IBLJ
Law Firm Awards

IBLJ analysis:

Acuity Law has made significant strides in both the development of its practice and the execution of complex transactions for a diverse client base. The firm expanded its leadership by bringing in Haseena Tapia Shahpurwalla as a partner in corporate law, enriching the team with her extensive experience in M&A, joint ventures and cross-border transactions. Shankar Iyer also joined as a partner in tax law, offering expertise gained from years at KPMG, PwC and EY.

Acuity Law has advised Indian and multinational companies, including those in manufacturing, engineering, healthcare and aviation. Notably, the firm has represented clients in confidential M&A transactions, with a particular focus on cross-border deals, and has expanded its Japan practice, working with leading Japanese corporations and financial institutions. The firm has also assisted clients in sectors such as artificial intelligence, healthcare technology and financial technology, while publishing legal updates and thought papers. Acuity Law’s knowledge management initiatives, including its Yearly Rewind, have been well received by clients, and the firm has partnered with Gujarat National Law University to foster practical legal training for students.

IBLJ analysis:

Aekom Legal has achieved substantial growth by embracing technology, expanding its team and handling high-value mandates. The firm has integrated AI-powered legal tools to optimise research and document management, while also opening new offices in Delhi and Mumbai. A dedicated Japan Desk has allowed Aekom Legal to serve clients such as water recycling company WOTA and Nissan Motor more effectively.

The firm’s expertise in insolvency and bankruptcy is highlighted through its advisory work for Eros Group in the acquisition of James Hotel, representation of the Small Industries Development Bank of India and Patanjali Ayurved before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and Supreme Court, and complex litigation for clients like Gupshup Technology and Acme Chem.

Clients have highly praised Aekom Legal for their practical, client-centric approach and deep sector expertise. Ankit Tripathi, head of legal affairs at SMS India, described Aekom Legal as a “trusted and indispensable legal partner… providing exceptional legal counsel across multiple practice areas critical to our infrastructure business”, emphasising their “deep industry knowledge, proactive approach and unwavering commitment to delivering results”.

Ashish Mathur, vice president at OM Logistics, appreciated the “very practical approach and time bound working” of their lawyers, particularly Kalpit Khandelwal and Vibhor Kapoor, and highlighted that “senior executives and partners deliver the deliverables to client”, avoiding confusion. Venkat Akula, director at Chaitanya Energy, praised the firm’s “high level of legal expertise, strategic thinking and a result-oriented approach”, especially their “personalised attention” in insolvency cases. BM Jhamb, company secretary and compliance officer at Rico Auto Industries, stated that Aekom Legal’s “exceptional legal acumen and client-centric approach” set them apart.

Pranav Ansal, vice chairman and managing director at Ansal Properties & Infrastructure, said the firm “embodies professionalism and integrity, ensuring that clients receive the highest quality service with unwavering ethics”.

IBLJ analysis:

Agama Law Associates has reinforced its reputation in corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution and transactional work. The firm’s partner promotions have brought in specialists such as Ravishekhar Pandey and Priya Vishwanathan, enhancing expertise in securities law, capital markets and compliance. The firm’s digital transformation includes the adoption of AI-powered platforms for document review and workflow management.

Agama Law Associates has advised Voler Cars on its IPO, supported HDFC Bank in corporate disputes and represented the State Bank of India in insolvency petitions, achieving significant outcomes such as the admission of over INR520 million (USD6.09 million) in debt by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The firm has also advised MKS Digitech and a SaaS-based mobility platform startup on funding rounds and legal frameworks.

Clients celebrate Agama Law Associates for their depth, responsiveness and international outlook. Dharmin Desai, CEO and director at Vizor, praised their “exceptional service”, their ability to “deal with international clients and navigate complex affairs” and their “beginner’s mindset”. Gunjan Mathur, director at VizPay Business Solution, said they are “very professional” and “carefully” vet legal documents. Juhi Chaudhary, head of legal at Voltas, valued their “ability to deep dive into sector-specific regulations and pay attention to the nuances of legal and regulatory aspects”.

Kailash Upadhya, vice president of finance at Tarento Technologies, explained that Agama helped “create Tarento’s Contracting framework” and “with [their] engagement, we feel more confident about covering its legal risks”, likening the firm to “an in-house legal team”. Kaushik Sen, CEO of Wellspring Healthcare, highlighted their “judgement, responsiveness and professionalism” and Ramesh Sawant, head of legal at Blue Star, praised their “exceptional expertise”, “track record” and “innovative approach”.

Samarth Mehta, general manager at ThoughtSpark, described Agama as a “trusted legal adviser”, valuing their “structure oriented” approach and ability to “help us win arguments in our favour”. Sheetal Talwar, general counsel (India) at Tata Chemicals, commended their “dedicated teams working with a lot of meticulousness”, and Sudhir Sarnobat, founder of Mittelstand Business Solutions, praised their “thorough preparations”, “incisive questions”, “apt and practical solutions” and “impeccable timelines”.

IBLJ analysis:

Over the past year, Ahlawat & Associates has made notable progress in expanding its legal practice, particularly in technology, media and telecommunications. The firm has implemented AI-powered tools to improve compliance tracking and legal research, resulting in a 40% reduction in processing times for regulatory due diligence. It has provided legal support for clients in fintech, gaming and e-commerce, and played a key role in foreign direct investment (FDI) advisory, assisting multinational corporations with regulatory approvals and cross-border transactions.

Ahlawat & Associates’ exceptional work has been recognised with dual honours in the IBLJ Law Firm Awards, winning in both the Data Privacy and FDI categories. This double recognition underscores the firm’s expertise in handling complex cross-border investments and navigating India’s evolving data protection landscape.

The firm structured foreign investment deals for clients such as software developers in the sports sector and advised on complex acquisitions by Denmark-based entities. With new mentorship and upskilling programmes, Ahlawat & Associates has fostered expertise in emerging areas, while client compliance dashboards and workforce incentives have strengthened its operations.

Shipra Nangia, HR business partner at Rooter Sports Technologies, described Ahlawat & Associates as “instrumental in providing comprehensive legal support across all our matters”, mentioning their expertise in “drafting and reviewing agreements, managing stock options, ensuring compliance with employment laws and developing internal policies”. Nangia shared that the firm “helped us close five to six rounds of funding and also guided Rooter with best-in-class legal policies for Rooter platform”, and recounted how they “stepped up with remarkable agility and expertise” when Rooter launched a new e-commerce vertical, enabling “several critical partnerships in record time”.

IBLJ analysis:

AK & Partners, established in 2016 with its principal office in New Delhi, has built a strong reputation as a full-service corporate law firm offering comprehensive dispute resolution services.

The firm possesses expertise in financial transactions and has extensive experience and knowledge of regulatory compliances within India’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

IBLJ analysis:

AKS Partners has demonstrated commitment to client-focused legal services, with notable work in managing large, complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes and transactions. The firm has handled significant cases for clients such as the Airports Authority of India, HCL Infosystems, Vedanta, Reebok India Company, the Gas Authority of India, the National Textile Corporation and a public sector railway construction company. These matters have included high-value arbitrations, commercial suits and disputes involving government contracts, infrastructure projects and insurance claims.

In terms of development, AKS Partners promoted Ratik Sharma to associate partner for his work in dispute resolution, welcomed Faizur Rehman as a partner in the energy and infrastructure sector and established an overseas office in Dubai.

IBLJ analysis:

ALMT Legal, a full-service firm with offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru, has handled prominent transactions for clients across the pharmaceutical, healthcare, technology and beauty sectors. The firm’s shipping practice represented Seaspray Shipping in a major arbitration dispute with the Steel Authority of India, resulting in an award of more than USD14 million.

The legal team also advises on a broad range of shipping and maritime matters, including the sale and purchase of ships, shipbuilding and pollution liability. ALMT Legal has promoted Subham Chatterjee and Ahetesham Thaver to asociate partner, and Nikit Bala to partner, reflecting its focus on nurturing talent.

IBLJ analysis:

Alpha Corporate Legal is a boutique firm based in Noida and New Delhi, with a focus on corporate laws, M&A, restructuring and regulatory matters for both domestic and international clients.

The firm has been involved in several significant deals, including advising Dhanuka Agritech on a strategic INR1.65 billion acquisition from Bayer AG, and assisting Easy Trip Planners in investments in Planet Education Australia and Pflege Home Health Care Centre. Alpha Corporate Legal’s founder, Sumit Garg draws on his experience in high-profile mergers, cross-border acquisitions and regulatory matters, and regularly represents clients before courts and tribunals across India. The firm’s client base includes multinational companies, private equity players, start-ups and high net-worth individuals.

IBLJ analysis:

AM Sports Law & Management has grown its team and secured major mandates in sports, media and entertainment law. The firm advised Galaxy Racer Holdings on acquiring exclusive media rights for European football leagues and played a pivotal role in the development of the GXR Super App. It also supported the Global Super League in Guyana and Quidich Innovation Labs in developing the ICC Immersive App for the World Cup.

AM Sports Law has represented CricViz in deals with Dream11 and Star Sports, Chennaiyin FC in its transaction with Norwich City FC, and several football players before the AIFF Disciplinary Panel, obtaining favourable outcomes in salary disputes. The firm has also advised government bodies on the National Sports Governance Bill and policy reforms in Indian sports.

Ekansh Gupta, vice president at 11Sports, praised AM Sports Law for their “strong expertise in sports law, providing practical and well-informed legal solutions”, and recommended Aahna Mehrotra for her “professionalism, attention to detail and ability to navigate complex legal landscapes”. Gupta highlighted the firm’s role in “finalising an international consultancy deal and… establishing our own league, including formulating key regulatory guidelines”.

Gufran Merchant, director at TRP Sports, described them as “one of the best firms in the sports law category”. Subhayu Roy, director of CricViz India, noted that AM Sports Law have “operated like an in-house legal team”, singling out Aahna Mehrotra and Riya Rajkumar Sharma for their expertise, especially in negotiating complicated rights and commercial arrangements.

Vaidehi Vaidya, founder of Women in Sport India, said the firm “is doing incredible work in the sector of sports law in India”, and “created a pioneering path”.

Vishal Dixit, head of corporate finance at Sports For All, added that the team “brings in practicality into the legal aspect that gels extremely well with business operations”.

IBLJ analysis:

Anagram Partners, headquartered in Mumbai, is known for carrying out complex corporate transactions while adeptly navigating regulatory challenges across India’s evolving antitrust landscape. The firm notably provided counsel on the Vedanta demerger in a restructuring initiative, indicating its exceptional proficiency in corporate restructuring and strategic transactions.

IBLJ analysis:

Anand and Anand continues to dominate the intellectual property categories in the IBLJ Law Firm Awards, but also shines brightly in several other awards categories, including litigation, in which it excels, and several categories relating to emerging technologies. The awards in these areas reflect well on the firm’s digital group that it launched in 2023 to focus on AI, data protection, gaming, drones, blockchain and other issues related to technological changes across industries. The group is led by Ajai Garg, a former director at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Tarun Mutreja, director for software licence compliance, anti–piracy programme, South Asia, at Bentley Systems India, described Anand and Anand as “a premier law firm for all IPR matters”, with “expertise… par excellence, and the associates and partners have substantial success rate”. Mutreja recommended Shantanu Sahay, saying, “I have been engaged with Shantanu for more than 10 years and have each time received tremendous value”. He shared that Anand and Anand “have been successfully leading the copyright actions on behalf of Bentley Systems in India”, and is “the only law firm who has held the Award for the Millionaire Club (Licence Compliance Team: India)” for two consecutive years.

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IBLJ analysis:

AnantLaw has had an impactful year, especially in competition and antitrust law. The firm represented the government of India in significant international trade disputes, such as investigations by the US Department of Commerce and the European Commission, as well as in negotiations with the European Union. AnantLaw’s competition team argued and won major cartel and abuse of dominance cases, including high-profile matters involving Realme, OnePlus, Zydus Healthcare and Forech. The firm also challenged key provisions of the Competition Act and represented Zydus Healthcare in constitutional litigation.

Notably, AnantLaw’s pro bono efforts included environmental protection matters for Dr Sanjeev Bagai, a well-known paediatrician, resulting in the setting aside of unconstitutional guidelines on tree pruning in Delhi. The firm has pledged 10% of its time to pro bono work and continues to expand its nationwide litigation presence, arguing directly before high courts across several states.

Bryan Tan, partner at Reed Smith, noted that AnantLaw is “never shy to address difficult points for the specialist areas we have (data protection, technology regulation)”, recommended Anu Monga, and added that their “advice came in under budget”. Sharan Monga, director at Dobtho, remarked that AnantLaw is “the only firm who avoids legal jargon but explains the risks of a commercial transaction… in verbiage that is comprehensible to business minds”, and that after working with many top-tier firms globally, “I now engage AnantLaw for all my legal requirements across the globe”. Monga praised their “competence in the competition law space”, and recommended Rahul Goel and Anu Monga for being “fully updated on the competition law developments in the UK and EU”.

IBLJ analysis:

Anhad Law has firm handled complex mandates for leading multinational corporations, including advising on business closures and restructuring in Bangalore, as well as workforce reorganisations for technology companies, managing compliance across multiple states and negotiating with major trade unions.

The firm provided bespoke employment law advisory, conducted cross-border secondments and advised on sensitive workplace investigations involving senior management.

Pradnya Joshi, human resources manager at Masco Home Products India, praised Anhad Law for “excellent and prompt services and guidance related to Indian employment laws”, adding that the team has “strong legal knowledge”. Joshi recommended them “for the exemplary services rendered and trust we have in them”, and recounted how Anhad “exhibited great support, advice and quick turnaround in a termination case in one month ensuring all compliances adhered to and organisation’s safety”. Tara Mahoney, corporate employment counsel at Masco, shared that “Anhad Law has been a great partner for us… They go above and beyond to be responsive and provide practical, usable advice”, and highlighted Manishi for his commitment, including leading “a very important investigation for one of our businesses”.

