The Legal 500

Praised for its ‘personal touch, professionalism and ability to get the job done within 
deadlines’, AZB & Partners’ projects team is 
largely focused on the finance side. 
Capital markets as a means of financing has been popular recently, and the team 
notably represented Reliance on its $1.5bn bond issuance.

Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co remains a leading player in the market, 
and is particularly accomplished in the power, telecoms and aerospace sectors; it has also secured a raft of other new infrastructure projects. Jatin Aneja recently represented the lenders on financing the development of a coal-fired thermal power plant, a project shared between NCC Infrastructure Holdings and 
Gayatri Energy Ventures. Aneja also recently advised the Airports Authority of India and the Government of Karnataka on the bid process and tender documents relating to the greenfield development of a new airport at Bellary, Karnataka.

HSA Advocates’ team handles work across the spectrum of energy projects, as well as transport infrastructure mandates including road, rail and ports work. It has a strong track record acting for government entities, and has handled substantial instructions from the Planning Commission of India, including advising it on drafting various model concession agreements, such as that for the setting up of hospitals throughout India under a PPP framework. The team also has a 
niche in the renewable energy sector, and 
recently represented the William J Clinton Foundation on its solar projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Hemant Sahai and Ranjit Prakash are recommended.

J Sagar Associates provides regulatory, corporate and finance advice across a broad array of energy sources and transport infrastructure mandates including electricity, oil and gas, renewables, LNG, roads and ports. Recent highlights include advising Morgan Stanley, as leader of a consortium, on a $425m investment in Indian power company Asia Genco, which is developing a 4,000MW portfolio. Other clients include Petronet LNG, BHP Billiton, Jubilant Energy, ENI India, British Gas and Wipro. Practice head Sumanto Basu and regulatory expert Amit Kapur are recommended.

Luthra & Luthra handles work for many stakeholders across a range of energy projects including renewables, oil and gas. Its top-end clients include Arcelor Mittal, Cairn Energy, Power Finance Corporation and Essar Oil. The firm is best known for its lender-side financing capability, and recent highlights include advising IDBI, as leader of a consortium of banks, on the $2.7bn financing of a power station in Krishnapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Sameen Vyas led on that deal and is a key member of the team, which also includes Rajiv Luthra.

Trilegal’s broad-ranging practice advises on regulations, development and financing for energy and transport infrastructure projects. Akshay Jaitly is increasingly prominent in renewables and recently advised CLP India on the establishment of a 39.6MW wind power project in Hara, Karnataka. The ‘practical’ Sitesh Mukherjee is also well regarded and represented Jal Power on drafting and negotiating a long-term power purchase agreement with Tata Power for the sale of 75MW power from its 120MW hydro-power plant in Sikkim.

Headed by the ‘composed and solutions-oriented’ Anand Srivastava, Link Legal is particularly noted for its transport infrastructure expertise including airports, rail, roads, highways and ports. Srivastava is advising Bangalore International Airport on the expansion of the existing passenger terminal building. Recently promoted partner Ajay Sawhney is also recommended.

Seth Dua & Associates’ energy and infrastructure projects team advises on oil and gas, nuclear and renewables projects, and also has a niche specialism in the defence sector. 
The ‘highly knowledgeable and precise’ Sunil Seth is the lynchpin of the team and recently advised Genting Group on several projects, including 
two major coal-fired power plants and a wind farm.

Led by the ‘proactive’ pair of Dipak Rao and Rohit Jaiswal, Singhania & Partners advises on transport infrastructure projects including roads, ports and railways. It is particularly strong on the public sector side, and recently represented the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on drafting the concession agreement for “two-laning” of selected national highway sections on a PPP basis. The team also advised Karnataka State Highway Implementation Project on drafting concession agreements and bid management for a World Bank funded upgrade.

DSK Legal’s New Delhi office regularly works in conjunction with the Mumbai team on a range of infrastructure projects, particularly on 
the financing side. Recent highlights include acting as lender’s counsel on financing for a theme park.

FoxMandal Little recently advised Gamesa Wind Turbines on its contract arrangements with Caparo Energy for the $2bn supply, erection and commissioning of wind turbines totalling 2,000MW capacity.

Swarup & Company is regularly instructed by Indian companies on their overseas projects, and has developed expertise in project-related M&A.

Diljeet Titus leads Titus & Co’s projects and energy practice, which recently advised Solar Ventures on a joint venture with Indo Powertech.

Bhasin & Co has niche expertise advising on airport projects.

Chitale & Chitale Partners’ projects experience spans aviation, defence, energy, oil and gas.

Jafa & Javali is advising a consortium of Swiss and German companies on an oil refinery project in West Bengal.

Kochhar & Co advises clients on regulatory, transactional and litigation issues in the energy and transport infrastructure spaces. Junior Luwang, who has a good reputation for oil and gas matters, recently represented Hyundai Engineering on its supply contract with Hindustan Electricity Company for the commercial 
operation of a gas-fired power project in Pune. Other clients include Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Asian Development Bank and Quest Petroleum.

O.P. Khaitan & Co. Solicitors and Advocates advised a major drilling and infrastructure company on cross-border financing transactions relating to its Singapore-based subsidiaries.

P & A Law Offices has a ‘very good’ pedigree in the projects sector, and handles a significant flow of work for Bombardier.

Rajinder Narain & Co regularly advises banks on project finance.

Project finance is a significant focus for KSB Partners.

LexCounsel advises on aspects of power and telecoms projects for sponsors, project companies, banks, equipment manufacturers and vendors. Recent highlights include acting for Daewoo on the divestment of its interest in a power project.

At Platinum Partners, UK and India-qualified partner Anuj Bhatia advises on road projects as part of his broad mix of transactional matters.