Guide to India's Law Firms and Legal Market

Intelligence report

India Business Law Journal 1

India’s legal market

July/August 2008

A guide to India’s legal

market

India Business Law Journal assesses the state of the Indian legal market and discovers that recruitment challenges, rising costs, a move towards specialization and the perceived threats and opportunities posed by foreign firms are the issues of the day

Vandana Chatlani reports

Editorial analysis: Page 2Directory of Indian law firms: Page 9

Intelligence report

India Business Law Journal2


July/August 2008

An Indian lawyer once remarked: “Anyone with-out an Indian strategy right now is looking like a fool.” Such a statement couldn’t ring more true than it does today. Domestic law firms are inundated with work despite the market slump

in the West, and Indian corporates are more bullish than ever before about investing in assets overseas. “It’s a very rosy picture so far as the development of the legal market is concerned,” says Lalit Bhasin, president of the Society of Indian Law Firms.

The haphazard change in regulations continues to keep Indian lawyers on their toes, curbing innovation to some extent, but demanding it in other cases to structure sophisticated deals constrained by time. As Gautam Bhat of Thakker & Thakker says jokingly, “There’s such a lack of clarity, even with the regulations ... we should outsource law-making to the UK!”

Legal courtship

The burning anticipation of liberalization within the legal sector has been reduced to a flicker. With elections on the horizon, lawyers are aware that there are more pressing pri-orities on the political agenda than deliberating on whether to allow the entry of foreign law firms. In spite of the res-pite, endeavours towards specialization are noticeable in many Indian firms as they begin to strategize their services according to key strengths in an attempt to compete with their foreign counterparts.

“The impact of foreign firms is undeniable,” says Rohan Shah of Economic Laws Practice. “There’s an elephant in the room. Do you want to acknowledge it?”

While foreign firms remain banned from establishing a physical presence in the country, many are seeking a foot-hold in the market by entering into formal or informal tie-ups with Indian firms. So far, only a handful of firms (pub-licly at least) have gone down this route – Trilegal’s tie-up with Allen & Overy and Talwar Thakore & Associates’ close relationship with Linklaters are among the most high profile marriages to date – but if the political inertia over the entry of foreign firms continues, many more tie-ups are likely to be announced in the coming years.

As Abhijit Joshi of AZB & Partners puts it: “Everyone is flirting with everybody.”

“We see at least two foreign firms at our practice a week,” adds Dina Dattani of Nishith Desai Associates, a 79-lawyer firm with offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore and the US.

The dilemma facing all players in this international game of legal dating is which partner to choose and whether an exclusive tie-up would put an end to lucrative referrals from other firms. They should also be aware that tie-ups are not necessarily problem-free. As Shobhan Thakore of Talwar Thakore & Associates reveals, “We’re getting a lot of know-how from Linklaters ... but we’re also competing with them for staff.”

Professional fragmentation

Tie-ups and consolidation might be the buzzwords of the moment, but the old-fashioned trend towards frag-mentation in the Indian legal market is still alive and well. “Consolidation is happening,” says Sumes Dewan, a part-ner at KR Chawla & Co in New Delhi, but “there are [also] splinter groups emerging from major law firms.”

One of the most talked about departures this year was the breakaway from Amarchand Mangaldas, one of the country’s top firms, of MP Bharucha, his wife Alka and son Justin, together with a team of 10 lawyers. Active in the market for only four months, the new firm, Bharucha & Partners, has already completed some impressive deals. “Things are even better than we expected them to be,” says partner Alka Bharucha. The highlight was advising Idea Cellular on its acquisition of Spice, India’s largest tel-ecom buyout to date. “It is by far the most complex deal I’ve done in 20 years of M&A” Alka Bharucha says.

MP Bharucha cites personal reasons for his decision to leave Amarchand. Others, however, believe his move may be indicative of a wider change in the legal market.

“I think we’ve accepted that you can’t expect a person to be permanently associated with a firm because of differ-ences in terms of ideologies and different considerations,” says Preeti Mehta of Kanga & Co. “Earlier the ideology was centred on loyalty – there was a lot of emphasis on that. I think that’s changing somewhat in some of the firms ... Of course the underlying consideration is what is better in terms of material gains.”

Despite losing two partners and 11 associates as a result of the Bharucha breakaway, Amarchand Mangaldas has retained its status as one of India’s preeminent full-service firms. It recently added 10 partners to its fold and with a current strength of around 400 lawyers, it is virtually neck and neck with FoxMandal Little in the race to be India’s largest law firm.

Rising salaries and prices

While the wealth of clients investing into and out of India is keeping domestic firms on their toes, the pool of talented professionals needed to handle the burgeoning portfolios is quickly drying up. Between 25,000 and 30,000 lawyers graduate in India each year, however, the problems of recruitment and attrition continue to pressurize firms across the board.

The challenge of finding, hiring and retaining qualified and experienced professionals to manoeuvre the complex regulatory framework, remains a common refrain across all law firms. And not just domestic law firms. Foreign firms,

It’s a very rosy picture so far as the development of the legal market is concernedLalit BhasinPresidentSociety of Indian Law Firms

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multinational corporations, in-house counsel and outsourc-ing vendors are all devising new tactics and salary pack-ages to attract the cream of India’s legal fraternity.

“Recruitment is tough,” says partner Lira Goswami of Delhi-based Associated Law Advisers. “Lots of lawyers are still recruited by foreign firms. We’re losing candidates to multinational corporations, legal process outsourcers and in-house counsel.”

“The attrition rate is still quite a challenge,” concurs Dattani of Nishith Desai Associates. “Incentivizing your employees has still been a big issue.”

To add to the woes of recruitment and attrition, salaries across the board have increased by as much as 100% in the past year. Rising salaries are inevitably pushing up billing rates and some lawyers worry that India will lose its competitive edge in terms of pricing. A few Indian firms are now charging their clients US$400-500 per hour, a similar rate to legal fees in China and Japan.

More appealing remuneration packages have affected junior lawyers’ sense of loyalty and commitment. As some firms point out, it is now common for junior associates to jump from one firm to another because of competitive starting salaries.

“It’s a challenge to [recruit] people who are competent and able, especially in a market where there’s so much volatility,” explains Rajesh Begur, the managing partner of ARA Law, a mid-size firm that brands itself as a specialist practice predominantly handling private equity and capital markets deals.

Far from simply approaching potential candidates at university campuses in metropolitan cities, foreign corpo-rations and law firms are employing every means at their disposal to find and recruit the brightest young lawyers. “Multinational corporations are now venturing into tier two and tier three cities to recruit lawyers,” says Maneck Mulla, a partner at Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe, a Mumbai-based general practice firm that has been heavily involved in shipping and infrastructure projects.

“The constraint of getting good hands has always been there, it’s not peculiar to this particular time,” remarks RS Loona of Alliance Corporate Lawyers, a Mumbai-based firm that specializes in securities law. Prior to establishing his firm, Loona was the executive director in charge of legal issues at the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Loona is quick to point out that rising salaries is a trend seen more at corporate firms. “The demand of those law firms that are litigation-oriented is not that high. You have associates with much lower remuneration. It is generally believed by people that corporate law is more complex and you need more competent people for that kind of work.”

But while corporate work may be seen as more desir-able, litigation is still by far the larger part of the Indian legal profession and several firms including Karanjawala & Co, Advani & Co, Bhasin & Co and Kachwaha & Partners, to name just a few, have built strong reputations for their prowess in dispute resolution.

