What Desai & Diwanji does

Desai & Diwanji is a Mumbai-headquartered Indian corporate and commercial law firm, structured as a private partnership under the Desai and Diwanji founding families and in operation for close to a century. The firm employs between 101 and 250 people including more than 50 lawyers — Managing Partner, Senior Partners, Partners, Associate Partners, and Senior Advisors — across six offices in India: two in Mumbai (Lentin Chambers at Dalal Street and Forbes Building in Fort), New Delhi, Gurugram, Pune, and Indore. The firm explicitly states a strategy of not pursuing scale by lawyer count, prioritising partner-level attention and a low associate-to-partner ratio.

The firm delivers legal services across 21 practice areas and 16 industry sectors. Core practices include Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity/Venture Capital & Start-ups, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Real Estate and Construction, Infrastructure and Project Development, Project Finance, Technology, Telecommunications, White Collar Crimes and Investigations, Insolvency, Regulatory and Compliance, and Private Clients/Trusts and Estates. Industry verticals span automotive, aviation and aerospace, chemicals, consumer goods/retail/e-commerce, defence, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, outsourcing, pharmaceuticals, sports, transport and logistics, and water. The firm has no proprietary technology platform and competes on legal expertise and reputation rather than on technology. Revenue is generated through fee-for-service billing — hourly rates, fixed fees for specific matters, and retainer arrangements — across corporate commercial transactions, M&A, litigation, banking & finance, real estate, and regulatory advisory.

Desai & Diwanji's client base includes large domestic Indian corporations and business groups, multinational corporations entering or operating in India, private equity and venture capital firms, infrastructure and project developers, banks and financial institutions, high-net-worth individuals and family offices, and start-ups/early-stage companies. Marketing is reputation-driven: the firm publishes legal insights via its blog, maintains individual partner LinkedIn profiles, and generates business through referrals and partner-led client engagement. Management is concentrated in the founding families, with Vishwang Desai as Managing Partner and Apurva Diwanji, Jai Diwanji, Toral Desai, and Yeshwant Desai among the Senior Partners.

Name

Desai & Diwanji

Legal name

Desai & Diwanji

Website

https://desaidiwanji.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Desai & Diwanji is a Mumbai-headquartered Indian corporate and commercial law firm with six offices across India and 50+ lawyers across 21 practice areas. The partnership delivers fee-for-service legal counsel on M&A, PE/VC, banking, litigation, and infrastructure matters to large corporates, MNCs, and financial institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

eDiscovery, Litigation Support & Legal Hold (BPAEAPAE), Financial Crime, AML/CFT & Sanctions Compliance (BPAHAFAE), Estate Administration & Probate Services (FSAAANAE), Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory (BPAHADAI)

Keywords

• Corporate legal services
• Mergers acquisitions advisory
• Litigation dispute resolution
• Private equity law
• Regulatory compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Legal Professional Services: Fee-for-service legal counsel including hourly billing, fixed fees for specific matters, and retainer arrangements for ongoing client relationships. Services span corporate commercial transactions, M&A, litigation, banking & finance, real estate, and regulatory advisory across multiple industry sectors.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Desai & Diwanji is a full-service corporate and commercial law firm in India delivering legal advisory and representation across 21 practice areas including mergers & acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, banking and finance, capital markets, litigation and dispute resolution, real estate, infrastructure and project development, technology, telecommunications, insolvency, white collar crimes, regulatory compliance, and private client services. The firm serves large domestic corporations, multinationals, PE/VC firms, financial institutions, infrastructure developers, and high-net-worth individuals through six offices in India.

