India > Aviation (including aerospace and defence) > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

The aviation, aerospace and defence team at Kochhar & Co. is jointly headed up by Piyush Gupta and Suhas Srinivasiah and counts Bell Helicopters, Embraer S.A. and AMETEK Inc among its clients. The group is instructed by International Air Transport Association on several matters including challenging an increased aeronautical tariff at IGI Airport Airport, before the Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal. The team is also acting for Singapore Airlines on the revision of its corporate and commercial agreements relating to landing rights, sales and marketing and frequent flier programmes with third-party vendors of services.

Gagrats' aviation team has experience acting for airlines and aviation authorities on a range of matters including aircraft finance, acquisitions and leasing. Rustam Gagrat is a key name to note, particularly for cross-border transactions. Gagrat heads up the practice alongside Haseena Tapia, Rajnni Kuttyy and Uma Nagarajan.

The aviation team at L&L Partners Law Offices' has experience advising on aviation projects and boasts clients such as Lufthansa and Sikorsky International Operations. Mohit Saraf, Aniket Sengupta and Vaibhav Kakkar are key names to note. Changes to the team include the addition of Akshay Nagpal from InterGlobe Aviation.

The aviation practice at Link Legal - India Law Services counts Delhi International Airport, GMR Infrastructure and GMR Hyderabad International Airport among its clients. The team was instructed by SpiceJet on its agreement with Safran to acquire $12.5bn worth of aircraft engines from its venture CFM International. The group also acted for Bangalore International Airport on an expansion project for a second runway. Atul Sharma and Anand Srivastava jointly head the team which includes Abhishek Sharma, who has particular experience handing aviation sector disputes.

RNClegal's aviation team handles financing, transactional, regulatory and contentious matters. Ajay Kumar heads up the team and handles a full spectrum of finance, regulatory advice and resulting litigation. Ravi Nath is highlighted particularly for his aviation finance expertise. Principle associate Neha Singh is another key name to note. The group's client roster includes Avolon, Airbus and Boeing.

The aviation practice at Advaita Legal is advising Bangalore International Airport on ground handling services at the Kempegowda International Airport. In another work highlight, Monali Dutta is leading a team assisting Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation in relation to development of a Greenfield Airport in Singrauli District.

Led by Ramesh Vaidyanathan, the aviation practice at Advaya Legal has experience handling transactional, advisory and contentious matters. The team is instructed by Sovika Aviation Services on several matters including advising on the development of a mobile app that provides flight-related data and updates. The group's clients include Texas Aviation Group, TATA SIA Airlines and Sovika Aviation Services.

The aviation team at AZB & Partners frequently advises aircraft leasing and financing companies on transactional issues. The group recently acted as Indian legal counsel to Pembroke Capital (as existing lessor) and Sichuan Development Holding Co. (as new lessor) in relation to financing from BNP Paribas, and novation in relation to the lease of an aircraft from Indigo. The department, led Ashwin Ramanathan, is also instructed by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise and Minsheng Leasing.

The aviation team at J Sagar Associates handles a range of contentious, advisory and transaction matters across the sector. A team, led by Poonam Verma and Amit Kapur, represented the Federation of Indian Airlines Airports before the Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal challenging the legality of increase in the aeronautical tariff at Delhi Airport. In another work highlight, the department is instructed by Menzies Aviation on its joint venture with GMR for the cargo handling operations at Hyderabad airport. Shivpriya Nanda and Sujoy Bhatia are other key names to note for transactional matters.

The team at LexCounsel has been engaged to handle both aviation and defence sector mandates. It recently advised a US law firm on defence procurement rules in India. It also assisted Steria (India) on the offset policy under the Defence Procurement Procedure 2013.

ALMT Legal has experience acting for airlines and aviation sector clients. The team, led by Sameer Tapia, is instructed on both contentious and advisory matters.

Prashant Mara is a key name to note at BTG Legal for aviation sector matters. The Mumbai-based team has experience acting on transactional matters.

I.L.A. Pasrich & Company leverages its strength in litigation to handle contentious matters for aviation sector clients. The group advises domestic and international airlines, including Delta Air Lines and Swiss International Airlines.

Ikigai Law's 'professional and thorough' aerospace and aviation team is known particularly for its experience acting for emerging technology businesses. It has been highlighted as 'a committed thought leader in the area of unmanned aviation'. Leveraging its 'good grasp of the industry, domestic and international, and the policy and legal landscape', the team advised Rocketeers Research Institute on regulatory issues. The group has also acted for Janus Aviation drafting and negotiating business agreements with various airports and airlines, as well as advising on regulatory considerations. Anirudh Rastogi heads up the practice and attracts praise for his 'sharp understanding of the industry'.

Jafa & Javali has experience handling a range of transactions in the aviation, aerospace and defense sector. The group has been instructed on matters of financing, negotiation of lease agreements and corporate issues.

The defence and aerospace practice at Trilegal counts Saab AB,  Embraer S.A. and  Leonardo SpA among its clients. A team, jointly led by Yogesh Singh and Ashish Bhan, represented the latter client in a dispute with the government of India in relation to the supply of helicopters, as well as providing contractual advice. Singh heads up the practice alongside Delano Furtado.

Tyabji Dayabhai's practice, led by Nimish Vakil, is highlighted for aviation sector mandates. The group has experience advising on leases for aircraft, as well as handling contentious matters.

Wadia Ghandy & Co's aviation team is led by Marylou Bilawala and has the capabilities to assist clients with a range of regulatory, contractual and financing matters, as well as disputes. Dhruv Khanna and Farid Karachiwala are also key names to note.

The team at Walia & Co Law Offices is highlighted particularly for handling transactional and regulatory matters for aviation sector clients. Practice head Ranjit Walia and Renuka Singh led a team which advised Express Industry Council of India on a judgment passed by the Competition Commission of India, in the client's favour, against three major airlines.