LAWYER PROFILE
Mahesh Rai

Mahesh Rai

Asia-Pacific 2026

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Chambers ranking badge

Ranked in 4 practice areas

Contributions and articles

1 Global Practice Guides
1 Articles, Press releases, highlights

About

Provided by Drew & Napier LLC

Practice Areas

International Arbitration, Litigation, Construction

Career

Mahesh commands praise for being “a first-rate litigator” and “an excellent disputes lawyer and a master strategist with a deserved reputation for solving complex issues”. Clients praise him for being a lawyer who “is quick on his feet, pays attention to detail and is clear and concise in his explanations”.

Mahesh is called to the Singapore and New York bars and is admitted as a solicitor of England & Wales. He acts as counsel in litigation and arbitration matters with a particular focus on complex disputes across a range of industries including construction, telecommunications, IT, shipping, energy and commodities. He has represented both commercial parties and state entities in arbitrations under the major institutional rules including ICC, SIAC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and VIAC.

He is consistently ranked in several respected legal publications. Mahesh has also won several prestigious awards including the Joseph Grimberg Outstanding Young Advocate Award in 2021 (after being selected by a panel of 5 Singapore judges), the ALB Young Lawyer of the Year Award 2019. Mahesh was placed on the Supreme Court’s Young Amicus Curiae list in 2014 and various advocacy awards.

Professional Memberships

Director, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Singapore Branch; Fellow, CIArb and SIArb; Panel Arbitrator, SIAC Reserve Panel; Arbitrator, AIAC Panel; Panel of Arbitrators, THAC; Panel of International Arbitrators, KCAB; Assessor, Ministry of Law Panel of Assessors for COVID-19 Temporary Relief; Accredited Specialist (Building and Construction), Singapore Academy of Law; Chairman, CIArb Young Members Group; Member, YIAG; Member, Young ICCA; Member, IPBA; Member, IBA; Member, Law Society of Singapore; Committee Member, International Relations Committee of Law Society of Singapore; Lead Counsel, Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offences

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Asia & Pacific

Construction: Domestic - Singapore

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial
Mahesh Rai has an emerging reputation in Singapore's legal market. He often handles local construction disputes, as well as matters within the wider South-East Asia region.

Dispute Resolution (International Firms) - India

Expertise Based Abroad
India, expertise based abroad in Singapore

Individual Editorial

Mahesh Rai focuses on international arbitration from Singapore. He has handled a range of commercial arbitrations with an India element, and has notable expertise in construction disputes.

Dispute Resolution: Arbitration - Singapore

Band 4
Band 4

Individual Editorial

Mahesh Rai represents companies in natural resources, construction and other commercial disputes. He has represented clients in disputes involving corporates and government entities.

Dispute Resolution: Litigation - Singapore

Band 5
Band 5

Individual Editorial

Mahesh Rai regularly appears in the High Court, leading in a variety of cross-border disputes. He is well-versed in advising international clients on shareholder disputes.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • He is a highly skilled and versatile lawyer.

    Construction: DomesticChambers Asia & Pacific
  • He is extremely intelligent, very capable of answering our questions and our top choice when it comes to heavy and complex matters

    Construction: DomesticChambers Asia & Pacific
  • The quality that stands out the most about Mahesh is his ability to offer innovative solutions to very complex problems.

    Dispute Resolution: ArbitrationChambers Asia & Pacific
  • Mahesh is one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with. He is hard-working, super commercial and very sharp.

    Dispute Resolution: LitigationChambers Asia & Pacific

Ranked Individuals at Drew & Napier LLC (42)

India

Singapore

All Contributions (1)

Provided by Drew & Napier LLC

Articles, Highlights and Press Releases

1 item provided by Drew & Napier LLC

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