Shally Bhasin

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Leaders in Law endorses Shally Bhasin as our exclusively recommended Litigation Law expert in India. If you wish to get in touch with Shally, please use the contact information provided above.

Shally Bhasin is a Partner with our Firm and has over 26 years of experience in Litigation.

She graduated from Law Faculty, University of Delhi in 1996 and is an Advocate on Record in the Supreme Court of India since 2004.

A veteran litigator, Shally has been involved in several impactful and consequential cases. She has been engaged in legal work across diverse sectors and industries, including – amongst others – Financial Services, Banking, Telecom, Construction, Energy, Heavy Industries, Oil & Gas, Infrastructure, etc. She regularly appears before the Supreme Court of India, various high courts and tribunals including Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (“TDSAT”), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (“NCLAT”), National Company Law Tribunal (“NCLT”), Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (“APTEL”), State Commissions, National Green Tribunal (“NGT”), etc.

In one of the land mark cases in the history of litigation in the telecom industry, Shally has represented the telecom companies right from the High Court of Kerala and TDSAT, uptill the Supreme Court of India,  involving the recovery of licence fees of around $ 7.8 billion by the Government of India.

She has also represented various clients in the Supreme Court of India; various High Courts, National Tribunals – including TDSAT, NCLAT, NCLT, and NGT – in matters related to financial services, bankruptcy, infrastructure, environment, white collar crime, tenders, breach of contract, damages, injunctions, breach of fundamental rights, notifications, taxation, winding up, amalgamation and de-merger.

In an endeavour to give back to the Society, Shally also represented certain individuals in their challenge to Section 377 IPC which resulted in decriminalization of homosexuality. She is also representing a batch of individuals and filed various writ petitions in the High Court of Delhi seeking legalization of same-sex marriage. Thereafter, the matter was transferred to the Supreme Court of India and is now pending for judgment.

Professional Memberships

  • Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association
  • Supreme Court Bar Association
  • Bar Council of Delhi

Education

  • B.A (Eng. Hons), St Mary’s College, Shillong
  • LLB from University of Delhi

Select Experience Statement

TELECOM SECTOR:
  • Represented telecom companies before the Supreme Court and the High Court of Kerala and TDSAT in one of the biggest telecommunications industry matters involving the recovery of licence fees of around $ 7.8 billion by the government. The Supreme Court has settled the definition of ‘adjusted gross revenue’ as provided in the license agreement between the service providers and DoT. This led to the Government of India prospectively amending the definition to make it more benign for the service providers.
  • Represented telecom companies in the Supreme Court against demands of One Time Spectrum Charge (OTSC) of INR 3500 crores and INR 2000 crores respectively. After the 2G judgment, DOT imposed a special charge namely OTSC on all operators for having spectrum above 4.2 MHz GSM/2.5 MHz CDMA, as the said spectrum was allocated to the operators bundled with the license.
  • Represented a telecom company before the TDSAT in its petition challenging the penalty of INR 2,000 crores Imposed by DoT for not providing/augmenting Points of Interconnections (PoIs) to another Telecom Company on time, which caused violation of Quality of Service Regulations, 2009. The said penalty has been stayed by the TDSAT. The appeal against this order is pending in the Supreme Court.
  • Represented a conglomerate before TDSAT against a demand of license fee of INR 1500 crores raised by DoT on financial services income of an NBFC holding an Internet Service Provider license for captive use. The said demand has been stayed by the TDSAT.

BANKING SECTOR:

  • Represented various companies in the Supreme Court challenging the Reserve Bank of India’s Circular dated 12.02.2018 which had changed the process of resolution of debt of corporate debtors. The Circular mandated compulsory resolution under Insolvency Code without recourse to out of court resolution mechanisms and debt re-structuring programs. The Supreme Court upheld challenges raised on the ground that the Impugned Circular was ultra vires the provisions of Banking Regulation Act.
  • Represented a leading bank before the Supreme Court against a challenge to the judgment of the High Court of Bombay which declared the actions of an Administrator to write down Additional Tier – 1 Bonds for an Amount of INR 8415 Crores, ultra vires. The Supreme Court has stayed the judgment of the High Court of Bombay.

INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE

  •  Represented personal guarantor in the Delhi High Court in a writ petition against whom a Public Sector Bank had initiated insolvency against the default of loan of INR 1600 Crores taken by debtor.
  • Represented Personal Guarantors before the Supreme Court of India in an challenge to the selective implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 against the Personal Guarantors of Corporate Debtors.
  • Represented the Resolution professional before the Supreme Court, NCLAT and NCLT in various applications seeking directions against operational creditors, for ensuring the survival of the Corporate Debtor as a going concern during the insolvency resolution process.

WHITE COLLAR:

  • Represented several individuals in the Supreme Court in a batch of over 240 matters concerning various issues including whether PMLA is ‘criminal law’ that creates a new offence called ‘money laundering’, defines the ingredients of the offence, provides for investigation and trial, and provides for punishment thereof.
  • Represented individuals and companies before the Trial Court in respect of various financial offences by the Enforcement Directorate, SFIO, FIU etc.
  • Represented individuals alleged of financial frauds before the High Court and Supreme Court to obtain regular bail, interim bai, etc.

