Building a Career in Energy Law: A Conversation with Divyansh Singh, Associate, Dentons Link Legal

Divyansh Singh is an Associate at Dentons Link Legal, working in Regulatory Disputes with a focus on the energy and infrastructure sector. An alumnus of UPES, he advises on complex regulatory and sector-specific legal issues in India.

We managed to ask him the following questions.

What motivated you to pursue law, and how did you develop an interest in electricity regulatory disputes?

I grew up in Kota, Rajasthan, a city widely known for its coaching culture, where the most sought-after career paths have traditionally been engineering, medicine, or accountancy. Coming from a family of engineers, I was naturally expected to follow the same trajectory. However, I felt a strong inner urge to step away from this conventional path and create an identity of my own.

Around this time, one of my school seniors was preparing for the National Law School entrance examinations, which sparked my initial curiosity about law. As I began exploring the field, the idea of pursuing a legal career resonated deeply with me. This interest soon turned into conviction when I found myself genuinely enjoying the CLAT syllabus particularly subjects such as Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning, and Mathematics, which challenged my analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

With this growing passion, I decided to pursue law seriously and appeared for law school entrance examinations. I successfully cleared the entrance exam for UPES, a milestone that further strengthened my resolve to build a career in law and affirmed that this was the path I truly wanted to follow.

My interest in energy and infrastructure law took shape during law school, where I was first introduced to the Electricity Act and a tad bit framework governing large-scale infrastructure and power projects. What began as an academic curiosity gradually evolved into a deeper interest as I started engaging with the practical realities of the energy sector particularly the complex regulatory approval processes and dispute resolution mechanisms that underpin power projects.

A defining moment in this journey was my visit to a wind energy project site. Seeing towering wind turbines translating natural resources into power brought home the sheer scale, planning, and precision involved in such projects. This fascinated me to learn more about the energy sector at large.

You currently work with Dentons Link Legal in the electricity regulatory disputes team. What does your role typically involve, and what makes this practice area unique?

As an Associate in the dispute resolution team focusing on energy and infrastructure at Dentons Link Legal, my role involves extensive legal research, drafting pleadings and written submissions, assisting with regulatory filings, and preparing briefs for hearings before Central and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions as well as the Appellate Tribunal. I have also assisted in formulating oral arguments and, in certain matters, have appeared before regulatory forums to make limited submissions and handle procedural aspects.

They are very interesting concepts which was introduced to me in my professionally ongoing journey with Dentons Link Legal acutely aware of how regulatory approvals, grid connectivity, open access permissions, and compliance requirements are not mere procedural formalities, but critical determinants of a project’s success or failure.

I work closely with senior members of the team on case strategy across a wide range of disputes, including tariff-related issues, open access disputes, change-in-law claims, and contractual disputes arising from Power Purchase Agreements and other regulatory arrangements.

What distinguishes this practice area is the combination of traditional litigation skills with a nuanced understanding of the regulatory and technical aspects of the electricity sector. Matters often extend beyond black-letter law and require engagement with technical concepts such as tariff methodologies, grid stability, connectivity issues, and sector-specific transactions. Coming from a background in science during school and law in college, I have always been particularly drawn to the intersection where technical science meets legal analysis. A single regulatory order can have far-reaching financial and operational consequences for a project and, in some cases, for the sector as a whole.

Energy law is a highly regulated and technical field. What are the key challenges lawyers face while handling regulatory disputes in this sector?

One of the most formidable aspects of working in the electricity sector is its sheer technical complexity. This is not a domain where legal principles alone can carry the day. As lawyers, we are often required to sit across the table from seasoned engineers, system operators, and technical experts who live and breathe concepts such as capacity utilisation, grid stability, scheduling and dispatch, and tariff design. Challenging their assumptions or decisions particularly when they represent government-owned utilities or transmission bodies demands more than legal acumen. It requires a genuine working understanding of the technical ecosystem within which the sector operates. Cracking this interface between law and engineering is, without exaggeration, one of the hardest parts of the practice.

