Overview

Akshit Kapoor has extensive experience in areas of real estate laws, mergers & acquisitions, private client and family office practice, banking and finance, capital markets, PE investments, insolvency and bankruptcy and corporate restructuring.

Akshit has represented and advised both Indian and International clients on general corporate matters, M&A, joint ventures and commercial contracts across various business sectors like health care, automobile, telecom, consumer goods sector etc.

He has closely collaborated with a wide range of international and domestic corporations, advising them on their business operations in both India and abroad. As being part of the Firm’s real estate practice, he has advised some of the largest real estate companies in India and has been involved in advising numerous international clients for their projects in India.

Akshit has represented and advised HNIs and HNFs, business owners, family offices, corporate fiduciaries as well as charitable and not for profit entities on restructuring, creation of trusts and wills, migration of residency and change in citizenship.

Akshit has advised on private placements and public offerings by issuers across a wide range of industries. He also regularly advises companies for their Initial Public Offerings (IPO) as well as on Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP).

Akshit possesses a profound grasp of the intricate commercial and legal intricacies surrounding land ownership, land acquisition, land use and conversion, regulatory and approval matters, foreign investments, and more.

As part of the Firm’s insolvency and bankruptcy practice, Akshit has gone on to advise clients on exit strategies, refinancing, debt restructuring, distressed sale etc. Akshit specializes in representing distressed funds, bidders’/resolution applicants, lenders / Committee of Creditors, and insolvency professionals in the context of restructurings, insolvency resolution processes, and liquidations governed by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

Overview

Girish Rawat is a qualified lawyer and company secretary with over 18 years of experience. Girish has been involved in numerous complex and high-profile transactions and advises across several sectors, including real estate, projects, infrastructure, hospitality, technology, manufacturing among others.

Girish focuses on banking, finance and restructuring, including structured finance, cross border lending, hybrid debt financing, project finance, acquisition finance, real estate finance as well as restructuring and security enforcement assignments, and the corporate insolvency resolution process.

He actively advises clients on various investment and financing transactions, including bond/ debt securities, both listed and unlisted, buyback of listed securities. He also advises clients on their investment and disinvestment strategies as well as takeover of the listed companies.

Experience Statement

• Acted for and advised State Bank of India in a financing transaction aggregating up to INR 4.36 Billion sanctioned to Solarcraft Power India 21 Private Limited (a SPV of BluPine Energy) for its 120 MW solar project at Panshina and Radhanpur District in the State of Gujarat, India.
• Acted for and advised HDFC Bank in connection with financial assistance of INR 4180 Million granted to a SPV of Blupine Energy for its 120 MW solar project in Sadla, Gujarat.
• Acted for and advised Assam Bio-Refinery Private Limited (a joint venture between Numaligarh Refinery Limited, Fortum 3 B.V., Netherlands and Chempolis OY, Finland) on successfully raising term loan of INR 3037.50 Crore from Power Finance Corporation Limited for its Bio- Refinery plant for 2G Bioethanol production and other products in Numaligarh, Assam.
• Advised Landmark Infracon Private Limited on acquiring land parcel of 39.0083 acres, situated in the revenue estate of Village Rajokri, Sub-Division, Vasant Vihar, District Northwest, Delhi.
• Acted as the sole legal counsel to the public issue of tax free bonds in the nature of secured redeemable non-convertible debentures aggregating to INR 5,000 Crore by Housing and Urban Development Company Limited.

Overview

Harry Chawla has extensive experience in the areas of Banking & Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Real Estate. Harry has advised clients in the banking and financial services sector, real estate sector as well as the hospitality, health care, automobile, aviation, telecom, IT, ITES, consumer goods sectors.

He has represented some of the largest players in the Indian real estate market, including several Indian companies as well as foreign investors. He has also assisted the Government of India as well as State Government(s) in the drafting of legislations in this sector.

Harry has worked closely with a large number of international and domestic corporations with respect to their business in India and abroad, in the areas of general commercial advice, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, corporate restructuring, joint ventures, fund raising and commercial contracts, etc.

He has advised and represented clients on issues pertaining to corporate finance (both domestic and cross border), debt restructuring and refinancing, securitization, acquisition finance, structured finance, bonds and similar instruments. He has acted for both lenders and borrowers and been involved in complex transactions involving multiple lenders across jurisdictions.