“We have an extremely litigious government,” notes Ramni Taneja, a lawyer with 28 years’ experience. “That has always been a major problem. The bulk of practice is at the bar and in the courts, 98% is in the courts – corporate firms are at the fringe.” Taneja was formerly a partner in the Delhi office of Little & Co. She left to start her own prac-tice – Law Office of Ramni Taneja – shortly after Little & Co became part of FoxMandal Little.

Home sweet home

While recruitment is certainly one of the most acute problems currently facing India’s law firms, many non-resident-Indian lawyers are returning from overseas to take advantage of the flourishing markets at home. Some believe the attraction of foreign pastures is fading as the economic downturn takes hold in the West and opportu-nities to work on big-ticket deals decline as a result.

“Because of the slowdown in the West, there has been a surge of applicants returning from overseas,” explains partner Rajat Sethi of S&R Associates, a young Delhi-based firm that has grown in size with the recent appoint-ment of Juhi Singh and Niti Dixit as equity partners. “People feel there’s more action in India”, says Sethi. “We’ve recently recruited a third year associate from Skadden in New York.”

Although Sethi’s firm was only established three years ago, it has already secured high profile clients such as Sony, India Equity Partners, Henderson, Bear Capital and Standard Chartered. Recent highlights include represent-ing Vodafone Essar in the formation of a tower infrastruc-ture joint venture between Vodafone, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular.

Badri Narayanan, a lawyer who recently returned to India to join tax specialist Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan, shares Sethi’s sentiments: “More Indian nationals trained abroad are coming back. We have the opportunity to work on high-end contentious cases here to start with.”

According to the US-qualified lawyer, a few months spent working in India is more rewarding in terms of expe-rience than years of work in the US. Having compared the distinctive models required for legal success in both jurisdictions, Narayanan says he prefers the approach adopted by Indian firms. “Being a lawyer in India is a lot more entrepreneurial, the work is intuitive and logical ... we see things from a client’s perspective.”

“There is a huge variation in the skills required for liti-gation work in the US and India,” Narayanan continues. “Both are adversarial, but in the US you’re expected to do a lot of writing and preparation, while in India there is a major emphasis on oral advocacy. In the US there are a lot more checks and balances with written submissions, so your room for creativity is curtailed.”

The impact of foreign firms is undeniable ... There’s an elephant in the room. Do you want to acknowledge it?Rohan ShahManaging PartnerEconomic Laws Practice

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July/August 2008

Professional growth and independence aren’t the only factors that have brought people back, as Narayanan points out. “It’s a good chance to be with family and con-tribute to the Indian economy.”

Narayanan’s new firm, Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan, is expected to merge soon with fellow tax specialist Vaish Associates. The combined law firm will consist of approximately 200 professionals and will be the largest tax firm in India. Under the guidance of managing partner Bomi Daruwalla, Vaish is presently representing generics company Ranbaxy in its merger with pharmaceuticals giant Daiichi Sankyo.

A trend towards specialization

In spite of their limited size, the majority of Indian law firms are general practice outfits, claiming proficiency in most areas of corporate and commercial law. But client demands are changing this.

“We’re seeing the need for specialization and the need for domain knowledge”, says Jyoti Sagar, found-ing partner of J Sagar Associates, one of India’s leading

firms. “The market is getting to a stage where expertise is required ... Practice groups have become even clearer in the last year or so.” J Sagar Associates’ prominence is marked by its visibility on impressive deals such as Wal-Mart’s entry into India; Reliance Energy’s 4,000 MW power project; and India’s largest energy project financ-ing transaction, valued at US$3.5 billion.

“Clients are much more demanding and expect you to possess specialized knowledge,” agrees Chetan Chadha, a partner at Delhi-based Chadha & Chadha, an intellectual property firm that counts Samsung among its clients.

“More firms are coming up with boutiques,” concurs Krrishan Singhania of Mumbai-based Singhania & Co. “Ultimately we also have to show we are specializing.”

With nearly 55 lawyers, Mumbai-based Majmudar & Co recognizes how specializing in particular fields may provide benefits to its clients. “We have nurtured and significantly picked up our tax structuring practice,” says partner Neerav Merchant. “Just a handful of firms are involved in this area, which is an important component of foreign direct investment. Most firms would send this kind of work to auditing and accounting firms but we

Everyone is flirting with everybodyAbhijit Joshi PartnerAZB & Partners

Some of the key players in New Delhi

Akash Chittranshi & Associates

Amarchand Mangaldas

Amarjit & Associates

Anand and Anand

Associated Law Advisers

AZB & Partners

Bhasin & Co

Chadha & Chadha

Chitale & Chitale Partners

Dua Associates

Dubey & Partners

FoxMandal Little

Hemant Sahai Associates

Inttl Advocare

J Sagar Associates

K&S Partners

Kachwaha & Partners

Khaitan & Co

Khaitan & Partners

King Stubb & Kasiva

Kochhar & Co

KR Chawla & Co

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan

Lall & Sethi

Lall Lahiri & Salhotra

Law Office of Ramni Taneja

Lex Orbis

LexCounsel

Luthra & Luthra

New Delhi Law Offices

OP Khaitan & Co

P&A Law Offices

Premnath Rai Associates

PSA

Rajinder Narain & Co

S&R Associates

Seth Associates

Seth Dua & Associates

Singh & Associates

Singhania & Partners

Subramaniam Nataraj & Associates

Suri & Company

Swarup & Company

Titus & Co

Trilegal

Tuli & Co

Vaish Associates

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July/August 2008

have the specialization to advise on this in-house.” Often overwhelmed with work, it would perhaps be

understandable if established practices were to overlook the need for specialization. Firms such as Solomon & Co, however, have capitalized on their historic expertise. Set up in 1909, the firm served maharajas and maharanis in real estate disputes and continues to advise clients in the area of traditional real estate – relating to agricultural land and tenancy issues – as well as real estate fund investments. “We have a wide client base in this area and continue to represent local property developers,” says partner Aaron Solomon.

Firms like DSK Legal are sharpening their skills in dis-tinctive domains in order to retain a healthy client base. The full-service firm has shifted its focus over the last two years to private equity, servicing up to 48 firms including Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Templeton, Clearwater Capital and HDFC. Noted for its strength in dispute resolution, the firm also prides itself on its knowledge of technology, an area which remains blurry in courts. “Data theft is a colossal area which the law hasn’t addressed,” says managing partner Anand Desai. “It’s a dark hole. We have an IT Act that doesn’t contain what it should ... it’s inapplicable to cyber-security. E-security is a global problem ... banks are unofficially saying they lose 3% of revenue every year due to online fraud.”

Juris Corp is one firm that has not shied away from carving a niche for itself. The eight-year-old full-service firm, supported by 36 professionals who are on average 26 years of age, has built its specialization not on a set of practice areas, but on a set of clients. It targets its legal services at major banks and financial institutions.

Other practices that enjoy good reputations for their

work in specialist fields include Gandhi & Associates, a nine-lawyer firm that handles capital markets, private equity, M&A and media-related transactions; Narasappa Doraswamy & Raja Advocates, a Bangalore firm prac-tising corporate, banking and technology law; Hemant Sahai Associates, a 45-lawyer firm actively involved in energy, mining, infrastructure and carbon-credit transac-tions; and Law Quest, a Mumbai-based firm advising on immigration, real estate and commercial law.

