Dua Associates > New Delhi, India > Firm Profile

Dua Associates
202-206 TOLSTOY HOUSE
15 TOLSTOY MARG
NEW DELHI 110 001
India

India > WTO/international trade Tier 1

Under the leadership of New Delhi-based partner Shiraz Patodia, the international trade practice at Dua Associates has notable expertise in advising Fortune 500 companies on anti-dumping and countervailing duties, with a notable track record in seeking nil duties and appropriate remedies for foreign exporters and producers. With knowledge of corporate litigation and arbitration, Ashish Singh provides crucial support in representing clients for adequate trade remedies. Star associate Mayank Singhal advises exporters, chambers of associations, importers and user associations when trade remedy investigations are carried out. Associate Juhi Chawla has experience in appellate and writ proceedings that arise from trade investigations, and associate Divya Sharma offers added support in contentious trade matters thanks to her strength in litigation.

Practice head(s):

Shiraz Patodia; Ashish Singh

Testimonials

‘Dua is one of the best Indian firms. Dua always provide us with professional and creative advice. Dua can provide competitive fee arrangement.’

‘I have worked with Shiraz Patodia for about 20 years. She is one of the best trade lawyers in India.’

‘Shiraz Patodia as the Senior Partner with her team of Ashish Singh, Partner and other associates work well as a team and deliver legally correct but practical advice.’

Key clients

Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube (Thailand) Co, Ltd

Alconix Logistics (Thailand) Ltd.

Zhejiang Dingshang Stainless Steel Co., Ltd

Zhejiang Jinxin Stainless Steel Manufacture Co., Ltd

Zhejiang Junda Steel Pipe Manufacturing Co. Ltd

Zhejiang Xintongda Special Steel Manufacturing Co. Ltd

Dow Chemical Thailand Limited Dow Chemical International Private Limited

Sadara Chemical Company Dow Chemical Company Group

Longi Solar Technology Co. Ltd

Kruger Inc Canada

Government of Thailand, Agro Fiber Co., Ltd

Wisewoods Co. Ltd

Sadara Chemical Company

China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products

Suzhou Tianlu Bio-Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd

Zhongshan Belling Biotechnology Co. Ltd

Varopakorn Public Company Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube (Thailand) and Alconix Logistics (Thailand) in an anti-subsidy investigation concerning the import of copper tubes and pipes from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
  • Representing Zhejiang Dingshang Stainless Steel, Zhejiang Jinxin Stainless Steel Manufacture and others in an anti-dumping investigation against imports of stainless steel seamless tubes and pipes from China.
  • Represented Dow Chemical Thailand and Dow Chemical International in an anti-dumping sunset review concerning exports of flexible polyol slabstock from Thailand.

India > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 2

Fortune 500 companies look to Dua Associates for advice and representation in disputes in India. The chemicals sector is a particularly strong area for the practice, with Sadara Chemical Company being the most recent addition to its client base in that area, instructing Shiraz Patodia and her New Delhi-based team on a customs-related dispute in 2021. Patodia is a celebrated senior litigator in the market with numerous international clients, and is an advocate on record at the Supreme Court of India. Alongside her in New Delhi, Ashish Singh has a focus on intellectual property litigation, white-collar criminal law, environmental protection and international trade law. Principal associate Juhi Chawla is another key contact in the group.

Practice head(s):

Shiraz Patodia; Amit Dhingra; L.K. Bhushan; Ganesh Chandru; Ganapati Hegde; George Joseph

Key clients

McCann Erickson Worldwide Advertising

McCann Erickson India

Dow International Technology Company

USA Filmtec Corporation Dow Chemical International Private Limited

DDP Speciality Products India Private Limited

Reliance Communications Ltd.

Reliance Telecommunications Ltd.

Zhejiang Jiuli Hi-Tech Metals Co. Ltd

The Dow Chemical Company

Sadara Chemical Company

Decathlon SA

Decathlon Sports India Pvt Ltd

E I DuPont De Nemours

ELCA Cosmetics Pvt Ltd

Estee Lauder Companies Inc

GAIL (India) Limited

Sterlite Technologies Limited

DLF Home Developers Limited

Helm AG

Otsuka Chemicals (India) Private Limited

Commercial Bank of Dubai

TransAsia Private Capital Limited

Work highlights

  • Representing Dow Chemical International and Material Sciences India in a scheme of arrangement between the companies before the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai.
  • Representing E I DuPont De Nemours (DuPont) in a complaint before the Courts at Chandigarh as well as quashing proceedings before the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, emanating from a complaint pertaining to commercial transactions.

