OVERVIEW

Deepak is amongst the leading practitioners in the Projects, Energy and Infrastructure Practice Area with a vast experience of over 12 years specializing in the Projects and Infrastructure Practice. He concentrates mainly on the Project Structuring, Pre-development and Implementation of the Projects, Project Management during implementation stage, operations and maintenance and related aspects, with respect to projects in India or outside.

His practice varies from advising clients under the Public Private Partnerships framework, private arrangement or otherwise, in relation to any aspect of the project. He has also been actively involved in the M&A deals involving project companies, especially in renewable energy sector and advising clients on claims and demands arising out of concession/ construction/ development contracts and representing them at the appropriate forums.

Deepak has been recognised as ‘Notable Practitioner’ in the 2023/24 edition of asialaw, ‘ALB's Super 50 India Lawyers 2023’ by Thomson Reuters, 'Rising Star' for Project Development by IFLR1000 (2022-23) and for Projects, Energy and Infrastructure by the Chambers and Partners Global Guide 2022. Deepak has also been ranked as a 'Notable Practitioner' for Banking & Finance, Infrastructure in asialaw 2022-23 rankings.

SELECT REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS/MATTERS

Port (including inland waterways)

Gujarat Maritime Board – While acting as the Authority’s counsel, advising on various aspects, including but not limited to the following:

• Advised on the issues arising out of the concession agreement (and its termination) for a floating dry dock project.
• Advised on the issues arising out of the concession agreement awarded by it to Sterling Port Limited (as Concessionaire) for the implementation, operation and maintenance of the Dahej Port, Gujarat.

Nuclear Energy

• Assystem Energy & Infrastructure (Juridique Groupe), a France located nuclear energy-based company (through Pinsent Masons) – While acting as the legal counsel for the company, assisting it in the structuring for its proposed investment in India, structuring of the project documents that it would enter into with Indian Contractor (Reliance Infrastructure Limited), drafting and negotiating the term sheet/ heads of terms for the project contracts, in relation to the implementation and development of the proposed 9900 MW Jaitapur nuclear power project at Madban village of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra and in such regard advising on all aspects of its concern.

Renewable Energy

• Accion Investment Management (Cayman) Limited – While acting as investor’s advisor for the acquisition of several wind power projects being implemented and operated by NuPower Renewables Limited in the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan, conducted the legal due diligence on the target entities, and drafting, negotiating and finalising the transaction documents.
• Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power Company Limited) – While acting as the Buyer’s counsel in respect of the acquisition of 100% equity stake in the Indo Rama Renewables Jath Limited, being the Project SPV of 100 MW wind energy power plant based in Jath, Maharashtra, assisted in conducting the legal due diligence on the Project SPV and Project assets, structuring of the transaction, drafting and finalization of the transaction documents, negotiations with the Seller’s counsel and advising on various legal issues raised from time to time. Subsequently, advising Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited in the amalgamation of Indo Rama Renewables Jath Limited with it in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.

Conventional Energy

• Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power Company Limited) – While acting as project developer’s counsel for the development of 5 X 800 MW of thermal power project in Mundra District, Gujarat, advising on various aspects of the Project development including Power Purchase Agreement, Fuel Supply Agreement, Fuel Transportation Agreement, land acquisition related issues, financing documents, Sea Water Intake and Outfall Channel Contract and various other contracts and documents in relation to the project.

Corporate (M&A and General Corporate)

• Digital Domain Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong based listed company – While acting as company’s counsel, assisted the Company in setting up its India business and in obtaining various registrations, licenses, trademark registrations concerning its Indian operations, finalisation of the lease deed for its office premise, shifting of its registered office from one state to the other state, and in such regard attending meetings and negotiations for the finalisation of the concerned documents, etc.

OVERVIEW

Girish Rawat is a qualified lawyer and company secretary with close to 15 years of experience. He is a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association. Girish has been involved in numerous complex and high-profile transactions. Girish advises across several sectors, including real estate, projects, infrastructure, hospitality, technology, manufacturing among others.

