Argus Partners > The Legal 500 Rankings

City focus: Kolkata > Leading firms Tier 1

Argus Partners has a strong reputation for its full-service offering, with areas of expertise including advice on domestic banks on high-value deals; advising clients on real estate, banking, infrastructure and manufacturing projects. Arka Majumdar has recently been advising businesses on acquisitions, due diligence,  with a particular focus on manufacturing sector. Soorjya Ganguli has vast experience of representing clients before the Supreme court, several High Courts across the country, including Bombay, Orissa, Punjab and Haryana, and national company law tribunal. Nidhi Arya and Pooja Chakrabarti are the other key individuals.

City focus: Mumbai > Banking and finance Tier 1

Primarily based in Mumbai, the banking and finance practice at Argus Partners is particularly known for its sector-dedicated lawyers and ability to handle complex transactions. Key industries covered include real estate, renewable energy and infrastructure. Practice head Krishnava Dutt recently led the team in a standout highlight where the firm was counsel to HDFC Limited in its merger with HDFC Bank. Prakash Panjabi is regarded as one of the market’s leading practitioners in structured and asset finance and disbursement of credit facilities. Aastha is another key team member.

City focus: Mumbai > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Argus Partners has a thriving and varied practice that advises both individual clients as well as domestic and corporate entities. Significantly, the partners appear before all courts and arbitral tribunals on commercial arbitration matters and have also undertaken some public interest cases. Recent case highlights have included issues related to the entry of women into the Sabarimala Hill shrine in Kerala and other cases related to establishing the law of limitation when it comes to the maximum period for filing a written statement against a counter-claim filed by a defendant. Abeezar Faizullabhoy, Ranjit Shetty and Murtaza Kachwalla, who lead the dispute practice, are well regarded for their work on contentious matters.

City focus: Mumbai > TMT Tier 1

Argus Partners advises healthcare, technology, media and entertainment companies on commercial, transactional, corporate and regulatory matters, including mergers and funding rounds. With a strong hold over litigious proceedings, the team is also growing its presence in fintech and e-commerce offerings. Abhinav Bhalaik stands out for advising various clients on investments and M&As.

City focus: National Capital Region: NCR > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Based out of Delhi, the Argus Partners practice has vast expertise in handling arbitration proceedings, alongside litigation in the Supreme Court and National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. The ‘very good’ team specialises in the manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy industries, with R. Sudhinder regularly advising creditors and engineering corporations, Udit Mendiratta representing social media companies on data privacy issues, whilst Namitha Mathews is a real estate expert.

City focus: Bengaluru > Leading firms Tier 2

Argus Partners's Bengaluru office is home to Ankit Guha, an expert in PE, VC and M&A deals, who specialises in sectors such as TMT, fintech, gaming, insurance, financial services and agritech. The other key name locally is Bhavya Mohan who focuses on commercial dispute resolution, acting for clients from the manufacturing, real estate, banking and infrastructure industries, among others.

City focus: Mumbai > Real estate and construction Tier 2

Argus Partners advises on a wide range of real estate transactions, with a particular focus on the banking and finance sector. Prakash Panjabi heads the practice and has vast expertise in handling due diligence, investments and dealings in real estate assets.

City focus: National Capital Region: NCR > Real estate and construction Tier 2

Argus Partners‘ real estate and construction practice is highly active in the NCR region, specialising in due diligence and title search reports for land transactions, with a specific focus on Delhi following the opening of its new office in 2022. Co-headed by Namitha Mathews and Rachika Sahay, the team excels in acquisitions, exemplified by its involvement in acquiring a company engaged in farmland development and hospitality services. The firm also advises on general real estate advisory matters.

India > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

With expertise spanning across multi-jurisdictional M&A, joint ventures, and group restructurings, the Argus Partners team routinely represents international and domestic corporations. Displaying considerable strength in the finance, sports, and manufacturing spheres, the group is well equipped to handle public and private takeovers, along with complex spin-offs. In the Mumbai office, Krishnava Dutt and Adity Chaudhury specialise in dealing with strategic debt restructurings and joint ventures, whilst Abhinav Bhalaik focuses on investment work. In Kolkata, Arka Majumdar regularly acts on behalf of clients in the mining and engineering industries, and Bengaluru-based Ankit Guha provides general corporate and funding advice. Jitendra Soni is noted for his work on IPOs and seed funding rounds.

India > Banking and finance Tier 4

Argus Partners‘ broad practice encompasses structured finance, promoter funding and securitisation mandates. The group advises a range of domestic and international banks, asset reconstruction companies and other banking financial institutions. Managing partner Krishnava Dutt leads the banking and finance team from Mumbai, while Prakash Panjabi is an experienced figure in debt issuances and debt restructurings. Aastha represents a range of lenders and borrowers in syndicated lending and project finance transactions, while Nidhi Arya regularly assists with transactional matters, including construction financings and external commercial borrowing, with a particular focus on the real estate sector.

India > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 4

With experience in matters relating to corporate restructuring and distressed assets, Argus Partners has advised financial creditors, investors, asset reconstruction companies, and corporate debtors. Managing partner Krishnava Dutt leads the team, alongside Aastha, Adity Chaudhury, and Arka Majumdar. Their collective experience includes advising on liquidations, CIRPs, stressed loans, resolution plans, and debt restructuring.

India > TMT Tier 4

With a strong tech practice spanning transactional, corporate, and regulatory advice, the Argus Partners team draws upon its network of offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangaluru. The firm is especially strong in litigious proceedings, as well as boasting a growing fintech and e-commerce offering. Mumbai-based Abhinav Bhalaik and Jitendra Soni in New Delhi advise on M&A and strategic investments, and Mumbai-based Krishnava Dutt assists with financing transactions. From Delhi, Neha Madan represents clients from the IT and healthcare industries. Ankit Guha operates out of the firm's Bengaluru office.

India > Private equity and investment funds Tier 6

Argus Partners advises on the full lifecycle of private equity transactions, ranging from the initial investment to exit strategies, in addition to structuring investments and negotiations. Based in Mumbai, Krishnava Dutt co-leads the team and is supported by Ankit Guha, who operates from the firm’s Bengaluru office. In Kolkata, Arka Majumdar acts for domestic and international clients in primary and secondary investments, and New Delhi-based Jitendra Soni is another key contact in the group.