India > Antitrust and competition Tier 3

Dua Associates‘ practice undertakes a full range of competition matters, advising clients on merger control notifications, cartel investigations, compliance programmes and anti-competitive agreements. The team combines its experience across the power and renewable energy, pharmaceutical and paper industry sectors, among others. With a specialisation in competition law and policy, Gautam Shahi leads the practice, often assisting with the creation of compliance programmes for corporate houses, and also represents clients before the CCI, NCLAT, High Courts and the Supreme Court. Robin David is a commercial dispute resolution specialist, often advising international non-governmental organisations. Febin Mathew supports David on the litigation side of the practice, using his multi-sectoral experience within competition law.

Practice head(s):

Gautam Shahi; Robin David

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Balrampur Chini Mills Limited

All India Tyre Dealers Federation

Cement Manufacturers Association

Valvoline India

Competition Commission of India

Hughes Communications Private Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented Hughes Communications India before the CCI with respect to its joint venture with Bharati Airtel to provide satellite broadband services in India.
  • Represents Balrampur Chini Mills (BCML) before the NCLAT in a cartel matter.
  • Successfully represented the CCI before the NCLAT concerning an abuse of dominant position matter.

India > Real estate and construction Tier 3

With offices across India, Dua Associates offers property developers and investors a robust service in due diligence for acquisitions, drafting transactions and perfecting titles. From Sajive Kumar in Chennai to Chandigarh-based partner Siddhartha Kumar and CR Muralidharan in Bangalore, the team has vast experience in handling due diligence and compliance matters, particularly in the context of acquisitions of mixed-development projects.

Practice head(s):

Sajive Kumar; CR Muralidharan

Other key lawyers:

Siddhartha Kumar; Anish Ghoshal

Testimonials

‘Well organised system.’

‘Professional and client oriented mind.’

‘They have delivered great value with their services.’

Key clients

Aequs Group

Prestige Estates Projects Limited

Modern Asset

Motilal Oswal Real Estate Investment Advisors II Pvt Ltd

Trishul Buildtech & Infrastructures Private Limited

Nestled Haven Developers LLP

Godrej Properties Limited

Speckles Developers Private Limited

BNP Paribas

Swamih Investment Fund

Altico Capital India Limited

RMZ Corp

Millennia Realtors Private Limited

Vista Spaces and Estates

Work highlights

  • Acted for Swamih Investment Fund, created to ensure completion of stalled brownfield projects, in the affordable housing/middle-income category.
  • Assisted a global petroleum company in acquiring real estate in various states across India.
  • Handled the due diligence advisory of approximately 390 acres of land in Dharwad, Karnataka for acquisition by Aequs Group from KIADB.

India > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

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.

Other key lawyers:

Salil Gulati

Key clients

Desay S V Automotive Singapore Pte Ltd ( Desay)

TVS Motor Company Limited (TVS Motor)

TVS Motor Company Limited and TVS Singapore (TVS Motor)

SNP SE , Germany (SNP)

Blaser Swisslube India Private Limited (Blaser Swisslube)

Fourth Partner Energy Private Ltd

Edwards Limited, a group entity of Atlas Copco,

Hughes Communications India Private Ltd (HCIPL)

Ritika Private Limited

DCM Shriram Industries Ltd (DSIL)

Kotak Securities Limited

Lease Plan India

Work highlights

  • Advised Ritika Private Limited in its 52% equity acquisition by Reliance Retail.
  • Advised DCM Shriram Industries Ltd on its JV agreement with Turkish company ZyrOne Dynamics for manufacture and marketing of UAVs in India.
  • Advised TVS Motor on its further increase in stake (shares purchase) in TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited by purchase of shares from Dhinrama Mobility Solution Private Limited.

India > Private equity and investment funds Tier 4

Dua Associates houses a varied practice which represents both investors and target companies. Manoj Menon leads the team from Bangalore, supported by Sharan Balasubramanian in Chennai. The team focuses on advising private equity houses on foreign exchange investments, buyouts, and exits across the logistics, renewable energy, and power sectors.

Practice head(s):

Manoj Menon

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Their capability lies in understanding transactions at depth, working out plausible solutions, negotiation strategy and most importantly, owning the transaction.’