ARBITRATION:

  • Represented the Government of India in two arbitrations against Foreign Défense Equipment Companies involving claims of over INR 25,000 crores each.
  • Represented an Wind Turbine Manufacturer before the Arbitral Tribunal claiming liquidated damages of INR 500 Crores for the breach of contract by the Independent Power Producer.
  • Advised Indian counterpart of a foreign company in an Arbitration initiated by the Foreign Investor against the Government of India for recovery of investment made in the Indian Company to the tune of INR 3000 Crores.

 

Suhrita Majumdar

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Leaders in Law endorses Suhrita Majumdar as our exclusively recommended Trademark Litigation expert in India. If you wish to get in touch with Suhrita, please use the contact information provided above.

Suhrita Majumdar has 14 years of experience in the field of trade marks, Ms. Majumdar handles trade mark portfolios for clients from sectors like fast moving consumer goods, food and beverages, engineering, healthcare and medical instruments, clothing and footwear, among others.

She advises on all aspects of trade mark laws ranging from trade mark clearance, applications, prosecution issues, oppositions, post-registration activities and cancellation actions. She is also an active member of the team working on foreign trade mark matters.

Ms. Majumdar is an active member of the litigation team and also handles domain dispute cases and enforcement actions before the Customs Office. Ms. Majumdar continues to be a part of several IP awareness programs across India.

Areas of Expertise

  • Trademark Litigation
  • Consumer Law
  • Food and Beverage Law
  • Engineering Services
  • Healthcare Law

Memberships

  • INTA, ECTA and APAA.
  • Chaired the INTA FWKM MEASA Sub- Committee for the term 2015-2017.
  • Active member of the INTA TOP-C Committee for the term 2019-2021.
  • Currently a part of the INTA FWKM Committee and the ECTA Anti-Counterfeiting Committee.

Firm Description:

S. Majumdar & Co., founded in 1993 is a full service Intellectual Property firm. The firm specializes in the practice of Intellectual Property Laws including Patents, Trademarks, Industrial Designs, Copyright, Geographical Indications and Trade secrets. The firm has also ventured into Domain disputes, Licensing, Investigations and Litigations.

The patent group is manned with professionals in diverse areas of technology including engineering, telecommunications, software, electronics, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, life sciences.

The trademark team comprises of Lawyers and trademark agents, who have rich experience in advising Clients on trademark filings, prosecution, opposition and related disputes, across all industries. The team handles small to large sized portfolios and offers the entire gamut of trademark-related services to Clients.

The Litigation team has lawyers with rich experience in general branches of Law and currently handling laws relating to Intellectual property and have a decent exposure and expertise in all facets of IP. The litigation team handles litigations in various fora, including High Courts and the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB). The lawyers team consist of members having experience in prosecution practice and with a technical background which helps them appreciate and make positive contributions in Patent Litigation. Likewise, some of the lawyers have hands-on experience in trademark registration and opposition practice and that helps them effectively handle trademark litigations. Disputes in relation to domain issues and Geographical Indications are also handled by the litigation team.

Members of the firm are active in IPR knowledge building by active participation in IPR awareness programs organized by the Government of India, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), IITs and other Technical Institutions.

The firm has independent functional offices at strategic locations like Kolkata, New Delhi & Mumbai with competent personnel.

The firm has a wide network of carefully selected professionals in foreign countries and has been rendering services to its clients through a strong network of associates all over.

The Firm offers value-added services in respect of work in the SAARC region and some other neighbouring countries including Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

S. Majumdar & Co., has stepped into its practice of 25 years in 2018.

 

Shashank Verma

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Leaders in Law endorses Shashank Verma as our exclusively recommended Arbitration Law expert in India. If you wish to get in touch with Shashank, please use the contact information provided above.

Shashank is a disputes lawyer with over two decades of extensive experience in appellate court advocacy, domestic and international arbitration and commercial litigation. He has a broad commercial practice and his areas of expertise include Administrative & Constitutional Law, Banking & Finance, Construction & Projects, Commercial Law including Media & Telecommunications, Mining, Employment & Labour, Energy & Natural Resources, Corporate (Joint Venture, Shareholder/Partnership disputes).

He began his career working in Mumbai office of one of India’s largest law firm of the time and thereafter shifted to counsel practice and joined chambers of an eminent senior counsel, wherein he practiced primarily before the Appellate and Constitutional Courts.

As counsel, Shashank has appeared for several leading public sector undertakings, banks, financial institutions, multinational corporations, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions and universities before various courts, including the Supreme Court of India, and arbitral tribunals.

In early 2016, Shashank restructured and reorganized RPV Legal, an over 80-year-old law practice into a modern chamber styled commercial law boutique focusing on arbitration, litigation and corporate advisory with offices in New Delhi, Jabalpur & Dubai. As part of his counsel practice, he also regularly receives instructions from leading law firms and chambers in commercial and constitutional matters before appellate courts and arbitral tribunals.

