The aviation practice at Dentons Link Legal has a robust offering which encompasses leasing and financing, regulatory compliance, and disputes, as well as procurement, commercial contracts, and restructuring and insolvency. With wide-ranging capabilities, the group is sought after by airlines, MROs, and manufacturers, alongside brokers and agents, financiers, and handling agencies to assist with high-profile, multi-jurisdictional mandates. Atul Sharma co-heads the department alongside Anand Srivastava; the former stands out for his expertise in aviation disputes and project advisory, while Srivastava is a key contact for complex transactions, including M&A, aircraft leasing, and financing. On the cross-border front, Abhishek Sharma is a notable name with vast experience advising on aviation disputes, insolvency proceedings, and competition issues. Other indispensable practitioners include development and investment projects specialist Milind Jha, M&A, restructuring and insolvency, and corporate finance expert Namita Das, and dispute resolution authority Sanjay Gupta.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Litigation.
Position
Atul is the Managing Partner of Link Legal India Law Services and has 40 years of experience.
He was admitted to the Bar in 1978 and he advices clients in the practice areas of corporate litigations, mediation arbitrations including international commercial arbitrations, aviation, infrastructure projects, engineering & construction, business restructuring, employee matters, real estate, hospitality projects, and commercial transactions.
He specialises in aviation and infrastructure sectors and represents clients in these sectors on all aspects of their commercial and day to day operations. He advises clients on all aspects of aviation business and setting up of airlines, including acquisition of aircraft, aircraft financing, leasing (wet and dry), leasing of spaces at airports, securing permission from civil aviation authorities for airline operations and related approvals from the government agencies and all engineering and commercial contracts.
He also advises on all contractual and dispute matters in airports sector (domestic and international). He also provides assistance to his clients in setting up and developing infrastructure projects in non-airport sectors as well, like roads, ports, water and waste management, power, urban transportation and oil & gas etc.
He has considerable experience in representing major corporate clients in various Courts, Tribunals, Arbitrations and other judicial and quasi-judicial fora, and providing advice on all aspects of civil and commercial laws including company law, economic laws, labour laws, anti-trust laws, consumer protection laws.
He has spoken on many complex legal issues at national and international fora.
He is the Chair of the Aviation Committee of Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA).
Career
Before setting up the firm in 1999, Atul was an independent counsel. From 1986 to 1993, he was associated with Bhasin & Co. where he led the litigation practice and represented and advised banks and public companies on corporate and commercial matters.
Languages
English.
Memberships
Chairman of Infrastructure Committee of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.
Chairman of the Aviation Law Committee of Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA).
Chairman of the Aviation Law Committee of Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA).
Education
Bachelors in Economics from University of Delhi Bachelors in Law from University of Delhi.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Partners have strong experience and expertise in their subject areas.' 'All individuals representing our file were flexible and worked hard to meet our requirements and turn around.'
Key clients
- Axis Bank SpiceJet Limited Vietnam Airlines Big Charter Pvt. Ltd.
Work highlights
Acted as the legal counsel to Axis Bank in a secured loan extended to AI Fleet Services IFSC Limited for the acquisition of 34 trainer aircrafts.