‘It is the understanding of complex transactions and advising on real-time basis which makes the firm / its team unique. Sharan Subramanium has added value with his negotiation skills and real-time inputs in stringent timelines.’

Key clients

Mahindra Logistics Limited

Fourth Partner Energy Private Limited

Maniv Mobility II L.P

Siana Capital Management LLP

CanFin Venture Capital Fund Limited

Kotak Investment Advisors Limited

Alliance Mall Developers Pvt Ltd

Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Private Limited

Digantara

Work highlights

  • Represented Mahindra Logistics Limited in the acquisition of a stake in ZipZap Logistics, a last-mile logistics service provider that operates under the brand ‘Whizzard’.
  • Advised Fourth Partner Energy in successfully raising equity funding from Norfund and its existing shareholder, The Rise Fund, TPG’s global impact investing platform.
  • Advised Maniv Mobility II L.P, a venture capital firm investing globally across the automotive, transportation, energy, and logistics spaces,on an investment in the share capital of World of River Private Limited by subscription to equity shares and preference shares.

India > Restructuring and insolvency

Dua Associates represents a range of stakeholders in corporate insolvency resolution proceedings before the High Courts and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLAT); key members of the team include Chitranshul Sinha and Angad Varma.

The firm: Established in 1986, Dua Associates is one of India’s  prominent  law firms, serving a wide spectrum of clients drawn from several Fortune 500 companies, publicly-listed organisations, public-sector enterprises, privately owned businesses as well as multi-national companies. With  offices in  eight key metropolitan cities in India, Dua Associates is widely recognised for its depth of experience and the  knowledge of its  over 250 legal professionals including 75 partners and counsels. Dua Associates is also uniquely placed to draw on the capabilities of Dua Consulting, an independent and stand-alone full-service consulting entity to address issues pertaining to policy framework, advocacy, Government engagement and business advisory.

The firm recognises the support of some long standing clients such as Dow Chemical, McDonalds, Boeing, Dell, Fourth Partner Energy, CapitaLand, Estee Lauder, Brookfield Asset Management, TVS Motors, TAFE, Tata, ICICI, L&T, Gillette, IFC, Deutsche Bank and GE Healthcare among several others, who have been associated with it during its 30-year journey.

The firm’s expertise in complex transactions involving M&A, foreign direct investment, private equity,  venture capital , international trade,  space,  infrastructure projects ,  project financing ,  and corporate deals as well as litigation, arbitration , regulatory and tax structuring issues  is widely recognised. Under its real estate  and urban development practice, the firm is credited with some significantly large deals. Additionally, several partners of the firm have also been individually ranked and recognised for the stellar contributions to their respective practice areas.  

New domains:  Dua Associates remains at the forefront of helping global organisations navigate fresh Indian investment opportunities. Underscoring its resilience and future-readiness, the firm has additionally created specialized practice groups, comprising of  senior leadership team members  and domain experts, to focus on emerging opportunities, in sectors like:

Healthcare: Dua Associates is leveraging its in-depth understanding and experience in assisting prominent pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to further customise its services for clients in this sector.

Data privacy and cyber-security: The firm’s specialised team backed by legal and sector-specific experts and industry stalwarts, has stayed ahead of the curve in dealing with techno-legal issues, privacy and data security-related enforcement trends and new laws and regulations.

Aviation, defence and space:The firm’s practice focuses on various aspects of international and domestic civil aviation industry.  In Defence, the firm has advised OEMs to technology providers and suppliers on various issues besides negotiating joint ventures with foreign investment firms.

With the recent opening up of India’s space program to the private sector, the firm has focused on this space opportunity – having subject-specific expertise to advise clients in this domain.

Technology, media and telecommunications: In addition to the technology and regulatory advisory, the firm provides high level strategic advice on the current concerns around 5-G implementation, spectrum related issues and related matters.

Key practice areas
Mergers and acquisitions: This highly ranked practice, combines the firm’s rich international experience and expertise with Indian domestic laws / regulations, to devise effective structures for M&A.

Private equity and venture capital: With a wealth of experience in representing both domestic and foreign funds as well as prospective investee companies and their promoters, the firm has  proven capacity and a track record for providing assistance in every phase of the investment lifecycle, from fund creation to investment execution and exit strategy, across a spectrum of industry sectors.

