Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas combines strong transactional capabilities with broad corporate governance and commercial expertise, advising major Indian and international businesses on M&A, exits, corporate restructurings, and distressed transactions, often involving significant cross-border elements. The firm is active across a broad range of sectors, with specialist teams for industry verticals in areas such as energy, insurance, aerospace, and TMT, with accompanying regulatory expertise. Managing partner Cyril Shroff remains an active dealmaker, while corporate head Reeba Chacko is particularly strong in cross-border work for foreign clients, alongside private equity transactions. Deputy corporate head Nivedita Rao handles public M&A and corporate structuring work for foreign and domestic clients, while Akila Agrawal leads the firm’s M&A practice, with experience in acquisitions, disposals, and takeover offers. Principal associate Aviral Chauhan combines corporate advisory work with international M&A and private equity expertise. All lawyers mentioned are in Mumbai.

IndusLaw strengthened its practice with the October 2021 arrival of public M&A specialist Ravi Kumar from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas as co-head in the Mumbai office, alongside the December 2021 recruitment of Faraz Khan from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co and October 2022 hire of Amrit Mehta from Majmudar & Partners, also based in Mumbai. The firm continues to handle the full range of issues relating to M&A and private equity transactions, encompassing dealmaking, intellectual property issues, cross-border restructuring and business combination matters, tax, and regulatory considerations. Areas of strength include tech, retail, and infrastructure, with the firm acting for a number of major Indian players alongside international companies and investors. The practice is co-led by Bengalaru’s Suneeth Katarki, who advises on M&A and joint ventures, with a particular focus on tech regulatory matters, alongside New Dehli-based Gaurav Dani, who is dual-US qualified and handles cross-border transactions, including private equity deals, in a wide range of regulated industries. Manish Gupta also remains an active dealmaker within the team, working out of the New Dehli office.

JSA Law is active across bulge-bracket, mid-market, and lower-value M&A, advising a combination of major domestic companies alongside multinational players on acquisitions, exits, private equity deals, and joint ventures, alongside corporate structuring and commercial matters. The firm has broad sector expertise, with standout areas including real estate, infrastructure, aviation, entertainment, and technology, and is also noted for its combination of broad national coverage across India and cross-border regulatory capabilities. The practice is led by Sajai Singh in Bengalaru and Shivpriya Nanda in Gurgaon, both experienced transactional advisors with standout expertise in cross-border deals and regulated industry transactions respectively, as well as contentious capabilities. Also in Gurgaon, Sidharrth Shankar remains a key member of the team, while Rupinder Malik is a go-to for foreign investment work for both M&A and private equity transactions, and Lalit Kumar focuses on financing and commercial transactions, as well as real estate mandates.

Khaitan & Co LLP maintains an active transactional offering, with a partner-led approach to deals ranging from the bulge-bracket to the mid-market, in a wide range of industries such as financial services, tech, and insurance, encompassing public and private M&A, joint ventures, hostile takeovers, and management buyouts. The team is able to handle both domestic and cross-border deals, including associated regulatory and foreign exchange issues. Notable names in the practice include Haigreve Khaitan, a senior figure in the team and a leader in M&A and private equity work alongside broader corporate advisory issues, alongside cross-border focused Rabindra Jhunjhunwala, who heads the firm's French and German desks, and New Dehli-based Bharat Anand, noted for his work with major corporates and family offices alike, and Rajat Mukherjee, a standout for complex strategic work on behalf of high-profile domestic and international clients. Lawyers are in Mumbai unless otherwise stated.

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co is a go-to for high-value public M&A and private equity investments, advising major corporate buyers as well as PE houses on complex, often cross-border transactions involving significant regulatory and multijurisdictional aspects. Alongside its capabilities in big-ticket transactional work, the firm also regularly handles joint ventures and capital markets issues, alongside cross-border corporate structuring and commercial contracts, and has a particularly strong record in foreign direct investment work. Practice head Shardul Shroff in New Dehli has broad expertise across corporate and financing matters, while Mumbai’s Raghubir Menon is a standout name for cross-border transactions on behalf of private equity funds, and domestic and international companies. Also in New Dehli, Amit Khansaheb is active across the software, logistics, and IT sectors, while Puja Sondhi advises on foreign investment and regulatory issues with a notable growth company and venture capital focus, and Mithun Thanks specialises in private equity deals.

