Nikhil is a graduate of the University of Cambridge (B.A. (Hons) Law, 2020). While a student, Nikhil was active in the performing arts space, intra-university debating and policy paper writing. In 2020, he co-authored a research paper published by European Horizons on climate resilience strategies in coastal European cities. Nikhil has maintained a fervent interest in environmental, conservation and sustainability related issues since his school years.
Nikhil completed 12 months’ worth of training in K&L Gates (Singapore), the Singapore office of an international law firm. In that time, he drafted legal advice in Public International Law for large international investors and industrial conglomerates in cross-border investments, assisted with drafting a model bilateral investment treaty for the Gambia containing substantive clauses on environmental protection. He has since been working as a disputes lawyer in Drew & Napier LLC, one of Singapore’s “Big 4” law firms.
Previously, Nikhil worked as a Research Apprentice at APCEL from 2020-2021. Nikhil was involved in various APCEL projects during his time here, including co-authoring a book chapter on the sustainability and environmental effects of Singapore’s regime of COVID-19 responses, and assisting with research work for the global Environmental Courts and Tribunals survey with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). He also managed the launch of APCEL’s inaugural bi-annual newsletter.
Away from work, Nikhil is also the International Environmental Law Program Coordinator with the Global Pro Bono Bar Association.
- Biodiversity conservation
- Environmental protection in international investment law
- Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) in the corporate sphere
Nikhil’s current research project focuses on analysing and assessing the suitability of carve-outs from investment protections and investor-state dispute settlement, in Singapore’s bilateral investment treaties, for environmentally beneficial acts of government.
