IndusLaw > Bangalore, India > Firm Profile

IndusLaw > The Legal 500 Rankings

India > Capital markets Tier 1

IndusLaw‘s practice remains a market leader for big-ticket transactions, particularly industry-first tech IPOs, including advising on the IPO of online food delivery unicorn Zomato. In Mumbai, practice head Manan Lahoty is active in the domestic and international capital markets scene and focuses on assisting with public offerings and advising on securities law for major investment banks and corporate clients. Manshoor Nazki is a key contact for equity and debt offerings. Delhi-based Vishal Yaduvanshi is experienced in handling equity capital markets matters for underwriters and issuers. The team is backed by a strong group of experienced associates, including Priyadarshini Rao in the Mumbai office, who advises on SEBI and ESOP regulations.

India > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

IndusLaw fields an extensive corporate bench of M&A experts across all major corporate arenas. Gaurav Dani maintains strong relationships with acquisitive US corporates and Kartik Ganapathy, Manish Gupta and Avimukt Darr among others execute similarly impressive acquisitions for both domestic and international clients. Of the numerous new partner additions throughout 2020/21, Rashi Saraf (rejoining after a stint at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas) enhanced the team’s venture capital and private equity bench strength across sectors including healthcare, education, real estate and IT. In addition to a spate of technology-sector deals, Bangalore-based Anindya Ghosh closed an impressive cross-border acquisition for a fitness company as part of a major global expansion project.

India > Data protection Tier 1

A dedicated team at IndusLaw is in demand for advice not only relating to Indian data protection laws but is also well versed on many of the international regimes including those of the EU and California. It is therefore well placed to advise on cross-border data processing and transfers. Its client base is made up of  domestic and global corporations and clients are referred to the team by well known, global law firms. It also participates in government legislation proposals; it has been involved in the consultation processes for the Personal Data Protection Bill. Based in Delhi and Bengaluru, Avimukt Darr, Srinivas Katta, Suneeth Katarki, Namita Viswanath and Shreya Suri lead the practice. In addition to data transfers, data sharing and privacy matters, it assists clients on security breaches, blockchain technology and a range of disputes. Its clients include those in financial services, health care and logistics and telecoms.

India > Labour and employment Tier 1

At IndusLaw, the employment practice group benefits from a seasoned bench able to assist with the full range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Team head Avik Biswas is ‘energetic, bold and gives very practical advice to navigate complex issues‘ when drafting HR policies and assessing internal regulatory compliance; strong support comes from Sowmya Kumar – who made partner in April 2021 – on global reductions-in-force following the Covid-19 pandemic and new labour code transitions, as well as senior associate Ivana Chatterjee. Recent disputes pertain to wrongful termination allegations and unionised workforces, often handled by litigators Padmaja Kaul and Shabbeer Ahmed, while POSH and misconduct matters, workforce restructurings and M&A due diligence are other focus areas. Vaibhav Bhardwaj recently arrived from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, while Manishi Pathak departed for Anhad Law in spring 2021.

India > Private equity and investment funds Tier 1

Strengthened by strategic partner hires and a newly established tax practice, IndusLaw continues to increase its presence in the private equity, venture capital and fund investment fields. For promoters and funds clients alike, the team handles entry-stage investments through to exit strategy. Kartik Ganapathy is a go-to senior partner for series C investments and onwards. Avimukt Darr applies his regulatory expertise of the data protection and the fintech sector to associated investments while Anindya Ghosh handles significant investments into e-commerce and food delivery platforms. Further noteworthy individuals across the Delhi and Bangalore offices include Gaurav Dani, Suneeth Katarki and Srinivas Katta.

India > TMT Tier 1

With offices nationwide, IndusLaw‘s TMT practice is well situated to advise on complex, technical matters for a broad roster of high-profile domestic entities and multinational corporations. Delhi-based Avimukt Darr boasts a wide-reaching corporate and commercial practice, with recent highlights including regulatory analyses and multi-jurisdictional online listing agreements. Also in Delhi, newly promoted partner Shreya Suri is a key contact for clients operating in the fintech, cryptocurrency, and cybersecurity spaces. In Bangalore, Namita Viswanath is recommended for her extensive IT and telecoms experience, while Suneeth Katarki regularly advises on data privacy, fintech, and consumer tech regulations. Seasoned adviser Srinivas Katta is recommended for his expertise in the start-up arena.

