Chambers Asia-Pacific & Chambers Global
Dispute Resolution: Litigation - Singapore 2025 – Band 5 (3 consecutive years)
Dispute Resolution: Arbitration - Singapore 2025 – Band 4 (4 years ranked)
Dispute Resolution (International Firms) - India 2025 – Singapore expertise based abroad (2 consecutive years)
Construction – Singapore 2025 – Band 3 (3 years ranked)
"He is extremely commercial and pragmatic."
"Mahesh has excellent skills and a professional approach."
"He shows a keen awareness of the client's needs and guides us well on matters."
"He's very prominent and very aggressive."
"Mahesh is an excellent examiner, very good on his feet and very sharp. He is very solution-oriented."
"He is extremely knowledgeable and up to date on various issues. He is able to mitigate situations while keeping the commercialities in mind."
"Mahesh is one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with. He is smart and practical."
"extremely talented and hard-working".
"He is very knowledgeable and clear in conversations, systematic in his approach and reassuring to the client."
"His ability to present cases to tribunals is really excellent."
"Mahesh Rai is very clever and well versed with the law. An excellent advocate who would have thoroughly mastered the case by the time one is at the hearing, he is very user-friendly as well."
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Dispute Resolution 2025 – Recommended lawyer; Next Generation Partner for 5 consecutive years
International Arbitration 2025 – Recommended lawyer for 2 years
Projects & Energy 2025 – Next Generation lawyer, Recommended lawyer for 6 consecutive years
White-Collar Crime 2025 – Recommended lawyer for 5 consecutive years
“Mahesh Rai is the core partner who is in charge of construction matters. His strong grip for related facts and legal issues make him shine when advocating.”
“Mahesh Rai is brilliant and on top of everything. Someone you would want on your side.”
“Mahesh Rai’s in-depth knowledge of construction law was very evident in the initial meeting of the arbitration dispute – which was key in convincing the client to move forward with the arbitration case. He was able to give a clear picture and an accurate timeline of how the case would proceed all the while giving constant updates on the progress of the case.”
“Highly recommend Mahesh Rai. He fits the firm’s profile of being efficient and excellent at advocacy. Would not be surprised if he becomes the next and youngest senior counsel.”
“Mahesh Rai provides good input based on his vast experience and commercial knowledge of the industry.”.
“Mahesh Rai is highly regarded for construction and engineering disputes”
Sources say “Mahesh Rai was always on top of every aspect of the dispute, nothing could slip away from him. His strategic advice and sound reasoning were key in developing and framing claim.”
“wonderfully engaging to deal with and has an incredibly relaxed manner”
The Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist: Southeast Asia 2023
Recognised as a leading arbitrator in the Southeast Asia region for 2 consecutive years
Best Lawyers International: Singapore
Litigation 2026 – Endorsed Individual for 2 consecutive years
The Joseph Grimberg Outstanding Young Advocate Award 2021
Winner of the annual award instituted by the Singapore Academy of Law and Drew & Napier which recognises young lawyers in good standing who exhibit professional excellence, service to the profession and the bar; service to the community; and/or a reputation for or the advancement of legal ethics and professional responsibility. The award also recognises lawyers who demonstrate the same professional excellence and high ethical standards that Mr Grimberg embodied.
Asian Legal Business Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers 2024
Recognised as being amongst the top 50 disputes lawyers in the region for 4 consecutive years
“Mahesh is highly strategic and consistently achieves wins in challenging cases.”
“He’s unmatched in his field.”
“Mahesh adeptly navigates complex issues and delivers commercially savvy solutions.”
A client rates Mahesh as “top of the class”, while another adds: “Working with Mahesh and his team has been seamless from start to finish. As soon as Mahesh stepped in, our long-standing dispute got resolved in no time.”
Rated “10/10” by a client, Mahesh is lauded for working “that extra 10 percent to ensure all bases are covered, and was always three steps ahead of the defendant in my High Court litigation”.
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
Construction 2025 – Litigation Star
India Business Law Journal (IBLJ)
Recognised as a top international India expert in ILBJ’s International A-List 2025 for 3 consecutive years
Asian Legal Business SE Asia Law Awards 2019
Young Lawyer of the Year – Mahesh Rai
Asian Legal Business
Identified as one of 40 bright legal minds in the region under the age of 40 – “40 Under 40 list” (October 2018 issue)
Financial Times Innovative Lawyers APAC 2018 awards
Mahesh was commended for his commitment to pro bono advocacy, highlighting his work with HOME (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics) and AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research) that led him to challenge laws that disadvantage migrant and refugee workers.
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal)
Arbitration 2025 – Recommended Lawyer for 2 consecutive years; Future Leader for 4 consecutive years
Commercial Litigation 2024 – Recommended Lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Global Elite Thought Leader – Under 45: Arbitration 2023
Global Elite Thought Leader – Under 45: Investigations 2023 for 2 consecutive years
Global Guide: Investigations 2022 – Future Leader for 5 consecutive years
National Guide: Southeast Asia - Arbitration – Recommended Lawyer (4 years ranked)
National Guide: Southeast Asia – Commercial Litigation 2024 – Recommended Lawyer for 2 consecutive years
National Guide: Southeast Asia – Investigations 2024 – Recommended Lawyer for 2 consecutive years
"We were impressed by not only Mahesh's knowledge but also his experience on such cross-border matters."
"Mahesh provides impressive subject knowledge and experience in investigations."
Mahesh Rai impresses as “one of Singapore’s best dispute resolution specialists”, with peers commending his “expertise in construction disputes” and “strong pipeline of arbitration work across the Asia-Pacific region”.