Areas of Expertise

  • Administrative & Constitutional Law
  • Banking & Finance
  • Construction & Projects
  • Commercial Law including Media & Telecommunications
  • Mining
  • Employment & Labour
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Corporate (Joint Venture, Shareholder/Partnership disputes)

Firm Description:

RPV Legal is a chamber styled litigation and arbitration law firm.

Our boutique set up is rooted in the belief that resolution of disputes in modern times require innovative collaboration and focused advocacy.

RPV Legal was established in 2015 by restructuring, an over eighty five-year-old commercial law chamber into a boutique law firm focused on delivering targeted legal expertise to complex business situations. Our modern set up retains our chamber’s age old and time-tested ethos of hard work and integrity and combines it with the agility, flexibility and sophistication of a new age law practice.

The firm’s structure allows us to be highly selective and enables our lawyers to be creative and efficient in the pursuit of success for our clients. We believe in innovative collaboration and a team approach for achieving optimal results. Our dedicated team of lawyers possess the rare blend of deep industry knowledge and extensive experience in handling a wide gamut of legal issues involving municipal and international laws.

The members of our team have acted as counsel in many landmark litigations and complex domestic and international arbitrations and advised on many significant corporate transactions and situations in India. In recent past, our members have been involved in some of the most significant commercial disputes in India. We have expertise in dealing with commercial disputes across different sectors such as Aviation, Banking & Finance, Construction and Infrastructure and Real Estate, Energy, Life Sciences, Technology etc. Our lawyers are specialists in high value international and multi-jurisdictional arbitrations under ad hoc and institutional rules (LCIA, ICC, SIAC, PCA) both under Indian and foreign law.

We also have the expertise and experience of handling white-collar investigations and trials including corruption, money laundering, extradition and mutual legal assistance matters involving several billion dollars. Additionally, our team is also skilled and experienced in rendering corporate advisory services to help our clients sail through complex business situations.

We have long standing referral relationships with leading international firms and full-service law firms in India. Our clientele comprises of sovereign states and state corporations, business conglomerates, non-governmental organisations, trusts, banking and financial institutions and several high net worth individuals.

Our headquarters in New Delhi is close to the major judicial institutions and we have a strong presence in the appellate courts, particularly, the Supreme Court of India.

 

Shardul S Shroff

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Leaders in Law endorses Shardul S Shroff as our exclusively recommended Insolvency Law expert in India. If you wish to get in touch with Shardul, please use the contact information provided above.

Shardul S. Shroff is the Executive Chairman of the Firm and also heads the Firm’s Insolvency & Bankruptcy practice. Shardul has been instrumental in developing and driving the Firm’s vision that is focused on enabling business by providing solutions as trusted advisors, through excellence, responsiveness, innovation and collaboration. He spends his time on guiding the Firm’s strategy and Partners in building strong relationships with clients and each other internally across the Firm. Shardul’s four decades of experience spans across a wide spectrum, including expertise in Insolvency and Bankruptcy, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities Law, Government Regulations, Disinvestment & Capital Markets, and Debt Recovery, helping build a pole position for the Firm in many of these practice areas.

As a thought leader in the legal domain, Shardul has been consistently rated as a leading corporate lawyer by several international fora and publications, including Who’s Who Legal, Asialaw, Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, Euromoney, International Financial Law Review (IFLR) and more.

IFLR1000 2020, the guide to the world’s leading financial and corporate law firms, notes Shardul as a “market leader in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Finance, Restructuring & Insolvency, Capital Markets, Infrastructure, Project Finance and Project Development”, while Chambers and Partners views Shardul as “a highly respected practitioner in the corporate and M&A space who is known for his long-standing experience handling joint ventures, takeovers, divestments and commercial contracts.”

In a span of four and half years since the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code was introduced by the Government of India in December 2015, the practice established by Shardul in this domain, has built a leadership position. Under his mentorship, the Firm was recognised as ‘The Best in Insolvency’ at the Asialaw’s Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards 2018.

Other significant engagements include being a member of JJ Irani Committee for amending the Companies Act; the Expert Committee on maintenance of cost records and cost audit in 2014; the Eradi Committee involved in the insolvency provisions of the Companies Act, 1956; the second Naresh Chandra Committee appointed to look into aspects of SMEs and simplification of company law; and the Valuation Committee.

As a preeminent expert in his field, Shardul has been appointed as an independent director on the boards of several top companies operating in India. He has also held top executive positions at various business and legal bodies such as Chairman of the CII National Committee on legal services and arbitration; Chairman of the FICCI Committee on stressed assets and Senior Vice President on the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) and Vice-Chair of the Corporate Counsel Committee of the IPBA council.

Shardul is also a member of the US-India Business Council; the Union Internationale Des Advocats and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce.

A recipient of the National Law Day Award from the President of India, Shardul was recognised “for his unique contribution to the field of corporate law and leadership in its practice” and for being “instrumental in advancement of India’s corporate law practice at international standards.”