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IBLJ analysis:

ANM Global experienced a strong year marked by growth, strategic hires and expansion of expertise, especially in intellectual property through the acquisition of Gautam & Co and the addition of partners including Khushboo Butail Karol, Sneha Nanandkar, Gautam Panchal, Nittin Bhatia, Shikha Goenka Ginodia and Krunal Mehta.

The firm has represented leading clients like Hindustan Unilever in trademark and copyright litigation, Ultra Media in content protection disputes, Applause Entertainment in anti-piracy actions, Tiger Aspect Productions for trademark enforcement of the Mr Bean brand and Eicher Motors for industrial design protection. The firm has also assisted asset reconstruction companies in distressed asset transactions. ANM Global expanded its Mumbai and Bengaluru offices, integrated AI-powered research tools, launched the ANM ThinkPod podcast for legal thought leadership and enhanced cybersecurity measures.

IBLJ analysis:

AP & Partners has expanded by hiring 21 new lawyers, including two equity partners, and opening a new office in Gurugram to serve its growing client base. The firm achieved ISO certification, ensuring high standards of data protection.

Notable mandates include advising a global satellite communications company on compliance with India’s new telecom framework, representing a global law firm on TMT matters and helping an Australian remote sensing company establish operations in India. AP & Partners has also acted for Porter, India’s largest intra-city logistics marketplace, on employment law compliance, and defended AgustaWestland’s senior management in anti-corruption proceedings.

Namit Oberoi, chief legal manager at Times Internet, described AP & Partners as “generally excellent”, particularly recommending Moksha Bhat for being “great at breaking up complex issues” and “fantastic” in meeting tight timelines, especially during “multiple funding rounds for Cars24”.

IBLJ analysis:

Aquilaw has grown by 22% in personnel over the last year, opened a new office in Bhubaneswar and expanded its Mumbai office under new leadership. The firm played a key role in drafting the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill, a major criminal law amendment in West Bengal, and represented the West Bengal excise directorate in a Supreme Court case defining the states’ rights to regulate industrial alcohol.

Aquilaw has also provided legal training for law enforcement on new criminal laws and secured high-impact results in litigation, such as obtaining an injunction for Electrosteel Castings against Pan Macmillan for defamatory content. The firm’s strategic collaborations with law schools and policy engagement at state and national levels have enhanced its industry presence.

Ambika Prasad Mishra, senior legal manager at Indian Oil, gave “outstanding service” as feedback for Aquilaw and recommended Amit Kumar Nag for “remaining updated on every case handed over to him”, being “available round the clock” and “delivering within timeline even by working up to late night”. Mishra recounted that in a matter of urgency, the draft petition was received at 2 a.m. and filed the next day, and that the firm filed 18 section 34 petitions in six days.

IBLJ analysis:

Areete Law Offices provides services across a myriad of accounting and transaction-focused areas such as regulatory, tax, labour, secretarial and more. The firm has been recognised for its emergence as a formidable legal presence in India’s competitive market and the quality of its services, positioning it as one to watch.

IBLJ analysis:

Argus Partners has expanded across Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata, opening larger office spaces and welcoming seven new partners to strengthen its leadership.

The firm has handled complex distressed asset and restructuring matters, such as representing the interim resolution professional of Supertech in project-wise insolvency, advising the Board of Control for Cricket in India in proceedings against Think & Learn (BYJU’s) and representing asset reconstruction companies in large insolvency matters. Argus Partners also advised Conscient Sports on a collaboration with the Real Madrid Foundation for youth football programmes and provided day-to-day legal support for several schools and edtech entities, including HDFC Schools, Vedanya International School and major investors in education start-ups. The firm has invested in legal tech with tools such as Jurisphere, the AWE performance monitoring tool and the Pioneer CRM system. Its private equity work includes advising Infra.Market, Infinx Services, Zeno Health and Whiteboard Capital on significant funding rounds and investments.

IBLJ analysis:

Athena Legal is a New Delhi-based full-service law firm that has earned recognition for its specialised focus on providing legal guidance to emerging businesses and its ability to provide tailored solutions for entrepreneurial ventures at various stages of growth.

IBLJ analysis:

Once again, AZB & Partners has achieved the distinction of being recognised as one of India’s Best Overall Law Firms. It also wins awards in no fewer than 15 practice area categories, reflecting its status as one of the country’s preeminent law firms.

Notable deals include representing WestBridge in the International Chamber of Commerce arbitration against Anupam Mittal, advising Tata Sons on the merger of Vistara and Air India, and representing Barclays Bank in high-value financing transactions for the Strides Pharma and GMR groups. The firm has also defended Google in a series of competition law investigations, secured regulatory approvals for landmark mergers and handled insurance sector deals for Zurich Insurance, Bharti Life Ventures and others.

AZB & Partners received glowing feedback from a wide variety of clients. Amit Aggarwal, senior vice president at Hero Enterprise, stated that AZB “has some of the finest lawyers in the country, and the teams are very knowledgeable, practical and solution-oriented”, especially highlighting their work in “multiple investments in the country across equity and structured debt”. Amit Pandey, EVP legal & general counsel at GSK, described their “services to be very effective and well researched”. I Bobby Majumder, a partner and co-leader of energy industry team at Frost Brown Todd, noted AZB’s “long transaction lists” and “super-efficient execution”. Dhruv Chhatralia, a partner and head of India group and venture capital at DWF, described AZB as having “outstanding expertise across multiple practice areas, strong commercial expertise and some of the nicest people you can possibly work with”.

Mentioning founding partners Zia Mody and Bahram Vakil, Eric Deltour, senior counsel at Dechert, said that “Zia’s and Bahram’s firm has consistently over the past 20 years been one of the top leading firms in India doing high-end work for the largest investors and companies in the world”. Laurence Lieberman, a partner at Pillsbury, praised them as “strong in corporate, but also in contentious work”. Samaksh Khandelwal, senior manager for legal at Vivo Mobile India, highlighted the “out of box thinking” and praised disputes partner Priyank Ladoia, while Smita Thakur, head of legal at ANZ Banking Group, called AZB “indepth” and “pragmatic”.

The firm has grown with the addition of nine new partners and the opening of a new office in Chennai, expanding its presence to five Indian cities. The firm has invested in automation and IT innovation, including the appointment of a chief technology officer and the use of contract management platforms.

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IBLJ analysis:

Bharucha & Partners has continued to expand its capabilities, particularly in dispute resolution and governance, ethics and anti-corruption.

The addition of Hiroo Advani as a senior partner has bolstered the firm’s arbitration practice, while Ambar Bhushan’s appointment has strengthened white-collar crime and regulatory compliance work. The firm has represented Adani Enterprises, Adani Global, Catasynth Speciality Chemicals, Culver Max Entertainment, ITC, Vedanta, United Spirits, AES Corporation and a leading digital debt marketplace in various arbitration and litigation matters, including high-value commercial disputes, enforcement of arbitral awards, and insurance and employment claims. Bharucha & Partners has adopted technologies such as iManage for document management and Luminance for AI-powered due diligence and contract review. The firm has contributed to policy development, including the Broadcasting Services Bill and collaboration with the SatCom Industry Association.

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IBLJ analysis:

BMR Legal has distinguished itself as a boutique law firm in corporate international tax, transfer pricing, goods and services tax, and customs. The firm provided lead transaction tax advice for the Holcim-Adani deal, the largest M&A in the infrastructure sector, and played a pivotal role in the Supreme Court’s landmark software royalty judgment.

BMR Legal’s expertise includes alternate dispute resolution, advance pricing agreements and policy consultation for government committees, supporting clients in sectors such as energy, technology and private equity.

Ankur Kaushik, head of taxation at Shapoorji Pallonji Energy, described BMR Legal as “well-regarded for its expertise in tax litigation, advisory and regulatory matters”. Kaushik highlighted their “strategic, well-researched and practical solutions” and praised founder Mukesh Butani and the team, especially Seema Kejriwal, Shruti Lohia and Shruti Agarwal. Kaushik shared that BMR Legal had provided “well-structured defence strategies in tax disputes”, “designed tax-efficient structures for inbound and outbound investments” and proactively addressed “evolving tax regulations”, calling them “a trusted partner in navigating complex tax and regulatory landscapes”.

IBLJ analysis:

As a new entrant founded in March 2024, Boolean Legal has quickly made an impact in the venture capital and private equity sector, closing deals worth more than INR7 billion. The firm has developed a technology-driven service model with dynamic checklists and automated reminders, as well as a self-hosted GenAI infrastructure for automated contract review and knowledge management.

The firm has advised Peak XV Partners and InfoEdge Ventures on investment in Attentive Inc, Scrut Automation on a USD10 million funding round, and multiple AI investment transactions. Boolean Legal’s legal tech innovations include a free valuation metrics calculator for startup founders.

Aayush Ghosh Choudhury, co-founder and CEO at Scrut.io, described Boolean Legal as “the most professional firm I have worked with”, praising their “attention to detail, breadth of understanding on variety of topics (IP, commercial contracts and capital raises)”, and especially Lalu John Philip for “breadth of understanding across a wide range of topics”. Choudhury shared how Lalu John’s “depth and insights far outweighed the Big 4 team” during company externalisation, and how he “standardised our contracts across all these geographies”, boosting deal velocities by 80%.

Shreyans Sancheti, CEO at Linkrunner, described the “high quality and fast turnaround time” of their services, and called Philip “someone I can trust with any type of business and startup-related legal advice”, especially for helping first-time founders understand legal aspects of fundraising.

Sidharth Mehndroo, AVP for legal at InfoEdge, praised their “in-depth and sector-specific knowledge”, especially Philip’s “deep commercial insights”.

Vinayak Mishra, general counsel at Lightspeed Venture Partners, described Boolean Legal as “exceptional”, highlighting how Philip “went out of the way to help one of our portfolio company founders close a time-critical financing”.

IBLJ analysis:

Bose & Mitra & Co is India’s largest boutique shipping law firm, with a team of 16 lawyers handling complex, multi-jurisdictional shipping and trade claims. The firm has been honoured with the prestigious Shipping & Maritime award, confirming their position as a leading specialist in this highly technical area of law.

The firm has represented the world’s largest shipping company in a dispute involving MSC Rosa M and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority’s terminal Nhava Sheva India Gateway Terminal (NSIGT), following operational delays caused by Cyclone Nisarga. In another major matter, Bose & Mitra & Co secured an arbitration award of about USD68 million against BIL, and has been involved in extensive enforcement actions across various courts and tribunals in India. The firm invests in new technology, including AI software, to enhance its service delivery, and conducts rigorous training for new team members, emphasising client service, integrity and efficiency.

IBLJ analysis:

Brus Chambers is a specialised law firm boasting a strong practice in shipping and maritime law, while also building its presence across energy, corporate and commercial, aviation, banking and finance, and other sectors.

IBLJ analysis:

BTG Advaya, with Prashant Mara at the helm, is distinguished for its robust expertise in ESG, intellectual property, white-collar crime, regulatory matters and effective contributions to high-stakes financial advisory work.

IBLJ analysis:

Burgeon Law, headquartered in New Delhi, has grown from a boutique focused on startups to a full-service firm with expertise in M&A, joint ventures, fund formation and complex domestic and cross-border transactions.

The firm has advised Hocco Foods on its USD12 million fundraise, InfraCo Asia Investments on a joint venture with Radiance Renewables, and TWO Family Office in its stake acquisition in SoftTech Engineers. Other significant deals include Swach Environment’s exit from Nangloi Water Services, multiple funding rounds for Wiom and The Sleep Company, and legal advisory for Biryani By Kilo and Kindlife. Burgeon Law has welcomed Ketan Mukhija as a senior partner and Abhinav Agnihotri as a partner, and promoted Ankit Bhasin to partner.

IBLJ analysis:

Established in October 2023, C&S Partners has quickly grown its team and practice areas, particularly in insolvency, arbitration and employment law. The firm with more than three decades of experience, has handled high-stakes mandates such as representing JSW Hydro Energy in challenging water cess charges in Himachal Pradesh and A2Z Group in excise duty disputes.

The firm has also developed a niche in workplace harassment investigations and represents clients before the Supreme Court, High Courts and the NCLT.

Shivli Katyayan, head legal affairs at Razorpay, praised C&S Partners for their “guidance and expertise in navigating complex matters”, saying their “strategic foresight, coupled with an honest assessment of the pros and cons of key decisions, demonstrates a strong commitment to prioritising the client’s best interests”.

IBLJ analysis:

Calibre Legal’s work has focused on supporting clients in setting up operations abroad, managing compliance and addressing operational challenges in the education sector.

The firm has advised educational institutions such as BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology and Al-Hira Model School on regulatory compliance, the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) regulations and education policy.

Calibre Legal has expanded its litigation practice with the addition of non-equity partner Najeeb Usman Khan.

Sadhak Thaika, managing director at Hands Agro, described Calibre Legal as “very professional and well organised”, and noted that “they seem to have a solution to all problems”. Thaika added, “Calibre Legal represented us in a case that two other law firms had denied. The said case was also won without any further input from us, besides what was already provided to the other two law firms”.

IBLJ analysis:

Chandhiok & Mahajan has expanded its team from fewer than 30 attorneys in 2020 to more than 85 by the end of 2024, growing its service portfolio to include capital markets and data privacy, and adding senior attorneys with specialised skills.

The firm has launched a capital markets practice led by Niruphama Ramakrishnan, with notable work as adviser to Nuvama Wealth Management, Pondy Oxides and Chemical, Equirus Capital and IIFL Capital Services in recent IPOs and qualified institutional placements. Chandhiok & Mahajan has also strengthened its competition law capabilities by hiring Modhulika Bose as a partner. The firm conducts regular training, knowledge management sessions and in-house workshops, while investments have been made in upgraded case management and cybersecurity systems.

IBLJ analysis:

Crawford Bayley & Co, established in 1830, has a robust team based out of Mumbai. It also has additional offices in New Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru and provides comprehensive legal services across a range of practice areas, reaffirming its enduring legacy and commitment to client success.

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IBLJ analysis:

CSL Chambers, associated with Clyde & Co London, has become a go-to firm for insurance and reinsurance mandates, advising major Indian and international insurers such as Lloyd’s India and Indian trade credit insurance companies. The firm has handled high-profile mandates, including advising on Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority’s Master Circular for reinsurance and providing product review for Indian reinsurers at GIFT City.

