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Recognising and rewarding exceptional legal work. Katherine Abraham reports

India’s legal industry is experiencing a surge in activity, driven by increased deal-flow and record-breaking IPOs. While the most recognised law firms continue to dominate on many of the largest matters, many new names are emerging, and breakaways by high-profile partners from well-established firms are making waves and disrupting the market.

For India Business Law Journal’s 2023 Law Firm Awards, we are thrilled to announce our selection of the top firms across 37 categories, including seven Best Overall Law Firms, three Best New Law Firms, and one Law Firm of the Year, with equal standing given to all. Our decisions are based on thousands of nominations and endorsements received from in-house counsel, other senior corporate executives and legal professionals around the world, as well as hundreds of submissions from Indian law firms. Many of those who contributed to our research are quoted in the text that follows. Others offered their endorsements on an anonymous basis. Our methodology is outlined in detail below.

While the country’s top law firms understandably dominate the awards tables, we have also recognised the importance of many smaller and mid-sized law firms. These firms frequently demonstrate exceptional legal expertise, commercial acumen, and competitive pricing, making them a dependable choice for Indian and international companies looking for trusted legal advice and innovative solutions. These firms offer high levels of partner involvement, specialisation in particular practice areas, and operational efficiency, reinforcing their appeal to clients.

JUDGING THE AWARDS

India Business Law Journal has been presenting its Indian Law Firm Awards annually since 2009. The awards are based on a selection process that takes into account nominations from hundreds of Indian and international companies and law firms. The process included reference checks with law firm clients, the evaluation of qualitative information provided by in-house counsel and other legal professionals and peer assessments by Indian law firms.

The nomination period ran from December to late February, during which a nomination form was available on India Business Law Journal’s website. Nominations were received from hundreds of Indian and international companies and international law firms, including: Allen & Overy; Amity University; Atsumi & Sakai; Aurobindo Pharma; Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company; Baxter Pharmaceutical; Biocon; Brookfield Advisors; CARE Ratings; Christ Academy Institute of Law; Citibank; Clyde & Co; Covington & Burling; Daimler; Dexter Angels; DFM Foods; DHL Express; Fullerton; Gianni & Origoni; Global Wind Power; HCL; Hindustan Zinc; Hogan Lovells; Joyride Games; Juniper Green Energy; K Raheja Corporation; Latham & Watkins; McDermott Will & Emery; Mizuho Bank; National Securities Depository; Netway India; Oracle; Powerica; Premji Invest; Pro-Consulting Solutions; QuEST Global; Reliance Retail; Sahraj Engineering Services; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Skadden; Tata Capital Financial Services; Tata Power; Wockhardt; and many more.

Indian law firms were not permitted to make nominations. Instead, all Indian law firms were invited to make submissions in support of their candidacy for the awards. These submissions included details of achievements in key practice areas and a peer assessment.

After receiving the nominations and submissions, the editorial team at India Business Law Journal conducted rigorous background research and reference checks for all candidate law firms. The results of these processes were then combined to determine the winners.

All Indian law firms were automatically eligible for inclusion in the awards process regardless of whether they made a submission, and it is worth noting that there were no fees or other requirements for entry. Furthermore, India Business Law Journal does not a hold an awards ceremony that winners are required to pay to attend.

The results of the awards reflect a fair selection process that takes into account the opinions and experiences of legal professionals and clients from India and around the world.

The winners in each category are listed alphabetically, not in rank order. All winners in the same category are of equal standing.


INDIAN LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

WINNER

 

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (SAM) wins in 14 of India Business Law Journal’s award categories, including the top honour of Law Firm of the Year.

SAM is consistently ranked among India’s top law firms, and has grown to around 800 lawyers with a strong presence nationally, including offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Gurugram, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Chennai.

The law firm is renowned for providing innovative and practical solutions across a wide range of practice areas including corporate, M&A, dispute resolution, competition law, intellectual property, projects, and project finance.

The firm wins praise from Vivek Das, founder and principal at Pro-Consulting Solutions, for its “formidable presence and expertise across practice areas and proven hands-on experience to deal with corporate, litigation, and regulatory matters”. Das also commends SAM for its “high year-on-year growth as a leading law firm”.

The firm’s white-collar crime practice is highly regarded, offering a full range of services related to fraud, anti-corruption, anti-bribery and other business crimes. Notable work has included representing a state bank victim of significant banking fraud, advising a technology distribution company in an investigation by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, and acting for a multinational financial service in proceedings by the Directorate of Enforcement.

Vivek Das, Pro-Consulting Solutions

SAM has also acted for the Indian branch of a footwear and apparel company in criminal proceedings related to fraud and similar offences, and was lead counsel for an international bank in a case of cheating and criminal misappropriation of depositors’ money, resulting in the conviction of the main accused and others.

It represented leading hospitality groups Hilton and InterContinental Hotels in arbitration proceedings seated in Singapore under the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) rules; a leading South Korean power company in an SIAC arbitration proceeding against an Indian company; and a software solutions company in two SIAC arbitration proceedings against its former managing director. The firm also advised and represented clients challenging international arbitration awards in the Supreme Court.

Other significant matters include: advising on the acquisition of 9.99% of total paid-up share capital of Yes Bank by Carlyle; extending certain facilities to a sponsor-backed entity for the purchase of a majority shareholding in Sahyadri Hospitals; and advising Biocon Biologics in its acquisition of Viatris’ biosimilars business.

The firm also advised on several complex high-value capital market transactions, including the largest bond offering of an Indian group, the first TLB debt offering by an Indian company, and the first public offering by the auction method in India.

It has successfully represented clients such as Google, WhatsApp, JK Tyre, Mitsui OSK Lines, Sony, BillDesk, Zomato and OYO in complex competition law matters including investigations, litigation and transactions. The firm’s track record also includes securing unprecedented outcomes and landmark decisions in various industries.

One happy client is Tanya Mehta, vice president of investments at Brookfield Advisors. “We have done considerable work with them this year and they have delivered better in comparison to other firms,” she says.

SAM offers legal representation for infrastructure sector development, project financing and corporate commercial advisory. Its expertise spans drafting, structuring and negotiating various agreements including concession, power purchasing, LNG sales, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), financing, security and consortium agreements.

SAM is also a leader in cross-disciplinary assistance to financial technology industry leaders, banks and startups. Its services include product structuring, policy and regulatory assistance, and acquisitions and private equity, advising clients such as Warburg Pincus, Blackstone Capital Partners and American Express, and recently assisting PhonePe’s acquisition of WealthDesk and OpenQ.

Advice on a number of high-profile projects has included the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in the National Capital Region, the development of Noida International Airport, and the financing of the city gas distribution network in Chennai and the Thiruvallur district.

The firm’s expertise in insurance is highly regarded for advice on both large insurance transactions and complicated regulatory matters. It also advises on complex structuring of insurance JVs, formation and licensing of insurance companies, and the acquisition of insurance companies.

Significant deals in this sector have included: the acquisition of Willis Towers Watson India Insurance Brokers; investment by Multiples Private Equity Fund in Acko Technology & Services; Sanoti Properties’ acquisition of Magma HDI General Insurance; representing three insurance brokers against orders issued by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India; and advising Generali on regulatory requirements for Future Generali India Life Insurance and Future Generali India Insurance.

The law firm is additionally recognised as a market leader in capital markets, having advised on complex high-value transactions and executed the largest deals including India’s three biggest IPOs, three largest qualified institutional placements (QIPs), and largest bond offering. Recent matters include advising on LIC’s INR205 billion (USD2.5 billion) IPO, and the first IPO by a pure-play wine company in India. The firm also advised on a QIP by AU Small Finance Bank and the issuance of INR7 billion of debentures by Bharti Telecom.

BEST OVERALL INDIAN LAW FIRMS

BEST OVERALL LAW FIRMS

WINNERS


Last year’s Law Firm of the Year,
AZB & Partners, misses the top spot this year, but retains its position as one of India’s Best Overall Law Firms. The full-service law firm wins plaudits from clients for its practical and reliable legal advice across all sectors, while its experienced team of lawyers is praised for its thorough understanding of the legal, regulatory and commercial landscape in India and beyond.

“They are part of most headline deals and matters,” observes Das at Pro-Consulting Solutions, who notes that AZB’s lawyers are “highly regarded for their deep domain knowledge and professionalism by clients, publications, and peers”.

When KKR sold its 27.5% stake in Max Healthcare, which it held through its affiliate Kayak Investments, for INR94 billion, it marked the largest single-block deal by a private equity firm in India. The transaction was also the largest exit of KKR from an Indian entity and the first instance of a sell-down of more than 25% by a private equity firm in India. The deal was guided by AZB & Partners, with partners Ashwath Rau, Atreya Bhattacharya, and Lionel D’Almeida leading the team.

Led by partner Varoon Chandra, the firm also advised Reliance Industries in its raising of USD4 billion in a three-tranche US-dollar bond issue, achieving the lowest coupon rate for benchmark 30-year and 40-year bond issues. This issuance was the largest foreign currency bond issuance by an Indian company to date, and the first 40-year bond issue for a BBB-rated private company from Asia, excluding Japan.

In another significant matter, AZB & Partners, led by partners Chandra and D’Almeida, acted as legal counsel to Tata Consultancy Services in the largest equity buyback by an Indian company under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Buy-Back of Securities) Regulations, 2018. The technology company bought back 40 million shares for INR180 billion in its fourth buyback in five years, exceeding previous buybacks of USD1.9 billion each in 2017, 2018 and 2020. The offer price was 21% higher than the stock price, and the buyback was 7.5 times subscribed.

