DSK Legal > Mumbai, India > Firm Profile
DSK Legal Offices
1203, One World Centre, Tower 2B,
Floor 12B, 841, Senapati Bapat Marg,
Elphinstone Road, Mumbai – 400013, India
India
DSK Legal > The Legal 500 Rankings
India > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 1
Acting for an impressive roster of clients that includes major international and domestic pharma, construction, and power companies as well as governmental entities, the litigation offering at DSK Legal runs the gamut of contentious matters. Managing partner Anand Desai, in Mumbai, oversees the team and regularly represents clients before the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court, handling a broad range of high-profile matters. Senior partner H.S. Bobby Chandhoke is a seasoned commercial and corporate disputes expert with a broad practice, while Parag Khandhar stands out for his expertise in media and entertainment disputes. At the principal associate level, Iti Agarwal is a key contact for stakeholder disputes and regulatory issues in the projects sector. Nirav Shah left the team in April 2023.Practice head(s):
Anand Desai
Other key lawyers:
H. S. Bobby Chandhoke; Iti Agarwal; Dinesh Pardasani; Samit Shukla; Jatin Pore; Kirat Singh Nagra; Samir Malik; Parag Khandhar
Key clients
Yum! Restaurants (India) Private Limited
CREDAI-MCHI
Minister of Women and Child Development and Minister of Minority Affairs
Nabinagar Power Generating Company Limited, Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited and NTPC limited
Bhansali Productions Pvt Ltd,
Alstom System India Private Limited (Alstom)
Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL)
Aditya Birla Finance Limited (ABFL)
Mallika SA Investments LLC and SA Mallika Ventures Limited
Hitachi Rail STS India Private Limited (Hitachi)
Air India Ltd.
Motilal Oswal Real Estate Investment Advisors II Private Limited
IIRF Holdings III Limited, Mauritius and Vistra ITCL (India) Limited
IL&FS Financial Services Limited
Minda Industries Ltd.
Strides Pharma Science Limited
Schindler India Pvt Ltd. & Schindler Aufzuge Und Fahrtreppen AG.
Jindal Saw Limited
Brihan-Mumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (“BEST”)
Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCCL)
Manash Lifestyle Private Limited
Gaja Trustee Company Private Limited
Informa Markets India Private Limited
Razorpay Software Private Limited
Network 18 Media and Investment Ltd.
Head Digital Works Pvt Ltd; Play Games 24×7 Private Limited; and |Junglee Games India Private Limited
A2Z Infra Engineering Ltd
Axis Bank Limited
Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd.
State Bank of India
Dish TV Ltd.
Fortis Healthcare Ltd and its subsidiaries
Bharti International (Singapore) Ltd.
Larsen and Toubro Limited
G.R. Infraprojects Ltd.
Great Eastern Energy Corporation Ltd.
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited
Azure Power Forty-Three Private Limited
Spandana Sphoorty Financial Ltd.
Godrej Properties Limited
Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL)
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL)
C2R Projects LLP
Tata Power Company Ltd.
MSA Global LLC
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)
National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India
India > Real estate and construction Tier 1
Drawing on the presence of a highly experienced team, DSK Legal stands out in the market for its expertise in buying, selling, leasing and developing property. The team also notably handles commercial real estate issues, including private equity investments and debt funding, and has been at the forefront of RERA-related advisory work, with Brijita Prakash from the Bangalore office bringing in extensive experience in compliance, consumer laws and anticompetitive laws. Previously equity partner at Dua Associates, Srinivas B.R. now strengthens the DSK Legal team, advising on structuring real estate transactions, foreign direct investments in real estate, and infrastructure projects, while Saloni Mody's areas of expertise include equity and debt investments in the real estate sector. Sajit Suvarna heads the practice from Mumbai and regularly instructs on development and construction of residential projects. Mitali Naik and Sagar Kadam are also highly recommended.Practice head(s):
Sajit Suvarna
Other key lawyers:
Srinivas B.R.; Brijita Prakash; Niraj Kumar; Sagar Kadam; Saloni Mody; Bhushan Panse; Mitali Naik
Testimonials
‘The team is very good and competitive. Srinivas B.R. and Brijita Prakash are highly professional and ethical in their approach. They do thorough research before advising their clients and inform them in advance of any issues that may arise. They also offer suggestions and advice on how to mitigate problems.’
‘The team is definitely set for a period of growth, and the only challenge would be to increase quality resources to support the growth of a firm that has clearly set high standards in the delivery of its services. Unlike other law firms that take a dogmatic approach to work and are often fearful when it comes to litigation, DSK Legal is open to looking at the matter from different angles and proposes practical and actionable measures to mitigate risk. This approach makes DSK Legal the first port of call for major property purchases.’
‘The team is characterised by competence and assertiveness.’
‘Srinivas B.R. is one of the few lawyers who are well-trained in both corporate law and property law. This gives him an insight into complex, multidimensional transactions involving land and construction projects.’
‘Brijita Prakash brings a sense of sophistication and ethics to the practice of real estate law that sets her apart from her peers. Her ability to grasp nuances and think holistically enhances client interactions and brings much needed clarity to decision makers to make effective and informed decisions.’
‘The team is well qualified, has a sound knowledge of Indian laws, and keeps up to date with the latest developments in the legal landscape. Well versed in technology.’
Key clients
MO Alternate Investment Advisors Private Limited and Motilal Oswal Home Finance Limited
Sunteck Lifespace Private Limited
HDFC Capital Affordable Real Estate Fund
Sanchita Realty Private Limited (ABIL Group)
Dalmia Nisus Finance Investment Managers LLP
Avighna Group
Ascendas-Firstspace Development Management Private Limited
Swamih Investment Fund I
Sila Malabar Hill Real Estate LLP
Birla Estates Private Limited
Mahindra Lifespace Developers Limited
Netra Software Technologies Private Limited
Alliance Infrastructure Projects Private Limited
House of Hiranandani
Indis Group
Laguna Clothing LLP
Assetz Property Group
Phoenix Group
Prestige Estates Projects Limited
Iinspira-Shilpa Structures Private Limited
Lodha Group
M/s. Vishal Enterprises
Nestled Haven Developers LLP
Modern Asset
Whiteoaks
Puravankara Projects Limited
Brigade Enterprises
Capitaland
Godrej Properties
Aequs SEZ Private Limited
Kalyani Developers
Piramal Group
Century Developers
Mantri Group
Goyal & Hariyana Group
Work highlights
- Advised MO Alternate Investment Advisors Private Limited and Motilal Oswal Home Finance Limited on a debt investment of ₹450cr in Ativa Real Estate Developers Private Limited and Skyscape Developers Private Limited.
- Advised and assisted Sunteck Lifespace Private Limited in respect of acquisition of development rights of property admeasuring in aggregate 28935 square meters situate at Village Navghar (Mira Road), Taluka Thane and District Thane.
- Advised CapitaLand Group (Ascendas) on its investment in a forward purchase transaction for acquisition of 1m square feet of built up area in an IT Park to be created, at Outer Ring Road, Bangalore, India.
India > Antitrust and competition Tier 2
The New Delhi-based competition law practice at DSK Legal stands out for its extensive expertise, often advising on merger control, cartelisation issues, bid-rigging, anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance claims, and compliance matters. The department is led by the tetrad of Abdullah Hussain, who has an excellent track record acting for clients in the manufacturing, aviation, pharmaceuticals, shipping and tech sectors; Kanika Chaudhary Nayar, who has extensive expertise in handling cartel investigations, abuse of dominance cases, anti-competitive agreements and merger control filings; Kunal Mehra, a key name for assisting prominent corporates with competition compliance work; and Abhishek Singh Baghel, who is sought after by international clients regarding a range of contentious and non-contentious competition matters.Practice head(s):
Abdullah Hussain; Kanika Chaudhary Nayar; Kunal Mehra; Abhishek Singh Baghel
Other key lawyers:
Danish Khan
Testimonials
‘Ability to understand the business context and background, and connect with the latest developments in the law.’
‘Easy accessibility and availability.’
‘The team is quick and also very flexible on billing.’
‘Abhishek Singh Baghel is a hands-on partner with extensive knowledge and experience in the area. Always love to work with him.’
‘The DSK team is second to none in navigating complex merger approvals in India.’
‘Kanika Chaudhary Nayar and Abdullah Hussain are standout antitrust practitioners at DSK.’
‘The attorneys at DSK are very knowledgeable and responsive.’
‘Kanika Chaudhary Nayar and Abdullah Hussain are outstanding lawyers. ’
Key clients
Tamarai Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Minda Corporation
East India Petroleum Private Limited
IDP Education Ltd, Victoria, Australia
Andhra Pradesh Excise Department and the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation
Bayer AG
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited
Mahyco Seeds
JSW Paints Private Limited
J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited & JCB India Limited
Quality Care India Limited (“CARE”)
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund
OpenX Technologies Inc.
AlpsAlpineCo. Ltd., Japan
IndiaMart Intermesh Limited
Manash Lifestyle Private Limited ‘Purple’
Producers Guild of India
Planet Holding Limited, UK
Taboola India Pvt. Ltd.
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi
Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Charitable Trust Hospital, Vasant Kunj, Delhi
Work highlights
- Represented the Andhra Pradesh Excise Department and the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation before the CCI in an abuse of dominance case filed by the International Spirits and Wines Association of India.
- Represented GMR before the CCI and subsequently before the Supreme Court, in abuse of dominance proceedings initiated by Air Works relating to the Hyderabad International Airport.
- Advising East India Petroleum Private Limited on its compensation claim filed against South Asia LPG Private Limited before the NCLAT.
India > Banking and finance Tier 2
DSK Legal is highly active in the banking and finance sector and works with a mix of private sector and public sector clients, spanning both borrowers and lenders. Sajit Suvarna and Srinivas B.R. are considered among the leading names in the real estate and construction finance sector, while Anjan Dasgupta is renowned for advising Indian and international clients on financial services regulations and policies. Ajay Shaw handles advisory and transactional work pertaining to corporate funding, project funding and structured funding, while Roochi Loona specialises in representing public sector banks and government authorities in project finance and structured finance transactions. Other key contacts include Ashish Pahariya, Karan Ajitsaria, Saloni Mody and Avinash Kumar Khard.Practice head(s):
Sajit Suvarna; Anjan Dasgupta; Ajay Shaw; Srinivas B.R.; Karan Ajitsaria; Saloni Mody; Avinash Kumar Khard; Ashish Pahariya
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The people and technical expertise of DSK Legal stand out.’
Key clients
AllCargo Inland Park Private Limited
Aurelius Healthcare Investments B.V.
Edelweiss Group
Aseem Infrastructure Finance Limited
HSBC Bank Canada
Deutsche Bank AG
IndusInd Bank Limited
City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited
ANZ Bank
Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation
Canara Bank, London Branch
Bajaj Finance Limited
Arka Fincap Limited
Union Bank of India
Prius Commercial Projects Private Limited
Nitco Limited
Investec India
Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited
Canara Bank
State Bank of Mauritius
Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited
Jai Beverages Pvt. Ltd
Eternis Fine Chemicals Limited
NIIF Infrastructure Finance Limited
Valecha LM Toll Private Limited
Flipkart Internet Private Limited
National Infrastructure Investment Fund
PhonePe Private Limited
MO Alternate Investment Advisors Private Limited
Motilal Oswal Home Finance Limited
Piramal Group
Indian Bank
Bank of Baroda, New York Branch
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited
Wise Payments
i3 Verticals LLC
Athaang Infrastructure Private Limited
Leela Group
Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited
Work highlights
- Advised CIDCO on the financing aggregating in three different matters pertaining to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme.
- Assisted Aditya Birla Finance Limited, with the securitisation and assignment of various secured and unsecured loans.
- Advised the Debenture Holders, entities belonging to the Edelweiss Group with the financing extended to Cadence Enterprises Private Limited.