CSL Chambers has also represented clients in subrogation actions, policy wording disputes and claims under directors and officers policies. The firm is planning a move to a larger office and continues to invest in technology for client service.

Akshara Sharma, vice president of claims advocacy for FINPRO at Marsh India, described CSL Chambers as “consistently demonstrating a high level of professionalism and expertise in advising Marsh’s clients on their liability insurance claims”. Sharma highly recommended Sumeet Lall and Siddharth Mishra for their “exceptional” advisory skills, especially in insurance coverage. Sharma cited a case where “CSL Chambers handled employment practices claim for Marsh’s client”, providing “effective advice to the client” and making themselves available at short notice, “exceeding expectations in terms of the level of support and communication provided”. Bipul Chandra, managing director at Ducati, described CSL Chambers as a “professionally run organisation” and praised Sumeet Lall for his “understanding of the law, its interpretations and possible outcomes” and noted that “their approach is not to litigate just for the sake of doing that; they believe in finding the solution which is in the best interest of the client”.

IBLJ analysis:

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has achieved the highest distinction in this year's IBLJ Law Firm Awards, being crowned Law Firm of the Year, while also receiving recognition in an extraordinary 16 practice area categories, and being named one of the Best Overall Law Firms.

Major deals include advising the Adani Group on green debt financing for renewable energy projects, acting as legal counsel to lenders in the Cube Highways Trust refinancing, and supporting Power Finance Corporation in the refinancing of Hinduja National Power Corporation. The firm has also advised Niva Bupa Health Insurance on its IPO and represented Axis Bank in litigation related to the Max Life transaction.

I Bobby Majumder, a partner and co-leader of energy industry team at Frost Brown Todd, described Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas as “smart lawyers, practical and possessing deep domain knowledge”, specifically highlighting Manan Lahoty, Anu Tiwari and his team for “bespoke solutions and being well informed on bleeding-edge issues in India”. Harjeet Lall, a partner at Pinsent Masons, called them “leaders of the pack, thinking ahead and staying on top of trends”, and praised their “humble, hardworking management”. Varun Rajesh Israni, in-house counsel at Adani Ports and SEZ, appreciated their “great sector expertise” and thorough preparation.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has expanded its team with numerous lateral hires and opened a new office in Abu Dhabi. The firm has implemented AI technologies such as Harvey and Lucio to enhance legal operations.

IBLJ analysis:

Dentons Link Legal marked a milestone by opening an office in GIFT City and relocating its Mumbai office to a prestigious new address. The firm integrated Aumirah’s IP practice and made several strategic partner hires.

Dentons Link Legal advised GMR Hyderabad International Airport on a major expansion, represented Delhi International Airport in a property tax dispute and managed IT infrastructure development for GMR Goa International Airport. The firm’s aviation team represented SpiceJet in high-profile disputes and advised Akasa Air on aircraft leasing, while its projects team supported large-scale financing for ports, highways and renewable energy.

Chandan Sand, SVP legal at SpiceJet, described Dentons Link Legal as “one of the leading law firms”, noting their “commitment to providing personalised, practical and client-centric legal solutions”. Sand especially recommended Anand Srivastava, “managing partner”, for his “exceptional legal and commercial acumen”, and shared that during SpiceJet’s “largest-ever fund raise exercise of INR3 billion through QIP (qualified institutional placement)”, the team “not only met but exceeded all expectations”. Sand praised their “proactive approach”, “agility and flexibility” and “responsive communication”, for ensuring the deal closed successfully within three weeks. Drashti Dugar, deputy manager at IDBI Capital Markets & Securities, said, “Good team”. Jayanto Mukherjee, senior associate general counsel at Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, noted “excellence in legal practice, commitment to client service and innovative approaches to complex legal challenges”.

IBLJ analysis:

Founded in 1930, Desai & Diwanji is a full-service law firm with many government, multilateral, multinational and corporate organisations as part of their clientele. Desai & Diwanji’s boasts a longstanding reputation for its ability to provide sophisticated solutions for clients’ business challenges, building on nearly a century of legal practice.

The firm has been recognised its consistent delivery of corporate advisory services and its ability to navigate complex business landscapes.

IBLJ analysis:

Dhaval Vussonji & Associates has expanded nationwide with new offices in Bengaluru, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad and GIFT City. The firm advised RBL Bank on a USD9.35 million loan to Ripley Prosperity for vessel purchase, represented JC Flower Asset Reconstruction in the INR3.7 billion resolution of Omkar Realtors, and assisted Pernod Ricard on the acquisition of 88.5 acres in Nagpur for a new distillery.

Dhaval Vussonji’s strengths in title due diligence and real estate structuring has been critical in high-value land acquisitions and debenture funding transactions.

IBLJ analysis:

Dhir & Dhir has moved to a larger office, launched a new AI & Tech Governance practice and introduced ESGFIT, a business intelligence tool for ESG compliance. Co-founder Maneesha Dhir and partner Sonal Verma co-authored the book AI for Good: India and Beyond, offering a comprehensive study of the evolving AI regulatory landscape in India and its alignment with global standards.

The firm advised Power Finance Corporation on financing a solar project in Rajasthan and India Infrastructure Finance Company on a major refinance scheme. The firm’s insolvency practice resolved Jaypee Healthcare’s financial distress by facilitating its acquisition by Max Healthcare, and the firm represented clients in high-stakes restructuring and insolvency cases, including for Alchemist Infra Realty and Bilt Graphic Paper Products.

Shambhu K Thakur, ex-management of Amtek Group, advocate and chief legal consultant at Amtek, described Dhir & Dhir as “exceptionally outstanding in almost all the assignments given by us”, praising the team and leader on insolvency law, mentioning Sachin Gupta, Karan Batura and Varsha Banerjee, and said, “I have experienced many instances where they have gone beyond our expectations”.

IBLJ analysis:

DMD Advocates has grown with new partners and associates, especially in the tax and corporate practices, and implemented advanced AI tools for research and client service. The firm has handled high-profile investment treaty disputes under multiple bilateral investment treaties, representing clients such as a leading Dutch telecom company and a London-based mining corporation.

The firm has also secured pivotal outcomes in indirect tax litigation for multinational clients, such as Mitsui Group, BDO Rise and Tata Play, particularly in matters concerning secondment arrangements and GST compliance.

IBLJ analysis:

DSK Legal has bolstered its Bengaluru office with the addition of a new associate partner and launched a revamped website for improved client engagement. The firm represented a non-resident high net worth Indian in a multi-jurisdictional embezzlement dispute and advised Larsen & Toubro on a hydropower project arbitration against the National Thermal Power Corporation.

DSK also acted for Hitachi India in a contract dispute with Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and represented Welspun India in a defamation suit, among other mandates in real estate and media.

Madan Mohan KR, director of legal and compliance at Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions India, called DSK Legal a “good law firm to deal with”, praising their “practical, knowledge-based and deep-rooted conviction to get you the best result” and their understanding of “corporate thinking”.

IBLJ analysis:

Dua Associates has focused on strategic partner hires, particularly in the corporate and commercial practice, and invested in new IT systems for the General Data Protection Regulation and data protection compliance. The firm has represented Fortune 500 companies before the Directorate General of Trade Remedies in anti-dumping investigations, such as Asawa Insulation’s defence in aluminium foil cases, and secured favourable outcomes for Wanhua Group and Kempar Energy in anti-dumping reviews.

The firm has also represented the government of India in countervailing duty and trade defence matters, as well as Kodak Group and Zhejiang Xintongda in critical sectoral investigations.

Samarjeet Das Ray, chief of staff at Hinduja Bank, described Dua Associates as demonstrating “exceptional legal expertise and professionalism” and highlighted Rajdeep Panda for “legal acumen, dedication and strategic insights”. Das Ray noted that Dua Associates “exceeded expectations by delivering timely, well-structured legal solutions, particularly in high-stakes transactions”, and their “ability to balance legal risk with commercial pragmatism sets them apart”.

IBLJ analysis:

Economic Laws Practice has grown its team, opened a new office in Noida and partnered with Harvey AI for legal research. The firm advised JCB India in anti-dumping investigations, secured the lowest duty rates for clients in saturated fatty alcohol cases, and assisted Indian ports and terminals in navigating SEIS benefits.

ELP created a standard operating procedure for the gold jewellery industry for GJEPC and advised Adani Enterprises and Gateway Terminals on large-scale infrastructure and power purchase agreements. The firm’s direct and indirect tax team has achieved landmark outcomes for clients such as Flipkart, Johnson & Johnson and Tata Consultancy Services.

Aditi Gopalakrishnan, senior competition counsel at Google, said, “They have an excellent competition team that advises us on several aspects of our cases and strategy”, especially praising Ravi Nair and Parth Jha for “sound counsel”, especially in “Android mobiles competition litigation in India”.

IBLJ analysis:

Emerald Law Offices has experienced substantial growth, expanding both its client base and practice areas while moving to a spacious new office in the National Capital Region and establishing a new office in Bengaluru. The firm has advised clients such as Sobha Developers and Experion Developers on major real estate acquisitions in Gurugram and acted for SLMG Beverages in acquiring Coca-Cola’s Bihar operations.

The firm played a key legal role in Birla Estates’ INR50,000 million project, providing end-to-end support from due diligence through transaction closure. The firm has also advised DLF Home Developers on a significant acquisition of 28 acres of land under the SARFAESI Act and has handled complex restructuring for Sobha’s collaborations with Ireo Group and GLS Group. The firm’s team has grown with the addition of recognised senior practitioners, and its achievements have been acknowledged with several industry awards.

IBLJ analysis:

Federal & Co has been recognised for its expertise in real estate law, property transactions and development projects.

Azim Tapia, director at Clover Realty, described Federal & Co as providing “services and expertise… of the highest order”. Tapia recommended MS Federal and Murtuza Federal for their “expertise in corporate law, conveyancing and litigation”, and cited a case involving “resolution of litigation, title clearance and sale”, which the firm “concluded smoothly and to the satisfaction of all parties”. Kishor Nasit, finance account specialist at Neelkanth Group, praised Federal’s “deep understanding of the matter and problem, and very normal way to resolve the same by his instinct”, and Murtuza Federal’s “hard work and management skill”.

IBLJ analysis:

Fox & Mandal has continued its nationwide expansion, opening new offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru and promoting internal talent to partner level. The firm has advised clients such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, CREDAI, Titagarh Rail Systems and Birla Corporation on regulatory disputes, writ appeals and government contract matters.

The firm’s government and regulatory disputes team has represented key clients in matters involving infrastructure, electricity, industrial policy and environmental compliance.

Santanu Basu, chairman at West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company, praised Fox & Mandal for “top-notch; professional, timely and worthy [services]”, and highlighted lawyers Sandip Dasgupta, Abhirup Mitra, Mahima Cholera and Saurav Bhagat for being “prompt, sharp and explain[ing] the pros and cons to us as clients”. Basu cited two major matters: “the invocation of bank guarantees for the West Bengal coal mines… contested and relief provided – worth hundreds of crores”; and a “Dearness Allowance of Power Utilities” case at the Supreme Court.

IBLJ analysis:

Fox Mandal & Associates has further grown by appointing new partners in the corporate and dispute resolution practices.

The firm has represented Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam in high-value construction arbitrations and advised ReNew Vikram Shakti and Arvind SmartSpaces on major land acquisitions for renewable energy and real estate projects.

Fox Mandal & Associates has implemented modern legal tech, including a new HR management system and practice management platform, and continues to be a leader in large-scale public-private partnership projects across sectors from logistics to IT.

Dipendra Nath Mullik, AGM legal at Shriram Ozone, praised the team as “very professional and sound knowledge on legal issues”, naming Sumit Dhar, Arindam Guha, Orijit Chatterjee, Swati Dalmia and Jayeeta Sinha Ray as key contributors, and noting their “proper professional advice and guidance” in a recent acquisition.

IBLJ analysis:

Gaggar & Partners operates in a wide variety of corporate, entertainment, telecommunication, real estate, environment and gaming fields. The firm has been noted for its ability to navigate the complex regulatory and commercial challenges in the sports and gaming industries, areas that are experiencing significant growth and regulatory evolution in India.

IBLJ analysis:

Gravitas Legal has focused on strategic talent acquisition, adding new partners to lead its energy, infrastructure, dispute resolution and corporate practices in Delhi and Mumbai. The firm has implemented new case management and IT systems and digitised its legal library.

The firm has advised ALT Mobility on a series of non-convertible debenture issuances to secure funding from Trifecta Venture Debt, Alteria Capital and others, and has supported Juniper Hotels in securing INR4.9 billion in loans from ICICI Bank. The firm also acted for India Infrastructure Finance Company in a major refinancing deal for Lalitpur Power Generation Company and has handled significant debt recovery and structured transactions for banks and infrastructure groups.

Biju Bruno, director at Greenvision Technologies, described Gravitas Legal as providing “very high-quality services and advice for our legal requirements over the past two years”. Bruno praised Tanuj and Ajay, noting that “all these were confidential legal matters, but we are very happy with the services we received from Gravitas Legal”.

IBLJ analysis:

Hammurabi & Solomon Partners has broadened its expertise with the addition of five new partners and opened new offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ranchi. The firm has secured empanelments with government agencies such as Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited.

The team has represented the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) in appeals before the Supreme Court concerning tariff determinations for major airports. The firm has also acted on high-profile energy, infrastructure and policy mandates and has continued to produce thought leadership articles and legal reports.

IBLJ analysis:

HSA Advocates has seen a year of expansion, inducting new partners and associate partners in dispute resolution, banking and infrastructure. The firm has advised Goldair Handling on participating in ground handling tenders at Nagpur Airport and represented Mumbai International Airport in appeals regarding tariff regulation by the AERA.

The firm has also advised National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation and the government of Bihar on the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor and represented Vizhinjam International Seaport in a major concession agreement amendment. The firm’s infrastructure and projects team has provided legal support for large-scale energy and township projects.

