Gagrats

The firm: Gagrats has a broad based practice cutting across a wide range of legal disciplines with an associate office in New Delhi.

Lawyers at the firm have attended prestigious universities in India, England, Scotland and the USA, including Cambridge University, The London School of Economics, The Harvard Law School and The National Law Schools of India and some are qualified as Solicitors in England.

The transactional practice of the firm has represented clients on significant cross-border financings, path breaking M&A deals in India and overseas, private equity deals, stake sales and large infrastructure projects. The capital markets practice of the firm, has represented issuers on securities offerings including offerings of American Depository Receipts (ADRs), Global Depository Receipts (GDRs), Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs) and Rights Issues. The dispute resolution practice of the firm, has represented leading corporates in high profile matters before a wide range of courts and tribunals in India, and in domestic and international arbitrations.

Areas of practice: arbitration; aviation; asset  based  finance;  banking;  bankruptcy; capital  markets; commercial law; competition law; corporate law; energy; environmental law; exchange control; foreign investment; franchising; healthcare; information technology; infrastructure; insurance; intellectual property; international finance; joint ventures; labour law; litigation; mergers and acquisitions; mutual funds; mining, oil and gas; power projects; privatisations; project finance; private equity; real estate;  restructuring; securities  law; securitisations; shipping;  taxation  (both  direct  and  indirect); technology transfer; telecommunications; TMT and trademarks.

Aviation: Gagrats has a reputable aviation practice which has experience in handling mandates including aircraft financings, acquisitions, and cross-border sales.

The firm has represented major domestic and international airlines and multilateral aviation authorities, and has considerable experience in cross border financings relating to the purchase and leasing of aircraft. The firm has been involved in some of the largest aircraft financing deals in India, involving both US Exim Bank and the European Credit Agency, in financings which were selected by Air Finance as the “Deal of the Year”, in the repossession of Aircraft; in significant restructurings, cross border investments, commercial cooperation agreements, MRO agreements and M&A deals in the aviation sector, etc.

The firm also advises major international airlines in establishing their presence and in commencing air transport operations (both passenger and cargo) to and from India.

The firm’s aviation practice has been the consistent recipient of Awards from 2008 till 2024 and received in 2024 the “Aviation Legal Experts Award” and the “Aviation Law Firm of the Year – India” Award. The firm has also been recognized as 2021’s Leading Legal Advisor in Aviation – India, listed in ‘Ones to watch 2020: Best in Aviation Law 2020 - India’, recipient of the Award for Excellence in Aircraft Finance and Acquisitions- India and the Most Influential in Aviation Law.

Banking and finance: The firm has represented major Indian and foreign banks, multilateral lenders, domestic and foreign funds and foreign institutional investors. The firm has considerable experience in corporate finance, including on external commercial borrowings, securitisations and project finance. The lawyers at the firm have been involved in significant financings, including financings selected by Euromoney as the “Deal of the Year,” and in some of the largest external commercial borrowings and financings in the aviation, engineering, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and power sectors.

The firm’s banking and finance practice has been the recipient of several Awards from 2011 till 2024 including more recently the 2024 “Banking and Finance Law Firm of the Year – India” Award and the 2023 Finance Law Firm of the Year Award.

Capital markets and securities law: Clients include several leading publicly listed companies. The lawyers at the firm have experience in a range of public issues, including Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Preferential Issues, Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs), Rights Issues, Institutional Placement Programmes (IPPs) as also on Global Offerings of American Depository Receipts (ADRs), Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) and Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs).

The firm’s securities law practice, apart from advisory work, represents corporates, promoters and individuals, before the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Securities Appellate Tribunal and the Courts, and has been involved in several prominent matters.

The firm has been the recipient of several capital markets law firm awards including more recently in 2022 and is also a recommended law firm for capital markets.

Competition law: Work involves advisory and contentious work, before the Competition Commission of India. The firm has advised its clients on competition law matters relating to several significant domestic and cross border deals and contracts.

The firm has also been the recipient of several antitrust and competition law firm of the year – India Awards.

Corporate (including M&A): The firm has advised leading foreign and Indian corporates and international organizations on acquisitions and disposals, joint venture agreements, stake sales, business transfer agreements, slump sales and corporate governance, including in the consumer products, engineering, pharmaceuticals, information technology, mining, shipping, courier services, oil and gas, logistics, real estate, hospitality, healthcare, aviation, retail, defense, advertising, publishing, chemicals, travel and leisure sectors.

