About Us

About Karanjawala & co.

Founded in 1983 by Mrs. Manik Karanjawala and Mr. Raian Karanjawala, Karanjawala & Co. stands as India’s premier full-service dispute resolution firm. For over four decades, the Firm has defined the litigation landscape of the country, blending a storied legacy with a modern, powerhouse approach to legal advocacy.

Operating from the heart of New Delhi, the Firm has earned an unrivalled reputation for navigating the most complex legal challenges with precision, discretion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Karanjawala & Co. is distinguished by its extraordinary track record and judicial footprint:

· Featured in over 825 reported judgments by the Supreme Court of India alone.
· Successfully managed over 32,000 legal matters to date.
· Honoured with more than 400 awards and accolades, cementing its position as a Tier-1 litigation firm.

While its roots are firmly planted in the Supreme Court of India and the High Courts, the Firm’s reach is comprehensive. It maintains a formidable presence across all subordinate courts and tribunals within the National Capital Region (NCR) and provides seamless, pan-India litigation management for its global clientele.

Karanjawala & Co. has been consistently ranked by Chambers and Partners in Band 1 for Dispute Resolution in its rankings for the years 2018 to 2026.

The Firm is the preferred partner for clients seeking exceptional legal expertise. The Firm’s illustrious client list is a testament to its versatility, featuring an impressive array of corporate giants over the years, including the Tata Group, DLF, ArcelorMittal, the Birla Group, the Adani Group, Google, Astro, Hindustan Unilever, P&G, Colgate, Coca Cola, Vodafone, Price Waterhouse Coopers, GVK, Mafatlal Industries, Piramal Group, Ambuja Cement, GMR, Morgan Stanley, Star TV, BCCI, Coffee Board, Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Hindustan Times Ltd., and MSD Pharmaceuticals, as well as a diverse range of individual clients who rely on its expertise and dedication.

Despite association with high-profile cases, the Firm remains deeply committed to the principle of justice for all, handling the day-to-day legal requirements of individual litigants with the same rigor and dedication as its corporate mandates.

The Firm’s strength lies in a collaborative powerhouse of talent. At Karanjawala & Co. Advocates, a client is a client of the Firm, not an individual. This philosophy ensures that every matter benefits from the collective expertise of our nine partners and over 70+ legal professionals.

The Firm offers more than mere legal representation; we provide strategic insight and clarity. Our approach is characterized by judicious, meticulous, and comprehensive legal counsel, delivered with a focus on expeditious resolution and cost-effectiveness. By combining profound institutional knowledge with adaptable strategies, we empower our clients to achieve their objectives within an increasingly intricate legal landscape.

Our Journey

1983

Represented the Sitaram Jaipuria family in a dispute to retain control of the company Swadeshi Polytech

Represented the Bombay Hawkers’ Union to challenge the action of the Bombay Municipal Corporation in disallowing 150,000 hawkers from exercising their fundamental right to trade

Appeared in the high profile litigation of Liberty Oil Mills often referred to as the “Beef –tallow” case

1985

Appeared for Ms. Maneka Gandhi in her Election Petition

Successfully represented former PM, Mr. V.P. Singh before the Thakkar Natarajan Commission

Represented Mr. Navneet Kamani in the Kamani family dispute

Appeared in a high profile litigation involving Mr. Nusli Wadia and Indian Express against the Ambanis in Reliance Petrochemicals vs. The Indian Express

Successfully represented the Coffee Board in a case questioning the imposition of purchase tax on compulsory acquisition of coffee by the Coffee Board under Section 25 of The Coffee Act

1990

Successfully represented former PM, Mr. V.P. Singh before the Jain Commission

Appointed as the legal retainer for both the national carriers, Air India & Indian Airlines and appeared on behalf of Indian Airlines for an enquiry into the Airbus A-320 crash at Bangalore

Appeared for Mr. Vivek Goenka in the fight for control of The Indian Express against his cousin Mr. Manoj Sonthalia

Appeared for Mr.Rama Narang in the Ambassador Hotel litigation

Appeared for Morgan Stanley Mutual Fund in a case where the public issue was injuncted by the Consumer Forum at Calcutta on the day previous to its opening

Represented Mr. Bhajan Lal, the then CM of Haryana; Nizam of Hyderabad; and Mr. Sharad Pawar in various litigations

Successfully represented Mr. Nusli Wadia in a dispute for take-over of Britannia Industries

Successfully represented Mr. Madhavrao Scindia in the high profile Jain Hawala Diaries case involving Mr. L.K. Advani, Mr.V.C. Shukla, Mr. Buta Singh, and several others

Successfully represented Lufthansa in the battle against Modiluft

Retained on behalf of Star TV all over India and was their litigating Firm for over 15 years

Regularly serviced corporates, noteworthy among which were Bombay Dyeing, Britannia, Hindustan Lever, Colgate, Nirma, Mafatlal Industries, Gujarat Ambuja Cement, Tata Tea, The Taj Group & The Hindustan Times

Successfully represented renowned international musician Yanni for permission to perform at the Taj Mahal

Appeared on behalf of Tata Tea both in the Guwahati High Court and the Supreme Court

2000

Appeared on behalf of the well known political family of Badals in criminal cases which were filed against them

Appeared for Dr. Karan Singh in a high profile litigation involving his claim for articles / jewellery kept at the Toshakhana, Srinagar

Represented the Cellular Operators Association challenging the grant of the WLL Licence to Fixed Line Operators

Successfully represented the textile mills in the Bombay Mill Lands Case involving a monetary stake of over Rs. 20,000 Crores

Represented the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in various cases

2005

Successfully represented Mr. Jaswant Singh and ensured the lifting of the ban imposed by the State of Gujarat on his biography of Mr. Mohammed Ali Jinnah

Represented Mr.Nimesh Kampani in a prosecution

Represented Mr. Nusli Wadia and his mother, Ms. Dina Wadia (daughter of Mr. Mohammed Ali Jinnah) claiming rights over Jinnah House

Appeared on behalf of the Tata Industries Ltd. (TIL) against Grasim in an arbitration with a claim of over Rs. 1000 crores

Defended the interests of Tata Steel when the State of Bihar sought to deny the company benefits to the tune of Rs.600 crores, from exemptions that were due to them under the Bihar Industrial Policy of 1955

Successfully represented Mr. Suresh Nanda in the case pertaining to the seizure of his passport by the CBI

Appeared for Mr. Sanjeev Nanda in the ‘BMW case’

Successful in the prosecution of Mr. Dilip Pendse for perpetration of a fraud on TATA Finance

Successfully represented Coca-Cola India in a PIL alleging presence of pesticides in the soft drink

Represented the Birlas in the Supreme Court in the Birla-Lodha dispute

Appeared on behalf of Mr. Rashmi Mehta in the Lilavati Hospital dispute

Appeared on behalf of Mr.Gopal Raheja in the litigation involving other members of his family

Appointed as counselling law firm to the TATA Group

Appeared for film star Ms. Karishma Kapoor to defend her interests before the Delhi High Court in the matter concerning the passport of her minor daughter

Successfully obtained bail for Dr. Binayak Sen from the Supreme Court in a prosecution filed against him by the state of Chattisgarh

Successfully represented the Strategic Electronic Division of Tata Power in a challenge by Selex (an Italian Company), over the award of a contract for the construction of 30 military airstrips across India

2010

Represented Mr. Ratan N. Tata in the Writ Petition (“Privacy Petition”) filed by him pertaining to indiscriminate publication of the Niira Radia tapes

Represented interests of BCCI in a litigation involving Mr. Lalit Modi

Defended the Directors of Price Waterhouse Cooper in various litigations

Appeared for Vodafone in the sensitive Telecom case where 122 licenses were ultimately cancelled

Appeared for Mr. Karim Morani in the 2G case

Defended the interests of Tata Motors in a litigation against the State of West Bengal regarding the acquisition of land in Singur

Appeared on behalf of Mr. Ram Jethmalani in the Black Money case

Represented the ABP Group in the challenge that they mounted against the findings given by the Wage Board

Representing India’s largest Real Estate Company- DLF Ltd. on a regular basis.