Krishna & Saurastr i , Aditya & Associates, Intt l Advocare, SKS Law Associates, Lall Lahiri & Salhotra, and K&S Partners all specialize in intellectual property work, while Wadia Ghandy & Co is renowned for its bank-ing expertise. Dave & Girish & Co and Suri & Company are well-established finance boutiques and AKS Law Associates is a 24-lawyer firm with expertise in real estate and dispute resolution. Tuli & Co is one of India’s few insurance law specialists. Based in Delhi, the firm works on contentious and non-contentious insurance cases and enjoys a close relationship with Eversheds of the UK. Agarwal Law Associates is a medium-sized firm specializing in corporate and commercial litigation, M&A and capital markets.

DM Harish & Co focuses heavily on property and tax law, while Chennai-based Global Business Solutions is an IP-centric firm. Krishnamurthy & Co is a Bangalore-based corporate, IP and real estate practice with offices in Mysore, Mumbai and Chennai. Singh & Singh Advocates is a mid-sized Delhi firm specializing in IP, telecoms and corporate litigation.

While specialization has proved necessary in order to fulfil the needs of an increasingly sophisticated market, it is also essential for lawyers to keep abreast of new trends and demands in the market and hone their skills accordingly.

“We’re an IP firm but we’ve broadened our scope to advise on media law, advertising and IT,” explains Akash Chittranshi, managing partner of IP boutique Akash Chittranshi & Associates. “We’ve been doing a lot of work on securing customized content delivery tools and software. Tremendous local content is being created and getting exported in huge quantities. If I look back in the last 6-7 months I would say more than half of my non-contentious advisory revenue is coming from this kind of work.”

Consolidation is happening ... there are [also] splinter groups emerging from major law firmsSumes DewanPartnerKR Chawla & Co

Back to the Books: Clients are demanding a higher degree of specialization from their law firms.

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July/August 2008

Sensing a slowdown?

Despite the fact that businesses in the West have their heads in their hands over the financial turmoil that has plagued the markets for the last six months, lawyers in India have been extremely busy. Some experts are predict-ing that a domino effect will soon find lawyers in India with less work on their plates, but others are confident that the inundation of work will continue unabated, forcing some to go as far as turning clients away.

“There’s no evidence of a slowdown or collapse,” remarks Rajiv Luthra, managing partner of Delhi-based Luthra & Luthra. “There has been a big slowdown in capital markets, but we have 11 transactions live right now.”

Often present on big-ticket deals, the firm is busy with a variety of assignments from railway projects in Mexico, to assisting in the financing of a US$2 billion refinery in Bhatinda. The firm recently created a new tax wing, appointing 15 lawyers to further enhance its capabilities.

Other firms are more worried. “Interest rates have increased and this will directly cause a slowdown in out-bound M&A,” predicts Suparna Sacchar, a partner with OP Khaitan & Co, a full-service firm with 25 lawyers that focuses largely on corporate and commercial work.

But if the slowdown does reach as far as India, many lawyers are optimistic that it will be a cloud with a silver lining. “We expect a lot of consolidation and restructur-ing work will come up ... there will be strategic sell-outs like Ranbaxy,” says Rabindra Jhunjhunwala at Khaitan & Co, one of India’s largest firms with almost 180 lawyers. Khaitan & Co’s client list includes Suzlon Energy, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tommy Hilfiger and HDFC.

While some firms are gearing up to profit from restructur-ing and consolidation work that normally peaks during eco-nomic downturns, others are pursuing areas in which strong growth seems assured for years to come. Infrastructure is one such area which Manju Mohotra, CEO of Singhania & Partners, believes is promising. “Infrastructure has been huge for us. That’s one sector that’s really happening in India. Our infrastructure practice has grown tremendously – it’s not just a niche.” The firm is representing Punjab State Electricity Board for the setup of two 1,200 MW coal-

based thermal power stations, and also advising the Delhi Integrated Multi Model Transit System on a scheme for private participation in the city’s public transport system.

Firms focusing largely on capital markets transactions have a different picture to paint. The markets have been very quiet for the last six months. Nevertheless, many believe a recovery is around the corner. A large number of deals are in the pipeline; on hold until valuations are cor-rected. Once conditions improve, a flurry of capital markets activity can be expected.

Expansion efforts

With M&A as its bread and butter, AZB & Partners con-tinues to enhance its reputation as one of India’s most well-respected full-service firms. Under the guidance of

Lots of lawyers are still recruited by foreign firms. We’re losing candidates to multinational corporations, legal process outsourcers and in-house counselLira Goswami PartnerAssociated Law Advisers

Some of the key players in Mumbai

Advani & Co

Alliance Corporate Lawyers

ALMT Legal

Amarchand Mangaldas

ARA Law

AZB & Partners

Bharucha & Partners

Crawford Bayley & Company

Dave & Girish & Co

Desai & Diwanji

DH Law Associates

DSK Legal

Economic Laws Practice

FoxMandal Little

Gagrats

Hathi & Partners

J Sagar Associates

Juris Corp

Kanga & Company

Khaitan & Co

Krishna & Saurastri

Law Quest

Majmudar & Co

Manilal Kher Ambalal & Co

Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe

Nishith Desai Associates

Singhania & Co

SN Gupta & Co

Solomon & Co

Talwar Thakore & Associates

Thakker & Thakker

Trilegal

Udwadia & Udeshi

Wadia Ghandy & Co

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managing partner Zia Mody, the 180-lawyer firm receives an overwhelming number of complex and creative assignments.

According to partner Abhijit Joshi, the firm has recruited 40 new lawyers this year and plans to increase its IP capa-bilities, which he describes as “a sunrise practice we’re excited about”. The firm has also poached several high profile lawyers from its competitors, including Kalpana Merchant from Kanga & Co and Prabjot Singh Bhullar from J Sagar Associates, as well as a former general counsel of Jet Airways.

Mody, widely considered as one of the most talented lawyers in India, is described by a peer as “a cut above the rest ... she’s built a whole institution on her own. The best M&A is done by her and her team in Mumbai ... I always love to have her on the other side.” Highlights for the firm this year include advising Tata Motors and TML Holdings in the US$3 billion bridge-financing for the acquisition of luxury auto brands Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford.

Another firm with expansionary tendencies is FoxMandal Little. Since taking over Mumbai-based Little & Co in May 2006, the firm has grown to around 400 lawyers and 50 partners with offices in 10 cities. “Our two main areas of focus are to expand internationally and in terms of size,” explains managing partner Som Mandal. Indeed, FoxMandal recently opened its first overseas office in London and is eying Myanmar as a destination for future expansion. “Not many firms would open offices there,” says Mandal, “but when they get rid of the current regime, or if the current regime opens up their policies, we predict there will be substantial investments there in telecoms, oil and gas.”

A smaller firm on the expansion path is Mumbai-based DH Law Associates. The firm recently strengthened its team with the appointment of seven new associates and is opening a new office near Mumbai airport to better serve its foreign clients. The original office in downtown Mumbai is being retained for the firm’s litigation team.

Khaitan & Partners, formerly known as Suman Khaitan & Co recently saw the arrival of two new equity partners, Shally B Maheshwari and PS Sudheer. The firm now plans to open offices in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Another firm keen to broaden its lawyer base is Talwar Thakore & Associates which was set up by ex-AZB part-ner Shobhan Thakore, and former Crawford Bayley & Co partner, Suresh Talwar in 2007. The firm is closely affiliated with UK-based Linklaters and focuses on three main areas,

capitalizing on the strengths of its founders: banking and finance, M&A and corporate, and litigation.

