Top 20 Antitrust and Competition Law Firms in India for Internships and Jobs

Antitrust laws also referred to as competition laws, protect consumers from predatory business practices.

Antitrust law is key to ensuring that companies compete with each other on a level playing field, minimizing market distortions so that goods and services are delivered to buyers at a fair price.

These laws have evolved along with the market, vigilantly guarding against would-be monopolies and disruptions to the productive ebb and flow of competition.

AZB & Partners

Headed by Samir Gandhi, the competition practice at AZB & Partners continues to be a market leader in this area and has a strong regional footprint across Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The team has an impressive client roster made up of multinational manufacturing corporations, blue-chip companies including Google, and aerospace companies. 

Bharat Budholia is recommended for merger control matters, having recently advised on Facebook’s acquisition of a 9.9% stake in Jio Platforms. 

Hemangini Dadwal is also a key partner, focusing on antitrust investigations and representing pharmaceutical companies. Senior associate Gaurav Bansal advises on merger filings.

Khaitan & Co

At Khaitan & Co LLP, the antitrust group continues to have an active practice, handling prominent merger control and leniency applications for large corporates, with practice head Manas Kumar Chaudhuri recently representing Schaeffler India before the CCI.

In addition, the team frequently advises domestic and foreign clients on regulatory issues and compliance. In Mumbai, Rahul Singh and Anisha Chand are key names for abuse of dominance matters and transactional mandates, with sector strength across the pharmaceuticals, telecoms, and automotive industries.

The department also has a focus on dispute resolution; principal associate Swati Bala is recommended for litigation challenging merger deals. Pranjal Prateek , who was promoted to the partnership in April 2021, is another a core member of the team, as is Sagardeep

Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India

At L&L Partners Law Offices, the competition practice handles cartel investigations and abuse of dominance matters, acting for key clients across regulated industries including aviation and energy.

The group is also instructed on merger control and leniency applications, and has experience appearing before the CCI. Key contacts include GR Bhatia and Rudresh Singh.  Kanika Chaudhary Nayar and Abdullah Hussain have departed to join DSK Legal.

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co

The leading competition group at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co continues to be engaged in ‘cutting-edge work’, housing a team of experts with an impressive client roster including Facebook and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. 

John Handoll oversees the team, which handles merger control work, investigations and cartel proceedings before the CCI and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

Senior partner Shweta Shroff Chopra is the key contact for merger control and cartel cases, whilst enforcement matters are dealt with by Naval Chopra and Manika Brar. Harman Singh Sandhu, who has been engaged in various international transactions, advises on obtaining clearance for multi-jurisdictional mergers.

Managing partner and dispute resolution head Pallavi Shroff remains a key practitioner in the team, as does Yamam Verma.

Trilegal

The competition practice at Trilegal has strength in advising national and multinational clients on obtaining clearance from the CCI in high-value merger control matters.

Spanning across Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru, the team handles the competition aspect of commercial transactions, abuse of dominance cases, and audits.

Practice head Nisha Kaur Uberoi in Mumbai is noted for her leniency applications.

On the contentious side, new partner Gautam Chawla regularly represents clients before all levels of the judiciary. Associate Simran Kathuria is also recommended.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas

Mumbai-based Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas handles large merger control matters for clients operating in the aviation, pharmaceuticals, and telecoms sectors, including cross-border matters across Southeast Asia.

In addition, the team has seen an increase in instructions relating to investigations and advisory work on mitigating risk.

Overseen by Avaantika Kakkar, the group frequently advises global corporates on competition issues in relation to market entry and has extensive experience appearing before the CCI; Anshuman Sakle is a key contact here.

Economic Laws Practice

The competition practice at Economic Laws Practice is jointly overseen by managing partner Suhail Nathani and Ravisekhar Nair, and has a focus on contentious work for both domestic and multinational clients.

The group leverages its litigation experience in abuse of dominance and cartel enforcement cases before the CCI, as well as handling matters concerning anti-competitive agreements.

Other core team members include Abhay Joshi, who advises clients in the technology, media, and sports sectors on merger control applications. Google and Ericsson form part of the impressive client roster.

J Sagar Associates

At J Sagar Associates, the team is headed by Farhad Sorabjee in Mumbai and handles a significant volume of merger control matters.

The group also has a sizeable contentious offering and frequently represents clients before the High Courts and CCI in abuse of dominance cases; New Delhi-based Vaibhav Choukse is the key name here, with support from associate Ela Bali.

Energy, pharmaceuticals, and chemical manufacturing remain core areas of activity for the group.

Kochhar & Co.

