JSA is a leading, pan-India full-service firm that excels in a number of areas including energy, infrastructure, technology and telecommunications, banking and finance, and construction. Its regulatory practice is well-regarded due to the firm’s strong credentials with telecoms, energy and infrastructure authorities. This year the firm made notable strides in the rankings, rising into the top tier for its real estate, capital markets, private equity and restructuring and insolvency offerings. It additionally ascended a notch in the competition, investment funds and tax rankings. In two recent blockbuster moves that shook the legal industry, the firm recruited competition doyenne Nisha Kaur Uberoi and her 25-strong team from Trilegal, as well as M&A star Iqbal Khan and his 20-member contingent from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. The firm was also busy shoring up its dispute resolution group with the additions of partners Shreya Sircar from Luthra and Luthra Law Offices; a four-lawyer team led by up-and-coming partner Padmaja Kaul from IndusLaw; and another four-lawyer group with partner Ayush Agarwala from Krishnamurthy & Co. Former DSK partner, real estate specialist Brijita Prakash, and corporate expert Santosh Vijay from Krishnamurthy & Co, were also welcomed into the fold earlier this summer.
Client feedback
“The team is very responsive, super-bright and always raises excellent points. As one of the top competition practices in India, they provide advice in a business-friendly and pragmatic way.”– Competition/antitrust
“The team is excellent. The team offers fresh, dynamic and commercial advice, is clear at explaining the law and very good at understanding our business. When working on massive cases with horrendous deadlines they are able to keep an eye on the bigger picture and maintain a sense of perspective at all times, I would rate them very highly.” – Competition/antitrust
“My experience with the competition team was fantastic and they delivered on every word they promised. The key strengths for me were the fact there were experienced lawyers at all levels, whether you were dealing with associates or partners. They really know their stuff, the intricacies of antitrust regulation and how the process actually works. They are also really responsive.” – Competition/antitrust
“My experience with the team was fantastic and they delivered on every word they promised.” – Competition/antitrust
“The team is very easy to work with and very inclusive in their way of operating. The work is high-quality, and the team is responsive.” – Competition/antitrust
“They have good understanding of the Electricity Act of India and know-how of all regulations, practices of the central and state power sector regulators, etc.” – Energy
“JSA has been one of our go-to firms for banking and finance deals. Aashit Shah has been our relationship partner, and we have been very happy with the depth of the team, the level of service and responsiveness from the team. Their advice is thoughtful, and they are thoroughly dependable.” – Restructuring and insolvency
Vaibhav Choukse
“He is our go-to guy for any competition law advice. I think he is a well-rounded lawyer with the ability to think through problems and find workable and innovative solutions. He invests an enormous amount of time and effort to understand our business and can add lots of pragmatic advice. He's the most talented lawyer in the room in negotiations and he knows the law off the top of his head. His advocacy skills and his strategic thinking and reasoning really set him apart.”
“In the course of my dealings with JSA, I have mostly worked with Vaibhav. I find him to be insightful with a keen understanding of client needs and gives practical advice, which shows his sensitivities to commercial realities. He came up with a unique strategy, he made sure we were protected, and we are now in a much better position than before. He’s a known guy in the competition law circle. I would rate him very highly for his work.”
“He has a strong commercial sense and client-centric approach, which is dominated by practical considerations. He engages with client's senior and local management with ease, but the best part is that he is extremely approachable and grounded. His approach is professional, and the quality is exceptional, all elements of a seasoned antitrust lawyer.”
“He has a strong commercial sense and client-centric approach, which is dominated by practical considerations.”
“I find him to be insightful with a keen understanding of client needs. He gives practical advice, which shows his sensitivities to commercial realities.”
Aashit Shah
“Aashit is very level-headed with great depth of knowledge and experience of the market. He has a great team of partners who are reliable and can provide a very high level of service.”
Vishnu Sudarsan
“Great knowledge of the sector, meets deadlines for delivery and suggests innovative solutions.”
Work highlights
Advised BPEA EQT in acquiring a $1.1 billion majority stake in Indira IVF, India’s largest chain of fertility clinics.
Acted for BPEA EQT as part of a consortium that acquired Credila for $1.2 billion. This was largest private equity investment in India’s financial sector.
Work highlights
Successfully defended PepsiCo India Holdings before the Supreme Court of India in criminal appeals filed by the State of Uttar Pradesh challenging the judgment of Allahabad High Court quashing FIRs registered under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code for alleged offences of food adulteration.
Successfully won an appeal for Adani Power Maharashtra against an order of Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission denying change in law reliefs to the client.
Work highlights
Advised the RP and steering company of Meenakshi Energy, which is undergoing CIRP.
Acted for the Committee of Creditors, Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroka and IDBI Bank, of Go Airlines.
Work highlights
Advised Temasek on acquiring a controlling stake in Manipal Hospitals, the largest healthcare PE deal in India.
Acted for GAIL on its acquisition of a controlling stake in a Cyprus entity engaged in the business of chartering LNG carriers.
Represented Oil India on its strategic equity investment in an entity engaged in the green hydrogen business in India.
Key clients
Clearlake Capital Group, DuPont, Ford Motors, Google, Microsoft, Mobiv Acquisition, Pepsico India, Singapore Telecommunications.
Work highlights
Advised IDFC First Bank on its qualified institutional placement (QIP), one of the biggest QIPs in 2023.
Acted for Cello World on its IPO.
Represented the Exim Bank of India on its $10 billion global medium term note programme issuance.
Work highlights
Represented DBS Bank on its financing to the renewable energy companies of Amplus Group.
Acted for Standard Chartered Bank on its construction loan to a warehouse project of Welspun One.
Advised JP Morgan Chase Bank on its $900 million private credit financing alongside Oaktree Capital to Vedanta Group.
Work highlights
Advised Hitachi Energy India on the legal and regulatory framework in relation to the nuclear liability regime in India, particularly with respect to suppliers and contractors involved in nuclear power projects, including on small module reactors.
Acted for Hero MotoCorp in developing the framework to set up charging infrastructure and subscription-based charging stations at BPCL locations across the country.
Work highlights
Assisted India Grid Trust in its acquisition of 100% stake in Khargone Transmission from Sterlite Power Transmission.
Acted for the International Council on Clean Transportation in relation to evaluating the legal authority for enabling various types of zero emission vehicle mandates in India.
