Mediator Resume

Centre for Arbitration and Mediation Practice Private Limited (CAMP) - Founder

Founder & Mediator, Centre for Arbitration and Mediation Practice Private Limited (CAMP), 2015 - Present; Founding Coordinator and Mediator, Bangalore Mediation Centre (Court Annexed Mediation Program of the High Court of Karnataka), 2007 - 2015; Founder, Laila Ollapally and Associates, 1995 - 2014; Law Associate. M/s King & Partridge, Solicitors and Advocates, 1989 -1995; Independent Legal Practice, 1986 - 1989.

As a lawyer of more than 30 years, practised in the Supreme Court of India and the High Court and Consumer Courts of Karnataka State. In litigation practice, successfully handled a large number of cases for a premier medical college in the country, St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore. Served as Chairperson of their Ethical and Research Committee for two terms. Represented several commercial clients such as Banque National De Paris and French Chamber of Commerce. Other Areas of practice include commercial, property, construction, medical negligence, insurance, education, employment, environment, consumer rights, disability rights, minority rights, fundamental rights and others. Successfully fought several Public Interest Litigations regarding inadequate lung space in our city and won two large parks and a lake for the citizens. Worked with consumers, government and Courts towards designing and implementing a plan for health care for persons with Mental Illness and prescribing minimum standards for institutions. One of the largest Mental Health Hospitals in the country, which was a closed ward institution was converted into an open ward institution. Taught Mental Health Law in National Law School, a premier Law School in the country and suggested recommendations to the earlier Mental Health Legislation in the country. Founder and Former Trustee of Action for Mental Illness (ACMI), an NGO focusing on advocacy for persons with mental illness.

Served as mediator in almost 600 cases with a settlement rate of about 80%. Commercial Disputes - breach of contract, construction contract, vendor, founder, IT, transfer of business, partnership, cross border, consumer, intellectual property and others. Company Disputes - shareholder issues, oppression and mismanagement, winding-up, inter and intra company disputes. Property - real estate, joint development, landlord/tenant and others. Matrimonial - divorce, child custody and others. Family Disputes - family business, partition, and other settlements. Sports and other civil disputes. Full-time Mediator since 2014. Trainer and Speaker on Mediation. Conducts trainings in Mediation, Advocacy in Mediation, and in Negotiation at CAMP, Bangalore Mediation Centre (BMC) and Mediation and Conciliation project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court of India. Co-mediated sensitive cases with former Judges of the Supreme Court of India. Along with Foundation for Sustainable Rule of Law Initiatives (FSRI), San Francisco, audited mediation programs set up by the High Courts in the Indian States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Kolkata, Punjab and Haryana. Member of the committee constituted by the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court of India to make recommendations for a legislation for Mediation in India. On the International Advisory Board of Global Mediation Panel, UNDP and the Advisory Board of Foundation for Sustainable Rule of Law, San Francisco. On the Board of Directors at the International Mediation Institute (IMI). Visiting Scholar, Gould Centre for Conflict Resolution, Stanford Law School, 2011. Panel member on the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and on several other International and Domestic Panels. Weinstein International Fellow, JAMS Foundation, San Francisco, 2011.

Family Disputes - majority of businesses in India are family businesses - dispute involving the inheritance of the shareholders of a company worth several million dollars, with several cases including criminal complaints filed against each other; dispute over a will with value of assets in excess of 100 million dollars, between wife, foster daughter, adopted son, live in partner, two children and trustees; legacy left behind by a famous artist and dispute between mother and son; wife of a disabled spouse fighting for control over her husband’s property managed by other family members; partnership dispute in a family owned restaurant; dispute in a family where siblings are more than 80 years old and live in different countries and property located in India. Intellectual Property - over 50 patents held by a family business owned by two siblings in dispute; senior scientist files IP infringement against three former employees. Commercial - cross border disputes between Indian Company leasing premises to an International company in the business of service apartments; dispute between primary contractor and sub-contractor of two subsidiaries of international companies, transfer of business and default in payment, dispute in a company between two heads of departments. Employment - senior management employee dissatisfied with termination. Sports - dispute between an eminent sports person in the country and the sports association. Matrimonial - dispute involving abduction of child; marriage where one spouse identified as gay and child custody involved. To mention the names of some companies who provided explicit permission to disclose names are: Duroflex Pvt Ltd, WeWork India Management Pvt Ltd, Shinryo Suvidha Engineers India Pvt Ltd, Raffles Design International (India) Private Ltd.

I believe parties have their own perspectives and within these differing perspectives, a set of terms exist which are mutually acceptable to all parties. In order to find these terms, I emphasize the understanding of perspectives, gathering of information, creating of options, case evaluation, reality check and brain storming. I actively engage parties and lawyers to take an informed decision through self- determination. As a process expert, I am confident to handle any civil dispute, mindful of culture and due importance to ethics. As appropriate, I will utilize both facilitative and evaluative skills to help the parties reach an informed and truly voluntary agreement. Lawyers are an integral part of the mediation. I am fully invested in my mediations and with permission, follow up with the parties until all possibilities for resolution are explored. I believe in perseverance.

Bangalore University (LLM, Mercantile law - 1987; LLB - 1984); Madras University (MA, Economics - 1976).

Admitted to the Bar Council of India (1986).

Member of the Sub-Committee constituted by the Supreme Court of India to prepare the National Mediation Training Manual which is the current training manual of the country. Co-authored the Bangalore Mediation Centre Training Manual. Published widely in newspapers, law journals and other publications. Panellist at discussions held at the Singapore Convention in 2019. During 2020 and 2021, Speaker and Panellist - at events organised by Italian Chamber of Commerce ADIDEM, Gujarat National Law School, Delhi University, AAA-ICDR Global Mediation Webinar, Singapore International Mediation Centre, IDEX-CAMP Webinar series, Supreme Court Advocates Association Conference on Mediation; Law firms- Nishit Desai, Khaitan, Trilegal; Chamber of Indian Industry, Conference on Intellectual Property by intellectual Professionals LLP; several presentations to companies on Sexual Harassment at Work Place organised by Metis ERC (I) Pvt Ltd; Webinar on Mediation with Tata Iron and Steel Company and others.

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English

India

India