Kanisha Vora
Kanisha Vora has over ten years of experience focusing on matters relating to Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, General Corporate Advisory. She also leads the new Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) vertical at the firm.
She graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai, India in 2010 and has worked as an Associate at Economic Laws Practice, a Mumbai based law firm, for a few years before joining Veritas Legal as a Senior Associate in 2016. She was promoted to Partner in 2021 and continues to be an integral part of the firm’s corporate team.
She has advised various domestic and international clients in acquisition, investment and joint venture transactions across different industries and sectors in India.
Some of her key matters include assisting, advising and acting for:
1) Hotel Leelaventure Limited on the sale of their luxury hotels
2) Aegis group in relation to the acquisition by Itochu of stake in Hindustan Aegis LPG Limited and also in relation to the proposed joint venture between Aegis and Koninklijke Vopak N.V for terminals covering the West and East coast of India.
3) Aditya Birla Conglomerate in relation to the transfer of shares of Aditya Birla Retail Limited to Witzig Advisory Services Private Limited for an enterprise value of approximately US$573 million
4) Straive (formerly SPI Global) in relation to multiple deals, including their diverse acquisitions of Scope E-Knowledge Center Private Limited, Scientific Publishing Services Private Limited and Learning Mate Solutions Private Limited,coupled with the exit of Partners Group through sale of 100% of its shareholding of Straive to Baring Private Equity Asia.
5) Goldman Sachs in its primary investment and secondary acquisition of shares in ElasticRun, Kedaara Capital in its acquisition of a significant minority stake in the non-banking financial company, Veritas Finance Private Limited,
6) K. Raheja Corp Group in a 15% sale of its commercial real estate portfolio to Blackstone and SSP Group in its joint venture with Travel Food Services Private Limited, a leading operator of food and beverage concessions and airport lounges in travel locations in India.
7) Roquette Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (a group company of Roquette Frères, SA) in relation to their acquisition of majority stake of Crest Cellulose Private Limited, Rhea Healthcare (Motherhood Hospitals) in its investment in Meskhenet Healthcare and also the acquisition by Meskhenet Healthcare of the business of Chaitanya Hospitals.
Natasha Sethna
Natasha Sethna has a decade of experience in advising clients on a variety of complex transactions, with a focus on Mergers & Acquisitions & Private Equity.
After graduating in law from India in 2012, Natasha joined the corporate team of AZB & Partners. Thereafter, in 2015, she joined Veritas Legal and was promoted to partner in the corporate team in 2021.
She has represented various international and domestic private equity funds, acquirers, founders, and target companies, in numerous transactions over the course of the years, across different industries and sectors in India, including pharma and healthcare, diagnostics, manufacturing, IT, e-commerce, food and beverages.
Some of her key matters include assisting, advising and acting for:
1. TPG Growth in their investment in Dr. Agarwal’s Healthcare Limited in an INR 1,050 crore funding round, the largest-ever fundraising in the Indian eye care space.
2. Asia Healthcare Holdings (AHH), a healthcare operating platform founded by TPG Growth, in the acquisition of a substantial majority stake in Nova Medical Centres.
3. TPG & CTSI India in relation to the sale of Cancer Treatment Services International to Varian Medical Systems Inc.
4. Universal Medicare Private Limited and Kedaara Capital Fund (through its joint venture entity, Universal Nutriscience Private Limited) in relation to the acquisition of the nutraceutical business of Sanofi India Limited.
5. Funds of Kedaara Capital in relation to their acquisition of a significant minority stake in Vijaya Diagnostics.
6. True North and Sesa Care Private Limited (SCPL) in the acquisition of the ayurvedic, herbal and other hair care products business under the “Sesa” brand from Ban Labs Private Limited.
7. Recipharm AB in connection with the 100% acquisitions of Kemwell (in India, USA and Sweden) and Nitin Lifesciences Limited, plus the acquisition of a minority stake in Nichepharm Lifesciences Private Limited.
8. TPG in connection with investments and divestments in Lenskart, Livspace, Sutures India, Quality Needles, Dodla Dairy, Nykaa and Brainbees Solutions (popularly known as FirstCry).
Prachi Dhanani
Prachi Dhanani has over ten years’ experience in handling matters relating to Commercial Litigation, Dispute Resolution and White Collar Crime before various fora around the country.
Prachi passed her law with Honours from Gujarat National Law University, India and began her professional journey at Wadia Ghandy & Co. in 2011. She joined the litigation and dispute resolution team of Veritas Legal in 2015 and was promoted to Partner in 2021.
She advises and represents clients in both institutional and ad hoc international and domestic arbitrations. She has also acted for clients in connection with disputes arising from real estate, product liability related claims, wills and succession, pharma industry regulations and intellectual property matters.
Some of the key clients she has represented include:
1. Mahindra Life Space Developers Limited in an Appeal filed before the Electricity Appellate Authority challenging the levy of penalty under the Electricity Act, 2003.
2. Windsor Realty Pvt. Ltd. in various proceedings initiated by flat purchasers before the National Commission under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
3. UTV Software Communication Limited in relation to proceedings pertaining to alleged copyright infringement, passing off and breach of confidence for the Bollywood motion picture titled “Rangoon”.
4. Mahindra Happinest Developers Limited before the Hon’ble Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (“RERA”) in relation to disputes pertaining to recovery of consideration for conveyance of land.
5. Bombay Stock Exchange in an arbitration against S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and SPDJ Singapore Pte Ltd. administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre challenging termination of joint venture agreements.
6. Pfizer Limited in connection with the COVID 19 vaccine roll out in India.
7. Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP in proceedings challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 pertaining to the jurisdiction of the National Financial Reporting Authority in relation to proceedings for professional misconduct of Chartered Accountants prior to its constitution.
