india business law directory 2012-2013

Intelligence report

India Business Law Journal 35

Legal market report

July/August 2012

India Business Law Directory

- 2012 -

India Business Law Journal presents its annual legal market report and directory of Indian law firms

Legal market report by Rebecca Abraham

Intelligence report

India Business Law Journal36

Legal market report

July/August 2012

Sitting at the Gurgaon office of the 240-lawyer, five-office law firm that he has created over the past two decades, Jyoti Sagar, founder partner of J Sagar Associates, says: “We will chug on this year because of work that is in the pipeline,

but the next six months are very critical.” Despite the slowing of the Indian economy, signs of an

impending drought, and talk of foreign direct investment dwindling, Sagar is among the few who say that these are tough times for India’s corporate lawyers.

Most report it is business as usual, even though some things may have changed. “Today we are very busy, but we are not closing deals that much,” says Mohit Saraf, senior partner at Luthra & Luthra. Saraf adds that as a result of the downturn the work that is coming their way requires “very senior level attention” and as a result “associates are less busy, partners are more busy ... the more senior you get in the firm the busier you are”.

“The froth has gone out of the market,” remarks Feroz Dubash, a Mumbai-based partner at Talwar Thakore & Associates.

Lucrative capital market deals, which require armies of lawyers working behind the scenes, have dried up. Although firms report that their capital markets teams have been redeployed to M&A, private equity and other practice areas, there is talk that lay-offs may be inevitable at the larger law firms if the economy continues the way it is.

Shardul Shroff, a managing partner at Amarchand Mangaldas, India’s largest law firm, dismisses such an eventuality as impossible in India: “I don’t think an American kind of situation for retrenching lawyers in firms can hap-pen in India because it is too human a country. You just don’t tell people to go home and sit. You don’t bench law-yers in India.”

A new reality?

But the centre has shifted. India’s larger law firms are dealing with the twin challenges of dealing with clients from outside their existing networks, and keeping at bay the many mid-size firms that are snapping at their heels.

“India is not growing, Bharat is,” says Abhijit Joshi,

Mumbai-based senior partner and CEO of AZB & Partners, referring to the large number of mid-size companies that populate the hinterlands of India and continue to flourish despite the downturn. He adds that AZB & Partners does a lot of work for mid-market companies, which may be a price-sensitive market but is willing to pay for expert legal advice.

Other law firms are similarly reaching out to the growing domestic market.

“The future of India lies in its mid-tier companies,” says Alka Bharucha, a Mumbai-based partner at Bharucha & Partners. “We believe that having a lot of mid-tier compa-nies [as clients] is good for the firm.”

At Wadia Ghandy & Co, which recently rented an addi-tional 11,000 square feet of office space in the heart of Mumbai, complete with a creche and rooftop views over an attractive part of the city, the focus is on being there for the client.

“Our reaction to the market being bad is that now is when clients reach out to lawyers they trust most,” says Ashish Ahuja, the managing partner of Wadia Ghandy & Co. “Fees should not matter to the firm – lawyers need to be with their clients.

Staying ahead of the pack

Be that as it may, the downturn has been good for a growing number of mid-size law firms, especially those that

We will chug on this year because of work that is in the pipeline, but the next six months are very criticalJyoti SagarFounder PartnerJ Sagar Associates

India is not growing, Bharat isAbhijit JoshiCEO AZB & Partners

Our reaction to the market being bad is that now is when clients reach out to lawyers they trust mostAshish AhujaManaging PartnerWadia Ghandy & Co

Intelligence report


Legal market report

July/August 2012

have been able to carve out a niche for themselves. “The size of the cake is large and we cater to a different

clientele,” says Manish Desai, managing partner at Vidhii Partners, which focuses on real estate. Desai points out that in the current climate the “ability to change and inno-vate is critical” for the well-being of a law firm.

Several commentators point to the need for consolida-tion among mid-sized firms. But over the recent past there is little evidence of any successful long-term mergers between Indian law firms.

The recent extremely acrimonious parting of ways between Delhi-based Fox Mandal and Mumbai-based Little & Co, which had merged to form Fox Mandal Little in 2006, has left many firms wary of seeking the economies of scale that a merger can provide. There appears to have been little in common between the two firms. In addition as a lawyer who wished to remain anonymous told India Business Law Journal earlier this year: “The firms were not referring work to one another ... they were working abso-lutely separately.”

In general however, mid-size firms are finding they are in greater in demand. The market is witnessing intense fee pressures and these firms are able to offer both competi-tive rates and greater partner-level involvement.

“Clients question being served by lower level law-yers,” remarks Rajat Sethi, a Delhi-based partner at S&R Associates, a 40-lawyer firm that has advised parties involved in several headline-making deals over the past year.

Greater partner involvement in executing the work and not just attracting the client may “hurt revenue generation but is the way forward”, according to Sawant Singh, a

Mumbai-based partner at Phoenix Legal. However, at Vichar Partners, a two-year old Chennai-

based firm, being able to assure partner-time has meant “clients have been willing to pay a little above the market on certain mandates”, according to Aarthi Sivanandh, a partner at the firm.

Changing demand

Partner involvement may also be critical to retaining a client. With the disappearance of “the old loyalty style of functioning”, as N South Law managing partner Rajeev

Dubey puts it, companies routinely distribute work among multiple law firms.

In addition, several larger Indian companies – including the Aditya Birla, Essar and Bharti groups – have built up significant in-house capabilities and so have reduced the amount of work that they outsource.

“Earlier if we worked on drafting, negotiation and opinion for one of the larger companies, now we may be only asked to provide an opinion,” says Bharucha at Bharucha & Partners.

As a result, most firms go to great lengths to emphasize that not only do they understand the client’s business, but their partners roll up their sleeves and work on deals, and don’t just hand work down to their teams of associates.

Litigation – to the rescue

Firms with a healthy dispute resolution practice seem to be riding out the slowdown more successfully.

Most such firms began as litigation practices and then moved into corporate practice. This is true of firms of all sizes. Delhi-based Maheshwari & Co, a 20-lawyer firm led

The size of the cake is large and we cater to a different clienteleManish DesaiManaging PartnerVidhii Partners

Earlier if we worked on drafting, negotiation and opinion for one of the larger companies, now we may be only asked to provide an opinionAlka Bharucha PartnerBharucha & Partners

Advising companies on what it takes to ensure they don’t fall foul of anti-corruption laws both overseas and in India is a growing area of our practiceZulfiquar MemonManaging PartnerMZM Legal

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Legal market report

July/August 2012

by Vipul Maheshwari reports that it moved into corporate practice over the last six years.

Trilegal, a 140-lawyer law firm better known for its M&A, banking and finance and other work, on the other hand reports that over the past two and a half years it has built up a “nascent litigation practice” that currently has around 18 lawyers.

“We have had significant mandates which went bad and into litigation,” says Karan Singh, a Mumbai-based partner at Trilegal, adding that the firm’s litigation practice has come in handy to serve the needs of its corporate clients.

Similarly Juris Corp, which began as a banking regu-latory practice, has developed considerable expertise in a wide range of practice areas including dispute resolution, primarily due to its ability to understand the financial dynamics of a dispute and develop strategies accordingly.

The firm represented unsecured bondholders of Wockhardt, an Indian generics drug maker, in a series of cases that culminated in a victory before a divisional bench of Bombay High Court in October 2011.

“We have disproved the theory that law firms need to be full service,” says Veena Sivaramakrishnan, a Mumbai-based partner at Juris Corp. “We began as a specialist firm and have gone into litigation … in that specialist area.” The firm recently strengthened its dispute resolu-tion practice by appointing Ranjit Shetty as a partner. He previously led the litigation team at Hariani & Co, a 21-year-old mid-sized firm that is recognized for its real estate work.

Litigation practices are being developed despite the challenges of India’s hugely overburdened court system. While some courts are making valiant efforts to reduce the backlog – several have computerized their case manage-ment systems and information about the status of cases being heard by Bombay High Court is now available on a mobile phone – the key to litigating successfully is effective strategizing.

“If right strategies are adopted, the perception about the Indian judiciary as projected may not be true,” says Manoj Singh, founding partner of Singh & Associates in New Delhi, pointing to a dispute involving a Chinese client that was resolved through Delhi High Court in a little over a year.

On 1 April Majmudar & Co changed its name to Majmudar & Partners. The tweaking of the name of this 50-lawyer firm coincided with a broadening of its equity partnership from four to seven partners.

Neerav Merchant, a Mumbai-based partner of the firm, says the name change was prompted by a need to “send out a clear-cut signal to competitors, clients and prospective clients that we have a true partnership structure and all of us are stakeholders”.

“You don’t want clients to discount you just because they perceive you as a family-owned firm,” says Merchant.

Breaking the ties

Other law firms are similarly working to structure themselves appropriately.

At HSA Advocates – named after founder partner Hemant Sahai – and J Sagar & Associates, no two

members of a family can work at the firm, while younger firms such as Trilegal and Phoenix Legal pride them-selves on not being identified with any one individual.

Most of the larger law firms have moved from being sole proprietorships to partnerships. A notable excep-tion is Kochhar & Co that functions as a sole proprietor-ship, according to Anjuli Sivaramakrishnan, a Gurgaon-based partner at the firm.

Creating a new look

The repositioning of a law firm can also involve adopt-ing a new logo. During its centenary celebrations earlier this year, Khaitan & Co unveiled a bright blue circular motif designed by a French company to “reflect the vig-our and modern outlook of the firm towards servicing its clients in the new century”.

Rabindra Jhunjhunwala, a Mumbai-based partner at the firm, said the new logo is meant to emphasize the firm’s

Image mattersAs part of their strategy to stay ahead of the pack, law firms across India

are working towards getting their structure and brand image right

“ambition to become a leader in the field, a high perform-ance Indian law firm, both modern and unparalleled”.

Size matters

Amarchand Mangaldas – now India’s largest law firm with over 550 lawyers – aims to become a 1,000-lawyer firm by its centenary in 2017. The plan to get there, unveiled late last year, was drawn up with help from the Boston Consulting Group.

“We are driven by a vision,” says Shardul Shroff, joint managing partner of Amarchand Mangaldas. “It’s not a dream in the sense of an idle dream. It is a tough task to achieve, it’s not easy.”

Central to this vision is what Shroff has described as the firm’s “two wheels of the bicycle” concept, whereby it will simultaneously promote both family and non-family talent. In May the firm promoted 13 lawyers to its partnership, two of them family members.

However, many doubt that the two wheels of the bicy-cle will carry equal clout and the firm provides a steady trickle of legal talent for its competitors. Several ex-Am-archand lawyers have also struck out on their own.

Mixing it right

A recent repackaging of legal talent has intrigued the market: the merger of the young firm of Argus Partners,

founded by ex-Amarchand lawyers Krishnava Dutt and Ramya Hariharan, and 15-year-old Udwadia & Udeshi, led by two veteran practitioners who set up the firm after retiring as partners from Crawford Bayley & Co.

While several lawyers question the feasibility of the merger – given the seemingly incongruous cultural mix – others see synergies to be had from the mix of youth and experience.

“If they can pull it off, hats off to them,” says one law-yer who wishes to remain anonymous.

Speaking in February, when the merger was announced, Dutt said he was confident that it would bring “exciting new opportunities” that would enable the firm to “create an unparalleled value proposition” for the clients of both entities. Recently Dutt said the merger was proceeding as planned.

Mumbai-based I&S Associates, founded in 2006 by two former partners at AZB & Partners, has also been focusing on re-branding “to get at par with our peer law firms”. “We recognize that firm visibility is very important in the volatile market,” says Jaya Kumar, business devel-opment officer at I&S Associates.

But some of India’s corporate lawyers are not convinced of the virtues of repackaging and repositioning a firm.

“It is good to have packaging, but content is what counts,” remarks C Rashmikant, a partner at Federal & Rashmikant, one of a dwindling number of conservative albeit successful law firms.

You don’t want clients to discount you just because they perceive you as a family-owned firmNeerav MerchantPartnerMajmudar & Partners

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Legal market report

July/August 2012

White-collar crime

The litigation practices of sev-eral law firms have received a boost from the 2G spectrum scam, which has led to the pros-ecution of over two dozen peo-ple. This, combined with inves-tigations by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India that have uncovered instances of corrup-tion, has brought corporate crimi-nal litigation to the forefront.

“White-collar crime cannot be bottled up and is becoming big,” says C Rashmikant, a partner at Federal & Rashmikant in Mumbai.

This is confirmed by Amit Desai, a Mumbai-based senior advocate, who says: “There has clearly been a significant spike in corporate criminal litigation over the last two to three years.”

While some law firms have responded by developing corpo-rate criminal litigation practices, a few have entered the arena of compliance.

“Advising companies on what it takes to ensure they don’t fall foul of anti-corruption laws both overseas and in India is a growing area of our practice,” says Zulfiquar Memon, managing partner of MZM Legal, a Mumbai-based firm.

MZM Legal is currently associated with several high-profile criminal cases, including the defence of Vinod Goenka, one of the accused in the 2G spectrum scam.

A pAssAGe out of indiA: Law firms are grappling with the challenges of providing advice on exit strategies.

On 1 April Majmudar & Co changed its name to Majmudar & Partners. The tweaking of the name of this 50-lawyer firm coincided with a broadening of its equity partnership from four to seven partners.

Neerav Merchant, a Mumbai-based partner of the firm, says the name change was prompted by a need to “send out a clear-cut signal to competitors, clients and prospective clients that we have a true partnership structure and all of us are stakeholders”.

“You don’t want clients to discount you just because they perceive you as a family-owned firm,” says Merchant.

Breaking the ties

Other law firms are similarly working to structure themselves appropriately.

At HSA Advocates – named after founder partner Hemant Sahai – and J Sagar & Associates, no two

members of a family can work at the firm, while younger firms such as Trilegal and Phoenix Legal pride them-selves on not being identified with any one individual.

Most of the larger law firms have moved from being sole proprietorships to partnerships. A notable excep-tion is Kochhar & Co that functions as a sole proprietor-ship, according to Anjuli Sivaramakrishnan, a Gurgaon-based partner at the firm.

Creating a new look

The repositioning of a law firm can also involve adopt-ing a new logo. During its centenary celebrations earlier this year, Khaitan & Co unveiled a bright blue circular motif designed by a French company to “reflect the vig-our and modern outlook of the firm towards servicing its clients in the new century”.

Rabindra Jhunjhunwala, a Mumbai-based partner at the firm, said the new logo is meant to emphasize the firm’s

Image mattersAs part of their strategy to stay ahead of the pack, law firms across India

are working towards getting their structure and brand image right

“ambition to become a leader in the field, a high perform-ance Indian law firm, both modern and unparalleled”.

