Singapore heavyweight Drew & Napier has bolstered its India-focused disputes practice with the addition of international arbitration specialist Abhinav Bhushan as a director in Singapore.

The India-qualified Bhushan joins director Mahesh Rai’s disputes team, which specialises in cross-border arbitration and litigation.

He was most recently an independent practitioner, arbitrator and Asia chief executive of the London-headquartered 39 Essex Chambers, and had previously served as director for South Asia of the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Court of Arbitration.

Bhushan represents clients in international arbitration and dispute resolution with a focus on India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and Europe.

He has also been appointed arbitrator in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations panning sectors such as shipping, energy, aviation, and construction.

“Abhinav’s promotion of institutional arbitration in the region has been a tour de force,” said Rai in a statement. “We are very excited to have Abhinav join our team where he will no doubt contribute to the bench strength of our dispute resolution practice.”

His hire marks Drew’s latest move to ramp up its regional offering. Last year, the Singapore Big Four firm’s regional network, Drew Network Asia (DNA), added the Thailand-headquartered Tilleke & Gibbins as a member. The network, launched by Drew in 2020, also counts Malaysia’s Shearn Delamore & Co, Indonesia’s Makarim & Taira S, and the Philippines’ Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad as members.