Noida, March 7, 2026

The Institutional and Industrial Dispute Resolution Centre, IIDRC, in collaboration with Jus Mundi as Knowledge Partner, successfully conducted the third session of its ADR Across Industries, Knowledge Series, titled “ADR in Tech and Start-up Conflicts, Founder Agreements, Disputes and Digital Contracts.” The session was held in an online format and brought together legal professionals, industry experts, and practitioners to examine the evolving nature of disputes in the technology and startup ecosystem.

The session was moderated by Mr. Fahim Din Ahmed Khan, Founder of Syndicate Law Offices and Chief Legal Officer at IIDRC. The panel featured an accomplished group of speakers, including Mr. Arjun Prakash, Director at Jus Mundi, Dr. Abhimanyu Chopra, Partner at AZB Partners, Ms. Pallavi Kumar, Partner at JSA Advocates, and Ms. Ankita Sawal, Head of Data Privacy at Chadha and Chadha Law Firm.

The discussion explored emerging trends in technology driven disputes, with a particular focus on cross border challenges, digital contracts, and the growing complexity of data and artificial intelligence related conflicts. Speakers highlighted the increasing reliance on arbitration as a preferred dispute resolution mechanism, while also noting the need for institutional and procedural evolution to keep pace with rapid technological developments.

Key insights included the rising prevalence of founder disputes stemming from informal business arrangements, the importance of clear and structured documentation, and the limitations of generic dispute resolution clauses. The panel also examined the role of hybrid dispute resolution models, combining mediation and arbitration, particularly in resolving relational and founder level conflicts within startups. The session further addressed the growing significance of data protection and artificial intelligence in dispute scenarios, with emphasis on challenges such as algorithmic accountability and regulatory overlap under evolving legal frameworks. Speakers underscored the importance of technical literacy among arbitrators and the need for specialised expertise in handling technology centric disputes.

The webinar concluded with reflections on the need for adaptive and forward looking ADR mechanisms to address the complexities of modern commercial disputes. IIDRC also announced the upcoming session in the series focusing on ADR in the banking and finance sector.

IIDRC extends its appreciation to all speakers, participants, and its knowledge partner for contributing to a substantive and forward looking discussion. The Centre remains committed to advancing dialogue and capacity building in emerging areas of dispute resolution.