Commercial, corporate and M&A in India

AKS Partners

AKS Partners acts for domestic and international clients in the telecoms, manufacturing, e-commerce, healthcare and financial services sectors, among others and handles corporate and commercial transactions and disputes. Sonal Kumar Singh and Anish Jaipuriar head the practice; Singh is a name for commercial disputes and arbitration, while Jaipuriar is recommended for M&A, general corporate matters and disputes.

Practice head(s):

Sonal Kumar Singh; Anish Jaipuriar

Testimonials

‘They give you a lot of personal attention and are available for you 24/7.’

‘The speed of execution and the flexibility to provide you with customised solutions.’

‘What makes AKS Partners unique is the availability and practicality of the team.’

Key clients

Bihar Cricket Association

Work highlights

  • Advised Bihar Cricket League (a joint venture of Bihar Cricket Association and Elite Sports Management) in relation to corporate and commercial work involving drafting and finalisation of broadcast agreement, franchise agreement, player agreements, trademark license agreement and other ancillary commercial contracts.

Sagus Legal

Shruti Kanodia leads the corporate M&A team at Sagus Legal and is experienced in advising companies on their entry to and exit from the Indian market. The firm handles public and private M&A, restructurings, joint ventures, private equity deals and venture capital investments. Kanodia is a key name for transactional work, as well as general advisory matters.

Practice head(s):

Shruti Kanodia

Key clients

Lenskart Solutions Private Limited

Spark Minda Green Mobility Systems Private Limited

Jindal Stainless Limited

Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Limited

Jubilant Pharmova Limited

The Tata Power Company Limited

Jubilant Motorworks Private Limited

Cleartax (Defmacro Software Private Limited)

Minda Corporation Limited

Jubilant Foodworks Limited

Work highlights

  • Assisted Lenskart in acquiring a stake in a technology Company (Quantduo Technologies Private Limited) by way of private placement of convertible preference shares in a pre-series A investment valued INR160m.
  • Assisted Spark Minda Green Mobility Systems Private Limited in acquiring a minority stake and entering into a strategic joint venture in an Electric Vehicle Mobility Solutions Company, EVQPoint.
  • Advising on the merger of Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Limited and four other group companies into Jindal Stainless Limited in a deal worth $2.8bn.

Thinking Legal India

Thinking Legal India is a young, burgeoning team founded Vaneesa Agrawal. It specialises in all aspect of funds but with a focus on venture capital investments and startups. It also advises starups on general corporate matters. The team  includes senior associates Vasuvita Singh and Sanyukta Srivasta who assist throughout all stages of transactions, from conducting due diligence, structuring  investments, drafting and negotiating the transactional documents and assisting with post-closing compliances.

Practice head(s):

Vaneesa Agrawal

Other key lawyers:

Vasuvita Singh; Sanyukta Srivastav

Testimonials

‘Team’s turn around times for assignments is very quick. Thinking Legal has supported us on Fundraises and also has done DD on behalf of the customer. In both cases the firm was very supportive in accelerating the deals through their diligence and knowledge.’

‘The individuals we worked with have been very open and knowledgeable. They were able to educate us on critical points so that we could make better decisions. They also did exceptionally well in negotiating on our behalf’.

 

Work highlights

  • Advised She Capital on $120 million investment by Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. in Purple Panda Fashions Private Limited (“Clovia”).
  • Advised IAN Fund on $ 13.5 million investment by Good Glamm Group in Sirona Hygiene Private Limited.
  • Advised Yum Plum Private Limited on investment by Curefoods India Private Limited.

Upscale Legal

Upscale Legal is headed by the vastly experienced Rashi Suri whose expertise spans advising banks and developers on energy and transport PPP projects and regulations; advising on broader corporate work including foreign direct investment; shareholders and joint venture agreements and various M&A transactions. A team of associates includes Akshay Arvind Nair.

Practice head(s):

Rashi Suri

Other key lawyers:

Akshay Arvind Nair; Chitwandeep Kaur

Work highlights

  • Assisted and advised a Major event management and service provider company in procuring various government tenders, aided in vetting the tender documents and commercial contracts, especially during COVID, and opined on recovering claims and finances in such transactions. (Deepali Designs)
  • Drafted Corporate commercial documents for a Regional News Channel, related to its operations, Drafted and filed complaints for Trademark Infringement, Tie up proposal, and other transactional documents.|Our firm also assisted the client in entering into a Content Licensing Agreement with Bharti Airtel. (Argus)
  • Advised and assisted a leading footwear manufacturer and distributor in operational and business contracts, drafted Transport and Manpower Agreements and MOUs for the effective functioning, and helped in recovering bad debts (Aqualite)

Gravitas Legal

Gravitas Legal undertakes a broad range of corporate and commercial work which includes mergers and strategic strategic partnerships, procurement and outsourcing projects and corporate governance/risk management. Founding partner, Varij Sharma also advises on area such as white-collar crime, shareholder issues and intra-group lending.