India > Corporate and M&A Tier 2
Demonstrating significant strength in the corporate advisory, M&A, and regulatory compliance spaces, DSK Legal’s team provides a bespoke service to international and domestic entities. The firm’s sector-specific expertise is particularly broad, covering industries ranging from life sciences to real estate, and the addition of Kunal Mehra from Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India in June 2022 bolsters the group’s offering on de-mergers and private equity transactions. From Mumbai, managing partner Anand Desai has over 30 years of domestic and international experience, and Hemang Parekh focuses on client’s investments. New Delhi-based Aparajit Bhattacharya is an expert on joint ventures and corporate restructurings, whilst Gaurav Mistry specialises in foreign investments law matters.Practice head(s):
Anand Desai; Aparajit Bhattacharya; Hemang Parekh; Ajay Shaw; Niraj Kumar; Rishi Anand; Srinivas B.R.; Harvinder Singh; Aninda Pal; Sharath Chandrasekhar; Kunal Mehra; Gaurav Mistry; Siddharth Suresh; Nakul Batra; Jayesh Kothari
Other key lawyers:
Akanksha Tiwary
Testimonials
‘Great expertise, responsive, overall excellent.’
‘Aparajit Bhattacharya and Harvinder Singh are our “go to” lawyers for all complex matters in India. They are extremely smart, strategic and responsive experts with whom we have complete trust and faith.’
‘The Corporate and M&A practice at DSK is led a strong group with deep understanding of the laws to execute complex arrangements while ensuring compliances and control. This is a unique skill set in a M&A situation.’
‘Aninda Pal stood out for his diligence and precision.’
‘The Corporate and M&A practice has a mix of young partners who have a wealth of experience amongst them beyond their years given the volume and variety of work that they do. Their insight on market practice and customary commercial positions facilitates negotiations and quicker closings. We have found that they value relationships and to that end they are flexible on fees without affecting the quality of advice and work product.’
‘Hemang Parekh – is very calm and collected even during heated negotiations, always open to suggestions and feedback and will take pains to ensure that clients are satisfied with quality and costs.’
‘Aninda Pal – a young partner who have a wealth of experience and also very calm and disarming personality while dealing with aggressive counterparties.’
Key clients
ReNew Power Private Limited
Kotak Investment Advisors Limited
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund
i3 Verticals, Inc.
Quality Care India Limited
Eurofins Advinus Limited and Eurofins Advinus Biopharma Services India Private Limited
Vyom Labs Private Limited
Auto Hangar (India) Private Limited
IndiaMart IntermeshLimited
Gupshup Inc., USA
Arrina Education Services Private Limited
FINN Partners Limited
Appnit Technologies Private Limited
Seniority Private Limited
Helmier Private Limited
Imagicaaworld Entertainment Limited
OmniActive Healthcare Technologies Limited
CK Jaipuria Group
Bluebrahma Clean Energy Solutions Private Limited
Conflux Technologies Private Limited
Breakbounce India Private Limited
Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Private Limited
Statkraft IH Holding AS
IDP Education
Quest Global Group, Singapore
Syntizen Technologies Private Limited
Garagepreneurs Internet Private Limited and Quadrillion Finance Private Limited
Navanc Data Sciences Private Limited
Dynamic India Fund S4 US I, India Advantage Fund S4 I and India Advantage Fund S5 I (funds managed by ICICI Venture)
Planet Holding Limited, UK
CapitaLand Group (Ascendas)
Excel Controlinkage Private Limited
M2P Solutions Private Limited
Aequs Private Limited
Finsight Business Solutions
Kewaunee Labway India Private Limited
Positive Conversations Private Limited
Bizloan Private Limited
SA Global
Cybercity Builders & Developers Private Limited
M/s. Vishal Enterprises
Tenshi Kaizen Private Limited
Entropik Technologies Private Limited
Work highlights
- Advised ReNew Power Private Limited (“ReNew”) in relation to its joint venture with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Japan (“Mitsui”), whereby Mitsui (through its wholly owned subsidiary) has acquired 49% stake in ReNew’s 1,300 MW capacity RTC (round-the-clock) project (“Project”).
- Advised Kotak Investment Advisors Limited (“KIAL”), in relation to the investment of USD 500,000,000 (US Dollars Five Hundred Million only) by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (“ADIA”), in Kotak India Commercial Real Estate Fund IFSC (“GIFT Fund”).
- Advised TPG backed Quality Care India Limited (“CARE”) in relation to the acquisition of (i) Convenient Hospitals Limited (“CHL”); (ii) Heartcare Institute & Research Centre (India) Private Limited (“HIRC”); (iii) imaging business of Convenient Imaging Solutions, a partnership firm (“CIS”); and (iv) pharmacy business of Central India Pharmacy, a partnership firm (“CIP”) (collectively “CHL Group Entities”).
India > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 2
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.
India > Projects and energy Tier 2
The ’collaborative and solution-oriented’ team at DSK Legal assists governments, concessionaires, and contractors with all aspects of bids, consortium arrangements, and EPC contracts. Key areas of instruction for the group include highway infrastructure projects, renewable energy-related M&A transactions, and complex power purchase agreements. New Delhi-based Dinesh Pardasani and Samir Malik have extensive expertise in advising on cross-border transactions and regulatory compliance. In Mumbai, Anjan Dasgupta specialises in energy project finance, Ajay Shaw focuses on supply contracts, and Avinash Kumar Khard represents stakeholders in finance transactions. Ashish Pahariya is very experienced in handling railway projects, and associate partner Rimali Batra acts on oil and gas matters.Practice head(s):
Anjan Dasgupta; Ajay Shaw; Dinesh Pardasani; Samir Malik; Avinash Kumar Khard; Ashish Pahariya
Other key lawyers:
Rimali Batra; Roochi Loona; Iti Agarwal
Testimonials
‘The team is very collaborative and solution oriented. They are very attentive to clients’ needs.’
‘Dinesh Pardasani is a great professional who provides in depth and strong solutions for clients. He is always prompt, always available and ensures the best possible solutions for disputes.’
‘Dinesh Pardasani provided a conscientious client service.’
‘DSK Legal has an experienced team of lawyers.’
‘A team of dedicated and motivated lawyers.’
Key clients
City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited
Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
INDINFRAVIT TRUST & LTIDPL IndvIT Services Limited (“LISL”)
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Limited
Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited
MSI Global Private Limited
Mumbai Port Trust
RITES Limited
Gail (India) Limited
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel Limited
Aurelius Healthcare Investments BV
Ayursundra BV
Canara Bank
Hindustan Infralog Pvt Ltd
DP World
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited
GMR Airports Limited
J M Baxi Group
Phelan Energy Group Limited
Athaang Infrastructure Private Limited
TATA Projects Limited
Udit Infraworld Private Limited
Renew Power Private Limited
UPL Limited
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited
Ministry of Railways, Government of India and RITES Limited
KPMG Restructuring
Cargo Service Center (India) Private Limited and Delhi Cargo Service Center Private Limited
Azure Power
Sterlite Technologies Limited
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited
Schwihag AG
Marquardt India Private Limited
Bhilai Engineering Corporation Ltd (BECL)
IDE Water Assets Limited (IDE) (earlier known as IDE Technologies Limited)
Jindal Saw Limited (“JSAW”)
Hitachi Rail STS India Private Limited
GAIL
GHV (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board
Cushman & Wakefield Property Management Services India
GAIL (Gas) Limited and GAIL (India) Limited
ATC TIRES PRIVATE LIMITED
Amazon
Cognita Asia Holdings Pte Ltd
J. R. Simplot Company, USA`
Terminal Investment Limited Sàrl
Keolis SA
Work highlights
- Advised ReNew Power Private Limited on its acquisition of a 527.9MW wind and solar asset portfolio.
- Advising engineering services company RITES Limited, involving rail regulatory matters; the client is assisting the Ministry of Railways.
- Advised the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited on the Navi Mumbai International Airport project.
India > TMT Tier 2
Counting businesses from across the advertising, sports, and gaming sectors amongst its key clientele, the DSK Legal team specialises in contentious and non-contentious aspects surrounding IP, regulatory, and tech matters. The team is particularly strong on IT, software development, and e-commerce issues, with the Mumbai-based team of Anand Desai and Chandrima Mitra bringing vast expertise in advising companies in the media and entertainment industries to the group. Parag Khandhar focuses on IP and commercial disputes, and in New Delhi, Rishi Anand handles cross-border M&A in the tech field and Nakul Batra is an expert on emerging tech. Siddharth Suresh operates out of Bengaluru, concentrating on commercial law issues in fintech.Practice head(s):
Anand Desai; Chandrima Mitra; Rishi Anand; Parag Khandhar; Siddharth Suresh; Nakul Batra
Testimonials
‘DSK is the best legal firm I have worked. They are sharp, knowledgeable, experienced, practical, resourceful and proactive.’
‘Anand Desai in my opinion is the best media lawyer firm owner I have come across. He is direct, forthright and respectful without being deferential with screen talent, who are often used to being treated with kid gloves.’
‘Chandrima Mitra, our POC at the firm, is the best professional media lawyer in the business. She is able to work across all kinds of areas from production to marketing to distribution to syndication to co-productions to talent agreements, and her experience and demeanour, make her a formidable force. ’
‘The media practice is the best amongst its peers. DSK’s media practice represents a majority of the industry and is at the forefront of any innovative structures, terms, deals that take place. ’
‘Ms Chandrima Mitra who runs the media practice is extremely competent. Has a tremendous breadth of experience on both the legal as well as understanding of the business side of the industry.’
Key clients
Amazon Seller Services Private Limited and its entities
Amitabh Bachchan
Appcino Technologies Private Limited and the promoters thereof
Appnit Technologies Private Limited
Artha Venture Fund I
Arvind Ltd.
B62 Studios Pvt Ltd (Aditya Dhar)
Bhartipay Services Private Limited
Bitcipher Labs LLP (CoinSwitch)
By The Gram
Cocoblu Retail Limited
Conflux Technologies Private Limited
D’Yavol X
Dharma Productions
Digital News Publisher Association
Earthsky Pictures
Edelweiss General Insurance Company Limited
Emmay Entertainment and Motion Pictures LLP
Garagepreneurs Internet Private Limited
Glamyo Technologies Private Limited
HDFC Securities Limited
Healthquad Capital Advisors Private Limited
Herbalife International Inc., USA and Herbalife International India Private Limited
House of Masaba
Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited
India Today Group
Inking Great Stories Private Limited
Kri Entertainment
Mumbai City FC
Navanc Data Sciences Private Limited
OnePlus Technology India Private Limited
Positive Conversations Private Limited
Quadrillion Finance Private Limited
Quest Global Group
Rajkamal Studios
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Productions
Red Chillies Entertainments
Reliance Retail Limited & Reliance Brands Limited
Relicense AG
Resilient Innovations Private Limited (BharatPe)
Salman Khan Ventures
Shanghai Bean Tech Company Limited
Roy Kapur Productions
Sonalika Group
Sonu Sood and Sonu Infotech Private Limited
Sonu Sood and Sood Infomatics LLP
Staqu Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Starlight Pictures
Suitable Pictures
Technogen IT Services Pte. Ltd.
Tiger Baby Digital LLP
Tiger Baby Records LLP
UltraTech Cement Limited
Uniworld Being Talented
Versis Entertainment LLP
India > White-collar crime Tier 2
DSK Legal represents a broad range of corporate and individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals of significant public profile, in the full range of white-collar proceedings, including internal compliance, investigations, and full criminal trials. The team is able to handle proceedings brought by the CBI, SFIO, and state and local police forces, with a broad geographic presence across India, with expertise encompassing issues such as fraud and bribery, sexual harassments, corporate malfeasance, and insider trading. Leaders in the team include managing partner Anand Desai and Vikrant Singh Negi, experienced practitioners in the Mumbai office, and New Dehli-based Prashant Mishra, Prashant Pakhiddey, and Saleem Hasan Ansari. Other key team members in Mumbai include Ekta Tyagi, who has strong expertise in corporate investigations, and senior associate Pratik Thakkar, an accomplished litigator.Practice head(s):
Anand Desai; Vikrant Singh Negi; Prashant Mishra; Prashant Pakhiddey; Saleem Hasan Ansari
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Vikrant Singh Negi handles most of our issues in the firm and is an excellent lawyer. He is balanced in his approach and always comes forward with sensible and meaningful advice.‘
‘Vikrant Singh Negi is aware of most issues in this space. Together with his team they are capable of handling all issues.‘
Key clients
Aditya Birla Group
More Retail Private Limited
Piramal Enterprises Limited
Mott Mcdonald
ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited
Ares SSG
InterContinental Hotels Group India Pvt. Ltd.