Corporate and commercial: The firm advises on a broad spectrum of matters from general corporate advice, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, company formation to regulations and securities laws.

Real estate and urban development:The advisory services to clients include institutional investors in all aspects of transactions such as financing, acquisitions, joint development, disposition and leasing matters and complex title due diligences.

Projects/infrastructure/ energy:The firm has substantial sector-specific experience in energy, both fossil-based and renewables, airports, oil & gas, SEZs, ports, and transportation, amongst others.

Banking, finance,  and insurance: A wide ranging practice in Corporate Finance, Banking and Project Finance and representing funds, NBFCs, financial institutions and project developers in secured and unsecured transactions, makes it a significant one for the firm.

Capital markets: The firm has rich experience in equity, capital and derivative markets and has advised private parties and the Government and public sector undertakings on Qualified Institutions Placements, IPOs and matters relating to SEBI.

Dispute resolution/litigation: The firm’s highly ranked active and robust litigation and arbitration practice covers civil, commercial, tax, regulatory, criminal and constitutional matters.

Arbitration and alternative dispute resolution:The firm’s  involvement in proceedings in connection with the enforcement of partial, interim and final awards passed in domestic and international arbitrations has grown significantly.  The teams have  been advising clients, in pre-dispute and prior to invocation of arbitration-type situations as to the applicability and enforceability of the Rules of Arbitration of bodies, besides working on various types of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms including pre-arbitration advice, contractual advice and claim analysis.

  International trade and anti-dumping: This practice team assists domestic and international clients in international trade and customs-law matters and guides them through investigations or enforcement programs with respect to anti-dumping and WTO issues.

Intellectual property rights: Clients are advised by the firm regarding identification, development, protection and enforcement of their IPR portfolios, including trademarks, patents, copyrights and cyber-laws besides offering prosecution services before relevant IPR registering authorities

Antitrust and competition law: The firm assists  in merger control assessments and filings, abuse of dominant positions, cartel investigations, undertaking competition compliance programmes and training, evaluating impact on day to day business operations as well as longer-term business strategies, anti-competitive agreements and defining contractual arrangements.

Taxation: The tax planning services offered relate to establishing a corporate business presence in India, besides assistance in formulating tax-efficient structures consistent with the prevailing tax regime

Labour and employment: Specialised advice is rendered on labour matters, employee relations and compliance with the various prevalent labour, industrial and immigration laws including regulatory compliance, statutory contributions and registrations thereunder.

Anti-bribery and white-collar crime: The firm advises and supports clients on issues related to anti-bribery, white collar crime, corporate governance failures and frauds, adopting an integrated and multidisciplinary approach.

Food and beverages: The firm has expertise on the complex laws and regulations that govern food products, including packaging, labelling and product specific advertisements.

Technology, media and telecommunications: Under its technology advisory, the firm offers guidance on legal issues, advocacy and interpretation of policy matters , and  the seamless connect with specialised experts from various other related practices of the firm, especially, tax, real estate, labour laws, intellectual   property and dispute resolution enables the TMT team to provide comprehensive solutions to  clients.

Restructuring and insolvency: Dua Associates  offers a complete range of restructuring capabilities and  experience in addressing the complex, diverse issues involved in dealing effectively with stakeholders including, committees of creditors, public sector and international banks, and distressed debtors in corporate restructurings, which enables the team members to offer valuable insights and fresh perspectives to clients, across  all major industries and business sectors.  The firm has acted on behalf of clients from sectors as varied as aviation, corporates, asset reconstruction firms and banks among others.

Special service – Japan desk:This practice team which includes several Indian lawyers and Japanese nationals, focuses on assisting Japanese companies to invest and operate in India. Having advised over 250 Japanese clients on corporate, commercial and business laws, the Japan desk team also assists M&A and inbound investment from Japan and on corporate law, regulations and compliances to established Japanese businesses.

