Personal bio
Nandakumar (Kumar) Ponniya heads the Dispute Resolution Practice of Baker & McKenzie in the Asia-Pacific. He is widely acclaimed in international arbitration and cross-border litigation, with particular expertise in the areas of construction, technology, energy and financial services. His practice includes dealing with disputes arising from corporate and commercial matters, and managing multi-jurisdictional restructuring and insolvency. With over 25 years' experience, Kumar has handled disputes and matters across various industry sectors and jurisdictions, serving clients in Asia and beyond. He is qualified to practice in Singapore, England & Wales and New York; and is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Kumar is listed as a leading international arbitration lawyer in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific and was also named a Litigation Star in the Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific - Chambers Asia Pacific - quotes “the ‘well respected’ Nandakumar Ponniya for having led commercial and investment arbitrations and notes that he "stands out for his quickness and perspicacity". He has also been described by clients as being “intellectually sharp and street smart” (Legal 500) and "extremely technically proficient and commercially savvy " (Chambers Global). He has also been listed in the Guide to the World's Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration. In litigation, Kumar has appeared as counsel before all divisions of the Singapore Courts, including the Singapore International Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal. In arbitration, he has sat as presiding arbitrator in high value disputes and as counsel, has had conduct of international arbitrations involving all the major arbitral rules with hearings in multiple jurisdictions.