Argus Partners combines an active M&A practice, handling complex mergers, joint ventures, and commercial transactions, with corporate governance, restructuring, and early-stage investment expertise, acting for major clients such as Tata, and HDFC, alongside a number of private equity investors. The team offers integrated tax and regulatory expertise, as well as capabilities in corporate malfeasance and internal investigations, and was strengthened by the recruitment of energy and infrastructure specialists Rachika Sahay, who joined the New Dehli office from HSA Advocates in September 2021, and Bengalaru-based Prashanth Sabeshan from AZB & Partners in October 2021. Other key names include managing partner Krishnava Dutt, who leads on complex high-profile mergers in sectors such as financial services, Adity Chaudhury, a regular advisor to Tata, early-stage investments and pre-IPO specialist Vinod Joseph, and Kolkata-based Arka Majumdar, who combines manufacturing and financial services sector expertise. Lawyers are in Mumbai unless otherwise noted. Most recently the team is further boosted by Jitendra Soni whose corporate practice is focused on the TMT sector.

Bharucha & Partners advises on a wide range of complex transactions, including major domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and foreign investment matters. The firm acts for high-profile multinationals, private equity investors, and key domestic players, and has a broad range of sector focuses including financial services, telecoms, technology, and agriculture. Primarily based in Mumbai, the team is led by standout M&A practitioner Alka Bharucha , who continues to lead major transactions in the banking, telecoms, and power sectors, alongside Justin Bharucha, a key name for foreign investment deals in regulated industries. Vadana Pai takes the lead on investment funds work, acting for investors and portfolio companies, while Bengalaru’s Swathi Girimaji focuses on advice to start-ups on strategic acquisitions.

DSK Legal has continued to expand its footprint in the M&A space, combining a high volume of transactions with involvement in complex, often cross-border deals in key sectors such as manufacturing, technology, and life sciences. The team expanded in Bengalaru with the recruitment of Srinivas B.R. and Siddharth Suresh from Dua Associates in April 2022, increasing the firm’s national reach. Clients include businesses in a diverse range of industries, as well as international private equity investors, with the team also offering notable regulatory and contentious capabilities across multijurisdictional mandates. Key members of the team include Aparajit Bhattacharya, who maintains a successful record in cross-border deals, particularly in the renewable energy and manufacturing spaces, Hemang Parekh, who advises healthcare and life sciences companies, as well as a number of private equity funds, and New Dehli’s Rishi Anand, who specialises in tech sector work. Also in New Dehli, Harvinder Singh is active on behalf of growth and innovation clients, advising on strategic acquisitions and venture capital investments. Gaurav Mistry has a growing reputation for private and public M&A, cross-border joint ventures, and commercial agreements. Lawyers are in Mumbai unless otherwise stated.

Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India has grown its practice with the arrival of five partners, including the October and August 2021 recruitment of Mumbai-based Nishant Singh and Avirup Nag from IndusLaw, who are focused on private equity and infrastructure transactions respectively, alongside Mumbai’s Sudipta Routh.  Bengalaru-based Vasudev Dibbur arrived in July 2021 from a consultancy role. The new arrivals join a practice with an established record in complex M&A across key sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, and technology, as well as notable infrastructure expertise and a growing ESG advisory offering. The practice is led by Rajiv Luthra, a vastly experienced corporate and transactional advisor, while Mumbai’s Jay Parikh remains a key contact for M&A, private equity, and corporate advisory work, with a notable focus on the manufacturing space. Shinoj Koshy is also noted for his contribution to the firm’s multijurisdictional private equity and M&A offering, regularly advising corporates and funds on deals involving US and European elements.

Majmudar & Partners stands out for its partner-led approach, cross-border focus including referral relationships with a number of major UK and US firms, and integrated tax and competition expertise, allowing the firm to act for a combination of major domestic and international clients in complex, often multijurisdictional M&A. The firm also advises clients on joint ventures, corporate structuring, and governance issues, and is particularly focused on the financial services, consumer and retail, tech, and manufacturing sectors. The practice is led by Akil Hirani, who is also UK and US-qualified and has a strong focus on cross-border M&A, UK-qualified Rukshad Davar, who maintains an active transactional and corporate restructuring practice, and Bengalaru’s N. Raja Sujith, the key name for South India-domiciled deals and tech transactions. Kritika Agarwal was promoted to partner in early 2022 and regularly advises on deals with significant competition law elements. Lawyers are in Mumbai unless otherwise stated.