Eleni Spanou, finance director at Goldair Handling, said HSA Advocates has supported the company “in our Indian endeavours for the last five years”, and recommended Monali Dutta for being “practical and commercially driven”. Spanou highlighted HSA’s ability to “come up with a full analytical list of alternatives to achieve our goal” when the client was “completely unaware of the available means for achieving that goal”.

IBLJ analysis:

IC Universal Legal offers services across sectors of technology, real estate, corporate, entertainment, intellectual property and more. The firm possesses strong capabilities in providing sophisticated business advisory services across multiple industry sectors and addressing clients’ complex business challenges.

IBLJ analysis:

Ikigai Law is distinguished for its unique blend of innovation, technology and entrepreneurship within its legal practice, providing cutting-edge advice across emerging technological sectors. The firm has a strong expertise in new-age fields positioning it at the forefront of legal practice in some of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced sectors.

IBLJ analysis:

India Juris is present in multiple cities across India with more than 25 years of operations across corporate, commercial and dispute resolution matters. The firm is highly recommended for its expertise in venture capital, startup transactions and fund formation. Anand Reddy, senior executive (operations and legal) at BizzHub Ventures, described the team as having “the best subject matter experts with dedicated legal acumen”, and praised their “strategy to recover the outstanding payments”. Babu R, director at ReUpyog Solutions and COO at SoooryaEV India, noted their “proactive and supportive” approach and “proactive and positive action”, praising their “good accuracy and speedy responsiveness”. Bela Shah, executive at DGP Intelsius Cold Chain, called India Juris “very much supportive overall and available as and when required, very respectful and too much helpful”. Divij Bajaj, CEO at Aesthetic Nutrition, praised them as “great with startup transactions, superb with private investment guidance”.

Neeraj Tyagi, co-founder and CEO at We Founder Circle, nominated India Juris for “unparalleled expertise, innovative approach and consistent excellence in advising on private equity, venture capital and investment funds”. Prashant Narang, founder at Agility Ventures, said, “Since we started working with India Juris, we have never needed any other firm”. Sachin Gupta, founder and CIO at HGG Capital, described their services as “excellent”. “Good turnaround time and very collaborative team. They are ranked No.1 in India in PE and VC transactions,” he added. Saurabh R, executive director at REC, praised India Juris for “professional work, timely delivery, solutions approach to issues, deep insights into practise areas”. S Mustafa, program head at PW School of Startups, highlighted their “honesty, integration, knowledge and ethical practices”.

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IBLJ analysis:

India Law Offices has continued its pan-India expansion, opening new offices in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. The firm has advised numerous clients on cross-border estate administration, citizenship and property matters, including assisting US and Malaysian nationals in obtaining overseas citizenship of India, securing birth certificates and managing ancillary probate for estates with assets in India.

The firm has also assisted clients with registration and mutation of immovable properties, managed inheritance disputes and handled NRI account access for beneficiaries. Its expertise in private client mandates has been recognised by clients seeking support in both domestic and international estate and succession matters.

Kamal Patawari, director at Eyamauto Mobility, said, “We’ve been working with India Law Offices for about five years, and they’ve been reliable advisors throughout”, noting that Gautam Khurana and Abhishek Hans “have always been available”. Ranjit Singh Sethi, founder at Indian Heritage Services, described the firm as providing “exceptional legal services over the past 12 years”, highlighting their ability to “manage intricate legal disputes while maintaining a client-focused approach”.

Sethi especially praised Gautam Khurana, Chandra Shekhar and Anupam Srivastava for their “deep knowledge”, “meticulous approach” and “strong advocacy skills”. Sethi recounted three specific cases: (1) a “will dispute with my brother and step-family”; (2) a case “against the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi”; and (3) “assistance in three separate legal cases”, all handled with “transparency, dedication and a client-centric approach”.

IBLJ analysis:

IndusLaw has promoted several partners to equity partnership and made a series of strategic lateral hires across its dispute resolution, capital markets, real estate and transactions teams. The firm has developed proprietary AI platforms such as INBOT and Mike DocReview to streamline internal research and document review, and it uses Power BI for real-time reporting.

Notable mandates include representing JC Flowers Asset Reconstruction in high-value recovery cases, advising Citigroup on a major NCD issuance for Eris Lifesciences, and acting for HDFC Bank in the Karvy Stock Broking matter. IndusLaw’s employment practice, as well as its technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) practice, has advised Uber, Infosys and Bharti Airtel on regulatory compliance, labour disputes and technology transactions.

I Bobby Majumder, a partner and co-leader of the energy industry team at Frost Brown Todd, described IndusLaw as “great lawyers with the ability to handle companies at all stages in their lifecycle.”

Dipen Shah, head of corporate development at Quanthiphi, praised their “impeccable quality of service” and recommended Aakash Dasgupta for his “approachability, availability as well as understanding of the subject matter”. Shah cited a recent investment in Transcell Biologics as a “prime example of service level displayed by IndusLaw”. Narayan Kedia, head of legal and corporate affairs at Sammaan Capital, noted their “sectoral knowledge and robust legal advisory capabilities” and praised their “proactive approach, strong client servicing and turnaround timelines”.

IBLJ analysis:

Inttl Advocare is a boutique intellectual property law firm that has an established practice in the allied fields of information technology, telecommunications and media. The firm has been recognised for its expertise in safeguarding clients’ intellectual assets and navigating the intricacies of IP law.

IBLJ analysis:

InventIP has established itself as a leader in patent and technology law, advising clients such as Skylark Labs, Merlin, Cloudphysician, IIT Mandi and Log9 on patent protection for AI-driven solutions, smart devices and healthcare innovations. The firm has secured patents for advanced battery technology, magnet-less motors and blockchain authentication systems, and has helped Cropin and Iwaycode develop AI-powered agricultural and fleet management platforms.

InventIP’s expertise in technology law and protection of blockchain, semiconductor and automation technologies has enabled clients to secure their IP and commercialise new products internationally.

IBLJ analysis:

Janssen-Sanghavi & Associates, established in 2024, has quickly built a strong practice in tax and international tax litigation, with a team operating in both Mumbai and Bengaluru. The firm has represented clients before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Central Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal and the High Courts of Karnataka and Bombay, and briefed counsel in a major international tax case before the Supreme Court.

The team has advised on tax treaty benefits, the interpretation of the Principal Purposes Test and the application of anti-avoidance rules in tax treaties, as well as handling complex advance pricing agreement negotiations and IPO-related tax structuring.

Rathan Kumar, founder and CEO at MobiCom, described Janssen-Sanghavi & Associates as “fabulous with the quality of work, representations and handling court matters with finesse.”

Gautam Ghai, CEO and co-founder at SourceFuse, praised Dhruv Janssen-Sanghavi as “a genuine international tax expert”, highlighting his “mastery over the subject matter” and the ability to “put your mind at ease”. Ghai recounted how “each of his solutions has my best interest in mind and is practical”, especially during discussions about a potential exit. Rajiv Mehrotra, owner at Tulsiyat Tek, described them the “most professional in their approach and get into deep details of all the possible points of discussion expected in the case” and “highly recommend[ed] Dhruv Janssen for his commitment to work”, noting that “he is a perfectionist who does not take no for an answer”.

IBLJ analysis:

Once again, JSA has performed strongly in the IBLJ Law Firm Awards, winning in an impressive 14 categories and earning the prestigious designation as one of the Best Overall Law Firms.

The firm has implemented a comprehensive talent development framework, integrating data-driven recruitment, personalised career pathways and continuous upskilling across its large team. The firm has used Litera’s AI drafting tools and bespoke knowledge management systems to enhance legal research and productivity.

JSA has acted for Goldman Sachs on securitisation with Aye Finance. The firm’s equity capital markets team advised on India’s largest renewable energy IPO for NTPC Green Energy and led pioneering InvIT transactions.

The firm’s competition law practice has represented major players including the Aditya Birla Group, Ola, Veolia and Apple in significant enforcement and merger cases.

Arun Advani, director at Vaswani Group, described JSA as offering “efficient and prompt services, especially in the area of real estate” and praised Brijita Prakash for being “hands-on with what is being delivered to the clients”. Basant Kumar Pasari, head of treasury at ONGC Videsh, called them “professional and timely”, especially for “providing legal opinion on compliance under ECB and ODI guidelines for raising funds by Indian entities on guarantee support”. Drashti Dugar, deputy manager at IDBI Capital Markets & Securities, said, “Associates are well trained with good technical knowledge”.

Eric Deltour, senior counsel at Dechert, described Jyoti Sagar as “a visionary and pioneer in the Indian legal industry” and praised the firm’s “top of the market skill-set in a variety of legal fields”. Kenneth Chuah, principal at Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, recommended Anish Mashruwala for being “technically very sound, has deep insight and also understands the commercial needs of the clients”. Narayan Kedia, head legal corporate affairs at Sammaan Capital, recommended JSA for “deep expertise and proven track record in handling sophisticated capital markets mandates”. Rohan Sahu, founder and CEO at ContentLens, said, “They are very good in their work”.

IBLJ analysis:

Juris Corp has been recognised for its expertise in the banking and finance and capital markets practice areas. Kumar Medhavi, legal counsel at Reliance Industries, called Juris Corp “a top-notch firm in the banking, finance, derivative and insolvency area”, and recommended Saurabh Sharma and Jayesh H for “timely and commercially apt advice”. Medhavi recounted that their advice “helped us in closing the deals within stringent timelines”. Pankaj Agnihotri, senior vice president at IDRCL, said, “They know the subject very well and tremendous knowledge and experience in the banking sector” and praised the “outstanding” performance of the team before the NCLT. Umesh Udeshi, business head at Madelin, described Juris Corp as the “market leader in insolvency and restructuring practices” and recommended Saurabh Sharma “for his approach toward closure of transaction and eye for details”, citing a “cross-border insolvency issue” being handled effectively.

IBLJ analysis:

K Singhania & Co has expanded its nationwide network, collaborating with Capstone Legal and developing a team of shipping lawyers in key port cities. The firm has represented Aer Lingus in a landmark lease enforcement at the Bombay High Court, securing the right to repossess and export aircraft, and advised Airbus Industries in cross-border product liability litigation.

K Singhania & Co has been recognised with dual honours at the IBLJ Law Firm Awards 2025, winning in both the Aviation, and Shipping & Maritime categories. This impressive achievement deepens the firm’s expertise in transportation and logistics sectors.

The firm has also acted for the Shipping Corporation of India on privatisation and company law compliance, provided the FEMA compliance advice to shipping businesses, and represented Kawasaki Motors and Jindal Stainless in sector-specific disputes.

IBLJ analysis:

K&S Partners was established in 1994 and specialises in intellectual property. The firm’s recognition in this area reflects its ability to protect its clients’ valuable intangible assets and longstanding expertise in IP matters.

IBLJ analysis:

Kanga & Co’s capital markets team has advised on IPOs and QIPs across industries including pharmaceuticals, engineering and IT, as well as non-banking financial companies, assisting companies such as Mukka Proteins, Vraj Iron and Steel, Akme Fintrade and Indo Farm Equipment. The firm has worked with Aryaman Financial Services, Pantomath Capital Advisors and SMC Capitals as bookrunners, managing due diligence and compliance for public issues.

The firm’s expertise covers structuring, regulatory advice and corporate actions for companies preparing to go public.

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IBLJ analysis:

Karanjawala & Co has handled high-profile arbitration and litigation mandates for clients such as DLF, Adani Agri Logistics, Bhayana Builders and Brindco Sales. The firm secured a USD1.9 million arbitral award for DLF and successfully challenged excise regulations for Brindco Sales before the Delhi High Court.

In corporate disputes, Karanjawala & Co represented the Gupta family in a shareholder battle for Jagran Media Network and Mumbai International Airport in eviction proceedings related to Air India employees. The firm has also expanded its team and expertise across government, regulatory and white-collar crime matters.

Kaiwan Kalyaniwalla, a partner at Maneksha & Sethna, described Karanjawala & Co as exhibiting “a very high degree of efficiency”, being “quick, extremely responsive and totally organised when it comes to filing and briefing procedures”. Kalyaniwalla praised Raian Karanjawala, Nandini Gore, Ruby Ahuja and Debmalya Banerjee, and said, “I have never found their services lacking. In fact, they have set the bar rather high and continue to maintain these standards”.

IBLJ analysis:

Once again, Khaitan & Co has achieved strong recognition in the IBLJ Law Firm Awards, winning in an impressive 15 categories and earning the prestigious designation as one of the Best Overall Law Firms.

Khaitan & Co has opened new offices in Pune and Ahmedabad, appointed new partners in energy, infrastructure, tax and corporate law, and developed its own AI solutions for legal research and document review. The firm acted for JBIC in a USD100 million loan to IndusInd Bank, and structured a USD2 billion MTN programme for Tata Capital. Khaitan & Co advised Wilmar Group on a USD2 billion share acquisition from Adani Group and represented Oberoi Realty, Sumitomo Realty and Mahindra Lifespaces in major real estate transactions.

Bharat Vansh Bahadur, general counsel at Akasa Air, praised Khaitan & Co for their “relevant and solution-oriented labour and employment advice and their ability to grasp complex issues”. I Bobby Majumder, a partner and co-leader of energy industry team at Frost Brown Todd, described them as “top-tier, commercially-savvy, results-oriented lawyers” and highlighted Sudhir Bassi, Haigreve Khaitan and Rabindra Jhunjhunwala for “delivering on time and with great cost/benefit calculus”. Eric Deltour, senior counsel at Dechert, said, “KCO provides superior legal advice across the board; they are highly responsive; they work on cutting-edge matters and have developed a wealth of experience”. Prateek Shroff, senior vice president of legal at Brookfield Asset Management, praised their “great, succinct work in the sector”. Varun Rajesh Israni, in-house counsel at Adani Ports and SEZ, appreciated their “domain expertise”. Vinayak Mishra, general counsel at Lightspeed Venture Partners, described the firm as “exceptional” and specifically praised Nidhi Killawala and Bharat Anand for their “hands on approach, availability, ability to zoom in and zoom out and talk on commercial matters in a deal with the same comfort as legal matters”.