While Thakore says he would be happy to see his 15-lawyer team double in size in the near future, he is in no rush to begin a recruitment drive. “Our main objective is not to grow too much. We’re not in a rat race to be number one in India. ‘Number one’ is a misnomer – there are so many parameters to judge. The market is big enough for everyone to survive.”

Friends or enemies?

If there’s one statement that foreign firms would love to hear from the Bar Council, it is that the market is big enough for everyone, regardless of their nationality. But the reality has been far from that. Substantial anticipation and trepidation have surrounded the issue of legal market liberalization in India. While some lawyers strongly believe the opening of the gates is long overdue, others remain fearful of the consequences of what they believe will be a foreign invasion that will inevitably swallow up domestic practices.

Lalit Bhasin, founding partner at Bhasin & Co and presi-dent of the Society of Indian Law Firms, continues to cam-paign against the entry of foreign firms. His 38-year-old practice has four partners and 21 associates and advises on aviation, labour law, real estate and M&A, among other things. The firm’s specialty is dispute resolution, for which it is highly renowned.

“There has been negative growth in UK firms and UK work”, says Bhasin. “They want cooperation, referrals and reciprocal arrangements with us. In terms of quality, effi-ciency, and speed, Indian lawyers are very competent.”

One area of unanimous agreement is that the Bar Council of India should change its rules to allow Indian firms the opportunity to advertise and expand beyond the current 20-partner limit (many firms already have more than 20 partners, but have achieved this by structuring themselves as more than one partnership). These changes, it is argued, are particularly important if the market is to be opened as they will create a level playing field between Indian firms and their foreign counterparts, which are not bound by such restrictions. Without the changes, many believe Indian law firms will not be able to compete.

More firms are coming up with boutiques ... Ultimately we also have to show we are specializingKrrishan Singhania Managing PartnerSinghania & Co

There’s no evidence of a slowdown or collapseRajiv LuthraManaging Partner Luthra & Luthra

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July/August 2008

IP-boutique Anand and Anand is one firm that is happy to welcome foreign entrants on the condition that reforms are implemented to create a level playing field. “We’re gearing ourselves for the entry of foreign firms. If there is a symbi-otic relationship we’re happy,” says partner MS Bharath.

As one of India’s finest intellectual property firms, Anand and Anand’s client repertoire includes Sholay Media Entertainment, Toshiba, Hindustan Lever and Hilton International. The firm currently stands at 12 equity part-ners and 58 associates. It expects to see significant growth in IP litigation, media and entertainment law and patent prosecution.

“We’re not averse to foreign firms, but it can’t be a one way street”, says Amarjit Singh of Delhi-based Amarjit & Associates, another IP boutique. “There must be reciprocity.”

An intellectual property firm that claims to have already streamlined its services in preparation for foreign lawyers is Lex Orbis. Based in New Delhi, the firm specializes in pat-ent prosecution, intellectual property enforcement, design prosecution and trademarks. It consists of 42 associates, four salary partners and five equity partners and recently worked on an anti-counterfeiting campaign for Casio. “It’s an evolving practice,” says partner Abhai Pandey.

Proponents of liberalization wonder why local lawyers feel threatened by the arrival of their overseas counter-parts. With salary rises and the transfer of knowledge and processes, they argue that India has a lot to gain.

“These law firms are huge organizations run profession-ally and efficiently with billing systems and client systems,” says Gautam Bhat, an associate partner with Thakker & Thakker in Mumbai. “This is something we need to emu-late. Systemization is important. Some lawyers spend days trying to put together bills, which is not their job.”

A preeminent technology, media and telecommunica-tions practice, Thakker & Thakker’s focus remains inbound, although the firm serves a mix of Indian and North American clients such as Cisco Systems, Yahoo and Microsoft. It has also made inroads into the European market, advising Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior in the high-end retail space.

Rohan Shah, the managing partner of Economic Laws Practice in Mumbai, thinks those reluctant to welcome for-eign firms have failed to realize the knowledge and capabil-ities domestic firms can extract for themselves. “The denial of foreign firms is actually the denial of the Indian firm and the Indian client,” he says.

Shah’s firm is currently working on the first Bollywood theme park, a US$1 billion project to be constructed in the UAE.

Many firms agree that legal market liberalization will help create a benchmark for quality services and increase the calibre of Indian firms, which will learn to operate in a more disciplined and organized manner. “Things are being relaxed and getting easier for the entry of foreign firms,” say partners Abhixit Singh and Baljit Singh Kalha of Titus & Co, a 60-lawyer Delhi-based firm that has actively assisted foreign corporations such as Ferrero, Armani and Evian with their new ventures in India, and has helped obtain landmark court orders on anti-dumping cases. “The level of service and competition will increase and domestic lawyers are the only ones who will benefit.”

Chander Lall of IP boutique Lall & Sethi argues that Indian firms will inherit knowledge-based organizational structures from the foreign entrants, and he believes such structures are badly needed. “Foreign firms should enter

soon to create organization and structure,” says Lall plainly. “None of the firms have been able to sustain themselves because we’re working with a narrow-minded psyche – some firms lose a client a week.”

Lall’s firm has advised high-profile clients such as AOL, the Motion Picture Association, Coca-Cola, Citigroup, Turner, Cartoon Network, Sky, CNN and Time Warner, and recognizes the integral role law firm management plays in client retention.

“We’ve operated as family businesses passed down to successors and we’re missing the second rung,” continues Lall. “A level of sophistication is required. The senior rung has not learned management skills.”

Priti Suri, managing partner of PSA, a Delhi-based firm that offers the full spectrum of corporate and commercial legal advice, shares Lall’s sentiments on the need for better organization in the profession: “The profession is extremely disorganized”, she says. “We don’t have self-discipline, there’s a lack of commitment and our legal education sys-tem is not customized to specific areas. Nothing is done for the mentoring of lawyers. Technology begs to be improved, and we need access to marketing ... We’re so limited ... we’re living in the 15th century!”

“India is a strange market”, remarks Anand Pathak, man-aging partner at P&A Law Offices. “It hasn’t moved away from being individual-centric and that’s a pity. It will change when foreign firms are allowed in. It is changing but it hasn’t completely disappeared.” Pathak’s firm is closely affiliated with Jones Day and is representing Daiichi Sankyo on its buyout of Ranbaxy.

Trilegal, a law firm that is recognized for its excellence across the board, exemplifies the synergies that can be achieved by embracing foreign expertise. Still in its youth, the firm is a flourishing full-service practice that has thrived on its own, and is now benefiting from a non-exclusive tie-up with Allen & Overy. With offices in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad, the firm boasts an impressive client repertoire including Vodafone, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, UBS, Petronet LNG, and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. g

changing gears: Indian law firms are streamlining their operations in preparation for competition from abroad.