Represented Bharti Shipyard Ltd. against Ferrostaal in what has come to be known as the landmark ‘BALCO’ judgment.

Successfully represented GVK EMRI in a matter concerning emergency medical services.

Successfully represented SEB INTERNATIONALE SAS, a global leader of household appliances against Mr. Harish Kumar, MD of Maharaja Whiteline Industries Pvt. Ltd.

Regularly representing the radio channel Radio City against music owners/ societies in disputes relating to royalties.

Successfully represented Mr. Rohit Shekhar against Mr. N.D Tiwari in a suit for declaration of paternity.

Successfully represented world renowned surgeon Dr. P.B. Desai in a case of criminal medical negligence.

Represented Mr. Tarun Tejpal, erstwhile editor-in-chief of the Tehelka weekly magazine, accused of rape.

Represented Union Minister, Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia in disputes relating to the sovereign estate of Gwalior.

Represented the Attorney General for India, Late Mr. Goolam E Vahanvati.

Represented India’s leading private sector bank – Yes Bank on a regular basis

Represents the Indian multinational conglomerate company, Adani Enterprises.

Represented Britannia Industries Ltd. in a case pertaining to infringement of trademark, copyright, passing off and unfair competition.

Successfully represented Mr. Vidya Sagar Nishad in the highly publicized Fodder Scam trial in which Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav had been convicted.

Successfully represented Mr. Emanuel Emcarnacion, a serving officer of the NYPD on his arrest at the IGI Airport in New Delhi on account of recovery of three live bullets from his check-in luggage.

Appeared on behalf of Strategic Energy Technology Systems Pvt. Ltd, a joint venture between Tata Steel and Sasol Synfuels International Pvt. Limited (a South African Company).

Represented Air Asia International Ltd. and Tata Singapore Airlines in a series of litigations which began with a PIL filed by Dr. Subramanian Swamy.

Successfully represented Mr. Aveek Sarkar, the editor and publisher of the Anand Bazar Patrika, in criminal proceedings initiated for obscenity for the publication of a picture of Boris Becker posing nude with his fiancée, along with an article against the practice of apartheid.

Successfully represented Mr. V. K. Verma in the CWG scam.

Appeared on behalf of the investors in the financial fraud worth Rs. 5,600 crores, committed by Mr. Jignesh Shah in which over 13,000 investors were victims.

Represented Mr. Sanjoy Narayan, the Editor in Chief of the Hindustan Times in the Supreme Court in a case where he has been falsely impleaded for contempt.

Successfully represented M/s Tata Capital Financial Services against M/s Deccan Chronicle Holding Ltd. before the Delhi High Court.

Successfully represented Dr. J.J. Irani, and Mr. P.N. Roy before the Supreme Court involving various criminal complaints made against them under the Factories Act, 1948.

Successfully represented TATA Steel Ltd. before the High Court of Odisha and the Supreme Court

Successfully represented M/s Delhi Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd. against National Highway Authority of India.

Successfully represented Mr. Vispy Kapadia, a world renowned and globally acclaimed karate coach before the Supreme Court of India.

Appeared for Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Dr. Nupur Talwar in the Supreme Court in the Aarushi murder case

2015

Represented Tata Steel regularly in litigation related to its mines before the Supreme Court, High Courts of Delhi, Odisha and Jharkhand and the Mines Tribunal.

Successfully represented Mr. Ratan Tata and the Tata Group against Mr. Cyrus Mistry, erstwhile Chairman of Tata Sons in one of the most hotly contested and widely covered corporate battles in India’s recent history.

Successfully represented TATA Motors Ltd. in arbitration proceedings against Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

Successfully represented DLF Group in a number of matters across various fora.

Successfully carved out a niche practice in Consumer and Debt Recovery matters. The Consumer team filed over 1,000 cases in the National Commission with a high success rate, many on behalf of clients like DLF Ltd., Yes Bank etc.

Successfully defended Yes Bank Ltd. in a matter dealing with a sting operation, Operation Red Spider, conducted by the news media outlet Cobrapost.

Represented the interests of Tata Steel Ltd. before the Supreme Court to have the city of Jamshedpur declared an Industrial Township under Article 243Q of the Constitution of India.

Successfully represented HT Media Ltd. before the High Court of Delhi, in a trademark dispute concerning Radio Nasha 107.2 FM with Entertainment Network (India) Ltd.

Successfully represented Centrotrade Minerals and Metals Inc. against Hindustan Copper Ltd. in a landmark arbitration matter deeming two tier arbitrations to be valid and legal in India.

Represented and advised Adani Enterprises Ltd., in arbitration disputes pertaining to the Chendipada Coal Block.

Advised & represented the owners of Ryan International School in their civil and criminal matters, in relation to death of a student on the school premises and the liabilities of the school therein.

Played a prominent role in representing Mr. Karim Morani in the matter of CBI v. A Raja, involving allegations of preferential spectrum allocation to companies in exchange for bribes offered to the then Telecom Minister of India.

Firm represented TATA Steel Ltd. to successfully acquire Bhushan Steel Ltd.

Represented MSD Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary company of Merck & Co. Inc., and the manufacturer of Gardasil (HPV vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer), in a PIL before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, including before a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court.

Represented Google India in PILs filed in the Supreme Court to address issues of advertisements promoting sex selection and videos containing sexual violence which some persons may seek to upload and steps taken by Google to prevent the same.

Successfully represented Ms. Shobhana Bhartia and the other Directors of Hindustan Media Ventures, in the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.

Successfully represented India TV and its CEO-Chairman, Mr. Rajat Sharma in a criminal defamation complaint, which had been filed by a Retired District Judge.

Successfully represented M/s. Adani Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd. in a dispute pertaining their right to sale of goods stored with them by way of auction.

Successfully represented the public utility company, Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL),which is involved in the supply, sale and distribution of natural gas in a dispute concerning the power of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board.

Firm represented Garodia Automobiles in the Hon’ble NCLAT.

2017

Firm represented TATA Steel Ltd. to successfully acquire Bhushan Steel Ltd.

Successfully represented Ms. Shobhana Bhartia and the other Directors of Hindustan Media Ventures, in the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.

Successfully represented Mr. Anand Kumar Mohatta and Mrs. Shobha Anand Mohatta in a landmark matter involving the quashing of an FIR and Chargesheet.

Successfully represented India TV and its CEO-Chairman, Mr. Rajat Sharma in a criminal defamation complaint, which had been filed by a Retired District Judge.

Successfully represented M/s. Adani Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd. in a dispute pertaining their right to sale of goods stored with them by way of auction.

2018

Firm represented Garodia Automobiles in the Hon’ble NCLAT.

Successfully appeared for ArcelorMittal India Private Limited in its acquisition of Essar Steel which was a crucial strategic step for ArcelorMittal in its journey to build a meaningful production presence in India

Successfully represented STAR India Pvt. Ltd., before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in a dispute between Union of India and the BCCI.

Representing Price Waterhouse (PwC) whereby 11 PwC firms were banned for a period of two years from providing their audit services to listed companies in India for their alleged role in Satyam scam.