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IBLJ analysis:

King Stubb & Kasiva (KSK) has demonstrated significant growth and expansion over the past year through several strategic initiatives. It introduced specialised tax services to address increasing client demand for dedicated taxation advisory and litigation support, while also expanding its physical presence with a second office in Mumbai and relocating to a larger office in Delhi. KSK has been recognised for excellence in the Foreign Direct Investment category, highlighting its expertise in this important area of practice.

IBLJ analysis:

KNM & Partners has focused on cross-border transactions, particularly through its Japan Desk, supporting businesses in India-Japan deals. The firm has integrated AI-powered research tools and automated case management and promoted a culture of mentorship and continuous professional growth.

KNM & Partners’ team has advised clients in emerging legal areas, delivered business-focused legal solutions and contributed to pro bono work and ethical governance initiatives.

Sanjiv Jain, director of finance at Uppal Group, said, “We have been in continuous interaction with KNM since 2008 for various corporate and litigation matters, and the level of expertise and services rendered by them has always been above par”. Jain mentioned Mukesh Kumar and Vijay Nair as their main contacts, and said, “Our continued relationship of more than 15 years in itself speaks volumes about the level of services they render”.

IBLJ analysis:

Kochhar & Co has expanded its operations with a new office in Toronto, as well as larger offices in Gurugram, Mumbai and Hyderabad. The firm’s Dubai office has recorded significant revenue growth, and its employment law team has doubled in revenue, led by global co-chair Rohit Kochhar.

Kochhar & Co advised Adani Defence on the acquisition of Air Works India, managed INR11.7 billion refinancing for Kannur International Airport, and represented Vistara in consumer and regulatory disputes. The firm’s aviation, international trade and employment practices have handled mandates for Emirates, British Airways and Microsoft, and the firm’s media law team secured a Supreme Court victory for Bloomberg.

Adithya VS, CEO at Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, said, “I’d like to nominate Kochhar & Co as one of the best global law firms because they’ve proven themselves time and again to be exceptional partners”, and especially praised Savitha Jagadeesan for “offering invaluable guidance on everything from patent protection and intellectual property strategy to shareholding agreements and valuation discussions”. Adithya noted the firm’s “extensive global presence” and their “consistent dedication to startups”.

Madan Mohan KR, director of legal and compliance at Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions India, described Kochhar & Co as “a diversified law firm, both national and a bit international”, adding that “they understand the full business and commercial needs including time constraints of a corporate”.

Maxime Hoes, lawyer at Donahue & Partners, recommended Anirudh Mukherjee and his team for their “great knowledge of the corporate law landscape in India” and shared that despite “long and complex” procedures, “due to Anirudh’s guidance, clarity and patience, we were able to complete the tasks at hand for client in a diligent manner”.

IBLJ analysis:

Krida Legal operates in the niche field of sports, gaming and entertainment, along with intellectual property, working with both individual entities and corporate organisations in India and abroad. The firm has been recognised for its exceptional focus and expertise in this area of law.

IBLJ analysis:

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys has hired more than 150 professionals, expanded to a new Delhi office and achieved near-equal gender representation. The firm advised Honda Siel Cars in a Supreme Court challenge on abuse of dominance allegations and represented Medley Pharmaceuticals and Aristo Pharmaceuticals in significant income tax and transfer pricing disputes.

Notably, the firm defended Indus Towers in a Supreme Court appeal on telecom tower classification, securing input duty credit for telecom companies, and represented Sony India in a landmark IGST case. The firm’s technology upgrades include a legal case management system and Microsoft Business Central.

IBLJ analysis:

Lall & Sethi has enhanced its position as a leading IP law firm, now representing 16 of Interbrand’s 100 Best Global Brands. To support this growth, Lall & Sethi has implemented advanced technology solutions, including data loss prevention systems and custom-built HR and operations software to enhance workflow efficiency and compliance. The firm has also demonstrated commitment to sustainability through paperless operations, solar energy utilization, and rainwater harvesting. Particularly noteworthy is Lall & Sethi’s excellence in Intellectual Property enforcement, for which it received an award, reflecting its successful enforcement actions for global brands against counterfeiting, domain name disputes, and unauthorized trademark usage.

IBLJ analysis:

Legacy Law Offices has expanded its partner and associate ranks, acted for Vibhor Steel Tubes and PS Raj Steels in successful IPOs, and advised Accent Microcell on a rights issue for new manufacturing facilities. The firm has been engaged by the World Bank for capacity development projects in Himachal Pradesh and asset monetisation projects in Odisha, and has supported the development of eco-tourism and luxury residential projects.

Angad Singh, executive director of transactions at Narnolia Group, said, “Legacy has been assisting us a great deal in handling services relating to the capital markets” and recommended Amarendra Gogoi and Pradyun Chakravarty for “handling the legal work on multiple transactions”. Singh recounted that when “issues arose with respect to the cases pending against the different promoters of the company”, the team “handled these issues with utmost care and caution”, maintaining “constant communication”.

Amit Bhardwaj, assistant general manager at Nippon Koei India, praised Gagan Anand and Shalini Munjal for their “commendable” work and “rounded assistance”. Anil Kapil, chief adviser at Government of Himachal Pradesh, described the team as “adept in their work and highly appreciated for their work ethics and practices”.

Manoj Pawar, president at Usha Breco, said the lawyers are “very experienced and have expertise of representing and safeguarding your interests before different courts and tribunals”. Om Rattan Goel, vice president at ANS Constructions, praised their “capable team handling litigation matters to reach timely resolution”.

Satish Chopra, general manager at Rohan Rajdeep Tollways, described them as “well-positioned as legal experts in a variety of practice areas” and credited Anand for “rendering legal services across every other industry and sector”.

IBLJ analysis:

LexCounsel has advised leading educational institutions such as Medhavi Skill Development, Dibber India, Ryan International Schools and Woxsen University on restructuring, acquisitions, regulatory compliance and operational audits. The firm has assisted in cross-border teacher training ventures, collaborations for pre-primary education and management arrangements for K12 schools.

Sharad Agarwal, founder at ISDM, said, “LexCounsel provides reliable legal services, offering expert advice and practical solutions for business and legal challenges”. Agarwal especially recommended Seema Jhingan for her “incisive insights, prompt response and help finding a solution to the problem”. Agarwal highlighted the firm’s “systematic approach”, leading to “well-structured and satisfactory outcomes”.

IBLJ analysis:

Lexicon Law Partners has been recognised for excellence in real estate and litigation, with managing partner Ajay Vazirani acknowledged as an A-list legal professional. The firm has handled numerous mandates in real estate acquisition, development and redevelopment, advising clients on title due diligence, negotiations and structuring of residential and commercial projects.

Lexicon has also supported clients in society redevelopment and slum development transactions, providing comprehensive legal support from documentation to execution.

IBLJ analysis:

LexOrbis has expanded its patent department, recruited specialists in AI, blockchain and biotechnology, and opened new offices in Chennai and Ahmedabad. The firm has managed large-scale patent and trademark portfolios for clients in technology, electronics and pharmaceuticals, and has secured IP protection for innovations in digital privacy and sustainability.

LexOrbis has also implemented flexible work policies, advanced document management and progressive leave benefits, supporting its commitment to diversity and sector-specific IP services.

IBLJ analysis:

Luthra and Luthra Law Offices has opened offices in Chennai and Hyderabad and made partner hires in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.

Madan Mohan KR, director of legal and compliance at Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions India, described Luthra and Luthra as a “firm which has diversified activities and known for its professionalism” and said, “Knowledge of the partners is commendable, and results are best received depending upon the legal cases”.

The firm has established the Rajiv K Luthra Foundation for scholarships and moots, and remains a keen supporter of IDIA (Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access), a charity that helps people from underprivileged backgrounds enter the legal profession.

IBLJ analysis:

MT Miskita & Co has built a reputation for handling large-scale real estate matters, such as advising on the Dharavi redevelopment project and acquisitions in Mumbai’s Carmichael Road and Kandivali areas. The firm has provided end-to-end legal support for land due diligence, structuring and negotiating complex development agreements, including for a major housing society in Bandra.

The firm’s expertise in resolving title disputes and balancing stakeholder interests has underpinned its success in high-value transactions.

Sandeep Raheja, chairman at K Raheja Realty Group, described MT Miskita & Co as “highly satisfied by MT Miskita’s proficiency in real estate, corporate and commercial laws, M&A and dispute resolution”, and recommended Viren Miskita for his “skill for the dispute resolution strategies for succession and testamentary matters”. Raheja praised the firm’s “service level and responsiveness” and recounted “satisfactory dealings for several properties’ revenue and litigation searches, hotel management agreement interpretations and overseas arbitration for hospitality division”.

IBLJ analysis:

Maheshwari & Co has grown its associate ranks, invested in compliance and case management technologies and developed a strong training programme for junior lawyers. The firm has advised a telecom service provider on Indian market entry, an automotive cable manufacturer on regulatory approvals, and MSME-based startups on non-disclosure agreements and payment gateway contracts.

The firm’s gaming and sports practice has supported clients on licensing, regulatory compliance and digital payments, while its litigation team has represented clients in commercial, IP and consumer disputes.

Alejandro Palma Allepuz, administrator at Instituto Cervantes New Delhi, described Maheshwari & Co as a “client-focused company,” and praised Vipul Maheshwari, Jyotsna Chaturvedi and Ketan Joshi for being “accessible and adaptable to customers”. Allepuz recounted how in a legal report for Spanish-speaking recipients, “they revised the document several times under our guidance, and they never showed any kind of annoyance or complaint about our several requests”. Novella Calanca, legal department manager at Termomeccanica, described Maheshwari as a “well-established law firm known for its strong legal expertise, efficient management and professional work culture”.

IBLJ analysis:

Mansukhlal Hiralal & Co has been empanelled by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), providing legal counsel in nearly 90 matters in the past year. The firm has handled complex real estate transactions, such as the acquisition of a luxury villa in Alibaug and office space in Mumbai, advised Prashanti Co-operative Housing Society on deemed conveyance, and represented clients in property acquisitions in Prabhadevi.

Mansukhlal Hiralal’s commitment to diversity is reflected in its workforce, with 65% women lawyers, and its recognition in the private client and regulatory sectors.

IBLJ analysis:

Mason & Associates has expanded its TMT practice, representing clients such as Airtel, Netflix, Meta and Phonographic Digital in licensing, content regulation and copyright disputes. The firm has acted for Super Cassettes Industries and Bhansali Productions in major intellectual property litigation and advised Rakuten Symphony on a global trademark settlement. Mason has also contributed to pro bono initiatives and notable among these is the firm’s representation of Padma Shri winner and classical singer Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar.

IBLJ analysis:

Established in 1896, Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe is celebrated for its longstanding expertise and commitment to providing robust legal representation across diverse practice areas throughout its storied history. The firm has been recognised for its work in the shipping and maritime domain, acknowledging its historical strength and continued excellence in maritime law and related disciplines.

IBLJ analysis:

MZM Legal has opened a new office in Defence Colony, New Delhi, and expanded to Hyderabad while integrating legal tech platforms including Jurisphere.

The firm has represented BYJU’S Investments in a SIAC arbitration against Qatar Holding, represented Azeem Kanjiani (Denion Insurance Brokers Dubai) in KM Dastur Reinsurance Brokers Pvt Ltd v Denion Insurance Brokers Dubai LLC and Others, and defended Shiv Texchem before the China International Economic Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and Bombay High Court against Junan Resources (Hong Kong) in a dispute related to the sale of industrial chemicals.

MZM Legal has been recognised with dual honours at the IBLJ Law Firm Awards 2025, winning in both the Arbitration & ADR and White-Collar Crime categories. This impressive achievement reflects the firm’s expertise in complex disputes and criminal defence.

It has also counselled WazirX on regulatory investigations, following a major cryptocurrency hack, and represented Ford Smart Mobility in a fraud complaint before the Economic Offences Wing.

Anubhav Kapoor, former director of legal affairs at Ford India, said, “Their team was exceptionally good, and we got the results we were anticipating”. Alex Swan, shareholder and partner at Greenberg Traurig, called MZM Legal “one of the go-to white collar crime firms in India” and especially recommended Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik for their “stellar reputation” and “phenomenal knowledge of the law”. Swan recounted how MZM “responded to sudden and fast-paced developments” in the Airbus investigation, formulating “a strategy to deal with the investigative agencies”.

Gaurav Mohatta, director at Benzo Pharma, praised Waseem Pangarkar at MZM for being “calm and made sure I remained calm and positive” and credited the team for “not ask[ing] the court for dates or extensions but were always ready and prepared whenever the matter comes up for hearings”. Nitin Bhuwania, general counsel at Bizongo, described MZM as “swiftly driv[ing] our matters and cases, which were stuck in the never-ending legal process” and recommended Pangarkar and Abhishek Gupta for their “expert legal advice and business acumen”. Sumeet Singh, general counsel and head at BharatPe, said, “MZM Legal team is exceptional in handling any high stake contentious criminal matters and white-collar matters” and recommended Zulfiquar Memon, Mrinal Bharti and Chirag Naik for their “clear legal strategy” and round-the-clock availability.

IBLJ analysis:

Naik Naik & Co has advised Runaya on its joint venture with Eckart GmbH for an eco-conscious manufacturing facility in Odisha and represented Super Cassettes Industries in production agreements for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video. The firm supported Ajay Devgn’s acquisition in World Championship of Legends and handled due diligence for his investments.

The firm has represented Darwin Platform Infrastructure in the Lavasa Corporation insolvency and CCVF in the SEBI proceedings, and acted for Eros International in appeals against the SEBI’s orders.

IBLJ analysis:

Nishith Desai Associates has launched NaiDA, India’s first in-house legal AI bot, and developed the “Sprinting to the Future of Law” series via a partnership with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology. The firm has advised global technology companies on data protection, cybersecurity and geospatial laws, represented Max Healthcare in a major acquisition, and supported PE funds in cross-border exits.

NDA’s tax practice has handled high-value GST litigation for online gaming companies and transfer pricing disputes for multinationals, while its gaming and sports team has advised leading operators on structuring and regulatory compliance.