Another all-round star performer is Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM). The firm combines creative thinking, experience and legal technology to deliver innovative solutions for its clients. This has included assisting in the creation of Prarambh, India’s first legal tech incubator, which provides startups with workspace, IT infrastructure, and mentoring to develop bespoke legal technology solutions and achieve commercial success. The initiative aims to nurture domestic talent in legal technology, contributing to the growth and development of the industry.

CAM provides legal counsel on a broad range of matters, acting for, among others, the committee of creditors of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation, Videocon group companies, and the financial creditors of Sharon Bio-Medicine.

The firm has also advised: YES Bank on its overall litigation strategy; acted for India’s Board of Control for Cricket in several cases; and represented NSE indices and the National Stock Exchange of India in their disputes. CAM also represented Syngenta India and Sara International in their cases.

CAM excels in advising on complex capital market transactions, including IPOs, QIPs and debt issuances. Notable deals have included advising on the IPO of Life Insurance Corporation of India and the IPO of Zomato, as well as acting as legal counsel for the National Highways Infra Trust, ReNew Power and Adani Wilmar.

CAM is also one of the few leading Indian firms with a dedicated fintech practice. It has advised on several significant fintech transactions including the largest take-private acquisition in the financial services sector to date. CAM also worked on the acquisition of Indiabulls Asset Management, Stripe’s entry into India, and the formation of a consortium of Securities and Exchange Board of India-registered (SEBI) mutual funds. Additionally, CAM advised American Express on a ban imposed by the Reserve Bank of India, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation on its investment in Aseem Infrastructure Finance.

CAM enjoys a very strong reputation for its project finance work, which has included: representing a joint venture between Webuild and APCO Infratech in a project valued at USD70 billion; assisting Envision Wind Power Technologies in a wind power project in Andhra Pradesh; advising Yamuna International Airport in the development of Noida International Airport; advising Bank of Baroda in relation to a USD39.4 billion credit facility for JSW Renewable Energy; and advising the US International Development Finance Corporation in two loans to IndusInd Bank and Shriram Transport Finance. The firm also acted as legal counsel to Cerberus Capital Management in relation to the financing of a SAMHI JV, and advised Adani Power on debt restructuring for the acquisition of Essar Power MP.

Partner Rishabh Shroff specialises in family constitutions, trusts, wills and succession planning for wealthy individuals and families, including promoters of large family businesses. He is a member of various organisations and committees including the Society of Trust Estate Practitioners and the Confederation of Indian Industry Family Business Network. He has acted as legal counsel for members of India’s oldest multinational conglomerate business groups, the TVS family, and one of India’s largest airport and infrastructure developers, with deal values ranging from USD4 billion to USD15 billion.

In recent years, CAM has advised on several high-value corporate insolvency resolution processes (CIRPs), notably as legal counsel to YES Bank in the selection of JC Flowers Asset Reconstruction to purchase its USD6 billion stressed asset portfolio. The firm also advised Reliance Projects & Property Management Services in the submission and implementation of a resolution plan for Reliance Infratel, and is currently advising the National Asset Reconstruction Company and Nithia Capital Resources Advisors on their respective CIRPs. The firm has also advised on the CIRPs of several other companies, including Dewan Housing Finance Corporation, Meenakshi Energy and AMW Motors.

Peter Mendell, a partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg in Montreal, provides a glowing review of the firm. “Based on my personal experience as well as the experience of many of my colleagues, the services and expertise provided by Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas are consistently exceptional,” he says. “As a result, I have never hesitated to recommend CAM and the CAM partners with whom I have collaborated to clients and other law firms that require the assistance of a law firm in India.”

Fast-growing IndusLaw has spent the past 10 years climbing up the ranks of India’s legal service providers, and has now become a regular fixture on our list of Best Overall Law Firms.

In April 2022, it announced a merger with ASLF, a premium real estate law firm with offices in Bengaluru and Chennai. The entire ASLF team – comprising four partners, 38 associates and 22 support staff – has now joined IndusLaw.

The firm recently opened new and bigger offices in Mumbai, Chennai and Gurugram. The Chennai office expanded with the ASLF team joining, while the new Gurugram office is located in the state-of-the-art DLF CyberPark. The Hyderabad office has moved to a new location in Banjara Hills, and the Mumbai corporate and litigation offices have expanded to state-of-the-art spaces in Lower Parel and Nariman Point.

The law firm is recognised for its expertise in data protection and privacy laws, advising on cybersecurity compliance, employee data privacy and breach response protocol, with a focus on ensuring compliance with data protection laws and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

It has also advised on the applicability of data localisation requirements and contractual safeguards for storage-as-a-service providers. The firm regularly advises on data processing arrangements, compliance with applicable laws, and vendor contracts, including due diligence for edtech firm upGrad’s acquisition of TalentEdge, an online professional learning platform, valued at USD14.5 million.

In the fintech sector, the firm also advises on significant matters, such as drafting policies and processes for FalconX on launching a crypto trading platform in India, and guiding Google on various aspects of its payment aggregator and payment guidelines, data protection laws and loan facilitation services. It also advised Pine Labs on its 100% acquisition of Setu, and Startselect on its India entry strategy.

Other clients include Fampay, Refyne, PhonePe, Vouchagram, Bridgeweave, Niro Money, Groww, True Beacon, Upstox, Enkash, Viewtrade, CoinDCX and Moblix, while notable transactions include: the full ownership separation of PhonePe from Flipkart; ShareChat’s acquisition of MX TakaTak for about USD700 million; Zomato’s acquisition of Blinkit and its ancillary services business for more than USD500 million; ShareChat’s series G and H funding round of about USD521 million; PhonePe’s fundraise of USD450 million from General Atlantic, Ribbit Capital, Tiger Global and TVS Capital Funds; and the secondary sale of shares of Brainbees (FirstCry) for USD247 million involving Softbank and Valiant.

Bobby Majumdar, a partner at Frost Brown Todd in Dallas, Texas, recalls one of his interactions with the firm: “A particular example of their sound advice came when we had a client who was looking to engage a PEO [professional employer organisation] in India … Avik Biswas methodically and thoroughly gave us advice on the plus-minus ratio for engaging such a firm which enabled our client to quickly make a commercial decision,” he explains. “The advice was cogent, coherent and concise.”

IndusLaw further advised a major online grocery store in India on a proposed collaboration with an online pharmacy for providing lead generation and supply chain management solutions for over-the-counter and scheduled drugs; a Dutch geospatial data collection and analysis company on the impact of Indian government guidelines on its existing business in India; and a national airline on multiple strategic and procurement arrangements for its global airline and fleet network.

Full-service powerhouse JSA is another of India’s top-tier firms that has been flying high in the aviation sector. The firm boasts specific expertise in regulated areas such as aeronautical tariffs, non-aeronautical services, operations management and development agreements, state support agreements, and civil aviation policy. It takes a cross-disciplinary approach, combining industry knowledge and domain-focused, specialised regulatory practice to navigate the complexities clients face in the sector.

JSA regularly advises government departments, regulators, airport operators, airlines, stakeholder associations and organisations, development financial institutions, industry bodies, suppliers, lenders and investors.

This has included providing legal counsel to LOT Polish Airlines, Hahn Air, Fraport and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on various aviation matters. LOT Polish Airlines was advised on commencing operations in and out of India, with JSA assisting the airline on obtaining the necessary permissions from statutory and government authorities, and advising on employment and other regulatory matters. Hahn Air was assisted in disputes related to fraudulent credit card transactions, while Fraport was advised on its investment in Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and appointment as airport operator for Indira Gandhi
International Airport.

Aside from aviation, JSA is praised by clients for its market-leading expertise on the full range of legal matters, including competition law, M&A and dispute resolution. One matter recently involved the restructuring of TVS group, and JSA also represented the Trustees’ Association of India and three of its members before the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in relation to a complaint for alleged cartelisation. The firm secured interim relief by obtaining a stay order from Bombay High Court.

Other notable transactions have included: the demerger of the National Mineral Development Corporation by the Indian government; project financing for a greenfield wind power project in Karnataka; and the successful award of mineral concessions worth USD110 billion in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.

JSA also advised on a joint venture between Talgo Spain, Talgo India and Bharat Forge Infrastructure to manufacture high-speed passenger trains in the Indian railways sector in a deal worth more than USD1 billion. These transactions are expected to have a significant impact on India’s self-reliance and resource demands.

In real estate, JSA was involved in advising Bengaluru-based developer Prestige Estates Projects in the sale of its stake in eight retail mall assets to the Blackstone Group-sponsored Nexus Select Trust, India’s first pure-play retail REIT. The portfolio included 17 shopping malls across 14 cities, with an enterprise valuation of USD3 billion, making it the largest shopping mall platform in the country. The firm advised the same client on the USD1.5 billion sale of its office and retail platforms to Blackstone Group.

Other key negotiations involved advising Bhartiya Group on the sale of its commercial office assets to Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, GIC, and advising Godrej Fund Management in raising USD500 million through its development fund, GBTC II.

With a team of almost 40 attorneys and 10 partners, the firm’s banking and finance practice is one of the largest in India, led by highly experienced partners such as Aashit Shah, with more than 20 years’ experience, and Dina Wadia, a 30-year veteran.

JSA also has expertise in commercial law, securities law and M&A, specialising in knowledge-based industries. It represents various international businesses including emerging technology companies, e-commerce ventures and technology-based entertainment industries. Additionally, the firm has lawyers with scientific and technical backgrounds, understanding the legal and technical challenges of information and communication technology.

JSA advised Paramount Global and a consortium of investers led by Bodhi Tree Systems, a platform of Lupa Systems and Uday Shankar, on forming a strategic partnership with Reliance to invest USD1.8 billion in Viacom18, creating one of India’s largest TV and digital streaming companies.