Ruparel Real-estate Group
Mr. Aroon Purie, Chairman of TV Today Network Limited
Flipkart Internet Private Limited
Essilor India Private Limited
Mr. Hari Sankaran, former Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS).
Blue Dart Express Limited
Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited
Prama Hickvision India Private Limited
IndiaMart Intermesh Limited
Unimoni Enterprises Solutions Private Limited
Work highlights
- Representing Piramal Group in all aspects of litigation, including advising on legal strategy, conducting due diligence, responding to summons issued by ED, drafting, and filing of petitions and applications before the Bombay High Court, and appearing before the police and Bombay High Court and Sessions Court.
- Representing Indiamart in all aspects of the litigation in State of Maharashtra, including advising on legal strategy, drafting, and filing of applications, petitions, replies, etc., appearing before the Adjudicating Officer under the IT Act and the Bombay High Court.
- Representing ICICI, its directors, and key management employees in all aspects of the litigation, including advising on legal strategy, appearing before subordinating criminal courts, drafting, and filing of applications before the lower courts including the representations before the police station.
India > WTO/international trade Tier 2
DSK Legal is noted for its expertise in international trade laws, market access, customs challenges, and associated matters. The team offers support to major Indian and foreign manufacturers, exporters, sovereign governments, and industry clients in navigating the intricacies of global trade. Leading this practice from New Delhi is Ashish Chandra, a specialist in WTO dispute resolution, trade remedies, foreign trade policy, and ESG matters. Chandra represents clients in both domestic and multi-jurisdictional trade remedial investigations. Other key contacts in the group include senior associates Anupal Dasgupta, Shrinkhla Gupta, and associate Anushka Agarwal.Practice head(s):
Ashish Chandra
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team responds to customer needs promptly and proactively alert you to relevant developments.’
Key clients
Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Government of the Republic of Korea
POSCO group, Korea RP
DCM Corp., Korea RP
Shin and Kim LLC, Korea RP
Mahindra Susten Pvt. Ltd.
Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA)
LS Metal Vina LLC, Vietnam
Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited, Japan (SEI)
Topline Commodities Pvt. Ltd.
APM Terminals
Elohim And Kenneth Ventures Pvt. Ltd.
City focus: National Capital Region: NCR > Intellectual property Tier 3
DSK Legal‘s intellectual property team includes registered patent and trade mark agents, litigators, and IP attorneys. It files and prosecutes patent, trade mark, design, and copyright applications, and assists clients with foreign IP filings. Recent caseload also includes IP enforcement, defending oppositions, cancellation, or rectification proceedings.Key clients
Moonshine Technology Private Limited (Baazi Group)
Gattubhai Dagli
Honasa Consumer Private Limited
Dr. Lal Path Labs Limited
MHG IP Holding PTE Ltd.
Sky Gate Hospitality Private Limited
Triumfo Technogroup Private Limited and its Directors
India > Data protection Tier 3
DSK Legal’s data protection offering spans the full range of mandates, handling compliance, data transfer and sharing arrangements, as well as advising on security incidents and breach responses for a diverse roster of clients. Rishi Anand heads the firm’s technology practice and co-heads the data protection team, advising large multinationals and domestic corporates on the data protection implications of corporate transactions and cross-border M&A. Anand works alongside co-head Nakul Batra, a corporate and M&A expert and qualified computer science engineer; the duo is based in New Delhi.Practice head(s):
Rishi Anand; Nakul Batra
Other key lawyers:
Chirag Jain
Testimonials
‘DSK is top-notch in the delivery of their services. They are prompt and do a deep dive analysis of matters offered to them. Their quality of services is commendable.’
‘The team consists of highly skilled people. They are extremely prompt in responding to our requests for assistance.’
Key clients
Amazon Digital Services Private Limited
Blue Dart Express Limited
Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd., China
Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited
HDFC Capital Advisors Limited
Herbalife International Inc., USA and Herbalife International India Private Limited
MoneyClub Technologies Private Limited
OnePlus Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.
Reliance Retail Limited
Redcliffe Lifetech Private Limited
DENSO International India Private Limited
Nykaa Fashion Private Limited
Scribetech India Healthcare Private Limited
Aurum Proptech Limited
Appcino Technologies Private Limited
Arisaig Partners (Asia) PTE Ltd
Oben Electric Vehicles Private Limited
Paygate India Private Limited
PhonePe Private Limited
Religare Enterprises Limited
National Payments Corporation of India
Fortinet Inc., and Fortinet Technologies India Private Limited
Astrum Digital Private Limited
Mumbai City Football Club, and City Football Group
Bhartipay Services Private Limited
Work highlights
- Advised and assisted Mumbai City FC and the CFG in reviewing and revising the intra-group data transfer agreement (IGDTA) entered into between the different football clubs under CFG in furtherance of the mandatory legal requirements under the EU laws, from an Indian data protection and privacy law perspective.
India > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3
The growing arbitration team at DSK Legal handles a large volume of arbitrations, with notable expertise across the infrastructure, railways, defence, and construction sectors. Managing partner Anand Desai oversees the firm’s dispute resolution practice from its Mumbai office, working alongside Jatin Pore, a key name for corporate advisory and real estate-related arbitrations. Acting for high-net-worth individuals, large international corporations, and government entities, the team also includes the New Delhi-based duo Dinesh Pardasani and Kirat Singh Nagra, recommended for telecoms- and projects-related arbitrations, respectively. Nirav Shah left the firm in April 2023.Practice head(s):
Anand Desai
Other key lawyers:
Dinesh Pardasani; Jatin Pore; Kirat Singh Nagra; Bobby Chandhoke; Samit Shukla; Prashant Pakhiddey
Key clients
Yum! Restaurants (India) Private Limited
CREDAI-MCHI
Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development and Minister of Minority Affairs
Nabinagar Power Generating Company Limited, Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited and NTPC limited
Bhansali Productions Pvt Ltd, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ms. Alia Bhatt
Alstom System India Private Limited (Alstom)
Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL)
Aditya Birla Finance Limited (ABFL)
Mallika SA Investments LLC and SA Mallika Ventures Limited
Hitachi Rail STS India Private Limited (Hitachi)
Air India Ltd.
Motilal Oswal Real Estate Investment Advisors II Private Limited
IIRF Holdings III Limited, Mauritius and Vistra ITCL (India) Limited
IL&FS Financial Services Limited
Minda Industries Ltd.
Strides Pharma Science Limited
Schindler India Pvt Ltd. & Schindler Aufzuge Und Fahrtreppen AG.
Jindal Saw Limited
Brihan-Mumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (“BEST”)
Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCCL)
Manash Lifestyle Private Limited
Gaja Trustee Company Private Limited
Informa Markets India Private Limited
Razorpay Software Private Limited
Network 18 Media and Investment Ltd.
Head Digital Works Pvt Ltd; Play Games 24×7 Private Limited; and |Junglee Games India Private Limited
A2Z Infra Engineering Ltd
Axis Bank Limited
Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd.
State Bank of India
Dish TV Ltd.
Fortis Healthcare Ltd and its subsidiaries
Bharti International (Singapore) Ltd.
Larsen and Toubro Limited
G.R. Infraprojects Ltd.
Great Eastern Energy Corporation Ltd.
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited
Azure Power Forty-Three Private Limited
Spandana Sphoorty Financial Ltd.
Godrej Properties Limited
Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL)
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL)
C2R Projects LLP
Tata Power Company Ltd.
MSA Global LLC
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)
National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India
Work highlights
- Represented Bharti Singapore in SIAC arbitration proceedings arising out of agreements executed with entities based in Philippines.
- Advised and represented Larsen and Toubro Limited in arbitration proceedings which are pending against National Thermal Power Corporation. The disputes pertain to contractual issues arising out of a contract for construction of a 550MW hydro power plant.
India > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 3
DSK Legal acts for private equity managers and limited partners in the establishment of alternative investment funds, as well as advising domestic and foreign venture capital funds across various jurisdictions, including India and Mauritius. Managing partner Anand Desai leads the team and advises on private equity and hedge fund transactions, in addition to disputes arising between funds and investee companies. Sharath Chandrasekhar acts for startups and investment funds across the banking, hospitality and fintech sectors on transaction structuring mandates, while Aninda Pal handles a range of domestic and cross-border private equity and venture capital deals. Other key contacts in the group include Aparajit Bhattacharya, Hemang Parekh and Ajay Shaw and Harvinder Singh.Practice head(s):
Anand Desai
Other key lawyers:
Aparajit Bhattacharya; Ajay Shaw; Hemang Parek; Niraj Kumar; Rishi Anand; Srinivas B.R.; Harvinder Singh; Aninda Pal; Sharath Chandrasekhar; Kunal Mehra; Gaurav Mistry; Siddharth Suresh; Nakul Batra; Jayesh Kothari; Akanksha Tiwary
Key clients
Dynamic India Fund S4 US I, India Advantage Fund S4 I and India Advantage Fund S5 I
Axis Trustee Services Limited through its investment manager, Siana Capital Management LLP
Aquaexchange Agritech Private Limited
Mimansa Industries Private Limited and its founders Sneh Jain and Aditi Handa
Infifresh Foods Private Limited and its Founder, Mr. Utham Swamygowda
HDFC Capital Advisors Limited
Deep Science India Fund
HealthQuad Fund II
Artha Venture Fund I
Staqu Technologies Private Limited
Gajju Technologies Private Limited
Sahyadri Farmers Producer Company Limited
QuNu Labs Private Limited
CapitaLand Group (Ascendas)
Neuberger Berman, USA
Kois Holdings
Cybercity Builders & Developers Private Limited
ICICI Bank Limited
MV Opportunities India Limited (part of CM Ventures)
Satsure Analytics India Private Limited
Entropik Technologies Private Limited
Work highlights
- Acted as the legal advisor for Dynamic India Fund S4 US I, India Advantage Fund S4 I and India Advantage Fund S5 I (funds managed by ICICI Venture), for their primary investment into Cello World Private Limited for a minority stake of about 8% (on fully diluted basis) by subscribing to compulsory convertible preference shares issued by Cello, in multiple tranches.
- Advised Infifresh Foods Private Limited and its Founder, Mr. Utham Swamygowda in relation to their Series C – Tranche 2 Round from Evolvence India Fund IV Ltd.
- Advised HealthQuad Fund II in relation to its primary and secondary investment in the Series A funding round of GoApptiv Private Limited along with Cipla Limited as a co-investor, wherein Cipla is an existing investor in the Company.
India > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3
With a strong presence in Delhi and Mumbai, DSK Legal represents a diverse range of stakeholders in relation to the IBC. The team consists of a number of experts, including senior partner Sudhir Sharma, who has been involved in the resolution of some of the biggest stressed assets in India, as well as Ajay Shaw and Ashish Pahariya, both of whom are deeply familiar with every aspect of the insolvency resolution process. The firm is proficient at handling high-value insolvencies and liquidations, preparing restructuring proposals and resolution plans, and drafting bid documents. Niraj Kumar is also recommended for his vast amount of experience advising resolution applicants, resolution professionals, and committee of creditors. Nirav Shah has left the firm.Practice head(s):
Sudhir Sharma; Ajay Shaw; Niraj Kumar; Shiv Sapra; Ashish Pahariya; Sanjeev Pandey
Key clients
Steel Strips Wheels Limited
Anirudh Agro Farms Limited
UPL Limited
Resolution Professional for JBF Petrochemicals Limited
Prestige Estates Projects Limited
Resolution Professional for DS Kulkarni Developers Limited (DSKDL)
ICICI Prudential Real Estate AIF – I
Liquidator for IVRCL Limited
Eicher Polaris Private Limited
Lehman Brothers Capital Private Limited
Simpa Energy India Private Limited
Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited
IL&FS Financial Services Limited
Piramal Enterprise Limited
UTI Capital Ltd.