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Directory of Indian law firms

July/August 2008

Aditya & AssociatesEstablished in 1995

Contact details

Aditya & Associates405 Kapadia Chambers

599 JSS RoadMarine Lines

Mumbai – 400 002India

Telephone: +91 22 2201 3959-62Fax: +91 22 2201 8194

Email: [email protected]:

www.adityaandassociates.com

Contacts:Mr Vipul Bhuta, Ms Pooja Kotak

Key practice areas: Intellectual property laws including: patents; trademarks; copyrights; design; geographical indications; internet and domain names; IP litigation; anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy; licensing and franchisingNumber of partners: 3Number of associates: 5Principal office: Mumbai Other offices: Chennai, Indore, Pune

Our firm’s areas of expertise and specialization include: IP asset management, strategies and audit; IP counselling and advising; IP protection against infringement and passing off; protection against counterfeiting, piracy and unfair trade practices; IP due diligence in acquisition of IPR, mergers and acquisitions; IP registrations and prosecutions; IP litigations, appeals before the IPAB; licensing, technology transfer and joint ventures; internet law, domain name protection; ADR; and IP valuation.

ALMT LegalEstablished in 2000

ALMT Legal4th Floor Express Towers

Nariman PointMumbai – 400 021, India

Telephone: +91 22 4001 0000Fax: +91 22 4001 0001

Email: [email protected]: Mr Sameer Tapia

Bangalore Email: [email protected]

Contact: Mr Prashant Popat

LondonEmail: [email protected]

Contact: Ms Shalini Agarwal

Key practice areas: Corporate and commercial; banking and project finance; private equity; real estate; tax; private client; employment and immigration; intellectual property; litigation and arbitrationNumber of partners: 14Number of associates: 75Principal offices: Mumbai, Bangalore, LondonCorrespondent offices: Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, PuneLanguages spoken: English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telegu, Malyalam, Bangla, German, French

We pride ourselves on our Indian expertise and international capability. Given the firm’s availability to provide advice either in India or through the London office, ALMT is uniquely situated to assist clients on all matters relating to Indian law and jurisdiction. The London office is fully staffed with Indian lawyers and provides advice on matters relating exclusively to Indian law. Where required, ALMT works together with international law firms, accountancy practices, and a variety of professional advisers to provide clients a complete legal solution.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & CoEstablished in 1917

New Delhi216, Amarchand Towers

Okhla Industrial Area, Phase IIINew Delhi – 110 020, India

Telephone: +91 11 2692 0500+91 11 4159 0700

Fax: +91 11 2692 4900Email:

[email protected]:

Shardul ShroffManaging Partner, New Delhi

MumbaiPeninsula Chambers

Peninsula Corporate ParkGanpatrao Kadam Marg

Lower Parel (West)Mumbai – 400 013, India

Telephone: +91 22 6660 4455+91 22 6662 8400

Fax: +91 22 2496 3666Email:

[email protected]:

Cyril ShroffManaging Partner, Mumbai

Kolkata227, Anand Lok, AJC Bose Road

Lower Circular RoadKolkata – 700 020, India

Telephone: +91 33 2283 6748+91 33 2865 0268

Fax: +91 33 22902349Email:

[email protected]:

Krishnava Dutt, Partner

Key practice areas: M&A and joint ventures; private equity; funds; projects; infrastructure and energy; capital markets; intellectual property; real estate; dispute resolution and ADR; telecoms, media and technology; retail and hospitality; taxation; banking and finance; international trade, policy and competition Number of partners: 38Number of associates: 300+Principal offices: New Delhi & MumbaiOther offices: Kolkata, Bangalore, HyderabadLanguages spoken: English, Hindi and other Indian languages

History

Amarchand Mangaldas, established in 1917, is India’s premier law firm with over 300 fee earners including 40 partners. The firm has an India-wide presence with offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Expertise

Building on its breadth and depth of experience, Amarchand Mangaldas is one of the few Indian law firms with specialists in foreign direct investment in India; mergers & acquisitions; joint ventures; private equity; funds; capital markets; insolvency and corporate restructuring; banking and finance (including structured finance and debt capital markets); insurance; projects (including infrastructure, telecommunications and energy); project finance; media, real estate; IT and IP; taxation; litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution; trade and competition law; employment law and policy and regulatory advice.

Clients

As a full-service law firm, Amarchand Mangaldas’ clientele includes several leading Indian and international business houses, multinational corporations and financial institutions. In one capacity or another, the firm is involved in almost every major and path-breaking transaction or litigation in India.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

AZB & PartnersEstablished in 2002

Contact details

MumbaiExpress Towers, 23rd floor,

Nariman PointMumbai – 400 021,

India

Telephone: +91 22 6639 6880Fax: +91 22 6639 6888

Email: [email protected]

Contact: Mrs Zia Mody

New DelhiF 40 South Extension Part 1

New Delhi – 110 049 India

Telephone: +91 11 2461 8947Fax: +91 11 2462 5302


Contact: Mr Ajay Bahl

BangaloreAZB House

67-4 4th cross, Lavelle Road Bangalore – 560 001

India

Telephone: +91 80 2212 9782Fax: +91 80 2221 3947


Contact: Mr Sai Krishna Bharathan

Key practice areas: Mergers and acquisitions; real estate; capital markets; project finance; litigation; intellectual property, etc.Number of partners: 18Number of associates: Approximately 200Principal office: MumbaiAdditional offices: New Delhi, Bangalore, PuneLanguages spoken: English, Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarathi

AZB is a full-service law firm with offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Pune. The firm has approximately 200 lawyers.

Rated as one of the top two law firms in India by The American Lawyer, endorsed by India Business Law Journal as one of the three best law firms in India in 2007, and selected by IFLR as the India Law Firm of the Year, 2006, AZB has been involved in some of the largest and most cutting-edge deals.

Members of the firm prioritize the development of specialized legal skills through comprehensive professional training programmes and appropriate involvement in transactions. Substantial inventory and partner time is invested in internal training to develop high quality human resources.

Our senior partner, Zia Mody, was awarded “Business Woman of the Year” by The Financial Express; selected as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Indian Business by Business Today in 2004, 2006 and 2007; and selected as one of India’s 100 Most Powerful CEOs by the Economic Times in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. She was also nominated as one of the world’s leading practitioners by The International Who’s Who of Private Funds Lawyers in 2006 and 2008.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

Gandhi & AssociatesEstablished in 2003

Contact details

Gandhi & Associates Ajay Sahawas ‘A’ Wing

Nariman RoadVile Parle (E)


Telephone: +91 22 2614 2237Fax: +91 22 2610 4777

Email:[email protected]

Website:www.gandhiassociates.com

Contact: Mr Nozer Mistry

Key practice areas: M&A; venture capital and private equity; private placements and IPOs; intellectual property and IT; outsourcing and off-shoring; direct taxation; arbitration and litigationNumber of partners: 1Number of associates: 11Principal office: Mumbai Languages spoken: English and Hindi

Gandhi & Associates (G&A) usually represents international clients. The firm has experience of working on transactions such as acquisitions, joint ventures, venture capital and private equity, formation of India-focused funds, private placements, domestic and international public offerings, reverse mergers and SPAC transactions. G&A has also worked on transactions such as technology collaborations and licensing, franchising, outsourcing, IP, co-production ventures, arbitration and litigation. Clients include global private equity funds, banks, media companies, corporate entities, governments and leading individuals.