He has also participated in the evolution and formulation process of business strategies with several clients, vis-à-vis their new ventures and business initiatives and has advised in establishing, operationalizing and implementing such business strategies of the clients. He has also advised several clients on strategizing in dispute resolution, negotiation and settlement etc.

Overview

With nearly 16 years of invaluable experience under his belt, Karan specializes in rendering advisory and legal assistance in the field of foreign and domestic debt financing in India with clients ranging in various sectors including renewables, roads, ports, steel, thermal power, transmission, airports, hospitality, healthcare, real estate.

Karan has a holistic approach to structuring and negotiating finance and restructuring deals, having advised several stakeholders including borrowers, sponsors, lenders and bond-holders. He has advised clients on myriad financing transactions including project finance, structured finance, corporate finance, restructurings, cross-border financings, debenture issuances and overseas direct investments.

Karan’s roster of clients includes New Development Bank, Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., Intesa Sanpaolo S.P.A, Bank of America, Siemens Bank GmbH, DBS Bank, Société Générale, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nordic Investment Bank, State Bank of India, PFC Limited, REC Limited, L&T Finance Limited, ICICI Bank, Tata Capital, Aseem Infrastructure, HDFC Bank, Aditya Birla Finance, Virescent (KKR backed renewable platform), Engie, GIP (Global Infrastructure Partners), Enel Group, the Adani Group, Renew Power, amongst others.

He is on the Editorial Board of EQ, one of India’s premier publishing and research houses for renewable energy in India and has also been featured in the Asia Law Client Servicing Report, 2020, which highlights lawyers who have consistently delivered high quality service to clients.

Experience Statement

• Advised Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., Hong Kong Branch, Export-Import Bank of India, India Infrastructure Finance Company (UK) Limited, MUFG Bank, Ltd., Société Générale and YES Bank Limited, on foreign currency term loan facilities for an aggregate amount not exceeding USD 425 Million in connection with the construction, operation and maintenance of a 200 MW Round The Clock hybrid project in Rajasthan, being developed by Serentica Renewables India 4 Private Limited.
  • ‘Indian Deal of the Year’ award by Project Finance International (PFI) 2023.
  •  ‘Exemplary Deal- LegalOne Merits’ by LegalOne.
• Advised DBS Bank in connection with the ECB financing of SGD 470 Million provided to Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals Private Limited (part of the PSA group, Singapore) for the Phase II of the Fourth Container Terminal at Navi, Mumbai, India.
• Advised Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (United Kingdom) in connection with financial assistance in the form of an external commercial borrowing facility aggregating to approximately USD 31 Million, to a company developing, implementing and setting up a 100 MW (AC) solar power project.
• Advised Renew Surya Roshni Private Limited in connection with ECB facilities availed by it from a consortium of 12 lenders for an amount equivalent to USD Equivalent of INR 78 Billion approx. in relation to the financing, construction and operation of a 400 MW capacity "Round The Clock" Project.
• Advised SB Energy Six Private Limited (sponsored by SB Energy Holdings Limited, a part of the SoftBank group) in an ECB financing for an aggregate amount of USD 266 Million approx. and JPY 7,415,000,000 involving lenders from various jurisdictions including MUFG Bank Limited, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, BNP Paribas, Société Générale and Standard Chartered Bank.
  • ‘India Green Project of the Year' award at Asset Triple A- Asia Infrastructure Awards 2021.
  • 'Indian Green Deal of the Year' award by Project Finance International (PFI) 2020.

Overview

Kartikeya is a Partner with the Banking & Finance Practice Group at Luthra and Luthra Law Offices. Kartikeya has been actively involved in advising domestic and foreign clients in the areas of project finance, corporate finance, debt restructuring, banking & finance regulations and external commercial borrowings. He represents both lenders and borrowers in financing transactions and has experience in sectors spanning airports, hospitals, manufacturing, road, power, renewable energy (wind and solar power) and technology services.

