About
Rohit is a partner in Freshfields' international disputes team in Singapore, advising multinationals, financial institutions, technology companies and States across Asia on complex commercial and investor‑State arbitrations, high‑profile investigations, and cross‑border litigation.
His most recent arbitration experience includes representing a Middle Eastern investor in an investment treaty arbitration against a South Asian state, and several of the world's leading financial sponsors in post‑M&A arbitrations.
Rohit is a trusted adviser on complex internal and regulatory investigations, helping clients navigate the full lifecycle of an investigation, from initial response to final outcome. Recent mandates include advising one of the world's largest financial institutions on investigations and related litigation across multiple Indian courts and tribunals, and leading an internal investigation for a global healthcare company into issues around under-accruals in Thailand.
Rohit's practice has a particular focus on the technology sector, sharpened by a nearly two‑year secondment with Google, where he tackled a diverse range of emerging issues, including artificial intelligence. Building on that experience, he now advises global clients on AI‑related regulatory inquiries, providing strategic counsel on the rapidly shifting APAC regulatory landscape and its impact on the development of AI‑driven products and services.
Rohit also leads Freshfields' India disputes practice, advising multinational corporations on their disputes across India. Before joining Freshfields, he practised as a barrister in India, appearing before the Indian Supreme Court and gaining first-hand experience of Indian court...
International Arbitration
- Representing one of the world's largest financial sponsors in a post-M&A arbitration under the SIAC Rules in the Indian real-estate sector.
- Representing a leading lobal alternative asset management company in a Singapore-seated, Korean Law governed arbitration concerning the breach of a best efforts clause.
- Representing a Middle Eastern investment authority in an investment treaty arbitration against a South Asian State.
- Representing the Republic of Korea in an UNCITRAL arbitration commenced by Elliott Associates, L.P., a major US hedge fund, relating to allegations surrounding the Korean government’s role in a US$8bn merger between two Samsung entities.
- Representing a subsidiary of a major Asian trading house in an investment treaty arbitration against a South Asian State relating to a tax demand on its investment in the mining sector.
- Representing an Asian State in proceedings to enforce a treaty award in the English High court.
- Representing a leading private equity house in a SIAC arbitration concerning its exit from an Indian joint venture in the rail freight sector, leading to a comprehensive, favourable settlement and securing the private equity firm’s complete exit.
- Advising a large energy company in a series of disputes pertaining to oil and gas trading contracts with a Chinese counterparty.
- Advising a leading private equity house on a potential SIAC arbitration relating to the development of solar energy projects in India.
- Representing a large oil & gas corporation in a treaty claim against a North African State.
- Representing a major Southeast Asian corporation concerning its exit from an investment in the Middle East, leading to a favourable settlement of all claims.
- Representing a leading private equity house in an UNCITRAL arbitration concerning its exit from an Indian joint venture in the power sector, involving allegations of inappropriate conduct by the Indian promoter and failure to develop a promised power project.
Investigations and related international litigation
- Representing a global consumer healthcare company in an internal investigation into misuse of discount schemes.
- Representing a global consumer healthcare company in an internal investigation into financial under-accrual practices in Thailand.
- Coordinating a global technology company's responses to multiple Asian regulators investigating its AI products.
- Coordinating a global technology comapny's response to cyber regulators in the APAC region following a cyber-security incident.
- Advising one of the world's largest financial institutions on multiple investigations and related litigation across district-level tribunals, the High Court, and the Indian Supreme Court.
- Advising a group of foreign investors, including major multinational corporations, on anti-bribery, corruption, and anti-money laundering issues in India.
- Coordinating an investment bank's response to Indian Enforcement Directorate investigations into alleged foreign exchange and money-laundering violations.
- Coordinating a global technology company's response to antitrust investigations and the resulting litigation in India.
- Advising an oil and gas super-major on an internal investigation into historic trading activity, and related litigation in Singapore.
Rohit Bhat
2 Central Boulevard
#48-01 West Tower, IOI Central Boulevard Towers
Singapore 018916