Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

Desai & Diwanji climbs up the rankings this year, with clients and peers united in their praise for the firm’s quality service. The firm was involved in several notable deals this year: representing Deutsche Bank in a INR4 billion (US$90.2 million) structured financing for Yamaha Corporation; advising Union Bank of India in the INR20.5 billion (US$462 million) financing of the oil seeds facilities of Amrut Oil; and acting for Punjab National Bank in the INR18.5 billion (US$417 million) structured financing for the export trade and facility expansion requirements of Orbit Exports. One client says: “The lawyers there are simply the best. Their quality is undeniable. I would even say they’re on par if not better than the top largest firms in the country.”

Desai & Diwanji climbs the rankings this year on the back of praise from peers and clients. A competitor notes: “One cannot consider corporate law without thinking of the firm. The lawyers there combine quality with a steady quantity of work.” Some of the notable work from the firm in the past year includes acting for KKR in its acquisition of the Capsugel business of Pfizer, advising Blackstone Capital in its acquisition of a shareholding stake in Monnet Power, and representing Sanofi Pasteur in the acquisition of Shantha Laboratories. One client says: “In the last five years, almost all of our work has been done by the firm. We’re very comfortable with it and honestly there’s no reason to switch. The people there rate very highly on ethics, and that’s a crucial criterion for us.”