RICS Strengthens Ties with India’s Legal and Infrastructure Sectors

Over the past two weeks, RICS made a powerful impact in India as DRS Executive Director, John Fletcher, and Head of DRS Education, Mrs Raj Sohal, delivered the renowned RICS Mediation Training Programme to a full house at the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) in Delhi. The visit also saw high-level engagements with key stakeholders across the legal and construction sectors in Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad as part of the expanding RICS India Arbitration Service.

India’s booming infrastructure landscape set the perfect backdrop for this mission. With Mumbai recognised as the country’s commercial powerhouse, and Hyderabad emerging as the fastest-growing hub of construction and infrastructure development on the subcontinent, the opportunities for collaboration and innovation are immense. Throughout the visit, John and Raj received outstanding support from Gurvinder Raina and the dynamic RICS India team, led by Ashwani Awasthi.

John held strategic meetings with top leaders, including Mr Arun Chawla, Director General of the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) in Delhi, as well as senior management and board members. In Hyderabad, he engaged with Mr AJ Jawad, Registrar of the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC), to explore ways to deepen collaboration between RICS and both institutions.

These discussions followed a recent visit to RICS headquarters in London by ICA leadership, hosted by Chris Ader. That visit laid the foundation for what is now set to become a landmark moment – the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between RICS and the ICA during the upcoming London International Disputes Week, where RICS will host a series of global events.

The MoU will establish a joint panel of construction and infrastructure arbitrators in India, jointly promoted by RICS and the ICA. This initiative will leverage ICA’s support infrastructure while tapping into RICS’ expertise in training and skills development – ensuring arbitrators are equipped to deliver sector-specific, cost-effective dispute resolution services across the country.

John’s visit to the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC) in Hyderabad further strengthened this momentum. With the centre actively championing commercially focused arbitration, both institutions identified clear synergies. Many international organisations driving India’s infrastructure boom view RICS as the gold standard in dispute resolution – and the drafting of another MoU with IAMC is already underway.

These agreements mark a significant step forward. They represent genuine collaboration with far-reaching potential – aligning the strengths of RICS, ICA and IAMC to fill a critical gap in India’s dispute resolution ecosystem.

This transformation is backed by real legislative change. The Indian government has paved the way for sector expert-led arbitration, moving it out of the exclusive domain of retired high court judges and returning it to industry professionals, where it truly belongs.

In addition to arbitration, John also explored the exciting opportunity to expand RICS’ footprint in mediation training. Under the aegis of ICA and IAMC, RICS-trained mediators would be formally registered, qualifying them for court-annexed mediation appointments – a timely move given India’s growing support for mediation as a preferred dispute resolution mechanism.

Another key development on the horizon is the creation of India-specific RICS Expert Witness training and accreditation. This programme will address a rapidly growing need in Indian arbitration and courts for expert witnesses who are not only trusted and impartial, but also trained to deliver clear, defensible reports and confidently handle cross examination.

The visit concluded on a high note with two exceptional events, masterfully hosted by Ashwani Awasthi and the India RICS team – with special thanks to Sheetal Aneja for flawless logistics.

The first event, held at the prestigious Taj Santacruz in Mumbai, focused on the future of dispute resolution in real estate – Valuing change: uncertain times and certain impacts – offering expert insights into evolving market dynamics.

The second event, The role and impact of expert witnesses in built environment disputes – bridging the gap between technical expertise and dispute resolution, took place at the Hyderabad Hyatt. It featured a distinguished panel of experts from the legal and technical communities, including representatives from Kroll, Tata, Mr AJ Jawad, and Mr Atul Sharma, Executive Chair of Dentons Link Legal – a longstanding supporter of RICS in India.

These impactful engagements mark a new chapter for RICS in India, setting the stage for deeper partnerships, greater influence, and continued leadership in shaping the future of dispute resolution across the region. They also enhance RICS’ global influence and reputation, as well as creating opportunities for RICS members.