It also advised SingTel on its sale of a 3.3% equity stake in Bharti Airtel to Bharti Telecom for about USD1.8 billion. Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with more than 491 million customers in 17 countries.

In April 2022, Khaitan & Co achieved the milestone of becoming the first Indian law firm to reach 200 partners, when 21 lawyers were inducted into the partnership. This is in line with the firm’s philosophy of developing most of its partners in-house.

Khaitan & Co advised on numerous high-profile transactions in 2022. Among these, it advised on Delhivery’s USD676 million IPO, the second-largest listing of the year, and assisted Tata Motors when TPG Rise Climate invested INR3.75 billion (USD500 million) in the company’s newly incorporated subsidiary, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility.

The firm also advised on leading Indian pharmaceutical Mankind Pharma’s USD250 million acquisition of brands from Panacea Pharma (a wholly owned subsidiary of Panacea Biotec).

Beyond this, Khaitan & Co made a significant contribution to the development of India’s legal profession in 2022, organising webinars and training sessions to help law students and young lawyers develop their skills and expertise in various practice areas. Its lawyers also participated in pro bono initiatives providing legal aid to underprivileged individuals and communities.

The firm is praised for its responsiveness by Vardaan Ahluwalia, the head of legal at Premji Invest, who also appreciates its “deep market knowledge”.

Rounding off this year’s list of Best Overall Law Firms is Trilegal, a full-service powerhouse known for its corporate and commercial law expertise and an enviable client list that includes multinational corporations, domestic companies, financial institutions and private equity firms.

Ahluwalia at Premji Invest praises the firm for being “technically sound”, noting it offers excellent client service and has “a knack of exceeding expectations”.

Trilegal advised Infrastructure Yield Plus Strategy, a fund managed by Edelweiss Alternatives, on the acquisition of a 100% stake in Larsen and Toubro’s Infrastructure Development Projects for INR60 billion (USD727.58 million).

It also advised on the merger between Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Sony Pictures Networks India, which has the potential to create a USD10 billion media giant, marking a significant development for India’s media and entertainment sector.

In Sula Vineyards’ USD116 million IPO, which was India’s first public offering of a wine business, Trilegal advised the three book-running lead managers, with partner Richa Choudhary leading. The IPO resulted in a partial exit by existing investors, reducing the promoter stake from 28.4% to 27.3%. The offering was oversubscribed 2.33 times.

Earlier this month, Trilegal welcomed back one of its founding partners, Akshay Jaitly, who had left the partnership in 2020 when he relocated to France. During his time away, Jaitly had remained associated with the firm, working on India-related strategic advisory and policy advocacy mandates. His return is a boost to Trilegal’s infrastructure and projects practice, an area in which Jaitly is seen as a renowned practitioner.

ANTI-CORRUPTION & WHITE-COLLAR CRIME

WINNERS
AZB & Partners
Bharucha & Partners
Karanjawala & Company
Kochhar & Co
MZM Legal
ORTIS Law Offices
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co

 

Bharucha & Partners is renowned for providing exceptional, seamless advice and representation across transactions and disputes, particularly in anti-corruption and white-collar crime. A client base ranging from market participants to investigating agencies underlines its versatility in providing legal solutions. The firm’s compact practice group has successfully handled high-profile and high-stakes matters including cases of money laundering, fraud and mismanagement across various jurisdictions.

The firm engages with clients both on investigation, prosecution or pre-emptively, reviewing management and operations to help develop and devise protocols that ensure compliance with the law and ring-fence risks, working with global and Indian forensic experts.

Recent work includes: advising and representing clients in investigations by the Enforcement Directorate; protecting a multinational alcohol beverage company’s security interest in proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act; advising and representing clients in allegations of fraud; and representing a former director before the National Company Law Tribunal in matters of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Karanjawala & Company is a full-service dispute resolution firm with three offices in New Delhi specialising in litigation and arbitration. The firm was founded in 1983 by Manik and Raian Karanjawala, who continue at the helm with a reputation for servicing a diverse range of clients including prime ministers, corporate executives, media houses and royal families.

The firm is widely recognised for its work in dispute resolution, litigation, white-collar crime, competition/antitrust, insolvency, government and regulatory practice, and international arbitration, as well as high-profile cases such as Tata Sons v Cyrus Mistry and Centrotrade Minerals v Hindustan Copper. The firm also defended Aryan Khan, son of famous actor Shahrukh Khan, in a drugs case, and is advising former co-founder Ashneer Grover and his wife in disputes with BharatPe.

Karanjawala & Company is also representing Gautam Thapar, promoter of the Avantha Group of Companies, with prosecutions launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Directorate of Enforcement, and has advised Tata Motors before the Delhi High Court challenging the Delhi government transport department’s suspension of Tata Motors Nexon EV from models eligible for subsidy under Delhi’s EV policy.

ORTIS Law Offices has demonstrated its commitment to providing legal representation to clients from diverse backgrounds, successfully representing both large corporations and individuals from middle and lower socio-economic backgrounds.

ORTIS recently handled a criminal investigation and writ petition on behalf of a mobile phone manufacturer, challenging actions of investigative authorities and raising issues related to Indian penal and information technology acts.

The firm also successfully represented distributors of a multinational technology company in criminal proceedings before the Enforcement Directorate, leading to the lifting of freeze orders passed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Currently, ORTIS is representing a company and its director in a criminal investigation by the Economic Offences Wing in Gurugram, regarding discrepancies in annual filings under the Companies Act, 2013.

ORTIS also provides pro bono legal aid to those facing financial hardship, including an indebted man facing charges for unpaid bank loans during the pandemic. Partners and associates advise seniors and low-income groups, drafting wills, applications and agreements at no cost.

ARBITRATION & ADR

WINNERS

 

Economic Laws Practice (ELP) continues to be a top-ranked law firm with band 1/tier 1 rankings, while expanding to seven offices across India with a new office in GIFT City, Gujarat.

ELP is also growing, with strategic hires at all levels including senior partner and mid-level positions as part of a strategic growth initiative expanding practices. Notable senior hires include Heena Chheda, who now leads the real estate practice, and PV Murthy, responsible for starting the labour and employment practice.

ELP is recognised for its arbitration and litigation work in the energy, oil and gas, mining and infrastructure sectors, and has represented international clients in complex arbitrations with no direct nexus with India. Notably, the firm is currently handling five International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitrations, two Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) arbitrations, and 15 ad hoc arbitrations and claims totalling more than USD2 billion. ELP’s high-stakes arbitrations involve issues such as interpretation of standard manuals, notice periods, insolvency law and arbitrability, with key matters including disputes over construction of a railway line and road projects, as well as claims for damages and compensation for expenses and loss of profit.

S&A Law Offices has experienced significant growth and development in the past 12 months. The addition of new hires, with 45 freshers and three professionals promoted to partner, has enhanced the firm’s capabilities and expanded its reach.

S&A’s alternate dispute resolution practice has attracted high net-worth clients while handling increased mandates from existing clients. The firm represented a mining company in two arbitration matters over a USD1.6 billion project, and is representing a port against a state government for an INR39 billion (USD476.8 million) claim. “We are very happy with the services and expertise provided by S&A Law Offices,” says a business development representative at a Madrid-based IP firm. [They provide] good value for money, quickness in responses, reliable advisers, transparency in billing.”

Several high-profile arbitration cases have included representing Adani Port and Special Economic Zone, JITF Urban Waste Management (Bathinda), Jindal ITF, PNC Infratech and Delhi International Airports. The firm also advises in disputes with the Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India and Saurashtra Fuels.

Thiru & Thiru has established itself as a leading firm in arbitration and ADR, advising and representing clients in various domestic and international arbitrations in India and abroad.

Among notable work, the firm successfully defended an electricity supply company in rescinding a claim of INR390 million in an arbitration proceeding filed by a cable company. It also acted for several banks in response to challenges to arbitral awards, as well as the execution of arbitral awards currently pending before the courts.

“The firm has been a one-stop centre for various legal and contractual solutions,” says Kannan Swaminathan, a consultant company secretary at S Kannan and Associates in Bengaluru. “They attempt to avoid litigation and motivate parties to adopt the arbitration process for resolving litigations.”

Acting on behalf of a bank to ensure that loan defaulters successfully entered into a one-time settlement, Thiru & Thiru managed to get 100 matters settled outside court. Its clients include Neuroglia Health Care, Sree Venkateswara Developers, AKB Foods and EnerSys.

AVIATION

WINNERS
ALMT Legal
Clasis Law
JSA
Kochhar & Co
Link Legal
MV Kini Law Firm
Sarin & Co

 

ALMT Legal is a full-service law firm with about 80 lawyers and 21 partners across offices in Mumbai and Bangalore, and recently welcomed two new partners. The firm has a diverse and inclusive work culture committed to equal pay and talent practices without discrimination. The firm has received several accolades and recommendations for its expertise in various practice areas such as banking and finance, corporate and M&A, dispute resolution, labour and employment, private equity, real estate, tax, and media and entertainment.

ALMT’s aviation practice group provides specialised advice to both domestic and international airlines on a range of regulatory issues such as aircraft registration, leasing and competition law. The firm has also represented clients in arbitration proceedings and advised on the purchase and sale of aircraft. Notable clients include Ace Aviation VIII, assisted in a successful bid for three Boeing 777-300ERs in a Jet Airways auction. ALMT also assisted Aviators Air Rescue in its proposed purchase of Boeing aircraft.

ALMT Legal also undertakes pro bono work for organisations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India, New Acropolis School and Dignity Foundation, as well as individuals treated unfairly by their employers who do not have the resources to engage competent lawyers.

