Founded in 1911, Khaitan & Co is one of the oldest full-service firms in India and has offices in Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Noida, Mumbai and Singapore.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is ranked among the top-tier firms in banking and finance, capital markets, M&A, private equity, project development, and restructuring and insolvency.
The banking team has experience in acting for international and domestic banks as lenders on refinancing, aircraft leasing and financing, and acquisition financing mandates.
In capital markets, the firm advises arrangers, issuers and investors on a host of bonds and debentures issues.
The firm’s corporate and M&A experience includes acting for acquirers and targets, private equity firms, investors and funds across the full spectrum of M&A matters.
In projects, the firm represents developers, government entities, contractors and suppliers.
On the restructuring front, the firm advises stakeholders such as sponsors, creditors and creditor committees, distressed debt investors and resolution professionals.
Key clients
Notable clients include Axis Bank, Bank of America, Bank of Baroda, BNP Paribas, Citibank, Cooperatieve Rabobank U.A., DBS Bank, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, Aditya Birla Finance, Power Finance Corporation, Nexus Select Trust REIT and Ruchi Soya Industries.
Research period review:
33rd edition (2022/2023)
The banking team was active on refinancings, asset finance and project finance work. It also advised on financial services regulatory matters.
The capital markets team was particularly active on equity mandates and impressed with a role for legal counsel to the book running lead managers on Nexus Select Trust REIT's IPO, which was the first IPO in India by a REIT that holds mixed-use retail assets.
In M&A, the firm mainly acted for acquirers. A representative example saw the firm advise IIFL Finance and IIFL Home Finance in relation to investment by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority for acquisition of 20% stake in IIFL Home Finance – one of the largest equity investments in the affordable housing finance segment in India by a financial investor.
In the projects space, the team was involved in various sectors such as energy and infrastructure.
In restructuring and insolvency, the team advises its clients in the financial services sector and offers regulatory advice.
On staff changes, the corporate and commercial team welcomed executive director Bhavin Vora and partners Prateek Desai, Anshuman Mozumdar and Promode Murugavelu, while Aravind Venugopal, Rohan Cherian, Tarunya Krishnan, Aayushi Anand and Arindam Sarkar left the firm.
Partner Akshay Malhotra from energy, infrastructure and resources, also departed the firm.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s acquisition of 20% stake in IIFL Home Finance.
Plastic Omnium’s acquisition of Varroc Lighting Systems.
My Home Industries’ financing.
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Capital markets
“They are solution providers and offer an adequate number of team members with relevant experience.”
“They are very understanding of our commercial goals and how they fare against standard market terms, allowing us to negotiate the best possible position in our agreements. Highly knowledgeable about our requirements under applicable regulation and very responsive, allowing us to make all required filings in good time.”
Insolvency
“A very professional firm.”
“They have an excellent set of partners. We work a lot with Siddharth Srivastava, restructuring & insolvency partner, and are very happy with him.”
Project development
“I work with Dibyanshu and he always delivers excellent products and advice. A dream to work with.”
Restructuring
“Hard-working and detail-orientated, responsive, and they take charge of the matter.”
Rahul Chakraborti
“Hard-working, accessible and detail-orientated.”
Dibyanshu
“Dibyanshu is my first choice in India for any project development matter (energy) in India. No-nonsense, he just gets on with it and delivers practical, useful and insightful advice.”
Devi Patel
“Devi is very knowledgeable about the law and has demonstrated a command of the commercial aspects of the practice, and is highly responsive and detail-orientated. I have relied heavily on him to shepherd our now several transactions through review, negotiation and execution.”
Gahan Singh
“A problem-solver with in-depth legal knowledge.”
Gautham Srinivas
“Gautham is excellent in client management. I have not seen a client who does not give him repeated work. His proactiveness and solution-orientated mindset helps him to retain clients.”
“Gautham is extremely positive and capable, taking general instruction as to objectives and implementing them in a confident and effective manner, which was essential given the different time zones involved. He is highly knowledgeable about legal and commercial terms and was able to secure those through negotiation with our various counterparties. I also found his client management skills to be well above par.”
Siddharth Srivastava
“He gives attention to detail, and is sharp, incisive, precise and mature. Siddharth is a thorough professional and is an expert in insolvency matters. He has the experience of handling matters from all stakeholders' perspectives, which enables him to give holistic and practical advice.”
“He is the most reliable insolvency lawyer in the country. I have seen him operate over the years and he has been super-consistent. I would rate him as one of the best and most sought-after IBC lawyers. His wide experience in acting for various stake holders in the insolvency space makes him the go-to lawyer for me. Absolutely recommended.”
