Post-Doctoral Research in Insolvency & Arbitration

Post-Doctoral Research in Insolvency & Arbitration (PODRIA2) 

A Professional Specialized Skill Training Program by Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI)

• Eligibility: Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Ph.D. or completed Doctoral Research Skill with any research or work experience.

• Total Fees: Rs. 9,000/-
  (Everything Included from Admission, Course Fees and Delivery of Certificate, no additional Fees Apart from it)

• Mode: Online

• Study Material:  Will be provided through Learning Dashboard/Portal

• Learning Type: Self Paced

• Duration:  3 Months (Preferably, but can be completed anytime as soon as you give the Exam)

• Enrollment:  Any Time, there is no Fixed Enrolment Date or Day. A candidate can choose any time and the enrolment will be processed real time.

• Exam: One Online Exam, MCQ and Subjective Type Questions of 100 Marks. Passing Marks 40%. If unsuccessful, you can give additional two attempts.

• Procedure: Fill the Apply Now Form →  Pay the Requisite Amount of Fees by Clicking Pay Now Button → Then Click on Payment Confirmation button and fill the form with all the Details → Then login to the Dashboard.

Course Overview

The intersection of insolvency law and arbitral jurisprudence presents some of the most intricate doctrinal tensions and structural debates in modern commercial jurisprudence. While statutory corporate rescue mechanisms prioritize collective settlement, debtor rehabilitation, and universal creditor moratoria, alternative dispute resolution hinges fundamentally on bilateral party autonomy, specialized private jurisdiction, and contractual finality. The Post-Doctoral Research in Insolvency & Arbitration (PODRIA2), established by the Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI), is an elite, advanced research program curated exclusively for doctoral scholars, seasoned legal theoreticians, and senior research practitioners.

This program serves as an intellectual incubator for high-level legal inquiry, pushing beyond standard procedural application to deconstruct the systemic philosophies governing commercial debt workouts and parallel arbitral references. Fellows scrutinize the doctrinal legitimacy of statutory stays over ongoing domestic and international disputes, the evolving boundaries of in rem versus in personam arbitrability, and the enforceability of emergency arbitral relief in reorganizations. The curriculum is rooted in empirical research methodologies, cross-jurisdictional legal analyses, and advanced doctrinal synthesis.

Scholars explore the friction between restructuring frameworks and international treaty commitments, analyzing the practical treatment of bilateral investment treaty (BIT) arbitrations against states implementing aggressive domestic insolvency reorganizations. In addition, the research modules unpack cross-border jurisdictional conflicts under the UNCITRAL Model Laws, tracing how multinational restructuring protocols interact with foreign arbitral seats and enforcement jurisdictions under the New York Convention.

Structured to foster thought leadership and legislative policy contribution, PODRIA2 equips post-doctoral fellows with the critical acumen necessary to draft high-impact academic treatises, formulate judicial amicus analyses, and guide statutory law-reform committees. By bridging deep doctrinal jurisprudence with institutional policy frameworks, the IAI provides researchers with an unprecedented platform to publish transformative scholarship, advise international working groups, and influence the global harmonization of insolvency-arbitration interfaces.

Course Structure and Modules

The tentative modules are as follows and are subject to continuous updates based on guidelines issued by the IAI Board of Skill Studies:

Module 1: Advanced Jurisprudential Foundations & Public Policy Interfaces

• Philosophical underpinnings of collective insolvency versus bilateral contract adjudication.

• Doctrinal analysis of non-arbitrability, state sovereignty, and international public policy.

• Constitutional and statutory tensions between judicial tribunals and private arbitral forums.

Module 2: Moratorium Mechanisms & The Arbitral Enclave: Comparative Studies

• Doctrinal friction: Statutory moratoria versus contractual arbitral mandates across common and civil law.

• The status of counterclaims, defensive set-offs, and third-party indemnity claims during restructuring.