BANKING & FINANCE

WINNERS

 

Juris Corp advised on several significant deals including: the USD750 million sustainability-linked financing by Coöperatieve Rabobank and MUFG Bank for UPL Corporation; a global acquisition by Reliance Industries; a USD90 million term loan facility for CreditAccess Grameen; and a term loan facility for Ethane Emerald and other borrowers.

Juris also acted as Indian legal counsel for an external commercial borrowing for Hero Fincorp and a credit loan agreement for SBI bank. The deals were innovative in the green segment and focused on meeting environmental and social governance (ESG) objectives. Involving multiple parties and required conclusions within regulatory timeframes, the transactions had a market impact as the first new benchmark loans by an Indian company. Pankaj Agnihotri, senior vice president, India Debt Resolution Company, in Mumbai, says: “Juris Corp services are one of the best among its competitors and their team has very good relative experience in the banking and finance space.”

During the pandemic, the firm embraced technology to streamline and improve its work, conducting virtual deliberations, educating clients on e-stamping, and providing curated presentations on legal and regulatory developments.

Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, one of the country’s top law firms, announced several new hires in the past year, including Sarika Raichur and Abhilekh Verma as partners in the M&A and corporate practices, respectively. The firm is recognised for its work in the clean energy and infrastructure sectors, as well as an entry in the Golden Book of World Records for the fastest subscribed IPO, for Venus Pipes & Tubes.

In notable work, Luthra & Luthra advised and acted for: HDFC Bank’s part financing of an asset acquisition from Aegis Logistics; ReNew Power’s financing for construction of a 400MW capacity “round the clock” project; India Infradebt’s financial assistance for part refinancing of four solar power projects by NextPower III Singapore HoldCo; DBS Bank’s external commercial borrowing for Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals; IREDA’s financial assistance for Blu Smart’s acquisition of 3,000 all-electric cars; and SJVN Green Energy’s 1,000MW AC Solar PV Power Project. “Luthra has been supporting Oaktree for years now, they’ve done a great job supporting us,” says Federico Alvarez-Demalde, managing director at Oaktree Capital Management in London.

The firm has also acted as lenders’ legal counsel for the State Bank of India in relation to Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan’s construction and development of three natural gas-based urea manufacturing complexes, and for a consortium of lenders in connection with Oriental Infra Trust’s acquisition of the Biaora to Dewas Highway.

Tragically, Luthra and Luthras iconic managing partner, Rajiv Luthra, passed away a few days before the winners of these awards were announced.

CAPITAL MARKETS

WINNERS

 

Despite only winning in one category this year, S&R Associates performed well across the board in the nominations, consolidating its position as one of the country’s premier full-service law firms. In the past year, the firm’s growth required relocating to a new Mumbai office twice as large to house 80 staff in One World Centre. The firm has a dedicated investment funds practice, with securities specialist Swapneil Akut joining last year.

S&R has been involved in a variety of high-profile transactions including several first-ever and innovative deals in India’s capital markets. Notable transactions included representing Global Health on its INR22 billion IPO, the largest IPO in India’s hospital sector; and IRB Infrastructure Trust on its INR2.4 billion rights issue, the first such transaction after the initial offering by an unlisted InvIT in India.

Other notable transactions included representing: Suzlon Energy in its INR12 billion rights issue; Vodafone Group in acquisitions and sales of equity shares; a broker in bulk deal sales of equity shares of Zomato, FSN E-Commerce Ventures and Axis Bank.

Advice also extended to: Gland Pharma’s largest IPO by a pharmaceutical firm in India; the first institutional placement by a listed REIT in India, the Embassy Office Parks REIT; and the first IPO by an InvIT (IRB InvIT Fund).

S&R Associates has also been involved in pioneering offerings in India’s internet sector such as MakeMyTrip, Just Dial and Matrimony.com.

COMPETITION & ANTITRUST

WINNERS

 

P&A Law Offices strengthened its mid-level offering in the past year by promoting many of its lawyers to partnership. The firm has grown to become the counsel of choice for some of the most high-profile and high-value matters, including several in the competition and antitrust area. The firm is representing Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings in an appeal pending before the Supreme Court against a show cause notice issued by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in response to a complaint filed by Future Coupons. Separately, P&A is representing Amazon Seller Services in an investigation by the CCI and its director general regarding online sales of smartphones.

The firm also represented MakeMyTrip in an investigation by the CCI relating to alleged anti-competitive conduct and abuse of dominant position, and also representing MakeMyTrip before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.

P&A represented Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson in a proceeding relating to the CCI’s jurisdiction to investigate issues raised by Micromax Informatix and Intex relating to breach of the FRAND commitment. The firm also advised General Motors India in a special leave petition before the Supreme Court in connection with the CCI’s finding of anti-competitive conduct against several automobile manufacturers, including GMIPL.

CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL

WINNERS

 

Maheshwari & Co has its main office in New Delhi, with branch offices in Mumbai and Lucknow, and network offices in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Pune, Surat and Shimla. The 20-lawyer team comprises experienced, dynamic, enterprising and innovative legal minds with strong academic and professional records.

In corporate & commercial work, the firm was involved in the due diligence of a leading global semiconductor company’s subsidiaries in India to enable listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Separately, the firm recently assisted a leading international business process outsourcing service company with a presence in North America, Latin America, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and China with structuring in accordance with IT compliance and data protection regulations to bring its services to India. It also advised on structuring and obtaining regulatory approval for the acquisition of a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of a German technology company.

Wadhwa Law Offices has strengthened its talent pool across practice areas with 36 lawyers in its Gurgaon and Bengaluru offices. As a member of AsiaWise, a network of cross-border professional services firms, Wadhwa is one of few Indian firms serving as an integrated team of counsel in different Asian jurisdictions.

The firm has a stronghold on businesses in the Indo–Japanese corridor, especially in corporate advisory, risk and employment practice areas, assisting clients in the past year on end-to-end support on key managerial exit strategies, mass redundancies and investigations.

Foreign-qualified attorneys, lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions with diverse track records from institutes across the globe, cross-border experts and patent attorneys play roles ranging from commercial dispute resolution to corporate advisory.

Wadhwa’s general corporate and commercial practice group offers end-to-end support on inter-jurisdictional matters, advising on regulatory compliance and commercial contracts. The firm’s corporate and commercial advisory experience cuts across sectors including information technology, tech and hospitality, manufacturing, food and beverage, alcobev, banking and online gaming.

Wadhwa regularly counsels startups, boards of directors, senior management and business owners on regulatory requirements, corporate governance, policy, risk management and effective contractual frameworks. Recent work includes advising NFTs, sponsorship for an Indian Premier League cricket team, and the legality of fantasy gaming in India for gaming clients.

DATA COMPLIANCE & CYBERSECURITY

WINNERS
Ikigai Law
IndusLaw
Nishith Desai Associates
PSA
Spice Route Legal
TMT Law Practice
Trilegal

 

PSA was recognised as one of the leading data compliance and cybersecurity law firms of 2022 by India Business Law Journal, following best technology practices with virtual data rooms safeguarding documents and enabling file-sharing, and managing legal transactions including complex disputes requiring control over large volumes of data within a secure place.

Over the years, PSA has gathered expansive expertise in advising global conglomerates and domestic companies on diverse aspects of data protection compliance, cross-border transfers, data inventory, processing and audit, privacy contracting and negotiations, info management and life cycle processes, policy and process formulation, and privacy rights and obligations.

Among significant work in the past year, the law firm advised domestic and multinational corporations on all cybersecurity practices and measures for compliance with CERT-In directives. It advised a US global broker-dealer with an India footprint on cybersecurity and control measures, risk identification, breach notification, infosec practices and policies in line with financial sector laws, as well as the National Stock Exchange, Reserve Bank of India and National Securities Depository. It also counselled a US-based Fortune 500 global conglomerate on the use of AI-based automated verification tools for employee personal data processing, checks and verifications across the US, EU, Mexico and India.

EDUCATION

WINNERS

 

Spice Route Legal has significantly increased activity across its eight key practices, all receiving top-tier rankings from notable directories. The partners and lawyers have also been recognised with various recognitions and awards for their exceptional work, while the firm maintains referral relationships with several international law firms, attracting new high-end clients across various practices including technology, media and telecoms, financial services regulatory and fintech, corporate and M&A, privacy, data protection and cybersecurity, energy, sustainability and mobility, and healthcare and life sciences.

Spice Route Legal has worked on some of the biggest deals in the education sector for edtech platforms, private equity firms, strategic investors and educational institutions.

Numerous edtech clients included BYJU’S, Talview and a multinational software company on matters ranging from regulatory compliance to data protection. The firm advises on commercial contracts, licensing agreements and IP ownership, as well as compliance under various regulatory bodies.

Additionally, the firm has advised on regulatory frameworks for private schools and helped Bright Horizons with regulatory challenges and IP protection. The firm was also approached by an American edtech company accused of an IT Act violation related to privacy and cyber protection for children.

ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES

WINNERS
HSA Advocates
JSA
Link Legal
Phoenix Legal
Saraf and Partners
Sarthak Advocates & Solicitors
SKV Law Offices

 

SKV Law Offices is a boutique law firm based in New Delhi expanding its areas of practice beyond energy law and making significant strides to include insolvency, arbitration, competition, civil and commercial dispute, and general litigation.

In 2023, the firm introduced a unique initiative called Disconnect to Reconnect, allowing lawyers to take up to five days off work after strenuous assignments to recharge their batteries and enhance productivity.

SKV has provided legal representation and advice to several power companies in India including Tata Power, Greenko Group, ReNew Power, Adani Power, GMR and NTPC Renewable Energy.

