Gowling WLG

Automotive; Retail & Leisure; Tech; Aviation, Aerospace & Defence; Corporate, M&A & Capital Markets; Real Estate; India

Partner, Head of Electric Vehicle Group and India Team

"demonstrates an invaluable focus on growing and protecting our businesses in any way he can"

Ragi Singh is head of our India team, our automotive manufacturing sector team and, as an ex-professional cricketer, an integral member of our sports practice.

Ragi works with clients to devise and implement their corporate strategy be that by way of a restructuring, growing inorganically through M&A activity (in the UK and overseas) or organically by highlighting commercial opportunities (often arising from his or the firm's own network or legislative change).

As a senior member of our corporate department, Ragi efficiently executes projects for a wide range of clients ranging from owner managed businesses, private equity/hedge funds through to listed multinational corporations. Ragi has worked across a number of sectors and strives to share his experiences and approach between sectors and clients (regardless of their size). Ragi is adept at managing risk (whilst recognising that doing business does by definition involves accepting some risk), putting in place arrangements to allay common fears and worries (e.g. succession planning, loss of control, limitations on liability) and preparing businesses for sale so that the likelihood of a price "chip" is reduced and the sale process is as smooth as possible.

Ragi enjoys immersing himself in his clients' businesses enjoys their successes and helps them through the tough times. Ragi is always looking for corporate and commercial opportunities which will help his clients' businesses grow and seeks to build a relationship which goes further than simply transacting deals.

When advising, Ragi treat his clients' money as his own, appreciates that he is being paid to give an opinion rather than sit on the fence and keeps his advice as succinct as possible. Given that mind set, he aims to negotiate the best possible position for his clients without being inefficient, arguing "non points" and being sensitive to the fact that the parties often have a commercial relationship to operate post closing once the lawyers have moved on.

Clients say Ragi is "tough yet likable", is "in the detail while still seeing the bigger picture", has an ability to "pick out problems ahead of us hitting them", and demonstrates an invaluable focus on "growing and protecting our businesses in any way he can".

Advising Birmingham City Council on the auction sale of the NEC, NIA and ICC businesses for £307m to private equity house LDC.

Advising a FTSE 250 company on multiple acquisitions of advanced engineering businesses which had complex IP considerations attaching to them and advising Hyder plc on its acquisition programme in the high risk and heavily regulated space and nuclear sectors.

Helping numerous owner managed businesses prepare their businesses for sale or private equity investment by reorganising their group, putting in place revised management structures and incentive schemes, undertaking "exit reviews" to identify any issues which could detract from value or slow the sale process (e.g. investigating the integrity/ownership of critical intellectual property rights and ensuring the strategy to monetise these is clear).

Advising International Management Group (IMG) in relation to a number of corporate matters including its acquisition of the Taste Festivals business which operated in a number of jurisdictions.

Advising in relation to complex joint venture arrangements often in relation to projects related to high value property, complex accounting/tax issues or the sharing of business critical intellectual property or services.

Assisting overseas companies setting up or acquiring operations in Europe and helping them identify potential targets/opportunities, due diligence them and ...

English, Hindi