Post Graduate Diploma in Shareholder & Corporate Disputes

Post Graduate Diploma in Shareholder & Corporate Disputes (PGDSCD)

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

• Eligibility: Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Diploma or Graduation appearing or passed.

• Total Fees: Rs. 7,500/-
  (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 modern corporate ecosystem is defined by intricate ownership structures, diverse funding rounds, and ambitious cross-border expansions. While venture capital, private equity, and institutional investments have accelerated commercial growth, they have also multiplied the points of friction between stakeholders. Disagreements over operational control, capital dilution, valuation discrepancies, managerial deadlock, and minority shareholder rights are now frequent occurrences in boardrooms worldwide. Resolving these corporate conflicts requires specialized knowledge that spans corporate governance, contract law, statutory compliance, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The Post Graduate Diploma in Shareholder & Corporate Disputes (PGDSCD), offered by the Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI), delivers comprehensive, practical training designed to navigate the lifecycle of intra-corporate disputes.

This professional program is structured to equip learners with actionable insights into corporate conflict management, bridging doctrinal corporate law with institutional ADR strategies. Participants explore the root causes of corporate friction, starting with the drafting of foundational agreements such as Shareholders’ Agreements (SHAs), Share Subscription Agreements (SSAs), and Articles of Association (AoA). Learners examine how protective clauses, veto privileges, drag-along and tag-along rights, and pre-emption mechanisms function during hostile takeovers, founder exits, or executive malfeasance.

The curriculum balances statutory remedies with private dispute mechanisms. Candidates study how statutory tribunals handle allegations of oppression and mismanagement, alongside the procedural mechanics of corporate arbitration and mediation. Key topics include navigating non-compete covenants, commercial deadlock dissolution, tribunal-appointed investigations, emergency arbitral interim reliefs, and shareholder class action actions.

Through structured modules, candidates learn to balance commercial imperatives with strategic legal remedies. The PGDSCD transforms statutory and contractual theory into hands-on corporate dispute management skills, making it suitable for corporate counsel, commercial litigators, company secretaries, startup founders, and compliance professionals seeking mastery over high-stakes corporate disputes.

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: Corporate Governance, Capital Structures, and Dispute Dynamics

• Principles of corporate separate legal personality and fiduciary duties of directors.

• Capital structuring, equity rights, and voting mechanisms across share classes.

• Origins of boardroom deadlocks, founder disputes, and investor-management friction.

Module 2: Key Corporate Agreements and Restrictive Covenants

• Drafting and interpreting Shareholders' Agreements (SHAs), SSAs, and Joint Venture agreements.

• Structuring protective rights: affirmative voting rights, vetoes, and information access.

• Transfer restrictions: Rights of First Refusal (ROFR), Right of First Offer (ROFO), Tag-Along, and Drag-Along clauses.

Module 3: Oppression, Mismanagement, and Statutory Shareholder Remedies

• Statutory mechanisms for redressing oppression and mismanagement before company tribunals.

• Minority shareholder protections, derivative actions, and class actions.

• Tribunal powers: board reconstitution, share buybacks, and corporate investigation orders.

Module 4: Institutional Arbitration and ADR in Corporate Conflicts

• Arbitrability of corporate disputes, oppression claims, and insolvency overlaps.

• Drafting dispute escalation clauses: negotiation, expert determination, and institutional arbitration.

• Interim relief from tribunals and emergency arbitrators to prevent asset stripping and share dilution.

Module 5: Exit Mechanisms, Valuations, and Deadlock Resolution

• Deadlock resolution techniques: Russian Roulette, Texas Shootout, and put/call options.

• Fair market valuation methodologies, discounted cash flow (DCF), and independent audit disputes.

• Winding up on just and equitable grounds versus negotiated management buyouts (MBO).

Module 6: Cross-Border Enforcement, Sanctions, and Post-Award Remedies

• Multi-jurisdictional shareholder disputes and offshore asset tracing.

• Enforcement of arbitral awards and tribunal decrees against corporate entities and personal guarantors.

• Settlement structuring, mutual release deeds, and non-disparagement execution.

Importance of Doing this Course

Corporate disputes rarely remain contained; unmanaged shareholder conflicts can stall corporate operations, trigger credit downgrades, deplete company reserves, and destroy enterprise value. Traditional legal and business management degrees frequently overlook the tactical interplay between dynamic corporate governance, contract enforcement, and institutional dispute resolution. The Post Graduate Diploma in Shareholder & Corporate Disputes provides the specialized skills needed to bridge this operational gap.