The firm has also recently advised Indian corporates in relation to their overseas acquisitions, foint ventures and projects in North America, Europe, the SAARC region, The Middle East and the Far East, including in the UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Russia, Spain, Malaysia, Taiwan, Turkey, Jordan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Tunisia and Algeria.

The firm has also advised international corporations in relation to their acquisitions and investments in India and advised a leading European educational institution in establishing a presence in India.

The firm has been involved in path breaking cross-border M&A deals. The lawyers at the firm have also advised bidders in the privatisation process, across various sectors.

The firm has been a consistent recipient of several awards for its M&A work including the 2024 M&A Law Firm of the Year Award, 2023 M&A Award, 2022 M&A Award, and many others.

Dispute resolution: Gagrats’ litigation practice focuses on corporate, securities, commercial, IPR, competition and tax litigation. The firm also handles domestic and international arbitrations, and has been involved in several high profile arbitrations in India and abroad.

Members of the firm’s litigation practice have represented leading corporates in corporate disputes, before The National Company Law Tribunal, The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, the Supreme Court and various High Courts, and also before the Competition Commission of India.

Members of the firm have also represented leading corporates and their promoters in securities law matters before the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Securities Appellate Tribunal and the courts.

The firm’s litigation practice has wide experience in restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy matters before a range of courts and tribunals, and has advised on re-organisations, corporate insolvencies and resolution processes.

The firm has represented leading Indian and foreign corporations in IPR related disputes across varied sectors.

The firm’s litigation practice has been the recipient of several dispute resolution awards including more recently in 2024 and 2023. The firm has also received the Cross-Border Dispute Resolution Award, the Sustained Excellence in Cross-Border Disputes – India Award, the International Dispute Resolution Award, the A I Dispute Resolution Award, the International Commercial Arbitrators of the Year Award and has been ranked by Benchmark Litigation.

Energy, engineering and infrastructure: The firm and its members have been involved in several major power projects in India and overseas (including recently in Russia, Turkey, South Africa, Singapore, Dubai, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh and Tanzania), in which they have acted for and advised foreign and domestic power companies and state electricity boards on IPPs, co-generation projects, solar, wind power projects and nuclear power projects.

The firm also advises leading corporates in the engineering and infrastructure sectors in relation to their business engagements, establishment of facilities, joint venture initiatives, protection of IPR and business agreements both in India and overseas, including recently in the UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Spain, UAE, Malaysia, Taiwan, Iraq, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Tunisia and Algeria.

The firm has also advised on other infrastructure projects such as oil and gas, mining, ports, pipelines, special economic zones (SEZs), airports, and telecommunications.

The firm has been the recipient of Offshore Excellence Award as a Recognised Leader in Energy Projects – India and also recognized as a Notable Law Firm for Energy and Natural Resources by Asia Law Profiles.

Environment law: The firm and its members have been involved in several projects in India and overseas, in which they have acted for and advised foreign and domestic entities (and consortiums) on various environmental law related issues.

In the nuclear power sector, the firm has been actively involved in advising on the role, responsibility and liability of the manufacturers and operators under bilateral agreements, the international framework governing nuclear liability (including international conventions dealing with nuclear damages such as the Paris Convention, Vienna Convention, CSC) and other relevant legislations impacting the supply of equipment to nuclear power plants and on the resultant liability (including environment related damages) in the case of nuclear incidents.

The firm has also advised leading infrastructure and engineering companies in India in relation to  laws and regulations governing manufacture, inspection and commissioning under various environmental laws of India. Work in this practice area has also involved advising corporates engaged in the manufacture of boilers and other industrial equipment in India, including in relation to liability for accidents (including under environment laws).

Intellectual property: Regulatory work for both foreign and Indian corporates includes trademark, copyright and patent registrations, assignment and licensing work.

The firm has considerable experience in contentious IPR matters, including passing off and infringement work, and has recently represented Indian and European corporates in IPR related disputes. The firm has been the recipient of several intellectual property awards including more recently the 2024 India IP Award.