Experience Statement

• Advised L&T Financial Services Limited and different entities under it in relation to separate term loan facilities aggregating to approximately INR 1,701 Crores provided to 12 (twelve) special purpose vehicles set up by Essel Green Energy Private Limited for developing and implementing a total capacity of 365 MW solar power projects in the states of Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
• Advised a consortium of lenders led by State Bank of India in relation to financial assistance for an amount of INR 16,000 Crores made available to Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited, for the purpose of part financing the cost of construction and development of three separate natural gas based urea manufacturing complexes with a total urea capacity of 11550 tons per day and ammonia capacity of 6600 tons per day, in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Sindri Jharkhand and Barauni Bihar.
• Advised lenders led by Axis Bank Limited in relation to loan facilities aggregating to INR 1665,00,00,000 made available to Cavendish Industries Limited for the purpose of refinancing certain existing indebtedness availed by the company and in relation to certain working capital facilities aggregating to INR 400,00,00,000 made available to the Company.
• Advised a consortium of about 30 Indian and overseas banks, financial institutions, mutual funds and asset reconstruction companies led by Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited in relation to the structuring of the entire existing financial indebtedness of BILT Graphic Paper Products Limited aggregating to approximately INR 5,000 Crores into inter alia term loans, non-convertible debentures and compulsorily redeemable preference shares.
• Advised Bangalore International Airport Limited in relation to a term loan facility of INR 160 Crores availed by Bangalore International Airport Limited from a syndicate of banks led by ICICI Bank Limited for part financing certain capital expenditure in relation to the refurbishment of the existing terminal, forecourt improvements and realignment of terminal T1 of the Bengaluru International Airport.

Overview

Maureen Z. Ralte is a Partner in the M&A and Corporate Practice of the Firm. She has over 15 years’ experience in mergers & acquisitions, private equity, real estate and general corporate advisory. She has worked on a wide variety of corporate transactions across sectors including real estate, hospitality, automobile, renewable energy, banking & finance, tourism, entertainment, marketing, information technology, etc.

She has represented domestic and multinational companies in the negotiation, structuring, preparation and review of transaction documents, in the areas of general commercial advice, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, corporate restructuring, insolvency, joint ventures/ collaborations, fund raising and commercial contracts. She has advised clients on issues relating to general corporate compliances, corporate governance issues, real estate and exchange control laws.

Maureen has worked closely with the in-house departments of leading corporate houses and routinely advises them on complex legal issues.

Overview

Nishant is a Partner at Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India and specializes in the area of Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity & Venture Capital and Banking & Finance.

Nishant is admitted to practice law in India and the State of New York (USA). In the last 19 years, Nishant has worked on a wide array of equity and debt financing transactions across multiple sectors and countries. In the M&A space, he has worked on listed as well as unlisted company transactions including, public takeover, PIPE, going private, JV and minority or majority equity investments. As regards the debt investment, he advises on structured debt funding and re-structuring transactions.

Nishant also advises corporate houses and HNI’s in relation to investigations by government agencies like Serious Fraud Investigation Office, Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Economic Offence Wing for charges of bribery, money laundering, corporate fraud and various other offences and assists clients in formation of internal corporate policies and structures against anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-corporate fraud, whistleblowing, anti-sexual harassment, data privacy and cyber security.

His past international experience of working with the top tier law firms in San Francisco, New York and London offers his clients a distinctive approach and expertise on cross-border deals.

Experience Statement

• Advised American International Group Inc. in its sale of American Life Insurance Corporation to MetLife Inc. for USD 15.5 Billion.
• Advised Future Group, in relation to USD 5 Billion debt re-structuring of Future Retail Limited, Future Enterprises Limited, Future Lifestyle Fashions Limited, Future Consumer Limited, Future Supply Chain Solutions Limited, and other unlisted companies for all outstanding debt owed to 28 Indian banks-consortium under the resolution framework for COVID-19-related stress announced by the Reserve Bank of India.
• Advised Novo Holdings A/S to acquire majority stake in Manipal Health Enterprises for USD 3.6 Billion alongside investors Temasek, The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and TPG Asia.
  • The transaction is a part of the largest private equity deal in the Indian healthcare sector.
• Represented Pocket Aces Pictures Private Limited, through its board of directors (‘Pocket Aces’), and its founders, Aditi Shrivastava, Ashwin Suresh and Anirudh Pandita, in relation to its acquisition by Saregama India Limited (‘Saregama’), a subsidiary of RP-Sanjiv Goenka (RPSG) Group. Saregama will initially acquire 51.8% shares in Pocket Aces, with the subsequent acquisition of another ~41% stake in next 15 months at pre-agreed multiples. The transaction is an all-cash deal.
  • The deal was listed as one of the top 10 mergers and acquisitions deals.
• Advised Orange S.A., a listed company, in relation to its acquisition of Bharti Airtel Limited’s (a listed company) offshore subsidiaries in two African countries (Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone) for approx. USD 1 Billion.
• Advised Agritrade Resources Ltd., a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in relation to acquisition of SKS Power Generation (Chhattisgarh) Limited through a One Time Settlement of USD 350 Million approx.for all outstanding debt to State Bank of India, L&T Infrastructure Finance Company Limited and PTC (India) Financial Services Limited.
• Advised Engie Solar SAS and Electro Solaire Private Limited, in a project financing for an amount of USD 100 Million approx.availed from the Asian Development Bank and Société Générale for setting up a 2x 100MW AC grid-connected solar PV project in Raghanesda Solar Park, Gujarat.
• Advised IndoStar Capital Finance, a listed company, in relation to Brookfield Asset Management’s acquisition of 40% stake for INR 1225 Crore through a mix of primary and secondary shares from Everstone Capital, infusion of capital in IndoStar Capital Finance, and public shareholders under the Takeover Code.
• Advised Cipla Limited, in relation to its acquisition of brand rights to market derma and cosmeceutical products manufactured by Percos India.
• Advised Reliance Jio, in relation to its acquisition of properties related to telecom towers from Reliance Communications.
• Advised NewQuest Capital Partners, in relation to its acquisition of a minority stake in Kids Clinic India Private Limited (operating as Cloudnine chain of hospitals), through a combination of a primary investment and acquisition of secondary stake from existing investors and other shareholders in Cloudnine.
• Advised Pharmarack Technologies, in relation to its 92% acquisition by ABCD Technologies LLP, a digital health firm backed by Sun Pharma, Lupin, Cadilla Healthcare and Torrent.