Girish focuses on banking, finance and restructuring, including structured finance, cross border lending, hybrid debt financing, project finance, acquisition finance, real estate finance as well as restructuring and security enforcement assignments, and the corporate insolvency resolution process.
He actively advises clients on various investment and financing transactions, including bond/ debt securities, both listed and unlisted, buyback of listed securities. He also advises clients on their investment and disinvestment strategies as well as takeover of the listed companies.

Girish has been recognized “40 Under 40 Rising Star” by Legal Era and as “Leading Lawyer” in “Financial and Corporate” by IFLR 1000 since 2017. He has been consistently recommended for his work in the practice areas of “Banking & Finance”, “Corporate and M&A”, “Capital Markets”, “Project Finance” and “Real Estate & Construction” by Legal 500, Chambers and Partners and Asia Law Profiles. He has also been named the “Finance Lawyer of the Year- India” at the Finance Monthly Global Awards 2012 and the “Finance Lawyer of the Year – India” at Corporate Live Wire 2013 edition. Prior to joining Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India, Girish has worked as Partner with Dhir & Dhir Associates for 13 years.

SELECT REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS/MATTERS

1. Banking and Finance:
   • Advised Power Finance Corporation Limited in availing external commercial borrowing to the extent of INR 2340 Crore (US$ 360 Million) from State Bank of India, Hong Kong Branch. The transaction involved interalia advising the client on various regulatory aspects governing the said borrowing transaction and negotiating the financing documents with the counter party and also to cover the foreign currency risk by entering into hedging contract.
2. Projects and Infrastructure:
   • Advised GRT Jewelers Private Limited on setting up of solar power project with total capacity of 25 MW at various locations in the State of Karnataka. The Firm advised and assisted GRT on the matters pertaining to acquisition of the land for the said project. The scope inter-alia included structuring the acquisition of project land through KREDL, drafting of documentation/ agreement between the land owners, KREDL and GRT and conducting due diligence on the land measuring 100 acres in the State of Karnataka, drafting of turnkey EPC contract along with general conditions of contracts and special conditions of contract for construction, supply, services and operations.
3. Project Finance:
   • Acted as the Lenders’ Legal Counsel to the consortium of lenders comprising of Power Finance Corporation Limited, Rural Electrification Corporation Limited and Bank of India, led by Power Finance Corporation Limited for the financial assistance of INR 3772 Crore to Western UP Power Transmission Company Limited for part financing the cost of setting up the transmission lines in the Western Uttar Pradesh from Mainpuri – Hapur, Mainpuri- Greater Noida and Noida – Hapur Line.
4. Real Estate:
   • Advised Landmark Infracon Private Limited on acquiring land parcel of 39.0083 acres, situated in the revenue estate of Village Rajokri, Sub-Division, Vasant Vihar, District North West, Delhi. The scope inter-alia included drafting of title due diligence report, inspection/ verification of various documents and advising over legal issues regarding the title search over the 39.0083 acres, situated in the revenue estate of Village Rajokri, Sub-Division Vasant Vihar, District North West, Delhi.
5. Capital Markets:
   • Acted as the sole legal counsel to the public issue of tax free bonds in the nature of secured redeemable non-convertible debentures aggregating to INR 5,000 Crore by Housing and Urban Development Company Limited.

OVERVIEW

With nearly 15 years of invaluable experience under his belt, Karan specializes in rendering advisory and legal assistance in the field of foreign and domestic debt financing in India with clients ranging in various sectors including renewables, roads, ports, steel, thermal power, transmission, airports, hospitality, healthcare, real estate. Karan has a holistic approach to structuring and negotiating finance and restructuring deals, having advised several stakeholders including borrowers, sponsors, lenders and bond-holders. He has advised clients on myriad financing transactions including project finance, structured finance, corporate finance, restructurings, cross-border financings, debenture issuances and overseas direct investments.

