AZB & Partners fields a market-leading fintech and digital offering that stands out for its strong track record advising tech companies, banks, NBFCs, and investors on large-scale transactions, M&A, and joint ventures. The group, hailed by clients for its 'crisp and accurate advice,' also regularly advises on regulatory requirements and compliance as well as product launches. Ashwath Rau heads the practice and takes point on high-value transactions in the space. Rau works alongside Vipul Jain, a key name for private equity investment transactions, and Aditya Alok, who has extensive experience advising on licensing and compliance work. Also in the core team is Saras Muzumdar, who ably assists on M&A and private equity matters.

The dedicated fintech and financial institutions group at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has a strong emphasis on M&A, regulatory projects, and enforcement issues. Acting for a wide variety of clients in the financial services and fintech industries, the group regularly advises on fundraising, joint ventures, commercial agreements, and the setting up of businesses in India. 'Seasoned professional' Anu Tiwari oversees the team alongside managing partner Cyril Shroff and senior partner L. Viswanathan. Tewari regularly advises domestic and foreign fintech companies, asset managers, and other financial services clients on transactional, regulatory, and enforcement matters, with a notable emphasis on public and private M&A in the space. Another name to note for M&A is Ketaki Mehta, who takes point on cross-border transactions in the financial services industry.

Acting for brokers, commercial banks, e-payment platforms, and NBFCs, the dedicated fintech practice at IndusLaw handles the full range of regulatory, commercial, and contractual matters. Working closely with the firm’s tech group, the team is particularly well-placed to advise on data processing, product structuring, and emerging regulations. Key names in the team include founder and senior partner Avimukt Dar, who takes point on M&A and private equity transactions in this space; Namita Viswanath, praised by clients for her regulatory expertise, and Shreya Suri, a key name for digital platform advisory, consumer protection, and product structuring matters.

With a notable emphasis on financial services regulatory matters, Juris Corp regularly advises leading domestic and international banks on product development, risk advisory, and compliance matters. Marketing issues, licensing matters, and M&A also feature prominently in the 'very knowledgeable' group’s workload. Ankit Sinha and Smrithi Nair co-head the practice. Sinha handles transaction structuring, financings, and credit enhancement structures, while Nair specialises in derivatives, treasury products, and debt issuances.

The cross-disciplinary fintech offering at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co runs the gamut of transactional, regulatory, and product development matters for banks, financial institutions, and fintech startups. Practice head Shilpa Mankar Ahluwalia, who clients describe as an ‘exceptional lawyer and pioneer when it comes to fintech,’ regularly advises on investments and product structuring as well as general corporate matters, while Shubhangi Garg is a key port of call for private equity and foreign direct investments in the industry. Ahluwalia and Garg work alongside Himanshu Malhotra, who ably assists on cross-border financings, structured financing transactions, and fintech regulatory matters. Akshita Agrawal left the firm in 2024.

Lauded by clients for its ‘excellent expertise in the domain of securities law and capital markets,’ boutique firm Finsec Law Advisors advises banks, listed companies, and start-ups in the fintech industry on commercial transactions, cross-border investment matters, business structuring, and product developments. Sandeep Parekh, dual-qualified in India and New York, offers ‘excellent domain knowledge and practical advice’ on securities and investment regulations as well as corporate governance issues. Anil Choudhary handles a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters, with a notable emphasis on product development, regulatory enforcement issues, and compliance matters.

Ikigai Law‘s fintech team regularly acts for fintech start-ups and large tech companies in the digital payments, digital lending, and neo-banking industries, with a notable emphasis on regulatory advice. Blockchain and crypto-related mandates also feature prominently in the firm’s workload, as do data protection and governance; Sreenidhi Srinivasan is a key name here. Practice head Aparajita Srivastava advises on fintech product development and product launches, ably assisted by Astha Shrivastava; the duo attracts praise for its ‘sharp legal acumen.’