Practice Focus

Shardul is a much sought after legal expert by both the government and private corporations for advisory and representation on high stake matters related to Insolvency and Bankruptcy proceedings, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities Law, Government Regulations, Disinvestment and Capital Markets.

He regularly represents high profile clients before National Law Company Tribunal, and Securities and Exchange Board of India. Shardul also has an extensive practice in bank loan recovery actions, debt reconstruction proceedings before the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR), asset reconstruction and securitisation under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest Act, 2002 (the SARFAESI Act).

He has been a member of the Insolvency Law Committee formed by the Government of India to review the implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. He was also a member of the high-powered Committee to review decriminalisation of offences under the Companies Act and the Committee on Cross-Border Insolvency.

Select Experience Statement

Insolvency & Bankruptcy

  • Committee of Creditors in the corporate insolvency process initiated against Bhushan Steel Limited.
  • Resolution Professional in corporate insolvency resolution process for Bhushan Power and Steel Limited.
  • State Bank of India, in the insolvency proceedings before the National Law Company Tribunal and the corporate insolvency process initiated against Essar Steel Limited.
  • Resolution Professional of Electrosteel Steels Limited during the corporate insolvency resolution process.
  • Committee of Creditors in the corporate insolvency process initiated against Amtek Auto Limited.
  • Resolution Professional of Alok Industries Limited, during the corporate insolvency resolution process.

Banking & Reconstruction of Sick Companies

  • Besides doing all forms of bank borrowing and lending transactions for clients like IDFC, IFCI, ICICI, IDBI, RaboBank, Shardul has had an extensive practice in bank loan recovery actions, debt reconstruction proceedings before the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR), asset reconstruction and securitisation under the SARFAESI Act.
  • On the Mardia Chemicals case, relating to the constitutional challenge of the SARFAESI Act.
  • International Finance Corporation (W), ADB and other multi-lateral lenders before the BIFR in Bihar Sponge and Modi Rubber cases.
  • State of Andhra Pradesh in Allwyn and Voltas in relation to the spin-off of the refrigeration business unit.
  • Under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions Act) 1985, he has advised on matters such as Amar Dye Chem, Mansarovar Bottling of The Coca-Cola Company, Saurashtra Cement, Modi Cement, Balaji Industries and Hotels Limited, Carlsberg on behalf of secured lenders like ICICI.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Restructuring Projects

  • Videocon Hydrocarbon Holdings Limited (“VHHL”) in relation to the sale by Videocon Mauritius Energy Limited (“VMEL”) of its 100% stake in Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 Limited (“VMRL”), including in relation to drafting, review and negotiation on the transaction documents.
  • General Electric Company, and has been involved in all legal aspects of the deal including: (i) structuring of a transaction involving the sale of 100% shareholding and controlling interest of General Electric Company and its affiliates  in GE Capital Services India and GE Money Financial Services Private Limited to Plutus Financials Private Limited.
  • Poddar Heritage Group in restructuring of its shareholding in Gillette India Limited as members of the Promoter/Promoter Group to “public”, with the prior approval of SEBI and in undertaking the OFS through the stock exchange mechanism.
  • ONGC Tripura Power Company Limited (“OTPC”) on bidding process, structuring a transaction and assistance in drafting and negotiating the transaction documents.
  • Avantha Holdings Limited (“Company”) in relation to an investment made in the Company by AION Investments Singapore Private Limited and Apollo Asia Private Credit Master Fund Pte Limited by way of issue of rated redeemable secured principal protected market linked non-convertible Debentures (“NCDs”).

Indian Government’s Disinvestment Projects

  • Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)’s acquisition of 37.5% stake in MRPL from Aditya Birla Group and then increasing its stake to approx 71% in the debt restructuring process.
  • Indian Oil Corporation Limited in relation to the merger of IOBL, a 100% subsidiary of IOC and a thinly capitalized company into its holding company.
  • On the sale/disinvestments of 18 public sector enterprises of the State of West Bengal, including the Great Eastern Hotel Co. Ltd. This is a DFID supported project.
  • On the disinvestment of National Fertilizers Limited (NFL). The Firm advised on the structure of the Sale Transaction and tax implications proposed to the Govt of India by the Global Advisor. Further, advised the Government regarding the scope of and arrangements for the due diligence to be carried out in relation to the Sale Transaction, and the review and advice on the wording of the Confidential Information Memorandum.
  • Bidder Consortium of TATA Industries Limited and Singapore Airlines on sale of Government shares in Air India. The Firm was involved in negotiations with Government on Confidentiality Undertaking, the review of Bid Documents including the Share Purchase Agreement, Shareholders Agreement, Request for Proposal and Information Memorandum; in heading the legal due diligence process, in structuring the consortium, and drafting the MOU / JVA.
  • Videocon International Limited on disinvestment of 26% of the Government shareholding in Indian Airlines Ltd.

