Abhishek Mathur is a Partner at Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India, a leading Indian Law Firm, with about 22 years of experience in legal advisory, negotiating and structuring commercial transactions, drafting commercial contracts and dispute resolution. His areas of expertise include corporate-commercial laws, property laws, estate planning and commercial disputes. Mr. Mathur graduated in law from National Law School, Bangalore and is a university gold medallist. Mr. Mathur also attended the advanced programme on negotiation and dispute resolution by Stanford University, USA.

Experience Statement

• Advised Blackstone Real Estate Partners on a transaction involving a large foreign direct investment into/ development of real estate projects across various jurisdictions in India including Gurgaon, Pune, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Hadapsar, Noida and Ghaziabad.
• Advised Lehman Brothers Real Estate Partners on a large private equity transaction pertaining to foreign direct investment into a joint venture with a leading Indian real estate company, for development of large real-estate project in Mumbai under Maharashtra’s slum redevelopment programme. This project was among the first and largest slum-redevelopment projects in India.
• Advised FIRE (First Indian Real Estate) Capital Fund in relation to its investments, on a pan-India basis, in a large number of real-estate projects including in cities such as Jaipur, Indore and Chennai.
• Advised Arcelor Mittal in relation to their proposed acquisition of a large mining project in the State of Chhattisgarh.
• Advising one of the world’s leading steel manufacturing companies (name withheld) in relation to its large foreign direct investment in a joint venture with a leading Indian steel manufacturer for setting up a steel plant in Odisha over land admeasuring approximately 900 acres.

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.

Arindam has more than 18 years of experience in advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital financing, overseas investments, joint ventures and strategic collaborations. His work in this area predominantly consists of advising clients on both buy and sell sides regarding high value mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, private equity and venture capital financings, debt financings, outbound and inbound cross border investments, joint ventures and strategic collaborations. A seasoned negotiator with strong legal and analytical skills, he has successfully led and managed multiple large-scale transactions over the course of his career. His experience encompasses corporate transactions across sectors as diverse as healthcare, education, technology, media and entertainment, gaming, financial services, defence, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, FMCG and others. Arindam has advised clients ranging from early stage start-up enterprises to global business powerhouses, private equity and venture capital funds, angel investor networks and high net-worth individuals on structuring of businesses and corporate re-organizations, capital financing, growth through mergers and acquisitions, cross border investments (both inbound and outbound), exchange control regulations and general corporate matters.

Arindam is a 2006 graduate of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore.

Experience Statement

• Advised a major Indian manufacturer of agricultural machinery in their joint venture with a Japanese conglomerate, and also their strategic acquisition of another Indian company operating in an ancillary space, with a transaction value of approximately INR 150 Crore.
• Advised a NASDAQ listed entity technology services company in its acquisitions of multiple Indian target companies, including majority stake in a BSE listed company, for a consideration of approximately USD 170 Million.
• Advised and represented the founders on their exit from one of the largest joint venture clinical diagnostics chains in India, by acquisition of their shareholding by the other joint venture partner, for a purchase consideration of approximately INR 350 Crore.
• Advised one of the largest global education-technology companies headquartered in India, over successive institutional financing rounds commencing from Series A till Series F investments, from multiple institutional investors, amounting to more than USD 500 Million.
• Advised and represented the founders of one of the oldest and largest Indian restaurant chains, in its receipt of private equity investment amounting to INR 200 crores, and thereafter, also in the eventual exit of the founders from the business, with such exit being effected at a purchase consideration of approximately INR 400 Crore.

Chandrasekhar Tampi is a Partner in the Firm’s corporate practice group and has over 20 years of experience in representing domestic and international clients in M&A deals in India. Chandra focuses on cross-border and domestic investment, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investment, restructuring, foreign direct investment and capital markets.

Chandra provides a full range of legal services in these transactions and projects, including advising on entry strategies for foreign entities, anti-trust issues, foreign equity participation and attendant regulatory issues, investment options and vehicles, compliances, regulatory approvals pertaining to investment and assisting clients during negotiations in the course of acquisitions and other business transactions.

He provides diverse support including deal structuring, legal due diligence, drafting and reviewing transaction documents, leading negotiations and advising clients from the standpoint of anti-trust and exchange control laws. He also appears before the NCLT and NCLAT in matters pertaining to restructuring, IBC, mergers and demergers.

As a part of his practice as a regulatory lawyer, he has extensively dealt with various ministries and departments of Government of India, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

In addition to the above, he is also involved in pro-bono publicum matters including setting up of entities in India (trusts, societies and Section 8 companies), seeking approval under FCRA, appearing before authorities including the MHA in case of issues arising out of FCRA, advisory on operations in India and CSR compliance.

