Life sciences and healthcare in India

Nishith Desai Associates

Nishith Desai Associates has a specialised team handling regulatory issues across the pharma, biologics, medical devices, and healthcare spaces, advising on existing and new legislative regimes, drug trials, licenses, and approvals, as well as advising on employment issues for companies across the sector alongside M&A and private equity transactions. The team advises major domestic and international players, regularly acting for the latter as embedded domestic counsel on Indian market entry and regulatory issues. Qualified medical doctor Milind Antani, who has deep experience in the sector, leads the team alongside intellectual property specialist Gowree Gokhale. Associate Eshika Phadke has strong regulatory and commercial expertise, working with a wide range of healthcare and pharma clients. All lawyers mentioned are based in Mumbai.

Practice head(s):

Milind Antani; Gowree Gokhale


Other key lawyers:

Eshika Phadke; Varsha Rajesh


Testimonials

The NDA team is very approachable and fully updated with latest legal knowledge required to address any difficult situation. Their research team constantly churns out legal assessment and analysis on all important topics and its shared regularly over emails with their clients.

Quality of service, promptness in response and practical approach keeping the organizational culture and appetite for legal risk in mind has always been a differentiator. I have worked with Dr. Milind Antani and his team and it’s always been a good experience seeking legal advice from them.

Milind Antani is among the most respected and trusted Indian life sciences and healthcare lawyers, providing high-end advice to blue chip clients.

Key clients

Johnson and Johnson Private Limited


Ophirex Inc.


Spice Route Legal

Spice Route Legal supports clients across the space, including pharma, biotech, and medical devices manufacturers, as well as hospitals and financial investors, on the full range of work, offering expertise encompassing intellectual property, corporate and financing, and regulatory issues. The firm handles work for major domestic and international players, with standout capabilities in cross-border private transactions and complex issues relating to transfers of biological material and health data, and advice on regulatory approvals for new products. The team is led by Mumbai’s Praveen Raju, who primarily advises on corporate transactions and commercial agreements, while Mathew Chacko in Bengaluru combines M&A and private equity experience with regular involvement in regulatory matters. Also in Bengaluru, counsel Aadya Misra has a standout specialism in health data and health tech, including the storage of health data and issues relating to software as a medical device, while Kochi-based senior associate Renuka Abraham is heavily focused on life sciences and healthcare transactions.

Practice head(s):

Praveen Raju


Other key lawyers:

Mathew Chacko; Renuka Abraham; Aadya Misra


Key clients

3M


Agilon Health


Bayer


Esco Micro


Impelsys Inc.


IQVIA


Neogen Chemicals


Proximie


Rahi Care


Steps Biosciences


Strand Lifesciences


Stryker Inc.


Tricog Health Pte. Ltd.


Zenfold Ventures LLP


Zuellig Pharmaceuticals


Work highlights


  • Advising Strand Lifesciences with the identification of import and export related obligations for the cross-border transfers of human biological samples to and from Malaysia.
  • Advising Singapore-based Esco Micro Pte. Ltd., a manufacturer of innovative life science equipment and IVF devices, on its proposed IPO.
  • Advising Neogen Chemicals on its acquisition of BuLi Chem, a private company manufacturing and supplying lithium-based products, from Livent Corp.

AZB & Partners

AZB & Partners advises hospitals, pharma companies, private equity investors, and a range of other clients on transactions, regulatory issues, and intellectual property matters across the pharma, medical device and diagnostic industries. The team is particularly involved in innovative regulatory issues relating to medical devices, digital health, and drug classifications, as well as handling cross-border M&A and private equity deals. Nandan Pendsey co-leads the team, and has strong intellectual property and regulatory expertise, notably advising on product licensing and exports, while fellow co-head Anand Shah is heavily focused on transactional work, particularly in the e-pharmacy space, working with established and growth companies. Darshika Kothari is also active in transactions, working with global PE investors such as Advent International on their investments in India.