Capital Markets

  • The issuer, Eros International Plc. The role included providing assistance in relation to due diligence and disclosure in the prospectus on the group’s operations in India (through its significant Indian subsidiaries), as well as advising on various Indian law issues in relation to the transaction.
  • Poddar Heritage Group in restructuring of its shareholding in the Company as members of the Promoter/Promoter Group to “public”, with the prior approval of SEBI and in undertaking the OFS through the stock exchange mechanism.
  • IDFC Limited in their QIP.
  • Contributed to the preparation of the first edition of the Sick Industrial Companies (special Provisions) Act as authored by S A Naik, former executive director of the Industrial Development Bank of India.

A detailed experience statement can be shared on a confidential basis.

Areas of Expertise

  • Insolvency & Bankruptcy
  • General Corporate
  • Banking & Finance
  • Private Equity

Professional Memberships

  • Supreme Court Bar Association
  • Advocate on Record, Supreme Court of India
  • Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)
  • Delhi Bar Association

Education

  • B.Com (Hons), Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai
  • LL.B, Government Law College, University of Mumbai

Firm Description:

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, among India’s pre-eminent law firms, is built on a century of excellence. As one of India’s marquee law firms, we help our clients grow, innovate and thrive. For over a century, we have built a reputation for our expertise, specialised solutions and the ability to think ahead. We find the most relevant and highly tailored solutions to our clients’ composite legal challenges.

With a constantly evolving legal, regulatory and business environment, we are determined to help our clients embrace change and stay ahead. Our multidisciplinary teams with global exposure and in-depth knowledge are frequently sought after by leading national and international organisations for qualitative, legal and business-critical advice.

Committed to investing in the brightest legal talent, the Firm has more than 773 lawyers who, with 158 partners, offer solutions across diverse practice areas for industries, the central government and states, regulatory bodies, industry chambers and non-profit organisations. Our offices are spread across New Delhi, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

We deliver original and exceptional solutions in the fields of mergers & acquisitions, tax, competition law, dispute resolution & arbitration, regulatory litigation, capital markets and private equity practices. We are an exclusive member firm of Lex Mundi in India, which helps clients access our partner network across more than 125 countries.

 

S.K. Singhi

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Leaders in Law endorses S.K. Singhi as our exclusively recommended Corporate Litigation expert in India. If you wish to get in touch with S.K. Singhi, please use the contact information provided above.

S. K. SINGHI

Founder & Managing Partner

In the modern world, there is a greater respect for ‘how’ over the ‘what’.

Clients, associates, employees and other stakeholders are beginning to indicate ‘Don’t just tell us what you will deliver to us, but also tell us how you will do so in a predictable and sustainable manner.’

This is bringing into spotlight a philosophy that is assuming increased importance: Governance.

At our firm, governance stands for two principal realities.

One, we believe in holistic integrity – whether this is through communication transparency with our stakeholders, complete compliance with the laws of the land and more than measuring up to the ethical expectations of all those who engage with us.

Two, we believe in investing a range of experiences and knowledge in our people, widening their perspectives.

We believe that the combination of subject matter expertise and an ethical mindset can transform realities into the positive with speed.

This is how we have enriched stakeholder relationships in the past; this is how we expect to sustain them across the future.

This is our simple blueprint of how we expect to make the world a better place for all those who engage with us.

Firm Description:

S.K. Singhi & Co, LLP is a young professional full-service Indian legal firm.

The firm is headquartered in Kolkata with offices in New Delhi, Mumbai and Gurugram and practices in a number of other Indian cities. It enjoys an international presence through global alliances with leading law firms.

The firm was set up as a sole proprietorship concern under the leadership of Managing Partner Mr. S.K. Singhi and was subsequently converted into a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) as it exists today.

The firm provides specialised services in the areas of Corporate Law, Insolvency & Restructuring, Domestic &International Arbitration, Litigation Management, Infrastructure & Mining Law, Securities Law, Economic & Fiscal Laws, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity & FDI, ECBs, Intellectual Property law, Banking & Financial Services, Real Estate, Labour & Industrial Laws (among others).

The firm’s expertise has been drawn from the competence of independent teams across its various offices to address litigation, arbitration and documentation requirements. The firm’s differentiation has been derived from its capacity to apply knowledge and customise services in line with diverse client needs.

 

Mr. Abhai Pandey

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Abhai Pandey is a Partner at LexOrbis, a specialist Intellectual Property law firm. He has  over 27 years of experience in Corporate, IP & TMT and Competitions laws. He works at the Firm’s Dispute Resolution Practice and advises clients in contentious matters for all IP rights, including patents, trademarks and passing off, designs, copyright and databases, trade secrets and confidential information, anti-counterfeiting and domain name disputes.

Abhai works with a team of litigators and investigators for enforcing, protecting or defending IP rights and represents clients at all stages of litigation and dispute resolution including devising pre-litigation strategies. He regularly appears in pre- and post-grant opposition cases at IP Offices, revocation and appeal cases at IPAB, infringement and passing off litigations at courts and for anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting actions with enforcement agencies.

Abhai represents a wide range of businesses and industries including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, electronics, mechanical, ICT, publishing, media & entertainment, etc.