ArcelorMittal India Pvt. Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised and assisted Imagicaaworld Entertainment Limited in relation to the Resolution Plan/Offer submitted by Malpani Parks Indore Private Limited (“MPIPL”).
- Advised and assisted the Resolution Professional appointed for JBF Petrochemicals Limited with respect to the corporate insolvency resolution process of JBF.
- Represented ArcelorMittal India Pvt. Ltd. in a challenge to its resolution plan for Odisha Slurry Pipeline Infrastructure Limited before the National Company Law Tribunal, Cuttack and National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.
India > Aviation (including aerospace and defence) Tier 4
Acting for airports, cargo service providers, and international airlines, the aviation practice at DSK Legal handles financing, disputes, and regulatory matters across the aviation sector. The team has significant experience acting for the Indian government, regulatory authorities, and governmental entities, advising on policy, projects, and regulatory matters in the aviation sector. Anjan Dasgupta, Ajay Shaw, and Avinash Kumar Khard oversee the team from Mumbai, while Dinesh Pardasani and Harvinder Singh co-head from New Delhi.Practice head(s):
Anjan Dasgupta; Ajay Shaw; Dinesh Pardasani; Harvinder Singh; Avinash Kumar Khard
Key clients
City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (“CIDCO”)
GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL)
GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL)
Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA)
Zurich International Airport AG
Cargo Service Center (India) Private Limited and Delhi Cargo Service Center Private Limited
Air India Ltd.
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL)
GMR Airports Limited
Ministry of Defence
Work highlights
- Advising GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited on the sale of 100% of its business of providing warehousing services in and around the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, Hyderabad, to ILP Core Ventures I Pte Limited.
- Advised Zurich Airport International AG (ZAIA) with its bid to develop a greenfield airport (Noida International Airport) at Jewar, Noida on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis.
India > Capital markets Tier 4
DSK Legal has notable expertise in handling initial public offerings, foreign currency convertible bonds, domestic debt matters and secondary issuances. The department is co-led by Ajay Shaw and Gaurav Mistry from Mumbai, while Saurabh Tiwari leads the practice from Delhi and regularly advises lead managers, selling shareholders and investors on equity transactions.Practice head(s):
Ajay Shaw; Gaurav Mistry; Saurabh Tiwari
Key clients
Equirus Capital Private Limited
Corrtech International Limited
Mandala Capital Limited
DreamFolks Services Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Corrtech International Limited on its proposed initial public offering through a fresh issuance of equity shares aggregating up to ₹3,500m.
- Advised Equirus Capital Private Limited and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited, together the Book Running Lead Managers, on the initial public offering of equity shares of Dreamfolks Services Limited.
- Advised Mandala Capital AG Limited on the proposed initial public offering of Godavari Biorefineries Limited, through a fresh issuance and an offer for sale of Equity Shares by the Selling Shareholders.
India > Labour and employment
DSK Legal > Firm Profile
The firm: DSK Legal was set up in 2001 and has since established an excellent reputation for its integrity and value based on proactive, pragmatic and innovative legal advice and its ability to help clients effectively traverse the complicated legal and regulatory regime in India.
Main areas of practice
Litigation and arbitration: 21 partners, and around 86 fee-earners based in Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
- Represented CREDAI – MCHI being an association of over 1,400 leading real estate developers in Mumbai Metropolitan Region division, before the Hon’ble Supreme Court to seek reliefs in the extra ordinary circumstances resulting from the restriction on their right to carry on business imposed due to Covid-19 with no attendant effective reliefs/relaxation granted by the concerned authorities.
Key clients: Mr. Salman Khan (Indian film actor) and Salman Khan Ventures; Larsen & Toubro; GMR Infrastructure Ltd.; Power Grid Corporation of India; Kukeja Group; Kiri Industries.
Contacts: Anand Desai ([email protected]); Jatin Pore ([email protected]); Kirat Singh Nagra ([email protected]); Vikrant Singh Negi ([email protected]); Kartik Yadav ([email protected]); Samir Malik ([email protected]); Dinesh Pardasani ([email protected]); Akhil Anand ([email protected])
Banking and finance: 6 partners, around 25 fee-earners based in Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, and Bengaluru.
- Advised SC Lowy (Hong Kong based fund) for their investment in the securitised loans of DHFL. DHFL transferred its existing loans of Rs. 2000 Crore (Sahana Loans) extended to Sahana Realty Group’s entities, to a special purpose trust (SPV) under a securitisation trust structure.
Key clients: Deutsche Bank; State Bank of India; ICICI Bank Group; NIIF Infrastructure Finance Limited.
Contacts: Ajay Shaw ([email protected]); Anjan Dasgupta ([email protected]); Srinivas B.R. ([email protected])
Energy, infrastructure and projects: 10 partners, around 40 fee-earners based in Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, and Bengaluru.
- Compañía Española de Financiación del Desarrollo S.A. (“Cofides”) – advising in relation to the transmission project being developed in Uttar Pradesd by its investee company, South East Uttar Pradesh Transmission Company Limited (“SEUPPTCL”) on build, operate, maintain and transfer basis.
- Zurich Airport International AG – advised with respect to its bid to develop the greenfield Noida International Airport at Jewar on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis.
Key clients: EverSource Capital; First Solar; GE India; ReNew Power; GAIL India Limited; NITI Ayog, India; Alstom Transport India Limited; PSA, Singapore; Zurich Airport International AG.
Contacts: Anjan Dasgupta ([email protected]); Dinesh Pardasani ([email protected]); Ajay Shaw ([email protected]); Samir Malik ([email protected]); Srinivas B.R. ([email protected])
Corporate, commercial and M&A: 17 partners, 40 fee-earners based in Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru.
- Advising and assisting ReNew Power in relation to the divestment of 49% equity stake in ReNew Solar Energy (Jharkhand Three) Private Limited.
- Advised and assisted ICICI Venture in relation to a proposed multi-layered transaction, being carried pursuant to the Scheme on the basis which Qube Cinema will first demerge its business of providing technology solutions and services in the film, video and audio domains, including digital cinema advertising, into Qube Digital Cinema Pvt. Ltd.
Key clients: Flipkart Internet Private Limited; ReNew Power Private Limited; Hero Electric Vehicles Private Limited; Korea Investment Partners; SPX Flow Inc (USA); Gaja Capital; Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate Fund.
Contacts: Anand Desai ( [email protected]); Aparajit Bhattacharya ([email protected]); Ajay Shaw ([email protected]); Hemang Parekh ([email protected]); Rishi Anand ([email protected]); Harvinder Singh ([email protected]); Sharath Chandrasekhar ([email protected]); Aninda Pal ([email protected]); Kunal Mehra ([email protected]); Gaurav Mistry ([email protected]); Nakul Batra ([email protected]); Siddharth Suresh ([email protected]); Niraj Kumar ([email protected]); Srinivas B.R. ([email protected])
Real estate: 9 partners, 30 fee-earners based in Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru
- Advised SPREF II Pte. Ltd. (part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group) with respect to the acquisition of TSI Business Parks (Hyderabad) Private Limited by way of purchase of all equity shares and compulsory convertible debentures held by Reco Rock Private Limited (a GIC entity) and TS Hyderabad 12A (a Tishman Speyer entity).
Key clients: HDFC Capital Affordable Real Estate Fund-1; SPREF II PTE. LTD.; Prestige Estates Projects Limited; Godrej Properties Limited.
Contacts: Sajit Suvarna ([email protected]); Srinivas B.R. ([email protected]); Niraj Kumar ([email protected]); Sagar Kadam ([email protected]); Saloni Mody ([email protected]); Brijita Prakash ([email protected]); Bhushan Panse ([email protected]); Mitali Naik ([email protected])
Restructuring and insolvency: 8 partners, 20 fee-earners based in Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru.
- Advising State Bank of India in the proceedings relating to commencement of Insolvency Resolution Process against Mr. Anil Dhirajlal Ambani [Chairman – Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG)] in his capacity of personal guarantor to the term loan facilities extended by SBI to Reliance Communications Limited and Reliance Infratel Limited.
Key clients: State Bank of India (SBI); Bank of India (BOI); IDBI Bank; KPMG; IL&FS Services Ltd.; ICICI Prudential; HDFC.
Contacts: Anand Desai ([email protected]); Niraj Kumar ([email protected]); Ajay Shaw ([email protected]).
Technology, media and telecoms: 5 partners, 12 fee-earners based in Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru.
- Advising, assisting and representing various celebrities including Mr. Salman Khan and Mr. Aamir Khan in various civil and criminal proceedings from time to time.
Key clients: Mr. Aamir Khan; Mr. Amitabh Bachchan; Mr. Salman Khan; OnePlus Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., China; JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Contacts: Anand Desai ([email protected]); Chandrima Mitra ([email protected]); Rishi Anand ([email protected]); Nakul Batra ([email protected]); Siddharth Suresh ([email protected])
Managing partner: Anand Desai ([email protected])
Number of partners: 49
Number of associate partners: 10
Number of lawyers: 241 (excluding partners and associate partners)
Languages: English, Hindi, French, Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Aparajit Bhattacharya | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Sharath Chandrasekhar | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Anjan Dasgupta | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Anand Desai | Managing Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Abdullah Hussain | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Sagar Kadam | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Niraj Kumar | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Avinash Kumar Khard | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Roochi Loona | Associate Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Gaurav Mistry | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Chandrima Mitra | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Saloni Mody | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Vikrant Singh Negi | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Aninda Pal | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Dinesh Pardasani | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Hemang Parekh | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Jatin Pore | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Ajay Shaw | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Harvinder Singh | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Sajit Suvarna | Deputy Managing Partner | View Profile |
Languages
English Hindi Marathi Punjabi Bengali Gujarati FrenchPress Releases
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
3rd September 2024 DSK Legal advised Mandala Capital with respect to its full exit from Edward Food Research and Analysis Centre (“EFRAC”).Acquisition of 100% stake by EBP Global AG in Sustainable Technosolutions for Environmental Protection Private Limited (“STEP”)
26th July 2024 DSK Legal advised and assisted EBP Global AG (Purchaser) and promoters of STEP (Sellers) as a transaction counsel in relation to transfer of 100% shareholding of STEP (referred to as the “Transaction”).TRANSACTION SUMMARY
11th July 2024 DSK Legal assisted and advised Haystack Analytics Private Limited (“Haystack”), in relation to investment by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (“Sun Pharma”) to acquire 9.6% of Haystack’s total outstanding securities.Rights Issue of Solara Active Pharma Sciences Limited
18th June 2024 DSK Legal advised and assisted Solara Active Pharma Sciences Limited (the “Company”) in connection with the filing of the letter of offer dated May 9,DSK Legal Announces Key Promotions including New Partners and Associate Partners
3rd June 2024 DSK Legal is delighted to announce the promotion of Ms. Rimali Batra and Ms. Ekta Tyagi as Partners, and Mr. Soham Mookherjee, Mr. Parinay Vasandani, and Mr. Satendra Kumar Rai as Associate Partners.DEAL UPDATE
19th April 2024 DSK Legal is advising ReNew Energy Global plc (“ReNew” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: RNW, RNWWW), India’s leading renewable energy company, on the transaction with JERA Co., Inc (“JERA”),LITIGATION SUMMARY
9th February 2024 DSK Legal advised, assisted and represented the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (“CREDAI”) before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1394 of 2023 (Vanshakti Vs UOI) and successfully sought a modification/clarification of the Interim Order dated January 2, 2024 bringing significant respite to real estate developers across the country.LITIGATION SUMMARY
14th November 2023 DSK Legal advised, assisted and represented Head Digital Works Private Limited, Play Games24X7 Private Limited and Junglee Games India Private Limited (‘Online Gaming Operators’) before the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Madras in the proceedings as stated hereinbelow.LITIGATION SUMMARY
14th November 2023 DSK Legal advised, assisted and represented Head Digital Works Private Limited, Play Games24X7 Private Limited and Junglee Games India Private Limited (‘Online Gaming Operators’) before the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Madras in the proceedings as stated hereinbelow.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
6th November 2023 DSK Legal advised and assisted Narayana Group of Entities (Narayana Group) and its promoters (Promoters) in relation to a leveraged buyout of ~ USD 165 million of the stake held by:TRANSACTION SUMMARY
19th October 2023 Vellvette Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd., which owns the beauty brand Sugar Cosmetics established by co-founders Vineeta Singh and Kaushik Mukherjee, has entered into a transaction with actor Kareena Kapoor Khan to introduce a new Korean skincare brand named Quench Botanics. Ms Khan as a strategic investor will be a co-owner of Quench Botanics.DSK Legal appoints 2 Associate Partners
12th October 2023 DSK Legal is delighted to announce the promotion of two Principal Associates, Chirag Jain and Shruti Dogra, to the position of Associate Partners.DSK Legal appoints 2 Associate Partners
9th October 2023 DSK Legal is delighted to announce the promotion of two Principal Associates, Chirag Jain and Shruti Dogra, to the position of Associate Partners.Litigation Summary – DSK Legal
20th September 2023 DSK Legal advised, assisted and represented M/s. Eversmile Construction Company Private Limited (“our client”) who have the development rights over the land upon which, parts of the ramp and Sahar Elevated Road for approach, ingress and egress to Airport Terminal Building, has been constructed and is being maintained by Mumbai International Airport Limited (“MIAL”).Litigation Summary – Red Chillies Entertainment
20th September 2023 Continuing its offensive against piracy of its latest blockbuster, Jawan, Red Chillies Entertainment, through DSK Legal, today i.e. 19th September, 2023 successfully moved the Delhi High Court asking for WhatsApp groups/users and Telegram channels illegally sharing the film to be immediately suspended and deactivated.DSK LEGAL ACTS ON THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MUMBAI BASED WITTY GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS AND SINGAPORE-BASED GLOBAL SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
11th September 2023 Singapore-headquartered Global Schools Foundation (GSF), world’s most awarded network of eminent international schools, has entered a strategic partnership with Mumbai headquartered Witty Group of Institutions (Witty), operating leading ranked schools in Mumbai and Rajasthan.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
18th July 2023 DSK Legal represented and advised Appcino Technologies Private Limited (“Company”) and its Promoter Group in relation to the sale and purchase of the Promoter Group’s equity shares culminating to 100% acquisition of the Company by Xebia India Holding B.V. (“Acquirer”), based in the Netherlands.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
7th July 2023 DSK Legal advised and assisted Mr. Sundaresh Bhat, appointed as Resolution Professional JBF Petrochemicals Limited (“JBF”) with respect to the corporate insolvency resolution process of JBF.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
7th July 2023 DSK advised and assisted the consortium comprising of Yura Business Partners LLP & Gupta Steel Corporation Private Limited (“Resolution Applicants”) with respect to submission of a resolution plan in the corporate insolvency resolution process of Mayur Pankh Properties Private Limited (“Corporate Debtor”) as per the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.TRANSACTION SUMMARY: SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION OF DS KULKARNI DEVELOPERS LIMITED
3rd July 2023 DSK advised and assisted Mr. Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Resolution Professional of DS Kulkarni Developers Limited (“DSKDL”) with respect to the corporate insolvency resolution process of DSKDL as per the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.DSK Legal is delighted to share that our Managing Partner, Mr. Anand Desai, has been appointed as a member of the Court at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) for a five year term.
