Best Law Firms for Merger Control & Antitrust Internship in 2024

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What is Merger Control and Antitrust law practice?

Merger control and anti-trust is a niche but significant legal practice area which covers the procedure of reviewing mergers and acquisitions under antitrust and competition law.

The Competition Act 2002 is the principal legislation that regulates combinations, mergers and acquisitions in India. The Competition Commission of India is the regulatory authority responsible for reviewing and assessing mergers and acquisitions.

In addition, the notifications issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India (MCA) and the Competition Commission of India (Procedure in regard to the transaction of business relating to combinations) Regulations 2011, as amended subsequently also provide the regulatory framework in this area.

To ensure that mergers and acquisitions do not cause any ‘appreciable adverse effect on competition’ (AAEC) in India, acquisitions (of shares, control, voting rights or assets), mergers or amalgamations, where the assets and turnover of transacting parties exceed certain jurisdictional thresholds (combinations), need to be assessed by the Competition Commission of India.

While Joint ventures do not specifically come under the purview of the Competition Act from a merger control perspective; if the establishment of a greenfield joint venture or the entry of a new partner in a brownfield joint venture involves the acquisition of shares, voting rights or assets, such transactions may trigger the provisions of the Competition Act.

Legal firms specializing in this area of practice generally have a strong Mergers & Acquisitions practice; which enables them to have the contextual expertise required to advise clients on protecting and defending their rights against the unfair conduct and abuse of dominant position by others and vice versa.

Firms also have to represent clients in the High Courts, Supreme court, Competition Commission of India, and Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT).

Best Law Firms for Merger Control and Antitrust Practice Internship in 2024 for LLB Students

This list of best law firms is sorted in alphabetical order.

• AZB & Partners – Mumbai, Bengaluru, Gurugram, New Delhi, Pune
• Chandhiok & Mahajan – New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai
• Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas – Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi
• Dua Associates – New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune
• Economic Laws Practice – Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai
• Gaggar & Partners – New Delhi
• Gagrats – Mumbai, New Delhi
• J Sagar Associates (JSA) – Mumbai, Gurugram, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi
• Khaitan & Co – Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, New Delhi, Noida
• Kochhar & Co – Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurugram, Hyderabad
• L&L Partners (formerly Luthra & Luthra Law Offices) – New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad
• Majmudar & Partners – Mumbai, Bengaluru, New York
• Phoenix Legal – New Delhi, Mumbai
• Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co – New Delhi, Mumbai, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai
• Talwar Thakore & Associates – TT&A – Mumbai, New Delhi
• Touchstone Partners (Formerly Platinum Partners) – Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi
• Trilegal – Bengaluru, New Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai

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