Ankita Hariramani and Mathew Chacko jointly oversee the fintech practice at Spice Route Legal, which combines its notable tech sector expertise with a strong regulatory offering to advise both fintech companies and domestic and international banks on the full range of matters. Hariramani, who was promoted to the partnership in April 2024, leverages her in-house experience from the fintech industry to advise on the full range of regulatory matters, including payments, settlements, and lending regulations. Founding partner Chacko attracts praise for his ‘astute commercial sense’ and has extensive experience advising on novel areas of law and emerging regulations in the industry. Aadya Misra advises fintech companies on data privacy and protection, a core area of work for the group.

Listed companies, promoters, financial institutions, and a wide array of entities in the fintech industry regularly seek the counsel of Trilegal’s multidisciplinary fintech and financial services regulatory team. Led by founding partner Rahul Matthan, a seasoned TMT expert with a focus on high-value transactions, the group attracts client praise for its ‘deep legal expertise and a genuine commitment to client success.’ On the regulatory front, Nikhil Narendran has extensive experience advising on payment and fintech regulations; Jyotsna Jayaram is another key name here, as is Shruti Rajan, who spearheads the firm’s financial services regulatory offering. Jaideep Reddy, whose practice focuses on fintech as well as crypto assets, is another individual to note.

Probir Roy Chowdhury heads the fintech offering at JSA Law, which works closely with the firm’s TMT department to advise established tech companies as well as start-ups on securities law, foreign exchange regulations, and general financial services regulatory issues. Chowdhary takes point on corporate transactions in the fintech industry and also advises on data protection, payment structures, and product development; Yajas Setlur is another name to note here.

Khaitan & Co LLP fields an ‘excellent team of fintech lawyers with strong legal and market knowledge,' with notable strength in investment and transactional mandates. Key names in the team include securities regulatory specialist Moin Ladha; Niren Patel and Vidushi Gupta, who co-head the financial services regulatory offering; and Sanjay Khan Nagra, a key name for emerging tech and fintech instructions. Ladha, Patel, Gupta, and Nagra jointly lead the offering, working alongside Prashanth Ramdas, another key name on the financial services regulatory front.

Kochhar & Co. counts payment gateways, banks, and financial services companies among its diverse roster of clients. The multidisciplinary group, which combines expertise from the firm’s tech and banking and finance teams, regularly advises on NPCI issues, digital payments, and data privacy matters. Key names in the team include fintech and data protection specialist Stephen Mathias, Anuj Kaila, who handles regulatory work and compliance including payment instrument regulations, and Sharmil Bhushan, who brings notable in-house experience from the financial services industry. Arun Babu is the name to note for product development and digital lending regulations.

Nishith Desai Associates advises foreign investors, payment system operators, and technology providers on a host of fintech and financial services regulatory matters, including compliance issues, business structuring, and cross-border investments. Key members of the team include IP and TMT expert Gowree Gokhale, Kishore Joshi, who also heads the firm’s regulatory practice, and Huzefa Tavawalla, a name to note for emerging tech mandates. Prakhar Dua ably assists on securities and foreign exchange matters, while Tanisha Khanna is another key individual on the regulatory compliance front.

Jointly overseen by Vineetha MG and Neela Badami, the fintech team at Samvad Partners leverages the firm’s strength in tech and corporate capabilities to advise start-ups, payment gateways, and other clients in the fintech space on product offerings, regulatory matters, and business structuring issues. MG has extensive experience advising on digital lending and fintech matters, including RBI regulations and software licensing agreements. TMT specialist Badami is a key contact for fintech investments and structures as well as data privacy regulations.

The fintech and financial services regulatory offering at Talwar Thakore & Associates acts for banks, funds, fintech companies, and investment managers on the full range of financial services regulatory matters. Key names in the team include Rahul Gulati, Ritika Singal, and Uzma Naseem; Gulati is a key name for regulatory and derivatives advice, working alongside Singal, while Naseem advises fintech companies on authorisation applications, RBI policies, and payment systems.