Kochhar & Co.’s competition and antitrust practice has had another strong year handling contentious matters for clients operating in the renewable energy, petroleum, and gas sectors.

The group has represented clients in proceedings before the CCI and NCLAT; new partner Kavita Sareen is the key contact for litigation.

Practice head Chandrasekhar Tampi handles M&A-related work, with an emphasis on merger control, whilst Gagan Verma focuses on regulatory matters.

Telecoms and automotive sector companies also feature in the client roster.

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan

At Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan, the antitrust practice group has experience acting for domestic and international enterprises on a wide range of matters, but is particularly well known for abuse of dominance cases. Led by Charanya Lakshmikumaran, the team has sector strength across the manufacturing, automotive, and packaging industries, advising clients on matters relating to anti-competitive agreements and representing them in proceedings before the CCI. Neelambera Sandeepan has appeared before the CCI, NCLAT and various High Courts in high-profile cartel cases.

AnantLaw

AnantLaw’s practice has been bolstered by several new arrivals, including seasoned competition lawyers Rahul Goel and Anu Monga, who joined from IndusLaw in January 2021.

The team has handled a number of high-stakes cases before the Supreme Court, NCLAT and CCI, including constitutional challenges to the Competition Act, 2002, as well as cases relating to anti-competitive agreements.

Counsels Neha Mishra and Nitish Sharma, both of whom joined the team from Gaggar & Partners in early 2021, are also of note, handling regulatory issues and litigation.

Chandhiok & Mahajan, Advocates and Solicitors

New Delhi-based Chandhiok & Mahajan, Advocates and Solicitors’ competition team is managed by key practitioner Karan Singh Chandhiok, who advises clients on merger control, abuse of dominance cases and litigation before the High Courts and CCI.

Gaggar & Partners

At Gaggar & Partners, the competition group handles a variety of matters, including cartel cases, abuse of dominance matters, and leniency applications. Senior partner Vaibhav Gaggar remains the key practitioner, handling contentious work across the real estate and engineering sectors.

IndusLaw

At IndusLaw, the practice was strengthened with the arrival of new partner Unnati Agrawal, who joined the firm from J Sagar Associates in January 2021 and jointly leads the team with Avimukt Darr.

The group handles antitrust litigation before the CCI and merger control matters, with recent highlights including advising energy company Adani Power on an acquisition. The team is also active in cartel investigations and leniency applications.

Link Legal

The competition team at Link Legal has particular strength in the aviation sector and counts private airline SpiceJet as a key client. Headed by managing partner Atul Sharma, the group handles merger control matters and investigations before the CCI.

Core members of the team include Anand Srivastava, who is dual qualified in India and New York, commercial disputes expert Abhishek Sharma and associate Ashly Cherian.

Majmudar & Partners

Majmudar & Partners‘ competition team is led by Rukshad Davar and advises international manufacturing and healthcare sector clients on merger control. The practice assists clients with obtaining approval from the CCI and ensuring domestic operations are compliant.

P&A Law Offices

P&A Law Offices advises both domestic and multinational companies on competition law matters. The group is jointly led by managing partner Anand Pathak, corporate expert Shashank Gautam and Sreemoyee Deb, who is the name to note for enforcement matters and merger control cases. The team also handles cartel investigations and advises on compliance.

Samvad Partners

At Samvad Partners, the competition group is led by Arjun Krishnan in New Delhi and is active across the pharmaceuticals, telecoms, and real estate sectors.

The team advises on merger control matters and regularly undertakes contentious work, representing clients before the CCI, the NCLAT and the Supreme Court, and acting for the CCI itself. 

Harish Narasappa is the key contact in Bengaluru. Savani Gupte joined the firm’s Mumbai office from Khaitan & Co LLP in March 2021, and has enhanced the group’s competition litigation offering.

Sarvada Legal

Led by Abir Roy, the team at Sarvada Legal advises on both contentious and non-contentious competition matters. The group handles enforcement cases and investigations for clients in the e-commerce, digital markets, and consumer goods sectors. T Sundar Ramanathan is also a name to note, advising on the regulatory components of competition matters.

Talwar Thakore & Associates

The competition group at Talwar Thakore & Associates has strength across the pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and media sectors, advising domestic and multinational clients on merger control and compliance issues. 

Rahat Dhawan is the key contact following the departure of Ram Kumar Poornachandran in November 2021.

Veritas Legal

At Veritas Legal, the competition practice is active in merger filings before the CCI. 

The team is frequently engaged by multinationals operating across the real estate and pharmaceutical sectors, among others, to advise on the competition aspects of corporate acquisitions and large-scale mergers.

Associate Zenia Cassinath is also a key team member, and advises on competition law for domestic and international clients.