Represented Aburi Composite, a company registered in the United Kingdom against Time Technoplast Ltd. (TTL) in a dispute relating to orders for composite cylinders placed with TTL by Aburi Composite.

Representing Mr. M.J. Akbar, erstwhile Minister of State for External Affairs, in a defamation case, which he has filed against journalist, Ms. Priya Ramani.

Represented GVK EMRI and secured bail for Heads of Operation for the State of Himachal Pradesh.

Represents the Association of PET Manufacturers and also the Association of Manufacturers of various Beauty and Hygiene Products in a dispute concerning a ban on the use of PET/ Plastic Packaging for non-essential items.

Successfully representing F Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. and its group companies in a commercial civil suit challenging the approval and authorization for marketing granted by the DGCI to a bio-similar drug of its rival defendant.

2019

Successfully represented and secured a stay of arrest for Mr. Jack Dorsey, Co-Founder and CEO of Twitter, in a defamation case filed against him.

Represented Mr. Nusli Wadia in a three judge bench reference on the issue of whether an objection as to limitation can be decided as a preliminary issue of jurisdiction under Section 9A of the CPC, 1908 (Maharashtra Amendment).

Represented TATA Motors in a consumer complaint seeking recall of all the TATA Nano models

Represented Media Contents and Communication Services (India) Pvt. Ltd in a suit for defamation filed by Indian Potash Ltd for conducting a sting operation and causing damage to their reputation

Represented Indian Jute Mills Association in a Writ Petition challenging the validity of notifications issued by then Union home ministry and West Bengal Chief Secretary mandating payment of wages during lockdown imposed in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

The Firm successfully represented Mr. Aryan Khan, son of Mr. Shah Rukh Khan, in bail proceedings before the Bombay High Court, in a highly publicised case involving allegations made against him under the NDPS Act.

The Firm advised on disputes pertaining to properties that formed a part of the erstwhile Princely State ruled by the Holkar royal family of Indore. The Firm successfully represented the Khasgi (Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Charities) Trust, Indore in these disputes before the Supreme Court.

Successfully represented Ms. Navika Kumar, one of India’s foremost investigative journalists and leading TV news anchor before the Supreme Court of India in relation to a slew of FIRs and complaints filed against her based on a single incident on a live news debate moderated by her on news channel Times Now.

Represented and successfully obtained stay of arrest for Member of Parliament & former diplomat, Dr. Shashi Tharoor and Senior journalists including Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai, Mr. Paresh Nath and Mr. Anant Nath, before the Supreme Court in writ petitions filed to quash FIRs lodged against them on the alleged grounds of sedition, conspiracy and intentional acts to harm the sentiments of religious groups, etc, in relation to reporting of violence at the Red Fort on Republic Day during the farmers’ protests.

Represented the Ambience Group, a giant in the real estate sector in India, before the Supreme Court in the proceedings relating to the construction of the residential/commercial complexes at ‘Ambience Island’, Gurugram.

The Firm represented a reformist faction of the Dawoodi Bora community, in a Constitutional challenge to the regressive and cruel practice of ex-communication and social boycott, ordered against any member of the community that displeases the Dai, considered to be the spiritual leader of the community. The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court referred the matter to be heard by a Nine Judge Bench.

In a hotly contested litigation for control of Jagran Prakashan Limited (JPL) which controls publication of ‘Dainik Jagran’, one of the most widely read newspapers in India, the Firm advises and represents, the majority shareholders of Jagran Media Network Investment Private Limited (JMNIPL), the holding company of JPL.

Represented members of the LGBTQ+ community before a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in a landmark challenge which sought marriage equality for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation.

Represented Mr. Gautam Thapar promoter of Avantha Group of Companies in relation with prosecutions launched by Central Bureau of Investigation and Directorate of Enforcement.

Successfully represented Ms. Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri in a defamation suit filed by her against Mr. Saket Gokhale in respect of defamatory statements which had been made by him on Twitter.

Represented and successfully secured bail for Mr. Peter Mukerjea, the erstwhile Director and COO of M/s. INX Media, in the high-profile INX Media Investigation, involving allegations against, among others, erstwhile Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram and his son, Mr. Karti Chidambaram.

Represented Tata Steel before a Nine Judge Bench of the Supreme Court in the landmark decision of Mineral Area Development Authority v. Steel Authority of India wherein the Supreme Court undertook a comprehensive analysis of the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States on the taxation of mineral rights.

The Firm successfully represented DLF Limited in proceedings instituted under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act filed by Leighton India Contractors Ltd. contesting the encashment of Bank Guarantees which had been furnished by it in connection with the development of “The Camelias”, an ultra-luxury residential project based in Gurgaon.

Represented the Novi Digital Entertaining Private Ltd., Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) and Amazon in a batch of Petitions pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India which pertained to the legality of Over the Top (OTT) Regulations for content streaming on online platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix etc.

Represented the Dalmia Group, a prominent real-estate group in India, in a complex and highly valued commercial dispute against the Ansal Group before multiple fora.

Successfully defended Air India Limited, India’s flag-carrier airline which also holds the coveted position of being the country’s largest international carrier, against insolvency proceedings initiated by BKP Enterprise, claiming to be an operational creditor.

Represented Tata Motors Ltd. in a writ petition filed against the central government’s agency, Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), seeking surrender of the exemption granted to it to operate its own pension scheme other than the one governed by the EPFO.

Successfully represented Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd. (Sona BLW) in a suit alleging the unauthorized adoption and use of their registered and well-known trademark/trade name/logo – “SONA”, by Sona Mandhira Pvt. Ltd. (Sona Mandhira).

Represented ISG Novasoft Technologies Limited in a landmark case before the Constitution Bench of Supreme Court on the powers of courts to modify arbitral awards challenged under Section 34 and 37 of the Arbitration Act.

2021

Successfully advised and represented Mr. Aryan Khan in the highly publicised bail proceedings instituted before the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay against his arrest for allegedly committing offences punishable under Section 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

Represented Amazon Prime Video in a batch of petitions pending before the Supreme Court, relating to the legality of the Over the Top (OTT) Regulations content streaming on online platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix etc. challenging the Information Technology Rules, 2001 and provisions of Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.

Represented ArcelorMittal India Private Limited before the Hon’ble NCLAT, which raises an important question of law as to whether the resolution plan, which is approved by the Apex Court of the country and binding on all the stakeholders, can be reopened and unsettled by subsequently filing an application before the Ld. NCLT.

The firm represented Congress leader Shri Shashi Tharoor, Rajdeep Sardesai and other journalists before the Supreme Court aggrieved by FIRs registered against them for sedition on account of allegedly tweeting and sharing unverified news related to a rally on Republic Day. The Supreme Court of India stayed any arrest of the Petitioners during the pendency of the matters.

2022

Advised and represented Mr. Ashneer Grover, former Managing Director and co-founder of Bharat Pe in his shareholders’ dispute with Bharat Pe.

Represented the Emaar group in an oppression and mismanaging petition against the MGF Group in relation to certain fraudulent transactions entered into while the joint venture company was under the control of the MGF Group.

Represented Mr. Gautam Thapar promoter of Avantha Group of Companies before several Courts in Delhi and Mumbai in relation to prosecutions launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Directorate of Enforcement alleging siphoning and diversion of loan amounts received for certain purposes but not utilised for the same. The team secured Regular Bail for Mr. Thapar in pending criminal cases in Mumbai.