• Judicial deference models: A comparative evaluation of Indian, UK, US, and Singapore jurisprudence.

Module 3: Cross-Border Insolvency & International Commercial Arbitration

• The interaction between the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency and international arbitration.

• Parallel cross-border insolvencies, antisuit injunctions, and the coordination of concurrent proceedings.

• Universalism versus territorialism: Preserving arbitral integrity across multinational insolvency estates.

Module 4: Sovereign Restructuring, Investor-State Disputes, and Investment Treaties

• Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) claims arising from domestic statutory insolvency actions.

• State liability, expropriation thresholds, and fair and equitable treatment (FET) in bank bail-ins.

• Sovereign debt restructuring mechanisms, collective action clauses, and international treaty arbitration.

Module 5: Forensic Valuation, Expert Evidence, and Economic Analysis of Law

• Economic theories of distress, asset dissipation, and efficient breach within arbitral contexts.

• Methodologies for quantifying contingent liabilities, discounted cash flows, and enterprise value.

• Critique of evidentiary standards and the role of tribunal-appointed neutral experts in complex claims.

Module 6: Distressed Debt, Third-Party Funding, and Ethics in Dispute Finance

• Doctrinal perspectives on litigation funding and claims purchasing in distressed corporate environments.

• Champerty, maintenance, and mandatory disclosure requirements across international arbitral centers.

• Fiduciary boundaries and ethical duties of funders, insolvency administrators, and arbitral counsels.

Module 7: Harmonization, Model Laws, and International Law Reform

• Critical critique of UNCITRAL, UNIDROIT, and World Bank principles on commercial enterprise rescue.

• Drafting specialized institutional rules for fast-track distressed arbitrations and hybrid mediation.

• Formulating statutory reform models for systemic inter-tribunal coordination and judicial efficiency.

Module 8: Post-Doctoral Research Methodology, Thesis Formulation, and Policy Drafting

• Advanced quantitative and qualitative legal research design and empirical case sampling.

• Constructing peer-reviewed analytical monographs, white papers, and judicial reference memorandums.

• Policy paper drafting: Translating high-level doctrinal inquiry into actionable legislative guidelines.

Importance of Doing this Course

The interface of commercial debt restructuring and arbitral proceedings is an active, unresolved battleground in contemporary corporate jurisprudence. As global insolvency codes mature, courts worldwide struggle to harmonize the non-derogable public mandate of insolvency stays with the private finality guaranteed to arbitral forums. The Post-Doctoral Research in Insolvency & Arbitration (PODRIA2) bridges a major intellectual and analytical void in current legal education.

First, this credential offers doctoral-level thinkers the institutional support and technical framework required to engage in high-level specialized inquiry. While general doctoral dissertations often cover broad themes, PODRIA2 focuses sharply on the high-stakes jurisdictional frictions between insolvency administration and arbitral finality. Fellows gain the specialized research methodologies needed to dissect conflicting appellate rulings, reconcile statutory anomalies, and formulate authoritative jurisprudential theories.

Second, the program prepares scholars for direct involvement in legislative drafting, public policy formulation, and judicial consultation. Corporate insolvency regulators, international arbitral institutions, and law commissions frequently seek advisors capable of designing institutional rules that prevent strategic delays and procedural deadlocks. This course equips scholars with the analytical precision and drafting fluency required to formulate institutional guidelines, amicus curiae briefs, and legislative reforms.

Third, the PODRIA2 designation confirms mastery over interdisciplinary legal research. Awarded by the Indian Arbitration Institution, it distinguishes the researcher as an authority in commercial dispute jurisprudence, opening avenues to shape policy, lead funded institutional research initiatives, and publish foundational legal scholarship in prestigious journals worldwide.

Career Prospects

The advanced, research-intensive focus of the PODRIA2 program prepares doctoral fellows for senior roles in academic administration, sovereign policy advisory, judicial consultation, and specialized corporate strategy.