Practice head(s):

Nandan Pendsey; Anand Shah


Other key lawyers:

Darshika Kothari; Sumit Ghoshal; Jatinder Singh Saluja


Key clients

Advent International Corporation and Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited


AMPA Orthodontics Private Limited (“AMPA”)


Cellcure Cancer Centre Private Limited (“Cellcure”)


API Holdings Limited (“API”)


Osler Diagnostics Limited


Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC


Bristol Myers Squibb Company


India Medtronic


Novartis India


C.R. Bard


Pfizer India


Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has a focused life sciences and healthcare practice, handling corporate and private equity deals across the space, as well as providing advice on existing and upcoming regulations and legislation, and representing clients in high-stakes litigation, including major product liability cases in the medical devices sector. The team advises major domestic healthcare providers, life sciences and pharma producers, and international investors, with standout expertise in global de-mergers on the transactional side. Ashwin Sapra leads the team, advising on intellectual property, regulatory, and transactional matters, while Biplab Lenin is particularly active in the digital health space, advising on a number of major investments. Senior associate Kartik Jain is also a key name in the Noida-based team, advising on strategic regulatory compliance issues as well as regulatory elements of M&A and private equity deals.

Practice head(s):

Ashwin Sapra


Other key lawyers:

Biplab Lenin; Kartik Jain


Key clients

Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited


Gland Pharma Limited


Bessemer Venture Partners Trust


International Finance Corporation(IFC)


Plus Health Tech Ventures Private Limited (Ayu Health)


Enzene Biosciences Limited


DSK Legal

DSK Legal advises a broad range of clients, including pharma companies, drug and medical device developers, hospitals, and private equity-backed investors, on the full range of transactional matters alongside complex strategic regulatory and governance issues. The firm works with clients on cross-border transactions as well as compliance with both domestic and international regulatory regimes, most notably FDA rules, and is also able to represent throughout disputes. Key names in the team include  Hemang Parekh  and Gaurav Mistry, who is particularly active on cross-border transactions in the pharma space, alongside Harvinder Singh , noted for his specialism in hospital M&A. Mistry, alongside Akanksha Tiwary, is also heavily involved in promoter-side work, advising a number of healthcare administrators and experienced practitioners on investments and transactions. All lawyers mentioned are in Mumbai.

Other key lawyers:

Anand Desai; Aparajit Bhattacharya; Hemang Parekh; Ajay Shaw; Rishi Anand; Harvinder Singh; Aninda Pal; Sharath Chandrasekhar; Gaurav Mistry; Nakul Batra; Jayesh Kothari


Testimonials

Good firm to work with.

Key clients

Quality Care India Limited


HealthQuad Fund II


Eurofins Advinus Limited and Eurofins Advinus Biopharma Services India Private Limited


Helmier Private Limited


Mr. Sanjaya Mariwala, SJM Capsol Private Limited and OmniActive Healthcare Technologies Limited


Axis Trustee Services Limited through its investment manager, Siana Capital Management LLP (“Siana Capital”)


Manash Lifestyle Private Limited ‘Purple’


HCL Capital Private Limited


Aytas Capital B.V.


Deep Science India Fund


Glamyo Technologies Private Limited


Redcliffe Lifetech Private Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised TPG backed Quality Care India Limited (“CARE”) in relation to the acquisition of 76% of the shareholding of United CIIGMA Institute of Medical Sciences Private Limited.
  • Advised HealthQuad Fund II (“HealthQuad”) in relation to its primary and secondary investment in the Series A funding round of GoApptiv Private Limited.
  • Advised TPG backed Quality Care India Limited (“CARE”) in relation to several acquisitions.

Krishnamurthy and Co

Krishnamurthy and Co advises healthcare providers, pharma and biotech companies, and a wide range of private equity investors on transactions, intellectual property issues, and regulatory matters, with a particular strength in private equity and VC investments and joint ventures. The firm also has notable expertise in cross-border considerations and issues relating to patents- both application and protection, including contentious cases. The team is led by Naina Krishna Murthy in Mumbai, an experienced corporate practitioner who regularly advises PE and VC clients, alongside Bengaluru-based firm managing partner Shwetambari Rao, who is also strong on corporate and commercial life sciences and pharma matters, and Mumbai's Rukmini Roychowdhury.