Experience Statement

• Represented Government of Rajasthan and its JV partner with respect to drafting tender and managing end to end tender process including preparation of transaction documents for the largest road project in Rajasthan following the PPP model.
• Represented one of India’s largest construction development companies with respect to the sale of its wind power assets.
• Represented multiple container companies in establishing and operating container transportation infrastructure in India.
• Represented developer for one of the largest ICDs with respect to establishment of business and Private Equity business including sale.
• Advised developer and JV partner in a hydroelectric project in Kullu District with respect to JV and preparation of tender documents including technical bid evaluation and bid advisory.

Overview

Deepak is amongst the leading practitioners in the Projects, Energy and Infrastructure practice area with a vast experience of over 17 years. He concentrates mainly on the project structuring, pre-development and implementation of the projects, project management during implementation stage, operations and maintenance and related aspects, with respect to projects in India or outside.

His practice varies from advising clients under the public private partnerships' framework, private arrangement or otherwise, in relation to any aspect of the project. He has also been actively involved in the M&A deals involving project companies, especially in renewable energy sector and advising clients on claims and demands arising out of concession/ construction/ development contracts and representing them at the appropriate forums.

Experience Statement

• Acting for and advising Gujarat Maritime Board on various aspects, including but not limited to the following:
  • Issues arising out of the concession agreement (and its termination) for a floating dry dock project.
  • Issues arising out of the concession agreement awarded by it to Sterling Port Limited (as Concessionaire) for the implementation, operation and maintenance of the Dahej Port, Gujarat.
• Acting for and assisting Assystem Energy & Infrastructure (Juridique Groupe), a nuclear energy-based company (through Pinsent Masons) located in France, in the structuring for its proposed investment in India, project documents that it would enter into with the Indian Contractor (Reliance Infrastructure Limited), in relation to the proposed 9900 MW Jaitapur nuclear power project at Madban village of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra.
• Acting for and advising Accion Investment Management (Cayman) Limited on the acquisition of several wind power projects being implemented and operated by NuPower Renewables Limited in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
• Acting for and advising Accion Investment Management (Cayman) Limited on the acquisition of several wind power projects being implemented and operated by NuPower Renewables Limited in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
• Acting for and advising Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power Company Limited) for the development of 5 X 800 MW of thermal power project in Mundra District, Gujarat.
• Acting for and assisting Digital Domain Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong based listed company in setting up its India business and in obtaining various registrations, shifting of its registered office from one state to the other state.

Overview

Harish Kumar, Partner with Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India, a full-service law firm [formerly L&L Partners], is accredited with over 23 (twenty-three) years of diversified experience in dealing with complex legal issues and enabling solutions and implementation for businesses and clients. His expertise pans a wide range of corporate, and legal matters including mergers & acquisitions, corporate restructuring, insolvency, joint ventures, fintech, corporate disputes, employment, anti-corruption and advising on varied aspects concerning corporate governance and regulatory interface.

Harish brings a unique blend of business thinking and strategy to structuring, negotiating, and closing complex commercial and corporate transactions. His background in commerce and corporate laws helps bringing a realistic and risk based holistic approach which seamlessly and effectively helps in delivering the best solution to the clients. During his professional journey, Harish has advised a number of domestic and multinational companies, including various Fortune 500 companies, in his dynamic practice areas.

Aside, Harish has extensively dealt with various ministries and departments of Government of India, including Reserve Bank of India, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Competition Commission of India. His advisory role also extends to various advice given to Government of India and key industry associations like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM on various practical & legal issues being posed by industries from time to time. Harish has also been a regular speaker at various seminars/workshops being conducted by professional and government bodies.

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

Itee Singhal is a Partner with the Corporate and Commercial team at Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India. Her area of specialization includes company law, securities law, corporate restructuring, fintech, financial services, gaming, legal diligence and general corporate advisory. 

She has extensive experience of advising wide range of domestic and multinational clients, including Fortune 500 companies and key Navratna companies, on a various corporate, legal, and regulatory matters, including related to fintech and financial services regulatory, online gaming, schemes of arrangements, takeover, buy back, winding up, fund raising, foreign – inbound and outbound investments, entry and exit strategies, etc. 

With prior working experience with leading Chartered Accountancy and Company Secretaries firm, she brings a unique mix of finance, corporate law, structuring, strategy, governance and corporate secretarial practice. She has also extensively dealt with various ministries and government departments such as RBI, SEBI, DEA, Registrar of Companies, and MCA. She has also represented on various contemporary legal issues before organized institutions like FICCI, CII, ICSI etc. 

