Deutsche Telekom Secures Confirmation of $132M Arbitral Award Against India

Hughes Hubbard, working alongside Hexagon Advocates, secured confirmation of a nearly $132 million arbitral award for Deutsche Telekom against the Republic of India after the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denied India's motion challenging recognition and enforcement of the award.

The firm has been representing Deutsche Telekom in the years-long dispute arising from India’s cancellation of a satellite spectrum contract, an alleged breach of its 1995 bilateral investment treaty with Germany.

In a Sept. 30 opinion, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon rejected India's latest jurisdictional challenge and its defenses under Article V of the New York Convention. The court held that the award arose from a commercial legal relationship covered by the Convention, finding that India had not established grounds to deny recognition based on either the scope of the arbitration agreement, an alleged inability to present its case or public policy concerns.

The court also observed that courts in Switzerland, Germany and Singapore had previously considered and rejected many of the same challenges raised by India and ultimately concluded that India's objections and defenses lacked merit.

The ruling follows earlier victories for Deutsche Telekom, including a 2024 district court ruling rejecting India's sovereign immunity defense, and a 2025 D.C. Circuit decision affirming that ruling before returning the case to the district court for consideration of India's remaining defenses to enforcement.

Law360 reported on the ruling.

The Hughes Hubbard team representing Deutsche Telekom includes Malik Havalic, Tamara Kraljic, Shayda Vance and Carter Rosekrans.