Practice head(s):

Naina Krishna Murthy; Shwetambari Rao; Rukmini Roychowdhury


Other key lawyers:

Alok Sonker; Christopher Rao


Key clients

Biocon Biologics Limited


Lightrock India Holdings Limited


JSW Ventures


Majority Committee of Creditors of Unimark Remedies Limited


VRMDB Services Pvt Ltd (Medibank)


Nova Pulse IVF Clinic Private Limited


Reliance Industries Limited


Serosoft Solutions Private Limited


Healthium MedTech Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised Biocon Biologics in its acquisition of the global biosimilars business of Nasdaq-listed Viatris in a USD 3.33 billion deal.
  • Advised Lightrock India Holdings Limited on its investment along with others through subscription to Series F Preference Shares of Phasorz Technologies Private Limited/Medibuddy in a USD 125 million deal.
  • Advised JSW Ventures on its investment as lead investor in the Series A round of funding in Cure and Care Wellness Private Limited/CureSkin.

Majmudar & Partners

Majmudar & Partners has a strong and developing offering across healthcare, pharma, health tech, and life sciences, with notable strengths in M&A, licensing and regulatory approvals, intellectual property, and internal employment and governance advice. The firm works with a number of major domestic clients, including hospital networks and drug manufacturers, as well as advising international life sciences companies on operations and investments in India, as well as outsourcing. The team is led by Mumbai-based duo Neerav Merchant, an experienced advisor on IP and life sciences regulatory issues, and Akil Hirani, who has strong multijurisdictional expertise across M&A, regulatory matters, outsourcing, and data, acting for a number of major global names in the space. In Bengaluru, N. Raja Sujith is a key name for transactional healthcare work.

Practice head(s):

Neerav Merchant; Akil Hirani


Other key lawyers:

Sinjini Majumdar; N. Raja Sujith


Testimonials

Team is knowledgably great with updates from the current market.

Raja Sujith completely takes care of our job, he and his team reposes back with solution in no time. Great to work with them.

Key clients

Hinge Health Inc.


Lindeman, Esq. (on behalf of Instat)


Browndove Healthcare Private Limited


OMS Software Solutions India Pvt Ltd.


Starkey, Inc.


Cigna Corporation


Tender Loving Care UK Ltd.


Kallang Services Private Limited


Work highlights


  • Assisted Instat in the potential sale of the Instat group of companies.
  • Advising Cigna Corporation on various Indian regulatory matters in the healthcare and insurance space.
  • Advised Kallang Services Private Limited, a subsidiary of a Singapore-based telehealth company that provides on demand healthcare solutions, on Indian law issues pertaining to employment termination.

Samvad Partners

Samvad Partners offers broad expertise across transactions, regulatory issues, governance, and intellectual property, working with clients including drug manufacturers, biotech companies, hospitals, and healthcare providers on a wide range of complex, often cross-border matters. The firm is noted for its capabilities in cross-border M&A and private equity deals, as well as working with clients across the sector on domestic and international regulatory issues. Mumbai’s Vineetha MG heads up the team alongside Hyderabad-based Ekta Bahl, a specialist in life sciences and healthcare regulatory work and transactions, who is also noted for providing day-to-day strategic advice to key clients. Natasha Mahajan in Bengaluru is highly active in transactions, while Mumbai’s Neha Mirajgaoker contributes significant private equity and venture capital experience, advising investors and businesses on investments into innovative medical devices and health tech products.

Practice head(s):

Vineetha MG; Ekta Bahl


Other key lawyers:

Natasha Mahajan; Nivedita Nivargi; Rohan K George; Neha Mirajgaoker


Key clients

Ashwini Netralayam and Dr AAV Ramalinga Reddy


Avegen Limited


Fresenius Medical Care India Private Limited


Healthium MedTech Private Limited


MapMyGenome Limited


Neuland Laboratories Limited


ON Mauritius


Porus Laboratories Private Limited


Sadguru Healthcare Services Private Limited


Sequoia Capital India Investments IV


Work highlights


  • Advised Sadguru Healthcare Private Limited with respect to a transaction that provided for an exit to their existing investor, InvAscent.
  • Advised HealthPlix Technologies Private Limited, in connection with subscription of non-convertible debentures offered by HealthPlix Technologies Private Limited to Blacksoil India Credit Fund.
  • Assisted Plasmagen Biosciences Private Limited, with respect to raising investments from various angel investors in multiple tranches.