Abhai writes prolifically for many renowned publications worldwide, including Managing IP, World Intellectual Property Review, Indian Business Law Journal, IP Frontline, Mondaq, Asialaw, Lexology to name a few. He is also associated with many significant IP forums and professional bodies in India and abroad, including the International Trademark Association (INTA), International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), Asian Patent attorneys Association (APAA), European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA) and Pharmaceuticals Trade Marks Group (PTMG).

Manisha Singh

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Leaders in Law endorses Manisha Singh as our exclusively recommended Patent Law expert in India. If you wish to get in touch with Manisha, please use the contact information provided above.

Manisha Singh is the Founder and Managing Partner at LexOrbis, India’s premier intellectual property firm. The firm provides end-to-end IP services, from ideation to monetization including procurement, protection, maintenance, and enforcement of all forms of IP rights and assets and related legal services. Manisha has been advising and handling dispute resolutions for a wide range of clients including technology and pharmaceutical companies, public sector companies, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Oil Corporation, and the Department of Non-Banking Financial Companies, Reserve Bank of India. For more than two decades, Manisha has acted as the standing counsel and represented her clients in the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, District Courts and other Tribunals.

Manisha is ranked amongst the top and leading lawyers in IP and dispute resolution segments of Indian legal practice by prominent law journals and publications. She is known for providing proactive, out of the box, business-oriented counselling and representation to her clients.

She founded LexOrbis in 1997 with a set of like-minded lawyers to bring an international perspective to the Indian intellectual property regimen, that was in the process of being integrated with the international IP systems post-signing of TRIPS Agreement in 1995 by India. She worked closely with the policymakers, judiciary, and other stakeholders to establish a robust and level playing IP regime in India and she continues to work on critical and high-stake policy-related cases.

Her in-depth understanding and knowledge of all the aspects of IPR is reflected in her prolific academic and research-based writing in renowned publications worldwide and she is routinely invited to author articles and commentaries on contemporary IP policies and issues by national and international publications including Managing IP, World Intellectual Property Review, INTA, Indian Business Law Journal, IP Frontline, Marques, Mondaq, and Asialaw amongst others.

Manisha has been widely recognized for her work in the IP space by various national/international associations. Some of her latest accolades include her recognition by WTR 1000 in World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 2021 Guide for “enforcement and litigation, prosecution and strategy”; one of the Top 100 IP Experts 2021 in India by Asia IP; Legal Era’s 2021 Coffee Book – Distinguished Legal Minds of India as one of the leading law firm partners; Top Disputes Lawyers 2020 by Asian Legal Business India; Leading IP strategist by IAM Strategy 300 2020.

Areas of Expertise

  • Patent Law
  • IP Cervices
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Technology
  • Pharmaceutical Companies
  • Public Sector
  • Finance

Education

  • Master’s in economics & law – India, Faculty of Law, Delhi University.

Memberships

  • International Trademark Association (INTA)
  • International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
  • Licensing Executives Society International (LESI)
  • Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)
  • European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Trade Marks Group (PTMG).

Firm Description:

LexOrbis is a comprehensive intellectual property law firm based at 3 strategic locations i.e. Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, India with clients from all geographies and ethnicities. We advise our global clients on protecting and enforcing their rights in patents, trademarks, designs, copyrights, geographic indications and domain names.

We bring together a dynamic and experienced team of attorneys and staff, focused on disseminating appropriate and rational advice on all aspects of intellectual property law.

World-Class IP Law Firm

LexOrbis is a first of its kind law firm that blends technical expertise with legal acumen. We serve as a one-stop-shop for all intellectual property issues. We have extensive domain knowledge and a pool of highly skilled lawyers and technical personnel with thorough & sound IP experience.  We represent clients across all judicial forums, including the Intellectual Property Offices, District Courts, High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.

Engaging with Stakeholders and Policy Makers

Our lawyers include revered leaders in the IP space, especially on the topic of emerging IP scenarios in India. Our attorneys regularly engage with IP stakeholders in India, including the courts and policymakers.  Although we are based in India, we have forged relationships across the globe and regularly work with a network of attorneys and technical experts in 137 countries to protect our clients internationally.

Broad Technical Expertise

Our diverse technical expertise and practical business experience help us understand your ideas and inventions. Our attorneys serve a collage of technical fields, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electronics, semiconductors, fast-moving consumer goods, luxury goods and technologically advanced startups. We understand the importance of protecting your competitive advantage and we offer a full portfolio of intellectual property services, including:

  • IP Clearances
  • Procurement of Patent, Design, Trademark, Copyright, domain names, geographical rights and registrations in India
  • Maintenance and Renewal of IP Assets
  • Transactional and commercial matters related to IP including assignment, licensing/franchising, Technology and know transfers, Collaborative Research, Contract manufacturing, etc.
  • IP Litigation, Border Enforcement and criminal enforcement of Trademarks & Copyrights
  • Domain Names
  • Other contentious Intellectual Property matters including Patent and Trademark oppositions, Patents, Designs and copyright cancellation

Cutting-Edge Technology

We have implemented state of the art systems and robust processes to support our clients’ initiatives.  We are process-driven and have onboard systems to enable us to undertake various activities with efficiency, accuracy, and precision. We understand that investing in the protection and enforcement of your IP assets is of the highest priority.  We combine industry benchmarked processes and systems coupled with experienced legal leaders to present to you an array of intellectual property services.

