Gitanjali Bajaj

She/herPartner

Gitanjali is a truly exceptional lawyer. She knows all the details and does not leave a stone unturned. At the same time, she has an innate understanding of our needs and priorities.

— Chambers Global and Asia-Pacific 2026

Emailgitanjali.bajaj@dlapiper.com

Call+61 2 9286 8440

Sydney

About

Gitanjali Bajaj is a leading international dispute resolution partner recognised for her representation of both Sovereign States and private clients in high-value and complex cross-border disputes. Gitanjali is the Asia-Pacific Co-Head for International Arbitration for DLA Piper and the Regional Lead for DLA Piper’s India Group in Australia. Gitanjali also serves as Vice President of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration.

Gitanjali regularly represents private and Sovereign State clients in international commercial arbitrations and various other forums of alternative dispute resolution, across the energy and resources, defence and major infrastructure sectors, where she brings together her in-depth knowledge of the subject matter and a practical understanding of the procedures of such forums to achieve commercially sustainable outcomes.

Gitanjali’s commercial practice is exemplified by high value, high publicity matters such as acting for the French defence Contractor, Naval Group, in the multi-billion dollar submarine dispute with the Commonwealth of Australia, and acting for the international joint venture in relation to a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration arising from the construction of Australia's largest LNG project.

Gitanjali’s Sovereign States’ practice is focussed on the fields of climate change, maritime and land boundary delimitation and law of the sea, exemplified by her continuing representation of Timor-Leste in its land and maritime boundary dispute with Indonesia, prior to which Gitanjali represented Timor-Leste in the first-ever UNCLOS compulsory conciliation proceedings with Australia that led to the Maritime Boundary Treaty between the two States. Gitanjali also represented Timor-Leste in the landmark climate change advisory ruling from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and is currently representing Tonga, Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands and Zambia in the climate change advisory proceedings before the International Court of Justice.

Gitanjali is recognised by Legal 500 as a Leading Partner for Dispute Resolution – Arbitration, as a Next Generation Partner for Construction, she is also recognised as Band 2 for Dispute Resolution - Arbitration in Chambers Global and Asia Pacific 2025, and was listed in the Legal 500’s inaugural arbitration private practice powerlist for Australasia.

Gitanjali has received national and international recognition for her achievements, having been named International ADR Practitioner of the Year 2025; Global Elite Thought Leader for Arbitration 2023 by Who’s Who Legal; Lawyer of the Year in The Best Lawyers in Australia 2022 list for International Arbitration; International ADR Practitioner of the Year 2024, 2021 and 2019; and Arbitration Practitioner of the Year 2020 at the Australian Dispute Centre's ADR Awards; and Partner of the Year at Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards 2018.

Areas of FocusEnergy and Natural Resources Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations Regulatory and Government Affairs Construction and Engineering International Arbitration

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the High Court of AustraliaSolicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, 2007

EXPERIENCE

Acting for an employer in relation to various delay and variation claims by the D&C Contractor arising from the construction of a solar power plant in the Northern Territory.
Acting for an international defence contractor in relation to the termination of one of the largest defence procurement projects in Australia.
Acting for a D&C contractor in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings arising from alleged defects in the Victorian Desalination Plant.
Acting for a South Korean rolling stock manufacturer in relation to various contractual issues at consortium level and owner level arising from a contract to design, build, deliver and maintain a fleet of high capacity double deck trains.
Acting for the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in negotiations with Australia and the Oil & Gas Contractors operating in the Timor Sea on the transition of oil & gas interests in accordance with the Maritime Boundaries Treaty, including for the Greater Sunrise fields.
Acted for an international joint venture in relation to a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration seated in Singapore arising from a downstream EPC Subcontract relating to the construction of the Onshore LNG Facilities forming part of the Ichthys Onshore LNG Project (Northern Territory), Australia's largest LNG project.
Acted for the national petroleum authority of Timor-Leste in relation to an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore for claims arising out of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with major international Oil & Gas contractors for the exploration and exploitation of the oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea.
Acted for an international renewable energy contractor in a multi-million dollar SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore against the EPC Contractor in relation to claims arising from the construction of a bioethanol facility in the Philippines.
Acted for a wind turbine installation contractor in relation to claims for variations, acceleration, extensions of time, site safety issues under subcontracts with the EPC Contractor on five different projects in various dispute forums in Australia.
Acted for a global power generation, infrastructure and transmission facilities contractor in a domestic arbitration in relation to plant operation incidents at a power plant in Western Australia.
Acted for the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste against Australia in Compulsory Conciliation proceedings under Annex V of the 1982 United National Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf and the establishment of permanent maritime boundaries between the two States.

Languages

Awards

Education

The University of Queensland (with a certificate of specialisation in International law), LLB, Hons Class1, 2004

The University of Queensland (with a Major in International Relations), BA, 2004

Publications

An analysis of conciliation and its role in the resolution of international disputes, having regard to the UNCLOS Compulsory Conciliation proceeding between Timor-Leste and Australia and other instances of conciliation, Australian Alternative Dispute Resolution Law Bulletin, Vol 4.6, 2018

Seminars

Prior Experience

Prior to joining the Sydney office, Gitanjali was based in the Middle East from 2008 to 2011 with the Litigation and Regulatory Group at DLA Piper, where she focused on international commercial arbitration and all aspects of commercial litigation.

Memberships And Affiliations