international arbitration, while developing my practice as arbitrator and select counsel work. I look forward to contributing to ArbBoutique’s global expansion, drawing on my experience in India and Europe. As I take this next step, I remain immensely grateful to Albert Jan van den Berg for shaping my career over the last decade”

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Chai holds an LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS) from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and the University of Geneva, and an LL.B. (Hons.) from the National University of Singapore

She has assisted on matters under the ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, LCIA, ICSID and UNCITRAL rules spanning energy, construction, oil and gas, blockchain and cryptocurrency, automotive, telecommunications, and financial services. Alongside her arbitration practice, she brings experience in international mediation, having served as a Young IP Mediator under the IPOS-WIPO ASEAN Mediation Programme and assisted in proceedings before the Singapore International Mediation Centre. She is a native speaker of English and is fluent in Chinese (Mandarin).

Chai comments: “It is a privilege to take this next step with ArbBoutique, and I am thankful for the trust, guidance and support of the partners and the wider team. I look forward to contributing to the next stage of ArbBoutique’s growth.”

Comments on Tarunima Vijra’s joining

Professor Albert Jan van den Berg says, “Tarunima belongs to a unique group of outstanding arbitration lawyers from India with expertise in international commercial and investment arbitration. She is exceptionally talented, both as counsel and as arbitrator. Tarunima has a very promising future at ArbBoutique, and I wish her every success.”

Melanie van Leeuwen and Sophia von Dewall, founding partners of Vanguard International Dispute Resolution, say: “We have had the pleasure of working with Tarunima on multiple high-stakes matters, in which Tarunima consistently displayed a remarkable aptitude to identify the key issues, both legally and factually. Her legal sophistication, determination, diplomatic skill and open mind enable Tarunima to navigate the most challenging cases with grace and elegance. Always prepared, focused and unflappable, Tarunima no doubt has a bright future ahead of her as arbitrator. Having learned the trade from the best in the business, Tarunima seems to be the perfect fit for ArbBoutique!”

Vijayendra Pratap Singh, Senior Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution Practice of AZB & Partners in Delhi, says: “I congratulate Tarunima on launching her own arbitrator practice alongside her continuing counsel work at ArbBoutique. Tarunima has significant expertise spanning both commercial and investment arbitration. She has developed particular depth in Indian investment disputes –an area poised for significant growth in light of the anticipated EU-India Free Trade Agreement. Drawing on her deep roots in India and the Indian arbitration market, she brings sophistication and rigour to every appointment and instruction.”

Diora Ziyaeva, Partner at Dentons, says: “It has been a delight to work with Tarunima on the IBA Task Force on Nationality over the past year. Her depth of knowledge, thoughtful judgment, and unwavering collegiality have been invaluable to our work. She is a highly talented practitioner and a wonderful collaborator, and I am confident that she will continue to thrive and achieve great success at ArbBoutique.”

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