OUR TEAM

MR. RAIAN KARANJAWALA

MANAGING PARTNER

Raian N. Karanjawala known as the “big picture guy” in legal circles, is the Managing Partner of Karanjawala & Co. (the “Firm”), which he co-founded in 1983 and has today become a cornerstone of the Indian legal landscape. Mr. Karanjawala attended school at the renowned St. Columba’s School, New Delhi and went on to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (with Honours) from the premier Shri Ram College of Commerce. He later pursued his legal studies at the Government Law College, Mumbai. Mr. Karanjawala has played a pivotal role in establishing the Firm, which has evolved into a renowned entity, widely acknowledged for its exceptional courtroom prowess, astute strategic counsel, and distinctive ability to effectively manage a diverse portfolio of high-profile, high-stakes cases, as well as routine litigation matters.

His stature as a leading legal luminary was acknowledged as early as 2004, when India Today recognized him as one of the 50 Most Powerful People in India, a notable distinction that marked a milestone as the first lawyer to be so honoured. Mr. Karanjawala continues to be the trusted counsel of choice for the nation’s most influential individuals navigating complex legal challenges, underscoring his enduring reputation as a master strategist and skilled advocate.

Under Mr. Karanjawala’s leadership, the Firm has cultivated an impressive and diverse portfolio of clients, spanning a broad spectrum of industries and sectors. The Firm’s esteemed clientele over the years includes notable political luminaries such as the Late Shri V.P. Singh, Former Prime Minister of India, and Shri Sharad Pawar, Former Union Cabinet Minister, iconic business leaders like the Late Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Mr. Rupert Murdoch, and Mr. Nusli N. Wadia; members of royalty, including the Late Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia and Maharaja Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. The Firm has also represented personalities from the realms of culture and technology, such as Mr. Shahrukh Khan and Mr. Jack Dorsey.

On the corporate front, Mr. Karanjawala provides counsel to prominent Indian conglomerates, including the Tata Group, the Adani Group, the Piramal Group, GMR Group, and JSW Steel. His global portfolio boasts an impressive array of industry leaders, such as Google, Lufthansa, Air India, and Price Waterhouse Coopers. The Firm’s expertise and influence extend to a diverse range of organizations, including the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI), Hindustan Unilever, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. In recent years, the Firm, under his leadership, has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s legal landscape, successfully representing the Tata Group in the high-profile Tata-Mistry dispute, facilitating ArcelorMittal’s acquisition of Essar Steel, JSW Steel’s acquisition of Bhushan Power & Steel and Tata Steel’s acquisition of Bhushan Steel. Notably, the Firm served as the lead counsel before the five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the landmark same-sex marriage case, underscoring its expertise in handling complex constitutional matters.

Mr. Karanjawala’s professional contributions have earned him over 80 individual awards out of the more than 400 received by the Firm. These accolades include the Lifetime Achievement Award from UKILP in 2025 and consistent recognition as an Eminent Practitioner in Dispute Resolution and White-Collar Crime by Chambers & Partners 2026. He has also been featured in the Forbes Legal Powerlist as a Top Managing Partner. He has also been conferred Honorary Doctorates by Amity University and Jharkhand Rai University, both of which have instituted trophies and scholarships in his name.

Beyond the courtroom, Mr. Karanjawala holds influential positions, including serving on the Governing Body of Shri Ram College of Commerce and acting as an Independent Director of Petronet LNG Ltd. He is also a member of the Governing Council of the India Habitat Centre.

Key Awards and Accolades

Chambers and Partners (Global & Asia-Pacific)
- Eminent Practitioner – Dispute Resolution (New Delhi) & White-Collar Crime and Corporate Investigations: 2015, 2018–2026
India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) – The A-List
- Legal Icon (Top Legal Icons & Top 100 Lawyers): 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024–2025, & 2026
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
- Recommended Lawyer: 2025 & 2026
Asialaw Profiles & Leading Lawyers
- Elite Practitioner – Dispute Resolution: 2020–2022, 2024 & 2025
- Market-Leading Lawyer: 2017 & 2018
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Litigation Star – Commercial & Transactions: 2020, 2024 & 2025
- Dispute Resolution Star: 2019
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal)
- Recommended Lawyer – Business Crime Defence
Legal Era – Legal Media Group
- Leading Lawyer Legend – Dispute Resolution (Arbitration & Litigation) and White-Collar Crime: 2022, 2024–2025
Forbes India Legal Powerlist
- Top Managing Partner (Above 10 Years’ Experience): 2020 & 2021
BW Businessworld Legal / Global Leaders Awards
- Managing Partner of the Year: 2021
Other Recognitions
- Lifetime Achievement Award – UKILP (UK-India Legal Partnership): 2025
- Leading Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year (North India) – Acquisition International Leading Adviser Awards: 2024

MRS. MANIK KARANJAWALA

FOUNDING PARTNER

Manik Karanjawala is the Founding Partner and the seniormost member of Karanjawala & Co. Advocates. As a qualified Advocate-on-Record, she is widely respected for her strategic foresight, balanced legal advice, and meticulous attention to detail. Her extensive practice covers a broad range of legal fields, including constitutional law, administrative law, labour law, commercial disputes, property disputes, family law, and matrimonial law. She is an alumna of several prestigious institutions, having completed her education at St. Columba’s School, Lady Shri Ram College, Campus Law Centre, Delhi, and London University.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Karanjawala has represented some of the country’s leading corporate houses. Beyond her corporate practice, she has played a pivotal role in advancing causes of public importance, representing the Bombay Hawker’s Union and its 15,000 traders, securing bail for human rights activist Dr. Binayak Sen, pursuing the case of oncologist Dr. P.B. Desai, and acting on behalf of excommunicated members of the Dawoodi Bohra community.

Her professional excellence has earned her numerous accolades, including being named the Leading Lawyer of 2017 by ICFM. She was also honored as a Leading Lawyer by asialaw in 2017 and 2018 and was recognized early in her career by Lawyer World, which listed her among the Top 500 Lawyers in its 2015 Premium 500 Awards. In addition to these formal honors, she is highly recognized for her commitment to justice, particularly through her significant devotion to the firm’s pro bono work and her active involvement in legal matters that serve the public interest.

Key Awards and Accolades

Asialaw Leading Lawyers Trophy 2018 and 2017 have awarded Mrs. Manik Karanjawala with ‘Leading Lawyer’.

ICFM 2017 has recognised Mrs. Manik Karanjawala amongst the leading lawyers of 2017.
Asialaw has recognised Mrs. Manik Karanjawala amongst ‘Leading Lawyers of 2017’.
Lawyers World 2015 Premium 500 recognised Mrs. Manik Karanjawala amongst the top 500 lawyers.

MS. NANDINI GORE

SENIOR PARTNER

Nandini Gore is a Senior Partner at Karanjawala & Co. and an Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India with over 37 years of practice, including more than 35 years with the firm. She holds an LLB and LLM from the Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, and was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate approved by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India. She has extensive experience across litigation, arbitration, corporate advisory, and mediation, and has represented clients in a wide range of matters before the Supreme Court and High Courts, including constitutional, commercial, partnership, employment, mining, probate, real estate, and other complex civil disputes. Known for her crisp drafting and deep understanding of court procedures, she has consistently been recognized in leading international rankings for her excellence in dispute resolution.

Alongside her litigation practice, Ms. Gore is a certified and accredited mediator with advanced training in India and internationally, including the UK, USA, and Singapore. She has successfully conducted and resolved over a thousand mediations, spanning both corporate and high-conflict family disputes, and serves as a trainer with the Supreme Court Mediation Committee. Actively engaged in shaping the mediation framework in India, including contributions to the Mediation Act, 2023, she also holds leadership positions as Vice President of “Mediators India” and Secretary of “Nivaaran”.