Senior Legal Academics and Research Chairs: Graduates are positioned for tenured professorships, named research chairs, and directorships of centers for commercial law, dispute resolution, or insolvency studies at prestigious domestic and international universities. Fellows lead academic departments, direct funded research projects, and mentor the next generation of legal scholars.

Policy Advisors and Legislative Consultants: Government ministries, statutory corporate affairs bodies, and law commissions actively engage research specialists to evaluate insolvency and arbitration frameworks. PODRIA2 holders advise legislative drafting committees, prepare technical policy impact assessments, and harmonize national restructuring statutes with international best practices.

Advisors to International Organizations and Working Groups: International multilateral agencies—such as UNCITRAL, UNIDROIT, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund—require senior scholars to contribute to model laws, comparative diagnostic studies, and cross-border insolvency guides. Fellows serve as independent experts, working group delegates, and external academic rapporteurs.

Senior Arbitral Research Counsel and Tribunal Secretaries: Premier arbitral institutions, international courts, and specialized commercial benches retain post-doctoral researchers as senior legal officers or lead tribunal secretaries. In these roles, scholars conduct deep comparative jurisdictional inquiries, prepare complex award drafts, and evaluate challenging jurisdictional objections involving bankrupt entities.

Think-Tank Fellows and Strategy Consultants for Distressed Asset Funds: Elite economic think tanks, corporate governance institutes, and specialized sovereign wealth or turnaround funds retain post-doctoral researchers to provide strategic risk assessments on cross-border recoveries, regulatory transitions, and structural debt restructuring.

Necessary Details

The Indian Arbitration Institution delivers this post-doctoral research program through a dedicated, self-paced virtual research portal structured specifically for doctoral degree holders and established scholars.

Eligibility To ensure an uncompromising level of scholastic inquiry and research excellence, admission is strictly open to:

• Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with a Ph.D. or completed Doctoral Research Skill along with any prior research or work experience.

This criterion welcomes doctoral graduates in law, commerce, business administration, economics, public policy, and related fields who wish to develop advanced research specializations at the crossroads of corporate insolvency and arbitration.

Total Fees The comprehensive program fee is Rs. 9,000/-. The IAI maintains an all-inclusive fee structure with zero hidden levies, assessment charges, or administrative supplements. This covers the entire admission process, complete digital portal access, academic guidance modules, digital examination privileges, and the courier delivery of the physical Post-Doctoral Certificate upon successful defense and completion.

Mode and Study Material The entire fellowship is delivered Online. Upon verified registration, researchers receive personalized credentials to access the secure Learning Dashboard/Portal. High-level Study Material—including advanced research monographs, comparative statutory datasets, landmark foreign judgements, drafting blueprints, and curated reading materials—is hosted directly on the dashboard.

Learning Type and Duration The research framework is entirely Self-Paced. While the suggested tenure is 3 Months, candidates operate under total academic flexibility; fellows may complete their reading, conclude their independent research evaluations, and sit for the final examination at any pace that aligns with their personal commitments.

Enrollment Enrollment remains open Any Time throughout the year. There are no fixed academic sessions, enrollment cutoffs, or batch limits. A candidate can enroll whenever they are ready, and their registration is processed in real time to grant immediate dashboard access.

Examination Structure Academic evaluation consists of One Online Exam featuring Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Subjective / Research-Oriented Questions totaling 100 Marks.

• Passing Marks: 40%

• Re-examination Policy: If unsuccessful on the initial attempt, candidates are granted two additional attempts at no supplementary cost.

Procedure

1. Apply: Complete and submit the online Apply Now Form on the IAI portal.

2. Pay: Pay the requisite fee of Rs. 9,000/- via the secure Pay Now payment gateway.

3. Confirm: Click the Payment Confirmation button and complete the submission form with all transaction details.

4. Access: Log in to the Learning Dashboard to review the modules and begin the research program.