Saraf and Partners

Saraf and Partners advises an array of global pharma clients including Mylan and Viatris on regulatory issues relating to marketing approvals, drug manufacturing, and distribution, as well as private equity deals and M&A, including distressed acquisitions and restructurings. The team also has expertise in tech, allowing it to advise a range of medtech and medical devices companies, as well as on investments in these sectors. Mohit Saraf and Vaibhav Kakkar , who are both experienced transactional advisers with notable healthcare and life sciences regulatory experience, head up the team, with Vikrant Kumar also a key name for tech and product licensing. All lawyers named are based in New Delhi.

Practice head(s):

Mohit Saraf; Vaibhav Kakkar


Other key lawyers:

Vikrant Kumar


Key clients

Fortis Healthcare


Viatris Inc./ Mylan Inc. (Viatris)


Vedanta Group


Takeda Pharmaceuticals India Private Limited


Carlyle Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Viatris on the sale of its global biosimilars assets to Biocon Biologics Limited.

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co primarily works with domestic and global pharma companies on regulatory compliance matters, including DCA licensing, manufacturing, and distribution, as well as working with e-commerce and medical devices clients on regulatory developments, commercial operations, and clinical trials. The firm also has notable cross-border transactional expertise in the life sciences space, advising private equity investors on a range of deals, including distressed acquisitions. Key names in the team include Mumbai’s Iqbal Khan and New Dehli-based Puja Sondhi, both experienced advisors on M&A, PE, and VC deals across the space.

Other key lawyers:

Iqbal Khan; Puja Sondhi


Testimonials

‘Deep understanding of the sector; Investment into the understanding of market sectoral practices; Excellent cross-functional knowledge; tremendous client service and responsiveness.’

Key clients

Biocon Biologics Limited


Trivitron Healthcare


Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited (AHEL), Apollo Healthco Limited (AHL) & Apollo Pharmacies Limited


Advent International Corporation


Curefit Healthcare Private Limited


LR India Holdings Limited and Alpha Wave Incubation LP


TPG Growth III SF Pte. Ltd.


Dr. Agarwal’s Health Care Limited


LeapFrog Investments Group Limited


MMS Group (acting through its UK counsel, DWF Law LLP)


UTI Multi Opportunities Fund I and UTI Structured Debt Opportunities Fund II


Eris Lifesciences Limited (Eris)


Work highlights


  • Advised Advent on the acquisition of Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Trilegal

Trilegal is active in the hospital sector, advising on M&A and private equity investments, as well as handling regulatory issues and commercial matters relating to medical devices, including software and app-based devices, alongside advice on tax, employment, and white-collar issues for major global pharma clients. The team, which has a broad geographical reach and cross-border capabilities, also handles tech regulatory and data privacy issues relating to new products, particularly innovative healthtech developers. Yogesh Singh in Gurgaon is a key name, handling cross-border transactions and regulatory issues, while Mumbai’s Harsh Maggon and Bengaluru-based Kosturi Ghosh are also active on behalf of major clients, advising on private equity deals, compliance, and strategic issues.

Other key lawyers:

Yogesh Singh; Harsh Maggon; Kosturi Ghosh; Anuj Berry


Testimonials

‘Anuj Berry’s counsel and strategy are very clear, simple, and effective in dealing with any situation. ’

Key clients

Health Arx Technologies Private Limited (BeatO)


Max Healthcare Institute Limited


IQVIA Inc.


Strand Life Sciences Private Limited


General Electric


J.B. Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited


LR India Fund II IFSC


Woodside Energy


GC Asia Dental Pte Ltd


GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited


Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited


Max Life Insurance Company Ltd.


Jubilant Biosys Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised Health Arx Technologies Private Limited (BeatO), an app-based diabetes care service provider, on its Series B investment round of USD 33 million, led by Lightrock.
  • Advised Max Healthcare Institute Limited (MHIL) on the acquisition of a controlling stake in Condis India Healthcare Private Limited.
  • Advised Max Healthcare Institute Limited on its entry into a long-term services agreement with Muthoot Hospitals Private Limited for providing services in relation to the operation and management of a hospital being constructed in Delhi.

