Sumant is an insolvency lawyer of global eminence
with nearly three-decade global experience in the areas of insolvency and bankruptcy.
He ranks among the 30 leading international insolvency experts identified by GRR, which recently conferred on him the award for “outstanding career” in insolvency, in recognition of his contribution in insolvency, globally. An International Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, Sumant is the only Indian to have earned this distinction. He is the only Asian and the youngest to have served as President of London based INSOL International.
Appointed as Visiting or Distinguished Professor by many national universities, Sumant loves teaching and is dedicated to building a whole new generation of young insolvency scholars in the country and beyond.
His book Corporate Insolvency – Law & Practice is considered as the foremost work on fundamental principles and approach to insolvency system. His book, The Jaypee Infra Insolvency Saga, nominated for Crossword award, documents one of the most complex insolvency cases. In November 2024, an anthology on Mediation in Insolvency , co-edited by him with Justice A.K. Sikri, was launched. His another book Corporate Insolvency: The Road to Viksit Bharat, launched in July 2025, is a history, a hornbook, a treatise, and a forward-looking call to action for economic reforms to carry India towards its lofty and aggressive goals of becoming a developed nation.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
In 1993, Sumant moved his base to New Delhi. After working as an Associate with New Delhi Law Offices, a New Delhi based law firm from September to December 1993, he founded Kesar Dass B & Associates (in December 1993) together with Hemant Batra. Kesar Dass went on to become one of the leading law firms of the country, and an authority on insolvency, debt recovery, securitisation, private equity and other areas. Sumant headed the firm till 2011. In 2023, Sumant retired from Kesar Dass and started his own indipendent practice as a counsel.
Sumant is the Past President of INSOL International – the London based world-wide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialise in turnaround and insolvency. He was the first Asian and at 43, the youngest ever to be appointed as President of the prestigious international body with presence in 100 countries and over 10000 professionals as members.
He was invited to join the board of INSOL in 2001 at the age of 35. He took over as President in 2009 in Vancouver Regional Conference after serving as Vice President for two years. Prior to that Sumant served on the board and executive committee of INSOL for many years.
The highlights of his contributions to INSOL include: Developing partnership with the IMF, World Bank Group, OECD and Hawkamah and leading them to the next level. He spearheaded the Middle East North Africa initiative which culminated in setting up of the Forum for Insolvency Reforms in MENA (FIRM), Regional Task force of Insolvency and other initiatives in Middle East region. FIRM partners include, INSOL, Hawkamah, International Finance Corporation, The World Bank and UNCITRAL.
He was responsible for integrating INSOL with Forum for Insolvency Reforms in Asia resulting in INSOL being invited as a member of its steering committee and sharing the FAIR secretariat. FAIR partners include, Government of Australia, INSOL, The World Bank, UNCITRAL and other countries from Asia region. He initiated the INSOL Africa Roundtable which has emerged as an effective platform for policy reforms in the Africa Continent, with support from IMF, the World Bank and other global organisations. As chair of the membership development committee, he developed INSOL membership in many countries across different regions. He assisted practitioners and policy makers in many countries in setting up practitioners association. Some of these include India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other countries. He was member of Brisbane Initiative committee which proposed the INSOL Fellowship Course
More information about INSOL can be found on www.insol.org
Leadership Positions
Sumant has held leadership positions in many global and country organisation through his career, many of which he continues to hold.