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507, Embassy Center E : [email protected]
Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400 021 W: www.suvanlaw.com
A B O U T S U V A N L A W A D V I S O R S
Suvan Law Advisors is a niche law firm based out of Mumbai. We excel in providing quality
service and innovative solutions to our clients. The firm‟s focus areas extend from advice relating
to regulatory issues, corporate advisory to litigation.
We take pride in having a robust regulatory practice. Our partners have expertise and in-depth
knowledge of the regulatory approach, having worked with a regulator itself. We assist our clients
in the regulatory space of Capital Markets, Commodities, Company Related Matters, Competition
and Antitrust, Insurance, Banking, Intellectual Property Rights, Insolvency & Bankruptcy, Real
Estate, Pension Funds, and Telecom & Broadcasting. Additionally, we support various foreign
investors in navigating the regulatory and legal framework in India.
The firm advises Stock and Commodity Exchanges, Banks and Financial Institutions, NBFCs,
Alternative Investment Funds, Foreign Portfolio Investors, Insurers, Reinsurers, Repositories,
Real Estate Companies, Merchant Bankers, Brokers, Mutual Funds, Aggregators, Telecom
Service Providers, Pension Fund Managers, Custodians, and other intermediaries before
regulators, governmental authorities and judicial fora. The firm also advises and assists
companies in the areas of statutory and regulatory compliances. Our corporate practice includes
drafting, vettingand negotiating various commercial contracts. On the transactional side, the firm
works with companies in listed as well as unlisted space and advises on mergers, business
transfers, public issues, takeovers etc.
Our dispute resolution practice focuses on regulatory litigation, which includes drafting of replies
to show cause notices / summons / inspections and assisting clients in due diligence and
investigations. We assist client representation at various fora such as Regulators and their
Appellate Tribunals, High Courts and Supreme Court of India.
N A M E A N D L O G O
“Suvan”, which means “The Sun” in Sanskrit language, is a combination of the first names of our
founding partners. The Sun is a „yes‟ to life! It signifies success, radiance and abundance. Our
name also draws inspiration from the US Supreme Court Justice Louis Dembitz Brandeis‟ famous
quote “Sunlight is… the best of disinfectants”, which is the principle behind creation of
regulators globally for transparency and disclosures.
Our logo contains the representation of the sun with ten rays, highlighting books and a pen in the
middle. The Sun with ten rays is an image of optimism and fulfilment, the dawn that follows the
darkest night. The number 10 symbolizes the completion of a cycle, the ten directions as per
vaastushastra wheel of fortune and is a number of the universal creation. Ten rays in Suvan‟s
logo represents leadership, confidence, strength, independence, force, clarity, adaptability,
warmth, creativity, and positivity in our working style and culture. The symbolization of books
and pen epitomize our mantra that „knowledge is power‟.
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507, Embassy Center E : [email protected]
Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400 021 W: www.suvanlaw.com
O U R P R A C T I C E A R E A S
Regulatory & Investment Law
We have a niche practice in regulatory and investment law. We assist in formation, recognition
and registration of new intermediaries, products and services. The firm handles complex
regulatory and transactional issues, represents clients in legislative matters and provides inputs
during policy formation before Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and
Regulators.
The firm also coordinates with think tanks and industry bodies such as Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),
Association of National Members of India (ANMI), Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry
(BCC), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Association of
Investment Bankers of India (AIBI), Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), All-India
Association of Industries (AIAI), Indian Merchants' Chambers (IMC)and National Association of
Software & Service Companies (NASSCOM).We also support clients in due diligence, listing,
disclosures, enforcement, and various legal and regulatory compliances in the following areas: -
1. Capital, Commodity & Securities Markets (SEBI & Exchanges)
2. Company related matters (ROC, MCA & NCLT)
3. Insurance Industry (IRDAI)
4. Banking, Financial Institutions and NBFCs (RBI)
5. Anti-Money Laundering Law (Enforcement Directorate & FIU)
6. Pension Funds Advisory (PFRDA)
7. Telecom and Broadcasting Sector (TRAI)
8. Competition & Anti-trust (Competition Commission of India)
9. Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India)
10. Real Estate Advisory (Real Estate Regulatory Authority)
11. Intellectual Property (Registrar, Controller and IPAB)
Advisory Practice
We provide legal opinions and advisory services to corporates and intermediaries on applicability
and interpretation of regulatory and corporate law. We also advise on inbound and outbound
investment through various routes, such as Foreign Direct Investment, External Commercial
Borrowing and Foreign Portfolio Investment.