J Sagar AssociatesEstablished in 1991

GurgaonTelephone: +91 124 399 6000

Fax: +91 124 399 6017Email: [email protected]

New DelhiTelephone: +91 11 2955 2714-16


MumbaiTelephone: +91 22 6656 1500


BangaloreTelephone: +91 80 2520 0045


HyderabadTelephone: +91 40 2355 8133


Key practice areas: Corporate commercial; banking and finance; capital markets; projects and project finance; regulatory work; dispute resolutionNumber of partners: 27Number of associates: 130Offices: Gurgaon, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad Languages spoken: English, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Urdu, Kashmiri

J Sagar Associates is a premier national law firm. For almost two decades the firm has served domestic and international clients who have benefited from the expertise and experience of a large firm while still enjoying the personal attention, responsiveness and accessibility of a small firm.

For more information, please visit: www.jsalaw.com

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

Juris CorpEstablished in 2000

Contact details

Juris Corp1104 A, Raheja ChambersFree Press Journal Marg

Nariman PointMumbai – 400 021

India

Telephone:+91 22 4057 5555+91 22 2204 3574

Fax:

+91 22 2204 3579


Contact:Mr H Jayesh

Key practice areas: Capital markets and securities transactions; corporate banking; corporate finance including M&As, takeovers and corporate restructuring; derivatives; insurance; money markets; mutual funds and other collective investment schemes; private banking products; private equity; securitization; venture capital; structured finance and investments; structured products; corporate and commercial laws; competition law; direct taxation; dispute resolution; information technology law; intellectual property rights; IT-enabled services; property and real estate lawsNumber of partners: 7Of counsel: 3Number of associates: 26Principal office: Mumbai Languages spoken: English, Hindi and other Indian languages

Juris Corp, founded in October 2000 by Mr H Jayesh, is a law firm that has been formed with the objective of providing superior legal services and advice to all class of financial intermediaries. The firm is a full-service law firm with financial services as the core practice areas. The firm’s clientele consists primarily of global banks, financial institutions and investment banks.

A distinctive feature of the firm is its philosophy and ability to be proactive in its approach and its endeavour to assist clients in achieving their transaction objectives. In addition to highlighting the legal and regulatory issues, the firm identifies potential risk mitigants and assists clients in restructuring transactions so that the transaction objectives can be achieved. Juris Corp believes that a problem solving approach, when combined with a multi-disciplinary understanding of issues, can achieve the transaction goals in a more effective manner within the given constraints.

The firm pre-emptively researches new and emerging areas and developments and ensures that it keeps itself abreast of market developments, including in other jurisdictions. In recognition of the firm’s work, Mr H Jayesh has been consistently recognized as one of Asia’s leading lawyers.

Our objective

Our objective is to become the law firm in more areas of practice and to be the preferred law firm for select clients. Juris Corp has within its clientele a diverse range of clients from the financial services markets, from global banks and investment banks, mutual funds, fund managers and underwriters and other financial intermediaries to media and entertainment companies to community trusts.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

Kanga & CompanyEstablished in 1890

Contact details

Kanga & CompanyReadymoney Mansion43, Veer Nariman Road

Mumbai – 400 001 India

Telephone:+91 22 6623 0000+91 22 6633 2288 +91 22 2204 2288

Fax:+91 22 6633 9656+91 22 6633 9657


Contact:Mr ML Bhakta

Managing Partner

Key practice areas: Mergers and acquisitions; private equity; joint ventures and collaborations; franchising; capital markets; international offerings; real estate; litigation; dispute resolutionNumber of partners: 13Number of associates: 25Principal office: Mumbai Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi

History

Established in 1890, Kanga & Company is one of India’s oldest law firms and is a highly respected and professionally managed firm. The firm’s office is located in downtown Mumbai, in the vicinity of Bombay High Court. Kanga is a full-service law firm with specializations in mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment and collaborations, real estate, capital markets and litigation. The firm has 13 partners and 25 associates with Mr ML Bhakta as the senior and managing partner.

Clients

The firm has a varied clientele ranging from banks, financial institutions and mutual funds to large corporate houses, property developers, closely held companies and firms as well as individuals. The firm has a good working relationship with large number of international law firms and solicitors’ firms. Over the years, the firm has gained experience, developed expertise and won recognition in international contracts, acquisitions and finance.

Expertise

The firm’s corporate team is known for its expertise in handling and negotiating complex joint ventures and private equity transactions. The firm has unmatched experience in property laws and represents some of the most reputed property developers.

Recently the firm has extended its areas of practice to include franchising and has represented several well-known international brands for franchises in India.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

KR Chawla & CoEstablished in 1996

Contact details

KR Chawla & Co 7th Floor, Kailash Building26, Kasturba Gandhi Marg

New Delhi – 110 001India

Telephone: +91 11 2335 7658-61Fax: +91 11 2331 9995/97Email: [email protected]

Contact: Sumes DewanPartner & Head of

Transactional Practice

Key practice areas: Cross-border and domestic mergers, acquisitions and stock market listings in India (Mumbai Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange) and overseas (London AIM, Luxembourg DIFX, Dubai and Singapore)Number of partners: 7Number of associates: 45Principal office: New DelhiOther offices: Bangalore, Chennai, Singapore, San Francisco

The firm focuses on providing comprehensive business, financial and legal services of high professional standards. To ensure this, the firm functions in specialized groups of corporate, arbitration, litigation, general practice and intellectual property. The firm advises many of the world’s largest corporations and financial institutions. We regularly act on complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions and high profile commercial disputes. The members of our firm have been engaged in prestigious and complex transactions in the past and have been advising on all facets of acquisition and related corporate issues.

M/s Manilal Kher Ambalal & CompanyEstablished in 1918

Contact details

M/s Manilal Kher Ambalal & CoMKA Chambers (Crossley House)

British Hotel LaneOff Mumbai Samachar Marg

FortMumbai – 400 001

India

Telephone: +91 22 6637 0406-08 +91 22 2269 0246


Contact: Mr Vikram TrivediManaging Partner

Key practice areas: Asset acquisitions and reconstruction; banking & finance; civil and criminal litigation; dispute resolution; domestic & foreign arbitrations; due diligence; infrastructure; insurance; IP; media and entertainment; M&A; real estate; security documentationNumber of partners: 7Number of associates: 30Principal office: Mumbai Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Sindhi, French

Clients include multinational corporate bodies across a wide continuum of industries, including banking, insurance, infrastructure, media and entertainment and realty. The firm was recommended as “Preferred Lawyers” in the categories of corporate/M&A and dispute resolution in the 2006 edition of Asia-Pacific Legal 500, repeated in 2007 in the categories of corporate/M&A, dispute resolution and projects. Mr Vikram Trivedi lends his vast experience of over 25 years to the firm. His formula-based litigation practice and his transactional practice and acumen in project finance is well recognized in business circles.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & CaroeEstablished in 1895

Contact details

MumbaiMulla House, 51, MG Road

Fort, Mumbai – 400 001India

Telephone: +91 22 2204 4960+91 22 2262 3191

Fax: +91 22 2204 0246+91 22 6634 5497


Bangalore209, Regency Enclave

4 Magrath RoadBangalore – 560 025

India

Telephone: +91 80 2555 0370+91 80 2559 7704

Fax: +91 80 2559 8549 Email: [email protected]

New Delhi502, Nilgiri Apartments

5th floor, 9 Barakhamba RoadNew Delhi – 110 001

Telephone: +91 11 2332 1501+91 11 2332 1513


ContactsShardul ThackerYazdi Dandiwala

Partners (Mumbai office)

Websitewww.mullaandmulla.com

Key practice areas: Admiralty; project financing; anti-dumping; arbitration; aviation; banking & securities; broadcasting; company law; corporate restructuring; conveyancing; taxation; entertainment law; environmental law; foreign investment; information technology; infrastructure projects; intellectual property; insurance law; labour, employment & industrial relations; litigation; oil & gas; mergers, demergers & acquisitions; media law; offshore investment & securities; power & ports; privatization; real estate & property law; telecommunicationsNumber of partners: 15Number of associates: 90+Principal office: MumbaiOther offices: Bangalore, New DelhiLanguages spoken: English, Hindi and most regional languages

Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe is one of India’s largest law firms. It was founded by Sir Dinshaw Mulla and his brother, Rustomji Mulla, in 1895.

