Argus Partners‘ banking and finance practice is a powerhouse in the Mumbai market. The group advises both domestic and foreign banks, financial institutions, international credit funds, and corporate houses on a wide variety of transactions including structured finance, securitisation, project financing, and consortium lending, to name a few. With cross-border capabilities and a record of handling high-value matters, the team’s impressive client roster continues to expand. Krishnava Dutt and Aastha co-head the department and bring extensive expertise to the group. Dutt stands out for his deep experience leading on M&A and financing transactions, as well as corporate governance and board responsibility matters. Aastha is highly regarded for her specialism in financing, insolvency, and restructuring, and she regularly advises on structured finance, syndicated lending, and real estate financing transactions. Prakash Panjabi notably departed the firm in May 2024.
Banking and finance in India
Argus Partners
Praxisleiter:
Krishnava Dutt; Aastha
Kernmandanten
HDFC Limited
HDFC Capital Affordable Real Estate Fund
Ind Swift Laboratories Limited
Dalmia Polypro Industries Private Limited
SWAMIH Investment Fund I
Nisus Finance & Investment Managers LLP
State Bank of India
Union Bank of India
Canara Bank
Central Bank of India
Barings Credit
Ares SSG
Clearwater Capital
Piramal Capital
Standard Chartered Bank
Citibank N.A.
Aditya Birla Finance Limited
KKR
India Resurgence Fund
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised HDFC Limited on its merger with HDFC Bank, including on integration planning for implementation of the scheme of merger.
- Advising Dalmia Polypro Industries Private Limited on raising an external commercial borrowing of USD 30,000,000 from the United States International Development Finance Corporation for establishing a new greenfield recycling facility in Nashik, Maharashtra.
- Acted as the legal counsel to SWAMIH on its investment of approximately INR 300 crores in the project ‘Rising City’ being promoted by the Hubtown Group in Mumbai.
SNG & PARTNERS
As a full-service firm with a national reach, SNG & PARTNERS is capable of handling the full gamut of banking and finance matters including domestic and cross-border transactions, debt refinancing, and commercial borrowing, to name a few. With such a breadth of expertise, the group has amassed an impressive client roster made up of financial institutions, private equity houses, and real estate developers, among others. Rajesh Narain Gupta, Amit Aggarwal, and Anju Gandhi co-head the practice and bring extensive experience to the team. Gupta stands out for his aptitude at handling corporate and transactional matters, while Aggarwal is noted for his specialism in M&A, private equity, banking, finance, and capital markets. Gandhi is adept in banking and finance and private client matters, as well as regulatory issues, corporate, and real estate mandates. The group also benefit from the prowess of Ashok Sathyanathan who advises on corporate lending transactions, trade and exports finance, and investment advisory.
Praxisleiter:
Rajesh Narain Gupta; Amit Aggarwal; Anju Gandhi
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Ashok Sathyanathan
Kernmandanten
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Vistra ITCL (India) Limited
Axis Bank Limited
Piramal Enterprises Limited
HDFC Capital Advisors Limited
DBS Bank India Limited
Catalyst Trusteeship Limited
IndusInd Bank Limited
ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited
IDBI Trusteeship Services Limited
Ugro Capital Limited
National E-Governance Services Ltd
Unity Small Finance Bank Limited
Shapoorji Pallonji Finance Private Limited
Standard Chartered Bank
Axis Bank Limited
Bharatpe360one Prime Limited
SBM Bank (India) Limited
LIC Housing Finance Limited
Bank of China Limited
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited
RBL Bank Limited
P.S.N Finance Private Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited with an external commercial borrowing of an amount up to INR 620 Crores with a green shoe option of an amount up to INR 2068 Crores extended to IIFL Finance Limited.
- Acted as the legal counsel to Axis Bank Limited and Vistra ITCL (India) Limited with respect to the issuance of secured, rated, listed, redeemable non-convertible debentures of an amount of up to INR 1,350,00,00,000 by DLF Cyber City Developers Limited.
- Acted as the legal counsel to Piramal Enterprises Limited with respect to the grant of term loan facility of INR 650,00,00,000 to Bhartiya City Residences Private Limited.
Wadia Ghandy & Co
Wadia Ghandy & Co is a tour de force in the Mumbai market due to its breadth of expertise in banking and finance matters which range from commercial borrowing and project financing to securitisation and loan transfers. The group’s cross-border capabilities have attracted a strong client base consisting of banks, financial institutions, and non-banking financial institutions. Leading the department is Shabnum Kajiji who specialises in structured finance, although she is also highly adept in debt capital market issuances, syndicated term loans, and offshore borrowing. The practice also benefits from the aptitude of Nihas Basheer and Gopal Bankar – Basheer has extensive experience handling securitisation and bi-lateral transactions while Bankar stands out for his proficiency leading on debt syndication, corporate and commercial finance, and overseas finance matters.
Praxisleiter:
Shabnum Kajiji
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Nihas Basheer; Gopal Bankar
Kernmandanten
Kotak Strategic Situations India Fund – II
HDFC Bank Limited
Kotak Special Situations Fund
IIV Mikrofinanzfonds
IIV Impact Investing Funds
FCP-Raif
Axis Bank Limited
Global Climate Partnership Fund SA SICAV SIF
ASA International India Microfinance Limited
Kotak Data Center Fund
Shriram Finance Limited
Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited
Indiabulls Commercial Credit Limited
Tata Motors Finance Limited
Tata Motors Finance Solutions Limited
Shriram Finance Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Kotak Special Situations Fund on the issuance of 1,07,000 secured, rated, unlisted, redeemable non-convertible debentures aggregating to INR 1070,00,00,000.