“SKV is a fast and upcoming firm in the electricity regulation practice,” says Ajay Kapoor, chief, legal & regulatory, at Tata Power in New Delhi. “[Founding partner] Shri Venkatesh is a young, bright and dynamic lawyer.”

The law firm has handled various disputes and litigation cases related to power purchase agreements, changes in law events, tariffs, transmission charges and contractual disputes with distribution licensees.

It successfully represented Tata Power Renewable Energy before the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in a dispute over the quashing of bidding documents issued for procurement of 10,000MW of power. It also represented Adani Power and its subsidiaries in various disputes against distribution companies before the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission and Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.

SKV has also advised on regulatory issues including open access, wheeling and banking, and scheduling and forecasting of renewable energy. Most recently, the firm represents NTPC Renewable Energy in an energy storage service agreement, and recognising GST notification as a change in law event.

ESG

WINNERS

 

MV Kini Law Firm has exhibited its expertise in environmental compliance, providing valuable, comprehensive advice on various regulatory matters to multiple clients including multinational corporations, an international airline company, and one of the world’s most widely adopted cloud platforms.

The firm’s advice covers a wide range of environmental compliance matters and includes recent amendments to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the E-waste Rules, 2022.

Notably, the firm has assisted in the import of highly specialised electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) for self-consumption, and approvals for exporting used-EEE (non-waste) for repair and reuse.

It also helped an MNC prepare a compliance register for its Indian operations pertaining to environment and worker health and safety issues.

Additionally, MV Kini advised a multi-discipline MNC on the E-waste Rules, 2022, preparing a draft compliance register, including recording business risk and new compliance required due to changes in processes and definitions.

MV Kini also provided product/trade compliance advice to a multinational technology conglomerate, and assisted an MNC register for Extended Producer Responsibility compliance applicable to the Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022. Additionally, the firm advised an international airline company on business risk mitigation steps to be taken over a single-use plastic ban for their inflight disposable cutlery.

FINTECH

WINNERS

 

Samvad Partners has achieved significant success in its fintech practice, demonstrating its capabilities in providing comprehensive legal advice drawing on expertise from offices in each of India’s financial centres. The firm’s reputation in the fintech space is expected to continue to grow, given its notable achievements and representation of innovative fintech players.

Recent accomplishments and notable matters have included advising fintech players on regulations regarding digital lending, and also assisting clients seeking RBI approvals for registering new regulated entities, and change of control of regulated entities.

The firm advised: various fintech clients on significant matters including Reliance Payment Solutions on compliance; Kaleidofin on its series B investment from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and PB Fintech on its strategic acquisition of MyLoanCare Ventures.

The firm also represented fintech unicorns and startups in various funding rounds, and advised on legal oversight of contracts with financial institutions and vendors, as well as customer identification and “know your customer” regulations and guidelines.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

WINNERS
Acuity Law
Ahlawat & Associates
India Law Offices
Indian Law Partners
King Stubb & Kasiva
Singhania & Co
Touchstone Partners

 

Ahlawat & Associates recently strengthened its presence in New Delhi and Mumbai to grow its practice, while also introducing a traineeship programme exposing select graduates to a wide variety of legal activities and investing in their development, education and future. Ahlawat’s experience as FDI consultants in cross-border transactions and India entry strategies has gained the firm an in-depth understanding of the various issues that arise when a foreign entity makes an investment in India. Its team enables investors and businesses to navigate the constantly evolving and increasingly challenging regulatory landscape, while assisting their integration and compliance with the laws and regulations of the land.

King Stubb and Kasiva (KSK) has newly hired several talented lawyers and staff, bringing a wealth of experience to offer a wide range of legal services and strengthening its reputation as a leading law firm. KSK also opened a new office in Mangalore to expand its reach, while also starting a weekly mental wellness hour for staff, promoting awareness and inclusivity in mental health issues.

K Vijayshyam Acharya, QuEST Global

The law firm is renowned among the best law firms in India for managing foreign investment, and fosters leading FDI consultants to advise on India entry strategies, FDI structuring, FEMA/RBI (Foreign Exchange Management Act/Reserve Bank of India) compliance, greenfield and brownfield investments, JVs and M&A.

“King Stubb and Kasiva provides an excellent and responsive service at a reasonable cost,” says K Vijayshyam Acharya, global head, legal, and company secretary at QuEST Global in Bengaluru. “The firm has excellent contacts with international law firms and is ideal for multi-country deals.”

KSK has developed competence in structuring FDI in India investment, enabling investors, firms, businesses and venture capital funds to enter India in a cost-effective and legal manner.

INFRASTRUCTURE & PROJECTS

WINNERS

 

Link Legal provides legal advisory and transactional support for various major projects in India. These included advising the National Industrial Corridor Development & Implementation Trust (NICDIT) on legal and regulatory aspects related to the development of Dholera Airport, part of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor project. The firm drafted the shareholders’ agreement between the Airport Authority of India, Gujarat government and the NICDIT for the development, with advice on the aviation zone, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility.

Bid advisory services were provided to IDBI Capital Markets Limited/NMDC for the construction, operation and maintenance of a 13 million tonnes per annum Iron Ore Slurry Pipeline System from Nagarnar to Visakhapatnam, the first project of its kind in India. The firm was also project counsel advising GMR Hyderabad International Airport for the next phase of expansion.

Delhi International Airport engaged the firm as project counsel to handle various disputes and advise on aeronautical tariffs for IGI Airport.

Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association sought advice for developing a mixed-use sports venue and business centre in Ghaziabad, providing legal advisory services and drafting various agreements for an international standard cricket stadium with hotel, retail/food outlets, sports serviced residences, hypermarkets, commercial offices, multiplexes and a business centre.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation was also advised on identifying private sector participants for the development/redevelopment of tourism projects at seven locations on a public-private partnership basis through competitive bidding.

INSURANCE & REINSURANCE

WINNERS

Tuli & Co is the largest law firm in India specialising in insurance matters. Founded in 2000, the firm has established a core client base of high-profile and complex insurers and reinsurers in the Indian market. The type of insurance and reinsurance work the firm is engaged in continues to be high-profile, high-value and complex.

Tuli & Co is usually the first port of call for almost all Indian insurers, reinsurers and insurance intermediaries on complex and high-value insurance claims, as well as on important distribution structures, group restructuring and other third-party arrangements. It assists clients on all aspects of insurance from product development and sales to regulatory issues and investigations, claims and coverage issues, arbitration/litigation and corporate-commercial matters.

In the past year, Tuli & Co’s insurance regulatory and corporate insurance practice advised Indian insurers, Indian and overseas reinsurers, insurance intermediaries and other market participants on several complex insurance regulatory and commercial issues. These included advising Zopper Insurance Brokers in structuring investments in its parent entity and regulatory approval, and advising AXA XL on their exit from Mahindra Insurance Brokers, selling their stake to the promoter entity.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT

WINNERS

 

Inttl Advocare is a leading IP law firm established by founder and managing partner Hemant Singh, with expertise and robust practice in both IP prosecution and enforcement, along with allied and emerging fields of information technology, telecoms, media and antitrust laws, as well as key corporate services.

The firm’s team strength of 50 professionals including advocates and technical experts supported by more than 40 paralegals has been recognised in several premier international publications. The firm’s lawyers are regular speakers at national and international IP forums, frequent guest lecturers at law schools, and commentators in radio chat shows.

Prominent recent cases include: representing consumer electronics company HTC in a civil suit for trademark infringement and passing off; Sun Pharmaceutical’s writ petition challenging the cancellation of Macleods’ trademark registration; and kitchen appliances manufacturer TTK Prestige in a trademark infringement suit before the Delhi High Court. The firm was involved in all aspects of drafting, research, filing and arguments in these matters.

Sujata Chaudhri IP Attorneys is a boutique firm located in Noida, founded in 2014 and growing with new hires and expansion, adding two partners in the past 12 months while also hiring a senior lawyer to head the trademark prosecution practice. In addition, the firm hired two new senior associates and 15 associates.

The firm has a successful track record in IP-related litigation matters, having obtained favourable orders in several cases before Delhi High Court and district courts. The firm has filed 40 civil suits before Delhi High Court since 2022, with 25 disposed of in favour of its clients, obtaining interim relief in the others. The firm successfully represented clients in trademark matters including obtaining trademark registrations and winning opposition and cancellation proceedings before various IP offices.

The firm has dealt with several high-profile cases including matters involving Glaxo Group and Levi Strauss & Co, obtaining interim injunctions and favourable orders for its clients. The firm has also successfully initiated contempt motions winning orders for payment of costs and refund of court fees for its clients.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION

WINNERS

Anand and Anand
G&W Legal
KAnalysis
K&S Partners
LexOrbis
Rahul Chaudhry & Partners
S&A Law Offices

 

G&W Legal is a leading full-service law firm reporting unprecedented growth across multiple practice areas in 2022. The firm’s holistic approach to legal services, and focus on diversity and inclusion, has enabled it to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Clients for IP protection matters included WarnerBros Discovery, Marsh McLennan, Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, Orange, ByteDance/TikTok, Shakira, Antylia Scientific (Cole-Parmer), and Bristol Myers Sqibb.

It also handles large trademark portfolios for a leading multinational fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) corporation in India, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives, along with the entire prosecution portfolio for a global pharmaceutical corporation across multiple South Asian jurisdictions.

G&W embraces cutting-edge technology, using AI-based portfolio and contract management software and cloud-based collaboration with clients. During the pandemic, it was one of the first firms to adopt a completely remote work environment, with flexible policies empowering a healthy work-life balance. The firm also made gender equality a top priority, with 50% of associates and partners being women, and 50% of equity owned by women.