Phoenix Legal offers diverse sector expertise, able to advise on domestic and cross-border transactions in a number of key industries including financial services, automotives, tech, energy, and retail, handling public and private M&A, joint ventures, business restructurings, and private equity deals alongside associated regulatory and foreign investment issues. The team includes a number of key senior practitioners, including the ‘responsive and dependable‘ Manjula Chawla, Saket Shukla, highly experienced dealmaker Abhishek Saxena, Mumbai-based Sawant Singh and Sriram Ramachandran, noted for their combination of M&A, financing, and private equity expertise, disputes-focused Pranav Srivastava, and Ritika Ganju, who handles regulated industry deals, including accompanying regulatory and competition issues. Akshay Sachthey offers broad cross-border corporate and transactional support, while managing associate Nikhil Pareek remains a key emerging player, advising on deals in a wide range of industries and foreign exchange regulations. Lawyers are in New Dehli unless otherwise stated.

Samvad Partners offers a partner-led service, prioritising complex, often cross-border M&A and joint ventures, alongside private equity investments, and acts for a global client base across sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, and financial services. Alongside its transactional expertise, the firm also offers notable regulatory capabilities, both relating to Indian foreign exchange and corporate law, as well as key international legislation such as the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act. The practice is now led by Mumbai’s Vineetha MG, a regular advisor on major M&A and joint ventures, as well as domestic anti-corruption law, alongside Bengalaru-based Natasha Mahajan, who has broad transactional expertise encompassing corporate M&A and private equity deals, including a variety of complex structures such as investor and promoter exits, distressed acquisitions, and flips. Other key members of the team include New Dehli’s Ashwini Vittalachar, a prolific dealmaker and employment advisor, versatile corporate and commercial practitioner Ekta Bahl in Hyderabad, and Mumbai’s Neha Mirajgaoker, who is establishing a strong reputation in the private equity and venture capital space, as is Bengalaru-based Anisha Shroff.

Since establishing Saraf and Partners, Mohit Saraf continues to lead a strong team with a depth of expertise in the corporate M&A and commercial realms and the practice benefits from being able to call upon banking and finance, litigation and restructuring/insolvency experts. A number of the lawyers have a special focus: Bikash Jhawar on energy projects while Vaibhav Kakkar specialises in private equity transactions and regulatory regimes.

Headed up in by experienced transactional advisors Feroz Dubash and Kunal Thakore, who both offer strong expertise across public and private M&A, private equity-backed deals, and complex multijurisdictional regulatory issues, the team at Talwar Thakore & Associates is noted for its expertise in financial services, particularly insurance sector work. With a global client base including the likes of AXA Group and Generali, the firm also has broader capabilities in cross-border regulated industries transactions, as well as corporate restructurings, governance, and data protection work. Deepa Christopher is based in Bengalaru and contributes heavily to the firm’s strength in the insurance sector, while Shruti Zota is also noted for her work on behalf of leading financial services clients such as HSBC. Neville Golwalla takes the lead on corporate work, including M&A, joint ventures, and board disputes. Lawyers are in Mumbai unless otherwise stated. The vastly experienced Gautam Saha leads a team arriving in New Dehli from AZB & Partners in September 2022, with Saha bringing significant expertise in M&A and private equity transactions, as well as corporate structuring and joint venture arrangements across sectors. Amrita Patnaik also joined the practice from AZB & Partners.

With standout global clients including Hitachi, Chadha & Co is a strong choice for international business making cross-border investments and establishing operations in India, with Japanese, French, and Chinese foreign desks, among others, allowing the firm to act for clients across a broad range of jurisdictions and industries. Other clients of the firm include SMEs and major businesses in sectors such as automobiles, healthcare, mining, and energy. The New Dehli-based practice is led by managing partners Rahul Chadha, a regular board-level advisor to multinationals, and Namita Chadha, alongside Ashish Gupta, who handles M&A, joint ventures, foreign collaborations, and commercial issues, and Neeraj Prakash, who has expertise in FDI and the setting up of foreign operations in India.

Fox Mandal & Associates advises domestic and international clients on transactions, including due diligence and regulatory issues, as well as the formation and operation of businesses in India. The team also handles contracts and other commercial considerations, and strengthened its M&A capabilities with the addition of Bengalaru-based Krishnan Murali, who arrived from a consultancy position in April 2022. Sector focuses for the team include energy, software and applications, logistics, and e-commerce. A broad nationwide team features a number of leading names, including Jeevanandham Rajagopal  in Chennai, Sathya Prasad T and Rajesh Vellakkat  in Bengalaru, Hyderabad’s Purnima Kamble , Orijit Chatterjee in Kolkata, Shourya Mandal, based between Kolkata and New Dehli, and Mumbai-based Shuva Mandal.