Size matters

Amarchand Mangaldas – now India’s largest law firm with over 550 lawyers – aims to become a 1,000-lawyer firm by its centenary in 2017. The plan to get there, unveiled late last year, was drawn up with help from the Boston Consulting Group.

“We are driven by a vision,” says Shardul Shroff, joint managing partner of Amarchand Mangaldas. “It’s not a dream in the sense of an idle dream. It is a tough task to achieve, it’s not easy.”

Central to this vision is what Shroff has described as the firm’s “two wheels of the bicycle” concept, whereby it will simultaneously promote both family and non-family talent. In May the firm promoted 13 lawyers to its partnership, two of them family members.

However, many doubt that the two wheels of the bicy-cle will carry equal clout and the firm provides a steady trickle of legal talent for its competitors. Several ex-Am-archand lawyers have also struck out on their own.

Mixing it right

A recent repackaging of legal talent has intrigued the market: the merger of the young firm of Argus Partners,

founded by ex-Amarchand lawyers Krishnava Dutt and Ramya Hariharan, and 15-year-old Udwadia & Udeshi, led by two veteran practitioners who set up the firm after retiring as partners from Crawford Bayley & Co.

While several lawyers question the feasibility of the merger – given the seemingly incongruous cultural mix – others see synergies to be had from the mix of youth and experience.

“If they can pull it off, hats off to them,” says one law-yer who wishes to remain anonymous.

Speaking in February, when the merger was announced, Dutt said he was confident that it would bring “exciting new opportunities” that would enable the firm to “create an unparalleled value proposition” for the clients of both entities. Recently Dutt said the merger was proceeding as planned.

Mumbai-based I&S Associates, founded in 2006 by two former partners at AZB & Partners, has also been focusing on re-branding “to get at par with our peer law firms”. “We recognize that firm visibility is very important in the volatile market,” says Jaya Kumar, business devel-opment officer at I&S Associates.

But some of India’s corporate lawyers are not convinced of the virtues of repackaging and repositioning a firm.

“It is good to have packaging, but content is what counts,” remarks C Rashmikant, a partner at Federal & Rashmikant, one of a dwindling number of conservative albeit successful law firms.

Intelligence report


Legal market report

July/August 2012

Caution rules

While the year ahead looks uncertain, chances are that M&A and private equity practices will remain sluggish.

“Clients are more cautious in making acquisitions,” says

Rustam Gagrat, a partner at Gagrats in Mumbai.“M&A is more need-based and not just to extend the

footprint,” says Prem Rajani, managing partner of Rajani Associates.

It may be “very easy to put money into India, but very dif-ficult to take it out,” as ALMT Legal partner Sameer Tapia puts it, so law firms are grappling with the challenges of providing advice on exit strategies to prospective interna-tional investors.

“One has to plan and understand how to get out of India before getting in,” says Tapia.

Part of the reason for the current caution in the market is the government’s handling of the Vodafone taxation issue and the dithering over the general anti-avoidance rules (GAAR).

“GAAR guidelines will govern the dynamics of taxation of foreign investors and business houses for M&A trans-actions outside India as well,” points out Praveen Raju, a partner at Krishnamurthy & Co in Mumbai.

The government’s dramatic U-turn over allowing entry of multi-brand retail also has made investors wary. Those in favour of retail liberalization have argued that it will not only give consumers a wider variety of products at competitive rates, but also help create much-needed jobs.

Shardul Thacker, a Mumbai-based partner at Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe, was of the view that even

Many corporate lawyers across India are open to the idea of international law firms being allowed in, but few expect the market to open anytime soon.

“The entry of foreign law firms will infuse more profes-sionalism into the legal market,” says Bhumesh Verma, a partner at Paras Kuhad & Associates in Delhi.

Sidhartha Srivastava, a partner at DH Law Associates in Mumbai, believes that foreign firms may pose a threat only to the big Indian law firms. “The government should allow foreign law firms to enter,” says Srivastava.

There is no sign that the government plans to act on this soon.

“Foreign law firms entering India won’t happen. I don’t see it being allowed in the present climate,” says Preeti Mehta, a partner at Kanga & Co in Mumbai.

Several lawyers, including Ranji Dua, managing part-ner of Dua Associates, point out that international law firms are knocking on the doors of the Indian market in part because revenue generation has slowed in Europe and North America.

The power of numbers

International law firms continue to argue that they should be allowed to set up offices in India. A recent survey of executives and general counsel from India’s largest companies and lawyers from India’s top law firms, commissioned by Allen & Overy and carried out

by YouGov, an international market research company, shows that 96% of respondents feel that the Indian legal market should be fully or partly liberalized.

But some think it’s not worth letting foreign lawyers in just to practise foreign law. Only 47% felt that allowing foreign lawyers to practise foreign law in India would have a positive impact on the quality of legal services provided to large companies in India, while 83% felt that allowing foreign law firms to practise both Indian law – through Indian-qualified lawyers – and foreign law would have this impact.

So far, international law firms have only asked that they be allowed in to practise foreign law. But in doing so are they taking the right approach?

Strengthen before opening

Shardul Shroff, joint managing partner of Amarchand Mangaldas, believes that while the opening of the Indian legal market is inevitable, more needs to be done to develop the market.

Pointing out that a domestic market cannot be opened in a manner that destroys it, Shroff says: “You have to calibrate your entry inwards. That’s not happened. And that nobody is even talking about it. What does a foreign firm say – open your market, I want to enter! But it’s not introspecting and saying that you feel that the market entry is difficult – let us address those issues which

Open sesame?Are international law firms taking the right approach as they put

pressure on the government to let them in?

affect Indian lawyers.” “Get the issues which are haunting domestic lawyers

addressed first, create that environment which is opti-mal, and then by all means, have open competition,” he adds.

Other lawyers express similar sentiments.“As lawyers we should debate and discuss and con-

vince the other side,” says Pankaj Soni, a partner at Remfry & Sagar, who suggests that the current environ-ment may not be appropriate for international law firms to enter.

A different perspective

Others see advantages in opening the market now. Asked if there would be more career opportunities

for Indian lawyers if foreign law firms were allowed “to establish offices in India and merge with Indian law firms to practise both international law and, through Indian qualified lawyers, Indian law in the corporate field,” 89% of respondents in the Allen & Overy survey said there would be.

In addition, when asked if competition from foreign law firms would improve pay and work conditions for lawyers in Indian law firms, 80% believed it would.

Judicial wranglings

With no sign of a change in legislation, the legal fra-ternity both inside and outside India will need to wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling in an appeal in the Balaji case filed by the Bar Council of India for any clarity on the issue.

In this case, a two-judge bench of Madras High Court ruled that foreign law firms may “visit India for a

temporary period on a fly in and fly out basis” to advise their clients on foreign law. It also ruled that “foreign law-yers cannot be debarred to come to India and conduct arbitration proceedings in respect of disputes arising out of a contract relating to international commercial arbitration”.

Earlier, in the Lawyers Collective case in 2009, Bombay High Court had ruled that the Reserve Bank of India should not issue licences to foreign law firms to open liaison offices.

An interim order in the Balaji appeal, issued by the Supreme Court on 4 July, says that the Reserve Bank of India “shall not grant any permission to the foreign law firms to open liaison offices in India”. It also clarifies that practising the profession of law under section 29 of the Advocates Act, 1961, covers “litigious matters as well as non-litigious matters”.

Legal or not?

The interim order has left lawyers pondering the legal-ity of the widespread practice of foreign lawyers taking part in arbitrations in India. A lengthy arbitration in a dispute between Essar Oil and United India Insurance over India’s first advance loss of profit insurance claim provides a case in point.

All three arbitrators deciding the claim are lawyers from the UK, and both United India and its London-based reinsurers used UK lawyers. The hearings in the arbitration took place at the Trident Hotel in Mumbai.

It is hoped that the Supreme Court’s final ruling in the Balaji appeal will provide clarity on whether using inter-national counsel in this manner will continue to be legal and on other issues related to the presence of foreign lawyers and law firms in India.

Get the issues which are haunting domestic lawyers addressed first … and then by all means, have open competitionShardul ShroffManaging PartnerAmarchand Mangaldas

Intelligence report


Legal market report

July/August 2012

a “shopkeeper managing a tuck shop would probably find that they could apply for a job at Walmart that is more secure”.

Staple diet

Firms report that regulatory practices provide steady – albeit not the most lucrative – work, given the increasingly complex regulatory landscape of India. Over the years some firms have deepened their regulatory practices in specific areas.

Securities law practices tend to ebb and flow with regu-lations issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Sandeep Parekh, founder of Finsec Law Advisors in Mumbai, expects the firm’s investment funds practice to grow as a result of the recent notification of the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012, which require mandatory registration with SEBI of the private pooling of capital. Previously, investors could choose not to register such funds.

Parekh, is a former executive director of SEBI and was responsible for enforcement and legal affairs.

Others with experience at a regulator or in-house legal teams at major Indian banks and companies have also moved into corporate law firms.

Pramod Rao, who until April headed one of India’s larg-est in-house legal teams as general counsel at ICICI Bank, caused a stir when he chose to join Indus Law, a relatively young mid-size firm.

Competition law jurisprudence is yet to develop in IndiaRanji DuaManaging PartnerDua Associates

Many corporate lawyers across India are open to the idea of international law firms being allowed in, but few expect the market to open anytime soon.

“The entry of foreign law firms will infuse more profes-sionalism into the legal market,” says Bhumesh Verma, a partner at Paras Kuhad & Associates in Delhi.

Sidhartha Srivastava, a partner at DH Law Associates in Mumbai, believes that foreign firms may pose a threat only to the big Indian law firms. “The government should allow foreign law firms to enter,” says Srivastava.

There is no sign that the government plans to act on this soon.

“Foreign law firms entering India won’t happen. I don’t see it being allowed in the present climate,” says Preeti Mehta, a partner at Kanga & Co in Mumbai.

Several lawyers, including Ranji Dua, managing part-ner of Dua Associates, point out that international law firms are knocking on the doors of the Indian market in part because revenue generation has slowed in Europe and North America.

The power of numbers

International law firms continue to argue that they should be allowed to set up offices in India. A recent survey of executives and general counsel from India’s largest companies and lawyers from India’s top law firms, commissioned by Allen & Overy and carried out

by YouGov, an international market research company, shows that 96% of respondents feel that the Indian legal market should be fully or partly liberalized.

But some think it’s not worth letting foreign lawyers in just to practise foreign law. Only 47% felt that allowing foreign lawyers to practise foreign law in India would have a positive impact on the quality of legal services provided to large companies in India, while 83% felt that allowing foreign law firms to practise both Indian law – through Indian-qualified lawyers – and foreign law would have this impact.

So far, international law firms have only asked that they be allowed in to practise foreign law. But in doing so are they taking the right approach?

Strengthen before opening

Shardul Shroff, joint managing partner of Amarchand Mangaldas, believes that while the opening of the Indian legal market is inevitable, more needs to be done to develop the market.

Pointing out that a domestic market cannot be opened in a manner that destroys it, Shroff says: “You have to calibrate your entry inwards. That’s not happened. And that nobody is even talking about it. What does a foreign firm say – open your market, I want to enter! But it’s not introspecting and saying that you feel that the market entry is difficult – let us address those issues which

Open sesame?Are international law firms taking the right approach as they put

pressure on the government to let them in?

affect Indian lawyers.” “Get the issues which are haunting domestic lawyers

addressed first, create that environment which is opti-mal, and then by all means, have open competition,” he adds.

Other lawyers express similar sentiments.“As lawyers we should debate and discuss and con-

vince the other side,” says Pankaj Soni, a partner at Remfry & Sagar, who suggests that the current environ-ment may not be appropriate for international law firms to enter.

A different perspective

Others see advantages in opening the market now. Asked if there would be more career opportunities

for Indian lawyers if foreign law firms were allowed “to establish offices in India and merge with Indian law firms to practise both international law and, through Indian qualified lawyers, Indian law in the corporate field,” 89% of respondents in the Allen & Overy survey said there would be.

In addition, when asked if competition from foreign law firms would improve pay and work conditions for lawyers in Indian law firms, 80% believed it would.

Judicial wranglings

With no sign of a change in legislation, the legal fra-ternity both inside and outside India will need to wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling in an appeal in the Balaji case filed by the Bar Council of India for any clarity on the issue.

In this case, a two-judge bench of Madras High Court ruled that foreign law firms may “visit India for a

temporary period on a fly in and fly out basis” to advise their clients on foreign law. It also ruled that “foreign law-yers cannot be debarred to come to India and conduct arbitration proceedings in respect of disputes arising out of a contract relating to international commercial arbitration”.

Earlier, in the Lawyers Collective case in 2009, Bombay High Court had ruled that the Reserve Bank of India should not issue licences to foreign law firms to open liaison offices.

An interim order in the Balaji appeal, issued by the Supreme Court on 4 July, says that the Reserve Bank of India “shall not grant any permission to the foreign law firms to open liaison offices in India”. It also clarifies that practising the profession of law under section 29 of the Advocates Act, 1961, covers “litigious matters as well as non-litigious matters”.

Legal or not?

The interim order has left lawyers pondering the legal-ity of the widespread practice of foreign lawyers taking part in arbitrations in India. A lengthy arbitration in a dispute between Essar Oil and United India Insurance over India’s first advance loss of profit insurance claim provides a case in point.

All three arbitrators deciding the claim are lawyers from the UK, and both United India and its London-based reinsurers used UK lawyers. The hearings in the arbitration took place at the Trident Hotel in Mumbai.

It is hoped that the Supreme Court’s final ruling in the Balaji appeal will provide clarity on whether using inter-national counsel in this manner will continue to be legal and on other issues related to the presence of foreign lawyers and law firms in India.

Intelligence report


Legal market report

July/August 2012

Public-sector involvement

India’s vast infrastructural needs assure Indian lawyers of a steady supply of work. Many infrastructure projects are undertaken as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and sev-eral firms report that they do considerable work in this area.

“The next eight years will be big for infrastructure because of all the projects in the pipeline,” says Aparajit Bhattacharya, a partner at HSA Advocates.

Sunil Seth, managing partner of Seth Dua & Associates, advised the private party in a PPP that developed water sup-plies in several areas of India, including Nagpur and Delhi.

The Public Procurement Bill, 2012, which was recently introduced in parliament, aims to lay down the law with regard to such projects, which currently differ in structure and are governed by different rules.

“It will fundamentally alter the methods by which govern-mental agencies and public-sector utilities procure goods and services,” says Deepto Roy, a partner at PXV Law Partners in New Delhi.

Several law firms are also involved with the drafting of laws and regulations, which may not pay much but adds to their credibility.

Seth Dua & Associates reports that it “advised on various constitutional law and administrative law issues arising out of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, and also the Tenancy Bill”.