KAnalysis specialises in IP advisory, prosecution, research and litigation with a global clientele and IP portfolios in more than 38 countries. The firm’s clientele includes startups, individual innovators, MSMEs and Fortune-ranked companies, advising on various IP issues from ideation, pre-R&D and protection to enforcement and commercialisation.

Alok Das, Revolta Motors

The firm is actively involved in planning and providing strategic advice on all aspects of IP and business law for taking businesses to a global scale. To the firm’s credit, in the past year it has filed 2,385 patents, 4,549 trademarks and 150 other IP rights with a high success rate.

“We have been extremely satisfied with the services provided [by KAnalysis] for global patent filings and portfolio management,” says Alok Das, the head and COO at Revolta Motors in Bengaluru.

The firm’s litigation team in India and the US has handled a variety of cases including passing-off suits, infringements and injunctions, yielding a high success rate in patent infringement cases for Amazon, and securing a favourable order for Thyssenkrupp Rothe Erde Germany before the Delhi High Court.

KAnalysis also provided legal guidance to Cleanos Ventures for patent registration, helping them sell their patent licences in India, and manages IP filings and prosecutions exclusively for Foxconn, the world’s largest technology manufacturer and service provider.

K&S Partners relies on advanced technology and secure web mechanisms for efficient business operations, employing a range of IT systems including virtualised servers, Microsoft 365 and AI-driven projects with strict IT policies compliant with ISO27001 standards.

The firm works on a large number of IP protection matters for various clients. It recently converted a patent of addition to an independent application to overcome objections, and also represented a leading supplier of machinery for producing plastic packaging as an opponent, and successfully argued lack of novelty/inventive step in the applicant’s claims. In another case, the firm successfully represented a vaccine manufacturer.

Rahul Chaudhry & Partners experienced significant growth in the past year, expanding its client base both domestically and internationally. The firm has broadened its practice areas beyond IP litigation and achieved favourable outcomes for clients across all industries in various tribunals and courts. Additionally, the firm has increased its workforce by hiring more than 20 new team members, including hires from competing firms. Rahul Chaudhry & Partners advised and assisted various multinational companies in IP-related matters including successfully representing Marico and Bennett Coleman and Co in reaching worldwide settlement agreements with other companies over the use of their respective trademarks. The firm also conducted due diligence for Reckitt Benckiser India, successfully assisting the company to transfer its IP rights to Emami Group. Additionally, the firm advised Novartis on trademark protection for their ZOLGENSMA product packaging, and assisted Samsung Electronics in obtaining design patents. The firm also helped several pharmaceutical companies including Astrazeneca, Curevac and Reata obtain patents for their inventions.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

WINNERS
Aarna Law
AnantLaw
DSK Legal
Dua Associates
Economic Laws Practice
SKAA Advocates & Solicitors
SNG & Partners

 

Established in 2021, AnantLaw has a dedicated international trade practice advising clients on trade policies, regulatory compliance and trade agreements, and representing them before
various regulatory authorities, government departments, ministries and international bodies.

The firm has successfully represented the government of India in trade disputes and international trade negotiations. The team has also represented exporters and importers in trade remedy cases related to technology, telecoms, chemicals, photovoltaic cells and steel, among others.

The firm regularly represents clients before Indian trade bodies and international authorities such as the US Department of Commerce, Canadian International Trade Tribunal, and China’s Ministry of Commerce. Additionally, the firm has advised stakeholders and governments on free-trade agreements, bilateral investment treaties and the UK’s Brexit.

AnantLaw also takes on pro bono cases, and has represented parties on environmental issues over cutting and excessive pruning of 7,000 trees in New Delhi.

Dua Associates is swiftly adapting to emerging opportunities in the legal sector. The firm’s international trade practice aims to extend its dominant position to Asean and Middle Eastern countries as it taps into the growing potential in trade treaties and protectionist barriers.

Its international trade practice group has had a successful year, led by Shiraz Patodia, a recognised authority on World Trade Organisation agreements, anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations, representing several clients in anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations.

The firm represented Chinese company Longi Solar Technology and its related entities before the Delhi High Court against the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) over an anti-dumping investigation concerning the import of solar cells. It also advised Sadara Chemical Company in an anti-dumping investigation concerning exports of flexible polyol slabstock from Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, the firm has represented various Fortune 500 companies including Dow Chemical, Eastman Chemical USA, Kodak, the Thai government, and Ago Fiber before the DGTR.

INTERNET & E-COMMERCE

WINNERS

 

From established startups to technology giants, Saraf and Partners advises clients and works on notable deals across the information technology sector.

The firm provided legal advice to Razorpay Software and Razorpay in their acquisition of Viverati Interactive Marketing and PoshVine Systems (collectively PoshVine) from Richik Nandi and Garima Satija Nandi for about INR1 billion, marking Razorpay’s entry into the evolving rewards management and loyalty programme space.

The firm also advised Google India on its innovative product offerings, contractual arrangements with third-party collaborators, and partnerships with banks and NBFCs to provide loans and credit cards on the Google Pay platform, including with Equitas Small Finance Bank and IDFC Bank. The Google-Equitas partnership allowing Google Pay users to open bank accounts with Equitas was viewed as revolutionary in the context of fintech partnerships with banks/NBFCs, posing a significant challenge to traditional banking in India.

Zomato was advised and represented in various M&A transactions and investments in Indian companies including Blinkit-Grofers, Fitso, CureFit, Shiprocket, MagicPin, Adonmo and UrbanPiper. The transactions involved evaluating nuanced fintech issues, assessing regulatory compliance with payment and settlement system laws, RBI and exchange control regulations, and laws governing data protection, e-commerce and marketplaces.

LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT

WINNERS
Anhad Law
Clasis Law
IndusLaw
Kochhar & Co
SPN Legal
Trilegal
Wadhwa Law Offices

 

Anhad Law is a leading law firm for employment and labour law. The firm assisted ReliaQuest US and Sophos Colombia in setting up operations in India, advising on cross-border secondments and employment-related issues.

The firm has also: won a favourable judgment for Macawber India in defending a claim by a former employee; advised Marsh McLennan Global Services on work-from-home policies; and assisted a subsidiary of a leading MNC in initiating civil suits and criminal prosecutions against former senior management for embezzlement.

Tabish Zubair, Baxter Pharmaceuticals

“The firm has good experience in handling matters relating to labour and employment,” says Tabish Zubair, a senior counsel at Baxter Pharmaceuticals India.

Anhad Law also conducted a high-profile investigation for a global content and film production company regarding workplace practices, advising on mitigating exposure and corporate liability.

SPN Legal is a full-service law firm with offices in New Delhi and Bengaluru providing legal and corporate services with a practical business-oriented approach to clients including individuals, corporations and multinationals, both in India and abroad.

Recently, SPN Legal has achieved significant success in a range of business and criminal cases. These included assisting in meeting the legal requirements for setting up a payment system aggregator in India, as well as managing the legal requirements for a subsidiary of a US-listed entity employing more than 1,000 employees in India, including handling employee grievances.

In addition, the firm assisted in the acquisition of an IT, ITeS and HR solutions provider in India in regulatory aspects of employment law, including without limitation transition of employment, employee benefits and continuity of employment.

The firm was successful in securing bail for a client who had been under arrest for more than nine months over allegations of economic offences. It also assisted in setting up new-age tech ventures specialising in web3, blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine learning across multiple jurisdictions.

LICENSING & FRANCHISING

WINNERS
Anand and Anand
Kochhar & Co
Krishna & Saurastri Associates
Lall & Sethi
Naik Naik & Co
Samvad Partners
SKS Law Associates

LITIGATION

WINNERS

 

DSK Legal has experienced 86% growth in the past year with the addition of new partners and practice areas, and the opening of new offices in several cities.

Their dispute resolution practice, led by managing partner Anand Desai, is highly regarded as one of the best in India. With a team of 63 lawyers, including 21 partners, the firm covers multiple areas of litigation including commercial, regulatory, securities, criminal, construction, tax, and domestic and international arbitrations.

Nasser Kabir, India Today

The firm’s differentiating factor is its ability to offer a central litigation strategy to work effectively with international law firms. In the past year, the firm advised and represented high-profile clients in various disputes including CREDAI-MCHI, Bhansali Productions and the famous actor, Salman Khan. Commenting on DSK Legal’s acumen, Nasser Kabir, group general counsel at India Today in New Delhi, says: “The team at DSK Legal has helped us on various complex issues and music licence disputes, finding solutions for deadlock situations with partners/vendors, and has provided us with legal opinions on our true crime documentaries. Their services are of market leading standards.”

He adds: “They possess good commercial acumen, sector knowledge, and have a knack to achieve the best possible outcome for us. What impresses me the most is their ability to ensure we are protected.”

It has also been ranked highly by leading publications and recognised for innovation in introducing a cloud-based document management system including document tags, assembly, secure file sharing, and search and research assistance, improving workflow and collaboration between teams.

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

WINNERS
Anand and Anand
DSK Legal
Mason & Associates Advocates
Naik Naik & Co
Nishith Desai Associates
Saikrishna & Associates
Tandon & Co

 

Leading firm Anand and Anand is celebrating its centenary in 2023, having achieved a range of milestones leading up to this important anniversary. Among highlights, the law firm filed more than 3,000 trademark applications and completed more than 300 agreements for clients in sectors including fashion, automobiles and pharmaceuticals.

