Established in 1989, Nishith Desai Associates is a well-known name in the Indian legal market. The firm has a global presence with offices in Silicon Valley, New York, Munich, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Singapore.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is best known for its corporate and private equity work. Sectors of focus include banking and financial services, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and technology, media and telecommunications.
Key clients
The firm’s client list includes GIC Singapore, Solara Active Pharma Sciences, Dewan Housing Finance Corporation, Radiant Life Sciences, Square Dotcom and Actis.
Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)
A newsworthy deal saw the firm advise GIC Singapore on an investment in the first-ever private unlisted InvIT in the country, which was the largest investment in the road sector. The firm also advised GIC Singapore on the first-ever preferential allotment by a public InvIT to a private equity player. A highly publicised matter in the education sector saw the firm advise EuroKids Group on an investment from KKR. The firm also advised Radiant Life on an interesting mandate involving a series of demergers and a reverse merger.
Staffing changes saw the departure of Rohan Singh for Trilegal and Ruchi Biyani who left for academic pursuit.
Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Actis $500 million acquisition of Acme Solar’s solar power plants
GIC Singapore $700 million investment in IRB Infrastructure Investment Trust
GIC Singapore $300 million investment in Indigrid Infrastructure Investment Trust
KKR acquisition of a majority stake in Eurokids
Radiant Life acquisition of Max Healthcare
Client feedback: 30th edition (2019/2020)
M&A
“Very good leaders in the practice areas. Market leaders for certain specific areas such as M&A tax.”