Suchitra Chitale, managing partner of Chitale & Chitale Partners in New Delhi, says that her firm drafted the Rajasthan Infrastructure Development Act.

An emerging practice

Another practice area of great promise is competi-tion law. This follows the notification of all sections of the Competition Act, 2002, and several orders by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) that attempt to rein

in anti-competitive practices by companies in India. Competition law practices are “likely to grow as more

companies enter into mergers and amalgamations having effect in India,” says Samir Agrawal, an associate at Dhall Law Chambers in Delhi. Agrawal also expects litigation before the CCI to increase on account of “increasing com-petition advocacy undertaken by the CCI and consequent better awareness about the law, which should also lead to better self compliance in the longer term”.

While Dhall Law Chambers is a specialist competition law firm set up by a former chairman of the CCI, Vinod Dhall, law firms across the country have set up competition law prac-tices. This is more so in Delhi where the CCI is located and where a few lawyers have been on government-appointed competition law committees that pre-date the Competition Act and the formation of the CCI.

Lack of liability

However, Ranji Dua, managing partner of Dua Associates, points that “competition law jurisprudence is yet to develop in India”. He is also sceptical about the quality of advice provided by lawyers on competition law.

“A viable competition law practice requires the services of cost accountants and economists,” says Dua, pointing out

that few law firms can provide such resources. He says this reflects a “lack of depth” in law firms across the country.

Anand Desai, managing partner at DSK Legal in Mumbai, expresses similar sentiments. He suggests that the Indian legal culture is currently such that “few lawyers will pass up on any work and admit to not knowing something in depth” and that most law firms lack genuine specialists. Desai believes this is symptomatic of the lack of accountability among lawyers.

“This could change when Indian lawyers are made liable,” says Desai pointing out that few lawyers and law firms are covered by professional indemnity insurance.

Neeraj Tuli, managing partner of Tuli & Co, a specialist insurance practice , says that while it is almost unheard of in India to sue your lawyer, attitudes may be changing.

“The entire culture of suing is weak in India,” says Tuli. This is borne out by reports that following the Satyam

fraud, while investors in the US have received substantial

It is good to have packaging, but content is what counts C RashmikantPartnerFederal & Rashmikant

Few lawyers will pass up on any work and admit to not knowing something in depthAnand DesaiManaging PartnerDSK Legal

We are hell-bent on taking them [business consultants and accounting firms] to court unless they stop providing legal adviceLalit BhasinPresidentSociety of Indian Law Firms

Intelligence report


Legal market report

July/August 2012

settlements thanks to a strong class action framework, Indian investors have yet to receive any compensation.

Tough action

Intellectual property (IP) disputes are one area in which a damages culture is slowly taking root.

“While Delhi High Court has awarded punitive damages in 142 cases of IP violations, costs are now being granted in cases of domain name disputes,” says Pravin Anand, man-aging partner of Anand and Anand.

Rising IP awareness and greater protection for IP owners will boost IP practices across the country. Increasingly com-plex patent and trademark disputes are adding to the clout of a growing number of smaller specialist IP firms, which are challenging the dominance of the established IP firms.

A recent landmark decision saw the grant of India’s first compulsory licence for a patented drug to a small maker of generic drugs, Natco Pharma. The two law firms that argued the case – Rajeshwari & Associates and Perfexio Legal – are both relatively new.

IP practices across the country could find themselves swamped with work following recent amendments to the Copyright Act, 1957, which came into effect on 21 June.

“Lawyers are expected to spend a significant amount of their time in advising clients on upsides and downsides [of the amended act] as well as changes to contracting practices,” says Monica Datta, a partner at Saikrishna & Associates in Delhi.

Turf wars?

India’s corporate lawyers appear to have an almost never ending supply of work to keep them occupied. While inter-national clients continue to be courted, the demand from within India is growing. In addition, as Vineet Aneja, a part-ner at Clasis Law in New Delhi, points out, the “potential in the tier-two companies is largely untapped”.

However, lawyers’ hold over the market is less than assured.

While international law firms wait to be allowed into India, lawyers and law firms are grappling with the challenges of protecting their turf against encroachments from domestic players.

In early July, the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) turned its sights to targets within India and called on all business consultants and accounting firms to stop providing legal advice to their clients. A recent Supreme Court ruling that clarified that the practise of law under the Advocates Act, 1961, covers litigious matters as well as non-litigious mat-ters emboldened SILF to take this step.

“We are hell-bent on taking them to court unless they stop providing legal advice,” says Lalit Bhasin, managing partner of Bhasin & Co, in his capacity as the president of SILF.

Bhasin adds that “at least one-fourth of the work being done by accounting firms is all legal work which legiti-mately only lawyers can do”.

Persuading them to back off is clearly a battle that is worth fighting. g

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

S.N. B/2, Manoj CHS LtdShanker Ghanekar Marg

PrabhadeviMumbai - 400 025, India

Tel: +91 22 4039 7000Fax: +91 22 4039 7001

ContactMr Souvik GangulyManaging Partner

[email protected]

Websitewww.acuitylaw.co.in

Acuity LawEstablished in 2011

Number of partners: • 1Number of associates: • 6Principal office: • Mumbai

Key practice areas: Cross-border and domestic M&A, joint ventures, foreign collaborations, corporate governance, regulatory approvals & compliance, private equity, commercial transactions, intellectual property, insurance M&A and regulatory, competition law and policy, infrastructure, employment and labour, successions & estate planning, construction & development and banking & finance.

Our services: Acuity Law differentiates itself by providing a team which has legal expertise together with industry expertise. Acuity Law advises on laws relating to foreign investments, publicly traded companies, securities, corporate governance, takeovers, financing, contracts, employment & labour, intellectual property, environment, movable and immovable assets and disputes.

Lawyers at Acuity Law have advised Indian and multinational compa-nies, funds, banks and financial institutions, company founders, inter-national law firms, domestic and international investment banks and financial advisers and government agencies.

Contact us

New DelhiA 2/78, Safdarjung EnclaveNew Delhi - 110 029, IndiaTel: +91 11 2616 1002/3

+91 11 2616 2651/2Fax: +91 11 2616 2612

Contact: Mr Praveen [email protected]

BangaloreNo. 8, 2nd Main, 9th Cross

Indira Nagar I StageBangalore - 560 038, India

Tel: +91 80 2528 5898/2528 2266Fax: +91 80 2528 5899

Contact: Mr Vikas [email protected]

Agarwal Jetley & CoEstablished in 1993

Number of partners: • 4Number of associates: • 15Principal office: • New DelhiOther office: • Bangalore

Key practice areas: Corporate law; regulatory practice; M&A; dispute resolution.

Our services: Agarwal Jetley & Company, established in 1993, is a full-service law firm with sizeable corporate, regulatory and litigation practices. It has offices in New Delhi and Bangalore. The firm’s practice consists of corporate advisory services and dispute resolution. The firm has substantial practice in trade and investment regula-tions, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, company law matters, regulatory matters, intellectual property, direct and indirect taxation, real estate, trusts and charities, and arbitration/dispute resolution, and is well equipped to offer legal services to its clients. The litigation group has extensive experience in district courts, tribunals and other legal fora, including arbitral tribunals, and represents clients before the high courts and the Supreme Court of India. The firm has built its success by adopting a hands-on approach towards each of its clients, who always have direct access to one of the partners. This approach has enabled the firm to develop and maintain long-standing relationships with its clients.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

New DelhiAmarchand Towers

216, Okhla Industrial EstatePhase III

New Delhi - 110 020India

Telephone+91 11 2692 0500

Fax+91 11 2692 4900

ContactMr Shardul S Shroff

[email protected]

Other offices

Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad

and Chennai

Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co Established in 1917

Number of partners: • 70Number of associates: • 485Principal offices: • New Delhi, MumbaiOther offices: • Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai

Key practice areas: Mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures; private equity; investment funds; capital markets; insolvency and corporate restructuring; banking and finance (including structured finance and debt capital mar-kets); insurance; projects (including infrastructure, telecommunications and energy); project finance; real estate; information technology and intellectual property; taxation; litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution; trade and competition law; employment law and policy and regulatory advice.

Our services: Amarchand Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co (AMSS) is one of India’s leading full service law firms. With over 555 lawyers, includ-ing 70 partners, the firm employs its legal resources across all major prac-tice areas and focuses on several core areas of commercial activity. Often viewed as “the firm of preference” in respect of foreign direct investment in India, the firm helps its clients achieve their goals by combining global standards with local expertise.

The firm has been and continues to be part of major headline transactions and litigations in all segments of industry and services, besides represent-ing almost every major transnational corporation on their India entry and business strategy. Quite often, AMSS has been in the unique position of being an adviser on the public policy formation in India. Distinguished part-ners of the firm have been members of many legislative panels to assist the Government of India with a legal perspective on policy related matters. AMSS is also the exclusive Indian member firm of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. Such pre-eminent counsel-ling by AMSS has earned the firm, the enviable reputation of being a leader amongst its peers. Some of corporate India’s most influential entrepreneurs turn to AMSS for innovative legal solutions and strategies. The firm is at the cutting edge of new issues in law, guiding the creation of legal precedents and meeting the challenges of change.

Awards:

Winner of 13 prestigious awards, including “Best Overall Law Firms” at • India Business Law Journal’s 2011 Indian Law

Firm Awards.

Ranked 4th in APAC, 3rd in Asia, and 1st in India in terms of M&A value (with deal value US$13.4 billion from 20 deals) •

by Mergermarket in its 2012 league tables.

Indian Firm of the Year by • International Financial Law Review (IFLR) India Awards 2012, 2011 & 2010.

Indian Law Firm of the Year for 7 years consistently by • Who’s Who Legal, 2012.

Indian Deal Firm of the Year 2011 & 2012 consecutively by • Asian Legal Business (ALB).

Client Choice Award 2012 & 2011 by • International Law Office (ILO).

No. 1 Legal Adviser in M&A and PE in Q1 2012 by • Venture Intelligence; No. 1 Legal Adviser in Asia Pacific in Q1 2012

by Mergermarket; No. 1 Legal Adviser in India in Q1 2012 by Bloomberg.

IFLR• Asia, 2011 Awards - Indian Firm of the Year; Capital Market Team of the Year; Restructuring Team of the Year;

Equity Deal of the Year (Standard Chartered IDR Listing); Best Indian Law Firm (Gold Award) at the International Legal

Alliance Summit & Awards, 2011.

“Top Law Firm in India” on quality, reputation and capability, RSG Top 40 Firms Ranking, 2011.•

Also: Law Firm of the Year in PE, 2012, by • VCCircle; Best Law Firm of the Year by Legal Era, 2011/12; National Law

Firm of the Year, 2011, by Chambers & Partners.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

New DelhiB-41, Nizamuddin East

New Delhi - 110013Tel: +91 120 405 9300

Fax: +91 120 424 3056/058

ContactPravin Anand Safir Anand Debjit Gupta Binny Kalra

Archana Shanker

[email protected]

Websitewww.anandandanand.com

Anand and AnandEstablished in 1979

Number of partners: • 13Number of associates: • 65Principal offices: • New Delhi, NoidaOther offices: • Chennai, Mumbai

Key practice areas: Patents, designs, litigation & dispute resolution, trademarks, copyright, antitrust & competition, compliance & regulatory, agreements, commercial exploitation of IP licensing and franchising law, tax law on IP matters, packaging law, advertising law, custom recordal & enforcement, domain name disputes, investigations, sports law, and media & entertainment law.

Our services: Anand and Anand is at the forefront of contentious IP litiga-tion and trademark and patent prosecution. It advises on all aspects of core intellectual property laws as well as geographical indications; contractual and commercial IP; conveyancing; character merchandising; personality rights; libel and privacy laws; brand acquisitions; advertising laws; competi-tion and consumer laws; border control measures, including recordal of IP rights with customs; domain names; internet laws; technology transfers; IP audits and valuation; IP leveraging, including manpower; IP mortgage/pledg-ing; venture capital and idea incubation and funding; pre-IPO audits of IP rights and compliances; and obtaining government approvals.

Contact us

G-1/5, Flat No.1, Ring Road Model Town-3

New Delhi - 110 009, IndiaTel: +91 11 4708 2554Fax: +91 11 4057 3867

C-25 (S), Second FloorDelhi Police ApartmentsMayur Vihar Phase -1


ContactMs Sumita Singh, Managing Partner

[email protected]@ascentialls.com

AscentiallsEstablished in 2009

Number of partners: • 3Number of associates: • 7Principal office: • New Delhi

Key practice areas: Intellectual property rights, with a focus on trade-marks, IP used online, e-commerce, copyrights, geographical indications, domain names, related contractual obligations and portfolio management.

Our services: The firm is a specialist boutique for all intellectual property related matters. The firm’s practice encompasses prosecution as well as pro-tection of intellectual property rights.

Our IP protection practice extends to civil, criminal and administrative actions; including preliminary market searches, investigations, and search and seizure compliances of court orders. We also have an extensive practice in related alternative dispute resolution, licensing, portfolio management, corporate transactions, assignments, registered user agreement, strategy advisory, IP due diligence and online use of IP especially in e-commerce.

Led by Ms Sumita Singh, a leading lawyer for intellectual property in India, the firm is three-and-half-years old and has been mentioned as an “emerging law firm” and a “law firm to watch” by several notable publications.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

New DelhiAntriksh Bhawan

22 Kasturba Gandhi Marg New Delhi - 110 001, India

Telephone+91 11 2375 5511 +91 11 2335 1921

Fax+91 11 2335 2226

[email protected]@ala-india.com

ContactLira Goswami Senior Partner

Associated Law AdvisersEstablished in 1994

Number of partners: • 4Number of associates: • 20+Principal office: • New Delhi

Key practice areas: International business transactions, mergers & acquisitions, corporate, commercial, securities, competition, food & drugs, project financing, tax & transfer pricing, oil & gas, aviation, defence, employment, environment, insurance, real estate, litigation & arbitration. Our services: Associated Law Advisers (ALA) is a full-service law firm advising domestic and global clients including Boston Scientific, ExxonMobil, General Electric, Kellogg, Mars, Mattel, Rolls-Royce, Suzuki, Zurich Insurance, etc., in diverse areas including M&A, project financing, advisory work, litigation and arbitration.

ALA provides high quality, value-added legal services through a team of highly experienced, prompt, proactive and commercially minded law-yers. ALA lawyers have authored the India Private Banking chapter for Law-in-Context and also the India Environment chapter (2008) for the International Comparative Legal Guide.