Mahesh Rai is a “sensational lawyer” who “has built a strong practice” in corporate investigations.
"Mahesh is a bright up-and-comer in the investigations space".
Mahesh "is always keen to think out of the box” applaud sources who commend his “great industry knowledge and level of responsiveness”.
Mahesh Rai is "truly a leader in this area"…He provides specialist insight into disputes in the telecommunications and energy sectors.
“Mahesh is quick on his feet, pays attention to detail and is clear and concise in his explanations.”
Global Arbitration Review 18th edition (2025)
A client calls Mahesh Rai a “distinguished lawyer who is intellectually superior to many of his peers” and says that he "has a proven ability to cut short otherwise drawn-out legal processes by his finesse and skill in bringing parties to a settlement.”
Mahesh Rai was praised for his “diligent and precise” work.
A client said Mahesh “expressed a commendable level of personal engagement and was always available to provide support, guidance and direction from start to end.
Global Investigations Review 100 (GIR 100) 5th edition (2019)
Recognised as a leading individual for investigations. The GIR 100 identifies top 100 firms worldwide that handle complex cross-border government-led and internal investigations.
Asialaw Leading Lawyers
Dispute Resolution 2024 – Distinguished Practitioner
Dispute Resolution 2023 – Rising Star for 2 consecutive years
Dispute Resolution & Litigation 2018 – Leading Lawyer for 2 years
“I have worked with Mahesh Rai's team (so Mahesh, Jonathan Yong and Samuel Soo, in particular). They are excellent lawyers who bring significant strategic insight and close attention to detail to their work, which is efficient and cost effective.”
“Very hard-working, responsive, easy to work with and results-oriented. He is also very bright and solution-oriented.”
“Mahesh is a strategic thinker who directs his team to do effective and efficient work.”
“Both from a personal and a professional point of view, I found Mahesh as someone impressive and genuine. He has great analytical skills, able to listen well, and very good in communication, as I often saw him carry himself so well in the court or in any kind of joint discussions. He provides me as a client with great sensitivity, tending the needs of my case in his best way. Mahesh also always comes up with great strategy, showing his creativity as a veteran lawyer.”
“Good problem-solving skills and decision-making.”
“Mahesh Rai is exceptional, bright, and very responsive.”
“A superb advocate and on par with other senior counsels.”
“Professional, knowledgeable and approachable. His quick and laser mind would do well in any subject-matter.”
“Mahesh Rai leads a disputes team that is well versed in both blockchain technology nuances and traditional commercial and financial litigation and arbitration. His domain knowledge in blockchain, fintech and technology makes him brutally effective in disputes regarding these matters, more than the other top-ranked disputes teams in Singapore. This is a very key differentiator. The team is very meticulous and has great attention to detail, and catches both technology-related and more typical factual nuances of cases. Mr Rai himself is a very forceful and cunning cross-examiner in court, and has a commanding presence that allows him to take control of court proceedings, even against senior counsels and litigators much more senior than him. He is also extremely responsive, and he and his team readily respond to queries even at 11pm or on a Sunday. Finally, he gives straightforward, practical, concise, commercial and very concrete recommendations when asked for options, including cost considerations. He will not give theoretical or abstract answers, and will not give tentative or timid recommendations that do not allow a client to visualise a concrete course of action. He even advised on a personal matter for one of my friends, a senior executive in a large blockchain company, and my friend gave glowing positive feedback, that he felt very reassured and confident on a personal level, in addition to getting clear advice on the legal issues.”
“Strong knowledge of laws in India and good knowledge of the country’s legal infrastructure.”
“His personal approach to a transaction goes a long way.”
“Always approachable, a patient listener, has sound industry knowledge, excellent knowledge of law and always provides practical solutions.”
“Mahesh listens well and is a great tactician.”
“Excellent, thorough, and balanced risk management and advice.”
“Creative solutions and very focused.”
“Quick, efficient and super-understanding of the matter and case file.”
“Mahesh has sound knowledge and expertise in disputes relating to telecom towers industry. He is spot on his turnaround time and has an eye for details.”
“Deep understanding of Singapore law and appreciation of practical problems in multijurisdiction litigations.”
“Strong knowledge of Indian laws.”
Sources say Mahesh “demonstrates commitment and responsiveness to queries at all hours. A very driven individual who has sensible commercial solutions. A capable lawyer who delivers results we ask for.”
“Mahesh is a first-rate litigator with a good eye for detail. He grasps issues quickly, was accessible and was excellent in providing commercial solutions to our problems.”
“Mahesh is an excellent disputes lawyer and a master strategist with a deserved reputation for solving complex issues. He was very user friendly, commercially-minded and was one of the best lawyers my company has worked with.”
“To the point discussion. In-depth knowledge of the matter and the industry. Hands-on related to the approach and strategy.”
“The level of legal advice and general client service that I received while working with Mahesh Rai's team was outstanding. My queries were answered promptly and with great attention to detail. Not only did the team closely monitor the progress of the settlement discussions, but it had also taken it upon itself to supervise and check the drafts that came back from the Indonesian law firm instructed by us to advise on Indonesian law queries pertaining to the transaction. Our management and I have been very pleased with the standard of service received from D&N.”
Asia Business Law Journal
Identified as one of Singapore’s Top 100 lawyers 2019
Singapore Business Review
Singapore’s 70 most influential lawyers aged 40 and under in 2016 – Listed lawyer
Excellence in Advocacy Award (2012)
Awarded by the Singapore International Arbitration Academy
Winner of Essex Court Chambers-Singapore Academy of Law Moot Competition for Singapore lawyers (2012)