Trilegal > New Delhi | Gurugram | Mumbai | Bengaluru, India > Firm Profile

Trilegal > The Legal 500 Rankings

India > Antitrust and competition Tier 1

The ‘dedicated and knowledgeable’ team at Trilegal works from across offices in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore, using its multi-jurisdictional competition law expertise to serve a varied client base. Nisha Kaur Uberoi leads the practice and advises global companies and conglomerates on the gamut of competition law matters. Gautam Chawla regularly handles contentious matters for multinational and domestic clients, in addition to high-value merger control matters. Senior associate Radhika Seth has a niche focus on cartelisation and bid rigging cases. Rudresh Singh joined the competition team from Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India, and contributes over 12 years’ experience in the merger control sphere and in cartel investigations.

India > Banking and finance Tier 1

Trilegal maintains a market leading practice which serves public and private sector banks, multilateral agencies, and financial institutions. Ameya Khandge leads the practice with his ample experience in domestic and international leveraged financing deals, while Jimmy Joseph focuses on advising foreign banks on asset finance, distressed assets, and structured credit related matters. Kannan Rahul has a wealth of experience in handling transactions for banks, domestic and international credit funds, and corporates across a myriad of sectors, including healthcare, real estate, and renewable energy.

India > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Trilegal is a highly active and consistent player in both high-volume and high-value M&A, advising major domestic players in highly regulated sectors, domestic and international investors, and SMEs on complex, often cross-border transactions, joint ventures, and corporate structuring mandates. The firm offers integrated intellectual property, competition, tax, and regulatory expertise, and also has experience in innovative and niche transactional structures, including a standout capability in SPAC deals. Gurgaon-based Yogesh Singh leads the team, with notable expertise in distressed acquisitions and the domiciling of European companies in India respectively, alongside regular involvement in cross-border deals. Mumbai’s Sridhar Gorthi remains a standout dealmaker, advising on inbound and outbound M&A, including regular work with UK, US, and Asia-Pacific clients. In Bengalaru Kosturi Ghosh works with a number of regulated sector clients in fields such as IT, education, and agriculture, and handles M&A, corporate governance, and private equity work, while Rahul Matthan takes the lead on TMT sector transactions, including regulatory matters and operational issues. Harsh Pais left the firm in August 2022 to join Allen & Overy LLP's London office.

India > Data protection Tier 1

Forming part of its leading TMT practice, the Bengaluru-based data protection department at Trilegal is a popular choice of counsel for a large crop of multinationals, which turn to the team for advice on cross-border data transfers, monitoring of compliance with domestic regulations, and any issues arising from potential data breaches. Recent new client to the firm Toyota instructed the firm to assess data privacy implications of a new technology it is implementing to monitor illegal activity in cabs. Jyotsna Jayaram, one of the trio of lawyers that lead the team, was the main contact for Toyota, supported by senior associate Thomas Vallianeth. One of the firm’s founding partners Rahul Matthan co-leads the department with Jayaram and Nikhil Narendran, while counsel Jishnu Sanyal is another name to note, particularly in the technology space for fintech companies and gaming start-ups.

India > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 1

‘Exceptional for litigation‘, the dispute resolution team at Trilegal has a strong reputation for banking, construction and commercial disputes before courts of all levels. Practice head Shankh Sengupta ‘really stands out for his business-oriented solutions and legal strategies‘ and is particularly noted for company law disputes. Insolvency and white-collar criminal law are additional areas of expertise in the wider team, reflected in Nitesh Jain‘s practice. Jafar Alam has experience in regulatory, infrastructure and commercial matters, while Tine Abraham‘s varied caseload includes disputes pertaining to media rights licensing, infrastructure contracts, and equity/debt investment contracts. Up-and-coming partner Siddarth Ranade is gaining experience advising on pre-litigation strategic issues in a multitude of commercial disputes, and in April 2022 the team was strengthened with the addition of Vishrov Mukherjee from JSA Law. A further key partner hire saw Shalaka Patil arrive from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas in August 2022. In September of that year, the firm also invited environmental law and litigation expert Rajat Jariwal to join the partnership.

India > Labour and employment Tier 1

Trilegal has a stand-alone and specialised employment practice that works with India’s largest multinational corporations. Atul Gupta’s practice covers all aspects of employment law, with extensive capabilities and experience in dealing with high-value, complex and sensitive matters, including workplace harassment and misconduct investigations, large-scale employee exits and restructurings, and senior employee separations. Swarnima is praised for her ‘practical advice’ and specialises in matters related to compensation restructuring, framing and negotiating senior management contracts, workforce reorganizations, and compliance with social security laws. Rising star Parvathy Tharamel focuses on cases of employee separation, workplace diversity, and restrictive covenants, while Kanishka Maggon specialises in the manufacturing, renewable energy, and technology sectors.

