Niyati Asthana

Why did you decide to start your career at Signature Litigation?
I wanted to work on complex, high-stakes disputes with real international exposure from day one. Signature offered exactly that: cross-border arbitration, strategic thinking at the highest level, and small teams where you carry real responsibility early on.

What makes Signature Litigation stand out?
Its pure focus on disputes. We are not a full-service firm with a litigation department - we are a disputes firm. That means sharp strategy, lean teams, direct partner access, and truly international collaboration between offices. You’re never just drafting - you’re shaping the case theory.

What does a typical day look like in international arbitration for a junior lawyer?
There’s no “typical” day. You might be preparing a witness for a hearing, structuring the factual narrative of a Statement of Claim,or analyzing jurisdictional issues under a BIT. It’s intellectually demanding, detail-heavy, and deeply strategic.

How does Signature Litigation support or mentor young lawyers?
Through responsibility. Juniors are involved in substantive drafting, client calls, and strategic discussions early on. You work closely with partners who give direct feedback, not layers of hierarchy. Learning happens by hands on learning opportunities.

What skills or background should a junior lawyer in international arbitration have?
Analytical precision, strong writing skills, intellectual curiosity, resilience and teamwork. You need to enjoy building arguments from complex facts and be comfortable working in English on cross-border matters.

What’s the most exciting, unforgettable, funny, or thrilling thing that’s happened to you at work?
Standing in a hearing room minutes before opening submissions in a high-value arbitration, after months of building the factual narrative - seeing the strategy come together in real time. It’s intense but incredibly rewarding when the pieces click.

What do you enjoy most about working at Signature Litigation?
The combination of serious, high-level legal work and a genuinely human team culture. We deal with complex, high-stakes matters - but we also laugh, debate ideas openly, and celebrate wins together.

What are some challenges or drawbacks of the job?
Arbitration can be demanding. Deadlines are real, hearings require long hours, and cases can run for years. It is demanding and requires discipline. But that intensity is also what makes the work meaningful.

How do you take a break or recharge outside the office?
Travel, discovering new places, good food, and switching off completely from emails. Physical distance from the office helps create mental distance too.

Which three words come to mind when you think of law?
Strategy. Responsibility. Precision.

Imagine a law-free weekend on a deserted island—you can bring three things. What would they be?
A barbeque, a great novel, and someone who tells good stories.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring lawyers?
Don’t just learn the law - learn how to think. The best lawyers are not the ones who know the legal provisions but the ones who know the facts inside out and deploy them to build the case.