AQUILAW

DISPUTES & ARBITRATION LEGAL ADVISORY

Neerav Merchant is a Partner at AQUILAW, Mumbai and Kolkata.

Neerav Merchant has over 27 years of experience, He became an advocate in India in 1996, and a solicitor in Mumbai in 1999. He began his legal career as a commercial litigator and real property lawyer. In September 2000, he went in-house with GTL Ltd., a leading telecommunication   services company. Thereafter, he (briefly) worked as legal counsel at Tata Housing and Development Corporation Ltd. and with the erstwhile Patni Computer Systems Ltd., a leading IT services company in India. Neerav regularly advises foreign (and domestic) clients as regards their India disputes strategies, providing clients a practical, pragmatic, and solutions driven advice, and often acting as co-counsel, or as an expert on Indian law issues at international (disputes or arbitral) forums. Neerav is a highly recommended company/commercial and dispute resolution lawyer.

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

 

DISPUTE RESOLUTION/ARBITRATION

 

Commercial disputes including corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration, advising clients on litigation strategy, enforcement of foreign judgments and awards, IT/outsourcing and licensing, intellectual property, employment, and real estate.

IN ROLE AS IN-HOUSE COUNSEL

During his in-house stints, Neerav worked on various projects, including drafting and negotiating commercial technology and BPO contracts (from a supplier’s perspective) with large American and British corporations, namely, Fidelity, The Coca Cola Company, Prudential Life, Metlife, Assurant, State Farm Insurance, Citigroup, Barclays, Carphone Warehouse, Harman Music, Serco, and Tesco. In addition, he was involved in advising on a host of telecommunication and IT regulatory issues, as also on employment and real estate laws.

 

ANTI-CORRUPTION AND WHITE-COLLAR CRIME

 

Advised a leading audit firm on internal investigations and anti-corruption matters. Have advised a leading US based manufacturing company and suppliers of electronic connectors utilized in various industries worldwide including military, aerospace, etc., having India operations in Pune as regards issues arising under the Prevention of Corruption Act, conducting internal inquiries, and handling its disclosure requirements under the FCPA before the DoJ in the US, and handling government affairs, such as lobbying.

CLIENTS HANDLED

 

MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., (an Ericsson Group Company), before the Delhi High Court, and thereafter, before the Supreme Court, duly challenging the regulation notified by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. One of the largest Italian manufacturers and global players in bottle crowns and caps business, as regards a high-stake arbitration matter emanated out of termination by our client of a proposed acquisition transaction of majority ownership of a target Indian company from its promoters. Advised Elementis Specialities (India) Private Limited on employment law matters. Represented a large audit and consulting firm with respect to allegations of financial irregularities by senior management, assisted the client in conducting internal investigation working closely with forensic teams, and advised the client on cleaning up measures and next steps.

English and Hindi.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa

Enrollment Number: MAH/566/1998

CHAMBER AFFILIATIONS

International Bar Association

Chambers Asia Pacific

The Chambers Global

The Legal 500

LLB, K.C. Law College, University of Mumbai