Karan’s roster of clients includes New Development Bank, Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., Intesa Sanpaolo S.P.A, Bank of America, Siemens Bank GmbH, DBS Bank, Société Générale, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nordic Investment Bank, State Bank of India, PFC Limited, REC Limited, L&T Finance Limited, ICICI Bank, Tata Capital, Aseem Infrastructure, HDFC Bank, Aditya Birla Finance, Virescent (KKR backed renewable platform), Engie, GIP (Global Infrastructure Partners), Enel Group, the Adani Group, Renew Power, amongst others.

Karan has been recognized by several leading global publications including the following:

• ‘Ranked Lawyer’ by Chambers and Partners (Global Guide and Asia Pacific)
• ‘Top Lawyer’ in The A-List 2023-24 by India Business Law Journal.
• ‘Lawyer of the Year – India’ by Asia Law Awards 2020
• Lexology – Client Choice Award Winner (Banking) - 2022
• ‘Leading Individual’ by Legal 500
• ‘Leading Lawyer – Highly Regarded’ by IFLR 1000
• 40 under 40 Lawyers in Asia – Asian Legal Business
• ‘Distinguished Practitioner’ by Asia Law
• ‘Leading Lawyer’ by Legal Era
• 40 under 40 Rising Star Awards 2022 – Legal Era
• 40 under 40 – India’s Green Energy & Climate Leader of Tomorrow’ by EQ International
  He has also been featured in the Asia Law Client Servicing Report, 2020, which highlights lawyers who have consistently delivered high quality service to clients.
  He also holds the following positions:
• Member of the India Committee of APLMA
• Editorial board of EQ, one of India’s premier publishing and research houses for renewable energy in India

SELECT REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS/MATTERS

• Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A./Renew Power: Advised Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., Intesa Sanpaolo S.P.A, Siemens Bank GmbH and Société Générale in connection with the ECB financing of USD 147 Million provided to Renew Solar Urja Private Limited (part of the Renew Power group) for a 300 MW solar power project in the state of Rajasthan.
• DBS Bank/PSA Group: Advised DBS Bank in connection with the ECB financing of SGD 470 Million provided to Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals Private Limited (part of the PSA group, Singapore) for the Phase II of the Fourth Container Terminal at Navi, Mumbai, India.
• India Infrastructure Finance Company (UK)/Renew Power: Advised Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (United Kingdom) in connection with financial assistance in the form of an external commercial borrowing facility aggregating to approximately USD 31 Million, to a company developing, implementing and setting up a 100 MW (AC) solar power project.
• Renew Power (“Round The Clock”): Advised Renew Surya Roshni Private Limited in connection with ECB facilities availed by it from a consortium of 12 lenders for an amount equivalent to USD Equivalent of INR 77.60 Billion in relation to the financing, construction and operation of a 400 MW capacity "Round The Clock" Project.

OVERVIEW

Mr. Nishant Singh is a Partner at Luthra & Luthra Law Offices India and specializes in the area of Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity & Venture Capital and Banking & Finance.

Nishant is admitted to practice law in India and the State of New York (USA). In the last 19 years, Nishant has worked on a wide array of equity and debt financing transactions across multiple sectors and countries. In the M&A space, he has worked on listed as well as unlisted company transactions including, public takeover, PIPE, going private, JV and minority or majority equity investments. As regards the debt investment, he advises on structured debt funding and re-structuring transactions.

Nishant also advises corporate houses and HNI’s in relation to investigations by government agencies like Serious Fraud Investigation Office, Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Economic Offence Wing for charges of bribery, money laundering, corporate fraud and various other offences and assists clients in formation of internal corporate policies and structures against anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-corporate fraud, whistleblowing, anti-sexual harassment, data privacy and cyber security.

Prior to joining Luthra & Luthra Law Offices India, Nishant was a partner with IndusLaw, Mumbai and prior to that with Khaitan & Co, Mumbai. Also, his past international experience of working with the top tier law firms in San Francisco (Perkins Coie LLP), New York and London (Dewey & LeBeouf LLP) offers his clients a distinctive approach and expertise on cross-border deals.