India > Private equity and investment funds Tier 1

The team at Trilegal use ‘sound technical knowledge‘ to advise large private equity firms, state-backed and multilateral funds, and sovereign wealth funds on fund formation and structuring, offshore funding, and exits. Yogesh Singh heads the practice with his broad experience in advising international funds, investors, and corporates on the regulatory framework within India. Singh has lately directed his focus towards advising inbound investors from the Nordics. Aditya Jha specialises in funds and asset management, and regularly advises fund sponsors and investors, including financial institutions and family businesses; and Nishant Parikh uses his ample corporate expertise to advise private equity funds and corporates on investment matters.

India > Projects and energy Tier 1

As regular advisors to a plethora of international energy companies and international investors from Europe and Asia, including investment funds, development banks and sponsors, the projects and energy team at Trilegal works on some of the most lucrative and high-profile acquisitions and foreign investments into India’s renewable energy sector. Based in New Delhi and Mumbai, Neeraj Menon leads the practice. Menon specialises in mergers and acquisitions, project finance and development, assisting investors in due diligence, risk assessments, regulatory advice and contractual matters. Recent work includes advising heavyweight international clients on lending and acquisitions in large-scale solar and wind projects. The depth of the practice is indicated by the involvement of four partners in Gurugram: Saurabh Bhasin, Nayantara Nag, Amar Narula and Rahul Arora. Gautam Chabra and Nikharika Puri were promoted to partner, further strengthening the team. Waste management, railway infrastructure, PPP matters and electric vehicles are other notable areas of projects work handled by the practice.

India > TMT Tier 1

Trilegal‘s TMT practice, based predominantly in Bangalore, is heavily relied upon by some of the world’s largest technology, telecoms and media corporations. It advises on cross-border delivery of managed data services, data privacy mandates, electronic content deliveries, e-commerce, fintech and IoT . The team is also experienced in telecoms regulatory and dispute matters, representing clients before the full range of regulatory and dispute resolution forums. Rahul Matthan is a supremely experienced TMT partner involved in a number of policy initiatives and new legislation. Nikhil Narendran has substantial experience in counselling technology and telecom giants on a range of regulatory matters especially data protection, licensing and content liability in both traditional media and new media environments. Alongside Matthan, Jyotsna Jayaram has expertise in reviewing and restructuring tech-company models and policies in line with new regulations. With Gurgaon-based transaction specialist, Upasana Rao, the team provides a full service and has been boosted since counsel  Jaideep Reddy joined the team.

India > White-collar crime Tier 1

The sizable white-collar crime team at Trilegal handles a substantial volume of contentious and non-contentious work, including employee fraud, in-house compliances, anti-corruption/anti-bribery laws, and cyber frauds for multinational companies. The team works closely with the firm’s strong employment practice to provide clients with additional assistance on employment matters. Shankh Sengupta heads the practice and regularly represents Indian and multinational clients in corporate and commercial disputes before various courts and tribunals in India. Kunal Gupta has extensive experience in conducting anti-bribery, ESG, and forensic due diligence exercises for global investors and private equity firms, while Pallav Shukla focuses on defence in anti-corruption and money laundering enforcement.

India > Aviation (including aerospace and defence) Tier 2

The aviation team at Trilegal consistently advises a variety of clients on a full range of aviation and defence related matters; from advising investors on the setting up of new airlines, to representing defence companies before the Central Bureau of Investigation Court in New Delhi. The team makes full use of its expertise across multiple practice areas. Yogesh Singh co-heads the team alongside Delano Furtado. Furtado has expertise in advising cosmetics and multi-national companies, whilst Singh regularly advises on technology and defence matters, with an emphasis on investment, offsets, and policy. Ashish Bhan specialises in contentious matters and often advises multi-national defence companies.

India > Capital markets Tier 2

The accomplished team at Trilegal ‘sets the standard for professionalism and competent expertise’ and continues to run a thriving capital markets practice, regularly advising on the full scope of equity and debt issuances and linked instruments, from IPOs to foreign currency convertible bonds. Bhakta Patnaik heads the practice from Mumbai and often assists prestigious investment banks with domestic and overseas offerings, equity securities, and private placements of convertible and exchangeable bonds. Richa Choudhary is a key member of the team and advises on a full range of capital markets transactions, including masala, green and social bonds, as well as rights issues, preferential allotments and buybacks. Brajendu Bhaskar frequently acts for domestic and overseas issuers and underwriters on equity transactions, including foreign institutional investments into India, structured debt issuances and qualified institutional placements. Counsel Albin Thomas has varied experience in representing issuers and underwriters in domestic and international transactions across a range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, energy and real estate.