Practice head(s):

Varij Sharma

Other key lawyers:

Devika Rana

Testimonials

They work well together; intelligent and responsive.’

Key clients

Vendosmart Technologies Private Limited

More Retail Private Limited

Yoma Business Solutions Private Limited

Loveinstore Technologies Private Limited

Restaurant Brands Asia Limited (Formerly known as Burger King India Limited)

PNB Housing Private Limited

Hammurabi & Solomon Partners

Hammurabi & Solomon Partners provides expertise across the gamut of corporate and commercial matters. It advises on both public and private mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures and private equity transactions. Its client roster ranges from smaller to substantial companies in sectors ranging from consumer goods and the automobile industry to energy and IT. The firm is headed by Dr Manoj Kumar who has vast experience in corporate and commercial matters and counts international firms and government bodies among his clients. Shweta Bharti leads the disputes practice as it relates to corporate cases.

Practice head(s):

Dr. Manoj Kumar

Other key lawyers:

Shweta Bharti

Key clients

JBM AutoCueMathFertilizer Corporation of India Limited (FCIL)

JBM Magnetto automotive Private limited

Vedanta Limited

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL)

Adani Power Limited (APL)

Tata Housing Development Company Limited

Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd.

Work highlights

  • Assisted JBM Auto in one of the most critical and high worth deals of the client pertaining to its Joint-Venture with Solaris including all negotiation, drafting and arrangements for the deal.
  • Assisting, strategizing and negotiating all terms of the one of the fastest-growing online Mathematics platform in its Delaware Incorporation.
  • Advising FCIL in the joint venture agreements, concession agreement, lease agreement, financial documents etc. on various fertilizer plants such as a) Ramagundam Project b) Gorakhpur Project c) Sindri Project d) Talcher Project e) Korba Project. Since the matter was pertaining to the joint venture agreement between two huge incorporations.

Alpha Partners

Alpha Partners acts for foreign and domestic businesses on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including fundraising, M&A, restructuring and compliance. The team, which is led by Rajan Gupta and Akshat Pande, is no stranger to cross-border transactions and also handles venture capital and private equity work and assists companies who wish to establish themselves in India. Gupta advises on corporate, tax and insolvency matters. The firm now has an office in Dubai.

Practice head(s):

Rajan Gupta; Akshat Pande

Key clients

HT Media Limited

POPXO

Oagri Farm Private Limited

New Delhi Centre for Sight

Scholar Alley Private Limited

Disha Kohli, High Networth Individual invested in Smart

Energy Systems, USA

Manoj Kohli, India Head, Softbank India

Geniemode Global Private Limited

Dhwaj & Associates

Dhwaj & Associates offers clients expertise in corporate and investment matters and related disputes in addition to IT, media and telecoms cases. It acts for a range of clients, from start-ups and SMEs to larger companies in relation to joint ventures, private equity transactions and foreign direct investment. Key practitioners include Gaurav Dhwaj, Ajay Yadav (head of the corporate team), Aparna Iyer (litigation and real estate) and Garima Sharma (taxation)  with Dhwaja the key name for TMT work and litigation.

Practice head(s):

Gaurav Dhwaj; Ajay Yadav; Aparna Iyer; Garima Sharma

Testimonials

‘Domain knowledge, commitment and passion.’

‘Analytical abilities, human touch and dedication.’

Key clients

Assam Electronics Development Corporation Limited

Stylework Innovation Hub Private Limited

August Jewellery Private Limited

McCormick Foods India Private Limited

Powernet Communication Private Limited

Stylework Innovation Hub Private Limited

Datamatics Global Services Limited

Resonant Electronics Pvt. Ltd.

Ibus Network & Infrastructure Private Limited

Teleindia Networks Private Limited

Cedreto Marketing Private Limited

Qbo Technologies Private Limited

Quantumbit Technologies Private Limited

Paycraft Solutions Private Limited

Venture2050 Online India Pvt Ltd.