I Bobby Majumder, a partner and co-leader of energy industry team at Frost Brown Todd, described Nishith Desai Associates as “our go-to tax partners” and said, “He’s been doing it for a long time, and his firm works very well with international clients”.

IBLJ analysis:

Nora Chambers has expanded to a new office in south Delhi and grown its team through recruitment from top law schools and leading firms. The firm serves as external counsel to Akasa Air, advises on contracts, regulatory compliance and represents them in policy-oriented litigation before the Supreme Court and high courts.

Matt Adler, a partner at Troutman Sanders Locke, described Nora Chambers as having “outstanding and timely consultative skills on sensitive and sophisticated issues of international arbitration law”. Jaijit Bhattacharya, president at CDEP Research, praised their “extremely detailed analysis of the case, extremely flexible in approach and absolute dedication to the requirement of the client”. Sachin Vasudeva, a senior partner at SCV & Co, remarked on their “work ethics, depth of knowledge and delivery” and called them “an ideal candidate for this position”.

Samyak Chakrabarty, founder at X Billion Skills Lab, highlighted Shouryendu Ray’s “pragmatic empathy enabling a smooth process of complex decision making”. Tushar Sharma, general manager and principal counsel at Akasa Air, stated, “Nora Chambers has consistently provided us with exceptional advice on aviation-related litigation”. Meanwhile, Bharat Vansh Bahadur, general counsel at Akasa Air, praised the firm for its “strategic, contextual and tailored advice on litigation, aviation and tax matters and their ability to understand our business”, especially Ray for “clear, practical advice, and his in-depth understanding of our business and our legal requirements”.

IBLJ analysis:

NovoJuris Legal has expanded internationally with new offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and played an active role at the TiE Global Summit, mentoring entrepreneurs and hosting legal clinics. The firm has advised Ignosi Systems on a cross-border downstream investment, supported ANQ in a CCD funding round, and represented Neofinverv Technologies and Quicklend in investment transactions.

The firm’s private equity and venture capital team has guided clients through complex funding rounds, cap table optimisation and regulatory compliance.

Nitin Patel, COO at Synergy Global, described NovoJuris Legal as providing “swift response with clear and comprehensive resolution of all queries”. Naveen Prabhu, co-founder and CEO at LIFEX, said, “NovoJuris Legal handle all our contracts by default… lead all transaction efforts for us”, and recommended Ashwin Bhat and Sharda Balaji for being “always available for us when we need them”.

IBLJ analysis:

Numen Law Offices has grown its team, received new industry awards and implemented structured training and technology upgrades. The firm has represented Technip Energies in the INR9.7 billion Numaligarh Refinery bid dispute, the Amaltash Residents Welfare Association in environmental litigation before the NGT, and TGI Fridays in civil liability defence.

The firm has also represented Swarna Motors and Hiranandani Properties in high-value disputes, and played a key role in resolving real estate, financial and regulatory litigation for clients such as Purshotam Raheja and Zenal Construction.

Rashmi Kathpalia, chief legal adviser at Magnets India, praised Numen Law for “availability, timeliness, and clear and prompt communication”. Kathpalia especially recommended Arush Khanna for “top-notch legal acumen”, “exceptional court craft” and being a “skilled negotiator”, sharing that in a “highly contested writ petition in Guwahati High Court”, Khanna “did not miss a single hearing”. Kathpalia also said that Khanna developed the case “single handedly”.

IBLJ analysis:

P&A Law Offices has promoted longstanding lawyers to the partnership, expanded its mid-level team and adapted to multi-jurisdictional mandates with robust internal processes. The firm has represented IL&FS in resolution frameworks and Amazon in a SIAC arbitration against the Future Group.

The firm has acted for the Republic of India in investment disputes, secured a USD110 million award for UpHealth Holdings and advised Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson and MakeMyTrip in competition and regulatory litigation.

IBLJ analysis:

Phoenix Legal has promoted new partners, hired senior practitioners laterally and advised Matrix Partners on the GreyLabs AI fundraising. The firm acted for Bank im Bistum Essen on a major ECB transaction and represented IIFL Samasta Finance and Ummeed Housing Finance in securitisation deals.

The firm has also represented the resolution professional of IVRCL Chengapalli Tollways in insolvency proceedings, advised Covestro on captive power procurement and due diligence, and acted for Sehgal Path Lab and Oricon Enterprises in business acquisitions.

I Bobby Majumder, a partner and co-leader of energy industry team at Frost Brown Todd, praised Phoenix Legal for being “great teams run by Abhishek Saxena… they deliver on time, and they do it with a great cost/benefit calculus”. Nitin Sharma, head of strategy and planning at Nippon Audiotronix, described them as “highly professional work and wide domain knowledge” and recommended Pallavi Bedi and Ashita Bali for their “quick grasp and round-the-clock prompt response” and “exemplary support and critical guidance”.

IBLJ analysis:

Pier Counsel has provided strategic legal services to a range of national and international clients, advising ZFunds in a USD3 million fundraising, GobuyEazzy in raising more than USD4 million, and Able Credit in a USD1 million funding round. The firm advises a US-based gaming sector investment fund and serves as legal adviser to a leading Indian bank’s venture capital division.

The firm has supported more than 10 investment funds and numerous startups in structuring and executing investments across multiple geographies.

IBLJ analysis:

Pioneer Legal has enhanced operational efficiency through secure, cloud-based systems and the introduction of Chronos, a bespoke time and billing solution. The firm advised Altum Credo Home Finance on a Series C capital raise, supported Gaja Capital in a partial exit from Educational Initiatives, and acted for OmniActive Health Technologies in the acquisition of Enovate Biolife.

The firm’s investment in knowledge management, flexible work policies and team well-being initiatives has fostered a supportive, people-centric culture.

Karan Gupta, director at Vijay Sales, described his experience with Pioneer Legal as “very smooth” and recommended Anupam Shukla for his domain expertise and client management. Kaushik Sen, CEO at Wellspring Healthcare, praised their “depth of experience in transaction matters”. Satyen Vohra, promoter and managing director at Satyen Chemicals, recounted how “the partner I worked with, Narendra [Dingankar], along with his team, demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise”, especially in a tense negotiation where “Narendra’s approach in handling the discussions was exceptional”. Shailendra Nigam, managing director at SINCLUS, highlighted Rushad Irani for his “ability to understand a sensitive incident and identify inconsistencies”. Nigam described Pioneer Legal’s “attention to detail, careful evaluation of situations and legal precision” as reflecting “their professionalism and expertise”.

IBLJ analysis:

PLR Chambers combines experience from public, private, non-profit and global organisations to provide strategic dispute resolution and comprehensive legal advisory services across sectors. The firm has been recognised for its policy and regulation work, its influence in regulatory matters and its ability to shape policy discourse in key industries.

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IBLJ analysis:

Prosoll Law has been recognised for its achievements in dispute resolution and white-collar crime, with founder Harsh K Sharma leading the team in high-profile cases. The firm has defended Rajesh Agarwal of Micromax Informatics in white-collar crime proceedings, represented former Justice Shamit Mukherjee in a bribery case, and handled major cases for Nav Rattan Munjal, the Delhi Dental Council, and the Delhi Secretariat.

Prosoll Law’s expertise in complex criminal matters has secured favourable outcomes for clients in complex litigation. Rajesh Agarwal, co-founder and managing director at Micromax Informatics, said, “I am highly satisfied for two reasons: their commitment to the client in terms of accessibility and hand-holding, and their command on understanding, interpretation and representation of law”.

IBLJ analysis:

PSA has modernised its Delhi office, expanded its associate and business development teams, and been active in data protection advisory. The firm has advised fintech clients such as InstantPay and VivaMoney on the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, supported clients in post-breach forensic analysis and compliance, and conducted DPDPA training for healthcare and SaaS companies.

Sudhanshu Aggarwal, director at Amritanshu Infrastructure & Management, described PSA as offering “well-informed, practical and tailored” advice and recommended Dhruv Suri for his “exceptional legal acumen and remarkable ability to explain intricate legal concepts”. Aggarwal highlighted how Suri and his team “provided proactive and innovative solutions that enabled us to successfully complete the deal within a tight timeframe”.

Rajiv Gulati, founder and director at Eliph Nutrition, praised both Priti Suri “for legal interpretation and high-level strategic advice” and Dhruv Suri “for all operational matters”, especially for structuring the company and advice on contentious issues. Bernd Dreier, partner and co-head of private equity for Europe, Middle East and Asia at Norton Rose Fulbright, called PSA his “go-to firm for any matters relating to Indian law” and praised Dhruv Suri for being “very commercially minded, driven and hard working”.

Jas Kalra, president at The Earth Saviours Foundation, called PSA “distinguished… known for its outstanding legal services and client-centred approach” and praised Dhruv Suri for “keen legal acumen and friendly demeanour”. Other clients, including Nandni G of RDI Homes, Neeraj Sehgal of Fan2Play Games, Rohan Sahu of ContentLens, Rohan Verma of MapmyIndia, Rohini Joyappa of Logically Technology, Shivang Desai of Bigthinx and Sudhanshu Aggarwal of Shree Bala Ji Pigments, each described PSA as “very professional”, “thorough and prompt”, “exceptional” and “dedicated”.

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IBLJ analysis:

Quillon Partners has demonstrated its expertise in orchestrating complex corporate transactions, advising on multiple strategic business combinations including Motilal Oswal Alternates' acquisition of a majority stake in Mumbai-based Megafine Pharma, Lesjöfors Group's majority investment in International Industrial Springs, and InvAscent's primary investment in Gericare Health Services through India Life Sciences Fund IV.

IBLJ analysis:

Rahul Chaudhry & Partners  has handled a large number of high-profile IP enforcement cases, including successfully securing ex-parte injunctions for clients like Novartis AG, Baxter International, Hero MotoCorp, and FRHI Hotels & Resorts against trademark infringements. The firm has also expanded its practice to include media and entertainment law, strengthened its team with several lateral hires and enhanced its operations through the adoption of new case management systems to improve client service and response times.

IBLJ analysis:

Regstreet Law Advisors has secured major outcomes in the SEBI proceedings, representing Piramal Pharma in exoneration from disclosure allegations and achieving a record insider trading settlement for Piramal Capital Housing. The firm has defended Pantomath Capital Advisors and two major registrar and transfer agents (RTAs) in cyber security compliance matters and expanded its client base to include Ebix Group and Renaissance Group.

Chanda Makhija Thadani of The Times of India described Regstreet Law Advisors as having “outstanding knowledge and proficiency in securities and corporate law”, and praised Sumit Agrawal for “client-focused approach, offering personalised attention and customised solutions”. Thadani highlighted the firm’s “integrity and ethics, collaboration and teamwork, client-centric approach, staying ahead, academic contributions, approachability and results-driven” approach, and cited Agrawal’s “ability to think outside the box in complex situations”.

Hemant Majethia, founder and managing director at Ventura Group, praised the team for “reliable, strategic and thorough legal guidance”, especially Agrawal for his “strong background as a former SEBI officer”. Majethia recounted successful defence against regulatory allegations and meticulous representation during regulatory inspection.

Pankaj Murarka, CEO and CIO at Renaissance Investment, described Regstreet as “professional in their approach”, especially praising Agrawal’s “understanding of the legal nuances and ability to understand complex issues”.

IBLJ analysis:

Prominent intellectual property firm Remfry & Sagar continues to shine. The firm recently promoted partners Pankaj Soni and Samta Mehra to chair the patent and trademark practices, respectively.

Earlier this year, Remfry & Sagar successfully overturned the rejection of Audi AG’s trademark application for the Q6 in India. Initially refused by the senior examiner citing non-distinctiveness and potential public confusion, the firm appealed to the Bombay High Court, arguing that the rejection lacked a factual basis and failed to consider extensive evidence supporting the mark's registration. They highlighted Audi's proprietary rights over several ‘Q’ formative marks in India and the Q6's registration in multiple jurisdictions worldwide. On January 2, 2025, the court set aside the rejection and directed a re-evaluation of the application.

IBLJ analysis:

Rishabh Gandhi and Advocates, based in Pune, has advised Dasscon Realty on title due diligence for a INR3 billion land development, represented Sapna Shetty in a refund dispute against Marvel Dwellings and assisted clients in succession, inheritance and partnership dissolution matters.

The firm has handled litigation for Demech Chemical Products and AArete Technosoft and supported personal guarantors in insolvency proceedings. RGAA’s founder, a former trial court judge, has driven the firm’s expansion and thought leadership in arbitration and mediation.

IBLJ analysis:

SS Rana & Co is a specialist IP and corporate law firm providing a comprehensive range of trademark, patent, design and copyright services for multinational and Indian clients. The firm operates a proprietary legal workflow management system called IMS, which automates non-legal tasks, employs AI and machine learning for trademark searches and offers real-time reporting and analytics for clients. SS Rana has assisted more than 250 startups in IP protection and enforcement, supporting technology innovators and entrepreneurs across various sectors. The firm’s processes emphasise security, efficiency and proactive client service and are certified under ISO standards.

IBLJ analysis:

S&A Law Offices has grown to more than 300 professionals, expanded its client base to include GMR Group and Cube Highways and adopted new IT systems for efficiency. The firm has represented JITF Urban Waste Management in arbitrations resulting in awards of more than INR3 billion, advised Bailadila Iron Ore Mining in a INR21.79 billion contract dispute and represented Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation in power sector appeals. Separately, the firm’s tax team has closed investigations for Kalpataru Group and advised Adani Vizhinjam Port on GST reimbursement claims.

IBLJ analysis:

S&R Associates has adopted Lucio, an AI-powered legal assistant for document analysis and workflow, and relocating its New Delhi office to Max House, a green-certified building.

The firm has made several hires, including new partners in its Mumbai and New Delhi offices with expertise in litigation, arbitration, real estate, projects, infrastructure, energy, hospitality and regulatory matters. S&R Associates has represented major clients such as Viterra, Capricorn Energy, McDonald’s, InterGlobe Aviation and a Mauritius-based private equity investment company in high-profile disputes, arbitrations and enforcement proceedings.