India > Insurance Tier 2

The team at Trilegal draws on its wealth of experience in corporate law to advise investors, investment companies and multinational corporates on transactions in the Indian insurance sector. Ashwyn Misra has expertise in entry strategies, M&A and corporate restructuring, and frequently advises on large unique acquisitions and joint ventures. Sridhar Gorthi uses his varied experience across multiple sectors, combined with his knowledge of corporate law, to represent international and domestic companies on entries and exits, and major M&A transactions in India.

India > Real estate and construction Tier 2

With the arrival of Sai Krishna Bharathan and Vivek Bajaj from AZB & Partners, Trilegal has further bolstered its capabilities in the financial and commercial space in real estate. Furthermore, Mridul Kumbalath in Bangalore, Kunaal Shah in Mumbai and Rahul Arora in Gurgaon offer technical expertise across India’s real estate and construction hotspots. Support for investors and developers in acquisitions and financial restructurings in the warehousing, logistics and high-value residential spaces are regular highlights for the team.

India > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

The team at Trilegal displays a ‘high level of technical legal expertise‘ when advising distressed companies, creditors, lenders and investors on complex restructurings and liquidation processes, both in and out of court. Yogesh Singh leads the practice from Gurgaon and is often involved in first-of-their-kind restructurings and distressed asset transactions. Aniruddha Sen is ‘reliable, affable and conscientious‘ in his approach when providing advice to investment banks and international funds on debt restructurings. The team also directs its focus towards advising strategic investors looking to acquire businesses in distress under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Nishant Parikh is a key contact and frequently assists with the submission of resolution plans. Kannan Rahul has substantial experience in assisting resolution professionals and financial institutions in insolvency processes, in addition to handling debt restructurings for clients in the public and private sectors. Former practice head Harsh Pais left the firm.

India > Tax Tier 2

Trilegal‘s full-service tax team is the practice of choice for a host of multinationals and domestic heavyweights in the manufacturing, financial services and technology sectors, among others. Recent years have seen rapid growth for the practice both in its personnel and its client base, with 2021 and 2022 seeing a number of new companies instructing the team. Appreciated for his ‘quick and pragmatic advice‘, practice head Himanshu Sinha specialises in both contentious and advisory aspects of direct tax law, and he has been a regular choice of counsel for the Indian government. Samsuddha Majumder is a key partner contact with two decades of experience across both indirect and direct tax, and at the counsel level, Aditi Goyal, Komal Dani and Shashank Shekhar round out the core tax team.

India > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 2

Focused on strategic M&A and private equity deals, the team at Trilegal is highly active within the healthcare, pharma, medical devices, and meditech spaces, advising international funds and other investors into the Indian healthcare sector, as well as pharma and medical innovation companies. Alongside its strong cross-border transactional capabilities, the firm is also able to offer integrated regulatory, intellectual property, and data protection expertise, and has a particular strength in full-service support for online healthcare companies. The practice includes a number of key names, such as Mumbai's Harsh Maggon, who advises several major hospital and pharma companies, Bengalaru-based Kosturi Ghosh, who combines M&A and private equity work with advice on clinical trials, manufacturing of drugs and medical products, and regulatory issues, and corporate co-head Yogesh Singh in Gurgaon, who regularly advises life sciences clients on strategic acquisitions and Indian entry strategy.

India > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3

Trilegal‘s dispute resolution team has ‘in-depth knowledge of the nuances and intricacies involved in any matter‘ and acts in both international and domestic arbitrations involving a broad range of corporate and commercial issues. Clients that looked to the practice in high-profile matters recently include NCR and Shanghai Electric, represented by Nitesh Jain and Ashish Bhan, respectively. Disputes department head Shankh Sengupta is experienced in ad-hoc and institutional arbitrations arising from construction contracts, hotel management and other commercial contracts. Tine Abraham is highly regarded and regularly represents Indian and multinational clients in complex institutional and ad-hoc arbitrations before various courts and tribunals in India.

India > Fintech and financial services regulatory Tier 3

The practice at Trilegal acts for clients operating in a financial services sector that frequently undergoes rapid change; the team offers assistance with contentious and non-contentious and enforcement matters. Shruti Rajan leads the team and has a particular interest in enforcement and governance, and handles pre-contentious issues such as regulatory inspections and investigations. Garima Joshi has a wealth of experience in providing strategic advice relating to regulatory and compliance issues. The team regularly acts for financial sponsors, listed companies, and domestic and foreign financial institutions. Other key members of the team include counsels Anubhav Ghosh and Prashant Prakhar; Ghosh’s practice focuses mostly on contentious matters and concerns financial sector intermediaries, and Prakhar often advises multinational companies which face regulatory enforcement under exchange control and securities laws.

City focus: Bengaluru > Leading firms

Intellectual property