Chiripal Poly Films Limited

Mekasa Products Private Limited

Mr. Sparsh Khandelwal

Amtronics LLC

Ms. Ramya Venkatramana

Work highlights

  • Advised Paycraft Solutions Private Limited on structuring and execution of agreements with respect to commissioning of fare collection system for Pune Metro Rail Project involving the deal value of ₹45 Cr.
  • Advised QuantumBit Technologies Private Limited on raising the investment through the network of ‘IPV Investors’ and ‘First Port’.
  • Advised Stylework Innovation Hub Private Limited on raising the investment through the network of ‘IPV Investors’ and ‘We Founder Circle’.

Krida Legal

Krida Legal is a top performing, specialist firm in the sports, gaming and entertainment fields. Managing partner Vidushpat Singhania  is renowned in these areas and is a published authority. His scope of expertise includes  betting and gambling regulations, league creation and rights structures, FEMA and tax ramification and anti-doping conflicts. Of counsel Pooja Lal focuses on transactions in media and entertainment; film production and distribution agreements, talent management and celebrity endorsements.

Practice head(s):

Vidushpat Singhania

Other key lawyers:

Pooja Lal

Key clients

Amrita Raichand, Actress and Celebrity Chef

All India Gaming Federation

AMPM Fashions Private Limited

Baazi Networks Private Limited

Dusane Infotech Private Limited

E-Sports Federation of India

Golden Gaming International Private Limited

Grid Logic Games Private Limited

HND Poker Private Limited

Lakshyan Academy, Bengaluru

Manika Batra, Table Tennis Player for India

Sachar Gaming Private Limited

SBN Gaming Network Private Limited

Sportscom NoSportz& Live

Sugal and Damani Utility Services Private Limited

Skilrock Technologies Private Limited

The IPG Group, Dubai; UAE

Uttar Pradesh State Rifle Association

Work highlights

  • Advised The IPG Group of various agreements related to sports event. The Sports Team drafted the events rights agreements, collaboration agreements, franchise agreements, player agreements, media rights agreements, broadcasting rights agreements, title sponsorship and other sponsorship agreements for the above stated clients.
  • Advised athlete Ms. Manika Batra. The athlete was accused by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) for bringing disrepute to the TTFI & it’s coaches because the athlete had refused the courtside presence of the national coach of the Indian TT Team during her singles’ matches in Tokyo Olympics 2020. Represented the athlete in front of the independent committee
  • Advised Mr. Vijay Singh in the proceedings of Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP).

Sarthak Advocates & Solicitors

Sarthak Advocates & Solicitors counts companies, commercial and investment banks and private equity firms among its clients. Although it is best known for its expertise in energy projects, its broader expertise spans  private M&A, private equity, joint ventures and commercial partnerships, disposals and corporate restructurings in areas including technology and media. Managing partner Abhishek Nath Tripathi  has been instructed on a number of high-value transactions not only in the energy sector but also in real estate, education and financial services.  Senior partner Anubhav Tiwari handles a range of corporate transactions together foreign exchange and securities regulations advice.

Practice head(s):

Abhishek Nath Tripathi

Other key lawyers:

Anubhav Tiwari

Tag & Bench Associates

Tag & Bench Associates serves clients, both new and established that are based in Gurugram. It has a strong focus on the technology, media and entertainment, healthcare/life sciences and fintech sectors. It provides corporate advisory and M&A advice and is also adept at small restructuring of businesses, and data privacy. It also advises on drugs and cosmetics laws and regulations governing medical devices and is increasingly advising on ESG compliance and policy. Shraddha Ray Menon heads the practice and brings two decades of experience to clients such as Airbnb India Pvt. Ltd, Somerset Indus Healthcare Fund (India) and Terumo India Private Limited. she is well supported by Aman Ahmed and Nitya Bakshi on general corporate and commercial matters.

Practice head(s):

Shraddha Ray Menon

Other key lawyers:

Aman Ahmed; Nitya Bakshi

Work highlights

  • Advised XPLUSD Events Pvt. Ltd. on the integration of experiential and digital events.  Advising Airbnb India Pvt. Ltd. and Airbnb Global Capability Centre Pvt. Ltd. on data compliance and privacy issues.
  • Advising Airbnb India Pvt. Ltd. and Airbnb Global Capability Centre Pvt. Ltd. on data compliance and privacy issues.