In capital markets, the firm has acted for Afcons Infrastructure, Dr Agarwal’s Health Care, Sustainable Energy Infra Trust, Vodafone Group and Northern Arc Capital in significant IPOs and public offerings. The firm’s competition practice has advised on transactions involving Data Infrastructure Trust, IRB Infrastructure Trust, Vodafone and Aéroports de Paris, among others, while its private equity work includes advising Brookfield Asset Management, Veritas Capital, Allianz Capital Partners and Deutsche Beteiligungs on cross-border investments and acquisitions.

Rohan Sahu, founder and CEO at ContentLens, praises the firm for its “good work culture… [and] their amazing work”.

IBLJ analysis:

Saikrishna & Associates provides legal services across key practice areas including intellectual property, technology, media, telecommunications, corporate and competition law. With offices in Bengaluru, Mumbai, New Delhi and Noida, its team of over 120 lawyers, including more than 46 partners and associate partners, offers innovative solutions to meet the business and intellectual property objectives of both Indian and international clients.

The firm has been awarded for its work in the intellectual property enforcement category.

IBLJ analysis:

Samvad Partners has seen significant activity in M&A, private equity and venture capital deals across financial services, technology, healthcare and consumer sectors, as well as achievements in domestic and international arbitration and white-collar crime matters.

The firm has expanded its leadership by hiring Ayush Mohan and Pallavi Sengupta as counsel and promoted Gauri Khanna, Pratik Patnaik and Vishnu Kale to partner. With a strong focus on diversity, more than two-thirds of its partners are women. Samvad Partners’ work includes advising Namma Bengaluru Foundation in a PIL on Bangalore’s master plan, providing legal support for groundwater and environmental issues, and assisting Catalyst 2030, Sanctuary Nature Foundation and Sanitation First with legal structuring and compliance. The firm also has a busy e-commerce practice, supporting clients with structuring, regulatory advice and funding in this sector.

Soumya Banerjee, group executive vice president, legal risk management, at Yes Bank, says “The firm comprises of legal professionals who have vast experience and in-depth knowledge in the field of banking and its allied laws. Reasonable pricing and strict compliance of TAT make them one of our most dependable legal partners”, adding, “We would like to recommend Vineetha MG at Samvad Partners, considering that she is one of the leading banking and finance experts in the country. The value proposition which she brings on the table, coupled with vast experience and a knack of simplifying complex legal issues, makes her one of our most trusted advisors”.

Meanwhile, Puneet Gupta, co-founder of Kaleidofin, says, “Samvad has been our go-to partner since 2017. They are extremely professional, bring in a high level of expertise and have invested in understanding our business”.

IBLJ analysis:

Saraf & Partners has expanded its team by taking on partners in securities and regulatory, corporate and M&A, capital markets and dispute resolution.

The firm has established new offices in Defence Colony, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad to support its growing client base. Saraf & Partners has collaborated with Microsoft to integrate generative AI technologies, including Microsoft CoPilot, into its operations, creating a secure closed AI network to optimise processes and document management.

The firm has advised the State Bank of India and other lenders in providing credit facilities to Bharat Petroleum, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India and Adani Power for large-scale infrastructure and capacity expansion projects. Saraf & Partners has also represented Adani Power and ArcelorMittal in corporate insolvency resolution processes and acted for Metropolis Healthcare, Fortis Healthcare and Viatris in acquisitions and divestments in the healthcare and biopharmaceutical sectors.

IBLJ analysis:

With an elaborate history, Sarin & Co has survived the turbulations of time over its history to now be a firm with multi-city presence across practice areas in India. The firm has been recognised for its work in the space and defence fields over its ability to navigate the unique regulatory challenges these areas present.

IBLJ analysis:

Sarthak Advocates & Solicitors has expanded its corporate practice with new partners and offices in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chandigarh. The firm advised Sunstone Education on acquiring colleges and managed S Chand’s foreign portfolio investment in Israel. Sarthak represented Waaree Energies in the INR7.92 billion acquisition of Enel Green Power India and advised REnergy Dynamics on biogas project structuring.

Jagdeep Singh, president and general counsel at S Chand Group, described Sarthak Advocates & Solicitors as “very prompt in terms of responses and very positive attitude who believe in closure of transaction in a timely manner, but simultaneously no compromise on quality”. Singh praised Abhishek Tripathi and Mani Gupta for “personal attention” and “very good in negotiations”. Manoj Sinsinwar, chief legal officer at Waaree Energies, called the team “very experienced” and especially recommended Tripathi for “deep understanding of M&A transactions, combined with his strategic advice and excellent negotiation skills”. Sinsinwar highlighted the firm’s “proactive and detailed work during negotiations”.

IBLJ analysis:

Sarvada Legal provides services in areas such as advisory, litigation and transactions. With clientele from both India and abroad, the firm has represented governments, statutory authorities, individuals, corporates and more. The firm has been recognised for its competition and antitrust work, demonstrating its proficiency in addressing complex regulatory challenges and its sophisticated understanding of competition law frameworks.

IBLJ analysis:

Sequitur has focused on venture capital and private equity investments, advising XYMA Analytics and NRV DesignX on funding rounds, 8X Ventures on the acquisition of Solinas Integrity, and Rupyz Fintech and Instant Procurement Services on investment structuring. The firm has represented Modulor Capital in a INR255 million investment in Text Mercato and guided Cremetech Tailored Foods through a successful fundraising featured on Shark Tank India.

Anish Popli, founder and CEO at Proc Mart, said, “Sequitur, for the last many years, has been helping us in negotiating the most complex transactions, including disputes… their expertise is in managing investors and providing strategic advice” and recommended Utpal Kant. Bhavish Sood, a general partner at Modulor Capital, called them “a Tier 1 firm when it comes to advising on VC/PE investments in the Indian ecosystem” and praised Kant for acting “as fractional GC for the fund”. Chirag Gupta, a managing partner at 8x Ventures, described Sequitur as “advising on all our transactions” and praised Kant’s “business acumen”, especially for “negotiating with impossible outcomes”, citing two Series A investments where Kant “was able to navigate multiple stakeholders together”.

IBLJ analysis:

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co – which was named Law Firm of the Year by India Business Law Journal in 2023 and 2024 – continues to enjoy preeminence in India’s legal market. Once again, the firm is a star performer in IBLJ’s Law Firm Awards, winning in an impressive 15 categories and maintaining its recognition as one of the Best Overall Law Firms.

The firm has grown to more than 870 lawyers, launched SAMWise knowledge centre and developed dashboard technologies for performance and billing. It advised Reliance on an USD8.5 billion joint venture with Disney, represented Robert Bosch in a USD8.1 billion acquisition and acted for Tata Sons in electric vehicle battery manufacturing projects. The competition team has handled enforcement cases for WhatsApp, Meta, Maruti and Zomato and advised on high-profile M&A, infrastructure and clean energy transactions.

Prateek Shroff, senior vice president of legal at Brookfield Asset Management, described Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas as “a great firm, with good partners” and praised their “great M&A teams in each of these firms”. Sarat Chandran Selvaraj, senior managing counsel at Mastercard, highlighted Sandip Beri for his “extremely responsive approach” and “practical and pragmatic approach”. Shivli Katyayan, head of legal affairs at Razorpay, called the firm “comprehensive, 360-degree legal coverage, coupled with unmatched expertise in tackling complex matters”. Varun Rajesh Israni, in house counsel at Adani Ports and SEZ, appreciated their “domain expertise” and dedicated team.

IBLJ analysis:

Singhania & Co has opened offices in GIFT City and Dubai, expanded its expertise in capital markets, GST and IFSC and developed Docuguard for workflow automation. The firm advised The Hackett Group on acquiring LeewayHertz and guided the transaction through regulatory compliance and IP assignment.

The firm’s CSR project, Café Social, has reached more than one million readers and supports thousands of libraries. The firm’s internal promotions and lateral hires have also strengthened its legal team across major Indian cities.

Chanchal Rajora, group CFO at Transformers & Rectifiers, described Singhania & Co as “excellent… domain knowledge and approach is commendable” and recommended Pradeep Jain for his “client-friendly approach”. Rajora highlighted the “fastest QIP fund raise of India”, completed in 20 days, and praised the team’s “outstanding and beyond comparison” support. Swati Sanghi, managing director and chairman at Sanghi Spinners India, said, “We are very satisfied with the services of Singhania & Co” and praised Rohit Jain and Aslam Ahmed for their “complete clarity and 360-degree view”. Chetan Dixit, vice president at Physics Wallah, praised Jain for “commitment and insightful, actionable suggestion”, especially for litigation, due diligence, corporate document drafting and negotiations. Sanjay Gupta, head of legal at Jubilant Ingrevia, said, “Rohit is very professional and courteous” and cited instances including “settlement discussions with customer in Canada” and successful petitions.

IBLJ analysis:

Singhania & Partners has expanded its team through lateral hires and strengthened its arbitration, corporate and litigation practices. The firm advised Power Finance Corporation on the acquisition and refinancing of Mytrah Group’s solar projects by JSW, structured debt and security documents for infrastructure clients and represented the National Highways Authority of India in expressway project financing. It has also handled high-stakes bank guarantee disputes and regulatory litigation for energy and banking clients.

Reg Slijkoort, M&A manager at Verder Group, described Singhania & Partners as having a “very skilled and pragmatic approach” and recommended Gunjan Gupta and Dipak Rao for being “proactive and know[ing] how to work with international and local clients”. Slijkoort recounted a due diligence process in which they “delivered on time and raised specific key risks to us that we would not have identified ourselves otherwise”.

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SKV Law Offices has advised Tata Power on the Khorluchhu Hydropower Project in Bhutan, represented Delhi Airport Metro Express in a curative Supreme Court petition and secured pivotal regulatory decisions for Damodar Valley Corporation and Tata Power.

SKV Law’s expertise in energy law has been recognised at the IBLJ Law Firm Awards 2025, where it triumphed in the Energy & Natural Resources category. Winning this prestigious award acknowledges the firm’s mastery in navigating this complex sector.

The firm’s team grew with the addition of litigation specialist Shryeshth R Sharma, and its expansion has enabled it to handle complex infrastructure and regulatory disputes, including landmark cases before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.

Anurag Bansal, head corporate legal at Tata Power Delhi Distribution, described SKV Law as providing “sharp and reliable deliverables in terms of quality of legal services”. Bansal praised their “legal strategy formulation” and “robust advisory services”.

IBLJ analysis:

SNG & Partners performs well this year, winning a trio of awards. The firm has strengthened its banking, real estate and private client teams with key partner hires. It advised UGRO Capital on a INR2 billion NCD issuance, supported RBZ Jewellers and Vistaar Financial in public offerings and acted for Shriram Properties in acquiring a distressed real estate project. The firm’s private client practice has structured succession plans, trusts and cross-border inheritance for prominent business families and celebrities, while the real estate team has advised on large-scale acquisitions and regulatory litigation.

SNG & Partners underwent a leadership transition last year that saw Amit Aggarwal promoted to managing partner of the corporate and non-contentious practice, while Sanjay Gupta remained managing partner of the disputes practice.

Despite narrowly missing out on an award for Banking & Finance this year, the firm continues to win plaudits for its expertise in this area.

IBLJ analysis:

Solaris Legal is based in New Delhi with practice areas spanning litigation, ADR, insolvency, regulatory and more. The firm has been recognised for its insurance and reinsurance work and been acknowledged for its specialised knowledge and ability to navigate intricate insurance-related matters.

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Somandy & Associates has deepened its insurance and reinsurance practice, representing clients in cross-border disputes on cybercrime, product liability and credit risk. The firm has advised on the liquidation of reinsurers and arbitrated several high-value credit risk cases. The firm’s insured outreach programme and partnerships with law schools have advanced legal education in insurance, and the firm has digitised its claims repository with AI to improve research and client service.

Arnab Banerjee, owner at 3FM, described Somandy & Associates as “outstanding” and especially recommended Burzin Somandy and his litigation team for “exceptional legal acumen, strategic thinking and client-focused approach”. Banerjee recounted a “recent dispute and subsequent high-value legal proceeding” in which the team “negotiated a settlement that finally led to the resolution of the dispute”.

IBLJ analysis:

Spectra Law specialises in technology and emerging sectors. It was set up in 2024 by Asim Abbas, who brings over 32 years of experience in the technology, media and telecommunications sector as well as in emerging technologies. Before setting up Spectra Law, Abbas served as a civil servant in the telecommunications department, held the role of vice president (legal) at a major telecom operator, and worked as a partner with prominent law firms, including Luthra and Luthra Law Offices.

Spectra Law has been recognised as one of the Best New Law Firms at the IBLJ Law Firm Awards, highlighting its emerging influence and potential.

IBLJ analysis:

Spice Route Legal provides services in technology, media, telecommunication, life sciences and alternative energy to a diverse spectrum of clients with varying needs. The firm has been recognised for its work in the data privacy and internet and e-commerce fields, reflecting its proven ability to address emerging challenges in the technology sector.

IBLJ analysis:

Stratage Law Partners has grown to 30 professionals and expanded its Bengaluru office, focusing on high-growth sectors such as fintech, healthcare and agrochemicals. The firm advised Xponentia Capital Partners and A91 Partners on a USD100 million secondary investment in Sedemac Mechatronics, supported Oriental Trading Company in a USD43 million succession transaction and acted for Pioneer Extruders in a USD13.6 million acquisition by Linhardt Beteiligungs-GmbH. The firm also advised SMS Integrated Facility Services on acquiring Awfis Care and CAC Holdings on the voluntary delisting of Inspirisys Solutions.

IBLJ analysis:

Sujata Chaudhri IP Attorneys has expanded its patent practice, opened new office space and implemented an advanced document management system. The firm has secured permanent injunctions for New Balance Athletics, GlaxoSmithKline and Levi Strauss, obtained well-known status for Velcro and Levi’s Arcuate Stitching, managed patent portfolios for Alleima AB and Edge 2 Systems and registered Hershey’s Hersheyverse metaverse trademark.