Agrud Partners
With expertise in contract drafting and negotiations, Agrud Partners is a popular choice for financial institutions, ultra-high net worth individuals, and brokerage firms seeking banking and finance support. The practice is also capable of handling compliance and regulatory issues, as well as general advisory matters. Co-leading the group are corporate finance specialist Sajid Mohamed and dispute resolution expert Sumit Raghani. Mohamed concentrates on structuring, documenting, and negotiating transactions including debt restructuring, capital raising, corporate finance, and recapitalisations. Raghani focuses on litigation and arbitration matters arising from the real estate sector, although his extensive regulatory knowledge make him adept at leading on real estate transactions and development projects also.
Praxisleiter:
Sajid Mohamed; Sumit Raghani
Kernmandanten
PSB Alliance Pvt. Ltd
Bank of India
Bank of Baroda
Central Bank of India
Punjab & Sind Bank
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted Bank of India in banking outsourcing, contract drafting, and contract negotiations.
- Assisted Punjab & Sind Bank in banking outsourcing, contract drafting, and contract negotiations.
Bombay Law Chambers
The banking and finance practice at Bombay Law Chambers specialises in structuring debt products and debt financing for non-banking financial institutions, institutional investors, international banks, and venture debt investors. Co-leading the group are founding partners Karan Kalra, Dipanshu Singhal, and Abhinav Harlalka. Kalra has expertise in domestic and cross-border transactions including venture capital, private equity, and M&A, as well as joint ventures and structured finance. Singhal focuses on structuring, seed fundings, and investments, while Harlalka concentrates on setting up investment funds and leading on M&A and structured finance matters.
Praxisleiter:
Karan Kalra; Dipanshu Singhal; Abhinav Harlalka
Kernmandanten
Trifecta Venture Debt Fund
Alteria Capital
Blacksoil India Credit Fund
Blacksoil Capital Private Limited
Innoven Capital India Fund
GMO-Z.com Payment Gateway India Credit
Vivifi India Finance Private Limited
RevX Capital
Nuvama Crossover Yield Opportunities Fund
Northern Arc India Impact Trust
Trifecta Venture Debt Fund
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Vivifi India Finance Private Limited in issuing secured, unlisted, non-convertible debentures to two FPIs incorporated in the USA and registered with SEBI.
- Advised Alteria Capital in subscribing to NCDs and CCPS issued by FPL Technologies Private Limited.
Dhaval Vussonji & Partners
With expertise in loan transactions, project financing, debt restructuring, and regulatory compliance, the banking and finance practice at Dhaval Vussonji & Partners is a popular choice for banks, financial institutions, borrowers, and lenders. Co-heading the practice are founding partner Dhaval Vussonji, managing partner Prachi Dave, and real estate specialist Manisha Paranjape. Vussonji brings a wealth of experience to the group ranging from corporate debt restructuring and EPC contracts to private equity investments and M&A transactions. Dave stands out for her experience advising banks and real estate conglomerates on structured finance and debt securities, while Paranjape is adept in handling acquisitions, funding, and loan transactions.
Praxisleiter:
Dhaval Vussonji; Prachi Dave; Manisha Paranjape
Kernmandanten
RBL Bank-
SWAMIH Investment Fund I
Piramal Enterprises Limited
Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited
Indiabulls Infrastate Limited
Aditya Birla Real Credit Opportunities Fund
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted RBL Bank with a loan to Ripley Prosperity Limited.
- Assisted SWAMIH Investment Fund I with securing funding for the “Vanu Heights” project through the issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures.
- Assisted Piramal Enterprises Limited in structuring a transaction.
Indialaw LLP
The banking and finance practice at Indialaw LLP stands out for specialising in lending, deal structuring, and debt financing, alongside project finance, real estate finance, and securitisation. The group is predominantly instructed by lenders and investors from the energy, power, and infrastructure sectors. Shiju P V, Shrishail Kittad, and Nim Dem Dorjee co-lead the team and bring extensive experience to the department. Kittad is adept in advising public and private banks on infrastructure and real estate projects, project finance transactions, and restructuring, while Dorjee concentrates on sole, multiple, and consortium lending for project, corporate, structured, and real estate finance matters.
Praxisleiter:
Shiju P. V.; Shrishail Kittad; Nim Dem Dorjee
Kernmandanten
State Bank of India
Punjab National Bank
Canara Bank
Union Bank of India
Bank of Baroda
Indian Bank
Axis Bank
Axis Finance
L&T Realty
Hero Fincorp
Shriram Finance
Highlight-Mandate
Dhir & Dhir Associates
Dhir & Dhir Associates is a popular choice for lenders, borrowers, banks, and financial institutions seeking support on banking and finance matters such as FDI investments, project finance, refinancing, and structured finance. With no formal practice heads, the main contacts in the group are Guranpreet Singh Sarna and Shikha Singh, both of whom specialise in projects and infrastructure, project finance, and capital market transactions.
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Guranpreet Singh Sarna; Shikha Singh
Kernmandanten
India Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited
Power Finance Corporation Limited
India Infradebt Limited
Tata Capital Limited
Saraswant Co-operative Bank Limited
O2 Power Group
ARKA Fincap Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised O2 Power Group on availing financial assistance of INR 2509.8 Million from Aseem Infrastructure Finance Limited for the purpose of implementation of 58.05 MW power projects of various SPVs in the State of Maharashtra, under group captive model.
- Advised India Infradebt Limited on the change of promoter of 4 group SPVs of Renew Solar Energy Private Limited to JLT Energy 9 SAS.
- Advised Saraswat Co-Operative Bank Limited on the change of promoter of SPV of Renew Solar Energy Private Limited to JLT Energy 9 SAS.