Contact us

Mumbai23rd Floor Express Towers

Nariman PointMumbai - 400 021, India

Telephone: +91 22 6639 6880Fax: +91 22 6639 6888

Email: [email protected]: Ms Zia Mody

New DelhiPlot No A-8, Sector 4Noida - 201 301, India

Telephone: +91 120 417 9999Fax: +91 120 4179900

Email: [email protected]: Mr Ajay Bahl

AZB & PartnersEstablished in 2004

Number of partners: • 19Number of associates: • 221Principal office: • MumbaiOther offices: • New Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai

Key practice areas: M&A, joint ventures & general corporate, regulatory practice & securities laws, private equity, capital markets, funds practice, banking & finance, microfinance, derivatives, infrastructure & project finance, real estate, media & entertainment, IT & business process out-sourcing, employment, insurance, intellectual property, pharmaceuticals & biotechnology, taxation, aviation, competition law, litigation & arbitration.

Our services: AZB & Partners is one of the prominent law firms in India. Our aim is to provide clear, concise and practical advice based on our in-depth knowledge of the legal, regulatory and commercial environment, as well as our understanding of our clients’ business objectives. The firm has received wide national and international acclaim. It won no less than 14 awards at India Business Law Journal’s prestigious Indian Law Firm Awards (February 2012), including the magazine’s top award of “Law Firm of the Year”. In addition, AZB & Partners was recognized as the “Most Active Legal Advisor – M&A” and “Most Active Legal Advisor – PE” at the 2012 Apex Awards, based on transactions undertaken in 2011. It also received the “Best M&A Law Firm Award” at the Legal Era Awards 2012.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

MumbaiCecil Court, 4th Floor

MK Bhushan MargColaba

Mumbai - 400 039, IndiaTelephone: +91 22 2289 9300

Fax: +91 22 2282 3900Email: [email protected]

Contact person: Alka Bharucha

New DelhiEnkay House

4/48, Malcha Marg SCDiplomatic Enclave

New Delhi - 110 021, IndiaTelephone: +91 11 4593 9300


Contact person: Kumkum Sen

Bharucha & Partners Established in 2008

Number of partners: • 5Number of associates: • 35Principal office: • MumbaiOther office: • New Delhi

Key practice areas: Mergers & acquisitions, corporate restructuring, joint ventures, private equity, banking, structured finance, project & project finance, capital markets, litigation, international & domestic arbitration, intellectual property, financial regulation.

Our services: Established in March 2008 in Mumbai with four partners and nine associates, Bharucha & Partners has now expanded to three offices in two cities with 40 lawyers. Bharucha & Partners is dedicated to excellence, bringing to you a blend of rich experience, creativity and energy of youth. Each of the partners has a proven track record of handling commercial transactions or disputes. Each associate has been individually groomed or selected as sharing the quali-ties and vision of the partners. With five partners and 35 associates we work across practice areas and count leading international and corporate houses, banks, financial institu-tions and funds among our clients.

Contact us

New DelhiS-327, Greater Kailash II


Tel: +91 11 4383 0000+91 11 4163 9294

Fax: +91 11 4163 9295

ContactMs Namita Chadha

[email protected]

Websitewww.chadha-co.com

Chadha & CoEstablished in 2002


Key practice areas: Inbound investments, M&As, joint ventures, technol-ogy transfer, private equity, corporate restructuring, corporate & project finance, corporate governance, regulatory compliances, commercial litiga-tion, labour, employment & industrial relations, real estate and antitrust.

Our services: Chadha & Co is India’s leading boutique law firm with a specialized practice in advising foreign companies doing business in India. We advise international corporations on their India entry strategy, structuring their entry, establishing Indian operations, and on post-entry legal and regulatory issues. Our clients, from over 31 countries, include leading Fortune 500 corporations as well as SMEs. We work with pro-fessionals across India and are able to provide the same high quality of services in a cost-effective manner anywhere in the country.

Our partners are involved in a hands-on manner on every assignment. This ensures that our quality of work does not have peaks and troughs – the know-how, experience and commercial understanding of our partners is crucial to our ability to provide consistent, world-class service.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

New Delhi14th Floor, Dr. Gopal Das Bhawan

28 Barakhamba RoadNew Delhi - 110 001

India

Telephone: +91 11 4213 0000Fax: +91 11 4213 0099

Mumbai1202B, One IndiaBulls Centre

Tower 2B, Floor 12B841 Senapati Bapat Marg

Elphinstone RoadMumbai - 400 013

India

Telephone: +91 22 4910 0000Fax: +91 22 4910 0099

LondonThe St. Botolph Building

138 HoundsditchLondon EC3A 7AR

UK

Telephone: +44 207 876 4848Fax: +44 207 876 5132

Contacts

Mr Vineet AnejaEmail: [email protected]

Mr Sakate KhaitanEmail: [email protected]

Websitewww.clasislaw.com

Clasis LawEstablished in 2010

Number of partners: • 10Number of associates: • 35Offices: • New Delhi, Mumbai, London

Key practice areas: Aviation, banking & finance, corporate & com-mercial, dispute resolution, employment & immigration, infrastructure, insurance, private equity & venture capital, projects & energy, real estate & investment funds, shipping, marine insurance & international trade law, tax, and technology, media & telecommunications.

Our services: Clasis Law is a full-service Indian law firm with true inter-national capability. The hallmarks of the firm include a high degree of legal expertise, and a commitment to excellence, efficiency, integrity, focus and client care.

As international cross-border transactions increase in number and com-plexity, Clasis Law, with its Indian offices and international presence, is well-placed to assist clients in finding commercially sound solutions for their business requirements.

Clasis Law has the unique advantage of having an office in London which is fully staffed with Indian lawyers that provide advice on matters relating to Indian law and jurisdiction. We understand the importance of working with clients’ internal man-agement and business teams, to ensure that business objectives are met in the best possible manner. We strive to provide value-added, cost-effective solutions at all times, without compromising on quality or dedication. A proactive, energetic and practical approach ensures that our clients achieve highly successful results.

Awards and recognition

ILO Client Choice award in 2010 and 2011 to Vineet Aneja in recog-•nition of his corporate advisory expertise and approach.

Best new firm to launch in 2011 by • India Business Law Journal’s, Indian Law Firm Awards 2011.

Best Aviation practice in 2011 by • India Business Law Journal’s, Indian Law Firm Awards 2011.

Sakate Khaitan listed as a leading individual for Investment Funds •and recommended for Insurance by Legal 500, 2012.

Vineet Aneja recommended for Corporate/M&A by • Legal 500, 2012.

Ishtiaq Ali and Damodara Rao recommended for banking law by •Legal 500, 2012.

Shalini Agarwal is recognized as a leading corporate immigration •lawyer by the International Who’s Who – Corporate Immigration Lawyers 2007- 2012 and the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyer 2012. She is also recognized as a leading employment lawyer by Legal 500, 2011.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

New DelhiR-1, Second Floor

Park View ApartmentsHauz Khas EnclaveNew Delhi - 110 016

India

Telephone+91 11 2651 0505/1505

Telefax+91 11 2651 1505

Bangalore516, 10th A Cross

29th Main, Sector 1HSR Layout

Bangalore - 560 034India

Key contactsSrinivas Kotni

[email protected]: +91 98 1128 2863

Madhumita D [email protected]

Mobile: +91 98 9932 4888

Raj Latha [email protected]

Mobile: +91 98 9997 8082

Websitewww.lexport.in

Corporate LexportEstablished in 2000

Number of partners: • 3Number of associates: • 12Principal office: • New DelhiOther office: • Bangalore

Key practice areas: Our core strengths are indirect taxation, corporate commercial & transactional work and intellectual property rights.

We advise on customs, excise, service tax, anti-dumping, VAT & sales tax, special economic zones, foreign trade policy & procedures, international taxation, indirect tax audits, indirect tax litigation, investment transactions, mergers & acquisitions, private equity & venture capital, banking & finance, power & energy, contracts, labour & employment, telecommunications & information technology, real estate & infrastructure, regulatory & policy, IP registration & maintenance, IP licensing, IP advisory & consultancy, IP litigation, due diligence, corporate advisory, compliance support, legal audits, corporate litigation.

Our services: Corporate Lexport is a full-service corporate and com-mercial law firm based in New Delhi with a branch office in Bangalore. We provide legal services to a range of domestic and international clients including multinational public and private companies.

Our mission is to offer personalized legal solutions on corporate, com-mercial, tax and regulatory issues. Our dedicated team of professionals includes lawyers, intellectual property experts and company secretaries.

Our focus is on delivering efficient and timely legal solutions to our clients with the highest standards of professionalism. The innovative approaches we adopt are a blend of technical expertise and commercial pragmatism to match the unique business requirement of each client.

Corporate Lexport was founded by Srinivas Kotni, an advocate and company secretary who has handled legal, corporate and tax issues for close to two decades. Fellow partner Madhumita Mitra has over 25 years of experience working on regulatory issues and has worked on anti-corruption laws, human resource regulations concerning public servants and affirmative action policies of the government. Her work involves legal research and analysis on intellectual property, consumer affairs, indirect taxation, contractual agreements, legal metrology, pharmaceuticals, environment, real estate and IT. Partner Raj Latha Kotni specializes in patent prosecution, counselling on validity of patents and patent infringe-ment, drafting technology transfers, know-how and trade secret agree-ments, licences, due diligence and litigation in the fields of life sciences, pharmaceuticals biotechnology and biochemistry for clients in India, the US, the EU, China, Japan and Australia.

Our clients: Corporate Lexport has served a diverse spectrum of Indian and international clients. They include ACI Mitsui Prime, Adidas, Airtel, Apollo Hospitals, Bharti, Coca-Cola, Corporate Executive Board, Cummins, Dabur, Emaar MGF, Faridabad Gurgaon Minerals, FICCI, Field Fresh, Haldirams, HCL, Hero Honda, Honda, Honeywell, IBM, Inditex, ING, Intel, Kodak, KPMG, Oracle India, Oxigen, Reebok, Reliance Industries, Samsung, Shyama Power, Springer, Telesoft, Teri University, Timex, UNICEF, Valvoline, Voith Siemens and others.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

New Delhi202-206 Tolstoy House

15 Tolstoy MargNew Delhi - 110 001, India

Telephone: +91 11 2371 4408Fax: +91 11 2331 7746

E: [email protected]

GurgaonTelephone: +91 124 280 3366/7E: [email protected]

MumbaiTelephone: +91 22 6636 9966


PuneTelephone: +91 20 2611 9760


BangaloreTelephone: +91 80 2558 8799/9909


ChennaiTelephone: +91 44 2431 4304


ChandigarhTelephone: +91 172 278 4394


HyderabadTelephone: +91 40 2354 7881-3E: [email protected]

SingaporeTelephone: +65 6538 1437 / 2906


Contact personBalinder Singh


Websitewww.duaassociates.com

Dua AssociatesEstablished in 1986

Number of partners: • 50Number of associates: • 200+Principal office: • New DelhiOther offices: • Bangalore, Chennai, Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Singapore

Key practice areas: Mergers & acquisitions; infrastructure & project finance; private equity & venture capital; banking & insurance; corporate & commercial; securitization & structured finance; corporate restructur-ing; capital markets; defence, nuclear, aviation & aerospace; litigation, arbitration & dispute resolution; privatisation & disinvestment; international trade & anti-dumping; anti-trust & competition law; intellectual property; taxation; labour & employment; public & regulatory affairs; governance & compliance; real estate.

Our services: Dua Associates is a prominent Indian law firm with full-fledged offices across eight metropolitan cities in India and one in Singapore. For more than a quarter century, the firm has provided a broad range of legal services to a diverse Indian and international clien-tele, including Fortune 500 companies, listed companies, public sector enterprises, privately owned businesses, financial institutions, banks, private equity firms, venture capitalists, multi-lateral organisations and eminent corporations from the United States, Europe, Japan and the Asia Pacific.

Dua Associates took an early initiative in assisting many major MNC’s in their India endeavours across a multitude of businesses and, in continu-ing to do so, also assists them in expanding their India presence.

The firm has recognized achievements in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, capital markets, defence, infrastructure projects, project financing, corporate, banking, financial transactions, complex litigation and arbitration, regulatory and tax structuring issues and its in-depth understanding of national, local and regional legislation, rules and regulations. In the infrastructure sector, the firm has worked in power, roads, airports, ports, telecom, mining, oil and gas and renewable energy sectors.

India is one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-growing economies and presents special challenges to both domestic and international business. Also, in an increasingly specialised business and legal environment, Dua Associates recognises that clients’ needs often transcend specialities. The firm assigns a relationship partner to each of its major clients and places the resources of all practice groups at the clients disposal to ensure that the client’s specific needs are met. The expertise and depth of knowledge of the firm’s professionals, enables it to consistently provide comprehensive legal advice and strategy.

In addition to memberships or affiliations with national and international bar councils and associations, law societies and trade-related chambers, the firm has close long standing professional relationships with leading law firms throughout the world.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

Mumbai1502, A-Wing, Dalamal Towers

Nariman PointMumbai - 400 021, India

Telephone: +91 22 6636 7000Fax: +91 22 6636 7172

Email: [email protected]

New Delhi405-406, World Trade Centre

Barakhamba LaneNew Delhi - 110 001, India

Telephone: +91 11 4152 8400 +91 11 2341 8633+91 11 2341 8646

Fax: +91 11 4152 8404 Email: [email protected]

PuneSuyog Fusion, 7th Floor

No. 1, 97 Dhole Patil RoadNr. Ruby Hall Clinic

Pune - 411 001, India

Telephone: +91 20 4146 7400 +91 20 414 6740

Fax: +91 20 4146 7499 Email: [email protected]

Ahmedabad

801, Abhijeet IIIMithakali Six Roads

EllisbridgeAhmedabad - 380 006, India

Telephone: +91 79 6605 4480-81Fax: +91 79 6605 4482


Websitewww.elplaw.in

Economic Laws PracticeEstablished in 2001

Number of partners: • 19Number of associates: • 80Offices: • Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad

Key practice areas: Tax; arbitration and alternate dispute resolution; cor-porate M&A; private investment; competition law and policy; international trade; infrastructure; media and entertainment.

Our services: Established in 2001, Economic Laws Practice (ELP) stands as a premium law firm that is made up of values through which we endeav-our to deliver the best results to our clients. Our approach towards the cli-ents is backed by experience, research, in-depth understanding of industry and a foresight that enables us to look at possibilities where others find none. At ELP, we stand as an ensemble of experience and expertise that is shaped by partnering our Indian clients on their domestic and interna-tional needs in our areas of expertise, and international clients in matters concerning their India-related businesses and transactions. We have, time and again, earned our client’s appreciation for our timely and qualitative response that is benchmarked to global standards. At ELP, several of our partners and associates have qualified and/or worked abroad and hence, hold a skill-set that is built through an international exposure that houses both, diversity and competence. In its tenth year of existence, the firm has established four offices through-out India and built a diverse team which offers our clients, local support and offers specializations where they are required. The suite of services offered at ELP meets the needs of our clients from entry (structuring) to any eventual exit (dispute resolution). Our partners hold both global experience and local expertise that certified them to excel in international jurisdictions. With an assembly of solicitors who have been in practice with esteemed organizations for over 16 years, we at ELP regularly assist several leading corporates with legal advisory services which have an impact on key business decisions.


