Adv Dr Ashok Yende
Adv.(Dr.) Ashok Yende is an Indian legal professional and academician based in Maharashtra. He is known for his extensive work in legal education, arbitration, mediation, and institutional leadership in Mumbai and beyond.
Education
Adv.(Dr.) Ashok Yende holds degrees including B.Sc., LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D. in Law, and D.Lit. in Law, reflecting his strong academic foundation in the legal field.
Career
Adv.(Dr.) Ashok Yende has over four decades of experience as a legal academician, arbitrator, mediator, and institutional leader. He currently serves as the Founding Professor and Dean of Law at Atlas SkillTech University, Mumbai, and as Ombudsperson (Lokpal) at Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai. He is also the Founder and Managing Partner of Yende Legal Associates. His mediation roles include empanelment with the Supreme Court of India, Bombay High Court Mediation Centre, Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, SAMA, and Presolv360. Additionally, he is an arbitrator empanelled with the Bombay High Court.
His core expertise includes legal education and academic leadership, arbitration, mediation and online dispute resolution (ODR), institutional governance and policy, research supervision, curriculum development, and professional training.
Previously, he held leadership roles such as Professor and Head of the Department of Law at the University of Mumbai, Founding Director of the University of Mumbai Law Academy, Founding Chair Professor of the Chief Justice M. C. Chagla Chair on Human Rights, and Principal/Dean of leading law schools in India.
He has guided nine Ph.D. scholars, authored nine books and numerous research publications, and participated as a speaker in over 55 national and international conferences. His international engagements include conferences organized by the United Nations, Harvard Kennedy School, National University of Singapore, and others across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Awards and Recognition
Adv.(Dr.) Ashok Yende has received several prestigious awards including the National Law Award (2014), Person of Eminence Award (2017), Mahatma Award (2019), and India Startup 500 Recognition for Yende Legal Associates.
Professional Memberships
He is a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Worldwide Independent Lawyers League (WILL), Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa, Advocates' Association of Western India, Indian Law Institute (New Delhi), and International Youth Hostels Association.
Outstanding Contribution
Adv.(Dr.) Ashok Yende participated in and addressed the Signing Ceremony of the UN Cybercrime Convention scheduled for October 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam, involving representatives from 110 countries. He successfully settled a dispute through mediation referred by the Supreme Court of India that had been pending for over 52 years. He is the author of the book "Medicine and the Law," which includes a foreword by former Chief Justice B.R. Gavai.
Other Contributions
He has filed public interest litigations before the High Court advocating for common people, advancing legal education, institutionalizing mediation and ADR, mentoring legal scholars and professionals, strengthening academic governance, promoting interdisciplinary legal education, and providing community service including legal aid and awareness.
Career Mission
His mission is to transform legal education, strengthen access to justice, and advance arbitration, mediation, and technology-enabled dispute resolution while mentoring future legal leaders and contributing to institutional excellence.