Ms. Gore and her team secured a landmark Supreme Court review judgment for JSW Steel approving its acquisition of Bhushan Power & Steel. The Court confirmed the release of attached assets under Section 32A of the IBC and reaffirmed the absolute primacy of the Committee of Creditors’ commercial wisdom, granting complete immunity to the successful resolution applicant from historic corporate liabilities. She has handled matters for leading corporate houses and individuals includes JSW Steel Ltd., Tata Motors Limited, KAL Airways Private Limited & Mr. Kalanithi Maran, EMRI Green Health Services, Indrani Patnaik, Mr. S. Kannan & Mr. Vedagiri Gowthaman, and Dr. Iyer S. Venugopalan.

Her recent professional accomplishments (2023–2026) reflect consistent recognition across leading legal directories and publications. In 2023, she was ranked by Chambers & Partners (Band 3 – Dispute Resolution), listed by Legal 500 as a Leading Individual, and recognised by Asialaw in the Dispute Resolution category. She was also acknowledged by Legal Era as a Leading Lawyer Champion, named among the 100 Inspiring Women 2023 by Fox Story India Magazine, and featured in Benchmark Litigation’s Top 100 Women in Litigation.

In 2024, she continued to be ranked in Band 3 by Chambers Asia-Pacific, recognised as a Litigation Star and among the Top 100 Women in Litigation – Asia Pacific by Benchmark Litigation, and named an Elite Practitioner by Asialaw. She was also acknowledged by Legal Era as a Leading Lawyer for Arbitration and Litigation. Her 2025-26 recognitions include Band 3 rankings in Chambers & Partners (India and Global Guides), a Leading Partner and Recommended Lawyer listing by Legal 500, continued recognition by Benchmark Litigation as a Litigation Star and among the Top 100 Women in Litigation – Asia Pacific, and an Elite Practitioner ranking from Asialaw. Most recently, Lexology has recognised her as a Recommended Lawyer for Commercial Mediation.

Key Awards and Accolades

Chambers and Partners (Global & Asia-Pacific)
- Leading Lawyer – Dispute Resolution (New Delhi): 2012–2026
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
- Leading Partner / Leading Individual – Dispute Resolution (Litigation): 2023, 2025 & 2026
- Recommended Lawyer: 2025 & 2026
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Top 100 Women in Litigation: 2024 & 2025
- Litigation Star – Commercial & Transactions: 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 & 2025
Asialaw Profiles & Leading Lawyers
- Elite Practitioner: 2024 &2025
- Distinguished Practitioner – Dispute Resolution: 2017, 2020 & 2022
Lexology Index
- Recommended Lawyer – Commercial Mediation
Legal Era – Legal Media Group
- Leading Lawyer – Dispute Resolution (Arbitration & Litigation): 2024–2025
Other Recognitions
- Premier 500 – Lawyer’s World: 2015–2019
- Exclusive Dispute Resolution Expert in India – Global Law Experts: 2017–2018
- India – Commercial Litigation Lawyer of the Year – ACQ Global Awards: 2017
- Leading Lawyer / Leaders in Law – ICFM (2016, 2017); Leaders in Law (2017)
- Prominent Women in Law / Women in Law Awards – Lawyer Monthly: 2016

MS. RUBY SINGH AHUJA

SENIOR PARTNER

Ruby Singh Ahuja is a Senior Partner at Karanjawala & Co. and an Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India with nearly three decades of practice. She holds a B. Com (H) and an LLB from the University of Delhi. With extensive experience in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, she has represented a diverse range of clients across various judicial forums and is consistently recognized as a leading legal professional in her field. She leads the firm’s commercial litigation practice and has successfully represented major multinational and Indian corporations in high-value disputes before the Supreme Court, High Courts, arbitral tribunals, and regulatory bodies. Widely recognised for her expertise in commercial dispute resolution, she regularly advises clients on litigation strategy aligned with business objectives. Her practice covers a broad spectrum of matters, including shareholder disputes, company law, real estate, insolvency and bankruptcy, pharmaceuticals, and contractual disputes. She also has extensive experience in arbitration and has been involved in several landmark proceedings reflected in reported judgments of the Supreme Court of India.

She played a key role in India’s largest corporate insolvency resolutions, including representing ArcelorMittal in the landmark Essar Steel proceedings and Tata Steel in Bhushan Steel (the first successfully resolved case under the IBC), alongside defending Tata Group in the precedent-setting Tata v. Mistry shareholder dispute. Some of the key clients handled by her include ArcelorMittal, Adani Group, Tata Steel, Tata Group, Google, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), Coca-Cola India, Star India (JioStar), PwC, and the Estate/Legal Heirs of Mr. D.K. Jain.

Ms. Ahuja is valued for her sharp understanding of Supreme Court procedures, balanced legal strategy, and efficient turnaround time. Over the years, her work has earned her consistent recognition in leading international and domestic rankings. In recent years, Chambers & Partners has ranked her in Band 1 for Dispute Resolution across its 2024, 2025 & 2026 editions, including its Global Guide. She has also been listed as a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2026 rankings.

Benchmark Litigation has recognised her as a Litigation Star and included her among the Top 100 Women in Litigation in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Asialaw has acknowledged her in its Dispute Resolution category and later as a Distinguished Practitioner (2024) and Elite Practitioner (2025). She was also named Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year at the Asialaw Awards 2023.

Her accomplishments additionally include being featured among India’s Top 100 Lawyers by the India Business Law Journal and being recognised as a Leading Lawyer Champion by Legal Era.

Key Awards and Accolades

Chambers and Partners (Global & Asia-Pacific)
- Band 1 / Leading Lawyer – Dispute Resolution (New Delhi): 2018–2026
India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) – The A-List
- Top 100 Lawyers: 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2026
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
- Recommended Lawyer: 2025 & 2026
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Top 100 Women in Litigation: 2024 & 2025
- Litigation Star – Commercial & Transactions: 2022, 2024 & 2025
Asialaw Profiles & Leading Lawyers
- Elite Practitioner: 2025
- Distinguished Practitioner: 2024
- Leading Lawyer: 2017 – 2022
Legal Era – Legal Media Group
- Leading Lawyer Champion – Dispute Resolution (Arbitration & Litigation): 2022, 2024–2025
- Leading Woman in Law: 2019
Other Recognitions
- India – Arbitration & Litigation Lawyer of the Year – ACQ5 Global Awards: 2017
- Leading Lawyer – ICFM: 2016, 2017
- Women in Law Award – Lawyer Monthly: 2016
- Top 500 Lawyers – Lawyers World Premium 500: 2015

MR. SANDEEP KAPUR

SENIOR PARTNER

Sandeep Kapur is the Senior Partner at Karanjawala & Co. and heads the Firm’s White-Collar Crime, Corporate Investigations and Criminal Litigation Practice. A graduate in law from the University of Delhi, he is widely recognized as one of India’s foremost practitioners in criminal law and white-collar crime. He established the Firm’s criminal litigation practice over two decades ago and has since transformed it into one of India’s leading practices in the areas of white-collar crime, economic offences, regulatory enforcement and corporate investigations. Elevated as a Partner in 2008 and Senior Partner in 2018, Mr. Kapur regularly advises and represents Fortune 500 companies, multinational corporations, leading Indian conglomerates, promoters, board-level executives, financial institutions, politicians, senior public servants, celebrities and high-net-worth individuals in some of India’s most complex, sensitive and high-profile disputes.