Economic Laws Practice was a recipient of the following Indian Law Firm Awards, presented by India Business Law Journal in February 2012:

Taxation•Competition & antitrust•Policy & regulation•

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

ChennaiCapitale, 9th Floor

No. 554/555, Anna Salai Teynampet, Chennai - 600 018

India

Tel: +91 44 2435 5217/18Fax: +91 44 2435 5257

Key contactsTK Bhaskar

Srinath SridevanK Harishankar

[email protected]@hsbpartners.com

[email protected]

HSB PartnersEstablished in 2005

Number of partners: • 3Number of associates: • 30+Principal office:• Chennai

Key practice areas: Corporate, commercial, mergers, acquisitions, bank-ing, project finance, litigation, arbitration, private equity, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure, competition and trade, capital markets, media, entertainment and sports, intellectual property, advisory and regulatory services, registration and filing services.

Our services: HSB Partners is a full-service law firm that offers a wide range of legal services in multiple practice areas. The partners bring in tremendous international and domestic exposure. They have in the past been part of nota-ble firms like Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom LLP, New York; Gardner Carton & Douglas, Chicago; Allen & Overy, London, UK; and Deacons Graham & James, Hong Kong. They have also worked with distinguished senior coun-sel in India prior to forming the partnership. The team at the firm includes many seasoned litigators and transaction lawyers. HSB Partners represents several large and well-known conglomerates and business houses in South India. The firm has been part of several high-profile litigations, arbitrations, investments, acquisitions and infrastructure projects. The firm is well known in the market for providing constructive solutions to client needs, besides being reputed for its cost-effective, skillful and ethical nature of practice.

Contact us

Nirmal, Nariman PointMumbai - 400 021, India

Telephone+91 22 6752 9037-52 (Mumbai)+91 11 2332 2311 (New Delhi)

+971 472 5164 (Dubai)

Fax+91 22 6752 9053 (Mumbai)

+91 11 2371 3657 (New Delhi)+971 472 5049 (Dubai)


ContactsMr RJ Gagrat (Mumbai)Mr UA Rana (New Delhi)

Mr HD Gardi (Dubai)

Gagrats Established in 2005

Number of partners and associates: • 55+Principal office: • MumbaiAssociate offices: • New Delhi, Dubai

Key practice areas: Arbitration, asset-based finance, aviation, banking & finance, capital markets, competition law, corporate, dispute resolution, infrastructure, projects & energy, insurance, intellectual property, invest-ment funds, M&A, oil & gas, private equity, project finance, real estate, securities law, shipping, TMT and tax.

Our services: Gagrats has a broad-based practice covering a wide range of legal disciplines. Most of the firm’s members have attended prestigious universities in England, the US and India and some have qualified as solicitors in England. Gagrats has represented clients on significant financings, large cross-border acquisitions, private equity deals, power projects and securities offerings. Gagrats has been a recipient of India Business Law Journal’s 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Indian Law Firm Awards, the 2011 Global Awards, the 2011 and 2012 Indian Corporate Tax Law Firm Awards, the 2012 Law Firm of the Year Award for Tax – India, the 2011 Asian Mena Counsel Awards, the 2012 Dealmaker Award, and been recognized as one of the Most Responsive Domestic Law Firms in India in 2011. It has also been ranked as a leading law firm by Chambers & Partners, IFLR 1000, Asia Pacific Legal 500, Asialaw Profiles, and Which Lawyer PLC.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

Head officeD–19 (GF) & D–31South Extension–I

New Delhi - 110 049, India

Mumbai office106, Durga Chambers

8A Veera Desai Ind. Est. Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W)

Mumbai - 400 053, India

ContactGautam Khurana, Managing Partner

Tel: +91 11 2462 2216Fax: +91 11 2465 4364

Websitewww.indialawoffices.com

India Law OfficesEstablished in 2003

Number of partners: • 6Number of associates: • 48Principal office: • New DelhiOther offices: • Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai

Key practice areas: Foreign direct investment into India; M&A and joint ventures; commercial litigation (high courts and Supreme Court); arbitration; corporate advisory and compliance; family litigation, divorce and custody; banking and insurance; outbound acquisitions and investment; securities, capital markets and public offerings; project finance, private equity and ven-ture capital; taxation; intellectual property; labour and employment. Our services: India Law Offices has built a reputation for competence, good practice and effective service. Our clients come from more than 40 different countries. Our team has extensive experience in advising on the full range of legal issues, including FDI, intellectual property, SEBI and RBI regulations, banking and insurance, venture capital and private equity, taxation and regulatory compliance in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, engineering, food processing and many other industries. Our litigation team has handled many complex matters for government and quasi-governmental bodies, large companies and individual clients. It has succeeded in obtaining relief at the Supreme Court of India, high courts in more than 20 locations and various civil forums.

Contact us

11, 3rd Floor, South WingJorawar Bhavan

MK Marg, Marine LinesMumbai - 400 020, India

Telephone+91 22 2206 3433+91 22 2206 4342+91 22 2206 4343

Fax+91 22 2209 4343

Contacts Anuradha Iyer, Partner

[email protected]

Bakhtiar Sunavala, [email protected]

I&S AssociatesEstablished in 2006

Number of partners: • 2Number of associates: • 8-10Principal office: • Mumbai

Key practice areas: Mergers, acquisitions & joint ventures; foreign exchange laws; regulations & structuring; private equity & venture capital; investment funds; media & entertainment laws; hotel management & fran-chise; mining; labour & employment; equipment procurement; construction & turnkey contracts; inbound & outbound investments; real estate & real estate funds; financial services and general corporate.

Our services: I&S Associates is a corporate-commercial Indian law firm with an office in Mumbai. Although I&S is a young, ambitious and grow-ing firm, both the founding partners have extensive experience and have advised Indian and international clients on several domestic and cross bor-der transactions. By understanding the clients’ key issues, requirements and businesses, I&S provides innovative, practical and personalised advice and services. Quality of service is of the utmost importance for the firm and that is driven primarily by hands on participation, accessibility to clients and complete involvement by the partners. This is the primary attribute that distinguishes I&S Associates from other firms.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

Block No. 8, Building No. 2Rajinder Nagar

New Delhi -110 060, India

Telephone+91 11 2586 1168/2576 1755

Fax+91 11 4243 6540/258 64213

[email protected], [email protected]

Websiteswww.ipr.in

www.iprindia.org

Contact personNeha Chugh

IPR International ServicesEstablished in 2003


Key practice areas: Patents, trademarks, designs, copyright, domain names, plant varieties, geographical indications.

Our services: IPR International Services is a specialist intellectual prop-erty-focused law firm which provides services in the fields of patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, geographical indications, plant varie-ties, etc., and works to safeguard the IP rights of its clients. The firm has acquired broad professional expertise in all aspects of IP and has a team of well-qualified experts in the fields of science, engineering and law. The firm has manpower qualified in the legal and technical fields of science and technology.

Our prime concern is to provide a service of quality and professional-ism. We aim to work closely with clients to gain a genuine insight into their commercial situation. This helps us find the most cost-effective way to provide the required level of protection to meet the specific needs of individual clients. We understand the varied needs of IP owners and rec-ognize that, to be successful, IP lawyers we must be actively involved in a client’s business development.

Contact us

Mumbai902, Tower 2

Indiabulls Finance Centre, SB MargElphinstone Road (West)Mumbai - 400 013, IndiaTel: +91 22 6720 5555Fax: +91 22 2421 2547

We also have a litigation office in Nariman Point, Mumbai

New DelhiH-17, Lower Ground, Kailash Colony


Contact personFatema Hussain, Knowledge Manager

[email protected]

Juris CorpEstablished in 2000

Number of partners: • 11Number of of counsel:• 3Number of associates: • 54Principal office: • MumbaiOther office: • New Delhi

Key practice areas: Banking & finance, bankruptcy & corporate restruc-turing, capital markets, competition law, corporate & commercial, direct taxation, dispute resolution, intellectual property rights, international arbitration, Islamic finance, private equity, property & real estate, media & entertainment.

Our services: The objective of the firm is to provide unbiased and unmatched legal services in all areas of practice. We aim to be the preferred law firm of all of our clients. The firm believes in being innovative rather than just following archaical modes of working and set patterns in India.

The firm has been consistently ranked in the top tiers over the years in banking & finance, capital markets and dispute resolution. The firm has won various awards such as “Most Trusted Foreign Direct Investment Law Firm of the Year, India”, “The Best Client Choice Firm of the Year” and “The Litigation Law Firm of the Year, India”.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

Readymoney Mansion43, Veer Nariman Road, Fort


Telephone+91 22 6623 0000, 6633 2288

Fax+91 22 6633 9656, 6633 9657

[email protected]

Websitewww.kangacompany.com

ContactMr ML Bhakta

Managing Partner

Kanga & CoEstablished in 1890

Number of partners: • 12Number of associates: • 35Principal office: • Mumbai

Key practice areas: Banking & finance, capital markets, corporate law, foreign collaboration and joint ventures, private equity, mergers & acqui-sitions, real estate, litigation, dispute resolution, franchising, intellectual property, project finance, shipping, direct and indirect taxes.

Our services: Kanga & Co is one of India’s oldest law firms. Its expert teams in each department are known for their sound advice and swift turn-around time. Kanga & Co has expertise in all matters relating to banking, including syndicated foreign currency loans, securitization and shipping loans. The firm has built a strong reputation for capital markets work and enjoys an outstanding track record in foreign investment, joint ventures, private equity and mergers and acquisitions.

The firm has won several awards for real estate and is ranked as one of the top firms in this practice area. It also has vast experience in advising Indian and international clients on franchising. Kanga & Co also handles domestic and international arbitration, both commercial and constitutional, direct and indirect taxation, environmental laws and IP registration.

Contact us

12th Floor, Hindustan Times House 18-20, Kasturba Gandhi Marg

New Delhi - 110 001 India

Telephone+91 11 4358 8888

+91 11 4358 8801 8899

Fax+91 11 4155 1910+91 11 4358 8800

[email protected]

Contact personMr Raian Karanjawala

Karanjawala & CompanyEstablished in 1983


Key practice areas: Litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution, and cor-porate and commercial practice.

Our services: Over the years Karanjawala & Company has come to dominate the litigation landscape. It has serviced a wide variety of diverse clients from prime ministers to captains of industry to the biggest corporate houses and the largest media companies. It is equally at ease handling the day-to-day cases of ordinary litigants as it is handling the legal disputes of royal families.The firm has been conferred numerous awards, such as the European CEO Best Dispute Resolution Team, India, 2009, India Business Law Journal’s prestigious Indian Law Firm Awards, 2009, 2010 and 2011, and the Legal Era Awards: “Best Litigation and Arbitration Law Firm Award for 2011-2012”. The firm has been listed among the top-tier firms for dispute resolution in Asialaw Profiles 2011 & 2012. Karanjawala & Company was also listed in Asia Pacific Legal 500 as a top-tier firm in New Delhi for dispute resolution in 2006, 2007, 2010 & 2012 and in Chambers and Partners (Asia) as a “Band 1” firm for “Dispute Resolution: Litigation, New Delhi”, and “Dispute Resolution, National” 2008 to 2012. Mr Raian Karanjawala was named one of the 50 most influential people in India by India Today magazine in 2004.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

MumbaiOne Indiabulls Centre

13th Floor, Tower 1 841 Senapati Bapat MargMumbai - 400 013, IndiaTel: +91 22 6636 5000


BangaloreTel: +91 80 4339 7000


Kolkata (Calcutta)Tel: +91 33 2248 7000


New DelhiTel: +91 11 4151 5454


Khaitan & CoEstablished in 1911

Number of partners: • 58Number of associates: • 242Principal office: • MumbaiOther offices: • Bangalore, Kolkata, New Delhi

Key practice areas: Banking & finance, capital markets, competition law & policy, corporate/commercial, cross-border investments (inward & over-seas), dispute resolution, ecology, environment & wildlife laws, estates, trusts & personal client work, funds, information technology, infrastructure projects & project finance, intellectual property, labour laws, mining & min-eral exploration, real estate, taxation (direct and indirect), trade laws.

Our services: Khaitan & Co is an Indian law firm which combines a rich herit-age of 100 years with modern, cutting-edge legal practices and offers full-serv-ice legal solutions under one roof to its clients in India and overseas. Founded in 1911, the firm today has offices in Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi. The firm blends a century’s worth of experience with a solution-oriented approach for its clients. It advises a wide array of clients on complex domes-tic and cross-border transactions and issues requiring an understanding of corporate finance and strategy, sectoral expertise, international and domestic taxation, employment, regulatory and other relevant practices.

Contact us

709/710, Tolstoy House15-17, Tolstoy Marg


Telephone+91 11 2371 6565

Fax+91 11 2371 6556

[email protected]

Contact PersonMs Manisha Singh Nair

Websitewww.lexorbis.com

LEX ORBIS IP Practice Established in 1997


Key practice areas: Patents, trademarks, designs, copyright, IP enforce-ment, geographical indications, IP licensing, domain names, IP transac-tions, plant variety protection, trade secrets, IP consulting.

Our services: LEX ORBIS IP Practice, an IP boutique founded in 1997, pioneered multi-disciplinary IP practice in India by blending legal acumen with technical expertise and integrating sophisticated practice tools with a robust IT driven practice environment. The firm has grown exponentially in less than a decade, with a strong base of well-credentialed legal and tech-nical professionals offering high quality services in all areas of intellectual property for a number of world’s leading IP owner corporations. Today, we are a full-service IP firm with over 65 personnel, supported by 120 person-nel located at our global support services arm, resulting in combined man-power of over 185 personnel. LEX ORBIS IP Practice offers cost effective and timely services without any compromise on quality. Our best in class global and regional filing pro-grams offer enormous cost, time and quality advantage to both domestic and overseas IP owners. It is fully equipped to meet client specific require-ments including orientation by dedicated attorneys for individual clients.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

New DelhiLuthra & Luthra Law Offices

9th Floor, Ashoka Estate Barakhamba Road


Telephone: +91 11 4121 5100Fax: +91 11 2372 3909

Contact:Rajiv Luthra

[email protected]

MumbaiLuthra & Luthra Law Offices

20th Floor, Tower 2 Indiabulls finance Centre

Elphinstone Mills Compound Senapati Bapat Marg

Mumbai - 400 013India

Telephone: +91 22 6630 3600Fax: +91 22 6630 3700

Contact:Mohit Saraf

[email protected]

BangaloreLuthra & Luthra Law Offices

Unit Nos. G-01 & G-02 Prestige Garnet, No -36

Ulsoor Road Yellappa Chetty Layout


Telephone: +91 80 4112 2800Fax: +91 80 4112 2332

Contact:Vikrant Kumar

[email protected]

Websitewww.luthra.com

Luthra & Luthra Law OfficesEstablished in 1990

Number of partners: • 41Number of associates: • 252Principal offices: • New Delhi, MumbaiOther office: • Bangalore

Key practice areas: Anti-trust; aviation; banking & finance; capital mar-kets; corporate & commercial; criminal law; debt recovery; employment; exchange control; infrastructure & project finance; international trade; intellectual property; investment structuring; insurance; joint ventures; litigation & commercial arbitration; media & entertainment; mergers & acquisitions; private equity investments; privatizations & disinvest-ments; real estate & regulatory; tax.