We have a team of experienced lawyers who focus exclusively on intellectual property rights and understand the nuances of this space in terms of business strategy in India & globally.  The experience we have gained in the past two decades allows us to offer comprehensive assistance and advice to global corporations, small and medium enterprises, emerging businesses, and individuals. Our team has technical and business experience to help leverage intellectual property as a tool for your business.

Industry Knowledge

Our team has been actively involved in business and research at all levels.  Most of our professionals have worked at the forefront of product development, so they understand your business needs.  Others have participated in cutting-edge research and development, at globally renowned companies and have witnessed how inventions propel businesses forward.

Members of our firm have been involved in leading research efforts in the areas of plant-related genetics, energy management, semiconductors and other ground-breaking innovations.  When you work with our attorneys, you gain a partner who is not only abreast with the intricacies of intellectual property law but also understands your industry, business, and technical background at more than just a perfunctory level.

Industry Relationships

Our professionals regularly engage with intellectual property stakeholders in India and abroad, to understand and address various concerns that beckon attention. Working with intellectual property stakeholders, we can best understand how changes to the law and its interpretation may affect your business.

Our firm’s members are associated with the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), the American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (AIPLA), the Intellectual Property Owners (IPO), the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the European Communities Trademark Association (ECTA), among others.

Recognized Leaders in the IP Field

We pride ourselves in our presence at the forefront of intellectual property in India and the world.  Our professionals are honourable leaders in IP law and are regularly invited to author articles for the best IP publications and speak at various national and international IPR forums and associations. Recent topics have included Registration of Three-Dimensional Marks; PCT Application and its Intricacies; Patenting Microorganisms and Software Patentability.

Besides, we have published numerous articles in law reviews examining topics of interest from a policy vs practice standpoint in the arena.

Our Competitive Advantage

LexOrbis is among a new generation of intellectual property law firms having expertise and knowledge across the entire IP spectrum.  While the firm was conceived at a point in time when the patent space was undergoing significant changes in India, it has proved to be a front runner in the space. As for the other forms of intellectual property, we continue to engage closely with new and emerging areas of IP law.

Our unique and robust combination of technical, business, and legal acumen gives us a great competitive advantage.  We are well-rounded professionals who truly understand your needs as a business and as a creator.

We are focused on your success and committed to doing all we can within the realm of intellectual property to enable that success. We look forward to learning more about your business and intellectual property needs.

 

Dina Wadia

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Leaders in Law endorses Dina Wadia as our exclusively recommended Banking & Finance Law expert in India. If you wish to get in touch with Dina please use the contact information provided above.

Dina specialises in Banking & Finance, Investment Funds, Financial Services and Mergers & Cross Border Investments & Acquisitions. She has extensive experience in Banking & Finance related transactions including all manner of Debt Transactions (secured, limited recourse and syndicated), Project Finance, Acquisition Finance, Structured Finance, Real Estate Financing, Security creation, Unlisted Debt and General Banking Products.

Dina also advises on the establishment of funds and investment by onshore & offshore funds and investment vehicles including general or sector specific Private Equity vehicles, Venture Capital funds, Mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles. She has been involved with the domestic mutual fund industry since the opening of this sector to banks, offshore and private players in 1989 and with offshore depository receipt programmes of Indian issuers since inception of these transactions in India in 1993 / 1994.

In addition, she has extensive experience in Corporate Commercial and Finance related transactions including Private Equity & Capital Markets, Foreign Investment, Joint Ventures and Acquisitions across industry sectors.
She has been practicing law since 1982. Before joining JSA, she was for twenty one years with Little & Co, one of India’s premier and oldest law firms and she was a partner there for over ten years.

Firm Description

JSA has been widely recognized as having a leading national Banking & Finance practice which is highly regarded for its excellence, consistency and commercial sense, and has a reputation for working on challenging and innovative transactions.

The practice covers a wide range of financing transactions such as (i) Corporate Debt, including syndicated loans, secured and unsecured loans, revolving credits, guarantee facilities and other forms of security; (ii) Structured Finance; (iii) Acquisition and Leveraged Finance using senior, mezzanine and subordinated debt; (iv) Project Finance and Public Private Partnerships across all Infrastructure and Energy sectors; (v) Securitization; (vi) Real Estate Finance including structured lending, secured property lending and property securitization; (vii) Asset Finance; (viii) Derivative transactions; (ix) Debt Capital Markets encompassing issues of rupee denominated bonds and debentures, foreign currency convertible bonds, bank MTN programmes and other securities; and (x) Debt Restructuring and re-financing, including asset reconstruction and schemes of arrangement.

We have extensive experience in diverse types of Banking & Finance transactions and have represented clients on high-profile and complex Syndicated Lending, Structured Products, Project Finance, External Commercial Borrowings, and plain vanilla bilateral lending deals. Our scope of work covers the entire spectrum including structuring transactions, drafting term sheets and transactional documents, negotiations, advising on the regulatory framework and related issues.