Nishant has consistently been endorsed as a ‘Leading Lawyer’ for financial and corporate law in India by IFLR1000 (2019-23) and as an ‘Elite Legal Practitioner’ in Asia Pacific Region by Legal 500 (2018-2022).

Nishant has been recognized as one of the ‘Leading Lawyers of India’ for Banking & Finance, Corporate/M&A and Private Equity by asialaw (2015-2023), and a ‘Rising Star’ by Legal Era Awards 2016.

SELECT REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS/MATTERS

• Future Group in relation to USD 5 billion debt re-structuring of Future Retail Limited, Future Enterprises Limited, Future Lifestyle Fashions Limited, Future Consumer Limited, Future Supply Chain Solutions Limited, and other unlisted companies for all outstanding debt owed to 28 Indian banks-consortium under the resolution framework for COVID-19-related stress announced by the Reserve Bank of India.
• Agritrade Resources Ltd., a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in relation to acquisition of SKS Power Generation (Chhattisgarh) Limited through a One Time Settlement of INR 2170 crores (approx. USD 350 million) for all outstanding debt to State Bank of India, L&T Infrastructure Finance Company Limited and PTC (India) Financial Services Limited.
• Engie Solar SAS and Electro Solaire Private Limited in a project financing for an amount of USD 100 million approximately availed from the Asian Development Bank and Société Générale for setting up a 2x 100MW AC grid-connected solar PV project in Raghanesda Solar Park, Gujarat.
• IndoStar Capital Finance, a listed company, in relation to Brookfield Asset Management’s acquisition of 40% stake for INR 1225 crores through a mix of primary and secondary shares from Everstone Capital, infusion of capital in IndoStar Capital Finance, and public shareholders under the Takeover Code.
• American International Group Inc. in its sale of American Life Insurance Corporation to MetLife Inc. for USD 15.5 billion.

OVERVIEW

Piyush is a Partner in Infrastructure, Finance, Insolvency, and Restructuring Practice of Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India. Before joining Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India, he has worked with AZB Partners, Cyril Amarchand & Mangaldas, Allen & Overy LLP (London) and Amarchand & Mangaldas.

He is a dual-qualified lawyer, Advocate (India) and Solicitor (Non-Practicing), England & Wales, and is recognised as a ‘Notable Practitioner’ by asialaw, ‘Leading Lawyer’ by international publications including IFLR 1000 and Chambers & Partners.

He has extensive experience in distressed assets space including restructuring and insolvency, enforcement of security and acquisition of such assets. He has acted for Lenders (CoC and individual), Resolution Professionals, Bidders and Distressed Debt Funds in pre-IBC resolutions, CIRP process and liquidations.

Piyush is associated with reputed industry groups such as the Core Group on Insolvency, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce. He has authored and presented papers at various forums. These include various national and international seminars by INSOL (HK), IBBI (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai), CFA Institute, SBI, ICSI (Eastern Region) and ICAI on insolvency laws. His publications include The Restructuring Review, 2019 and 2020, PLC’s Structured Finance & Securitisation Multijurisdictional Guide (2012) and various articles in Project Finance International.

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• Acted for various Resolution Professionals in the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) for Punj Lloyd Limited, Jhabua Power Limited, Educomp Infrastructure Solutions and Marketing Limited.
• Advised a consortium of lenders, on sale of more than 51% shares in Jindal India Thermal Power Limited and Monnet Ispat and Energy Limited through an e-auction process under S4A and SDR schemes.
• Acted for State Bank of India and HDFC Bank Limited on a syndicated secured term loan of INR 10.8 billion approximately for Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited.
• Acted for a consortium of 27 lenders lead by PFC and SBI on INR 130 billion senior and sub debt secured syndicated facility for KSK Mahanadi.
• Acted on the first reserve based funding in India for Cairn India Limited in relation to approximately INR 40 billion syndicated secured facility from reputed lender through participating interest based funding and refinancing of the facility through listed rupee bond issuance.