Corporate/M&A: The Elite | Asia-Pacific

AZB & Partners is a widely admired law firm in India with an excellent market reputation, frequently active on the most high-profile transactions. The firm has notable strength advising leading buyers, sellers and investors acting in areas such as real estate, financial services, TMT and energy. The group handles a broad range of corporate issues including high-profile M&A, joint ventures and outbound investments. The department also has a proven track record in distressed M&A and a strong record assisting with the formation and restructuring of companies, exchange control regulations, contract law and Takeover Code issues. AZB & Partners is especially present in New Delhi and Mumbai and its roster of clients includes Citibank, KKR and Tata Motors.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas offers an outstanding legal practice across India that continues to be identified as a market leader for high-end M&A work. Operating especially out of Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru, the team stands out for its capacity to handle big-ticket, complex mandates for a range of prominent domestic and international clients. The firm has extensive experience in handling large-scale acquisitions for both partial and full ownership of companies. The team is well placed to handle public M&A and advise on SEBI regulations. The team has expertise on major deals in the energy, insurance, TMT and banking sectors with notable clients including Adani, Reliance and Tata.

The high-quality legal team at JSA in India assists domestic and global companies, in addition to public sector institutions, across the whole gamut of corporate transactions, especially from its offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru. The firm is respected for its work advising on mergers and acquisitions, demergers, divestments and the restructuring of listed and unlisted entities. The team has significant experience in the structuring of investment vehicles, the establishment of subsidiaries and joint ventures, and the obtaining of regulatory approvals. The team also has expertise advising on the employment elements of corporate transactions. JSA's capabilities in sector-specific transactions are bolstered by its impressive TMT, real estate and projects and infrastructure practices. Notable clients include DuPont, Ford Motor and Microsoft.

Khaitan & Co offers a well-regarded legal team in India that regularly assists domestic companies with their acquisitions abroad. The firm is additionally involved in large inbound M&A transactions, regularly acting as counsel to both foreign investors and Indian target companies. The team is also experienced in distressed asset transactions. The department's impressive client roster includes prominent companies from the energy, finance, retail and technology arenas, among others. Khaitan & Co has offices across major cities in India, including Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi. Clients include Digital Edge DC, Godrej Consumer Products and Warner Music India.

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co is a top-notch law firm in India, respected for its strength in advising big-name clients on national and international M&A transactions, amalgamations, restructurings and joint ventures. The firm has substantive experience administering operations relating to the procurement of majority and controlling stakes in companies. The team draws on the expertise of its other practices to overcome complex transaction-related regulatory issues and has an excellent reputation for providing counsel on demergers, delistings, public M&A and asset transfers and significant experience assisting with major TMT and infrastructure sector transactions. The firm leverages its membership of the Lex Mundi network to serve clients throughout the globe. AION Investments Private IV, Biocon Biologics and Metro AG are notable clients. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas has lawyers across India, including in Chennai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Mumbai.

Trilegal's renowned legal team in India offers capabilities across a whole range of corporate matters, including cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and contentious restructuring transactions. The firm possesses further experience and capabilities in the handling of acquisitions of distressed assets. The department is respected for its expertise providing guidance to clients from the financial services, energy, insurance and technology sectors. The team is able to draw on the firm's expertise in capital markets, litigation, tax, and banking and finance to advise on corporate matters. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, RMZ and Zee Entertainment Enterprises are among its clients. The group consistently undertakes work of considerable value from its offices in Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi.

IndusLaw advises Indian and foreign companies from the technology, manufacturing and education sectors on a range of corporate transactions including M&A, share purchase agreements and tax structuring, as well as distressed acquisitions in India. The team is well placed to assist clients with the ancillary aspects of corporate work, including due diligence procedures, regulatory approvals and merger approvals. The firm offers additional expertise in securities laws, Takeover Code and foreign direct investment policies. PhonePe, Takahata and Alight are some of its key clients. IndusLaw is well established in Bengaluru, New Delhi and Mumbai.

S&R Associates has an established team of lawyers in India, providing high-quality transactional support for both domestic and global clients in fields such as aviation, TMT and finance. The M&A team is singled out for its expertise assisting major banks, asset managers and corporations in foreign direct investment, venture capital and private equity transactions. The firm is based in New Delhi and Mumbai and counts major domestic institutions as well as MNCs among its clients.

TT&A's legal team in India advises major banks and national and international clients from the insurance, finance, technology and pharmaceutical sectors on strategic M&A, joint ventures, foreign investments, asset transfers and corporate advisory matters. The team is well placed to assist and collaborate in large-scale global transactions through its international relationships. The firm operates especially from Mumbai and New Delhi. Generali, Dabur and ATC Telecom Infrastructure are among its notable clients.

DSK Legal is an established law firm in India with significant experience in cross-border M&A, private sales and acquisitions, public takeovers and mergers. The firm also has a separate dispute resolution team to handle any contentious topics that may arise during transactions. The team's clients include large financial institutions and corporates from a diverse set of sectors including e-commerce, manufacturing and insurance. The lawyers offer a wealth of expertise in M&A involving the pharmaceutical, technology, real estate and food industries, out of its New Delhi and Mumbai offices. Clients represented include Eurofins Advinus, Kotak Investment Advisors and ReNew Power.

Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India is a full-service legal offering with a strong record of supporting prominent multinational conglomerates and investors on complex M&A and private equity transactions in India. The firm offers vast experience handling stock acquisitions, takeovers, asset transfers, privatisations and buyouts, often overseeing the India-related aspects of major global acquisitions. The lawyers are experienced in handling IBC-related transactions including distressed asset acquisitions. The team also advises corporations on investment strategies and commercial contracts. The department has a notable focus on the life sciences, energy and technology sectors, advising clients such as ArcelorMittal, Data Glove IT Solutions and O2 Power.

Saraf and Partners is a corporate law firm with an experienced team working from offices in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The lawyers offer significant experience handling big-ticket cross-border M&A and joint ventures. The team has notable exposure to transactions involving the technology, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and technology sectors. The team is active on acquisitions involving distressed companies. Clients advised include Razorpay Software, Vedanta and Zomato.

Bharucha & Partners' highly qualified Mumbai-based legal team acts on the full range of corporate matters including M&A, foreign direct investment, asset purchase agreements and joint ventures. The lawyers provide general corporate advice to major companies and investors on both the sale and purchase sides. The team undertakes notable activity relating to a range of different sectors such as technology, finance and education. ANS Digital, Epigeneres Biotech and Girnarsoft Education Services are clients.

Wadia Ghandy & Co advises clients on a range of corporate legal work from Mumbai, regularly assisting with M&A transactions and joint venture mandates. The firm is routinely engaged by major companies from the insurance, energy, real estate and finance sectors. The team is experienced at handling acquisitions, in addition to investments and exit processes. Notable clients include Medvantage Insurance TPA, HDFC Bank and K Raheja Corp.