Somya Priyadarshini

Somya Priyadarshini is a highly accomplished, dual-qualified disputes lawyer, licensed to practise in the State of New York, United States, and India. She holds a Master’s degree (LL.M.) in International Arbitration from the University of Miami School of Law and is registered as a Legal Consultant with the Dubai Legal Affairs Department. With over a decade of experience across India, the United States, and the Middle East, Somya has built a formidable reputation for advising and representing clients in high-value, complex, and strategically sensitive international disputes.
Somya’s practice is firmly anchored in international arbitration and cross-border litigation. She has acted as counsel in a wide range of ad hoc and institutional arbitrations under the rules of the ICC, DIAC, LCIA, SIAC, and QICCA. Her work routinely involves multi-party, multi-contract disputes and sophisticated procedural and jurisdictional issues, with governing laws spanning the UAE, Oman, Qatar, England & Wales, India, the United States, and various Caribbean jurisdictions.
Her sector expertise is particularly concentrated in construction, infrastructure, real estate, energy, and hospitality. Somya has advised and represented employers, contractors, subcontractors, developers, consultants, and investors in disputes arising out of landmark projects, including public stadiums, international airports, hydroelectric plants, luxury hotels, mixed-use developments, commercial complexes, large-scale residential townships, and heritage restoration projects. Her experience includes disputes governed by FIDIC and other standard-form contracts, as well as bespoke EPC and project agreements.
Selected Experience
Somya’s notable representations include, among others:
Representing a Dubai-based subcontractor in a DIAC arbitration against an Ireland-based company concerning interior design and fit-out works, involving complex delay and quantum disputes under UAE law.
Acting for a Dubai-based company in a DIAC arbitration against a U.S.-based architectural firm involving non-performance and variation claims, with a dispute value of approximately USD 50 million.Representing a Dubai-based, globally recognised hospitality brand listed on Nasdaq Dubai and Nasdaq New York in a DIAC arbitration against project owners for breach of a Sale and Purchase Agreement.
Defending a UAE-based construction company specialising in high-end real estate in a DIAC arbitration initiated by a contractor alleging breach of a Construction Project Agreement.
Successfully representing an Oman-based construction company in an ICC arbitration against an Omani employer relating to a mixed-use residential-hotel development under FIDIC conditions, involving delay, payment, and bank guarantee disputes, with a matter value of USD 150 million and a seat in Oman.
Representing a Dubai-based precious metals trading company in proceedings before the DIFC Courts for breach of a settlement agreement.
Acting in a Kuwait-seated ICC arbitration for a Dubai-based subcontractor involving engineering, taxation, and contractual disputes arising from a state university project.
Representing a UAE subcontractor in an ICC arbitration concerning multiple subcontract disputes on the Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace project.
Advising on a potential USD 3 billion ICSID arbitration for a UAE-based gas company against a sovereign state for alleged breaches of a Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Successfully assisting a Dubai-based contractor in DIFC Court proceedings against a developer concerning delay and liquidated damages, resulting in a landmark judgment addressing critical issues on contractual notice requirements.
Representing an Oman-based EPC contractor in an ICC arbitration against a South Korean company relating to extension of time and associated claims under the IChemE Red Book, for the A’Seeb Sewage Collection and Conveyance System project, with the arbitration seated in London and governed by Omani law.
In addition to arbitration, Somya regularly appears before the DIFC and ADGM Courts, handling complex commercial litigation involving settlement agreements, IT and technology services contracts, online trading and regulatory penalty disputes, and strategic collaboration and joint venture agreements.
Professional Approach
Somya is widely recognized for her strategic acumen, rigorous case preparation, and ability to manage large-scale disputes with clarity and precision. She adopts a litigation-informed arbitration approach, combining procedural discipline with commercial pragmatism. Her client-centric mindset, cross-jurisdictional fluency, and deep understanding of international dispute dynamics enable her to deliver practical, outcome-focused advice in some of the most challenging dispute scenarios.
Her ability to navigate diverse legal systems, arbitral rules, and cultural contexts makes her a trusted advisor to regional and international clients facing complex, high-stakes disputes across multiple jurisdictions