Overview

Purvi Dabbiru is a Partner with the Banking & Finance and Project Finance Practice Group at Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India. Having over 11 years of experience in this space, Purvi specializes in rendering advisory and legal assistance in the fields of banking and finance, project finance and debt restructuring space.

Her expertise ranges across sectors including ports, roads, power, renewables, real estate and manufacturing, and with expertise in wide range of financial products, including fund based and non-fund based facilities, private placements of debentures and external commercial borrowings. Having advised various stakeholders including lenders, borrowers, sponsors and guarantors, Purvi has an all-round approach in structuring transactions and negotiating documentation.

Experience Statement

• Advised Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals Private Limited (wholly owned subsidiary of PSA International PTE Limited) and PSA International PTE Limited, in relation to an external commercial borrowing (ECB) facility aggregating to approximately SGD 630 Million and certain hedging facility, provided by DBS Bank Limited.
• Assisted Nordic Investment Bank in relation to the facility of SEK 607,000,000 and EUR 8,600,000 provided to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited by Nordic Investment Bank for the purpose of part financing of a project of the company in India consisting of construction of a HVDC multi-terminal system package. 
• Advised Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (United Kingdom) in connection with financial assistance in the form of an ECB facility aggregating to approximately USD 31 Million, to a company (confidential) developing, implementing and setting up a 100 MW (AC) solar power project including the transmission line.
• Advised Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Limited, a company promoted by Reliance Power Limited, in connection with the financing, involving inter alia foreign currency facility and rupee term loans, for the development and operation of a 100 MW concentrating solar generation power plant at Rajasthan, with a project cost envisaged at approximately USD 410 Million.
• Acted for a consortium of lenders viz. Axis Bank Limited, Aseem Infrastructure Finance Limited and NIIF Infrastructure Finance Limited in relation to the financial assistances aggregating up to INR 17.799 Billion made available to four separate SPVs (forming part of the Actis Group) for the purpose of, inter alia, refinancing their existing debt with respect to their respective solar power projects in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Overview

Ritu Bhalla is a Partner in the dispute resolution practice of the Firm. In her career spanning over 3 decades, she has gained extensive experience in corporate commercial disputes, arbitration matters and specialises in litigation and dispute resolution in areas such as banking & finance, insolvency, regulatory, infrastructure, administrative, white-collar, etc.

She has represented both Indian and multinational clients in various fora including Supreme Court, High Courts, NCLAT, NCLT, DRAT, DRT, quasi-judicial tribunals, domestic and international commercial arbitrations, and has also led teams in undertaking investigations and legal forensic assignments.

She has handled high stake matters and has represented clients in several commercial arbitration matters, successfully obtaining favourable awards for her clients. Ritu has also advised clients on critical litigation strategies.

Overview

Sudipta’s career spans over 25 years, in diverse settings. He started as an in-house, transitioned to private practice, acquired foreign qualifications, moved to international English Law practice, founded his own firm, and then merged his practice with a top-tier firm.

Sudipta’s practice is presently focused on Cross-border M&A, Banking & Finance, Corporate Advisory, Fund Formation, and Insolvency & Restructuring.