7th June 2023 The LCIA is one of the world’s leading international institutions for commercial dispute resolution. It provides efficient, flexible and impartial administration of arbitration and other ADR proceedings, regardless of location, and under any system of law.Transaction Summary – Excel Controlinkage Private Limited
5th June 2023 DSK Legal advised Excel Controlinkage Private Limited (Excel) and its Promoters in relation to sale of their 100% shareholding in Excel to Greaves Cotton Limited (GCL) in four tranches. The first tranche will comprise of sale of 60% shareholding in Excel. The deal value is approximately INR 385,00,00,000/- (Indian Rupees Three Hundred and Eighty Five Crores Only).Litigation Summary – Brihan-Mumbai Electricity Supply & Transport Undertaking
2nd June 2023 In a recent judgment delivered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India ("Hon'ble SC"), the Special Leave Petition (“SLP”) filed by Tata Motors Limited ("Tata") was dismissed, while the counter-SLPs filed by Brihan-Mumbai Electricity Supply & Transport Undertaking ("BEST") were allowed.Moving to next Orbit: India’s New Space Policy Sets Course for the Future
15th May 2023 On April 20, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) released the Indian Space Policy 2023 (“Policy”) (accessible here), which was recently approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security to enable India to pursue a holistic approach and encourage private sector participation in the entire value chain of the Space Economy.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
26th April 2023 DSK Legal advised SRL Limited, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited, in relation to acquisition of the business of M/s Lifeline Laboratories (“Target”), to expand SRL’s footprint in Delhi NCR region in the diagnostic services domain.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
12th April 2023 DSK Legal advised Religare Enterprises Limited (“Religare”) in relation to its acquisition of 100% shareholding of MIC Insurance Web Aggregator Private Limited (“Target Company”) from iGear Holdings Private Limited (“iGear”), an Indian Express Group entity. With this acquisition, Religare aims at expanding its foothold in the insurance distribution space.DSK Legal shifts to new offices in Mumbai & Pune
12th April 2023 In line with its continuing growth, DSK Legal has shifted to larger offices in Mumbai and Pune. Equipped with the necessary amenities and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the new offices will provide a harmonious work environment for lawyers and clients.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
12th April 2023 DSK Legal advised Redcliffe Labs on the acquisition of Medicentre Sonography & Clinical Lab by way of a slump sale transaction, to expand Redcliffe’s footprint in India in relation to the delivery of diagnostic services. The consideration payable to the sellers was a mix of cash and equity.DSK Legal appoints 4 Partners and 3 Associate Partners
4th April 2023 DSK Legal has promoted Associate Partners Abhishek Singh Baghel, Jayesh Kothari, Mitali Naik and Nakul Batra as Partners; and Principal Associates Akanksha Tiwary, Prachi Garg and Prachi Gupta as Associate Partners.DSK Legal successfully advises Railway Board, Ministry of Railways
3rd March 2023 DSK Legal has successfully advised and assisted the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways in a ₹26,000 crore ($3.25 billion) project, relating to supply and maintenance of electric locomotives for freight movement in India, to be executed by global engineering and technology firm Siemens in collaboration with the Indian Railways.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
28th November 2022 DSK Legal advised Kotak Investment Advisors Limited (“KIAL”), in relation to the closure of KIAL’s 13threal estate fund for opportunistic real estate investments in India.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
22nd November 2022 DSK Legal advised and assisted FINN Partners Limited (“Acquirer”) in respect of its acquisition of health communication and marketing agency SPAG Consultants Private Limited (“SPAG”) to expand its healthcare operations and its footprint in Asia.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
10th November 2022 DSK Legal advised i3 Verticals, Inc. (“i3”) on Indian-leg of its acquisition of a leading provider of enterprise software solutions for the motor carrier and motor vehicle markets in the U.S. States and Canada, with effect from October 1, 2022. This is i3’s second largest acquisition to date.Transaction Summary – Sahyadri Farmers Producer Company Limited
5th October 2022 DSK Legal advised and assisted Sahyadri Farmers Producer Company Limited and its group companies (“Sahyadri Group”) in relation to foreign investments raised in Sahyadri Farms Post Harvest Care Limited (“SFPHCL”), the subsidiary of Sahyadri Farmer Producer Company Limited (“SFPCL”). SFPHCL has raised ₹310 crore (almost € 40 million) growth capital from group of impact-focused investors namely, Incofin, Korys, FMO and Proparco.TRANSACTION SUMMARY
16th September 2022 DSK Legal advised and assisted SUNTECK LIFESPACE PRIVATE LIMITED in respect of acquisition of development rights of property admeasuring in aggregate 28,935 square meters situate at Village Navghar (Mira Road), Taluka Thane and District Thane (“Property”).DSK Legal moves to a new office in Bengaluru
14th September 2022 DSK Legal recently moved from its existing office at Cunningham Road to a larger office space in Prestige Loka, Brunton Road in Bengaluru, pursuant to its ongoing growth.DSK Legal moves to a new office in Bengaluru
8th September 2022 DSK Legal recently moved from its existing office at Cunningham Road to a larger office space in Prestige Loka, Brunton Road in Bengaluru, pursuant to its ongoing growth. Equipped with the necessary amenities and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the new office will provide a harmonious work environment for clients and lawyers. Mr. Anand Desai, the Managing Partner of the firm in a statement said, “We are delighted with the continuing growth of our practices in Bengaluru, and to have shifted to larger office premises.” Recently, DSK Legal was awarded “South India Law Firm of the Year” at the ALB India Law Awards 2022. The firm comprises of 63 Partners and Associate Partners with over 250 Advocates across offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad, of which the Bengaluru office has 5 Partners and their teams. Given the firm’s growth and commitment to provide a modern working environment to its teams and clients, this move is another significant milestone for the firm. DSK Legal also added further office space in Delhi this month, after having shifted into a larger office space in March 2022.Transaction Summary – Dreamfolks
7th September 2022 DSK Legal advised Equirus Capital Private Limited and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited (together the “Book Running Lead Managers/BRLMs”) with respect to the initial public offering of 17,242,368 equity shares of Dreamfolks Services Limited (the “Company”) through an offer for sale by Liberatha Peter Kallat, Mukesh Yadav and Dinesh Nagpal, who are Promoters of the Company. The Red Herring Prospectus was filed with the RoC on August 17, 2022; the prospectus was filed on August 30, 2022 and the Company was listed on September 06, 2022 on BSE and NSE.Relief for certain Korean exporters of EG steel to India: DGTR recommends NIL anti-dumping duty
3rd August 2022 DSK Legal represented and appeared for Korean producer/ exporters POSCO group and DCM Ltd. before the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (‘DGTR’) in the anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of Electrogalvanized (‘EG’) Steel originating in or exported from Korea RP, Japan and Singapore.Case Note – Relief for certain Korean exporters of EG steel to India: DGTR recommends NIL anti-dumping duty
3rd August 2022 DSK Legal represented and appeared for Korean producer/ exporters POSCO group and DCM Ltd. before the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (‘DGTR’) in the anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of Electrogalvanized (‘EG’) Steel originating in or exported from Korea RP, Japan and Singapore.Transaction Summary – Advising Quality Care India Limited on its acquisition of CIIGMA Hospitals
3rd August 2022 DSK Legal advised TPG backed Quality Care India Limited (“CARE”) in relation to the acquisition of significant majority stake of the shareholding of United CIIGMA Institute of Medical Sciences Private Limited (“CIIGMA”), along with its other group entities (collectively the “CIIGMA Group Entities”).Transaction Summary – HealthQuad Fund II Series B
3rd August 2022 DSK Legal advised HealthQuad Fund II (“HealthQuad”) in relation to its subscription of securities in the Series B funding round of Redcliffe Lifetech Private Limited and Redcliffe Lifetech Inc. (“Investee Companies”), as one of the major investors along with Vistra ITCL (India) Limited, Amicorp Trustees (India) Private Limited, and Shubharambh Investment Holdings (Leap Frog) (“Transaction”).Transaction Summary – HealthQuad Fund II Series A
3rd August 2022 DSK Legal advised HealthQuad Fund II (“HealthQuad”) in relation to its primary and secondary investment in the Series A funding round of GoApptiv Private Limited (“Company”) along with Cipla Limited (“Cipla”) as a co-investor, wherein Cipla is an existing investor in the Company.Transaction Summary – Acquisition of SP Jammu Udhampur Highway Limited by NIIF
2nd August 2022 DSK Legal advised National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), in relation to 100% acquisition of SP Jammu Udhampur Highway Limited (SP JUHi) from Shapoorji Pallonji Group (SP Group) through the NIIF Master Fund.Transaction Summary – HealthQuad Fund II
21st July 2022TRANSACTION SUMMARY
DSK Legal advised HealthQuad Fund II (“HealthQuad”) in relation to its primary and secondary investment in the Series A funding round of GoApptiv Private Limited (“Company”) along with Cipla Limited (“Cipla”) as a co-investor, wherein Cipla is an existing investor in the Company.Press Release – 63 lawyers (including 21 partners) join DSK Legal after having left L&L Partners
20th July 2022 We are delighted to announce that Mr. Bobby Chandhoke and Mr. Sudhir Sharma have joined DSK Legal together with 19 partners and their respective teams aggregating to 63 lawyers, after leaving L&L Partners where they had worked for several years. They bring a diverse range of experience, and are well recognized in their areas of practice, including Dispute Resolution, Competition and Anti-Trust, Employment, International Trade, Corporate M&A, Intellectual Property, and Fintech.Advising The Baker’s Dozen on its fund raise from Fireside Ventures
11th July 2022 DSK Legal advised Mimansa Industries Private Limited (“Company”), a company engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling wide range of fresh bakery products under the brand named “The Baker’s Dozen” on both online and offline channels; and its Founders, Mr. Sneh Jain and Ms. Aditi Handa (“Founders”) in relation to their Pre-Series A Round from Fireside Ventures Investment Fund – II (“Investor”).Transaction Summary: Advising The Baker’s Dozen on its fund raise from Fireside Ventures