Our services: Luthra & Luthra Law Offices is one of India’s leading full service law firms, with offices in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. The firm established in 1990 has amassed an enormous amount of knowledge capital that has been built in the passing of every year, every month and every single day.

The firm’s depth of experience and comprehensive industry focus dis-tinguish us from other law firms and inspire our clients’ and colleagues’ loyalty and satisfaction. This has also led to us being consistently rated as a 1st tier law firm in India


Winner of 11 awards at • India Business Law Journal’s 2011 Indian Law Firm Awards (February 2012), including the prestigious award of “Best Overall Law Firms”.Awarded the “National Law firm of the Year – India” at the • Chambers Asia Pacific awards 2012.Recipient of the “National Law Firm of the Year” award at the • IFLR Asia Awards 2011 and 2010.Consecutively won the “New Delhi Firm of the Year” award at the •IFLR India Awards 2010, 2011 and 2012.Awarded the “Infrastructure Firm of the Year” award at the • IFLR India Awards 2012. Awarded the “Restructuring Team of the Year” award at the • IFLR India Awards 2012. Ranked 1st in the world in the category “Global PFI/PPP Deals” of •the Dealogic Global Review 2010 and 2009Recipient of India Firm of the Year, M&A Team of the Year and •Banking & Finance Team of the Year by Asialaw.Awarded the • ALB’s Fast 30 law firms for “outstanding achievement and peak performance as one of Asia’s fastest growing firms”.

Prominent clients include:

Abbott Laboratories; Abu Dhabi Investments; ANZ Grindlays Bank; ArcelorMittal; Asian Development Bank; AT&T;

Bank of America; Blackstone Group; Cairn Group; ChrysCapital Group; Citibank; Deutsche Bank; DLF Group;

Edelweiss Capital; Exim Bank - USA; Exxon Mobil Group; General Motors; Goldman Sachs; Hewlett Packard;

HSBC Group; ICICI Bank; IDBI Bank; IDFC; IKB Deutsche Industriebank; Kleiner Perkins Caufield &; Byers and

Sherpalo; Lufthansa; Merrill Lynch; Monsanto; Morgan Stanley; Natixis Bank; Nokia; Oman Investment fund; Perot

Systems; Power Finance Corporation; Qatar Investment Authority; Ras Laffan Liquified Natural Gas Company;

Rolls Royce Group; Rothschild Group; Yes Bank; Sapient; SONY; Standard Chartered Bank; State Bank of India;

Swarovski; Temasek; Tishman Speyer; Toshiba Corporation; The World Bank; The UB Group; UBS Securities;

Unitech Limited; Union Bank of India, and Wartsila NSD.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

Mr Akil HiraniManaging Partner

601/ 604, Naman Centre

C-31 G-Block

Bandra-Kurla Complex

Bandra (East)

Mumbai - 400 051

India

Tel: +91 22 6123 7272

Fax: +91 22 6123 7252


Mr Neerav MerchantPartner

Office No. 304

3rd Floor, Rustom Building

29, Veer Nariman Road

Fort, Mumbai - 400 001

India

Tel: +91 22 6610 1131

Fax: +91 22 6610 1135


Mr N Raja SujithPartner

202, Pride Elite

10, Museum Road

Bangalore - 560 001, India

Tel: +91 80 4147 0000

Fax: +91 80 4147 0010


www.majmudarindia.com

Majmudar & PartnersEstablished in 1943

Number of partners and principals: • 9Number of associates: • 50Principal offices: • Mumbai, BangaloreOther offices: • New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai

Key practice areas: Corporate/M&A, joint ventures, antitrust, corporate finance and securities, tax, investment funds, banking and finance, restruc-turing and insolvency, IP, technology, licensing, outsourcing, telecommu-nications, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, employment and real property law, and litigation and arbitration.

Our services: Majmudar & Partners (formerly Majmudar & Co) has evolved into one of India’s premier law firms representing the who’s who of banks, companies and financial institutions. The firm is known as a provider of high quality, value-added and solutions oriented services. The firm achieves this by ensuring adequate partner time on all client matters.

Our people: The best-known personalities of the firm are its managing partner, Mr Akil Hirani; senior advisor and partner, Mr AK Hirani; partner, Mr Rukshad Davar; partner, Mr Neerav Merchant; partner, Mr Prashanth Sabeshan; principal - tax group, Mr Ravishankar Raghavan; and Bangalore office partner, Mr N Raja Sujith.

Mr Akil Hirani, who has been in practice for 20 years, is admitted in England & Wales and California (currently inactive), and India, and oversees the firm’s transactional, regulatory and finance practice groups. Mr AK Hirani, who has been in practice for over 40 years, is a specialist in banking and real property law. Mr Rukshad Davar is a leading corporate/M&A partner, and Mr Neerav Merchant is a highly recommended company/commercial and dispute reso-lution lawyer. Mr Ravishankar Raghavan is the principal of the tax practice. Mr N Raja Sujith is a foreign investment, corporate, technology, and employ-ment law specialist in the Bangalore office. Mr Prashanth Sabeshan is admit-ted in India and England & Wales (currently inactive), and has worked in India, Australia and Singapore with leading international law firms. He focuses on investments in infrastructure projects, development of greenfield and brown-field energy projects, EPC/EPCM procurement and construction projects, project financing, security and credit documentation and trade financing.

Accolades: Majmudar & Partners has been ranked among the top-tier Indian law firms by Chambers Global and Chambers Asia in corporate/M&A; banking and finance; tax; projects, infrastructure and energy; technol-ogy, media and telecommunications; and real estate law. In addition, they have described Majmudar & Partners’ turnaround time as “phenomenal” and have praised the lawyers as being “practical and creative.” Clients interviewed by the Asia Pacific Legal 500 have acclaimed the firm for its “excellent level of expertise”; “concise and commercially focused advice”; “exceptional team”; “high level of service”; “top-quality advice”; “respon-siveness, and timely and clearly stated legal advice demonstrating high level of technical ability.”

IFLR1000, in its 2012 issue, has ranked Majmudar & Partners as a leading Indian law firm for banking and finance, and M&A work.

Majmudar & Partners has also been ranked as a market leader in employ-ment law in India by the India Business Law Journal, and has won the 2011 and 2012 IFLR award for the Best Employment Law Firm in India.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

C-346, Defence ColonyNew Delhi - 110 024

India

Telephone +91 11 2433 7572+91 11 2433 7573

Fax+91 11 2433 7574

[email protected]

Litigation Chamber467, Lawyers’ Chambers

High Court of DelhiNew Delhi - 110 003

India

Telephone+91 11 2338 2074 +91 11 2338 2578

Key contacts

Mr Amitabh ChaturvediManaging Partner

[email protected]

Ms Sumita Chauhan Senior Partner

[email protected]

Mr Utkarsh TewariPartner

[email protected]

Websitewww.mineandyoung.com

Mine & YoungEstablished in 1997

Number of partners: • 4Number of associates: • 25Principal office: • New DelhiOther offices: • Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh

Key practice areas: Real estate & construction law, corporate & commer-cial law, litigation & arbitration, intellectual property, information technology & media, liability & insurance law, aviation, employment law, competition law and maritime law.

The profile: Mine & Young is a solution-driven, independent, broad-based, full-service, pragmatic law firm that advises corporate and individuals across wide range of industrial sectors.

The philosophy: At Mine & Young, our principal commitment is to render efficient legal solutions in a cost-effective manner through experience and expertise with assured quality across the board. Fairness, integrity and cli-ent’s interest are the deciding policy factors for all matters. Our constant endeavour is to extend rational advice balancing the need for disputes to be resolved through settlement and transactions to be dispute-proof as far as possible.

The diversity of offering: Providing a comprehensive range of commercial legal services to a wide variety of sectors along with all aspects of litigation and arbitration.

The team: Our team is trained in different legal and industrial disciplines that deal with highly specialized matters. This in turn complemented with commercial acumen and practical knowledge, gives us the capability to offer comprehensive services to our clients across a plethora of sectors. Integrity, commitment, service excellence and ethics has helped us to achieve the highest professional standards and has resulted in the firm being able to build supportive and strong relationships with our clients.

Mine & Young is engaged in providing legal services in the field of law including but not limited to the following: Real estate & construction law, corporate & commercial law, litigation & arbitration, intellectual prop-erty, information technology & media, liability & insurance law, aviation, employment law, competition law and maritime law.

Sectors: Real estate, banking & finance, aviation, automobiles, agri-culture, chemicals, defence, energy & utility, education, FMCG, family business, health, insurance, infrastructure, information & communication technology, media & sport, public sector, retail, security, services for indi-viduals, tobacco, transport and travel & leisure.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

Mohinder Puri & Company Advocates and Solicitors

1F, Vandhna Building11, Tolstoy Marg


Tel: +91 11 4710 2250 +91 11 4710 3379

Fax: +91 11 4710 2290

ContactsMr Aseem Chawla

[email protected]

Mr Dipankar VigPartner

[email protected]

MPC LegalEstablished in 2012


Key practice areas: MPC Legal is a law firm offering specialized legal serv-ices in areas of corporate, tax and business advisory. The firm focuses on stra-tegic investments both in and outbound, corporate, domestic & international tax including litigation, mergers & acquisitions, securities & capital markets, real estate, information technology, anti-trust and dispute resolution.

Corporate & Tax Practice: MPC Legal advises its clients in structuring best-fit tax models. With expertise in domestic tax including indirect taxes, and double taxation avoidance treaties, the firm is well-positioned to provide efficient advisory & effective tax-structuring and optimization solutions and assess tax effectiveness of commercial ventures including litigation support services.

Strategic Corporate Practice: The firm is well-equipped to handle all legal aspects of inbound and outbound cross border investment. The firm’s positioning and interaction with the regulators always benefits clients. With strengths in conducting in-depth investigative due diligence exercises, the firm provides hands-on support on structuring and implementing strategic acquisitions and business reorganization exercise.

Contact us

A-265, Defence ColonyNew Delhi - 110 024

India

Telephone+91 11 4155 5790

Fax+91 11 4155 5792

[email protected]

Contact personGyanendra Kumar, Partner

Websitewww.mnklaw.com

MNK Law OfficesEstablished in 1996


Key practice areas: Mergers & acquisitions, private equity, corporate and commercial law, real estate, employment, litigation, arbitration and infrastructure.

Our services: MNK is a full-service law firm. MNK’s corporate partners – Probal Bhaduri and Gyanendra Kumar, represent diverse clients in mergers, de-mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, joint ventures and private equity transactions. The firm works towards a pragmatic recon-ciliation of the day-to-day functioning of an enterprise with applicable commercial laws.MNK’s real estate practice is based pan India where we work in more than 15 states. It advises on financing, acquisition, leasing, transfers, investments and exits. A distinguishing feature of the practice is that the firm uses internal resources to issue title reports in its own name and does not outsource work to local lawyers.Anuradha Mukherjee heads the dispute resolution practice, encom-passing civil, commercial and corporate litigation in courts and by way of arbitration. The litigation team has experienced each of trial, appel-late and writ work.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

MumbaiMulla House, 51 MG Road

Fort, Mumbai - 400 001India

Telephone+91 22 2204 4960 +91 22 2262 3191

Fax+91 22 2204 0246 +91 22 6634 5497

[email protected]

ContactMr Shardul Thacker

Partner

Bangalore209, Regency Enclave

4 Magrath Road Bangalore - 560 025

India

Telephone +91 80 2555 0370

Fax+91 80 2559 8549

[email protected]

New Delhi502, Nilgiri Apartments

5th floor, 9 Barakhamba Road New Delhi -110 001

India

Telephone+91 11 2332 1501

Fax+91 11 2332 1520

[email protected]

Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe Established in 1895

Number of partners: • 14Number of associates: • 100+Principal office: • MumbaiOther offices: • New Delhi, Bangalore

Key practice areas: Admiralty, arbitration (domestic & international), aviation, banking & securities, broadcasting, capital markets, construction, commodities, company/commercial law, customs & tariff, employment & industrial relations, energy (oil & gas), media & entertainment, environmen-tal, finance (aircraft, ship & project), foreign investment, IT, infrastructure projects (power & ports), intellectual property, insurance, litigation, logis-tics, maritime & shipping, M&A, offshore investment & securities, privatiza-tion, real estate & property, tax, trade & transport, telecommunications.

Our services: One of India’s largest and most prestigious law firms. Founded by Sir Dinshaw Mulla in 1895, M/s Mulla & Mulla merged with M/s. Craigie Blunt & Caroe, solicitors to the East India Company, in 1952. The firm has today grown to a strength of over 100 lawyers and fee earners. With a broadbased practice and a diversified client base, the firm proudly represents MNCs, Fortune 500 companies and several large Indian Corporates. Individual partners concentrate on different practice areas providing specialist legal, commercial and technical services to clients. The firm’s depth in knowledge and sound understanding of commercial and market realities results in us providing relevant solutions which are legal and of real commercial value. Over a dozen lawyers are qualified solicitors of the Supreme Court of England & Wales and Hong Kong.With one of the strongest litigation and dispute resolution practices, the firm also advises on managing litigation risk and facilitates negotiations to resolve disputes thus resulting in the least possible adverse effect to the client’s business. The firm has a strong admiralty practice with a worldwide reputation as specialists in all aspects of the shipping laws and also an extensive ship finance practice acting for international lenders in over 300 ship finance deals in the last 10 years. Bolstered with a robust litigation and dispute resolution practice, in the last decade it has handled over 700 ship arrest matters in India and 50 arbitrations relating to shipbuilding and oil and gas exploration in various countries. The firm’s well-recognised insurance and reinsurance practice developed over 40 years, exclusively acts for insurance companies in diverse insur-ance policies such as marine, loss of profile, material damage and erection policies and for reinsurance in various claims against underwriters, advis-ing on hull and machinery, all risk cargo policies, war risk policies, etc.Partners and lawyers regularly contribute to reputed law publications such as Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Quarterly and International Arbitration Review by Law Business Research, London, and India Business Law Journal. Partners present legal papers at various international forums keeping abreast with the dynamic developments of the law. With a long established relationship with the leading law firms around the world including various international law firms, the firm interacts on referral work to and from these firms enabling client requirements to be addressed in a cost effective and timely manner. Partners and lawyers of the firm are members of the IBA, ABA, IPBA, INTA, AMLC.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

Mumbai3rd Floor, 57, Esplanade Mansion,

M.G. Road, Kalaghoda, Fort Mumbai - 400 023

India

Tel: + 91 22 2287 5352Fax: + 91 22 2204 6133

ContactMr Zulfiquar Memon

Managing Partner

[email protected]

Websitewww.mzmlegal.com

MZM LegalEstablished in 2005

Number of partners: • 4Number of associates: • 8Principal office: • MumbaiOther office: • New Delhi (litigation back office)

Key practice areas: White collar criminal defence, criminal compliance, litigation, dispute resolution, economic offences, debt recovery, IT crime, inter-national extradition, transnational crime, transactional support services, family matters, energy & infrastructure, due diligence & private investigations.