His practice spans white-collar crime, corporate fraud, money laundering, corruption, economic offences, criminal trials, constitutional litigation, cross-border investigations, regulatory enforcement, extradition and internal investigations. He regularly appears before the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, Trial Courts, Tribunals and investigative and regulatory authorities, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and other statutory authorities.

With over two decades of experience, Mr. Kapur has appeared in several of India’s most significant and high-profile criminal, constitutional and regulatory matters involving complex questions of law and substantial public importance. His representative matters include acting for Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, in the widely publicised cruise ship case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985; Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the Aarushi Talwar murder case; Karim Morani in the landmark 2G Spectrum Trial; Peter Mukerjea in the INX Media investigation; and Gautam Thapar in proceedings arising out of the Yes Bank investigation. He has also represented Jack Dorsey, Co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, in proceedings culminating in the quashing of criminal proceedings against him.

Mr. Kapur has acted for an impressive roster of industry leaders, political figures, celebrities and public personalities. His clients have included Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons; Anil Ambani, Chairman of the Reliance Group; Parkash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister of Punjab; Bikram Singh Majithia, former Cabinet Minister of Punjab; Raj Singh Gehlot, prominent real estate developer; Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, author and former diplomat; M.J. Akbar, former Union Minister; Rajdeep Sardesai, senior journalist and author; Celina Jaitly, Bollywood actress, former Miss India and Miss Universe Runner-Up; Karisma Kapoor and Preity Zinta, renowned Bollywood actresses; and Shalini Talwar, in her matrimonial and related criminal proceedings involving renowned singer Yo Yo Honey Singh. He has also advised and represented numerous senior civil servants, public officials and business leaders in sensitive matters involving constitutional rights, criminal prosecution, regulatory investigations and cross-border disputes.

In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Kapur has extensive experience advising leading Indian and multinational corporations in high-value commercial, regulatory and enforcement matters. His representative corporate clients include the DLF Group, Tata Motors Limited, Bajaj Electricals Limited, STAR India, Hero Future Energies Private Limited, United Breweries Limited, Kirloskar Systems Limited, HappyEasyGo, Raheja Developers, and several other leading Indian and multinational corporate groups.

In recent years, his leadership in the field has been consistently affirmed: Chambers & Partners (2023–26) has ranked him in Band 1 for White Collar Crime and Corporate Investigations; Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific (2023–25) has recognised him as a Litigation Star, including for White Collar Crime; and asialaw (2023/24–2025) has named him a Distinguished Practitioner. Most recently, Lexology has recognised Mr. Kapur as a Recommended Lawyer for Business Crime Defence (Corporates & Individuals), further underscoring his continued prominence in high-stakes criminal and regulatory matters.

Key Awards and Accolades

Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific
- Band 1 / Leading Lawyer – White-Collar Crime & Corporate Investigations: 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Litigation Star – White-Collar Crime: 2024 & 2025
Asialaw Profiles & Leading Lawyers
- Distinguished Practitioner: 2024 & 2025
- Leading Lawyer: 2017
Lexology Index
- Recommended Lawyer – Business Crime Defence (Corporates & Individuals)
Legal Era – Legal Media Group
- Leading Lawyer Champion – White-Collar Crime: 2024–2025
- Leading Lawyer – White-Collar Crime
Forbes India Legal Powerlist
- Top Individual Lawyer (Above 10 Years’ Experience): 2022
Other Recognitions
- Leading Lawyer – ICFM: 2016, 2017
- Top 500 Lawyers – Lawyers World Premium 500: 2015

MR. DEBMALYA BANERJEE

PARTNER

Debmalya Banerjee is a Partner at Karanjawala & Co. and has been practicing law since 2003. A graduate of Symbiosis Law College, Pune, with a Diploma in Consumer Protection Laws from ILS Law College, Pune, he specializes in litigation and regularly appears before the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court, and tribunals such as the National Company Law Tribunal and the National Green Tribunal. He is known for his expertise in constitutional law, mining law, and consumer protection, and has represented leading corporations and eminent individuals in matters of significant financial and legal impact. His practice also spans real estate disputes, company law, indirect taxation, and insolvency and bankruptcy law. He successfully represented the Resolution Applicant, Jalan-Kalrock Consortium, in the landmark Jet Airways insolvency proceedings before the Supreme Court concerning the execution and implementation of the approved resolution plan under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Some of key clients handled includes Jalan-Kalrock Consortium, Tata Steel, Ashapura Minechem Limited, and Respondents in the Goolrokh Gupta review.

Mr. Banerjee has built a strong reputation as a trusted litigator, with his professional accomplishments consistently recognised across leading legal directories. His early achievements include being named among the Top 500 Lawyers in Lawyer World’s 2015 Premium 500 Awards. He was subsequently recognised as a Leading Lawyer by ICFM in both 2016 and 2017 and was awarded the title of “Leading Lawyer” in the Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2017 rankings. Most recently, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2026 has recognised Debmalya Banerjee as a Litigation Star in Commercial and Transaction, reaffirming his continuing prominence in the field of dispute resolution.

Key Awards and Accolades

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Litigation Star – Commercial & Transactions: 2025
Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific
- Top 500 Lawyers (Outstanding Service): 2017
Asialaw Profiles
- Leading Lawyer: 2017
Other Recognitions
- Leading Lawyer – ICFM: 2016
- Top 500 Lawyers – Lawyers World Premium 500: 2015

MR. SAMARJIT GAJENDRA PATTNAIK

PARTNER

Mr. Samarjit G. Pattnaik joined the Firm in 2002, immediately after graduating from Symbiosis Law Society, Pune. After his initial years of practice in various kinds of civil litigation and gaining experience in the Courts of Delhi and in the High Courts and District courts of other states, he decided to pursue his LLM from Cardiff University of Law, Wales, UK, in 2006. He re-joined the Firm in 2007, and took on his new role of growing criminal law practice at the Firm. In 2015, he joined the partnership of the Firm as one of the two Partners handling criminal litigation.

With vast experience of 20 years, Mr. Pattnaik has dealt with and represented various corporate houses across industries and handled matters in the fields of media, publication, telecom, banking, construction, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, homecare products, automobiles, financial institutions, food and services and digital platform companies, amongst others. In these respective industry sectors, he has expertise in various fields of law, including criminal law, white-collar crime, matrimonial law, laws relating to drugs and cosmetics and food adulteration, intellectual property violations resulting in criminal action, media law including defamation, cybercrime, money laundering and cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Mr. Pattnaik has established himself as a lawyer with the ability to deal with a variety of complex situations and provide apt solutions. He is considered a smart strategist in the fields of White-collar crimes, especially issues relating to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and other economic offences. He holds a ‘letter of appreciation’ from the NYPD, New York for successfully representing a serving NYPD officer in India under the Arms Act and has represented other US Nationals successfully under the said Arms Act.

Key Awards and Accolades

Chambers and Partners Asia- Pacific 2022 recognised Mr. Samarjit Pattnaik amongst leading lawyers in the area of White-Collar Crime and Corporate Investigations.
ICFM recognised Mr. Samarjit Pattnaik amongst the Leading Lawyers of 2017.

MS. SEEMA SUNDD

PARTNER

Seema Sundd is a Partner at Karanjawala & Co. and a graduate in law from Banaras Hindu University, Ms. Sundd joined the Firm in 2000 and was elevated to Partnership in 2017. A university topper with a BA (Hons.) and MA in Psychology, she brings a distinctive blend of legal acumen and behavioural insight to her practice.