Itee has also authored several research based and op-ed articles on various contemporary subjects in the domain of corporate, securities, fintech, financial services and gaming. She is also a regular invitee for the sessions / seminar on recent legal developments.

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.

Niti Paul is a partner at Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India, specializing in general corporate law and mergers and acquisitions. With extensive experience, she represents a diverse range of domestic and international clients in M&A transactions across India.

Her expertise spans multiple sectors, including manufacturing, renewable energy, retail, hospitality, healthcare, financial services, real estate, entertainment, publications, and telecommunications. Niti advises on all facets of joint ventures, mergers, corporate restructuring, foreign investments, regulatory compliance, and employment law. Niti plays a pivotal role in transactional matters, focusing on structuring and advising foreign entities on market entry strategies, joint ventures, acquisitions, and corporate takeovers. She regularly advises on conducting due diligence, navigating foreign equity restrictions and caps, options and vehicles, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements related to investment, environmental, operational, and employment issues.

In addition, Niti has significant experience in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, particularly in carbon markets. She has guided clients on both domestic and international carbon market transactions, including the sale and purchase of verified emission reductions (VERs) and futures trading, while also addressing regulatory concerns.

Niti has also been appointed to a working group committee by the Indo German Energy Forum and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, where she advises on implementing the PM Kusum Scheme to boost farmers' engagement in Agri Photovoltaics projects.

Experience Statement

• Advised Agilion Energy Pvt. Ltd., a joint venture between AES Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation, in the sale of 10MW battery energy storage and related facilities to Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited.
• Advised Cognisphere Solutions Limited on their carbon credit purchase and project development agreements for the sale of their Verified Emission Reduction Units and Verified Carbon Units administered by Verra and Gold Standards.
• Advised AES Group on Indian law issues pertaining to its various Group entities in India including structuring, foreign exchange laws, exit options, compliances etc.
• Advised Atria Power Group on all aspects of establishing renewable power projects including contracts related to supply, erection, installation and commissioning, development of projects/ shared services, operation and maintenance of renewable power assets and shared services, wheeling and banking, long term open access, and power purchase agreements.
• Advised Trinity Capital (One) Limited, a Mauritius based entity with respect to the sale of their entire shareholding in Uppals IT Projects Private Limited, an India based entity.

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.

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).

Overview

Vipin's focus areas of practice are mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity foreign investment, general corporate and commercial matters. In his legal experience of a decade, Vipin has structured, negotiated and drafted a wide range of private equity transactions and M&A transactions for foreign and domestic clients across the sectors such as energy and infrastructure, renewables, e-commerce, real estate, etc.

Vipin advises foreign investors and multinational corporations on a wide array of legal issues relating to acquisitions, joint venture agreements, private equity investments, foreign direct investment policy, company laws, etc.

Overview

Vivek K. Agarwal is a Partner with Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India with over 15 years of diversified experience and has dealt with clients across continents and specializes in dealing with wide array of legal and associated business issues and offers solutions to business and legal needs of clients. He has the experience of advising on wide range of corporate legal matters including advising on India entry/ set-up and exit/ insolvency, corporate governance issues, restructuring, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions.

Vivek has extensively dealt with various ministries and departments of the Government of India including the Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Reserve Bank of India and has also been a contributor to the Government in its efforts to bring about changes in policies and business landscape in India from an ‘Ease of Doing Business’ perspective. He is also a regular contributor to the World Bank in conducting its ‘Ease of Doing Business’ study in India.

Vivek has advised various multinational as well domestic clients in areas of corporate and commercial laws and has helped a number of clients’ set-up their India presence and strategize their business closure and India exit and also on obtaining relevant government approvals. His experience brings in a mix of effective implementation strategy and legal expertise and he strives to deliver the best solution to clients with his practical approach and efforts to balance risk with desired client objective.

Experience Statement

• Acted at the behest of one of the largest steel manufacturers in the world in its acquisition of the distressed steel business of the Essar group in India under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
• Assisted the monitoring agency in negotiations and implementation of the resolution plan of an Indian listed steel major in acquisition of another listed entity in the steel business under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
• Assisted in completing the acquisition of the shares of the Indian subsidiaries of a leading identity management solutions provider in the United States following which the acquirer became the world leader in biometric identity solutions.
• Assisted a Chinese business house in completion of their asset and business acquisition of Brakes business units from a premier supplier of automotive chassis products to OEMs in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
• Assisted in setting-up of the successful venture which holds the exclusive right to organize and stage the hugely successful ‘Pro-Kabaddi League’.