8. Apex Realty Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Tata Housing Development Company Ltd., in arbitration proceedings against the Government of Maldives for wrongful termination of the Agreement for construction of affordable housing units, associated commercial units and luxury villas in Maldives.
9. Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in challenging the validity of the direction issued by the Government of India sanctioning prosecution and initiation of various proceedings against Deloitte in relation to the audit performed by it for IL&FS Financial Services Ltd., a subsidiary of IL&FS.
10. Mumbai International Airport Limited and the promoters of GVK Group in relation to investigation proceedings initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation pertaining to running of the airport operations of the Mumbai Airport.
11. Mr. Jitender Balakrishnan in an oppression and mismanagement petition filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in public interest to remedy the purported ill-effects and the resultant effect on the economy and infrastructure of the nation on account of alleged mismanagement of affairs of CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited by several of its erstwhile officers, directors and key managerial personnel.
Somrita Chatterji
Somrita Chatterji focuses on Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions and General Corporate Advisory, and has an experience of over ten years.
After completing her law from India, she started her career at AZB & Partners as an Associate in 2011. Post that, she joined Veritas Legal in 2016 and was promoted in 2021 to Partner in the corporate team.
She routinely advises clients on cross border and domestic corporate-commercial transactions including investments, acquisitions, business transfers, joint ventures and divestments. Somrita works on investment transactions across business sectors and represents both private equity investors and strategic clients.
Some of her key deals include assisting, advising and acting for:
1. Partners Group in various acquisitions, including, controlling stake in Atria Convergence Technologies, Indian entities of SPi Global Group and divestment of shares held in Eurokids to KKR.
2. Kedaara Capital on their investment in Vedant Fashions, owners of ethnic-wear brands Manyavar and Mohey.
3. Partners Group and Kedaara Capital in the acquisition of Vishal Mega Mart from TPG Capital.
4. Amagi Media Labs in various investment deals.
5. Signet Excipients Private Limited in the divestment of majority shareholding to IMCD N.V.
6. Serum Institute of India in its acquisition of stake in Schott Kaisha.
7. Pfizer Limited in the sale of certain brands to Abbott Healthcare.
8. Claris Lifesciences in the divestment of their global generic injectables business to Baxter Inc.
9. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals in the divestment of its orthopaedic and pain management business to True North, to be managed in collaboration with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited.
10. Asia Healthcare Holdings a healthcare operating platform founded by TPG Growth, in the acquisition of a substantial majority stake in Nova Medical Centre (Nova) and multiple acquisitions by Nova in India.
11. Mayfield in various transactions including multiple rounds of investments in Licious and Leap India.
12. Epiq Capital in various investments including in CureFit, Dailyhunt and Pristyncare.
13. Techpro Ventures in connection with multiple rounds of investment in Acko General Insurance.
The Firm
Veritas Legal is a law firm with full service offerings established in 2015. Our team brings together the experience of lawyers who have worked in India’s leading law firms. Our team provides clear client-focused legal advice and solutions based on an in-depth knowledge of the legal, regulatory and commercial environment in India. Our clients benefit from our past experience, blended with the personal attention and streamlined advice that we provide.
The firm’s practice extends to all industry sectors and the firm has been able to mark its niche presence in each of its practice areas, having been recognized globally by various reputed publications and ranked in leading legal league tables.
A firm that was set up not too long ago, today has emerged as one of the top 15 business law firms in India, having been recognized by ‘RSG in partnership with Financial Times’ as the ‘Fastest Rising Law Firm’. Some noteworthy recent accolades of the firm include:
- Recognized as a ‘Top Law Firm’ (below 10 years of experience) for Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals, Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Venture, Private Equity & Venture Capital, Real Estate & Construction, White Collar Crime and Family in the Legal Powerlist 2021
- Ranked in Band – 2 for Corporate/M&A: The Elite (India) in 2022 by Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific and Global Guides.
- Ranked in Band – 3 for Private Equity (India) in 2022 by Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific.
- Ranked in Band – 4 for Real Estate (India) in 2022 by Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific.
- Ranked in Tier – 2 for Private Client and White-Collar Crime (India) in 2021 and 2022 by Legal500.
- Ranked in Tier – 3 for Anti-trust and Competition (India) in 2022 by Legal500.
- Recognized as ‘Firms to Watch’ for Real Estate and Construction (India) in 2022 by Legal500.
- Recognized as a ‘Recommended Firm’ for Corporate/M&A and Private Equity (India) in 2022 by Asialaw Profiles.
- Named as a ‘Recognized Firm’ for Dispute Resolution (India) in 2022 by Asialaw Profiles.
- Recognized as a ‘Notable Firm’ for Competition and Real Estate (India) in 2022 by Asialaw Profiles.
- Recognized as ‘Boutique Law Firm of the Year’ by ALB India Law Awards 2021 by Asian Legal Business.
- Recognized as ‘India Firms to Watch’ by Asian Legal Business 2021.
- Awarded ‘Winning Law Firm’ for Private Client Practice in the Indian Law Firm Awards in 2021 and 2022 by IBLJ.
- Ranked in Tier – 3 for Commercial & Transactions in 2022 by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific.
- Recognized as a ‘Notable Firm’ for International Arbitration, Government & Regulatory and Construction in 2022 by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific.
- Recognized as a ‘Recommended Firm’ for White Collar Crime in 2020 to 2022 by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific.
- Awarded ‘Private Equity Law Firm of the Year’ in the BW Legal World Global Legal Leaders Awards 2021.
