Jun 2025 – Present · 9 mos

Jul 2020 – Present · 5 yrs 8 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Jul 2015 – Jun 2020 · 4 yrs 11 mos · Mumbai

• How many times have you wished you had someone who would not only guide you on through the maze of legal documents and processes you need to have while starting up and running your business, but also actually take care of all of them for you, without burning a hole in your pocket!
• Well LexStart aims at doing just that. We are a platform that provides legal and compliance services exclusively to start ups. We ensure that you have the right contracts in place so that your developer or co-founder does not run away with the idea you came up with or that you have not violated any law when you decide to take that cash your friend or rich uncle from abroad very generously offered. Simply put, we act as your start up’s in-house counsel and compliance manager!
• How are we different from the rest?
• (A) We do not provide a repository of standard templates of documents. We believe that every start up is unique and hence needs customized solutions
• (B) We understand the need to bounce off ideas and concerns with a lawyer, our team of lawyers are therefore available to be your sounding board,
• (C) We have been there done that! LexStart is the brainchild of an experienced VC and a seasoned lawyer, who amongst themselves have advised enough start-ups and done enough investment transactions to know where exactly the pain points and pitfalls are.
• We want to save you the pain. Yes, you should learn from your mistakes, but these are some mistakes you rather avoid!

Feb 2013 – Jul 2015 · 2 yrs 5 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

• Focused on start ups; Assisted start ups on their fund raising.
• Represented VCs on their investment deals in India, right from structuring the deal, conducting due diligence to negotiating and closing transactions.
• Assisted in structuring and registering of AIFs in India.

Jun 2012 – Jan 2013 · 7 mos · Mumbai

• Assisted in setting up an early stage fund, in partnership with First Light Ventures and Shell Foundation, that takes a more than money approach by providing business development assistance along with risk capital to early-stage enterprises that improve access to modern energy services for the underserved.
• Provided support in deal structuring, transaction documentation, management and governance issues.
• Explored investment opportunities in the hydropower sector with special emphasis on the North Eastern region of the country.
• Developed legal venture assistance.

Mar 2011 – Apr 2012 · 1 yr 1 mo · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

• Provided support to the portfolio team in deal structuring, transaction documentation, management and governance issues for investee boards
• Provided guidance to portfolio companies on corporate governance and legal issues
• Managed all legal needs of Acumen Fund’s India operations
• Enabled global policy and risk mitigation initiatives and worked with attorneys in other country offices to develop and support policies, trainings and other initiatives to reduce overall organizational risk and create better informed and trained staff to further the Acumen Fund mission.
• Identified areas of influence for Acumen Fund in the India regulatory environment to create enabling environment for portfolio companies and social impact investing.

Oct 2004 – Mar 2011 · 6 yrs 5 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

• Handled corporate transactions, asset acquisition, business/sale acquisition, primarily in the manufacturing, telecom, technology and services sectors. Also advised private equity arms of leading technology companies on their investments in India.
• Represented several foreign corporations on joint ventures with Indian entities.
• Advised and implemented India entry strategy, general commercial contracts, data privacy issues, anti-corruption issues, intellectual property, property law, taxation (direct, indirect and treaty access), and corporate compliance.
• Advised international banks and financial institutions on structuring investments in India from tax-optimized jurisdictions, regulatory registrations and compliances, loan and pledge documentations, FII/sub-account registrations and insider trading regulations.
• Assisted several IT companies in establishing and expanding their Indian operations and forming joint ventures and strategic alliances.
• Advised on employment law issues including employment considerations for corporate commercial transactions, employment contracts, employee benefits, immigration, data privacy and confidentiality, termination and misconduct proceedings.
• Assisted and followed up litigation matters in several forums, including the High Courts and Supreme Court of India.

May 2004 – Oct 2004 · 5 mos