8th July 2022 DSK Legal advised Mimansa Industries Private Limited (“Company”), a company engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling wide range of fresh bakery products under the brand named “The Baker’s Dozen” on both online and offline channels; and its Founders, Mr. Sneh Jain and Ms. Aditi Handa (“Founders”) in relation to their Pre-Series A Round from Fireside Ventures Investment Fund – II (“Investor”).Transaction Summary | Advising Aquaexchange
5th July 2022 DSK Legal advised Aquaexchange Agritech Private Limited (“Aquaexchange”) and its Founder, Mr. Pavan Kosaraju (“Founder”) in relation to their Pre-Series A Round led by Accion Venture Lab Holdings LLC, Endiya Trustee Private Limited (collectively the “Lead Investors”) alongside the existing investors of Aquaexchange, i.e. (i) NS Trading and Investments LLP, (ii) Vignan Publishers Limited, (iii) AZ Gems Inc. and (iv) other individual investors (“Investors”).Transaction Summary | Imagicaaworld Entertainment Limited
5th July 2022 DSK Legal advised and assisted Imagicaaworld Entertainment Limited, a public listed company whose equity shares are listed on BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited and whose registered office is situated at 30/31, Sangdewadi Khopoli Pali Road, Taluka-Khalapur, Khalapur, Raigarh – 410 203, Maharashtra, India (“Company”) in relation to the Resolution Plan/Offer (as amended/modified from time to time) submitted by Malpani Parks Indore Private Limited (“MPIPL” or “Acquirer”) in the open competitive bidding process undertaken by Union Bank of India (as the lead bank on behalf of the lenders of the Company) for the solicitation of binding bids from eligible bidders for assignment/one-time settlement of the debt obligations of the Company in accordance with the requirements of the Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Framework for Resolution of Stressed Assets) Directions, 2019 (collectively, the “Resolution Plan”).Transaction Summary: Advising Quality Care India Limited on its acquisition of Convenient Hospitals Limited
4th July 2022 DSK Legal advised TPG backed Quality Care India Limited (“CARE”) in relation to the acquisition of Convenient Hospitals Limited group.Transaction Summary: Kotak ADIA
4th July 2022 DSK Legal advised Kotak Investment Advisers Limited (“KIAL”), in relation to the closure of KIAL’s 12th real estate fund for investments in office assets in India.Transaction Summary: CIDCO-SB
20th June 2022 DSK Legal advised City & Industrial Development Corporation (“CIDCO”), as borrower’s counsel, in relation to financing of Rs. 5000,00,00,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand Crores) from State Bank of India(“Lender”) for a residential township in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Scheme (“Transaction”).Transaction Summary – ReNew Power Private Limited
9th June 2022 DSK Legal advised ReNew Power Private Limited (“ReNew”) in relation to signing of definitive agreements for acquisition of operating wind and solar asset portfolio of 527.9 MW, comprising 471.65 MW of wind and 56.25 MW of solar assets. The expected closing of the overall transaction is in Q2 FY23, but ReNew will receive all cash flows generated from the assets from the lock box date, i.e., April 1, 2022. The acquired 527.9 MW of operating wind and solar projects are spread across 40+ projects situated in eight Indian states, i.e. Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.DSK Legal advises Ministry of Railways in Make in India’ initiative of Manufacturing and Supply of Locomotives.
17th May 2022 DSK Legal is advising the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, on two projects being undertaken under the aegis of the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the ‘Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat’ mission of the Government of India.Transaction Summary – DSK Legal Advises Captain Fresh on its Series C – T2 Fund Raise of USD 7.5 Million
4th May 2022 DSK Legal advised Infifresh Foods Private Limited (“Infifresh”) and its Founder, Mr. Utham Swamygowda (“Founder”) in relation to their Series C – Tranche 2 Round from Evolvence India Fund IV Ltd. (“Series C Investor”).PRESS RELEASE
19th April 2022 We are delighted to announce that Srinivas B.R., Brijita Prakash, Karan Ajitsaria and Siddharth Suresh have joined us as partners in our Bengaluru office along with their teams, after having been at M/s Dua Associates for several years. The four partners come with a wealth of experience, and are well recognized in their areas of practice. Srinivas B.R. leads the team joining us.Transaction Summary | DSK Legal advices a consortium of investors led by GBL Clean Energy, Golden Agri Singapore & Others on their foray in Clean Energy and Ethanol manufacturing business.
11th April 2022 DSK Legal advised a consortium of investors including GBL Clean Energy Private Limited (“GCEPL”), Golden Agri International Enterprises Pte Limited (“GAR”), K.N Agri Resources Limited and other investors for their investment in Bluebrahma Clean Energy Solutions Private Limited (“Hold Co.”) and subsequently advised the Hold Co in relation to its 100% acquisition of the shareholding of Sagar Industries and Distilleries Private Limited (“Company”) from Mr. Nandu Kalani, Mr. Nirmal Kalani and Kalani family members (“Existing Shareholders”) along with 95 acres of land held by the Existing Shareholders adjacent to the existing manufacturing facility at Nashik of the Company (“Land Owners”) (“Transaction”).Transaction Summary | ReNew Power – Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Japan (Investment in 1300 MW RE Project)
11th April 2022 DSK Legal advised ReNew Power Private Limited (“ReNew”) in relation to its joint venture with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Japan (“Mitsui”), whereby Mitsui (through its wholly owned subsidiary) has acquired 49% stake in ReNew’s 1,300 MW capacity RTC (round-the-clock) project (“Project”). The said Project is the first of its kind RTC project in India, which will provide lowest cost and emission-free 24X7 renewable electricity. While it is difficult for conventional renewable energy projects to commit stable electricity supply due to the intermittent nature of winds and solar irradiation, the Project commits electricity supply of 400 MW with high capacity factor on a round-the-clock basis, and is slated to be a game-changer for the energy sector in India.DSK Legal completes 21 Years
1st April 2022 DSK Legal completes 21 years today. We are grateful for the trust our clients repose in us and for all their support throughout our journey.Transaction Summary – Appnit Technologies Private Limited
31st March 2022 DSK Legal advised Appnit Technologies Private Limited (“Company”), its Promoters and existing investors in relation to an acquisition of a controlling stake by way of primary and secondary investment in the Company, by DMI Finance Private Limited (“Investor”). The Company holds a semi-closed wallet license from RBI by the name of Oxymoney and is engaged in the business of product development in payments technologies, including providing integrated payment processing platform.TRANSACTION SUMMARY: Siana Capital, Eight Roads Ventures India, VE Proactive Fund II and Endiya Partners
28th March 2022 DSK Legal advised Siana Capital, Eight Roads Ventures India, VE Proactive Fund II and Endiya Partners (collectively the “Existing Institutional Investors”), the existing institutional investors of Aayuv Technologies Private Limited (“Company”), in relation to their investment in the Series B Round of the Company, alongside Healthquad Fund II and Sabre Partners AIF Trust (collectively the “Incoming Investors”).TRANSACTION SUMMARY: F. S. Fehrer Automotive GmbH, Germany
24th March 2022 DSK Legal advised F. S. Fehrer Automotive GmbH, Germany (the “Seller”) in relation to its exit from Harita Fehrer Limited (“Company”) by way of sale of 49% (forty nine percent) shareholding to Minda Industries Limited (“Minda”). (“Transaction”). The Company was a joint venture between Harita Seating Systems Limited (“HSSL”) (amalgamated with Minda Industries Limited) and the Seller. Pursuant to the Transaction, the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Minda. The Company a leading manufacturer of seating systems in India and specializes in manufacture & supply of driver seats and bus passenger seats for commercial vehicles, tractors, off-road vehicles and buses.TRANSACTION SUMMARY: Corrtech International Limited
21st March 2022 DSK Legal acted as a sole counsel to Corrtech International Limited (“Company”) and Equirus Capital Private Limited, Book Running Lead Manager (“BRLM”) with respect to the initial public offering comprising of a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to ₹3,500 million and an offer for sale of 4,000,000 equity shares of the Company held by its promoter individually as well as jointly with the members of the promoter group. The DRHP has been filed with SEBI on March 17, 2022.Transaction Summary: HDFC Capital Advisors Limited
18th March 2022 DSK Legal advised HDFC Capital Advisors Limited (“HDFC Capital”) on their investment in Loyalie IT Solutions Private Limited (“Company”) (operating under the brand name ‘Reloy’).Transaction Summary: Infifresh Foods Private Limited
11th March 2022 DSK Legal advised Infifresh Foods Private Limited (“Infifresh”) and its Founder, Mr. Utham Swamygowda (“Founder”) in relation to their Series C Round from the Existing Investors of Infifresh, i.e.: (i) Tiger Global; (ii) Prosus Ventures (Naspers); (iii) Accel Partners; (iv) Matrix Partners; (v) Ankur Capital Fund; and (vi) Incubate Japan (“Series C Investors”).DSK Legal shifts to a new office in New Delhi
21st February 2022 To accommodate its continuing growth, DSK Legal has shifted to a larger office in New Delhi, being the entire 5th floor at Max House, Okhla, with state-of-the-art facilities, 6 meeting rooms; library; cafeteria and a lounge area.Transaction Summary: NOW (TapTap Meals Private Limited)
4th January 2022DSK Legal advised NOW (TapTap Meals Private Limited), a B2B commerce platform and its promoters Vivek Pandey and Bharat Khandelwal and all the existing investors and shareholders including CK Jaipuria Group in selling their entire stake in NOW to Borzo (previously known as WeFast).
Transaction Summary: CK Jaipuria Group
4th January 2022DSK Legal advised CK Jaipuria Group in its investment in Home-grown gamified social media app “Explurger”. Explurger is a new-age social media platform built on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which was launched on August 15, 2020. Apart from India, the app debuted in the US, Britain, Germany, South Africa, etc. and already has users from more than 40 countries.
Transaction Summary: Manash Lifestyle Private Limited
4th January 2022 DSK Legal advised Manash Lifestyle Private Limited (“Company”), a company engaged in the business of owning and operating the online marketplace ‘www.purplle.com’ and providing platform services for the sale and purchase of branded products in the beauty and personal care category in relation to 100% share acquisition by the Company in Faces Cosmetics India Private Limited from its holding company, Faces Cosmetics Inc. (backed by SCI Growth Investments III (“Sequoia”)) and Bhagyoday Investments Private Limited (“Hero”) and acquisition of “Faces” brand.Transaction Summary: Aytas Capital B.V.