Our services: MZM Legal is a specialist white collar criminal defence law firm providing quality defence services to a wide variety of clients including banks, financial institutions, companies, high net worth individuals and funds, to name a few. The MZM Legal team is a combination of aggressive litigators and strong negotiators who collectively bring to the table unmatched expertise in criminal law. The firm’s renowned criminal compliance practice has been further strengthened by its membership to the ROXIN Alliance, an international association of white collar crime lawyers currently operating in 26 countries.

MZM Legal is featured in the “International Who’s Who of Business Crime Defence Lawyers 2011” by Who’s Who Legal and “Recommended for Business Crime Defence” by Indian Lawyer 250.

Contact us

1st Floor, Dr Gopal Das Bhavan 28 Barakhamba Road


Telephone+91 11 4139 3939

Fax+91 11 2335 0416

[email protected]

ContactMr Anand S PathakManaging Partner

P&A Law OfficesEstablished in 1996

Key practice areas: Mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, privatizations, outsourcing, private equity and venture capital, technology licensing, infrastructure, secured and unsecured lending, project finance and struc-tured finance, securitization, IPOs, private placements, competition law, exchange control and other regulatory matters, international arbitration, general litigation.

Lawyers of the firm are admitted to, and have practised in, multiple jurisdic-tions including the US, the EU and India.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

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MumbaiCS-242, 1st Floor

Mathuradas Mill CompoundNM Joshi Marg, Lower Parel

Mumbai - 400 013, IndiaTelephone: +91 22 4340 8500


Contact: Sawant Singh

New Delhi2nd Floor, 254

Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III New Delhi - 110 020, India

Telephone: +91 11 4983 0000 Fax: +91 11 4983 0099


Contact: Abhishek Saxena

Phoenix LegalEstablished in 2008

Number of partners: • 6Number of associates: • 30Principal offices: • Mumbai, New Delhi

Key practice areas: Antitrust & competition, banking & finance, CMT, commercial contracts, corporate & securities laws, arbitration & litigation, energy, oil & gas, environment, employment & industrial relations, foreign investment & exchange control, infrastructure & project finance, insur-ance, intellectual property, international trade, information technology & outsourcing, joint ventures, foreign & technical collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, mining & resources, private equity & funds, real estate, regulatory affairs, taxation.

Our services: Phoenix Legal is a full-service law firm offering an extensive range of transactional, regulatory, advisory and dispute resolution services. The firm advises a diverse clientele, including domestic and international companies, banks and financial institutions, funds, promoter groups and public sector undertakings.

Our offices are located in New Delhi and Mumbai.

Contact us

C-1039, Sushant Lok, Phase-IGurgaon

NCR - 122 002, India

Telephone/fax+91-124-4218463

Mobile+91 9910048689+91 9910206718

[email protected]

[email protected]

Rajeshwari & AssociatesEstablished in 2010

Number of partners: • 2Number of associates: • 7Principal office: • GurgaonOther offices: • New Delhi

Our services: Rajeshwari & Associates is a law firm specialising in intellectual property committed to providing excellent practical advice to clients. We have trained attorneys who have great depth of domain knowledge and are responsive to client’s needs. We represent and advise a large number of Indian and multi-national clients on various transactions and in litigation.

Prosecuting patents in complex technical fields is our forte. As we have experience combined with passion to deliver, we are able to meet all our client’s expectations. Being constantly updated and in the thick of contentious issues helps us to provide expert advice to clients in times of need.

Rajeshwari & Associates is unique as being the only firm having exper-tise not only in filing and prosecution of IP matters, but also litigation and regulatory issues. Our attorneys are ever-ready to serve in a profes-sional and proactive manner.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

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New DelhiC-14, LGF, Chirag Enclave

Greater Kailash-I New Delhi - 110 048, India

Tel: +91 11 4056 3742+91 93 1191 1203/06

Fax: +91 11 4100 5046

ContactMs Vasudha Sen

[email protected]

Mr Shailesh [email protected]

Websitewww.rrgassociates.com

RRG & AssociatesEstablished in 2010

Number of partners: • 4Number of associates: • 15Principal offices: • New Delhi, Gurgaon, MumbaiOther office: • Kolkata

Key practice areas: Corporate & commercial litigation, civil litigation, criminal litigation, mining, foreign exchange, taxation, media & broadcasting, constitutional laws, intellectual property rights, competiton law, consumer rights, cross-border dispute resolution, corporate & commercial advisory, capital markets, banking & finance, restructuring & reorganization, M&A, real estate & infrastructure, commercial contracts, joint ventures & technical col-laborations, foreign investments, private equity & venture capital.

Our services: RRG & Associates is led by Ms Ranjana Roy Gawai, a reputed lawyer with vast experience in corporate and commercial law. RRG & Associates has an inspiring team of dynamic and trained professionals with an impressive practice both in corporate/commercial work and in litigation. The firm advises corporates on their investments and delivers quality legal services of international standards. Ms Gawai has carved a niche for herself and for the firm and has earned the trust of clients with her decade-long experience in company law and SEBI matters. RRG has a firm practice in the Supreme Court of India, various high courts, districts courts and tribunals across the country.

Contact us

A-2E, CMA Tower, 2nd Floor, Sector – 24, NOIDA - 201 301

Uttar Pradesh, India

Telephone+91 120 463 3900

Fax

+91 120 463 3999

[email protected]

Contact

Mr Saikrishna Rajagopal (mobile: +91 9910153099)

Saikrishna & AssociatesEstablished in 2001

Number of partners: • 7Number of associates: • 30Principal office: • Noida (Uttar Pradesh, India)

Key practice areas: IP litigation & enforcement; IP prosecution (trade-marks, copyrights, designs & patents); IP & related advisory and transactional services; TMT - film, music, TV, cyber laws, software, publishing; policy development; competition law; non-IP litigation; ADR (arbitration & mediation).

Our services: Saikrishna & Associates is India’s leading intellectual property law firm specializing in prosecution, litigation, transactions, policy development including in related areas such trade secrets, con-fidential information, defamation as well as extensive expertise in the media, broadcasting, publishing and software sectors.The firm is ranked among the top IP litigation practices in India with individual members ranked as reckoned counsel representing several Fortune 500 companies. The firm extensively engages in IPR enforce-ment, and has a strong investigation and enforcement unit, conducting civil and criminal actions across the country.The firm’s focused transactions practice assists clients with assistance ranging from licensing, merchandising, content/script clearance, libel read memos, aggregation, as well as auditing large content libraries.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

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HeadquartersMr Manoj K Singh

N 30, Malviya NagarNew Delhi - 110 017

IndiaTelephone: +91 11 4666 5000


BangaloreEmail: [email protected]

Telephone: +91 80 4276 5000

MumbaiEmail: [email protected]

Telephone: +91 22 6602 5000

Hyderabad Email: [email protected]

Singh & AssociatesEstablished in 2002

Number of partners: • 6Number of associates: • 64Principal office: • New DelhiOther offices: • Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad

Our services: Singh & Associates is an ISO 9001 certified full-service international law firm headquartered in New Delhi. We have a pan-India presence, with offices strategically situated in the major metropolitan cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad; & associ-ate offices in Patna, Ranchi and Kolkata. We have established a satellite office in New York, and also recently set up an India desk in China.

Over the years, the firm has created its own forte in corporate & com-mercial laws, foreign investments, contractual obligations, intellectual property rights, real estate & infrastructure, pharmaceutical compliance, taxation laws, dispute resolution, and labour, employment and service laws.

Singh & Associates provides a wide array of services to both domestic and multi-jurisdictional clientele. The firm besides having lawyers, also has chartered accountants, company secretaries, patent agents, taxation experts, engineers, and drugs consultants on its rolls.

Contact us

601, 6th FloorDLF South Court

Saket, New Delhi - 110 017India

Tel: +91 11 4164 4400Fax: +91 11 4164 4500

ContactsSunil Seth, Senior Partner [email protected]: +91 98 10055100

Atul Dua, Senior Partner [email protected]

Mobile: +91 98 10162645

Websitewww.sethdua.com

Seth Dua & AssociatesEstablished in 1998


Key practice areas: Aviation; aerospace & defence; automotive; bank-ing & finance; capital markets/securities; corporate & commercial (M&A); cross-border investments & transactions; competition law; dispute reso-lution & litigation; hospitality & leisure; infrastructure projects; energy & natural resources; intellectual property; PPP; procurement; private equity & venture capital; real estate & construction; direct taxes/indirect taxes; international trade & WTO; telecom, media & technology (TMT).

Our services: Seth Dua & Associates (SDA) is a leading full-service Indian law firm headquartered in New Delhi. SDA specializes in corporate, com-mercial and tax laws relevant to M&A, joint ventures, foreign investments and cross-border transactions. SDA has established a leading position on the practice areas of TMT, infrastructure and energy projects, real estate and construction, international trade and tax services.

SDA advises leading multinational and domestic clients.

The professional strength of the firm is derived from a unique combination of legal, tax and dispute resolution services that can be offered to clients.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

Kolkata headquarters5, Kiran Shankar Roy Road

1st & 3rd FloorKolkata – 700 001, India

Telephone

+91 33 2243 8377+91 33 2243 9386+91 33 2210 1617+91 33 2210 1625

Fax: +91 33 2243 6176

[email protected]

[email protected]

Kolkata office 1 4, Fancy Lane, Ground Floor

Kolkata – 700 001, India

Telephone+91 33 2262 4822+91 33 2262 4821

Fax: +91 33 2243 6176

Kolkata office 212/2, Old Post Office Street

3rd Floor, Kolkata – 700 001, India

Telephone+91 33 2243 8377+91 33 2243 9386+91 33 2210 1617

Fax: 91 33 2243 6176

New Delhi officePremises No.13, 2nd floorNizamuddin East Market

New Delhi – 110 001India

Telephone+91 11 4650 2914

[email protected]

Sinha & CompanyEstablished in 1993

Number of associate advocates: • 90Principal office: • KolkataOther office: • New Delhi

Key practice areas: Litigation; arbitration; criminal law; banking, invest-ment and asset finance laws; securitisation and finance laws; corporate laws; IPR and technology development and transfer; revenue and taxa-tion laws; project finance and real estate; product liability; building con-struction infrastructural development and engineering laws; commercial documentation.

Our services: We are the one-stop shop for all your legal needs, in any part of India.

Headquartered in Kolkata, Sinha & Company was started in the year 1993. Now it is a 90-member organization with a strong pan-India pres-ence. Paritosh Sinha, a former honorary secretary of the Incorporated Law Society and a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Delhi, and the International Bar Association, is the founder of Sinha & Company. He presently is also the Advocate on Record for the State of West Bengal and is actively involved in advising the Government of West Bengal in its legal policy making and litigation.

Sinha & Company is one of the leading law firms in Kolkata, India. It provides a wide array of legal services to its domestic and international clients, including multinational companies, banks, financial institutions, public sector undertakings, corporations, companies and small to medium enterprises.

With state of the art infrastructure spanning over 10,000 square feet, Sinha & Company enjoys the locational advantage of having proximity to the High Court, City Civil Court and the metropolitan magistrates courts in Kolkata. The firm has specialized teams involved in legal documentation, corporate due diligence and real estate transactions. It also undertakes litigation, dis-pute management, arbitration, mediation and conciliation proceedings.

The firm has had the proud privilege to be associated with a large number of landmark cases, which have been reported and published in prestigious law journals. Some of these judgments have been crucial to the field of constitutional writ jurisprudence, criminal jurisprudence, civil and corpo-rate jurisprudence, arbitration and service and industrial law jurisprudence. The firm also has an office in Delhi, which focuses exclusively on Supreme Court cases.

The firm structures and tailors its teams according to the specific needs of clients, taking into account any requirements for specialist advice. The firm’s lawyers are trained to meet the most demanding timelines without compromising on quality and efficiency.

The firm has invested in state of the art communications, technology and electronic infrastructure including shared databases to enable offices and practice groups to remain connected and utilize the resources of the firm most effectively.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

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Registered office317, Lawyers’ Chambers

High Court of DelhiNew Delhi - 110 003, India

Telephone+91 11 3056 2000

Fax+91 11 3056 2010

[email protected]

ContactMr Sohan Singh Rana

New Delhi81/2, 2nd Floor, Aurobindo Marg


Telephone+91 11 3056 2000 (10 lines)

Fax+91 11 3056 2010

[email protected]

[email protected]

ContactsVikrant RanaLucy Rana

Websitewww.ssrana.in

SS Rana & CoEstablished in 1989


Key practice areas: Trademarks, patents, industrial designs, copyright, domain names, geographical indications, IP enforcement, IP litigation, IP licensing, IP audit and IP management services.

Our services: SS Rana & Co is a premier intellectual property law firm in India, that provides impeccable services in respect of contentious and non-contentious IP-related matters, business and commercial laws.

Since its inception in 1989 the firm has represented multinational clients in all phases of contentious litigation before all courts, primarily the Supreme Court of India, Indian Patent Office, Trademark Registry, Copyright Board, and Intellectual Property Appellate Board. It is one of the very few IP firms registered as “Advocate-on-Record” with the Supreme Court of India.

Having more than four decades of experience, senior litigators of the firm are committed to provide counsel of the highest quality and helping clients to achieve strategic business objectives.

The team comprises professionally qualified lawyers, patent agents and technical experts from disparate fields like IT, biotechnology, chemistry, pharmacy, applied science and business administration. Under the aegis of its managing partner, the talented and exuberant team makes constant endeavours for maximum utilization of time and resources and ensures that every client receives undivided attention and benefits through the firm’s broad expertise.