First, the program builds deep transactional and strategic acumen. Participants learn to analyze corporate contracts not merely as static paperwork, but as live instruments designed to prevent or navigate disputes. Understanding how ambiguous phrasing in a transfer restriction or an escalation clause can lead to protracted litigation enables professionals to draft bulletproof governance documentation.

Second, the course provides tactical literacy in resolving boardroom and investor crises. Whether safeguarding the interests of an oppressed minority founder or defending a majority investor against bad-faith obstruction, candidates develop fluency in both tribunal-driven statutory remedies and confidential institutional arbitration. This allows professionals to recommend dispute resolution strategies that save time, control costs, and preserve business goodwill.

Finally, earning an advanced postgraduate diploma accredited by the Indian Arbitration Institution signals specialized capability in corporate conflict management. It equips learners to operate comfortably in high-pressure commercial negotiations, board meetings, and dispute tribunals, making it a valuable qualification for legal and corporate professionals.

Career Prospects

The PGDSCD prepares candidates for strategic, high-value roles across law firms, corporate headquarters, advisory practices, and institutional boards.

Corporate Dispute Resolution Associates and Counsel: Specialized dispute resolution teams at top-tier law firms handle complex intra-company battles, board seat contests, and emergency injunctions before company law benches and arbitral tribunals. Graduates bring direct knowledge of case management, procedural tactics, and company law remedies.

In-House Legal Advisors and Corporate Governance Heads: Enterprises, private equity portfolios, and funded venture companies require in-house professionals who can oversee external litigation, draft investor rights charters, and manage investor relations. DIAP credential holders bring the foresight needed to defuse conflicts internally before they escalate to public court battles.

Company Secretaries and Compliance Officers: Company secretaries and compliance executives frequently sit at the intersection of boardroom management and statutory reporting. This diploma arms them with an understanding of shareholder remedies, derivative litigation, and minority rights, ensuring statutory compliance while navigating contested shareholder meetings.

PE/VC Legal Analysts and Investment Managers: Private equity and venture capital firms require investment analysts and legal associates who can assess legal risks, enforce exit clauses, evaluate valuation deadlocks, and exercise protective covenants. This course provides direct training in managing the downside legal risks of equity investments.

Necessary Details

The Indian Arbitration Institution ensures that admissions, learning delivery, and certification remain transparent, accessible, and structured for ongoing professional development.

Eligibility This postgraduate-level credential is open to candidates with an established educational foundation:

• Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Diploma or Graduation appearing or passed.

This inclusive framework accommodates final-year degree students, recent law/commerce graduates, company secretarial trainees, and experienced business professionals looking to upskill.

Total Fees The comprehensive program fee is Rs. 7,500/-. This single fee covers the complete program lifecycle: admission registration, uninterrupted access to the digital portal, all evaluation fees, and the physical delivery of the official Post Graduate Diploma Certificate. There are no additional charges or hidden fees.

Mode and Study Material The program is delivered entirely Online. Once enrolled, participants receive access to a dedicated Learning Dashboard/Portal. Complete Study Material—including module readers, case studies, statutory compendiums, model dispute clauses, and tribunal order analyses—is available directly through the portal for digital study and reference.

Learning Type and Duration The program runs on a Self-Paced learning format. The recommended duration is 3 Months, providing ample time to work through the modules and supplementary readings. However, learners have complete schedule flexibility and may submit their final assessment earlier or take additional time as needed.

Enrollment Enrollment is open Any Time throughout the year. There are no fixed calendar terms, intake cycles, or batch deadlines. Candidates may enroll at any time, and registrations are processed in real time.

Examination Structure Certification requires completing One Online Exam comprising Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Subjective Analysis Questions, carrying a total of 100 Marks.

• Passing Criteria: 40%

• Retake Policy: If an examinee does not clear the exam on their first attempt, the IAI provides up to two additional attempts at no extra cost.

Application Procedure

1. Apply: Complete the Apply Now Form on the official portal.

2. Pay: Submit the program fee of Rs. 7,500/- using the Pay Now button.

3. Confirm: Select the Payment Confirmation button and complete the verification form with your transaction details.

4. Access: Log into the Learning Dashboard to access study modules and begin your program.