India > Banking and finance Tier 2

IndusLaw takes on impressive work in the energy and renewables sector, most recently with regard to sponsor-side debt restructuring mandates and high-value project financing arrangements. Lender-side transactions in the energy and industrial sectors are also present on the deal list, with the team advising domestic and international banks and NBFCs. Also handled are structured finance transactions involving substantial regulatory considerations.

India > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 2

IndusLaw’s ‘excellent’ litigation group has an extensive national presence, with offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad, and has strength in commercial, insolvency and real estate disputes. Bangalore-based Lomesh Kiran Nidumuri is recommended for shareholder disputes, contract litigation, and insolvency cases, whilst Amit Jajoo, who leads the Mumbai team, is experienced in restructuring and banking-related disputes. Mayank Mishra in Delhi and Sushmita Gandhi, also in Mumbai, are further core members of the team. The group also has an active pro bono practice.

India > Financial services regulatory Tier 2

IndusLaw is highlighted as its ‘understanding of tech and finance is incisive‘. The dedicated fintech team, which is part of a larger technology practice, advises investors and promoters in the technology, financial services and fintech space, especially in relation to due diligence, regulatory requirements and business and product structuring. Its clients include insurance companies, mutual funds, alternative investment funds, and online brokerage companies. Its focus is on electronic payment systems, including new digital finance-related products in addition to its cryptocurrency and blockchain expertise. Examples of work includes advising on the launch of ‘InvestorAi’, a stock broking trading platform and an online credit card bill payment platform. It is also involved in RuleZero; a proprietary technology platform based on machine learning and blockchain technology in order to automate and manage equity ownerships for start-ups. The senior partners include Suneeth Katarki, Srinivas Katta, Avimukt Darr and Namita Viswanath (‘an excellent client relationship manager‘) who provide their fintech expertise in the context of corporate work including joint ventures. Shreya Suri is also a noted partner for her regulatory experience.

India > Projects and energy Tier 2

IndusLaw maintains a strong reputation for handling a diverse range of work in the traditional and alternative energy sectors. Practice head Arun Kumar and Hyderabad-based co-head Deepak Chowdhury are retained by developers and infrastructure funds for advice on complex land procurements.

India > White-collar crime Tier 2

IndusLaw’s stand-alone anti-bribery and anti-corruption practice handles a breadth of cross-border investigations in every stage of the legal process. Co-heads Amit Jajoo and Sushmita Gandhi are experienced in representing corporate, multinational, and high net-worth clients before different judicial bodies across the country in complex civil and commercial litigation and criminal matters. Avik Biswas who co-leads the team brings his in-depth know-how of internal corporate structures, demonstrated in the recent re-designing of an entire anti-bribery compliance structure for a major Indian corporation. Padmaja Kaul, Kartik Ganapathy, and Sowmya Kumar also co-lead the team and were joined by Vaibhav Bhardwaj from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co in May 2021.

India > Antitrust and competition Tier 3

At IndusLaw, the practice was strengthened with the arrival of new partner Unnati Agrawal, who joined the firm from J Sagar Associates in January 2021 and jointly leads the team with Avimukt Darr. The group handles antitrust litigation before the CCI and merger control matters, with recent highlights including advising energy company Adani Power on an acquisition. The team is also active in cartel investigations and leniency applications.

Intellectual property Tier 3

IndusLaw provides comprehensive expertise across trade marks, copyright and patents in conjunction with commercial advice which provides ‘unique business perspectives’ to clients. Suneeth Katarki is advising clients on acquisitions and investments, including multinational and Indian brand owners and online marketplace and e-commerce companies. Partner Bharadwaj Jaishankar (who joined the team in June 2021 from Diageo) has rich experience in the protection and enforcement of IP assets combined with the management or commercialisation of IP assets in the context of corporate/commercial transactions, while Lomesh Kiran Nidumuri and Amit Jajoo (Mumbai) focus on disputes. On the corporate responsibility front, the firm has been involved in the mass vaccination drive by the Max Hospital and the Covid taskforce group to help provide hospitals with oxygen cylinders and medicines. Aditi Verma Thakur departed the firm in May 2021 to join Ediplis Counsels. All lawyers are based in Bengaluru unless otherwise stated.

India > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

IndusLaw represents resolution professionals, institutional creditors (including banking consortiums) and debtors in restructuring and insolvency proceedings under IBC guidelines. The bench — which includes Lomesh Kiran Nidumuri, Amit Jajoo and Sushmita Gandhi — regularly advises on cross-border, out-out-court strategies and actions through the NCLT.

India > Real estate and construction