PEOPLE

Ketan is a Partner (Corporate & M&A) and Co-Head of the VC Practice at Kochhar & Co., bringing nearly two decades of experience as a corporate attorney. His practice covers a broad range of areas including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, banking and finance, infrastructure, real estate, energy, and capital markets. He is known for his ability to navigate complex commercial and regulatory landscapes and has advised on several high-value domestic and cross-border transactions, acting for multinational corporations, financial institutions, and large Indian business groups.

Before joining Kochhar & Co., he led the corporate practices at leading law firms and has also served as Group Senior Vice President (Legal Strategy and Corporate Planning) at a trust organization, where he oversaw legal functions for a group of more than 300 companies across sectors such as energy, roads, SEZs, insurance, and financial services.

Earlier in his career, he worked as a solicitor with an international law firm in the UK, where he was part of teams advising on significant global transactions, including a major automotive acquisition and a prominent financial institution’s capital raising initiatives.

His advisory work spans corporate restructuring, entry strategies into India, bidding for government contracts, compliance with anti-corruption frameworks, and negotiating complex commercial arrangements. His representative clients include leading global corporations, prominent Indian business groups, major financial institutions, and a range of domestic and international banks.

He holds a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) from NALSAR University of Law and is also a qualified Company Secretary. In addition to India, he is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales. His experience extends across multiple jurisdictions including the UK, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

He is actively involved in industry bodies, serving as an executive member of ASSOCHAM’s National Councils on Law & Policy and Competition Law. He is a life member of the Association of Independent Directors of India, an expert panel member of the Mediation and Conciliation Network, and a registered Insolvency Professional with the IBBI.

He has received several recognitions, including the ‘Rising Star in Legal Fraternity’ by Legal Era and the Chairman’s Award at the Kanoria Foundation, and has been acknowledged as an ‘industry leader’ by Chambers & Partners, among others.

• Represented Daiichi Sankyo Co, Ltd in its acquisition of a majority equity interest (including, a mandatory tender offer) in Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.; further advised Daiichi Sankyo on the open offer for its indirect acquisition of Zenotech Laboratories Ltd.
• Advised Tech Mahindra Ltd. in its acquisition of controlling stake in Satyam Computer Services, Ltd. through a government mandated and structured bidding process; further advised Tech Mahindra in its acquisition of equity stakes in several technology companies.
• Represented Schneider Electric Industries SA in its acquisition of business assets of Zicom Electronic Security Systems Limited, majority shareholding in APW President Systems Limited (listed on BSE), acquisition of business assets of Smartlink Network Systems Limited (listed on BSE-Indonext segment) and majority stake in Luminous Power Technologies Private Limited.
• Advised Softbank Asian Infrastructure Fund (SAIF) and Goldman Sachs on the acquisition of minority stake in the National Stock Exchange. In addition, advised SAIF in respect of its acquisition of substantial stake in the Institute of Computer Accountants, VETA Global Limited, MakeMyTrip, JustDial and IntelliGroup, Inc.
• Represented and structured the acquisition of substantial equity stake by TransUnion International Inc. in the Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd. [The transaction is unique owing to the foreign investments in Credit Information Bureaus, then unprecedented in the Indian markets].
• Acted for a German construction software major in their strategic investments in Indian IT/ ITeS companies. The transactions involved acquisition of capital instruments, sanction of convertible loans and external commercial borrowings.
• Advised and represented VPS Healthcare and Burjeel Holdings in structuring and implementation of divestments of multiple assets owned and operated by its Indian operating entities.
• Acted for and advised USA based entity Slintel Inc. in its acquisition by another US-based entity 6Sense, through a 2-step merger process.
• Led the team in respect of sale of business of supplying profound applications carried on by Profound Solutions Limited and other members of seller’s Group to Independent Transition Management Limited as a going concern.
• Acquisition of assets of Globerian LLC, MDR India and Oak Brook Technologies, India while representing Alpha Thought, Inc.
• Advised and assisted in exit of Matrix Partners India Investment Holdings II, LLC from the Waterlife India Private Limited. Provided end to end support in drafting of documents including SPA and closing documents.