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Corporate and Commercial;Capital Markets ; Governance & Compliance C.R. Duaranji@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Dispute Resolution; International Trade ; IPR; White Collar Crime Shiraz Patodiashiraz@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Mergers and Acquisitions; General Corporate & Commercial ; Defence Neeraj Kumarneeraj@duaassociates.com91 124 2803366
Corporate and Commercial ; Aviation; Telecom ; M&A Sita Khoslasita@duaassociates.com91 124 2803366
Private Equity ; Venture Capital; M&A Manoj Menonmanoj@duaassociates.com91-80 2558 8799/2558 9909
Corporate &Commercial Sanjeev Kaulsanjeev@duaassociates.com91 124 2803366
Corporate and Commercial; M&A ; Food &Beverages Salil Gulatisalil@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Corporate Advisory; Mergers & Acquisition; Real Estate Siddhartha Kumarsiddhartha@duaassociates.com91 172 4666627
Competition Law; Real Estate; Infrastructure, Aviation Shashivansh Bahadursbahadur@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Projects, Infrastructure & Energy; Governance & Compliance Akash Nathakash@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Aviation and Space; Company Law Ranjana Kaulranjanakaul@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
TMT; Infrastructure Projects; Securitisation; Structured Finance Munish Sharmamunish@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Banking, Finance and Insurance Jyoti Pandejyoti@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Corporate &Commercial ; Banking &Finance ; IT ; FMCG NU Subayasubaya@duaassociates.com91 80 2558 8799/9909
Litigation; Arbitration George Josephgeorge@duaassociates.com91 80 2558 8799/9909
Litigation LK Bhushanbhushan@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Corporate Tax Advisory; M&A ; Capital Markets Sunil Maliksunil@duaassociates.com91 124 2803366/69
Litigation ;Labour &Employment; Competition Law Robin Daviddavid@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Antitrust & Competition; General Corporate Advisory Gautam Shahigautam@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Dispute Resolution ; Corporate &Commercial Rajdeep Pandarajdeep@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Insolvency & Bankruptcy; Commercial & Civil Litigation Chitranshul Sinhachitranshul@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Dispute Resolution Arbitration Ganesh Chandruganeshchandru@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Litigation &Arbitration Amit Dhingraamitdhingra@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Dispute Resolution; Corporate &Commercial; Banking &Finance Anish Ghoshalanish@duaassociates.com91-22-6636-9966
Real Estate ; Corporate &Commercial P.V. Sajive Kumarsajiv@duaassociates.com91 44 2431 4304
Corporate and Commercial Abhinav Rastogiabhinav@duaassociates.com91 11 2371 4408
Japanese Investment/Operations Alok Vidyalankaralok@duaassociates.com91 124 2803366/69
Banking and Finance; Corporate and Commercial; Real Estate Anil Aggarwalanilt@duaassociates.com91 22 6636 9966
Corporate and Commercial Law Mergers &Acquisitions Foreign Investment/Exchange Control Real Estate and Intellectual Property C. R. Muralidharanmurali@duaassociates.com91 80 2558 8799/9909
Labour and Industrial Law, Litigation/Arbitration Ganapati Hegdehegde@duaassociates.com91 80 2558 8799/9909
M and A ; Investments Finance & Banking; Funds and Securitization Projects and Corporate Advisory Nirvaan K. Guptanirvaan@duaassociates.com91- 11-2371 4408
Litigation Corporate ; Commercial Law Corporate Advisory Senthil Kumar Rama Moorthysenthil@duaassociates.com91 44 2431 4304-07
Dispute Resolution: Litigation & Arbitration, International Trade, Intellectual Property Rights Ashish Singhashish@duaassociates.com91-11-2371-4408
IPR, Corporate Law, Real Estate Hetal Narain Thakorethakore@duaassociates.com91-22-6636-9966
Corporate and Commercial Law Shishir Sharmashishir@duaassociates.com91 -124- 2803366/69
Litigation and Telecom Law Sairam Arjun Suresharjun@duaassociates.com91- 44- 2431 4304
General Corporate and Commercial Janini Somiahjanini@duaassociates.com91-80-2558 8799/9909
General Corporate & Commercial Sahil Dhawansahil@duaassociates.com91-11-2371-4408
Litigation -Civil ; Commercial ; Arbitration Vikram Dhokaliavikram@duaassociates.com91-11-2371-4408
Litigation Dhiraj Philipdhiraj@duaassociates.com91-11-2371-4408
Corporate and Commercial ; Legal & Regulatory Compliance Jay Badolajbadola@duaassociates.com91-11-2371-4408
Insolvency and Bankruptcy , Commercial and Corporate Litigation Angad Varmaangad@duaassociates.com91 124 2803366
Defence, Aviation Amit Cowshishamitcowshish@duaassociates.com91 124 2803366
PhotoNamePositionProfile
Jay Wardhan Badola photoMr Jay Wardhan BadolaPartner
Shashivansh Bahadur photoMr Shashivansh BahadurPartner
 LK Bhushan photoMr LK BhushanPartner
Mohd Iqbal Butt photoMr Mohd Iqbal ButtPartner, Corporate & Commercial, M&A, Real Estate, Non-Profit Organisations. Advising on:  o   …
Ganesh Chandru photoMr Ganesh ChandruArbitration and Commercial Litigation
Robin Ratnakar David photoMr Robin Ratnakar DavidPartner
Amit  Dhingra photoMr Amit DhingraPartner 
Vikram Dhokalia photoMr Vikram DhokaliaPartner
Salil Gulati photoMr Salil GulatiPartner
Ranjana Kaul photoDr Ranjana KaulPartner
Munawwar Naseem photoMr Munawwar NaseemPartner, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India, Disputes (Civil, Criminal, Natural Resources).
Akash Nath photoMr Akash NathPartner Corporate & Commercial Law/  Infrastructure/Legal & Regulatory Compliance
Rajdeep Panda photoMr Rajdeep PandaPartner
Jyoti Pande photoMs Jyoti PandePartner Principal Practice Areas: Banking & Finance Corporate Law  Advised multilateral and…
Shiraz Patodia photoMrs Shiraz PatodiaSenior Solicitor, Principal Practice Areas: Dispute Resolution : Litigation & Arbitration ,…
Munish Sharma photoMr Munish Sharma
Ashish  Singh photoMr Ashish SinghPartner
Chitranshul  Sinha photoMr Chitranshul SinhaPartner
Sairam Arjun Suresh photoMr Sairam Arjun SureshPartner
Alok Vidyalankar photoMr Alok VidyalankarPartner, Japan Practice. Specialises in assisting Japanese companies to invest and operate…
Number of Partners : 75
Number of Professionals (including Partners) : 250
At this office : 100+
English
Hindi
Japanese
Indian regional languages - Marathi
Telegu
Kannada
Tamil
Punjabi
Gujarati and Bengali
A well-established international network of foreign associates