The firm’s longstanding relationship with many Fortune 500 companies and several esteemed international and national corporations speaks laurels of its diligent and strategic legal services. The accretion in number of clients bears testimony to the world class proactive legal services provided by the firm. It has also been recognized by several reputed journals and publica-tions for its immaculate services.

The firm has significantly invested in IT systems for efficient data and file management and retrieval of client information while maintaining the highest degree of data security and confidentiality. The fully e-enabled file docketing system, state of the art infrastructure and data access manage-ment sets the firm apart from others in the same field.

The firm understands its corporate social responsibility and makes every effort to comply with the spirit of the law and ethical standards. The firm actively participates in IP sensitization programmes organized by govern-ment and non government bodies like TIFAC, PFC, FICCI, CII, WIPO, MSSI, with the sole intention of raising IP awareness in India.

SS Rana & Co offers pro-bono services to support the cause of grassroots innovators to enable them to monetize their innovations and inventions and benefit from the burgeoning rural industries in India.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

6th Floor, JK Building, Vipps CentreNo 2 Masjid Moth, LSC

Greater Kailash-IINew Delhi - 110 048, India

Telephone+91 11 2922 1435, 2922 5875,

2922 7534, 2922 7535

Fax+91 11 2922 8625, 2921 2904

[email protected]@[email protected]

ContactsMr Shailendra Swarup

Ms Bindu Saxena

Swarup & CompanyEstablished in 1980


Key practice areas: Acquisitions, joint ventures, reconstruction of companies, mergers & liquidations, conveyancing, investments, foreign investments & public offers, corporate & commercial law, banking, insur-ance, construction, entertainment & media, aviation & airports, power generation & distribution, oil, gas & petrochemical, telecom, chemicals & fertilizers, infrastructure & highways, finance & banking, mining, infor-mation technology, automobiles, FMCG, health & allied services, multi-domain mega corporations.

Our services: Swarup & Company has been in service for over three decades and has carved a niche for itself as a versatile law firm with an ability to meet the exacting and changing demands of its clients. The firm has been representing and advising national and multi-national majors, public sector companies, institutional lenders, investment bankers, financial institutions and a host of other corporations in all areas of law. Its associated firm, Swarup & Associates, is a leading litigation firm involved with many high profile corporate litigations and commercial disputes.

Contact us

International Law Centre61-63 Dr Radhakrishnan Salai Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004

India

Telephone+91 44 2812 0000

Fax+91 44 2812 0001

[email protected]

Websitewww.lawindia.com

ContactDr Vinod Surana, Partner & CEO

Surana & SuranaEstablished in 1971

Number of partners: • 9Number of associates: • 70Principal office: • Chennai

Key practice areas: Corporate (banking, corporate & commercial laws, direct & indirect tax, foreign compliances, exchange, finance, mergers & acquisitions, securities, trade); dispute prevention & resolution (arbitration, litigation & mediation); human resources (compliance, conflict resolution, labour relations and turnaround strategies); infrastructure & real estate (documentation, due diligence, negotiations, strategy & structuring); tech-nology (IT, bio technology & intellectual property).

Our services: Established in 1971. Known for being able, available and affordable. Dedicated to providing quick relief and services to clients. Highly rated and recommended as the “first choice” for legal advice in South India by clients and leading Indian/international publications like International Financial Law Review, Asia Pacific Legal 500, Business Today, Business India, Industrial Herald, etc. Has won several domestic and international recognitions for qual-ity leadership for providing legal services.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

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New Delhi1101-1104, 11th Floor, Tower D

Global Business ParkMG Road, Gurgaon - 122 002, India

Telephone: +91 124 4856 900Fax: +91 124 4856 944


Mr Shishir Sharma, Managing Partner([email protected])

BangaloreB-3, 2nd Floor

Embassy Heights AnnexeNo. 13, Magrath Road

Bangalore - 560 025, India

Telephone: +91 80 4331 1433Fax: +91 80 4331 1438


Mr NK Dilip, Partner ([email protected])

HyderabadLevel II, Plot No. 1246

Road No. 62, Jubilee HillsHyderabad - 500 033, India

Telephone: +91 40 4468 0000-04Fax: +91 40 4468 0005


Mr Shailendra Komatreddy, Partner([email protected])

Mumbai101, 10th Floor, Sakhar Bhavan

Block No.III, Plot No.230Nariman Point


Telephone: +91 22 4334 2500Fax: +91 22 4334 2505


Mr Mahernosh Humranwala, Partner(mahernosh.humranwala@

tatvalegal.com)

Tatva LegalEstablished in 2010

Number of partners: • 14Number of associates: • 85Principal office: • New Delhi (Gurgaon, Haryana)Other offices: • Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai

Key practice areas: Private equity, mergers & acquisitions, banking & finance, corporate advisory & employment laws, infrastructure & real estate, dispute resolution.

Our services: Tatva Legal brings together a like-minded group of profes-sionals who aspire to create a professionally managed legal services firm providing support to national and multinational clients across a broad spectrum of businesses.

The firm has the benefit of representing various Fortune 500 companies as well as investment banks and private equity firms in both domestic and cross-border deals. We have specialized expertise in the spheres of merg-ers, amalgamations, demergers, restructuring, business transfers, public offerings and alternate market listings, private placements, competitive bidding and strategic sales, etc.

Our banking and finance team provides transactional support to corpo-rates, private equity funds, banks, non-banking financial companies, asset reconstruction companies, venture capital funds, multilateral funding agen-cies as well as microfinance companies in transactions including acquisi-tion finance, project finance, structured finance, securitization, structured products, debt funding and commercial bank lending transactions.

We provide extensive corporate advisory services and also advise on matters pertaining to regulatory compliance and statutory requirements in accordance with the extant labour and Industrial laws.

We have extensive experience in advising national and multinational clients in the power, telecommunications, surface transport, mining sectors and the utilities sector. We also have a real estate team that undertakes title verification and provides specialized advice on structuring foreign invest-ments and FDI related matters.

We combine industry expertise with creative and result oriented advice to guide our clients through commercial disputes across all geographies and industries. The dispute resolution team comprises of reputed and renowned lawyers (both in-house and of-counsel) who specialize in arbi-tration and litigation. The team, with their years of experience, are noted for their extensive work in commercial arbitrations (domestic and inter-national) and commercial and corporate litigation (original and appellate jurisdictions).

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

New DelhiA-38, Kailash ColonyNew Delhi - 110 048

IndiaTel +91 11 4163 9393Fax +91 11 4163 9292

Key contacts Akshay Jaitly, Anand Prasad

MumbaiOne Indiabulls Centre14th Floor, Tower One

Elphinstone RoadMumbai - 400 013

IndiaTel +91 22 4079 1000Fax +91 22 4079 1098

Key contacts Karan Singh, Sridhar Gorthi

BangaloreThe Residency, 7th Floor133/1, Residency Road


Tel +91 80 4343 4646Fax +91 80 4343 4699

Key contactRahul Matthan

HyderabadJubilee Square, 4th Floor

Road No # 36, Jubilee HillsHyderabad - 500 033

IndiaTel +91 40 2355 6781Fax +91 40 2355 6779

Key contact D Pavan Kumar

Websitewww.trilegal.com

TrilegalEstablished in 2000

Number of partners: • 20Number of associates: • 140+Offices: • New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad

Key practice areas: Corporate, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, projects, energy & infrastructure, banking & finance, dis-pute resolution, competition law, capital markets, telecom, media & tech-nology, labour and employment, intellectual property and real estate.

Our services: Trilegal is a full-service law firm with over 160 lawyers across offices in four of India’s major cities – New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. We have advised on some of the largest, most complex and cutting edge domestic and cross-border transactions across practice areas. Our success in providing clients with a seamless, efficient and inte-grated service across a broad spectrum of practice areas is reflected in the quality of clients that we regularly advise. Our lawyers are highly regarded for their legal expertise and are trained to take a commercial perspective of the issues and provide our clients with a solution-oriented approach.

Recent achievements:

Trilegal won two awards at the IFLR / Asialaw India Awards 2012:

•PrivateEquityDealoftheYear•ProjectFinanceTeamoftheYear

Trilegal was awarded for eight different categories in India Business Law Journal’s Indian Law Firm Awards 2011:

•BestOverallLawFirms •Banking&Finance•Corporate&Commercial •Mergers&Acquisitions•Energy,Projects&Infrastructure •Policy&Regulation•Privatization/Disinvestment •Restructuring&Insolvency

Trilegal was awarded for 10 deals in India Business Law Journal’s Deal of the Year Awards 2011:

•InternationalPaper’sacquisitionofAndhraPaperMills–M&AandJointVenture•MundraPortandSpecialEconomicZone’sacquisitionofAbbotPointterminal – M&A and Joint Venture•SitheGlobalPower’s investment inSKS IspatandPower–VentureCapital and Private Equity•Telenorvs.Unitech–Disputes•NabhaPowerLtdandL&TPowerDevelopmentvs.PunjabStatePowerCorporation – Disputes•MytrahandSuzlondeal forwindpowerprojects– InfrastructureandProject Finance•LancoInfratech’stermloanfacility–InfrastructureandProjectFinance•FinancingGMR’sMaleInternationalAirport–InfrastructureandProjectFinance•ShareMicrofinandAsmithaMicrofin’scorporatedebt restructuring–Banking, Finance and Restructuring•BankfundingforGMRInfrastructure,Singapore–Banking,FinanceandRestructuring

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

Contact us

HyderabadB-3, 1-8-303, Mayfair

Sardar Patel Road,Secunderabad - 500 003, India

Tel: + 91 40 2784 7110/2781 9839 Fax: + 91 40 2772 1931

ContactMs Shireen Sethna Baria

Managing [email protected]

[email protected]

Websitewww.vakilsassociated.com

Vakils AssociatedEstablished in 2010

Number of partners: • 4Number of associates: • 15Principal office: • Hyderabad

Key practice areas: Litigation & arbitration, corporate advisory, statutory & secretarial compliance, M&A, corporate restructuring & joint ventures, commercial documentation & conveyancing, labour & employment law, legal audits, infrastructure & real estate, packaging laws, IT & business process outsourcing, and succession & trusts.

Our services: At Vakils Associated, delivering quality legal service to all clients is the highest priority. The founder partner started her career with JB Dadachanji & Co in New Delhi and later established New Delhi Law Offices in Hyderabad in 1999, which merged its practice with Udwadia Udeshi & Co in Hyderabad from 2005 to 2010.

For over a decade our team has provided continued legal support to national and multinational clientele. The partners bring together their cumu-lative experience and vast exposure in handling a full range of litigation and corporate transactions. The firm’s approach is focused, client-centric and result-oriented, to proactively provide pragmatic legal solutions to even the most complex queries in a cost-effective and timely manner.

Contact us

MumbaiElphinstone House

17, Murzban Road, 1st FloorFort, Mumbai - 400 001, India

Tel: +91 22 2200 1400Fax: +91 22 2200 1411

Phone numbers of other officesNew Delhi: +91 11 2370 1284/5/7

Kolkata: +91 33 4065 0155/56Bangalore: +91 80 4173 8222Chennai: +91 44 2498 5814

ContactKrishnava Dutt

Managing [email protected]

Udwadia Udeshi & Argus PartnersEstablished in 1997

Number of partners: • 11Principal office: • MumbaiOther offices: • New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai

Key practice areas: Mergers & acquisitions; general corporate; projects & project finance; banking & finance; funds; competition; disputes & ADR; real estate; mining; education; policy; succession planning and family business restructuring.

Our services: Udwadia Udeshi & Argus Partners is a leading law firm in India with a diverse practice portfolio. The firm was reconstituted in April 2012 with the merger of Udwadia & Udeshi and Argus Partners and renamed Udwadia Udeshi & Argus Partners. With offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai, the firm has built a formidable reputation for its work and has been acknowledged and appreciated by its clients and peers for providing quality services. Founded by lawyers who have a vast experience in handling domestic and cross-border transactions, the firm has grown considerably. The firm’s clientele includes industry and business leaders in all segments of the market and at various stages in the growth of their businesses.

Intelligence report



July/August 2012

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Cochin officeManikkiri Cross Road,

Pallimukku, Cochin - 682 016, IndiaTel: +91 484 2357057/2357396

Contact: VJ Mathew +91 9847031765

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Chennai officeEmail: [email protected]

Tuticorin officeEmail: [email protected]

Visakhapatnam officeEmail : [email protected]

Website: www.vjmathew.com

VJ Mathew & CoEstablished in 1983

Number of partners: • 3Number of associates: • 12Principal office: • CochinOther offices: • Tuticorin, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, New Delhi, DubaiOur Presence: • Mangalore, Bangalore, Goa, Mumbai, Kandla, Kolkata

Key practice areas: Admiralty, shipping, maritime claims, arbitrations, writ and matters related to customs, port trust, corporate & commercial litigations, real estate.

Our services: We are an international law firm and we specialize in admi-ralty, shipping, maritime claims, arrest of vessels, arbitrations, cargo claims, charterparty disputes, ship management disputes, crew wages, freight claims, civil, labour disputes, writ and other matters related to customs, port trust, corporate commercial litigation, international law, banking & insurance matters, international trade and commercial fraud claims. We also handle matters involving corporate and commercial disputes, com-pany law, intellectual property, securitization, merging, P&I services, general average, international trade, finance, foreign investment, consumer and company disputes and IT and e-commerce solutions.

Contact us

City Square, 2nd Floor Near Jahanvee Restaurant

Polytechnic, Ahmedabad - 380 015 Gujarat, India

Telephone+91 79 2630 3777+91 79 2630 5040

Fax+91 79 2630 2223

[email protected]

Websitewww.yjtrivedi.com

Contact: Mr Jatin Trivedi

YJ Trivedi & CoEstablished in 1970

Number of associates: • 21Principal office: • Ahmedabad (Gujarat)Other offices: • Surat (Gujarat), Rajasthan, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune & Canada (liason office)

Key practice areas: Patent drafting, filing and prosecution, patent litiga-tion, trademark practice, copyright, IP management & strategic counseling, IP licensing, due diligence, audit & valuation.

Our services: Tracing our origin to 1970, YJ Trivedi & Co has grown into a premier full-service IP law firm. We have a strong base of well-credentialed legal and technical professionals offering quality services in all areas of intel-lectual property rights. We understand that pragmatic and effective legal advice requires an appreciation and understanding of the ever-changing business environment in which our clients find themselves every day. We have garnered excellent relationships with our clients by offering them per-sonalized and prompt professional assistance. Whether working on a prec-edent-setting case or preparing opinions, we endeavor to be innovative in our approach and to adopt pragmatic strategies to meet our clients’ interest. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and specialized experience in our cli-ents’ industries, we provide effective solutions that align with clients’ short-term and long-term business objectives. We at YJT are in continuous pursuit to build a reputation for our legal work staying true to our core values.

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