Dispute Resolution
Our team is comprised of former regulatory officers and other lawyers who have litigated
significant regulatory matters. With a focus on dispute resolution on the regulatory side, we excel
in regulatory enforcement and litigation representation.
We have experience is drafting of replies to show cause notices, ad-interim orders, summons and
letters requesting information. We assist clients in regulatory surveillance, inspection,
investigation, consent or settlement, attachment or recovery proceedings. We regularly represent
clients before regulators as well as their appellate tribunals, right up to Supreme Court.
The firm also engages in other litigation and arbitration in the area of corporate and commercial
law.
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507, Embassy Center E : [email protected]
Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400 021 W: www.suvanlaw.com
Corporate Law
The firm‟s general corporate practice is diverse and provides a holistic solution to our clients. We
assist clients with various legal issues that arise in operating business on a daily basis including
providing legal advice and creating legal documentation such as contracts.
We draft and negotiate various commercial contracts, including joint venture agreements,
business transfer agreements, employment contracts, on behalf of our clients. We also conduct
due diligence and draft transactional documents for corporate transactions. The firm focuses on
ensuring we give our clients personalized, practical advice, taking into account the context of
their business and the regulating authorities.
K E Y C O N T A C T S
S U M I T A G R A W A L
Sumit Agrawal, Partner Former Asst. Legal Advisor, SEBI
Member, FICCI Capital Markets Committee
Visiting Faculty, Govt. Law College, Mumbai
Areas of expertise | Financial Regulatory Practice, Capital,
Commodities & Insolvency Advisory
Qualification | Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, India
Contact | [email protected]
Sumit has worked with India‟s securities and commodities regulator during 2007 to 2016. During
his stint, he has worked with various verticals viz. Integrated Surveillance, Legal Affairs and
Regulatory Policy, Commodities Derivatives and Enforcement‟s SAT Litigation. At SEBI, he has
been part of Chief Justice N. K. Sodhi Committee on Insider Trading, investigation team for IPO
Scam (Roopalben Panchal Scam) and surveillance inquiries of Satyam Scam. He also played a
key role in formulating norms for tackling frauds and unfair trade practices, disclosures in public
issues, merger of Forward Markets Commission (FMC) with SEBI, and challenge to SEBI‟s
power to seek telephone Call Data Records. He was also part of the team that formulated SEBI
(Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 and assisted Ministry of
Finance with Securities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2014. During these years at SEBI, he worked
closely with MoF, MCA, RBI, CCI, ICSI, NASDAQ, U.S. SEC, law firms, senior counsels,
Enforcement Directorate etc. on several issues.
Sumit is also an author of India‟s first and only comprehensive commentary book on SEBI Act
1992, which dwelled on each provision of the Act and also projected possible future amendments.
Sumit speaks on capital markets & securities laws at various academic and professional institutes
including NISM, BSE, ICSI & Government Law College, Mumbai. He also regularly features as
a regulatory law expert in leading financial newspapers and electronic media.
Sumit appears before various judicial foras including representing insurance regulator IRDAI at
the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT). He also advises listed companies and other market
intermediaries on regulatory issues, including on insider trading, fraud, takeover, listing
requirements, etc. He advises on fund structures and regulatory requirements for obtaining
registration with the regulators. He is also assisting in obtaining one-of-the-first Information
Utility registration under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India. Sumit regularly provides
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inputs on policy issues to the regulator as well as government, including as a member of the
FICCI Capital Markets Committee.
V A N E E S A A G R A W A L
Vaneesa Agrawal, Partner LL.M., New York University
B.B.A, LL.B., NLU Jodhpur
Former Legal Officer, SEBI
Areas of expertise | Corporate Advisory & Litigation; Capital
Markets and Insurance Law
Qualification | Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, India
Contact | [email protected]
Vaneesa is a corporate lawyer and strategic advisor at the firm. She has previously worked with
the General Corporate team of Majmudar & Co., Financial Regulatory Practice team of
Amarchand & Mangaldas& Suresh A. Shroff & Co. and as a Legal officer of SEBI.