Equally challenging is the constantly evolving regulatory framework. Electricity regulation in India is not static; it is shaped by shifting policy priorities, energy transition goals, fiscal realities, and systemic constraints. Regulations, tariff orders, and procedures are frequently amended, and disputes often arise in the grey area between legacy contractual rights and newly introduced regulatory regimes. Navigating this space requires lawyers to anticipate regulatory intent and adapt legal strategies accordingly, rather than relying on rigid or purely textual interpretations.

Another layer of complexity lies in balancing legal purity with commercial and operational realities. Regulators and government entities tend to adopt a pragmatic, sector-oriented approach, driven by considerations of grid stability, consumer interest, and financial sustainability of utilities. Legal arguments that ignore these realities often fail to resonate. The real challenge and skill lies in identifying gaps between regulation, implementation, and ground-level operations, and then proposing solutions that are legally sound, technically feasible, and commercially viable.

Perhaps the most underappreciated yet critical skill in this space is understanding the regulator’s perspective. Engaging with regulators whether during licensing processes, compliance reviews, or audits reveals that many regulatory restrictions are rooted in practical concerns rather than rigid bureaucracy. Approached with the right intent and preparation, regulators can be surprisingly receptive. These interactions offer invaluable insight into why certain prohibitions exist and how regulatory objectives can be met without stifling legitimate business interests.

In this sense, practicing law in the electricity sector is less about adversarial positioning and more about problem-solving. It involves bridging the gap between technical systems and legal frameworks, challenging established structures with credibility, and contributing meaningfully to solutions that work not just on paper, but on the ground.

Based on your experience, how does litigation before regulatory commissions differ from traditional court litigation?

Litigation before regulatory commissions is inherently specialized and policy-driven, distinguishing it from traditional court litigation. These forums possess sectorial expertise, and proceedings are often guided by regulatory intent, industry practices, and commercial considerations.

Procedurally, regulatory litigation tends to be more flexible, with a strong emphasis on data-driven submissions, technical analysis, and economic impact. While judicial precedents remain relevant, regulatory adjudication frequently involves reconciling legal rights with policy objectives and sector-specific considerations. As a result, pleadings and arguments are often more technical and fact-intensive than those typically seen in conventional court proceedings.

What skills, legal or otherwise, are essential for young lawyers aiming to build a career in regulatory and infrastructure law?

A strong foundation in legal research and drafting is indispensable, particularly in the context of regulatory pleadings and submissions. Equally important is the ability to comprehend and analyse technical and financial documents such as Detailed Project Reports, feasibility studies, tariff orders, Power Purchase Agreements, connectivity agreements, and regulatory filings, which often form the factual backbone of disputes. Attention to detail, analytical rigor, and an understanding of the commercial dynamics of infrastructure projects are critical. In addition, soft skills such as effective communication, adaptability, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including engineers, consultants, and financial advisors play a significant role in this practice area.

How do you stay updated with frequent regulatory and policy changes in the energy sector?

I regularly track notifications, regulations, and orders issued by Central and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and other sector-specific authorities, as these developments often have a direct impact on ongoing disputes and advisory matters.

I also follow specialized legal and industry publications and closely monitor key judicial and regulatory decisions, particularly those delivered by the Appellate Tribunal and higher courts, which contribute significantly to the development of sectorial jurisprudence.

In addition, 1 participate in webinars, conferences, and panel discussions focused on energy law and infrastructure policy. These platforms provide valuable insights into regulatory intent and emerging trends. Internally, continuous learning is supported through team discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions, where updates from live matters and recent developments are circulated by senior colleagues.

What advice would you give to law students and fresh graduates who aspire to work in top law firms or specialised regulatory practices?

First, it is essential to develop a strong grounding in core subjects such as contract law, constitutional law, and administrative law, which form the foundation of regulatory practice.

Second, students should actively seek internships in regulatory or infrastructure teams to gain practical exposure and understand how the sector operates in real terms.

Third, cultivating the habit of reading regulatory orders and sector-specific judgments is crucial, as these materials provide insights that go beyond academic textbooks.

Finally, patience and consistency are key. Regulatory practice involves a steep learning curve due to its technical nature; however, sustained effort and sectoral understanding can make it a highly rewarding and specialised area of legal practice.