Sir Dinshaw Mulla became a Privy Counsellor and was author of several authoritative works including commentaries on the Indian Contract Act, the Transfer of Property Act, the Law of Partnership, the Sale of Goods Act, insolvency laws in India, the Civil Procedure and Code, which are legal treatises even today. Mulla & Mulla merged in 1952 with M/s Craigie Blunt & Caroe, solicitors to the East India Company. Since then, the firm has grown to its current strength of over 90 lawyers and fee earners. Individual partners concentrate on different areas of practice providing specialist legal, commercial and technical services to clients. The firm has a broad-based practice and a diversified client base. It acts as Indian legal counsel to numerous multinational companies, Fortune 500 companies and several of the large 50 Indian corporate houses. Several firm members are solicitors of the Supreme Court of England & Wales and Hong Kong. The firm is the annual reviser for 35 years of the India section for Martindale-Hubbell international law directory. Partners travel widely in their work in India and overseas, hence the firm has built close relations with law firms globally.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

New Delhi Law OfficesEstablished in 1992

Contact details

New Delhi5th Floor Rajendra Bhawan

210 Deen Dayal Upadhyay MargNew Delhi – 110 002

India

Telephone: +91 11 2323 9857+91 11 2322 1416


Contacts:Mr PS Dasgupta (Senior Partner)

Ms Sunitha Narahari (Managing Partner)

GurgaonC-62-B Supermart-I, DLF City-4

Gurgaon – 122 002 Haryana, India

Telephone: +91 124 404 2521Fax: +91 124 404 2522


Contact:Mr Ranjeev Dubey (Managing Partner)

HyderabadFlat No 202, 6-3-344Above Woodlands

Opp J Vengal Rao Park Road No 1, Banjara Hills

Hyderabad – 500 082, India

Telephone: +91 40 6683 5756Fax: +91 40 6683 5758


Contact:Ms Anita Chandra (Managing Partner)

Key practice areas: Corporate restructuring; mergers & demergers; negotiated & hostile acquisitions; corporate advisory; contracting; compliances & governance; competition & anti-trust; joint ventures & collaborations; private equity; cross border & domestic investments; securities & capital markets; infrastructure & real estate; debt & structured finance; information technology; media & intellectual property; employment & labour; corporate, government enforcement & general litigation; consumer protection; arbitration & alternative dispute resolutionNumber of partners: 4Principal office: New DelhiOther offices: Gurgaon, Hyderabad, PuneLanguages spoken: English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi

New Delhi Law Offices, widely known as NDLO, is one of the leading law firms in India. The firm is led by a prominent corporate lawyer and supported by an experienced team of nearly 40 lawyers comprising partners, of counsels and associates. Since its founding in 1992, NDLO has built up an impressive practice and offers a full spectrum of legal services, with a focus on corporate and commercial laws. The firm is well equipped and positioned to provide highly specialized legal advisory services in areas of strategic investments, both inbound and outbound, relating to entry strategies; mergers, acquisitions, restructuring; consolidation and liquidation; banking and finance; securities and capital markets; infrastructure; technology transfer and information technology; duty and tax structuring; and anti-dumping and real estate. The corporate and commercial practice is complemented by a skilled team of litigating lawyers experienced in handling matters both on the original and appellate side. With a focus on fast response time and associated cost efficiencies, NDLO’s mainstay has been its ability to work closely with clients using a “hands on” approach. The firm has been involved in helping national and multinational clients not only in drawing up business blueprints but also in implementing them. Our value system and approach to legal practice has built a level of faith and confidence, which sees NDLO partners and of counsels being appointed to board positions for advising and guiding clients on strategic and operational issues.Over the years NDLO has grown and expanded. Currently it has constituent associate offices in Gurgaon – New Delhi’s fast growing satellite city housing several top national and multinational corporations; Hyderabad – a city identified as an international hub for software and the media industry; and Pune – a city known for its engineering industry with recent forays into software development.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

OP Khaitan & CoEstablished in 1990

Contact details

OP Khaitan & CoSolicitors & Advocates

Khaitan HouseB-1, Defence Colony New Delhi – 110 024

India

Telephone: +91 11 4650 1000+91 11 4155 0888 +91 11 4155 0889+91 11 4155 0890+91 11 4155 0891

Fax:+91 11 24337958+91 11 4155 1590

Email:[email protected] [email protected]

Contact Person:Mr Gautam Khaitan

Key practice areas: Mergers and acquisitions; joint-ventures and foreign collaborations; infrastructural projects; corporate laws and finance; investments abroad; litigation; arbitration and conciliation; taxation of foreign companies and nationals; intellectual property; banking and finance; projects; insurance law; bankruptcy law; constitutional law; labour and HR laws; media and entertainment; immigration law; IT law; property and real estateNumber of advocates: 30Principal office: New DelhiLanguages spoken: Hindi, English, Punjabi, Bengali

Our services

OP Khaitan & Co is a well-established full-service law firm founded by Mr OP Khaitan in 1990. Since the inception, we have established a sizable, prestigious and diverse Indian and multinational clientele with an extensive range of specialist sectors, coupled with lawyers with in-depth knowledge. We serve in all main practice areas under Indian and international laws. We are a leading law firm advising in the field of cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, mergers and foreign collaborations and have also been advising various Indian companies in these areas for their cross-border transactions. We have a separate and active litigation department with experienced lawyers in their respective fields who handle all types of litigation whether it is commercial, constitutional, corporate, civil or criminal. We also have an arbitration department (domestic and international) consisting of experienced personnel who have acted for various multinational and domestic companies in arbitration before various domestic and international forums. We are a member of the “Advoc Asia” network, an association of independent law firms. Through Advoc Asia, we have an association with law firms in seven Asian and 21 European countries.

Our people

Lawyers at OP Khaitan & Co use their knowledge to give added value to our services and to form a wider view of the case in hand, rather than simply relying on legal theory. The firm provides succinct, practical solutions to problems that are communicated clearly, with appropriate speed, and in a cost-effective way. The firm currently has 30 lawyers. The size of the firm allows us to provide more personalized services in all main areas of Indian and international law without compromising our efficiency.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

PSAEstablished in 2004

Contact details

PSALegal Counsellors

E-601, Gauri Sadan5 Hailey Road


Telephone: +91 11 4350 0500Fax: +91 11 4350 0502

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.psalegal.com

Contact:Ms Priti Suri

Key practice areas: Arbitration and litigation; corporate and securities; commercial law; environmental law; information technology and telecommunications; intellectual property; labour and employment; mergers and acquisitions; outsourcing; private equity; project finance; real property; regulatory matters; taxationNumber of associates: 12Principal office: New DelhiLanguages spoken: English, Hindi, Punjabi, French

About us

PSA is a broad-based full-service, solution-driven, pragmatic business law firm that has carved a special niche in the Indian legal market by the quality of its legal service, responsiveness and client commitment.