The firm has also negotiated settlements for Major League Baseball and managed FTO searches for Hershey, and continues to provide IP workshops and international thought leadership.

Ian Drew, managing principal at Davies Collison Cave, described Sujata Chaudhri as “highly responsive and extremely capable attorneys with a thorough understanding of IP law and practice in India”. Drew recommended Sujata Chaudhri, Deeksha Anand, Neha Sharma, Ajaya Kumar and Vatsala Bhardwaj, noting their “responsiveness and quality”.

IBLJ analysis:

ThinkLaw has rapidly grown from five to 30 lawyers, moved to a larger Mumbai office and recruited talent from leading law schools. The firm advised JM Financial in an INR400 million investment in Modish Tractoraurkisan, supported Good Flippin Foods in an INR300 million investment by Tanglin Venture Master Fund II and acted for Sids Farm in an INR800 million fundraise by Omnivore and the Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office. The firm also advised Walko Food on a follow-on investment from Jungle Ventures and provided legal support for NIC Ice Cream’s expansion.

IBLJ analysis:

TLC Legal has expanded across five locations, hiring new associates and junior associates. The firm has represented VVF in a dispute over excise duty exemption for new industrial units in Kutch, and advised Reliance Industries in the Directorate General of Trade Remedies anti-dumping investigations on imports of mono ethylene glycol.

Arvind Bhansali, group head of indirect taxation at Reliance Industries, described TLC as delivering “outstanding service and unparalleled expertise” and praised Vipin Jain and Vishal Agarwal for “professionalism and commitment to success”. Bhansali stated, “TLC Legal delivers more than anyone’s expectations”.

IBLJ analysis:

TMT Law Practice has experienced significant growth with the elevation of its founder to senior advocate and the opening of a new Mumbai office. The firm has represented Winzo Games before the Competition Commission in a matter challenging Google’s Play Store policies, resulting in a regulatory investigation. The firm has also advised a leading satellite capacity provider on compliance with the Indian Space Policy, supported a satellite company in obtaining dealer licences and represented Yash Raj Films and other clients in accessibility, copyright and content licensing matters.

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Touchstone Partners has its core practice areas in corporate, M&A, competition, data privacy and more. With a clientele of multiple nationalities and jurisdictions, the firm has represented various international institutions. The firm has been recognised for its work in the competition and antitrust and M&A domains owing to its corporate advisory capabilities and its sophisticated approach to business transactions.

IBLJ analysis:

Trilegal has expanded its partnership by 137% in four years, opened new offices in Bengaluru and Mumbai and implemented generative AI and client analytics through its Digital Innovation Group. The firm has developed a comprehensive climate advisory offering and achieved a 10% reduction in its carbon footprint. Trilegal’s DEI initiatives have resulted in equal gender representation across seniority levels, and the firm’s CSR programmes have provided educational kits and support for children in institutional care.

Reflecting its status as one of India’s preeminent law firms, Trilegal performed strongly in IBLJ’s Law Firm Awards, winning in an impressive 11 categories and maintaining the prestigious designation as one of the Best Overall Law Firms.

Bharat Vansh Bahadur, general counsel at Akasa Air, praised Trilegal for their “astute and hard-working M&A team led by Kunal Chandra”, as well as Ashish Bhan and Ayush Mitruka, for “strategic litigation advice”. Drashti Dugar, deputy manager at IDBI Capital Markets & Securities, noted that the “management of the mandates is good”. Narayan Kedia, head of legal corporate affairs at Sammaan Capital, commended their “expertise in capital markets and banking & finance” and praised their “consistent track record”.

Nikita Sinha, associate general counsel at PAG Investment Manager, described Trilegal as “one of the few ‘professionally’ run law firms in India”. Prateek Shroff, senior vice president of legal at Brookfield Asset Management, praised their “deep understanding of the practice areas and the market”. Sam S Jain, chairman at Sam Jain, said, “I had a tremendous experience with their firm. Very happy with their service overall”. Vardaan Ahluwalia, general counsel at Premji Invest, highlighted “proactive approach” and “innovative solutions”, and named Harsh Maggon, Ankit Kejriwal, Anuj Berry, Anusha Ramesh, Juhi Mathur, Shalaka Patil, Ganesh Rao, Yash Bansal, Vinay Sirohia, Vijay Parthasarthi, Rudresh Singh and Mridul Kumbalath as sector leaders.

IBLJ analysis:

Triumvir Law has expanded with new partners and associates, relocated to a larger Bengaluru office, and implemented Lucio and Goo, AI-driven legal assistant tools. The firm has advised Y-East and Disruptive Education on non-disclosure agreements and contractor agreements, represented Technopreneurs’ Surrogate Ventures in a content creation partnership with SVF Entertainment and Techno India and negotiated MOUs for content distribution. The firm has also supported Techno India in musical publishing agreements and strategic integration with the Future Group.

Ishan Sukul, director at Lukus Brands, described Triumvir Law as providing “comprehensive and strategic support through various funding rounds” and highly recommended Aakash Parihar and Anubhab Sarkar for their “clear, strategic advice” and “practical solutions”. Sukul praised the firm’s “attention to detail, clear communication and proactive approach”, especially during negotiations. Q Oddjoint, founder at Odd Joint India, credited the firm’s “expertise in the media and entertainment sector” as “enabling us to secure funding for our app” and praised Sarkar and Parihar for “solid legal expertise” and understanding the “artistic and media industries”.

IBLJ analysis:

Trust Legal has integrated cloud computing for litigation documents, adopted paperless operations and implemented an automated payment system. The firm appeared for a public sector undertaking in the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal proceedings following a major gas well blowout in Assam, ensuring restoration with no financial liability.

Trust Legal authored ESG reports for companies, conducted environmental due diligence for Adani Enterprises in coal block auctions and acted for TetraPak India on plastic waste management. The firm’s founder was appointed amicus curiae in a Supreme Court matter on carbon emissions.

Brajesh Singh, president for India at Arthur D Little, described Trust Legal as “tremendous in all what they have done to us”, especially for “arbitration, litigation and dispute resolution”. Singh recommended Petal Chandhok and managing partner Sudhir Mishra, recounting successful outcomes in arbitration and JV formation. Jitten Veer Bhasin, CEO at Silver Cord, said, “Trust Legal has been a trusted legal partner known for its depth of expertise, strategic thinking and client-first approach” and praised Mishra and Chandhok for their “leadership, clarity of vision and strategic counsel”, especially during a “multi-stakeholder regulatory matter” where “timing and precision were critical”.

IBLJ analysis:

TT&A has strengthened its capital markets team with new partner Abhinav Kumar and launched a dispute resolution practice led by Arunav Guha Roy. The firm advised Barclays and Deutsche Bank on an INR50 billion NCD and commercial paper issuance by Mankind Pharma to fund an acquisition, supported Data Infrastructure Trust in USD1.6 billion financing for Brookfield’s acquisition of ATC Telecom and acted for HSBC and SACE in an EUR52 million ECB for Afcons Infrastructure.

TT&A has also advised Cube Highways on project acquisitions, Deutsche Bank on USD316 million senior secured notes and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund on a USD200 million investment in IBus Network.

Gagan Sareen, senior vice president at IndiaCast Media Distribution, described TT&A as having “deep understanding of complexities relating to competition issues”, especially in competition law. Prateek Shroff, senior vice president of legal at Brookfield Asset Management, praised their “full-service firm” and “excellent partners”. Sudip Gupta, director of legal at The Times of India, said, “They are excellent in terms of their agility in response times, which translates into quick and efficient service” and recommended Gautam Saha and Kunal Thakore for “expertise and professionalism”. Valentina Sarrocco, general counsel of insurance regions at Generali, called TT&A “an outstanding law firm with deep expertise in navigating the complexities of multinational businesses” and praised Deepa Christopher and Rebha Dakshini for their “strategic advice” and “exceptional attention to detail”.

IBLJ analysis:

Tuli & Co has maintained its position as India’s largest insurance law firm, advising insurers and reinsurers on directors and officers (D&O), cyber, property, marine and product liability claims. The firm provided breach coach services for cyberattacks, advised on D&O claims for leading IT companies and supported international reinsurers on April 2024 flood claims in Dubai.

Tuli & Co advised on establishing IFSC insurance offices in GIFT City and on compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. The firm’s aviation law group has influenced the development of aviation law and asset repossession.

Rachna Baberwal, deputy general manager at ECGC, described Tuli & Co as having “expertise in insurance field” and praised their “tie-up with several international law firms as well, that brings in the global perspective to the issues”. Baberwal noted “regular updates, transparent billing and best of lawyers”.

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Vaish Associates has promoted three lawyers to equity partner and expanded its executive director and associate partner ranks. The firm represented Amadeus IT Group in an income tax case on PE profit attribution, handled transfer pricing disputes for Global Logic and Jindal Pipes and acted for UK Grid Solutions in a case on offshore supply contracts.

The firm has secured significant rulings for Smart Cube India, Visteon Corporation, Whirlpool and Goodyear India in matters ranging from procedural compliance to advertising and marketing expense adjustments.

Jacinto Esclapés, vice president and deputy general counsel at Amadeus IT Group SA, described Vaish Associates as providing “high level of services and quality, very good knowledge of legal practice in India, with a very valuable international component”. Esclapés recounted their role in “a long and difficult tax dispute” and praised the firm’s “confidence in their advice from day one”.

IBLJ analysis:

Vashi and Vashi, established in 2017, has been recognised for its work in the area of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, owing to its ability to secure favourable outcomes through negotiated settlements and its ability to deliver efficient solutions outside of traditional litigation channels.

The firm specialises in handling complex disputes, domestic and international arbitration, corporate advisory, and preventative advice to preserve client value. It also manages high-value real estate transactions, including structuring and documentation.

Kshitij Bafna, director at Bafna Realty, described Vashi and Vashi as “one of the best litigation law firms in Mumbai, comprising of an absolutely amazing team” and praised their “thorough” work.

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Veritas Legal has been recognised for its work in the corporate and commercial and private client practice areas, which underscores Veritas Legal‘s ability to provide comprehensive solutions for both corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals. This impressive achievement highlights the firm’s strength in business advisory services and sophisticated wealth planning.

IBLJ analysis:

Vertices Partners has expanded by bringing on Manu Varghese as partner and hiring 15 junior and middle-level lawyers. The firm represented Finova Capital in a USD135 million Series E fundraise involving Avataar Venture Partners, Sofina Ventures, Madison India Capital and Norwest Venture Partners and acted for Battery Smart in a USD45 million Series B round. The firm also supported Sindhuja Microcredit in its INR1.2 billion Series C funding and advised on strategic exits and secondary transactions for investors.

Vikas Lachhwani, co-founder at mCaffeine (Pep Technologies), said, “I believe Vertices comes together not just as an external enabler but as an extension of your own team” and praised Vinayak Burman and Vikrant Anand for their “support in tougher times” and for “design[ing] the articles, explained and convinced all the parties on the issue”. Aman Goel, cofounder and CEO at Grey Labs, called them “very reliable and helpful” and recommended Burman as “super knowledgeable”, especially for handling both company sales and funding rounds.

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Vidhisastras has expanded its litigation team, promoted key associates and collaborated with international partners in Dubai and Russia. The firm represented fintech entrepreneurs in cryptocurrency trading platform cases involving ED investigations and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act proceedings and advised Varsha Kiran Anarase and Amar Singh Wadhwa on property and financial misconduct disputes.

The firm has also advised Shine City Infra Project and Dindoshi Sai Sadan Co-operative Housing Society on corporate operations and property rights and represented clients in election-related writ petitions and compensation claims under international maritime law.

Ilya Poznanskiy, director at Labenvo Consultants, described Vidhisastras as playing “a crucial role in the formation of my company in India” and praised Ashish Deep Verma for his “professionalism, legal acumen and commitment to client success”. Poznanskiy highlighted Verma’s “in-depth understanding of Indian corporate law and foreign investment regulations”. Theresa Puthumana, legal counsel at Technip Energies, described Verma as “extremely personable, sharp, dedicated and committed to protecting the client’s best interests” and highlighted his “passion for law and being a lawyer”.

IBLJ analysis:

Wadhwa Law Offices has expanded across Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Tokyo and Singapore and joined the AsiaWise group to strengthen its Indo-Japanese corridor. The firm advised GMR Global on the acquisition of Hampshire Cricket and Utilita Bowl, a historic first for county cricket, and represented Greenfuel Energy Solutions in selling a 60% stake to Lumax Auto Technologies.

The firm supported TechnoPro in acquiring Robosoft Technologies, advised Rebright and Mynavi on investment and handled major private equity transactions for Elchemy, Parseable and Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia.

Shankar Prasad, founder at Pureplay Skin Sciences (India), said, “We’ve worked with Wadhwa Law Offices on a variety of matters ranging from IP to transaction support. I find them client-centric, accurate and also pragmatic”. Prasad recommended Adarsh G for being “always available, willing to help and gives a considered, ‘This is what is the right thing to do’ view” and recounted how the team “worked overtime to help us close out the matter within a matter of just two days”.

Despite missing out on a win in the Labour & Employment category this year, the firm continues to earn plaudits for its work in this area.

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Wadia Ghandy & Co has advised HDFC Bank on acquiring a 90% stake in HDFC Credila and Ambit Finvest on a minority stake sale to Daiwa Securities Group. The firm acted for Bansi Mall Management in the sale of SOBO Central Mall and represented Oberoi Realty and Sumitomo Realty in complex land acquisitions and development deals in Mumbai.

The firm advised Gramercy Trade Industries (Panchshil Group) in Google’s data centre acquisition and assisted Macrotech Developers and Hind Terminal in logistics and commercial projects.

Aviroop Dutta, senior vice president at Axis Bank, described Wadia Ghandy & Co as a “reputed and trusted law firm” and recommended Gopal Bankar and Nihas Basheer for their “vast knowledge of law and… industry leaders in their practice area”. Dutta said, “I am always confident that they will provide me with the best quality service”. Narayan Kedia, head of legal corporate affairs at Sammaan Capital, highlighted their “deep understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape governing securitisation and banking in India” and praised their “practical, solution-oriented advice”.