At SEBI, she was extensively involved in drafting regulations such as SEBI (Foreign Portfolio
Investor) Regulations, 2014; SEBI (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Redeemable Preference
Shares) Regulations, 2013 and amendments to SEBI (Alternate Investment Funds) Regulations,
2012. She was also part of the SEBI team assisting Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) in
implementation of the Companies Act, 2013.
She appears regularly before the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), Bombay High Court,
National Company Law Tribunal. She advises corporates on various issues including on a broad
range of issues relating to corporate M&A, private equity, structuring of documents, stock and
commodities exchange regulations, arbitrations, intellectual property rights, insurance laws anti-
trust issues, commercial arrangements and merger control. She writes regularly on issues related
to securities and corporate law and is also quoted by media frequently.
M E D I A C O V E R A G E
A R T I C L E S
Media Title/Subject Date/Year
1. Bar and Bench #Budget 2017: 7 Key Takeaways for the
Financial Markets February 1, 2017
2. Indian Corporate
Law
Towards a Conducive Framework for
REITs – Recent SEBI Amendments December 22, 2016
3. India Business
Law Journal
Cover Story: Going Public November 28, 2016
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4. Indian Corporate
Law
A Tricky Game: The Legality of
Fantasy Trading in India September 1, 2016
5. Bar and Bench Supreme Court Overrules Securities
Tribunal on IPO Scam July 14, 2016
6. Bar and Bench SEBI‟s Penalty Powers under Review –
Out, Not Out, Third Umpire! March 20, 2016
7. Bar and Bench 6 ways in which #Budget 2016 affects
SEBI, and the Securities markets March 01, 2016
8. Bar and Bench SEBI-FMC: The First Merger of
Regulators in India October 01, 2015
9. Indian Corporate
Law
Financial Assets and the Rights of
Nominees and Successors May 30, 2015
10. Moneycontrol SAT: Common Appellate Authority For
SEBI, PFRDA & IRDA January 20, 2015
11. Bar and Bench SEBI Order in DLF Ltd.: Are further
regulatory actions forthcoming
October 27, 2014
12. Indian Corporate
Law
Critical Analysis of Securities Laws
(Amendments) Bill, 2014
August 7, 2014
13. Economic Times Power ordinance in Parliament a litmus
test for Sebi
July 19, 2014
14. Economic Times Growing interest in Bitcoins: Time for
India to welcome it as “currency”?
June 18, 2014
15. Indian Corporate
Law
Air Travel, International Airlines and
Liabilities
March 23, 2010.
16. SEBI &
Corporate Laws
Combating Circular & Synchronized
Trading Through Market Surveillance:
A Study of NYSE & NSE Procedures
2007
17. Labour Law
Journal
Law and Economics of Minimum Wage
Jurisprudence
2007
18. Consolidated
Commercial
Digest
Reality of Realty Investments: Need of
Real Estate Regulator
2007
19. Corporate Law Outsourcing of Banking Activities and
Foreign Intermediaries 2006
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Adviser
20. Company Law
Journal
e-Proxies‟ under Indian Companies Act 2006
21. Labour Law
Journal
Solicitors Firm as an Industry: Need of
the Hour
2005
22. Lawz Magazine Will versus Probate: Birla-Lodha
Controversy
2004
23. Lawz Magazine
Match Fixing: Is it a Crime
2004
N E W S A N D V I E W S
Media
Title/Subject
Date/Year
1. Livemint Cyrus Mistry losing ground to Tata Sons, but legal battle far from
over February 6,
2017
2. Economic
Times
Mallya has to get HC relief to hang on to UB post: Expert January 28,