CLIENT: Vivek Subramanian

COMPANY/FIRM: Fourth Partner Energy

TESTIMONIAL: “We use Dua for the entire spectrum of our activities – PPA structuring and verifications, corporate finance, litigation, land verification and due diligence, etc.,” says Vivek Subramanian, co-founder and executive director at Fourth Partner Energy. “We would very strongly endorse the capabilities of partners Manoj Menon and Sharan Balasubramanian. There are times [when my team members] bypass the use of our in-house legal team for some tasks, as they have comfort on the turnaround time and quality from the Dua team. Kudos to them.”


CLIENT: Manoj Jain

COMPANY/FIRM: Wipro Enterprises

TESTIMONIAL: “The depth of knowledge and maturity that lawyers at Dua Associates display, and their opinions on how to handle a particular legal issue, is remarkable”.


TESTIMONIAL: A client, who also remains nameless, says: “Hiring Dua Associates turned out to be the best decision of my litigant career … They don’t have an agenda other than to make their client succeed.”


CLIENT: David Wright, Legal & HR director, Asia-Pacific

COMPANY/FIRM: Kodak Australia

TESTIMONIAL: “Shiraz is extremely capable in the anti-dumping arena,” says David Wright, legal and HR director for Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa at Kodak Australia. “She has very good client relationship skills and … is able to provide uniformly excellent service. Anti-dumping is a very complex and very technical area, and the consequences of an adverse finding can be devastating.”


CLIENT: WILLIAM C. HECK, Partner

COMPANY/FIRM: Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

TESTIMONIAL: I have worked with Shiraz Patodia in Indian antidumping and countervailing investigations for about 20 years. I am deeply impressed by her experience in antidumping and countervailing. Shiraz provides us a complete strategy for each company in each case, often gives us very useful legal opinion and replies to our questions quickly.


CLIENT: Alamjit Singh Sekhon, Commercial Director

COMPANY/FIRM: Fromageries Bel India Private Limited

TESTIMONIAL: “It is great to have an awesome business partner like you watchingout for our interests knowing that you are there to take care. Since the beginning of our working relationship, I have always counted on your guidance and will continue to do in the future as well.”