Over the last 25 years, Sudipta has cherished a lead role in high value “pink paper” transactions and business development. In recent years, it has been more the deals that he has managed to stop, restructure/ re-strategize that have added greater value to clientele. His practice has evolved from transactional, to strategic counselling, consensus building and operating as a close confidante - to business leaders, boards, promoters, and entrepreneurs.

He is quoted often and published regularly and speaks frequently in national and international forums and on television talk shows.

Varun has more than 9 years of experience in handling banking, finance and restructuring, hybrid debt financing, project finance, acquisition finance, real estate finance and collaborating with clients, identifying their needs and recommending services and solutions to secure their interest.

Varun has experience of working with top financial institutions including Power Finance Corporation Limited, PTC India Financial Services Limited, L&T Infrastructure Finance Company Limited, L&T Housing Finance Limited, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited, IndusInd Bank Limited, Tata Capital Limited, India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited, REC Limited, HDFC Bank Limited, India Infradebt Limited, State Bank of India, Axis Bank Limited, Saraswat Cooperative Bank Limited, RBL Bank Limited, ICICI Bank Limited, IndusInd Bank Limited, Kautilya Finance Limited, Swamih Investment Fund 1- SBICAP Ventures Limited, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development, NIIF Infrastructure Finance Limited, Aseem Infrastructure Private Limited and Aditya Birla Finance Limited as their legal counsel in several project finance and structured finance transactions.

Experience Statement

• Acted for and advised and acted for consortium of lenders including IndusInd Bank Limited, ICICI Bank Limited, Aditya Birla Finance Limited, India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited, Axis Bank Limited and National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development, in connection with financial assistance sanctioned to Oriental Infra Trust aggregating up to INR 45483 Million.
• Acted for and advised Power Finance Corporation Limited in connection with financial assistance sanctioned to the 4 (four) SPVs of Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited, aggregating up to INR 11560.20 Million for the purpose of partly financing the project cost for setting up sea water desalination plants at 4 (four) different locations in the state of Gujarat.
• Advised OLA Cell Technologies Private Limited, in relation to the financial assistance availed from State Bank of India aggregating up to INR 19100 Million in connection with 5 GWh (gross 5.9 GWh) green-field Gigafactory Project for manufacturing Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery for electrical vehicles, situated at Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India.
• Acted for and advised REC Limited, in connection with non-fund based project specific financial assistance aggregating up to INR 25000 Million sanctioned to Suzlon Energy Limited, acting as an EPC Contractor for supply of wind turbine generators for wind power project(s) awarded to multiple renewable power project developers.
• Acted for and advised HDFC Bank Limited, in connection with financial assistance aggregating up to INR 4180 Million sanctioned to Solarcraft Power India 9 Private Limited, for implementation and development of 120 MWac solar power project and related infrastructure being set-up at Sadla district in the State of Gujarat, India. 

Overview

Varun comes with over a decade of experience in M&A, private equity and general corporate advisory. Varun’s involvement in various transactions help both the investors as well as the target company navigate a very uncertain regulatory environment and close large investment rounds. He has played instrumental role in bringing clarity on certain grey areas of the regulatory framework, for instance, surrounding restructuring of such ECB Loans. His insights and legal advisory on transactions in relation to private acquisitions of assets during ongoing insolvency of the asset owner’s group companies has been incredible. Varun’s approach towards solving client’s problem is one of his strongest forte. He brings solution-oriented mind set to the table, helping client navigate the transactions in the most reasonable and timely manner and simultaneously creating space for his team to learn, adapt and grow into an even better professional

Experience Statement

• Advised IFFCO and reviewed financing documentations and corresponding amendments thereto, arising out of the restructuring of the credit facilities amounting to USD 850 Million availed of by IFFCO’s foreign subsidiary i.e. Jordan India Fertilizer Company.
• Advised a leading real estate company on the resolution and eventual acquisition of a landowning company owning 110 Acres of land valued at over USD 140.5 Million under the pre-packaged insolvency regime.
• Advised M3M India Private Limited (M3M) on INR 900 Crore debt infusion by Oaktree Capital through subscription to NCDs.
• Advised Apollo Hospitals in its INR 450 Crore hospital asset acquisition in Gurugram, Haryana.
• Advised by Kunshan Q Tech Microelectronics (India) Private (QTech) Limited on USD 20 Million external commercial borrowings (ECB).