Krishnamurthy and Co advises on domestic and cross-border M&A across a broad range of industries, with clients including major Indian conglomerates, international businesses and private equity investors, as well as promoters and founder-owned businesses. Alongside its active transactional offering, the firm also acts for a number of long-term clients on ongoing corporate and operational issues, including governance and commercial contracts matters. The practice is led by firm founder Naina Krishna Murthy, a regular advisor to high-profile clients on M&A and joint ventures, with managing partner Shwetambari Rao in Bengaluru also a key member of the team, focusing particularly on high-value transactions relating to structuring and setting up of business operations in India, alongside Rukmini Roychowdhury, who combines continuous corporate and commercial retainer advice to firms with an active M&A and private equity practice. Lawyers are in Mumbai unless otherwise indicated.

LexCounsel in New Dehli focuses on advising domestic and international businesses and investors on transactions, investments, and business structuring matters, with strength in cross-border deals, including those involving Chinese and US parties. The firm is also active on regulatory matters and foreign exchange issues. Key names in the team include Seema Jhingan , who is highly experienced in the education sector, and Dimpy Mohanty, noted for her work in the not-for-profit space, including associated regulatory and governance issues.

Heavily focused on complex domestic and cross-border transactions of significant value, P&A Law Offices advises a diverse range of corporates alongside private equity investors on M&A, distressed transactions and restructuring matters, joint ventures, and associated regulatory and competition aspects of multijurisdictional deals. The team includes internationally experienced lawyers, such as US-qualified managing partner and M&A specialist Anand Pathak, and also enjoys productive relationships with foreign law firms in the US, UK, and Europe, allowing it to handle cross-border deals in diverse jurisdictions. Other key members of the team include Harsh Kumar, noted for his work with Indian start-ups and unicorns on corporate transactions and commercial agreements, Mumbai-based Nabik Syam, who combines M&A, financing, and litigation expertise, and Shashank Gautam, who works with clients in a wide range of industries including chemicals and retail and specialises in transactions with significant domestic and cross-border competition elements. Lawyers are in New Dehli unless otherwise stated.

The ‘collaborative‘ and ‘responsive‘ team at Spice Route Legal has continued to expand its presence in the M&A space, increasingly active on upper mid-market transactions and complex cross-border deals and restructuring arrangements for clients in its focus areas of life sciences, TMT, and sustainable energy and beyond. The team regularly collaborates with international firms in work for multijurisdictional clients as well as Indian companies investing and establishing operations abroad, and is led by Mumbai-based Praveen Raju, a specialist in cross-border M&A, and technology and media-focused Mathew Chacko, based in Bengalaru. At senior associate level, Kochi’s Renuka Abraham is noted for her life sciences expertise, Bengalaru-based Nikhil Joseph specialises in advising US companies investing in India, and Mumbai’s Janhavi Joshi focuses on deals involving new and alternative forms of energy.

Boutique firm Veritas Legal focuses on M&A for domestic and international clients, advising corporates and private equity investors on transactions in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, real estate, and retail. The team has a strong record in cross-border transactions, including associated regulatory and employment elements. Abhijit Joshi heads up the Mumbai-based practice, focusing on pharma and healthcare deals, while Kunal Doshi handles M&A and corporate governance issues. In November 2021, the firm promoted three new female partners in Kanisha Vora, who has a notable focus on ESG issues, Natasha Sethna, a regular advisor to private equity investors, and Somrita Chatterji, who handles work in the retail and e-commerce sectors.

Led from New Dehli by Niti Paul, ATLAS LAW PARTNERS focuses on complex, often cross-border M&A, equity investments, joint ventures, and business wind-ups, with a strong record in Takeover Code and regulatory issues. Clients include a broad range of corporates, including businesses in the real estate, manufacturing, and technology spaces, alongside private equity investors. Also based in New Dehli, Harry Chawla is a key member of the team, particularly active in the financing and real estate spaces.

Dua Associates advises a global client base on transactions- including cross-border investments and joint ventures- as well as on broader corporate law and governance issues such as contract law, restructurings, and foreign exchange law. The firm has a nationwide reach, and includes key team members with international experience and expertise across a broad range of corporate, regulatory, and financing issues. Practice leads include the highly experienced Neeraj Kumar  in New Dehli, with Salil Gulati also a key name in New Dehli, Gurugram-based Shishir Sharma  and Sita Khosla, Anish Ghoshal  in Mumbai, Manoj Menon in Bengalaru, and Chandigarh-based Siddhartha Kumar.