Ms. Sundd is widely recognized as a comprehensive resource for the real estate sector, offering end-to-end litigation and advisory support across the entire spectrum of challenges faced by developers, institutions, and investors. Her practice spans:

Real estate and infrastructure disputes before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), including environmental and forest clearances; Registration, compliance, and contested proceedings under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act before RERA authorities across multiple states; Representation of promoters, allottees, and corporate entities before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT), and Consumer Fora at all levels; Defence of directors, officers, and managerial personnel in execution proceedings, insolvency actions, and related criminal matters; Successful prosecution and defence of class-action and representative suits concerning project delays, quality issues, and consumer rights; Resolution of inter-se disputes with municipal corporations and development authorities in Delhi NCR on property tax, betterment charges, and land-use issues; Quashing and stalling of misconceived public interest litigations filed before various High Courts that impede legitimate development projects. In addition to the above forums, she regularly appears before the Supreme Court of India, the High Court of Delhi, District Courts, and other statutory tribunals and authorities.

A staunch advocate for balanced urban development and infrastructure growth, Ms. Sundd has consistently represented the industry’s legitimate interests while maintaining the highest ethical standards. At the same time, her commitment to access to justice is reflected in her pro-bono work, which includes securing the acquittal of an 18-year-old in a criminal trial and obtaining release for an elderly under-trial detainee after years of incarceration. She has handled matters for the clients include Adani Enterprises Ltd., Tata Motors Ltd., and Jaguar Land Rover.

With over a thousand reported and unreported matters to her credit, Ms. Sundd combines rigorous legal strategy with dynamic courtroom advocacy, making her a trusted counsel for large enterprises, financial institutions, real estate majors, and individuals alike in complex, high-stakes litigation.

Her professional contributions have been recognized by leading publications and institutions. In 2017, she was conferred the Leading Lawyer of the Year award by ICFM. More recently, she has been consistently acknowledged by Benchmark Litigation, which recognized her as a Future Star in 2024 and a Litigation Star in Insolvency in its Asia Pacific Rankings 2026, underscoring her growing prominence in dispute resolution.

Key Awards and Accolades

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Litigation Star – Insolvency: 2025
- Future Star: 2024
Other Recognitions
- Leading Lawyer of the Year – ICFM: 2017

MS. TAHIRA KARANJAWALA

PARTNER

Tahira Karanjawala is a Partner at Karanjawala & Co. Advocates and an Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India. An alumna of Amity Law School, New Delhi, she enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 2010 and went on to pursue her Master of Laws at Columbia Law School, New York, in 2011–2012. She is also a registered Attorney in the State of New York. In 2020, she qualified as an Advocate-on-Record, securing Rank 1 in the AoR Examination of 2019, for which she was awarded a Gold Medal by the Supreme Court’s Board of Examiners, a Certificate of Honour from the Mukesh Goswami Memorial Fund, and the P.R. Kumaramangalam Running Trophy and O.P. Malhotra Award.

With over fifteen years of practice, she specializes in dispute resolution, handling civil and commercial matters before the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, NCLT, NCLAT, NCDRC, and arbitral tribunals. Her expertise spans company disputes, contractual issues, property and real estate litigation, insolvency and bankruptcy, arbitration, and mining law.

She has appeared in several cases of commercial and public importance, including the Tata–Mistry corporate battle, the corporate battle in the entities which run the publication Dainik Jagran, the first successful acquisition under the IBC whereby Tata Steel successfully acquired Bhushan Steel Ltd., the successful acquisition under the IBC of Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd. by JSW Steel Ltd., the Constitution Bench decision on the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States on the taxation of mineral rights, the Constitution Bench decision on power of the States to regulate and tax industrial alcohol, the Constitutional challenges to the regressive and cruel practices of ex-communication and female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bora community, and the equal marriage rights litigation on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.

She has also appeared in complex and high-profile cases for clients such as Tata Steel, Tata Motors, MSD Pharmaceuticals, Nusli Wadia, Google India Pvt. Ltd., Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd., Adani Agri Logistics Ltd., Air India Ltd., SMS Ltd., Swiggy Pvt. Ltd., VFS Worldwide Holdings Ltd. (VFS), Indian Jute Mills Association, and members of erstwhile royal families of Gwalior, Indore and Baroda.

Recognized for her contributions to the legal profession, she received the Legal Era Women in Law Excellence Award in 2021 and the Delhi Young Achievers Award from the Young FICCI Ladies Organisation in 2022–2023. Most recently, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2025 has recognized her as a Future Star in the Commercial and Transactions category & Asialaw has recognised her as a “Rising Star” in its 2025 rankings.

Key Awards and Accolades

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Future Star – Commercial & Transactions: 2025
Asialaw Profiles
- Rising Star: 2025
Legal Era – Legal Media Group
- Star Woman Lawyer of the Year – Annual Legal Era Women in Excellence Awards
Institutional & Academic Honors
- Rank 1 (Advocate-on-Record Examination 2019) – Gold Medal from the Board of Examiners of the Supreme Court of India, Certificate of Honour (Mukesh Goswami Memorial Fund), P.R. Kumaramangalam Running Trophy, and the O.P. Malhotra Award
- Delhi Young Achievers Award – Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO): 2022–2023

Ms. MANMEET KAUR

PARTNER

Manmeet Kaur is a Partner at Karanjawala & Co. Advocates, specializing in commercial litigation and arbitration. She holds a master’s degree in Intellectual Property Law and also serves as an independent arbitrator. With over two decades of practice, she has successfully handled complex disputes across diverse sectors, including civil and commercial laws, real estate, insolvency and bankruptcy, construction arbitration, national highways, and debt recovery matters. She regularly appears before the High Court and various tribunals and is widely appreciated by her clients for her ability to navigate intricate legal issues and develop effective strategies. She has handled matters for important clients such as Hero MotoCorp, DLF, Radio City, Chambal Fertilisers, Adani, HT Media, Kama Ayurveda, Hero Future Energy, Machino Finance, Raheja Developers and other leading corporations.

Alongside her legal practice, Ms. Kaur is deeply committed to community service. She serves as a Legal Advisor to the Breast Cancer Patient Benefit Foundation and is a Director at the Forum of Indian Corporate Lawyers (FICL). She has been a POSH Committee member for companies including Busy, Encraft and the Ajay Poly group, IndiaMart and Raheja Developers. The Supreme Court judgment in Gayatri Balasamy v. ISG Novasoft Technologies Ltd. (delivered on April 30, 2025) is a landmark decision that fundamentally altered the landscape of arbitration law in India. Manmeet Kaur, representing Karanjawala & Co., played a key role in the legal team that navigated this case through its various stages. She handled the complexities of a matter that spanned nearly two decades—starting from a 2006 employment and harassment dispute, moving through the Madras High Court’s various modifications, and eventually leading to this historic Constitution Bench reference. This judgment is considered a significant win for practitioners who argued that the “all-or-nothing” approach to setting aside awards was inefficient and hindered India’s goal of becoming a global arbitration hub. Her professional achievements have been recognized widely: she has featured in Forbes India Legal Powerlist (2021, 2023), India Business Law Journal’s Future Legal Leaders (2021), and has been honoured by , BW Legal World, Legal Era, Asialaw, and Benchmark Litigation. Most recently, in 2026, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific recognised her as a Litigation Star in the Commercial and Transactions category, & Enlisted as one of the “Top 100 Individual Lawyers (Above 10 years experience)” by Fortune India. Oakbridge Publishing included her in its Digital Legal Leadership Honour Roll 2025; and Asialaw recognised her as a Notable Practitioner in its 2025 rankings cementing her standing as a dynamic and versatile dispute resolution lawyer.