Anand and Anand also hired experienced lawyers and professionals to expand its digital and corporate practices, and collaborated with Naik Naik & Co to form Anand and Naik, which has made a significant impact on the firm’s media and entertainment practice. Significant achievements include involvement in the high-profile Amitabh Bachchan v Rajat Nagi & Ors personality rights case, when the Delhi High Court granted an omnibus order protecting the prominent actor’s personality and publicity rights. This order safeguards his rights by preventing any infringement on his name, image, voice and any other attribute exclusively identifiable with him. Sanjay Tandon, CEO, Indian Singers Rights Association in Mumbai, says: “Pravin Anand, Dhruv Anand and Udita Patro are very professional, and have well researched legal work, timely delivery and a practical approach.”

Sanjay Tandon, Indian Singers Rights Association

Another noteworthy case was Sholay v Yogesh Patel, in which the Delhi High Court protected the trademark “Sholay”, noting that certain film titles cross the boundaries of just being ordinary words. In this case, US-based Sholay.com was sued for publishing a magazine using the mark/name and selling merchandise using scenes and names from the film Sholay.

Additionally, the Arha Media order saw Delhi High Court restrain rogue websites from illegally streaming episodes of the Telugu talk-show, Unstoppable. The court directed the Department of Telecommunications and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block access to these websites, and pull down 349 infringing links illegally streaming its episodes.

Founded by Neel Mason in 2006, Mason & Associates specialises in IP and information technology law, with offices in Delhi and Hyderabad. The firm boasts a dynamic team of lawyers with diverse backgrounds bringing a wealth of experience advising clients on developing, registering, protecting and enforcing their IP portfolios.

Having been involved in several high-profile cases influencing key issues in India’s IP law, the firm’s reputation as a top-tier law firm in this area is well-deserved, and continues to set the standard for excellence in IP and information technology law.

The firm advised and enforced the copyright of musician Rabbi Shergill, ensuring his registration as the author and publisher of literary and musical works of the album, Rabbi, with the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS). It also successfully represented Google in a brand endorsement deal involving a Bollywood actor, and additionally advises Bhansali Productions.

Tandon & Co, helmed by Kunal Tandon, believes in a “problem first” approach in its notable media work with clients including Culver Max Entertainment, ABP Networks, 9X Media and Bennett Coleman & Co. The firm also represented Star India with regards to a petition filed by a distribution platform operator challenging a disconnection notice.

It also represented Zee Entertainment Enterprises over a writ petition filed by the data protection officer (DPO) challenging a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal order permitting Star India to disconnect the signals on the basis of finding the DPO’s digital addressable system to be non-compliant. Tandon and his team also focus on pro bono work, including mentoring young lawyers and students, conducting workshops and team-building activities.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

WINNERS

PHARMA & LIFE SCIENCES

WINNERS

 

Saraf and Partners had a very strong year, executing deals worth more than USD43 billion while growing to a strength of more than 200 lawyers including 34 partners, and moving to a larger 18,000-square-feet office at One International Centre in Lower Parel, Mumbai.

Among notable deals, Saraf and Partners advised Viatris in selling its global biosimilars assets to Biocon Biologics for up to USD3.3 billion, making it the largest M&A deal in the biosimilars business and one of the largest M&A deals in India’s pharmaceutical space to date.

The firm also played a crucial role in the amalgamation of three private pharmaceutical companies involved in the distribution and marketing of critical drugs, overcoming the challenge of obtaining orders from two separate jurisdictional National Company Law Tribunals (NCLTs) in Mumbai and Chandigarh.

In addition, the law firm represented Carlyle in its capacity as a selling shareholder in the IPO of Global Health Limited (Medanta), enabling Carlyle to sell a portion of its pre-IPO shareholding, post-filing of the red herring prospectus. Carlyle completely exited the company after disposing of 19.9% of its pre-IPO shareholding in the IPO, and the remaining 5.6% in three separate transactions.

POLICY & REGULATION

WINNERS

 

Hammurabi & Solomon Partners, established more than 20 years ago, specialises in corporate and M&A, dispute management, public policy, strategy and regulatory, environment and pollution control laws, and technology, media and telecoms. Recent expansion included opening an office in Ahmedabad, and becoming a member of the Alliuris Group and International Legal Advocacy Network. The policy practice has launched knowledge reports and think tanks. The firm also inducted new partners in New Delhi and expanded its practice areas into energy, mining and online gaming. It has plans to open offices in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Hammurabi has a strong team with an in-depth understanding of the statutory and regulatory framework, coupled with strong ties with executive agencies, decision makers and opinion leaders. It offers research services in law, regulation and public policy, including policy prediction.

The firm has advised on various issues such as telecoms regulations, land acquisitions, internal security, disinvestment of leading public sector undertakings, intelligence agencies regulation, tobacco manufacturing challenges, M&A, renewable energy, and code of conduct for judges in South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation countries. It is also involved in formulating a comprehensive code of conduct for news entities, and reported on proposed liberalisation of the legal industry, allowing entry of foreign firms.

PRIVATE CLIENT PRACTICE

WINNERS

 

Mansukhlal, Hiralal & Company has been a part of the country’s legal landscape for 110 years. The law firm has been empanelled with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and represents the regulator before the Securities Appellate Tribunal and Bombay High Court. The SEBI has assigned the firm about 90 legal matters in the past 12 months.

The firm was also empanelled with the Indian government-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation for providing legal advice and representing them before arbitral tribunals, the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court.

In private client work, the firm has been busy on various cases involving substantial sums. These included representing the Creado family in safeguarding their rights against an adjacent landowner, and representing the Kapadia family in a suit filed by Atul Developers. It has also assisted clients in estate planning and testamentary petitions, such as representing Shikha Gaur and Viresh Joshi, and realising the estate of deceased loved ones such as representing Shirish Handa and John Fair.

SNG & Partners is a full-service law firm established in 1962 by SN Gupta, with a reputation for sophisticated legal work in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. It provides legal assistance to banks, financial institutions, investment banks, private equity houses, real estate developers, multinationals, corporate houses and the government.

The firm has received several recognitions and awards for its legal work in different areas. In 2022, SNG entered into an exclusive alliance with R & P Partners, a full-service law firm with a large presence in southern India.

The firm provides legal advice and services to various families and organisations including assistance with interpretation, probate and matters related to wills, dissolution of Hindu Undivided Families, creation of family trusts, succession planning and business restructuring.

It has also advised on special needs cases and helped simplify the deceased customer claim process for ICICI Bank. The firm tailors their services to meet specific needs of each client, whether providing care and accommodation for a child with disabilities or ring-fencing structures for a widow and her son.

Vashi and Vashi was founded in 2017 by Vivek Vashi, after parting ways with his former firm to set up the independent practice in Mumbai with his team of 17 associates. After a spectacular run in the past year, the firm is handling various complex and high-stakes disputes across India including litigation before tribunals, magistrates and courts including the Supreme Court, and domestic and international arbitrations.

A prominent name in the field of dispute resolution, one of its key strengths is a focus on preventative advice, which helps build the trust and loyalty of clients. The firm’s early identification and resolution of issues have resolved a potentially high number of value disputes, mainly in relation to inbound investment.

Among its private client work, the firm resolved a family dispute before the Bombay High Court regarding a widow’s claim to her late husband’s INR2.5 billion estate, settling for INR2 billion.

PRIVATE EQUITY & VENTURE CAPITAL

WINNERS

 

Argus Partners has achieved significant growth and expansion in the past year in various aspects of its operations, including the addition of nine new partners, a 60% increase in total lawyers, and opening a new office in New Delhi.

The firm has advised fintech companies such as CRED, EarlySalary and Fitterfly Healthtech raise funds ranging from USD12 million to USD140 million. It also advised genetic diagnostics company MedGenome in its USD50 million series D fundraise. Additionally, the firm assisted companies such as Privado, Exponent Energy and Turno in their respective series A funding rounds.

Argus also advised on investments made by Kotak Pre-IPO Opportunities Fund in Swiggy and Licious, and Whiteboard Capital Fund in Octopolis Technologies and Onwo Trade India. Furthermore, the firm provided legal counsel to HDFC in various aspects including fund-raising for H-CARE 3, the sale of HDFC Capital Advisors, and investment in Brookfield. It also advised Attentive.ai, SatSure Analytics and SolarSquare Energy to raise funds ranging from USD5 million to USD13 million.

In pro bono work, the firm collaborates with Green Yatra for long-term tree plantation drives in cities where it has offices, with 300 trees planted so far in Mumbai.

REAL ESTATE

WINNERS
Dhaval Vussonji & Associates
Economic Laws Practice
Fox Mandal & Associates
JSA
Kanga & Co
Lexicon Law Partners
Mansukhlal Hiralal & Company

 

Dhaval Vussonji and Associates (DVA) has a team of more than 60 lawyers with diverse experience in various areas of law including qualified solicitors, company secretaries and chartered accountants, which allows a solution-based approach to disputes, analysing legal, technical, secretarial and taxation aspects equally.

In real estate, the firm represented various clients in complex matters involving large sums, including HDFC Capital’s funding of Manjri Horse Breeders’ Farm and other entities of Shapoorji Pallonji in a deal valued at INR15.5 billion, and Lodha Group in a deal worth INR1 billion involving the sale of land to Jupiter Lifeline Hospitals.

It also conducted title due diligence for Certus Capital in a matter worth INR400 million, advised Raheja Universal on a transaction valued at about INR1.7 billion, and assisted Alkem Laboratories and Avenue Venture Real Estate Fund in preparation and negotiation of transaction documents.

DVA invests in technology enhancing productivity and time management, and lawyer engagement initiatives committed to personal and professional growth.

RESTRUCTURING & INSOLVENCY

WINNERS

 

Dhir & Dhir is a leader in the restructuring and insolvency space, with more than 36 years’ experience and a substantial practice in both litigation and non-litigation work, consulting closely with specialists in related practice areas to provide a seamless and integrated service.

