DMD Advocates is a full-service firm that is heralded for its strong tax expertise. The other core areas of the firm are dispute resolution, corporate, regulatory, competition and IP rights. The pan-India firm houses more than 120 lawyers, including 26 partners, across its principal offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, and associate offices in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar. Founders Anuradha Dutt, Fereshte Sethna and Vijayalakshmi Menon are the key contacts for transactional work. Other names to note in the tax department include senior director Rupak Saha, and partners Shashank Shekhar and Tushar Jarwal. The firm welcomed contentious indirect tax specialist Shekhar from Trilegal in September 2023.
Client feedback
“DMD Advocates came out as a dynamic team of legal experts with a steadfast commitment to its clientele. All deliverables were provided much in advance. The team was very attentive with respect to details during our interaction with them.” – Aviation
“The lawyers at DMD are very diligent, easy to work with and ensure that deal timelines are met. Also, since they are a full-service aviation firm, we get legal, regulatory, tax and dispute resolution advice within the same firm.” – Aviation
“Recommend them for their ethical nature, cost control, responsiveness and quality of advice.” – Capital markets
“Extremely competent and professional. Their competition head, Vivek Agarwal, is a subject-matter expert with extensive experience with the CCI and the European Commission. They have the ability to deliver high-quality work product consistently and in a timely manner.” – Competition/antitrust
“Subject-matter experts with good resources to manage high-stakes matters.” – Competition/antitrust
“Teams are extremely competent and closely knit. Can deliver good quality within a good budget. Values relationships and are highly resourceful.” – Competition/antitrust
“DMD Advocates provide quick and detailed legal advice, and give support in implementing the advice.” – Competition/antitrust
“They have a highly sophisticated team of subject-matter experts which is managed very professionally by Vivek. The team functions in an organised manner and is responsive.” – Competition/antitrust
“They are very knowledgeable, responsive and professional.” – Competition/antitrust
“It is a good and reliable law firm which is approachable.” – Competition/antitrust
“Highly competent team of lawyers covering all scopes of business.” – Corporate and M&A
“Recommended for its litigation and IPR laws.” – Intellectual property
“Highly appreciate the team due to our successful litigation. They offered well-considered legal arguments and had a deep knowledge of the legal process.” – Tax
Vivek Agarwal
“Vivek is a competition law expert in a true sense. He has a deep understanding of the competition law and the CCI procedures. He is organised and ethical. He is also very professional and keeps his word on timelines and quality. He is one of the best in competition law in India and highly recommended.”
“I have been working with Vivek since 2011. He is my go-to person for competition law. I regard him as a reliable and competent competition lawyer. He is highly respected in the competition circuit in India. Well-trained internationally, highly knowledgeable, organised, ethical and known to put his skin in the game and deliver. He is well-placed to manage high-stakes matters, and is very resourceful and accessible.”
“Deep knowledge of competition law, excellent communication and drafting skills, sharp business acumen with an ability to interact directly with business folks. He is practical, solution-oriented and efficient. I recommend him strongly.”
“Vivek is a highly skilled competition lawyer who has a command over the Indian competition law and the EU law. He is extremely resourceful in India and is known for his thinking and long-term strategy. He is well-read, hard-working and very effective. He is a highly reliable competition lawyer in India.”
“Sophisticated antitrust lawyer who understands technology. Has the ability to understand our business and suggest commercially tenable solutions. Effective communication skills and responsive.”
“He is a smart lawyer who is hard-working and reliable.”
“Vivek listens to the client patiently and helps clients to understand legal scenario and risk associated to business in case of noncompliance.”
Saiyam Chaturvedi
“Accessible, commercial and friendly.”
Monika Deshmukh
“Highly competent with strong negotiation skills.”
Rashi Dhir
“Excellent knowledge of law, responsive and good and clear communicator.”
Sachit Jolly
“Clear, concise and to-the-point advice.”
Atishree Sood
“She is a thorough professional, highly attentive to details and always delivers in a timely manner.”
“She has a strong work ethic, effective communications, problem-solving skills, positive attitude and leadership qualities.”
Vihang Virkar
“Vihang is an asset to every deal team. His understanding of the aviation market in India, the laws that apply and the commercial issues that arise, is very impressive. He is great in negotiations and is able to come up with novel solutions to otherwise complex issues.”
Work highlights
Represented Mitsui Prime Advanced Composites India before Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur Bench and the Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi on the issue of whether the client’s secondment arrangement is amenable to the levy of service tax.
Assisted Philips India to file a writ petition against the Union of India in a matter relating to the central Goods and Services Tax Act.
Key clients
Baker Hughes, BDO Rise, EMRI Green Health Services, Trafigura Global Services.
Work highlights
Defended IL&FS in appeals filed by HDFC in the Supreme Court of India. This dispute involves a complex question of debt transfer and its impact on the sale of the property in pursuance of the restructuring process of the client.
Acted for ICICI Bank against several writ petitions that sought redress in instances where the builder failed to hand over possession, prompting the client to commence recovery proceedings against the petitioners.