The Firm acts for several Global & Domestic Banks, and also represents a number of Institutional Lenders, Multi-lateral, Developmental & Export Credit Institutions, Asset Managers, Funds, Real Estate Investors, Arrangers and Corporate Borrowers.

 

Dr. Surat Singh

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Leaders in Law endorses Dr. Surat Singh as our exclusively recommended Commercial Law expert in India. If you wish to get in touch with Dr. Singh please use the contact information provided above.

Surat Singh & Associates is based out of New Delhi and it offers legal services to national and international clients in corporate and business matters.

Dr. Surat Singh – Harvard & Oxford Educated Top Lawyer of India

Dr. Surat Singh is Harvard and Oxford educated top lawyer of India. He practices at Supreme Court of India and Delhi High Court. He is also an international lawyer. He was educated at Delhi (India), Oxford (England) and Harvard (America). With his three masters’ degrees in law from Delhi, Oxford and Harvard and his Doctor of Laws (S.J.D) from Harvard, he is arguably the highest educated lawyer of India. Incidentally, he happens to be the contemporary of American President Barack Obama at Harvard Law School during 1988-90. After his seven years stint at Oxford and Harvard, Dr. Surat Singh returned to India and started his law career in 1992 with the then Attorney General of India, G. Ramaswamy.

Illustrious Career & Professional Achievements

Dr. Surat Singh’s list of professional achievements is long. To date, Dr. Surat Singh has successfully handled complex legal cases involving land & real estate properties valuing more than INR 250,000 crores (US$ 50 billion) for State and Federal Government, top corporate houses and Government corporations.

On another plane, Surat works passionately along with his other compatriot top Indian lawyers to improve the education, training and practice of law in the country. He has lectured extensively in Indian and international law-school campuses. Surat’s opinions, analyses and features regularly publish in the most prestigious of newspapers and magazines and he is a much sought-after panelist on TV channels on debates on high-value national and international issues.

Harvard Contemporary of President Obama

Dr. Surat Singh is also Harvard contemporary of President Barack Obama at Harvard Law School in late eighties and he actively campaigned for the re-election President Obama by starting a blog : http://indiaforobama.wordpress.com. He attended both the first and second inauguration ceremonies of Obama’s Presidency.

Honours & Awards for Dr. Surat Singh

  • The Pride of India Award 2011 (Bharat Gaurav Award 2011) – by Indo American Friends’ Group along with Chief Justice of India.
  • International Peace Award 2001 – by the International Educators for World Peace
  • Social Scientist of the year 1999 – by National Environmental Science Academy (NESA)
  • Eminent Jurist award 1997 – by the then Delhi Chief Minister, Shri Sahib Singh Verma in April 1997

Network & Associations

  • Dr. Surat Singh served as President of Harvard Club of India (twice)
  • President of Harvard University Alumni Association of Asia (2004- 2006)
  • Hony. Secretary of Oxford Cambridge Society of India

 

Vineetha M G

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Vineetha MG has extensive experience in private equity investments, investment funds, project and corporate finance, projects, cross-border and domestic M&A, corporate governance, domestic and cross border anti-corruption statutes and ethics. In the infrastructure space specifically power, oil and gas, telecom, roads, airports, railway, and port sectors she has advised and represented the entire spectrum of participants including lenders, developers, project sponsors, equipment suppliers, infrastructure funds and export credit agencies.

Vineetha is also widely experienced in setting up and advising onshore and offshore venture capital and private equity funds which invest in several sectors.

Vineetha also regularly advises clients on issues arising out of domestic anti-corruption laws as well as foreign anti-corruption laws such as the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 1977 and the UK Bribery Act, 2010 in connection with mergers and acquisitions, private equity and financing transactions. She has assisted in drafting appropriate documentation, policies and certificates to facilitate compliance. She has also advised Indian companies who have faced enforcement actions under various Indian statutes, including the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Criminal Procedure Code, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Companies Act, 1956, CARO and the listing agreement.

Vineetha has a B.A., LL.B (Hons.) from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, (1998), and an Executive Education Program – “Infrastructure in a Market Economy” from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is admitted to practise law in India.

Acquisition International– The Voice of Corporate Finance recently awarded her “Most Influential Woman in Private Equity Investments 2018- India” . She is included in The A List – India’s Top 100 Lawyers, based on extensive research conducted by India Business Law Journal (IBLJ 2018) and been recognized by Insight Success magazine as “The Top 10 Powerful Lawyers in 2018”.

In her spare time, Vineetha loves to paint. She also enjoys going on occasional treks with friends, when time permits.

Law Firm Overview:

Samvād: Partners is a full-service Indian law firm with offices in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. The Firm is committed to providing innovative and quality legal advice to our clients; maintaining the highest levels of professional integrity; and nurturing our lawyers in a work environment that motivates them to achieve and maintain the highest standards.

The majority of our Partners have a rich mix of domestic and international experience – having worked in several international financial centres outside India, including Hong Kong, London, New York and Singapore. We strive to provide our clients with innovative simple solutions to their most complex legal and business challenges in India.