Lexis Nexis’s Bespoke Treaties or Standard Models?-A Study of International Investment Treaty Provisions of India’s Key Trade Partners by James J Nedumpara, Sunanda Tewari, Pushkar Reddy – 1st Edition 2025.

The landscape of international trade is shifting. While many nations once embarked on drafting rigid, centralized Model Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), a new era of tailored, country-specific treaties is emerging across the globe. Bespoke Treaties or Standard Models? critically examines this paradigm shift. Co-authored by leading trade experts from the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), this 2025 LexisNexis publication explores whether it is in India’s strategic interest to maintain its single 2015 Model BIT, or to adopt a bespoke, “interest-based” model tailored to the demands of individual negotiating partners.

The Architecture of Investment Law

Based on a critical analysis of treaty texts, negotiation histories, and modern legal scholarship, the authors explore the substantive elements of investment provisions and their differences across jurisdictions:

• Comprehensive IIA Examination: Provides a deep dive into the architecture and core provisions of modern International Investment Agreements (IIAs) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

• 15-Country Comparative Analysis: Features a detailed comparative assessment of investment provisions across fifteen of India’s key trading partners, highlighting how disparate practices have moved away from standard templates.

• UNCITRAL Working Group III: Offers a highly contemporary analysis of ongoing reform efforts in international investment law, specifically focusing on the proceedings and impacts of UNCITRAL Working Group III.

A Ready Reckoner for Trade Policy

Ultimately, the work strongly advocates for an “interest-based” approach to guide India’s future IIA negotiating strategy, moving away from a one-size-fits-all doctrine. It is designed to act as a ready reckoner for those actually at the table negotiating investment treaties.

Who Should Buy This Book?

• Trade Negotiators & Government Policymakers: Essential reading for officials in the Ministry of Commerce, external affairs, and state-level investment boards.

• International Law Scholars & LL.M. Students: A crucial academic text for understanding the nuances of international economic law and WTO frameworks.

• Corporate Counsel & International Arbitrators: Provides the strategic background necessary for navigating Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) and cross-border investment protections.

About the CTIL Authors

Dr. James J. Nedumpara, Sunanda Tewari, & Pushkar Reddy The authors are distinguished legal scholars and trade experts affiliated with the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), an expert think-tank established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

• Dr. James J. Nedumpara: Professor and Head of CTIL at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT). He is a renowned global authority on international trade and investment law and serves as the WTO Chairholder in India.

• Sunanda Tewari: A legal scholar, Consultant (Legal), and Assistant Professor specializing in international economic law and investment treaties.

• Pushkar Reddy: An academic and Research Fellow at CTIL focusing heavily on trade laws and India’s foreign investment frameworks.

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