The Legal 500

AZB & Partners’ ‘very good tax group’ complements the firm’s market leading-transactional practice and, as such, the firm regularly advises on M&A-related tax structuring, in addition to providing standalone tax advice. Senior partner Ajay Bahl has impressive experience in the area, and is a chartered accountant as well as a lawyer.

The ‘very good’ LakshmiKumaran & Sridharan is primarily recognised for its market-leading tax group, although efforts have been made to expand its full-service capability, hiring seven new lawyers in July 2011 and more recently setting up a second office in New Delhi to manage its expanding team. The firm handles all areas of direct, indirect and international taxation, and has extensive litigation and advisory experience. Founder and managing partner V Lakshmi Kumaran is recommended.

Vaish Associates has an excellent reputation for direct tax matters, and is very strong in tax litigation, having handled a number of significant transfer-pricing cases. Ajay Vohra and Rupesh Jain both have extensive experience, and senior associate Amit Sachdeva is an up-and-coming lawyer who specialises in tax litigation. Clients include major Indian pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy.

The tax practice at Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co has an excellent reputation, although the departure of practice head Aseem Chawla will be a significant blow to the firm. The firm provides both advisory and contentious support to its broad client base, and has a wealth of experience in tax structuring major corporate transactions. Recent work includes acting as domestic counsel to Mitsui Sumitomo in its $530m acquisition of a 26% stake in Max New York Life Insurance Company from US-based New York Life Insurance.

Khaitan & Co.’s New Delhi-based tax team supports the firm’s impressive transactional group, and focuses on indirect tax matters. The team is headed by Manish Mishra, who recently advised Hiranandani Gas Company on the structuring of EPC Contracts in relation to setting up an LNG terminal and regasification facility in Maharashtra. The matter required in-depth analysis to determine the most efficient tax structure. In addition, Mishra regularly represents clients before various departmental authorities and appellate tribunals.

The ‘responsive’ team at Kochhar & Co advises its corporate clientele on the tax implications and structuring of major transactions. Vijay Ravi, who dedicates a significant amount of time to tax matters, recently advised US company Grant Thornton on the tax implications of its joint venture in India. Shahid Khan previously worked as an officer of the Indian Revenue Service and within the Indian Income Tax department in various capacities. Sanjay Kochhar is also recommended.

The ‘excellent and knowledgeable’ lawyers at Luthra & Luthra handle tax work for the firm’s extensive corporate client base, which includes tax structuring. It recently advised PVR India on the direct tax and indirect tax implications of its establishment of theatres in India in collaboration with IMAX Corporation. The firm’s expertise also extends to tax litigation matters, where it recently successfully represented a major toll operator in penalty proceedings before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. Vikas Srivastava and Sanjeev Sachdeva are recommended.

The tax team at Seth Dua & Associates is led by the ‘knowledgeable’ Atul Dua and handles a raft of tax matters, both direct and indirect, for its corporate clients. The ‘very responsive’ team is assisting JCDecaux Advertising India in its day-to-day business operations, which includes advising on all relevant tax matters. The firm is also

representing the client before the relevant authorities in contentious matters. Taru Gupta is also recommended.

BMR Legal was born out of professional services organisation BMR Advisors and focuses entirely on tax litigation. The three-partner team is led by Mukesh Butani, a specialist in international tax and transfer pricing matters. The firm also represents a number of high-profile clients before the courts. The indirect tax team was recently strengthened through the incorporation of Puneet Bansal from LakshmiKumaran & Sridharan.

Economic Laws Practice’s strength in dispute resolution extends to its tax practice, where it handles a significant amount of tax litigation as well as tax advisory work for clients. The firm was recently engaged to provide comprehensive advisory and litigation support services in relation to Whirlpool of India’s indirect tax issues. The ‘diligent’ Tarun Gulati is ‘exceptionally good at briefing counsel’.

IndusLaw’s solid tax team recently advised an international company on the restructuring of its Indian operations, which involved streamlining its business operation through appropriate entities to minimise tax cost and aid compliance. In addition to tax structuring matters, the firm represents clients before tax authorities, appellate courts, the High Court and Supreme Court. Tapas Misra is the key partner.

In addition to advising clients on tax structuring and compliance matters, LexCounsel has also developed a niche practice advising charitable societies, trusts and other non-profit on tax exemptions and the express and implied conditions and restrictions applicable for maintenance of such exemptions. Dimpy Mohanty is recommended.

Titus & Co has a dedicated tax team that includes a number of chartered accountants. Headed by Diljeet Titus, the firm handles tax analysis and commercial transactions for clients such as Raytheon Company, Hirotech America, and IKEA.

‘National leaders in the field’, Nishith Desai Associates advises clients including Morgan Stanley, General Atlantic Partners, Fidelity, Barclays and Vodafone. It acted for a large brokerage house on restructuring matters, and for a large private equity house on tax indemnities. Recommended individuals include name partner Nishith Desai and Bijal Ajinkya.

Economic Laws Practice has an ‘excellent’ reputation in the market, and possesses a ‘strong, formidable’ team. It has strength in indirect tax and tax litigation matters, and advised Merieux Alliance on an ongoing tax withholding dispute before the Supreme Court. Rohan Shah, Vikram Nankani, and Nishant Shah are recommended.

ALMT Legal acts on both direct and indirect tax matters, and has an ‘excellent approach to work and service levels’. It acted for Symantec Software on a transfer-pricing dispute before the commissioner of income tax appeals and other authorities, and advised a large international brokerage house on the tax restructuring of its Indian entities. Aliff Fazelbhoy and Statira Ranina are recommended.

DM Harish & Co advises on double taxation avoidance agreements, structuring cross-border transactions, and transfer-pricing issues. Shobha Jagtiani is recommended.

‘Quality firm’ Khaitan & Co. acts on the full range of direct and indirect tax matters. It advised Outsource Partners International on the Indian tax aspects of its global acquisition by a US firm, and for Gujarat Fluorochemicals on the tax aspects of the transfer of its wind energy business to INOX Renewables. The ‘supremely able’ Daksha Baxi is recommended, as is Nihal Kothari.

Majmudar & Partners advised Adecco USA on the tax issues relating to its secondment of employees to India, and acted for V. Ships on the tax issues arising from the restructuring of its Indian operations. Akil Hirani is recommended.

A.R.A. LAW is recommended for its expertise in funds structuring and transfer-pricing matters.

Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co advises clients on a variety of corporate matters.

DSK Legal has expertise in tax investigations and disputes.

Gagrats advised Jet Airways on disputes with the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai concerning aircraft levies; for Forbes Marshall on indirect tax matters; and for Thomas Cook on service tax matters.

JBSS & Co is recommended for tax matters.

Kanga & Company Advocates and Solicitors’ M L Bhakta is recommended in the tax sphere.

LakshmiKumaran & Sridharan is praised for its expertise in indirect tax matters. V Sridharan is a notable force in the team.

Luthra & Luthra has a good balance between direct and indirect tax matters. It acted for Mumbai International Airport on service tax matters. Indirect tax expert Tarun Govil is recommended.