2017
3. Economic
Times
SEBI to bar Vijay Mallya from securities market January 25,
2017
4. Business
Standard
Two years on, securities tribunal still lukewarm January 25,
2017
5. The Hindu SEBI reviews rules for removal of firms‟ independent directors January 21,
2017
6. Business
Standard
Legal hurdle in I-T action against 32,000 entities January 20,
2017
7. Livemint Penny stock scam: Sebi to act only in cases of price rigging January 20,
2017
8. Business
Standard
Rules spur P-note closure at UBS January 16,
2017
9. The Hindu SEBI ensures greater say for public shareholders in merger cases January 15,
2017
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10. Business
Standard
SEBI tightens rules for mergers & acquisitions among unlisted
firms
January 15,
2017
11. The Hindu
Business Line
Celebrity endorsement of mutual funds only at industry level: SEBI January 14,
2017
12. Livemint SEBI tightens merger and amalgamations norms January 14,
2017
13. The Hindu
Business Line
SEBI streamlines norms for mergers involving listed companies January 14,
2017
14. The Hindu
Business Line
SEBI lowers brokers fees by 25% January 14,
2017
15. Economic
Times
SEBI may appoint three EDs shortly January 7,
2017
16. VCCircle Exclusive: CX Partners-backed SIS crosses regulatory hurdles to
IPO
January 4,
2017
17. Live Mint One-third of Sebi orders were referred back by SAT last year January 4,
2017
18. Live Mint Mutual Fund distributors can‟t offer incidental advice, asserts SEBI January 3,
2017
19. The Hindu Tata Sons asks Mistry to return all „property‟ December
29, 2016
20. Live Mint NSE IPO papers: Audit found unfair access for brokers
December
29, 2016
21. Reuters Battle lines forming for Tata legal showdown
December
28, 2016
22. Business
Standard
Burden of proof on Mistry as battle lines form for Tata legal
showdown
December
28, 2016
23. The Hindu Tata Sons serves legal notice on Cyrus Mistry
December
28, 2016
24. The Hindu Mistry initiates legal action against Tata Sons for „oppression‟ and
„mismanagement December
21, 2016
25. Live Mint The options before Cyrus Mistry December
21, 2016
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26. Business
Standard
Mistry moves law tribunal against Tata Sons December
21, 2016
27. Live Mint Cyrus Mistry cedes space to take moral high ground December
20, 2016
28. Economic
Times
Nusli Wadia met SEBI Chairman UK Sinha on November 24 on
Tata Group issues
December
20, 2016
29. The Hindu To be, or not to be, an independent director December
19, 2016
30. Live Mint Tata Sons sought legal opinion on independent directors December
15, 2016
31. Business
Standard
India Inc worries over handling sensitive info December
13, 2016
32. Business
Standard
Govt readies norms for GIFT exchanges November
25, 2016
33. Hindu Business
Line SEBI‟s start-up boost: allows 200 investors in a scheme
November
23, 2016
34. Business
Standard
Profit-sharing deals with PEs will need shareholders' nod
November
23, 2016
35. Hindu Business
Line
No promoter-PE side deals sans board, shareholder nod
November
23, 2016
36. Live Mint Are Tata group independent directors doing justice to their role?
November
18, 2016
37. Live Mint Tata Global Beverages board removes Cyrus Mistry as chairman
November
16, 2016
38. Business
Standard
Money-pooling schemes, buying stocks under I-T lens
November
15, 2016
39. Live Mint Tata Sons seeks Cyrus Mistry‟s removal from TCS, IHCL boards
November
11, 2016
40. Hindu Business
Line
Will Mistry be removed from other Tata firms?