Juris Corp has seen a development in its offering, with Neeraj Dubey  joining the firm in December 2021 from Singh & Associates, New Dehli-based Namrta Rai  arriving in from Dhir & Dhir Associates in January 2022, and Bindiya Raichura arriving in April 2022. The three new arrivals co-lead the team alongside Jayesh H and counsel Sumitava Basu, and contribute to an offering that encompasses domestic and cross-border M&A, project structuring, commercial agreements, corporate governance issues, and complex regulatory issues relating to data protection, technology, and crypto, among others. Clients include growth companies, SMEs, and large corporates, with the firm focusing on areas including renewable energy, insurance, media, and education. Previous team leaders Avikshit Moral and Arunabh Choudhary left the firm in October and December 2021 respectively. Lawyers are in Mumbai unless otherwise stated.

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan advises companies on the establishment and operation of business in India, encompassing entry strategy, incorporation and structuring, governance, and corporate transactions. Clients include a number of domestic international players in the fields of private equity, retail, and financial services. The team is led by Badri Narayanan , whose areas of expertise include commercial e-commerce and software matters, alongside Mathivanan N. Sudish Sharma takes the lead on corporate and transactional work, and Gaurav Dayal regularly works with private equity clients. All lawyers mentioned are based in New Dehli.

S&A Law Offices works closely with corporate clients on broad advisory issues, corporate governance, restructurings, and regulatory issues, with particularly strong capabilities in matters relating to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and Companies Act. Active on behalf of a wide range of domestic clients, the firm has a nationwide reach, able to handle complex matters, including contentious issues. The team is led from New Dehli by Manoj Kumar Singh , an experienced litigator and arbitrator with a focus on corporate restructuring work, and senior partner Daizy Chawla , who advises on cross-border corporate governance, restructuring, and incorporation matters.

Ashlar Law is active on behalf of a wide range of international clients, with strong capabilities in externalisation and domiciling matters, as well as working with both domestic and foreign clients on cross-border M&A, investments, and tax structuring matters. The firm combines its growing corporate and M&A platform with long-standing expertise in the funds space, primarily acting for angel investors and venture capital funds in early-stage investments, s well as advising start-ups and unicorns on growth investments and strategic acquisitions. The Mumbai-based team is headed up by Souvik Bhadra and Pingal Khan, who both have considerable cross-border transactional and regulatory expertise.

Alongside advising energy companies and private equity investors on M&A, Dhir & Dhir Associates is also highly active in the ESG space, providing both ongoing compliance and strategic advice to corporate clients, as well as handling due diligence and environmental risk aspects of transactions and partnering with businesses and organisations to follow developments in environmental and governance issues. The practice is headed up by Alok Dhir, an experienced transactional and restructuring advisor, Guranpreet Singh Sarna, Mumbai-based regulatory and compliance specialist Sonal Verma, who counts major international companies and Indian unicorns among his key clients, and Purusharth Singh, who joined the firm in June 2021 from an in-house position and has broad expertise across commercial and financing transactions. Lawyers are in New Dehli unless otherwise stated.

Gagrats advises a range of foreign and Indian corporates and international organizations on the gamut of corporate matters including acquisitions, disposals and business transfer agreements. It serves clients in a wide range of sectors from consumer products, hospitality and healthcare to engineering and pharmaceuticals. The firm is led by founding partner Rustam Gagrat.

Hammurabi & Solomon Partners advises clients on cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and commercial agreements, regularly handling Indian elements of multijurisdictional deals and contracts, as well as advising on regulatory and corporate governance issues. Clients include SMEs, large companies, and private equity investors, both domestic and international. The practice is led by Manoj Kumar, who has a strong record in FDI and cross-border transactional work.

Obhan & Associates advises clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, with particular strength across joint ventures, commercial contracts and agreements, regulatory issues, and company law. The firm advises a number of clients in the publishing space, alongside founders and businesses in the technology, hospitality, and private equity spaces, among others. Ashima Obhan leads the team from New Dehli, advising Ashima domestic and multinational corporates on commercial and regulatory matters alongside transactional issues, and is supported by Pune-based Vrinda Patodia , who is known for her work on deal structuring, and principal associate Akanksha Dua, also in New Dehli.

Juris Arena in Bengalaru has established itself as an active player in complex cross-border M&A and corporate financing work, as well as commercial contracts and regulatory compliance advice, with an international client base spanning industries such as IT, pharma, innovation technology, and private equity. The firm is particularly noted for its capabilities in advising both international clients establishing operations in India, and domestic clients engaged in transactions and investments globally, with practice head Soumitra Banerjee noted for his strong cross-border expertise across M&A and joint ventures.