The firm’s expertise covers a range of legal and commercial advice including contingency planning, debt restructuring, out-of-court restructurings, corporate and financial restructuring, individual and corporate insolvency, and debt recovery. It represents lenders and investors on a wide range of issues, advising on several high-profile cases including Essar Steel and Binani Cement, while also being involved in M&A and raising finances for clients in various matters.

In various insolvency cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the firm has represented clients such as Trident Infra Homes, Romano Infrastructure, Jain Irrigation Systems, Gati Infrastructure, India Infrastructure Finance Company, Lucky Holdings and Aryavir Buildcon. It also provides services such as due diligence and preparation of resolution plans, representing clients before the NCLT, advising on restructuring proposals with lenders, and filing proceedings under section 7 of the IBC.

SHIPPING & MARITIME

WINNERS
ALMT Legal
Bose & Mitra & Co
K Singhania & Co
Mulla & Mulla and Craigie Blunt & Caroe
Renata Partners
TMT Law Practice
ZBA

 

For the fourth consecutive year, K Singhania & Co has won the award for legal services in shipping and maritime. The law firm has also been recognised for excellence in legal practice, with founder Krrishan Singhania in the top 100 lawyers and legal icons list in India Business Law Journal for five consecutive years.

Encouraging guided dispute resolution over prolonged litigation, the firm specialises in maritime law, providing legal assistance on a range of issues from vessel collusion to charter-party agreements.

It has empanelled lawyers for a major public sector shipping company, advising on various legal matters including disputes and foreign direct investment. The firm has also been empanelled for one of India’s major public sector shipping companies for the past decade.

The firm advises on legal issues related to day-to-day operations on various laws including maritime, employment and company law. It advised one client on a transaction involving the government selling its share to a strategic investor, and the client demerging its non-core assets.

To enhance its expertise in the field, the firm has partnered with Quadraant Legal, a leading maritime and corporate firm.

Renata Partners has expanded its team to 12 since its founding in 2021, and routinely represents ship owners, charterers and cargo traders before various courts for the arrest and release of ships. The firm also advises and acts in disputes concerning both dry and liquid bulk cargoes, containerised cargoes, various vessels including bulk carriers, tankers, container ships, LNG carriers and ro-ro transporters, demurrage and detention disputes, withdrawal of vessel from charter parties, and disputes over insurance and reinsurance policies.

Renata Partners also represents crew members stranded aboard vessels abandoned by their owners or charterers. In such situations, the crew is often left without sufficient provisions, food, fresh water and electricity. The firm has successfully obtained arrest orders for the concerned vessels and ensured crew member well-being to secure their safety and claim for wages.

It has represented crews from places including Syria, Indonesia, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Eritrea as well as India before immigration authorities, port authorities and customs.

The firm provides state-of-the-art IT systems for daily work and a cloud-based management system to maintain a comprehensive database.

SPORTS & GAMING

WINNERS
Argus Partners
DSK Legal
Ikigai Law
Krida Legal
Naik Naik & Co
SS Rana & Co
TMT Law Practice

 

Founded in 1989, SS Rana & Co has had a particularly remarkable past year since the pandemic, participating in several national and international conferences including INTA, IBA, AIPPI, Marques, APPA and FICPI, and hiring more than 24 associates and consultants spanning its IPR, corporate and dispute resolution practices.

The law firm has played an instrumental role in the incorporation and success of several gaming companies. From obtaining online game of skill licences to strategising and devising the game scheme to include a substantial degree of skill, the firm has provided comprehensive legal assistance enabling companies to launch their gaming applications on various social media platforms.

The firm has also drafted various legal documents including terms of use, privacy policy, legal disclaimers and employee agreements, while advising on legal promotion strategies for their games on social media. The firm’s expertise in gaming law has proven to be invaluable helping clients navigate the complex legal landscape of the gaming industry.

STARTUPS

WINNERS
Agama Law Associates
AP & Partners
Athena Legal
Burgeon Law
Lex Consult
Pier Counsel
Vertices Partners

 

Pier Counsel provides legal services to a diverse range of businesses, especially startups, including ShopKirana, Runo, Captain Fresh and many others. Services include IP advice, general corporate advisory services, company secretarial compliance assistance, data protection guidance, and negotiating commercial contracts.

In addition, Pier Counsel has helped clients create company policy handbooks, employment agreements, and issued legal notices when necessary. The firm has also assisted clients in expanding their operations to different jurisdictions.

Pier Counsel’s legal expertise has proven invaluable to clients across a range of industries from food and e-commerce to education and healthcare. The firm’s comprehensive approach to legal services enables clients to navigate complex legal challenges and achieve their business goals.

STRUCTURED FINANCE & SECURITISATION

WINNERS

 

TT&A grew significantly in the past year with the joining of AZB senior partner Gautam Saha, bringing along a team of 27 lawyers including 11 partners. TT&A now has a greater scope geographically in terms of its coverage across market segments and products.

In the structured finance and securitisation area, TT&A provided legal advice to Deutsche Bank in the structuring and issuance of INR37 billion of listed bonds between 2020 and 2022. The financing was highly structured and intricate, designed to support the issuer meet refinancing and project requirements, while providing access to liquidity from a diverse range of investors. During the course of the financing, the issuer was successful in raising equity from Groupe ADP (formerly Aéroports de Paris) and completing the demerger of its airports business into a separate vertical.

TAXATION (DIRECT)

WINNERS

 

Vaish Associates is established as a leading direct tax litigation firm with a respected team of lawyers and chartered accountants with a wealth of knowledge across the entire spectrum of tax law.

Kavita Jha, a partner and senior member of the tax team, is an empanelled advocate before the Supreme Court for the Union of India, the State of Maharashtra, Bharat Heavy Electricals, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and other government agencies, handling numerous tax, civil and criminal matters.

The firm’s clients include high-profile companies such as Amadeus, GlaxoSmithKline, LG Electronics, Nestle and Vedanta Group. The tax team’s strong track record in litigation has earned the respect of tax administrators, businesses and the judiciary alike.

Vaish Associates has also been active in pro bono matters related to criminal and maintenance matters.

TAXATION (INDIRECT)

WINNERS

 

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan’s tax practice includes both indirect tax and direct tax services.

The indirect tax team handles GST returns and assessments, advisory, compliance review, contract reviews, due diligence and litigation, representing clients in several landmark judgments. One case concerned the taxability of service tax on secondment agreements between an Indian company and its related overseas group company. The Supreme Court held that such transactions were taxable, with wide ramifications under GST and income tax laws.

Another case dealt with the levy of Integrated Goods and Services Tax on ocean freight paid by foreign sellers to foreign shipping lines, which the Supreme Court ruled as a violation of the principles of composite supply under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The court also issued judgments on the maintainability of writ petitions and the constitutional validity of anti-profiteering provisions under GST laws.

In the past year, the firm has, meanwhile, implemented various HR initiatives to create a healthy work environment, while strengthening its IT infrastructure and adopting hybrid cloud technology.

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMS

WINNERS

 

AP & Partners has grown in the past year, hiring 10 new team members including Harshit Anand as partner, and increasing the partner strength to five.

In high-profile work, the firm assisted SpaceX and Starlink in market entry strategy, regulatory compliance and tax advisory. The team also advised Etsy on consumer protection and data localisation regulations in India.

In addition, the firm advised Amishi Consumer Technologies on its acquisition by GoodGlamm, and LeanCrop Technology Solutions on its series A fundraise. It also assisted telecoms companies on telecoms regulations, licensing and cross-border mergers, and advised SmartShift Logistics Solutions on regulatory compliance, developing their whistle-blower and anti-bribery policies.

AP & Partners also advised a Sequoia portfolio company engaged in last-mile logistics delivery on regulatory issues, reframing their business model for compliance with Indian transport regulations.

The firm’s most significant achievement in pro bono work was representing a victim of child sexual abuse by family members in a criminal trial before Delhi District Court, Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. Partner Sandeep Das has been leading this effort.

BEST NEW INDIAN LAW FIRMS

BEST NEW LAW FIRMS

WINNERS
DLS Law Offices
Rise Legal
SOLARIS LEGAL

 

DLS Law Offices is a full-service law firm headquartered in Delhi with an additional branch office in Bhubaneshwar and an associate office in Bhopal. DLS began active operations in 2018 and saw its founder, Dipti Lavya Swain, returning to the firm full-time after leaving HSA Advocates in mid-2022.

The firm’s specialisation is in M&A transactions, PE & VC investments and exits, startups, green energy, projects and infrastructure, electric vehicles and batteries, and general corporate practice.

The founder has more than 16 years’ experience in the legal industry and has advised on multiple EV, energy and infrastructure projects for the government and private sector, where DLS is a leading player.

In addition, the firm assists on real estate and dispute matters, and advises on investment and infrastructure transactions including the retail, entertainment, gaming, EPC, electric vehicle, manufacturing and real estate sectors. Despite being a relatively young firm, it has already established a long list of reputable clients, both domestically and internationally.

Rise Legal is a full-service law firm led by a team of experienced lawyers with a proven track record advising and representing both domestic and international clients across various sectors and areas of practice. The team comprises lawyers qualified to practise in India and the US (state of New York).

Established in 2021 by Trinath Tadakamalla, Debarshi Dutta and Mrinal Ojha, Solaris Legal is a boutique law firm providing comprehensive legal services to a diverse range of clients across India. With an office in New Delhi and a network of lawyers in various cities, the firm is renowned for its expertise in dispute resolution and is consistently recognised as an industry leader in this field.

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