With 50 plus years of collective experience we are committed to providing seamless legal services, both inbound and outbound, covering the requirements of corporate and individual clients in a timely and a cost-effective manner. Located in India’s capital city – New Delhi – we work all over the country.

Our core practice is focused on assisting multinational companies in diverse industries with their ventures in India, either green-field or existing, and representing Indian companies in their global activities. PSA’s multi-lingual capabilities and alliances with other lawyers and firms, both in India and globally, provide it with a competitive edge and enable it to represent the legal challenges of the clients and deliver innovative solutions.

Our team

An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the objectives and concerns of the client’s businesses permit our lawyers to formulate creative solutions to difficult contractual, legal and business issues. Our legal team possesses the capability, experience, skills and industry knowledge necessary to facilitate conducive results.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

Singhania & CoEstablished in 1999

Contact details

MumbaiSuite # 102, 103, 10th Floor

Jolly Maker Chambers IINariman Point


Telephone: +91 22 2202 0320-22


New DelhiP-24 Green Park (Extension)



Contact:Krrishan SinghaniaHead of the Firm

Key practice areas: Developing entry strategies; pre-contractual negotiations; contract drafting; joint venture agreements; licensing agreements; shareholders agreements; government approvals; corporate matters; protecting intellectual property; taxation matters; foreign exchange regulations; arbitration; litigation; company formation; shipping; aviation; employment lawNumber of partners: 2Number of associates: 12Principal office: MumbaiOther offices: Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi

Singhania & Co is a full-service law firm which specializes in advising the world’s leading companies, financial institutions and governments on their most challenging transactions and assignments in India. ArbitrationOne of our important areas of expertise is international and domestic arbitration under the Indian Arbitration Act and ICC rules for the enforcement of foreign awards in India and for representing foreign clients in arbitration proceedings in India and abroad.

AviationWe offer the aviation industry a comprehensive legal service based on a sound specialized knowledge of the world of air transport.

AdmiraltyWe provide comprehensive legal assistance on maritime legal matters like investigation, negotiation and litigation of all types of maritime claims, including vessel collusion, oil pollution, salvage, cargo, general average and maritime insurance claims. Intellectual propertyIntellectual property is one of the company’s most valuable assets. Our clients acknowledge and treat it as such. They see the competitive edge it provides. We work with them to secure appropriate national and international IP protection and to defend it vigorously where necessary.

Litigation & dispute resolutionCompanies today operate in an intensely competitive global marketplace. Cross-border transactions introduce a host of variables. In this environment, disputes are inevitable. Navigating them successfully requires a combination of global experience and local knowledge. When disputes happen, we fight aggressively and incisively on our clients’ behalf.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

Titus & CoEstablished in 1996

Contact details

Titus & Co, AdvocatesTitus House

R-77A, Greater Kailash-INew Delhi – 110 048

India

Telephone:+91 11 2647 0700+91 11 2647 5800+91 11 2628 0100+91 11 2628 0800+91 11 2628 0900

Fax:+91 11 2648 0300+91 11 2648 9950

E-mail:[email protected]

[email protected]

Contacts:

PN [email protected]

Suhail [email protected]

Diljeet Titus [email protected]

Rai S [email protected]

Key practice areas: Admiralty, maritime and shipping; arbitration, dispute avoidance and resolution; aviation; banking and finance; biotechnology and life sciences; capital markets and securities; commercial litigation; corporate governance, compliance and legal audits; criminal litigation; data protection; infrastructure projects; insurance; intellectual property and anti-counterfeiting; IT, outsourcing and licensing; labour; media and entertainment; mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, corporate restructuring, project finance; real estate and construction; regulatory and government affairs; tax (direct and indirect); telecommunications and IT; trade law and anti-dumping; venture capital and private equityNumber of partners: 7Number of associates: 38Principal office: New DelhiAdditional offices: Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, MumbaiLanguages spoken: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Hindi and other Indian languages

Titus & Co is one of India’s leading full-service commercial law firms. It represents a wide range of clients from the United States, Europe and Asia, including 48 Fortune Global 500 corporations.

International groupings

International Bar Association, Inter-Pacific Bar Association, ICC India (International Chambers of Commerce), Licensing Executives Society, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Association of European Lawyers (AEA International), US-India Business Council and Swiss Business Forum.

Memberships

India Legal Group (founding member), Delhi High Court Bar Association, Company Law Board Bar Association, Supreme Court Bar Association, Indian Council of Arbitration, Society of Indian Law Firms, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry, Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce, PHD Chamber of Commerce, Joint Business Councils, Indo American Chamber of Commerce, the Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India, Indo Israel Business Alliance, ASSOCHAM, INSOL India, ITPO, Federation of Indian Export Organisations, Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, TiE, NCTI, Canada-India Business Council.

Intelligence report



July/August 2008

TrilegalEstablished in 2000

New DelhiThe Sapphire

B1/F2 Mohan Cooperative Ind. Est.Mathura Road, New Delhi – 110 044

Telephone: +91 11 4163 9393Fax: +91 11 4163 9292

Contact: Akshay Jaitly ([email protected])

Mumbai23 Madhuli, 2/F Dr Anne Beasant Marg

Worli, Mumbai – 400 018Telephone: +91 22 2481 9999

Fax: +91 22 2481 9998Contact: Karan Singh ([email protected])

Bangalore149 Richmond Road, Bangalore – 560 025

Telephone: +91 80 4151 5252Fax: +91 80 4151 5210Contact: Rahul Matthan

([email protected])

Key practice areas: M&A; venture capital, private equity and general corporate; infrastructure, power and electricity; oil and gas; water; technology, media and telecoms; banking and finance; employment; real estate; taxation; IP; litigationNumber of partners: 11Number of associates: 90Principal offices: New Delhi, Mumbai, BangaloreAdditional office: HyderabadLanguages spoken: English, French, Portuguese, Hindi, Punjabi, Bangali, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telegu, Marathi, Gujarati, Assamese

Trilegal provides commercially oriented legal services in relation to all sectors of the economy. The firm has a strictly merit-based partnership and partners in the firm have long-term experience both in the Indian context and as a result of having worked in major international law firms. The firm is recognized for offering its clients a full range of high quality services across a number of practice areas in an integrated manner that ensures that the client receives timely, accurate and relevant advice.

Udwadia & UdeshiEstablished in 1997

Contact details

Udwadia & UdeshiElphinstone House, 1st Floor

17, Murzban Road Fort


Telephone: +91 22 2200 1400 Fax: +91 22 2200 1411


Contact: Mr Dilip Udeshi,Mr Darius Udwadia

Key practice areas: Mergers and acquisitions; general corporate and commercial work; banking and finance; litigation and dispute resolution; capital markets; real estateNumber of partners: 7Number of associates: 35Principal office: Mumbai Other offices: Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, HyderabadLanguages spoken: English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telegu

As one of India’s leading law firms, we deliver a broad range of quality legal services. Our practice areas include foreign investments, private equity and joint ventures, antitrust /competition law, intellectual property law, international law and finance related transactions and financial instruments, securitization, domestic and off-shore mutual funds, direct and indirect taxation, media and entertainment and information technology.

Guide to India's Law Firms and Legal Market

Documents

legal process

splinter groups

craigie blunt

kr chawla

sir dinshaw

op khaitan

2000key practice

1996key practice