Two Day Workshop on "From Classroom to Courtroom 2.0: Hands-on Training on Arbitration"

From Classroom to Courtroom 2.0: A Workshop on Alternative Dispute Resolution

The School of Law, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, successfully organised a two-day workshop titled “From Classroom to Courtroom 2.0: A Workshop on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)” on 28th and 29th October 2026. Designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice, the workshop brought together 5th and 4th year students for an immersive engagement with arbitration, one of the most widely used mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes. It was a grand success, marked by enthusiastic participation and lively discussion across both days.

The workshop was aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). By offering practice-oriented, experiential learning, it advanced quality education that equips students with relevant professional skills. By focusing on arbitration as a means of resolving disputes fairly and efficiently, it also contributed to access to justice and the strengthening of effective institutions.

The sessions were led by Mr. Siddhartha Datta, Partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, who has extensive experience in commercial litigation and domestic and international arbitration. He was assisted by his Senior Associate, Mr. Chetan Kabra. Drawing on years of practice before High Courts, the Supreme Court and arbitral tribunals, Mr. Datta gave students a candid practitioner’s view of how arbitration works in real disputes. Hearing from a senior practitioner allowed students to see their coursework come alive.

Day One comprised lecture sessions conducted separately for the 5th and 4th year students. The sessions covered arbitration agreements, commercial arbitration proceedings, and the importance of the law of contract in arbitration. Mr. Datta also spoke on advocacy in arbitration, proof of damages at trial, and the points at which courts and arbitration interact, with significant attention to setting aside proceedings and the basic principles governing challenges to awards. He illustrated these concepts with notable judgements, helping students see how statutory provisions are interpreted and applied by courts.

Day Two was devoted entirely to hands-on training, conducted as an interactive group discussion. Students worked through the elements that make up an arbitral award, the procedure for making claims and conducting trials, and the possible grounds for challenging an award. They also assessed a model award, examining how contracts and evidence are interpreted, and debated the distinction between patent illegality and public policy. Mr. Datta, assisted by Mr. Kabra, guided the groups, offered feedback on their reasoning and referred to notable judgements to anchor the discussion in precedent.

The workshop helped students move beyond theory and develop skills of legal analysis, structured argument and critical evaluation. Engaging with a model award gave them a clear sense of how an award is read, tested and challenged, while the group discussion strengthened their confidence in articulating and defending positions. Collaborating in groups also encouraged students to listen to differing viewpoints, defend their reasoning respectfully and arrive at reasoned conclusions, skills that are central to effective advocacy. The open house sessions allowed students to put questions directly to the practitioners.

The School of Law extends its sincere gratitude to Mr. Datta and Mr. Kabra for generously sharing their time and expertise, and to the Internship Committee, faculty members and student volunteers whose efforts made the event a success. “From Classroom to Courtroom 2.0” reaffirmed the School’s continued commitment to experiential legal education, ensuring that students are academically sound and professionally prepared for the demands of legal practice.