4th January 2022 DSK Legal advised Aytas Capital B.V. in investing into HealthQuad, an India-focussed healthcare venture capital firm run by Quadria Capital, has raised Rs 1,134.5 crore towards the pre-final close of its second fund.DSK Legal Advises Captain Fresh on its Series B Fund Raise of USD 40 Million
4th January 2022 DSK Legal advised Infifresh Foods Private Limited (“Infifresh”), a company engaged in the business of processing, preservation and supply of fresh sea food and various categories of meat and is operating through its e-commerce platform named “Captain Fresh” on B2B basis to cater to online retail players, modern trade, general trade retailers and hotels and restaurants catering; and its Founder, Mr. Utham Gowda(“Founder”) in relation to their Series B Round from the lead investors (i) Tiger Global; and (ii) Prosus Ventures (Naspers) and existing investors (i) Accel Partners; (ii) Matrix Partners; (ii) Ankur Capital Fund; and (iv) Incubate Japan (“Series B Investors”).Transaction Summary: Manash Lifestyle Private Limited
4th January 2022 DSK Legal advised Manash Lifestyle Private Limited (“Company”), a company engaged in the business of owning and operating the online marketplace ‘www.purplle.com’ and providing platform services for the sale and purchase of branded products in the beauty and personal care category; and (ii) the promoters of the Company, i.e. Mr. Rahul Dash, Mr. Manish Taneja and Mr. Suyash Katyayani (collectively referred to as the “Promoters”) in relation to the primary investment of approx. USD 140,000,000 (US Dollars One Hundred and Forty Million only) by PI Opportunities Fund I - Scheme II (“Premji Invest”), Kedaara Capital Fund III LLP (“Kedaara”), and existing investors SCI Growth Investments III (“Sequoia”) and Blume Ventures Trust Fund 1X (“Blume”) in the Company (collectively the “Series D Investors”).Transaction summary: Mr. Sonu Sood and Sood Infomatics LLP
16th December 2021 DSK Legal represented Mr. Sonu Sood and Sood Infomatics LLP (“SIL”) in relation to the acquisition of equity shares of Intercell Technologies Private Limited (“Company”) from the existing shareholders of the Company.Transaction Summary – Minda Industries Limited
14th December 2021 DSK Legal represented Minda Industries Limited, in relation to formation and investment in a joint venture company between Minda and Germany based Friwo Group for combining expertise in providing e-mobility solutions for electrical two-and three wheelers in India. The JVC has been established with the aim to combine Minda and Friwo’s technologies and production capabilities and will engage in the business of manufacturing, marketing and sale of electric devices and components, including software related to the automotive industry and undertake other related business in the Indian subcontinent.Transaction Summary – IndoSpace
25th November 2021 DSK Legal advised IndoSpace, in setting up a joint venture platform (JV) with Pune-based KSH Infra, with an aim to develop 10 million square feet portfolio of world-class warehousing and logistics parks across the country over the next five years. Indospace, is a joint venture between the Everstone Group, an India and Southeast Asia-focused private equity and real estate investor, GLP and Realterm, a US-based global industrial real estate group. KSH Infra, also a warehousing and logistic parks developer, is part of the 50-year old KSH Group which has multiple businesses such as internal container depot, manufacturing, and third-party logistics.Transaction Summary | Glamyo Technologies Private Limited
7th October 2021 DSK Legal represented Glamyo Technologies Private Limited (“Glamyo”) in its investment round lead by Ananta Capital, Udtara Techinvest LLP, COD9 Advisors LLP and other investors (“Investors”) in Glamyo.DSK Legal appoints 3 Partners and 1 Associate Partner
5th October 2021 DSK Legal has promoted Associate Partners Avinash Kumar Khard, Parag Khandhar and Samit Shukla as partners, & Principal Associate Ekta Tyagi to Associate Partner.Transaction Summary – Travel Union
9th August 2021 DSK Legal represented Mr. Sonu Sood and Sood Infomatics LLP (“SIL”) in relation to the subscription of Class B shares by SIL in E-arth Travel Solutions Private Limited (“Company”), a 30:70 joint venture amongst SIL and Digispice Technologies Limited (“DTL”) & Spice Money Limited (“SML”).Transaction Summary – MV Opportunities India Limited
4th August 2021 DSK Legal advised MV Opportunities India Limited (a Cayman based entity) (“MVOF”) in relation to its investment (“Transaction”) in the Pre-Series B investment round of Teachmint Technologies Private Limited (“Company”). The Company is engaged in the business of providing technology services and products including various web services, internet products, development and marketing of business management software, technology solutions and services for education sector, building software applications and technology applications for computers, mobile phones and other devices and related activities by various modes. DSK Legal had earlier advised MVOF in relation its investment in Series A investment round of the Company.Transaction Summary – Sagarsoft (India) Limited
30th July 2021 DSK Legal represented and advised Sagarsoft (India) Limited (“Company”), a public listed company in acquisition of 100% capital in IT CATS LLC, USA (“IT CATS”) from its owner, Mr. Kalva Satish Chander Reddy, for consideration other than cash of an aggregate value of Rs.16.06 Crores by issue of swap shares of the Company of 6,32,238 (Six Lakhs Thirty-Two Thousand Two Hundred Thirty Eight Only) fully paid-up Equity shares of face value of Rs.10/- each at a premium of Rs.244/- per equity share on preferential basis to Mr. Kalva Satish Chander Reddy.DSK Legal ties up with CoachesForYou
21st July 2021 DSK Legal partnered with CoachesForYou, a Pro Bono coaching initiative of the professional coaching community across India and beyond to help people manage the pandemic related stress and feel empowered in all areas of their lives.Transaction Summary | Tata – Atulaya Deal
21st July 2021 DSK Legal advised Tata Capital Healthcare Fund II, acting through its investment manager Tata Capital Limited (“Tata Capital”) in relation to their investment in Atulaya Healthcare Private Limited (“Company”).DSK advised B2B Sea Food Platform Captain Fresh in their USD 12 Million Series A
19th July 2021 DSK Legal advised Infifresh Foods Private Limited (“Infifresh”) (operating under the brand name ‘Captain Fresh’) and its Founder, Mr. Utham Gowda in relation to their Series A Round from the investors: (i) Accel India VI (Mauritius) Limited (entity registered in Mauritius; (ii) Matrix Partners India Investments III, LLC (entity registered in Mauritius); (iii) Matrix Partners India III AIF Trust (a trust registered as a Category – II AIF with SEBI); (iv) Ankur Capital Fund-II (a fund managed by a trust registered as AIF with SEBI); (v) Incubate Japan via IF India II Investment Partnership (an entity registered in Japan); and (v) other angel investors (“Series A Investors”).Transaction Summary | Shareholders Agreement | Noida International Airport
19th July 2021 Zurich Airport International AG on Saturday i.e. July 17, 2021 signed a shareholder agreement with the Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) for the development of an international Airport at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.Transaction Summary- Jaipuria’s invstment in Candes
14th July 2021 DSK Legal advised Ruchirans Jaipuria and Anurag Jaipuria in investing into Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) home appliance brand Candes. The investment was a combination of equity investment and debt infusion. This investment round was led by Anuraag and Ruchirans Jaipuria and their company Jai Beverages Private Limited along with Lotus group Joint managing director, Nitin Passi and Redcliffe's Dheeraj Jain.Simmons and DSK Legal advise IDP on acquisition of British Council IELTS India
8th July 2021 International law firm Simmons & Simmons and Indian law firm DSK Legal have jointly advised IDP Education Ltd., an Australian listed entity, on the acquisition of the British Council’s International English Language Testing System (IELTS) business in India for £130m.DSK Legal celebrates 20 Years
6th April 2021DSK Legal has completed 20 years, and greatly appreciates the trust of its clients.
DSK Legal launches Art Law Practice
14th February 2020 DSK Legal, a full-service law firm, has added Art Law Practice to their portfolio of practices. The newly introduced practice area is a combination of DSK Legal’s extensive experience in media laws, intellectual property rights protection, and estate planning.Legal Developments
M/S. DAKSHIN GUJARAT VIJ COMPANY LIMITED V. M/S. GAYATRI SHAKTI PAPER AND BOARD LIMITED AND ANOTHER, ETC._ CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 8527-8529 OF 2009
25th October 2023 In a landmark judgment delivered on 09.10.2023, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has finally settled the conundrum arising out of the conflicting interpretations of Rule 3 of the Electricity Rules,M/S. DAKSHIN GUJARAT VIJ COMPANY LIMITED V. M/S. GAYATRI SHAKTI PAPER AND BOARD LIMITED AND ANOTHER, ETC._ CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 8527-8529 OF 2009
16th October 2023 In a landmark judgment delivered on 09.10.2023, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has finally settled the conundrum arising out of the conflicting interpretations of Rule 3 of the Electricity Rules, 2005 (“Rules”) as given by the Hon’ble APTEL in the two judgments i.e. Kadodara Power Pvt. Ltd. and Others v. Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (“Kadodra Power”),FOURTH SCHEDULE TO ARBITRATION ACT: SUPREME COURT TO SETTLE THE CONUNDRUM IN ESSE
7th September 2022I Introduction:
Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism (commonly known as ADR mechanism”) has prevailed in India since its medieval period. While the panchayat system i.e., a form of ADR mechanism, was predominant in the country for being cheap and easily accessible with liberal procedural laws, the hierarchy of court system propounded by the Britishers has changed the landscape of justice delivery system in India. So has the costs and time to access and pursue the litigation, which has changed and escalated exorbitantly over the period of time.Unconstitutionality of Section 3(2) of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act 1988
2nd September 2022 It is a well settled principle of law that any enactment which substantially affects the rights of people cannot be applied retrospectively. This was upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Union of India v. Ganpati Dealcom Pvt. Ltd., CIVIL APPEAL No. 5783 of 2022, decided on 23.08.2022, wherein it was declared that Section 3(2) and Section 5 of the unamended Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (“1988 Act”) were unconstitutional for being manifestly arbitrary. Further, it was held that Section 3(2) of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 (“Amendment Act”) violated Article 20(1) of the Constitution of India (“Article 20(1)”) and was hence unconstitutional. Additionally, it was held that in rem forfeiture provision under Section 5 of the Amendment Act was punitive and could only be applied prospectively.This article endeavors to unravel the implications of this judgement on convicts and their respective confiscated properties. An attempt is made to analyze the legal questions by drawing parallels from existing jurisprudence on “unconstitutionality of law”.
Benami Transactions: Unconstitutionality of Section 3(2) and Section 5 of 1988 Act, juxtaposed in reference to legal implications for the criminal justice system.
A benami transaction is an agreement whereby property is transferred to or held by a person, but the consideration for the transfer is made by another person, who then holds the property for the present or future benefit of the person who made the payment.[1] Benami transactions occur when property is acquired in the name of a fictional person or when a fictitious person provides the consideration for the acquisition of property.[2] Furthermore, a transaction is deemed to be benami when the person shown as owner is either not aware about the ownership or denies the same.[3] As per Section 3(2) of the 1988 Act, engaging in a benami transaction would result in imprisonment up to three years, a fine or both. Further, in a benami transaction, the punishment is not only confined to imprisonment, but also extends to the attachment of property as per Section 5 of the 1998 Act. This section lacked sufficient safeguards for not providing any mechanism wherein the person could defend the title of his property. In the absence of sufficient safeguards, the above provisions were held manifestly arbitrary and unconstitutional by the Apex Court. The 2016 Amendment Act brought in the aspect of “retrospective application” under Section 3(2) which stated that three years imprisonment shall accrue for all transactions entered from 05.09.1988 to 25.10.2016. Thus, in the Ganpati Judgement (supra) Section 3(2) of the Amendment Act was held unconstitutional for being violative of Article 20(1). Further, by virtue of the 2016 Amendment Act, scope of benami property under section 5, was expanded to include within its ambit the proceeds arising out of such a property.[4] Therein, the Apex Court held that in rem forfeiture effectuated post the 2016 Amendment Act, being punitive in nature could only be applied prospectively. All such prosecutions and confiscation processes were therefore quashed. In light of this ratio, two legal issues which are left open and need to be addressed are impact of the judgment on conviction under Section 3(2) of the 1988 Act and devolution of the title of the confiscated properties under Section 5 of the 1988 Act. Attention is drawn to the case of Behram Khurshed Pesikaka v. The State of Bombay[5], wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court set aside the conviction which was based on the act that subsequently became unconstitutional. At this juncture, it is imperative to note that the paramount right to life encapsulated under Article 21 states that “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure by law”[6]. This implies that convictions based on a law that has become unconstitutional would fall within the purview of “illegal detentions”. This interpretation can be corroborated by the recent verdict of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Bhola Kumhar v. State of Chhattisgarh[7], wherein under paragraph 17 it is noted that “detaining a convict beyond the actual release date would amount to imprisonment or detention sans sanction of law and would thus, violate not only Article 19(d) but also Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Considering this ratio, convictions based on Section 3(2) shall be quashed by approaching the Writ Jurisdiction of the appropriate Hon’ble High Court. The transaction pertaining to the confiscated property could be traced by seeking a report from the Administrator, the statutory authority which manages the benami property[8] and appropriate decision as to its title shall be decided based on facts and circumstances of each case.Conclusion
The judgement propounds that “as a consequence of the above declaration, all such prosecutions or confiscation proceedings shall stand quashed”, however the procedure to effectuate this ratio is not addressed and left open at the behest of judicial discretion. Conclusively, this judgement is a testimony to the fact that the common law is a living system exhibiting dynamism. Judicial Review exercised in this judgment is not encroaching the notion of separation of powers but merely ensuring that legislature do not overlook the fundamental rights guaranteed under Part-III of the Constitution of India. In the aftermath of this landmark decision, it is imperative that the pillars of criminal justice system work harmoniously and cohesively to ensure speedy justice.Authored by: DSK Legal Partner, Mr. Samir Malik; Principal Associate, Mr. Aditya Sharma and Associate, Ms. Priyanshi Sarin.
