In the rarefied world of public international law and investor–state arbitration, Sudhanshu Roy stands out as a lawyer who operates effortlessly across continents, courtrooms, and cultures. A Senior Associate at Foley Hoag LLP, Sudhanshu brings together intellectual rigor, diplomatic finesse, and courtroom precision to represent sovereign states and investors before international tribunals.
This Koffee Conversation captures the journey of a global legal mind shaped by history, policy, and practice. Qualified in New York, Washington DC, and India, and a graduate of NYU School of Law, Sudhanshu exemplifies what it means to be a modern international arbitration lawyer — adaptive, disciplined, and deeply committed to the rule of law beyond borders.
Sudhanshu’s legal path began in India, where he studied at Hidayatullah National Law University during its formative years, immersing himself early in advocacy, research, and competitive mooting. His curiosity for global affairs, history, and public policy naturally led him toward international law, a field where law, politics, and diplomacy intersect daily.
A defining leap came with his move to the United States and his association with Foley Hoag LLP, one of the world’s leading firms in public international law. Over the last nine years, Sudhanshu has represented governments including India and other sovereign states in complex investor–state and state–state disputes, working across jurisdictions such as the US, UK, France, Singapore, and beyond — mastering not just the law, but the art of persuasion on a global stage.
Key Highlights of the Koffee Conversation with Sudhanshu Roy:
- Practices international arbitration and public international law across multiple jurisdictions.
- Qualified to practice law in New York, Washington DC, and New Delhi.
- Represented sovereign states in high-stakes investor–state arbitration matters.
- Worked closely with the Government of India on treaty interpretation and disputes.
- Emphasizes clarity, chronology, and evidence as the backbone of arbitration strategy.
- Notes that advocacy in the US demands concise, precise, and persuasive writing.
- Highlights cultural and procedural differences between Indian and US legal practice.
- Believes states are liable only for egregious, bad-faith conduct under international law.
- Explains how public interest often underlies government actions challenged by investors.
- Credits NYU Law for shaping his practical, problem-solving approach to lawyering.
- Sees AI as transformative for document review and chronology building, not oral advocacy.
- Stresses trust as the foundation of lawyer–government relationships.
- Advocates persistence and long-term brand building for aspiring arbitration lawyers.
- Deeply values mental health, physical fitness, and family time in a demanding career.
- Describes himself as “serious looking, but not serious at heart.”
🎥 Watch the full Koffee Conversation with Sudhanshu Roy on YouTube — an insightful journey through international arbitration, sovereign representation, global legal practice, and the discipline it takes to build a truly international legal career.
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