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Trinath Tadakamalla

Partner | Solaris Legal

V Card – E: trinath@solarislegal.in

M: +91 98104 11562

Trinath is the founding partner at Solaris Legal. Trinath focuses on the firm’s disputes practice, specifically in the areas of insurance and reinsurance, and allied areas such as construction, energy, engineering and recoveries. He has been involved in related commercial disputes and arbitrations, and has acted for Indian and overseas clients in national and international disputes.

Trinath has advised on issues of insurance coverage and monitoring under a wide variety of insurance policies, ranging from property and casualty (including business interruption claims); professional indemnity; product liability; project-related insurances for contractors, designers and engineering companies; fidelity and crime; and employment practices liability insurance. Trinath also advises clients on claims handling and strategy, and negotiating settlements with the insured and the claimants.

Trinath also represents clients in coverage disputes, the majority of which have been in arbitrations. Trinath was involved in several seminal cases dealing with loss of profit insurance, and is also involved in a one-of-a-kind arbitration in the country under an errors and omissions policy issued to a major IT company. Trinath is usually involved in most of the large and complex claims in the Indian market, either advising local cedants or overseas reinsurers. Trinath also advises clients on structuring critical insurance products, such as the nuclear insurance pool and the policies issued under it by India’s largest insurer.

Selective Experience Statement

Represented a large US-based corporation involved in manufacture and supply of telecom equipment in a dispute brought by an Indian competitor in respect of a bid amounting to US$300m for supply of equipment for a major defence project. The bid won by the US-based Corporation was challenged by the Indian competitor. Successfully achieved closure in 3 months of intervening, such that the project proceeded on schedule.

  • Representing a container terminal operator in its arbitration against a Major Port Trust to rework the terms of a concession following a change in law, where the claims amounted to a cumulative of US$225m.
  • Advising upon and handling energy insurance claims and disputes (arbitration and litigation) on behalf of Indian insurers and European reinsurers from insurance of Indian refinery projects, off- shore oil drilling rigs, and onshore oil exploration operations.
  • Represented a State Government before the National Green Tribunal (Principal and Southern Zone Bench), the Telangana High Court and the Supreme Court of India in the defense of a complaint challenging the construction of a lift orrigation project (sanctioned costs of in excess of $5bn) without clearances under the EIA Notification, 2006 and the Environment Protection Act 1986; the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and the Forest Conservation Act 1980.
  • Represented a leading Asian PE fund in multiple disputes with promoter shareholders in respect of investments in the Indian JV company dealing in auto components. Was involved in advising on disputes as to oppression and mismanagement before the Indian Company Law Board, advising on issues of Indian law in the arbitration (before SIAC) between the Indian promotors and the PE fund, and advising on strategy with interim protection measures in India parallel to the SIAC arbitration.

Recent Recognitions

  • Ranked by Chambers & Partners for Insurance for being “experienced and proactive” and “an excellent lawyer with a strong focus on construction-related insurance and reinsurance matters”.
  • Listed in Expert Guides under “Insurance & Reinsurance”.
  • Featured as “Global Leader” in Who’s Who Legal (Insurance & Reinsurance) for 2019-2021, for being “well-respected” and “known in the market for advising on a range of contentious matters” with client feedback being of “professionalism, high degree of technical competence and speed of response.”
  • Recognised as a “Dispute Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation 2019 and 2020.
  • Winner of “Client Choice” Award for insurance for 2020.
  • Awarded the In-House Community Commended External Counsel of the Year for 2020.
  • Awarded “Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyer of the Year” by Finance Monthly Fintech Awards 2019.
  • Recognised as a “Notable Practitioner” in India by IFLR1000 in 2018.
  • Ranked among best 40 lawyers by Asian Legal Business (ALB) Asia 40 Under 40 2017.

Professional Memberships

Member of the Bar Council of Delhi

Languages

English, Hindi and Telugu

Education

  • BA, BL (Hons) at National Academy for Legal Studies and Research, University of Law (2004)