Link Legal - India Law Services

Dentons Link Legal handles a broad range of work for life sciences and healthcare clients, including pharma developers, medical institutions, and health insurers. The firm's expertise encompasses transactional work, corporate and commercial advisory mandates, regulatory and intellectual property issues, as well as contentious matters, including regulatory and internal disputes. The team is led from Mumbai by Nusrat Hassan, a dual-UK qualified practitioner with a strong record in cross-border transactions, alongside sector specialist Pradnesh Warke, who works extensively with pharma, medtech and medical devices companies on the full range of mandates.

Practice head(s):

Nusrat Hassan; Pradnesh Warke


Economic Laws Practice

Economic Laws Practice advises a number of pharma companies, including major international names, on transactional work, regulatory issues, tax, and other issues, with a particularly notable focus on trade and anti-dumping issues for pharma products. The team is able to support clients on cross-border regulatory compliance, including handling US FDA investigations as well as domestic enforcement actions. Suhail Nathani, a highly experienced transactional and regulatory advisor, leads the team from Mumbai, with tax specialist Adarsh Somani also an active player.

Practice head(s):

Suhail Nathani


Other key lawyers:

Sahil Kothari; Aakanksha Joshi; Adarsh Somani


Testimonials

The team has worked on many mandates across the healthcare sector and so understand the nuances in each sub sector. Due to this we have used this across most of our investments for over a decade.

ELP has been long term partners with us for over a decade and understand the healthcare/ life sciences space well.

Key clients

Anglo French Drugs & Industries Limited


Mylan Laboratories Limited


Siemens Limited; Siemens Healthcare Private Limited


Abbott India Limited


Johnson & Johnson Private Limited


Piramal Pharma Limited


Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan

The team at Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan  offers full-service intellectual property support to a range of clients, including pharma, biotech, and medical device producers. The firm advises clients on patent applications, drafting and prosecution proceedings, and handles IP litigation, cross-border commercial and branding issues, as well as contentious trade and anti-dumping proceedings. Mumbai-based Malathi Lakshmikumaran leads the team, and is an experienced patent practitioner, handling the full range of patent work, and notably specialising in the field of biodiversity as relates to drug production. Prashant Phillips in New Dehli focuses on patent prosecution and litigation, and has practiced in the US.

Practice head(s):

Malathi Lakshmikumaran


Other key lawyers:

Prashant Phillips


Key clients

BASF


MERCK


Monsanto Technology LLC


Regeneron


L’Oreal


Indian Institute of Science


Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research


EPL


IIT Delhi


Omya International AG


Work highlights


Phoenix Legal

The team at Phoenix Legal advises clients across the pharma, biotech, healthcare, and medical devices spaces, combining transactional and corporate advice with work on disputes, intellectual property issues, and regulatory matters. The firm has particular expertise in handling regulatory issues relating to M&A and financing transactions, with practice co-head Abhishek Saxena noted for his expertise in cross-border M&A. The team is also led by Pranav Srivastava , who combines transactional and disputes experience, and Manjula Chawla, who has a strong record in cross-border commercial structuring and corporate matters.

Practice head(s):

Abhishek Saxena; Pranav Srivastava; Manjula Chawla


Work highlights


TMT Law Practice

TMT Law Practice advises hospitals, pharma developers, and research organizations on a range of issues, encompassing healthcare regulatory, intellectual property and brand protection, and clinical trials, as well as tech issues, particularly relating to the telemedicine space. The team is led by Abhishek Malhotra, an experienced IP practitioner with notable strength in contentious digital health mandates, alongside Mumbai’s Sanjay Kumar, who specialises in healthcare regulations and product liability, and tech and data-focused Bagmisikha Puhan, who also handles cross-border commercial matters for a wide range of clients. Lawyers are in New Delhi unless otherwise stated.

Practice head(s):

Abhishek Malhotra; Sanjay Kumar; Bagmisikha Puhan


Key clients

Tata 1MG Healthcare Solutions Private Limited


Zim Laboratories Limited


Association of Healthcare Providers (India)


Telemedicine Society of India


Fourth Frontier Technologies Private Limited


MedIndia4u Private Limited


Be Fluent LLP