Key Awards and Accolades

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Litigation Star – Commercial & Transactions: 2025
- Future Star: 2024
Asialaw Profiles & Leading Lawyers
- Notable Practitioner: 2024
- Rising Star – Dispute Resolution: 2023–2024
Legal Era – Legal Media Group
- GenNext Leading Lawyer – Dispute Resolution (Arbitration & Litigation): 2024–2025
India Business Law Journal (IBLJ)
- India’s Future Legal Leaders (50 Young & Dynamic Lawyers): 2021
- Forbes India Legal Powerlist
- Top 100 Individual Lawyers (Above 10 Years’ Experience): 2021, 2023
Other Recognitions
- Digital Legal Leadership Honour Roll – Oakbridge Publishing: 2025
- Best Real Estate Lawyer of the Year – BW Legal World Global Legal Leaders Awards: 2023–2024
- Awardee – Lex Falcon Awards (Singapore): 2022

MR. VARUN KUMAR

Associate Partner

Varun Kumar is an Associate Partner at Karanjawala & Co. and has been in active legal practice since 2006. He joined the Firm in 2009 and has built a formidable reputation for providing comprehensive, end-to-end litigation solutions. His practice is distinguished by the extensive depth of his litigation expertise, encompassing meticulous drafting, incisive cross-examination, compelling oral arguments, and astute strategy formulation tailored to each client’s unique needs. This holistic approach ensures that every matter benefits from careful upfront planning and skilled courtroom execution.

Mr. Kumar earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the prestigious Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, which laid the foundational groundwork for his versatile and precise approach to high-stakes legal practice. His primary area of focus spans a wide array of forums, including the Supreme Court of India, the High Court of Delhi, District Courts, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Arbitration Tribunals, Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT), and Consumer Forums. His practice takes him across the country, with regular appearances before various regional Courts and Tribunals in states such as Uttarakhand, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. In addition to his core courtroom practice, he regularly advises clients on complex administrative matters with the same rigor and deep attention to detail.

MS. SONIA NIGAM

Associate Partner

Ms. Sonia Nigam is an Associate Partner at Karanjawala & Co. and an Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India. Having been in active legal practice since 2007, she regularly appears before the Supreme Court of India and High Courts across the country along with several specialized Tribunals. Her extensive areas of specialization encompass commercial litigation, civil disputes, mining and environment law, tender and procurement matters, arbitration law, labour and employment law, consumer disputes, family law, and property law. In addition to her robust commercial practice, she dedicates her expertise to pro bono matters and Public Interest Litigations, representing individuals while addressing critical issues of large public importance.

Ms. Nigam built her foundational legal expertise by earning her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in Delhi. She further advanced her professional qualifications by completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Alternative Dispute Resolution Law from the prestigious Indian Law Institute in Delhi. Additionally, she has earned the distinguished qualification of Advocate on Record at the Supreme Court of India.

Throughout her career, Ms. Nigam has advised and represented a wide array of leading corporate entities and prominent individuals. She has handled matters for major corporations such as Tata Motors Limited, Tata Steel Limited, JSW Limited, Tata Power, DLF Limited, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Kal Airways Limited, DCM Shriram, ABP, EMRI Green Health Services, Bombay Hospital, and high-profile individuals like Mr. Kalanithi Maran. She has been recognized by her clients for her strategic handling of complex, multi-jurisdictional issues that carry both immense commercial and reputational importance.

MRS. NIHARIKA KARANJAWALA MISRA

Associate Partner

Niharika Karanjawala-Misra is an Associate Partner at Karanjawala & Co., specializing in high-stakes criminal litigation. An alumnus of Amity Law School, associated with Indraprastha University, Niharika has been in active practice since her registration with the Bar Council in 2013. Appearing across District Courts, High Courts, and the Supreme Court of India, she has built an expertise in the fields of white-collar crime, money laundering, violent crime and marital disputes. Passionate about the use of forensics in criminal trials, she has earned a certification in criminal profiling and forensics to help sharpen her insight into matters involving violent crime and medical negligence.

Under the guidance of the Senior Partners, Niharika has played a role in representing and defending clients in several prominent cases such as the 2G Spectrum case, the prosecution of Mr. Gautam Thapar, the defence of Dr. Rajesh and Dr. Nupur Talwar in the 2008 Aarushi Talwar murder case, the case of Mr. Tarun Tejpal, the medical negligence case of Dr. PB Desai, the defamation case filed by Mr. MJ Akbar and the domestic violence case filed by Ms. Celina Jaitley. She has also handled complex and high-profile cases for clients such as Mr. Aryan Khan (Son of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan), Ms. Karishma Kapoor, United Breweries Limited and DLF.

Beyond private defense, she is a deeply committed advocate for civil liberties, human rights, and animal welfare, frequently writing on these topics. She regularly handles pro bono criminal matters and has participated in major public interest litigation (PIL) initiatives spearheaded by the firm. Her impact on social justice is marked by her active involvement in landmark legal battles, including petitions seeking marriage equality for the LGBTQ+ community, a ban on female genital mutilation, and challenges against the practice of social boycott and ex-communication within specific communities.

MR. ARJUN SHARMA

Associate Partner

Arjun Sharma is an Associate Partner at Karanjawala & Co. specializing in high-stake corporate-commercial disputes, appellate advocacy, and constitutional law. He regularly appears for leading corporate houses and multinational entities before the Supreme Court of India, High Court of Delhi, NCLAT and NCLTs, and is recognized for his strategic handling of complex, high-value litigation. Arjun completed his Bachelor of Commerce with Honors from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and his study of law from the Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 2013 and is a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association and Delhi High Court Bar Association.

Collaborating closely with the firm’s senior partners, Arjun has been an integral member of core legal teams in several landmark corporate governance disputes. He was part of the team in the Tata Sons litigation before the Supreme Court, which fundamentally shaped minority shareholder rights in India, and has acted in major shareholder conflicts before the NCLAT and NCLT, including the contested proceedings involving Jagran Prakashan Ltd., publisher of the Dainik Jagran newspaper. He has handled matters for an elite roster of corporate and institutional clients, including MSD Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Nusli N. Wadia, Adani Agri Logistics Ltd., Air India Ltd., SMS Ltd., Swiggy Pvt. Ltd., VFS Worldwide Holdings Ltd. (VFS), and the Indian Jute Mills Association to name a few.

Beyond commercial mandates, Arjun possesses expertise and experience in the areas of public law, constitutional law, and public interest litigation. He is engaged in the historic Constitutional Bench proceedings before the Supreme Court on excommunication within the Dawoodi Bohra community and has been part of the core team in a writ petition before the Supreme Court seeking institutional accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. His public law experience is further complemented by his ongoing engagement with contemporary legal frameworks, having written and contributed to institutional insights on evolving legal principles and issues.

About Us

About Karanjawala & co.

Our Journey

OUR TEAM

MR. RAIAN KARANJAWALA

Key Awards and Accolades

MRS. MANIK KARANJAWALA

Key Awards and Accolades

MS. NANDINI GORE

Key Awards and Accolades

MS. RUBY SINGH AHUJA

Key Awards and Accolades

MR. SANDEEP KAPUR

Key Awards and Accolades

MR. DEBMALYA BANERJEE

Key Awards and Accolades

MR. SAMARJIT GAJENDRA PATTNAIK

Key Awards and Accolades

MS. SEEMA SUNDD

Key Awards and Accolades

MS. TAHIRA KARANJAWALA

Key Awards and Accolades

Ms. MANMEET KAUR

Key Awards and Accolades

MR. VARUN KUMAR

MS. SONIA NIGAM

MRS. NIHARIKA KARANJAWALA MISRA

MR. ARJUN SHARMA

Disclaimer