[1] Section 2 (9) (A) of Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988. [2] Section 2 (9) (B) and (D) of Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988. [3] Section 2 (9) (C) of Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988. [4] Section 2(8) of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988. [5] Behram Khurshed Pesikaka v. The State of Bombay (AIR 1955 SC 123). [6] Article 21 of the Constitution of India, 1950. [7] Bhola Kumhar v. State of Chhattisgarh Criminal Appeal No. 937 of 2022. [8] Section 28 of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988.
FOURTH SCHEDULE TO ARBITRATION ACT: SUPREME COURT TO SETTLE THE CONUNDRUM IN ESSE
24th August 2022 Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism (commonly known as ADR mechanism”) has prevailed in India since its medieval period. While the panchayat system i.e., a form of ADR mechanism, was predominant in the country for being cheap and easily accessible with liberal procedural laws, the hierarchy of court system propounded by the Britishers has changed the landscape of justice delivery system in India. So has the costs and time to access and pursue the litigation, which has changed and escalated exorbitantly over the period of time.AN INSIGHT INTO PROPOSED REGULATORY REGIME ON VIRTUAL ONLINE SPORTS IN RAJASTHAN
1st June 2022 Authored by – Mr. Rishi Anand, Partner; Mr. Chirag Jain, Principal Associate and Ms. Shruti Agrawal, AssociateCERT-IN ISSUES DIRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS RELATING TO CYBER SECURITY PRACTICES
26th May 2022 Authored by – Mr. Rishi Anand, Partner; Mr. Nakul Batra, Associate Partner and Mr. Kunal Garg, Associate.Covid-19 and The Changing Landscape of Deal Making
4th January 2022 It has been nearly 18 months since the onset of the pandemic and the world has already experienced far reaching implications of Covid-19. While the impact of Covid-19 has affected every country, every sector and every business, the impact has been rather brutal on some countries and especially on some sectors and businesses. For e.g. sectors like hospitality, retail, travel & tourism & aviation have seen a greater impact as compared to some of the other sectors like information & technology, manufacturing etc.Delicate Balance of Doing Complete Justice- Supreme Court’s Judgment in NHAI v. M. Hakeem
5th October 2021Introduction
- The Supreme Court of India has passed a judgment in a batch of over 50 appeals on the question as to whether the Courts are empowered to modify an arbitral award under Section 34 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 (“Arbitration Act”) when they are adjudicating an application for setting aside an award under Section 34[1].
Viewers and Influencers Beware
8th September 2021 Some of us may have noticed little tags “partnership”, “sponsored”, “advertisement”, “collaboration” with the posts of our favourite social media influencers. This addition is due to the new Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) Guidelines for Influencer Advertising in Digital Media. Ever since the world got engulfed in the Covid-19 pandemic, the manner of buying of goods, services, experiences and consequently advertising underwent a significant change. Consumers stopped stepping out of their homes. The outdoor advertising moved to our phone screens, our social media feeds. Today an influencer is no longer restricted to merely a celebrity, a film star, a sportsman. Anyone can be an influencer, even our neighbour could be a social media influencer.Enforcement of Emergency Award Passed in a Domestic Arbitration in India
18th August 2021 In the case of Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC v. Future Retail Limited & Ors.[1], the Supreme Court of India has decided 2 important questions of law with regard to enforcement of an emergency award by courts in India viz.,Commercialising Copyright: NFTs – Does Popularity Mitigate Legal Risks
2nd July 2021Background
Introduction to NFTs
One of the latest trends being built on the blockchain ecosystem are non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”). NFT is a digital token or a certificate having the following broad characteristics:CONTRACTOR’S ABHIYAAN TO REMAIN ATMANIRBHAR
4th June 2020The COVID 19 pandemic has changed the way we live and conduct business.
Impact of COVID-19 on Registration of Documents
24th May 2020This is the longest curfew that our generation has faced! Very few who witnessed the second World War are with us today to share the stories of the trying times of those days.
For our generation, the pandemic COVID-19 is nothing short of a world war. It has not only taken human lives but has largely brought the world economy to a standstill.
INDIA RESTRICTS FOREIGN INVESTMENTS FROM CHINA
28th April 2020 Introduction Hitherto, foreign direct investment into India from Pakistan and Bangladesh was given differential treatment and made subject to government approval. However, as a direct fallout of weakening economy and freefalling stock markets, and with a view ‘to curb opportunistic takeovers or acquisitions of Indian companies on account of the outbreak of COVID-19’, the Department of Commerce and Industry has vide Press Note 3 of 2020 dated April 17, 2020 (“Press Note”) amended the extant Foreign Direct Investment Policy, 2017 (“FDI Policy”).USING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES TO USE AUTOMATION SYSTEMS TO FACILITATE OUR JUDICIAL PROCESSES
28th April 2020 By Anand Desai, Managing Partner, DSK Legal and Hanuman Tripathi, Chairman, Hashtasy Digital, and Council Member, NASSCOM COVID-19 is a catalyst for rethinking various aspects of our lives, including the functioning of the judiciary, being one of the pillars under our Constitution. As a long-term strategy, can physical attendance in our Court / Tribunal premises be minimized without compromising the process of justice delivery in any manner? Can scaled-up automation boost the entire Indian judicial process to a much higher level of efficiency, while enabling social distancing, and reducing the downsides of travel to, and waiting in Courts?COVID 19: Force Majeure provisions in PPP Concessions – Non-political and Indirect Political Events
21st April 2020 Due to the global lockdowns and restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the COVID 19 pandemic, it is quite possible that the force majeure clauses in the concession agreements of various Public Private Partnership projects will be triggered. It is, therefore, advisable that the parties to the PPP projects be aware of, and analyse, the effects of the pandemic, and consequent actions of various Governments, on their projects. A typical PPP concession agreement in India will have provisions to cover force majeure events. Some of the usual provisions are as follows:COVID-19 – CLOSURE OF FACILITIES AND ESTABLISHMENTS IN INDIA
21st April 2020 In light of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s announcement on March 24, 2020 declaring a lock-down in India for 21 (twenty-one) days that emanated from the unfortunate COVID-19 epidemic, the relevant department of the Central Government has issued an order, inter alia, directing the closure of manufacturing facilities, shops and other establishments and prohibiting the provision of services (while providing a few exceptions thereto). In addition to the aforesaid Central Government order, certain other departments of the Central Government and certain State Governments have also issued orders relating to closure and regulation of manufacturing facilities, shops and other establishments and services that have been permitted to continue to function/operate. We have set-out below the key aspects of such governmental orders and the restrictions imposed on facilities, establishments and their operations and provision of services, while not delving into restrictions relating to government operations/activities (except as specifically stated herein), in the form of questions and answers.COVID:19: Impact on the Financing Agreements
31st March 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lock-down has impacted the business of all non-essential services and supplies and has disrupted collection and flow of revenues for such businesses. This impact has primarily been on account of the effect on global supply chains, foreign travel and inland transportation of goods and movement of people, especially for businesses which rely heavily on supplies from China or on end sale in domestic, Europe and American markets.Moratorium relaxations extended by RBI in view of COVID-19
31st March 2020 IntroductionThe Reserve Bank of India (RBI), with a view to soften the COVID-19 blow on the industry, has recently introduced a slew of measures to maintain the liquidity levels for the lending institutions and the borrowers.
IMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19 ON LISTED COMPANIES IN INDIA
31st March 2020 On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic with an observation that governments, industries and individuals should continue to implement comprehensive strategies and measures to prevent infections, save lives and minimize impact. The crippling effects of COVID-19 are causing massive business interruptions across the globe/industries.PREFERENTIAL TRANSACTIONS AND NATURE OF DEBT UNDER A MORTGAGE SECURING OBLIGATIONS OF A THIRD PARTY
31st March 2020 In the case of Anuj Jain Interim Resolution Professional for Jaypee Infratech Limited v. Axis Bank Limited Etc., the Supreme Court had occasion to examine (i) certain provisions relating to preferential, fraudulent and undervalued transactions contained in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (‘IBC’) and (ii) the issue pertaining to existence of a financial debt vis-à-vis creation of a mortgage to secure obligations of a third party.CHALLENGES FACED BY A SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION APPLICANT AFTER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION PLAN
31st March 2020 Despite the best of intentions towards addressing the preservation of value of businesses, and addressing the ills of financially unviable businesses being allowed to continue over prolonged periods, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) is at times found to fall short in implementation of a resolution plan, both after approval of the resolution plan by the Committee of Creditors (CoC), as well as approval by the Adjudicating Authority. Despite the resolution plan being approved by the requisite majority, when the application for approval of the resolution plan comes up before the Adjudicating Authority, multiple parties are often found to intervene and try and delay, or even stop, the resolution plan from being approved. Set out below are some of the challenges that resolution applicants have faced:COVID-19: Checklist for Invoking Force Majeure Provisions under the Contract
31st March 2020 The unprecedented global pandemic which has resulted from COVID-19 has led to uncertainties and government actions which have severely impacted businesses and are likely to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. In India, the National Disaster Management Authority has issued an order dated 24 March, 2020 (“NDMA Order”) followed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines on 24 March, 2020, directing Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India, State Governments and State Authorities to take measures to ensure social distancing in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, including closure of all commercial/ private establishments for 21 days with effect from 25 March, 2020 (with certain exceptions such as distribution of essential goods, telecom/ internet services, power generation and transmission/ distribution units etc.).THE LEGALESE OF LOCKDOWN
31st March 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global crisis. India has also been severely hit by this and the government has had to take some extraordinary measures, including closing commercial establishments, public markets and educational institutions and restricting movement of public by imposing a lockdown. The government is using the powers granted under the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (“CrPC”), Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (“ED Act”) and Disaster Management Act, 2005 (“DM Act”) to create a mechanism to mitigate and control this epidemic.COVID-19 | LEGAL IMPLICATIONS ON M & A TRANSACTIONS IN INDIA AND WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
23rd March 2020 The Novel Corona Virus (“Covid 19”) came to light in December 2019 and by March 15, 2020 it has affected nearly every part of the world causing panic, confusion, frenzy and most important of all large scale disruptions to every industry and businesses around the world.SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS: BOON OR BANE?
3rd March 2020 "Social Media Influencers, whether their audience is significant or small, impact the lives of everybody who watches their content. They do have a responsibility to ensure what they are publishing is not harmful or offensive.” This statement made by the Single Judge of the Bombay High Court brought into the limelight the impact and responsibilities of Social Media Influencers. Through this article we hope to provide an insight into who are social media influencers, their responsibilities and existing laws and international guidelines regulating social media influencers.ECONOMIC OFFENCES AND DIRECTOR LIABILITY UNDER INDIAN LAW
28th February 2020 In the last few years, Indian law enforcement agencies have been aggressively investigating businesses that are implicated in any malfeasance or even non-compliance of license terms as required under statutes. Typically, most of the offences committed by companies fall in the category of economic offences. Indian courts have held that economic offences need to be considered as grave offences as they often have a higher degree of mens rea and involve deep-rooted conspiracies which result in huge loss of public funds and affect the economy and financial health of the country.- Dispute resolution: litigation
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