Garima merged her independent law practice LCGB (London and Delhi) with ALMT Legal in 2011 to enhance ALMT Legal’s London presence. Before commencing her independent practice, Garima was working as a Senior Associate at AZB & Partners, Delhi. Prior to joining AZB & Partners, she was in the tax and corporate advisory firm, BMR Associates.

Garima’s M&A practice is mainly focused on corporate transactional work for domestic and overseas entities including advice on investment structuring, acquisitions, joint ventures and entry and exit options from a foreign direct investment, corporate law, securities law and regulatory perspective.

Garima’s Banking & Finance experience includes advising international financial institutions/lenders on equity and debt financings of Indian companies (i.e. External Commercial Borrowings (“ECBs”)), both secured and unsecured, as well as advise on security creation and perfection, regulatory approvals and compliances, and complex intercreditor and security sharing arrangements.

Garima’s Private Equity experience includes investment and structuring advice to private equity investors, including setting up venture capital funds and obtaining regulatory approvals.

Garima is also actively involved in advising individuals and high net worth individuals living in India and abroad in relation to their estate planning, trusts, property, inheritance, wills, probate, family settlements and immigration matters.

Garima has also been featured by the International Financial Law Review 1000 as "...an extremely sharp and competent senior associate". Garima has several published articles to her credit in leading Indian and international publications, including the International Financial Law Review.

Recent experience

• Advised a US based private equity fund on its equity investment in a leading Indian real estate company for an amount of USD 25 million, through subscription of equity shares and compulsorily convertible debentures to fund a residential real estate project in India.
• Advised a leading real estate fund in setting up a joint venture entity with an Indian company on a 74:26 basis for acquiring, developing and managing hotels in India.
• Advised a UK based asset management company on its equity investments through subscription of equity shares and compulsorily convertible debentures in telecom companies in India for an aggregate investment of USD 160 million, including advise on structuring of the investments, transaction documents, and obtaining Foreign Investment Promotion Board (“FIPB”) approval.
• Advised several private equity and venture capital funds in respect of their equity investments in various Indian companies in the IT, real estate, broadcasting, media, infrastructure and telecom sectors.
• Advised an international financial institution in its foreign currency financing of a leading hospital group company in India for an aggregate amount of US$ 50 million (US$ 35 million as ECB and USD 15 million in the form of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds).
• Advised international financial institutions in respect of equity and foreign loan financings as well as Rupee loan financings in various Indian companies, listed and unlisted, in sectors such as chemical, micro finance, renewable energy, infrastructure, and IT, as well as advise on security creation.
• Assisted several foreign companies in establishing presence in India, by incorporating private/public limited company and branch and liaison offices in India.
• Advised a leading UK based private equity fund in relation to its joint venture with a leading Indian public sector undertaking for establishing an India dedicated energy fund for both domestic and foreign investors, including advise on structuring of the funds structure from an Indian law and exchange control perspective.
• Advised one of the largest private equity funds on setting up a venture capital fund in India as well as a foreign venture capital fund abroad.

Professional Appointments and Activities

• Bar Council of Delhi (2006)
• Member, Delhi High Court Bar Association (2009)

Qualifications

• B.A., LL.B (Hons.), National Law School of India University, Bangalore – 2005 (Gold Medallist)