 Real estate and construction: The firm’s real estate team has been involved in several significant real estate / land development projects and acquisitions in India. The firm regularly advises corporates on real estate related matters; including title due diligences, transaction structurings, acquisitions, sales, transfers, release and relinquishments, gifts, mortgages, leases, assignments, tenancies and licenses, rent control matters, land revenues matters, conducting agreements, outlet agreements, conveyancing deeds and documentation, across varied sectors including in relation to agricultural lands, industrial lands, residential properties and commercial premises for offices, restaurants, outlets, shops etc. The firm also advises on all related tax, stamp, registration and other related legal issues.

The firm has been the recipient of AI Magazines Global Excellence Award as the Leading Real Estate Adviser of the Year – India. The firm has been ranked as a Recommended Law Firm for Construction & Real Estate, and as a Notable Law Firm for Projects and Infrastructure by Asia Law Profiles.

Restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy: The firm’s restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy practice has vast experience before a range of courts and tribunals. The firm has advised on reorganisations, corporate insolvency resolution processes (both voluntary and involuntary), voluntary liquidation of corporate persons and fast track corporate insolvency resolution processes under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of India, 2016.

The firm has been the recipient of several bankruptcy and restructuring awards.

Taxation: There is a large practice in corporate, direct and indirect tax.

The firm has been the consistent recipient of several awards as the Law Firm of the Year – Tax, and Corporate Tax Law Firm of the Year, including more recently in 2024, 2023 and 2022.

TMT: Clients include leading Indian and foreign e-commerce, information technology and media companies.

The lawyers at the firm have been involved in some of the largest private equity deals in information technology sector, and also in IPOs, GDRs and ADRs offerings of information technology companies.

The firm’s experience extends to licensing and BPO agreements, online portal user agreements and website policies of information technology and e-commerce companies; and advise on data protection laws.

Private clients, HNI’s and trusts: The firm advises high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) regarding succession planning, domestic Indian trusts, including acquisitions in listed entities, stake sales, and structuring/ restructuring their investments including in listed entities. The firm has been involved in advising and drafting family settlement agreements and in contentious disputes relating to family settlement agreements involving promoters and their listed entities.

The firm also advises HNIs and their entities on real estate, testamentary and succession planning matters, having regard to relevant laws including orporate, securities, exchange control and real property laws and on tax, stamp duty, registration and other related legal issues.

 Clients: The firm has advised and represented several major foreign and Indian corporates, publicly listed  companies, multilateral organisations, banks, PSUs, funds, foreign institutional investors, foreign educational institutions, airlines, and HNIs across various sectors including engineering, infrastructure, energy, mining, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, hospitals, insurance, financial services, education, consumer products, tourism, transport, aviation, courier services, logistics, oil and gas, real estate, hospitality, retail, defense, advertising, publishing, chemicals, travel and leisure, ports, pipelines, special economic zones (SEZ), airports and telecommunications.

Recent awards
The firm and its partners have been recognized for their aviation; banking and finance; capital markets and securities law; corporate (M&A); competition law; dispute resolution; energy, engineering and infrastructure; IPR; real estate; restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy; and tax practices, and have been the recipients of several awards; including more recently the 2024 Outstanding Lawyers Award, Leading Lawyers Worldwide Award 2024, in 2024 and 2023 from Who's Who Legal, in 2023 and 2022 from Legal Era, and in 2024 and 2023 in IBLJ’s A List. Recent awards include the 2024 and 2023 M&A Law Firm of the Year Award, the 2024 and 2023 Aviation Law Firm of the Year Award and the 2024 Aviation Legal Experts Award, 2024 and 2023 Banking and Finance Law Firm of the Year Award, 2024 and 2023 Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year Award, 2024 India IP Award, 2022 Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year Award, 2024 and 2023 Tax and Corporate Tax Law Firm of the Year Awards, and many others.

Gagrats has been listed as a leading law firm by several international publications such as Chambers & Partners, Chambers Asia Pacific, Asia Pacific Legal 500, Asia Law Profiles, IFLR 1000, IBLJ, Legal Era, Which Lawyer PLC & Who’s Who Legal.

Contacts

• RJ Gagrat - Email - [email protected]
• UA RanaEmail - [email protected]
•  Krunal Gadhia - Email - [email protected]
• U Nagarajan - Email - [email protected]
• I Sen - Email – [email protected]
• A Dhariwal - Email – [email protected]

 Visit us on our Website www.gagrats.com, and view our LinkedIn profile on https://in.linkedin.com/company/gagrats