Khaitan & Co. leverages the firm’s strong corporate, commercial, and M&A capabilities to advise leading insurers, private equity investors, and industry associations on the full range of transactional and regulatory mandates. Recently, the group has seen an uptick in contentious mandates, advising insurance companies before the Securities Appellate Tribunal. Nikhil Narayanan takes point on cross-border mandates as well as regulatory issues, Niren Patel is the name to note for M&A and private equity deals, while Aravind Venugopal, who re-joined the firm in 2023, brings in-house expertise from the insurance industry. Narayanan, Patel, and Venugopal jointly oversee the team, which also includes Harsh Khemka, who advises insurers and reinsurers on transactional and regulatory matters.

Praised by clients for its ‘immaculate‘ advice, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co fields a market-leading insurance team that runs the gamut of matters, with a notable emphasis on large-scale transactional mandates. Acting for insurers, reinsurers, and third-party administrators, the team is also well-placed to handle the full range of regulatory issues; regulatory specialist Ashish Teni is a key contact here. Practice head Shailaja Lall is a key name for non-contentious work, including regulatory compliance and licensing requirements, while Samarth Gupta is the name to note for insurance-related M&A. Anu Susan Abraham left the firm in September 2023.

Insurance specialist firm Tuli & Co stands out for its broad expertise, handling coverage claims, product development, commercial matters, and regulatory work. Acting for insurers, reinsurers, and insurance intermediaries, the group is equally well-placed to advise Indian and foreign operators on their domestic operations. Neeraj Tuli and Celia Jenkins jointly head the team; Tuli takes point on regulatory issues and coverage matters, while Jenkins is the name to note for policy drafting instructions. Mandakini Khanna is another key contact for claims and coverage work, and Anuj Bahukhandi provides regulatory and corporate advice.

The insurance practice at AZB & Partners works in close collaboration with the firm’s wider teams to advise on the full range of transactional mandates in the insurance sector, including market entry, joint ventures, and consolidation transactions. Darshika Kothari specialises in private equity investments and joint ventures in the sector; Kashish Bhatia and Niladri Maulik are other names to note here. Other key names in the team include litigator Rajendra Barot, Anil Kasturi, who advises insurance companies on market entry strategies, and M&A specialist Ashwath Rau.

Sumeet Lall heads the practice at insurance boutique firm CSL Chambers, which stands out for its strength across a wide spectrum of contentious work. Lall has extensive expertise advising on contentious insurance-reinsurance claims, insolvency, and general commercial arbitration. Working alongside him is Sidhant Kapoor, a key contact for subrogated recoveries, and Nikhil Lal, who routinely advises on coverage issues and liability, marine insurance, and property insurance.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas regularly advises insurers and governmental authorities on regulatory and transactional issues, handling IPOs, M&A, and foreign investments in the sector. Managing partner Cyril Shroff oversees the team alongside Indranath Bishnu; Bishnu specialises in insurance regulations and also handles large transactions. Pranjita Barman has an emphasis on corporate restructurings and M&A in the insurance sector, assisted by Anirud Sudarsan, who also advises insurers on foreign investments in India.

Leveraging the firm’s wider dispute resolution, corporate, and commercial capabilities, Trilegal is well-placed to advise companies and investors in the insurance sector on the full spectrum of transactional mandates. Regulatory advice also features prominently in the team’s workload. Key names in the team include Ashwyn Misra, who has a broad corporate practice with a focus on M&A, corporate restructurings, and private equity, and Deep Choudhuri, a core contact for corporate governance advice and public and private M&A.

Managing partner Akil Hirani oversees the insurance offering at Majmudar & Partners, which advises domestic and foreign insurers as well as insurance underwriters on an array of transactional and regulatory issues. Hirani, qualified in India, England, and California, has extensive experience advising on M&A in the insurance sector, as well as on insurance regulations and outsourcing.

With particular strength advising on issues in the intersection of insurance and tech, Samvad Partners counts tech companies, insurers, and insurtech companies among its diverse roster of clients. The team is jointly overseen by Vineetha MG, who advises on M&A, corporate restructurings, and regulatory compliance, Ashwini Vittalachar, and Nivedita Nivargi; Vittalachar regularly takes point on M&A and private equity investments in the insurance sector, while Nivargi advises insurers and reinsurers on structuring and licensing requirements.

Talwar Thakore & Associates fields a ‘knowledgeable, responsive and effective’ insurance team with a strong track record advising insurance companies on joint ventures, regulatory compliance, and market entry issues. Key names in the team include Kunal Thakore, Deepa Christopher, and Gautam Saha. Thakore advises insurers on a diverse array of issues relating to life insurance and general insurance, as well as the setting up of joint ventures; Christopher is another individual to note here, while Saha takes point on investments as well as operational issues.