Zoeb S. Cutlerywala

Zoeb S. Cutlerywala is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution practice at Phoenix Legal, with over 16 years of experience advising and representing Indian and international clients in complex commercial disputes, arbitration, investigations and contentious regulatory matters. He regularly appears before the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, tribunals and arbitral forums across the country.

Zoeb is particularly recognised for handling high-value, strategically sensitive disputes requiring urgent relief, coordinated multi-jurisdictional litigation and complex enforcement strategies across diverse industry sectors.

He regularly advises and represents clients in complex commercial disputes involving contractual claims, infrastructure and EPC projects, banking and financial services litigation, tender and procurement disputes, insolvency and bankruptcy, real estate disputes, constitutional and writ proceedings, regulatory litigation and other high-value commercial matters. He has extensive experience acting for multinational corporations, financial institutions, public sector undertakings and promoter groups in disputes involving significant commercial, regulatory and reputational risk.

A significant part of Zoeb's practice is devoted to shipping and maritime law. He regularly represents shipowners, charterers, cargo interests, P&I Clubs, commodity traders and financial institutions in admiralty proceedings, charterparty disputes, bills of lading disputes, marine casualties, cargo claims, maritime liens, vessel arrests and releases, and cross-border maritime disputes.

He frequently appears before the Bombay, Gujarat, Kerala and Orissa High Courts in admiralty matters involving actions in rem and in personam. His practice includes advising domestic and international clients on sanctions-related shipping issues, charterparty disputes, vessel arrests, cross-border enforcement and other emerging issues affecting international maritime trade. He has considerable experience handling complex, multi-jurisdictional maritime disputes.

Zoeb also maintains a substantial white-collar crime and corporate investigations practice. He regularly advises and represents corporates, promoters, boards of directors and senior management in matters involving economic offences, fraud, corruption, money laundering, financial crimes and other criminal proceedings arising out of commercial transactions.

In addition to contentious proceedings, he leads internal investigations for corporate clients arising from whistleblower complaints, allegations of employee misconduct, fraud, regulatory non-compliance, governance concerns, conflicts of interest and other sensitive matters. His investigations practice includes coordinating multi-jurisdictional investigations, conducting witness interviews, reviewing complex documentary records and advising clients on regulatory exposure, risk mitigation and remedial measures.