Dua Associates is appearing for Goolrookh M. Gupta, a Parsi Zoroastrian lady, a Petitioner before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in a Special Leave Petition No. 18889/2012 titled Mrs. Goolrokh M. Gupta v. Mr. Sam Rusi Chothia & Ors. The Special Leave Petition has been filed against the judgment and order of the Hon’ble Gujarat High Court dated March 23, 2012 wherein the High Court held that a woman born as a Parsi  ( by race) and initiated into the Zoroastrian religion by her avid Zoroastrian parents, loses her Zoroastrian religion by virtue of her marriage to a non-Zoroastrian, Hindu male. This view was taken, notwithstanding that her marriage was solemnized under the liberal and secular Special Marriage Act of 1954, without her ever having renounced her Zoroastrian faith/religion.

 The matter relates to the constitutional protection accorded to all individuals under Article 21, 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India which has been whittled down and arbitrarily restricted by the Respondents Trustees by refusing to recognize Mrs. Goolrookh M. Gupta and other such women as Parsi Zoroastrian, and further preventing their right to follow their religious practices inter alia including performing the last rights of her parents. 

In the said Judgment, the Hon’ble High Court have inter alia held that upon her marriage, a woman is “deemed” and“presumed” to have acquired the religious status of her husband . Curiously, the High Court’s views are not restricted to Parsi women alone.

Ms Shiraz Patodia
Advocate & Solicitor
Senior Partner

As part of its CSR initiatives, Dua Associates provides financial assistance for education of girl children. The firm strongly believes that access to gender justice will enable creation of a just and equitable society and encourage Pro Bono legal services.

In 2016, the firm became a member of Trust Law pro bono programme of Thompson Reuters Foundation, UK (with assistance rendered by Mr Chandra Shekhar Mishra). Through Trust Law, the firm assisted Schoolgoers Pty Ltd, an Australian not-for-profit company in incorporating its Indian affiliate. The firm is currently advising (here too, with assistance provided by Mr Mishra) My Choices Foundation, an NGO working against domestic violence and sex trafficking.

Mr. Robin R. David is Partner on the civil litigation panel of iProbono the platform that connects civil society organizations to legal professionals. Mr. David has been a panel-lawyer of Delhi High Court Legal Aid Services Committee for the past nine years and the firm has rendered legal aid in about hundred matters of varied nature.

The firm has represented a Canadian couple before the Delhi High Court in a child adoption case where directions were issued to the Central and State adoption agencies to take steps to enable the couple to adopt a child after the death of both parents, who were rag pickers. In August 2017, the firm represented slum dwellers before the Delhi High Court against forcible eviction of slum residents in East Delhi for a highway project. The Delhi High Court directed Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board to allot residential flats to fourteen families under the slum policy of Delhi. Mr. David is Amicus Curiae panel counsel for the Supreme Court of India. In March 2017, as amicus,
Mr. David appeared for one Shiv Kumar an octogenarian, who was awarded life imprisonment and was granted bail by the Supreme Court of India.   