November
10, 2016
41. Hindu Business
Line
How corporate governance has become complicated November
10, 2016
42. Live Mint Sebi looks to tighten rules for credit rating agencies October 25,
2016
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43. Business
Standard
Jewellers' gold saving schemes come under Sebi's glare
October 17,
2016
44. Hindu Business
Line
Doubling of managerial remuneration to aid in talent acquisition,
retention October 17,
2016
45. Business
Standard
Merger: Should non-compete fee be dropped? October 12,
2016
46. Economic
Times
Post HDFC Life-Max Life deal, Sebi reviews the concept of non-
compete fees
October 10,
2016
47. Business
Standard
Overseas investors face challenges in moving to new FPI regime October 6,
2016
48. Economic
Times Sebi tightens norms on promoter-private equity side deals
September
24, 2016
49. Business
Standard
Sebi relaxes InvITs, REITs rules; sops to foreign investors
September
24, 2016
50. Live Mint NSE submits concerns to Sebi about listing on BSE
September
23, 2016
51. Business
Standard
CBI raids: Sebi may approach FinMin
September
22, 2016
52. Business
Standard
Sebi officials feel CBI heat
September
21, 2016
53. Economic
Times
Sebi plans to allow FPIs have multiple Demat accounts
September
19, 2016
54. Business
Standard
Sebi faces hurdles in ponzi scheme money recovery
September
16, 2016
55. Business
Standard
Sebi might ask Diageo to revise USL open offer
September
14, 2016
56. Live Mint Sebi working group calls for simpler rules for FPIs
September
8, 2016
57. Business
Standard
Crowdfunding platforms under regulatory glare
September
7, 2016
58. Business
Standard
Sebi's insider trading norms ruffle India Inc's feathers
September
5, 2016
59. The Hindu Most pending cases at SEBI more than two years old
August 31,
2016
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60. Business
Standard
More options for settlement under new Sebi norms
August 30,
2016
61. Zee Business
Channel
Legality of Online stock games and Fantasy Stock Trading Websites
in India
August 25,
2016
62. Live Mint Sebi‟s failure to gauge market pulse delays development of key
products
August 24,
2016
63. Business
Standard
Sebi faces staff crunch in legal dept
August 04,
2016
64. Economic
Times
Notice on additional payments: Diageo set to challenge Sebi‟s notice
on open offer
August 04,
2016
65. Economic
Times
PMO seeks views on role of appellate tribunal, Sebi, CCI
July 18,
2016
66. Economic
Times
Sebi initiates investigations into all contracts involving
Vijay Mallya, Diageo and USL
July 15,
2016
67. The Hindu Another SEBI law officer quits to start his own law firm
June 29,
2016
68. Bar and Bench SEBI‟s Sumit Agrawal goes independent with Suvan Law Advisors
June 28,
2016
69. The Bold
Broadcast
In conversation with Founder of Suvan Law Advisors Mr. Sumit
Agarwal
June 28,
2016
70. Live Mint NSE to file for IPO in January, plans overseas listing too
June 27,
2016
71. Business
Standard
Sebi wants to regain discretionary power on penalties
May 17,
2016
72. Economic
Times
SAT criticisesSebi for passing conflicting orders on similar
securities law violations April 25,
2016
73. The Economic
Times
Sahara chief Subrata Roy to be produced in Mumbai court
in Sebi case
March 30,
2016
74. Live Mint SEBI to revise rules to reinstate discretionary power on
penalties
March 29,
2016
75. Business
Standard
Supreme Court questions own penalty ruling
March 23,
2016
76. Mumbai
Mirror
Student Moves HC for Speedier Response by Emergency
Services
March 10,
2016
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77. Live Mint NSE Bypasses Sebi, writes to finance ministry on lis ting
stand-off
February
01, 2016
78. Business
Standard
Sebi mulls collective issue of orders, not via a singl e
officer
December
25, 2015
79. Economic
Times
Sebi issues show-cause notice to RBL bank
December 7,
2015
80. Business
Standard
Exit offer if 10% investors dissent
December 1,
2015
81. Economic
Times
SAT rules in favour of DLF; slams Sebi for 'miscarriage of
justice
March 14,
2015
82. Economic
Times
Sebi uses new powers to effect first arrest
December
19, 2014
83. Business
Standard
Sebi mulls another revamp of settlement proceedings
November
18, 2014
84. Economic
Times
New insider trading norms to target honchos, auditors;
bar likely on derivatives trade
November
12, 2014
85. Economic
Times
SAT dismisses RIL appeal against Sebi
July 01,
2014
86. Live Mint SAT dismisses RIL‟s appeal against Sebi in 2007 consent
ruling
June 30,
2014
87. Economic
Times
Sebi issues fresh notice to HDFC Mutual Fund
June 24,
2014
88. Economic
Times
Bombay High Court says Sebi can seek call data, but must
act with care
May 6, 2014
89. Economic
Times
Call Data Record is important evidence in fraud cases,
says Sebi
Jul 31, 2013
90. Beyond The
Walls
A seminar on Securities Law at We School, Rafique Dada-
Sumit Agrawal
July 09,
2013
91. Business Line Understanding the SEBI Act
May 5, 2012
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C O N T A C T U S
Suvan Law Advisors
507, Embassy Center,
Jamnalal Bajaj Road,
Nariman Point,
Mumbai – 400 021
[email protected]
www.suvanlaw.com