Product overview

Desai & Diwanji is a leading corporate and commercial law firm in India offering comprehensive legal services across 21 practice areas and 16 industry sectors. The firm operates as a single unified legal services practice rather than a modular product platform. The firm's core service portfolio encompasses practice areas including Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity/Venture Capital & Start-ups, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate and Commercial, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Real Estate and Construction, Infrastructure and Project Development, Project Finance, Technology, Telecommunications, Regulatory and Compliance, White Collar Crimes and Investigations, Insolvency, Energy and Natural Resources, Media and Entertainment, Employment and Labour, Competition, ESG, Funds, and Private Clients/Trusts and Estates. The firm serves clients across industries such as Automotive, Aviation, Chemicals, Consumer Goods/Retail/e-Commerce, Defence and Aerospace, Hospitals and Healthcare, Hotels and Hospitality, Insurance, Manufacturing, Mining and Minerals, Oil and Gas, Outsourcing, Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences, Sports and Leisure, Transport and Logistics, and Water. With offices in Mumbai, Delhi/NCR (including Gurugram and New Delhi), Pune, and Indore, the firm handles significant business transactions, complex commercial disputes, and critical legal issues for domestic and international clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Comprehensive advisory on domestic, in-bound, and out-bound M&A transactions including legal due diligence, transaction structuring, regulatory compliance, corporate restructurings, joint ventures, takeovers, and drafting of complete documentation from term sheets to SPAs and SHAs for corporate clients.
• Private Equity, Venture Capital & Start-ups Practice Advisory on private equity and venture capital investments across the investment lifecycle including seed funding, early stage and growth funding, control deals, MBOs, LBOs, PIPE deals, distressed assets, and ongoing portfolio company support.
• Banking and Finance Practice Advisory on secured and unsecured credit facilities, debt transactions, project financing, acquisition financing, asset financings including aircraft lease financings, debt restructurings, listed and unlisted debt security issuances, ECBs, and leveraged financings.
• Capital Markets Practice Advisory on initial and follow-on public offerings, QIPs, open offers, buy-backs, SEBI Takeover Code compliance, insider trading regulations, and SEBI (Prevention of Fraudulent and Unfair Trading Practices) Regulations.
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Representation before the Supreme Court, various High Courts, NCLAT, NCLT, SAT, SEBI, CCI, DRT, NGT, CERC, SERCs, ATE, PNGRB, RERA authorities, Enforcement Directorate, SFIO, EOW, and domestic/international arbitration forums including ICC, SIAC, and LCIA.
• Real Estate and Construction Practice Advisory on all phases and aspects of real estate projects including financial investments, acquisition of stressed assets, residential and commercial projects, township projects, slum rehabilitation, joint developments, financing, leasing, construction, and related litigation.
• Infrastructure and Project Development Practice Advisory on infrastructure projects including IPPs, LNG projects, ports, oil & gas, mining, renewable energy, telecommunications, water, transportation, and urban infrastructure. Handles concession agreements, PPP models, and various project delivery methods.
• Project Finance Practice Advisory on infrastructure and project finance including multi-lender consortium financing, foreign debt transactions, complex security structures, stressed asset financing, and pre-insolvency restructuring under RBI framework.
• Technology Practice Advisory on regulatory issues, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, R&D projects, technology transfers, investment transactions, IP-related laws, data protection, privacy, cybersecurity, and technology-related litigation.
• Telecommunications Practice Advisory on telecom transactions including satellite systems, fixed line networks, mobile telephony, broadband, broadcasting, licensing, and regulatory matters before TRAI and other authorities.
• White Collar Crimes and Investigations Practice Advisory on corporate and financial frauds, whistle blower complaints, anti-bribery laws (FCPA, UK Bribery Act, Prevention of Corruption Act), securities

Segments7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Khaitan & Co. One of India's largest full-service law firms with deep M&A, PE/VC, banking & finance, and dispute resolution practices. Direct competitor to Desai & Diwanji for marquee corporate and transactional mandates in India.
• AZB & Partners: Top-tier Indian law firm consistently #1 in M&A and PE league tables. Direct competitor with similar full-service corporate, finance, and regulatory capabilities targeting large Indian corporates and MNCs.
• Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas: India's largest full-service law firm with leading M&A, capital markets, banking, and dispute resolution practices. Closest comparable by practice breadth, client base, and league-table positioning.
• Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. Major full-service Indian law firm split from the Amarchand predecessor. Direct competitor across corporate, M&A, banking & finance, capital markets, and dispute resolution practices.
• Trilegal: Leading Indian full-service law firm with strong M&A, PE, technology, and regulatory practices. Comparable to Desai & Diwanji in serving large corporates, MNCs, and PE/VC sponsors in India.
• J. Sagar Associates (JSA): Full-service Indian law firm with comparable M&A, banking & finance, and dispute resolution practices. Competes head-to-head for mid-to-large corporate and PE mandates in India.
• S&R Associates: Boutique-style Indian law firm focused on corporate, M&A, and finance. Direct competitor for high-end transactional and advisory work for sophisticated corporates and investors.
• Nishith Desai Associates: India-focused law firm known for tax, technology, and cross-border M&A. Comparable in serving MNCs and PE/VC clients with sophisticated cross-border mandates.
• Economic Laws Practice (ELP): Indian full-service firm with strong practices in M&A, tax, regulatory, and dispute resolution. Comparable in serving large corporates, banks, and investors on complex transactions.
• Talwar Thakore & Associates: Boutique Indian law firm focused on corporate, securities, and M&A advisory. Comparable as a specialist competitor for high-end transactional and capital markets mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desaidiwanji

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Desai & Diwanji