Mr Robin David
Advocate
Partner


  1. Advised TVS Singapore through TVS Motor India on inter alia the following overseas acquisitions in Switzerland and Croatia.
    1. acquisition of around 80% stake in GO AG, a Swiss company, engaged in business of developing and building technically advanced products for electric mobility solutions including e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and e-scooters. This was an overseas  acquisition by TVS overseas entity.
    2. acquisition of a controlling interest (~ 50%) by way of primary and secondary investment in Greyp Bikes d.o.o. (Target), a Croatia based company, engaged in the business of focusing on development of smart IoT e-bike solutions, design and production of e-bikes and operating software and platform to enhance user experience and data collection.
  2. Advised SNP SE and their German law firm, RITTERSHAUS Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB on its majority acquisition of another German company, Exa AG, having an Indian affiliate, Exa-AG India Private Limited. The services rendered covered legal due diligence and advice on the global transaction documents to cover issues and conditions precedent from Indian law including company law and foreign exchange laws. This transaction was significant as several compliances related advise was rendered to protect the interests of our German client and suggested appropriate specific indemnity and other indemnification protections.
  3. Dua Associates advised Blaser Swisslube in preparation of the joint petition for sanction of the scheme of arrangement with Blaser Swisslube Solutions India Private Limited (BSSPL) for the transfer and vesting of the wholesale trading business of Blaser Swisslube as a going concern to BSSPL in exchange for the shares of BSSPL to be issued to the shareholders of Blaser Swisslube.
  4. Dua Associates advised Mahindra Logistics in their acquisition of approximately 60% stake in ZipZap Logistics, a last-mile logistics service provider that operates under the brand ‘Whizzard’. This was effected through a combination of primary and secondary transactions in two tranches. The firm assisted Mahindra Logistics in structuring and negotiating the transaction documents as well as in conducting a due diligence of the target company. The acquisition will complement Mahindra Logistics’ existing last-mile delivery business and EDeL, its electric vehicle (EV) based delivery services. Expanding technology-based last-mile services is an integral part of the company’s growth strategy and this transaction will help accelerate addition of technology, geographical coverage and operational capabilities.
  5. Dua Associates assisted Hyderabad-based Fourth Partner Energy in its acquisition of the onsite distributed 140 MW solar generation portfolio of ReNew Power .The assets, are spread over 100 pan-India projects, set up at facilities where the renewable energy produced is consumed there itself. Most of these projects are operational.
  6. Dua Associates assisted Maniv Mobility II L.P, Maniv Mobility II A.L.P which is a venture capital firm investing globally across the automotive, transportation, energy, and logistics spaces, in a matter related to an investment in the share capital of World of River Private Limited by subscription to equity shares and preference shares issued by World of River Private Limited –  a start up with focus on  manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers activities across the India.
  7. The Firm represented two companies namely Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube (Thailand) Co, Ltd and Alconix Logistics (Thailand) Ltd. in a recently concluded anti-subsidy investigation concerning import of Copper Tubes and Pipes from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. This investigation was initiated by the DGTR suo-moto based on a representation filed by Bombay Metal Exchange. Dua Associates filed the response to the exporter’s questionnaire as well as a comprehensive injury defence substantiating a nil rate of duty for Kobelco and Alconix. The Firm represented the Kobelco and Alconix in oral hearings, filed comments and submissions throughout the investigation and demonstrated that the companies have not received countervailing subsidy on goods exported to India. The Firm was able to secure the exclusion of certain product categories from the scope of investigation.  In addition, based on the submissions made by the Firm, Kobelco and Alconix were granted a Nil rate of duty.
  8. Dua Associates represented the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products ‘CCCMHPIE’ and its members namely Zhejiang Apeloa Kangyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Inner Mongolia Yuanhong Fine Chemical Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Medicines & Health Products Import & Export Co., Ltd., Zhejiang East-Asia Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Anhui Biocompounds Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Sinopharm Healthcare Technology (Henan) Corporation for injury defence in an anti-dumping investigation concerning exports of ‘Ofloxacin and its intermediates’ from China PR. The firm also represented Zhejiang Apeloa Kangyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd for dumping and injury determination. The product subjected to investigation was defined as ‘Ofloxacin and its intermediates’ used to treat certain infections including bronchitis, pneumonia, and infection of the skin, bladder, urinary tract, reproductive organs, and prostate. In medical parlance, Ofloxacin is in a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones and works by killing bacteria that cause infections. Considering the downstream use of the product, the Central Government has not issued the notification levying anti-dumping duty within prescribed timeline and no anti-dumping duty is payable.
  9. The firm represents Henan Ancai Group in anti-dumping investigation sunset review concerning imports of Textured Tempered Glass from China PR. Prior to the present investigation, the firm has also represented Ancai Group in the original investigation. Based on representation filed by Dua Associates, the Ministry of Finance rejected the recommendation by the DGTR in the sunset review. As a result, the recommendation of the DGTR is not implemented and the duty imposed in the oral investigation ceased to exist without any extension.
  10. Dua Associates represented Otsuka Chemicals (India) Private Limited (“Otsuka”) in the arbitration initiated by the contractor arising out of a contract for construction of a GCLE project including Manufacture, Supply, Fabrication and Erection of Equipment, Piping Systems, Instrumentation and Electrical Material at Otsuka’s site in Rajasthan. GCLE is a vital drug intermediate which has a very high demand and usage in India as an ingredient to produce several antibiotics.The primary claims raised by the contractor pertain to purported extra work carried out which are not covered within the contractual scope of work. This was a complex arbitration requiring interpretation of multiple contractual documents, an understanding of engineering terms and engineering drawings called piping and instrumentation diagrams. In the recent arbitral award published, Otsuka succeeded in these proceedings as the contractor’s claims were dismissed in their entirety.