Manu Nair is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution practice of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co and specialises in the Firm’s Supreme Court practice.

Manu comes with an in-depth experience in handling complex Corporate and Commercial litigation, and Dispute Resolution. He has been with the Firm for the last 20 plus years.

His strength in litigation rests on his ability to formulate and execute legally sound and tactically imaginative responses and strategies on behalf of major companies, banks, public entities, infrastructure companies, commercial and financial institutions involved in complex disputes. Some of his recent transactions include handling litigations pertaining to corporate takeovers, constitutional matters, environmental issues, domestic and international commercial arbitration, electricity related matters, civil law, public law as well as criminal matters.

Amongst some of his prominent advisory services is the representation and advisory to DLF before the High Court of Kerala and also before the Supreme Court in matters involving complex questions of Environmental Laws particularly interpretation of Coastal Zone Regulations as well as the EIA Notifications issued by the Ministry of Environmental and Forest, Union of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) before the Supreme Court in a Special Reference initiated by the President of India on whether auction was the ideal method for the Executive to distribute and allocate scarce natural resources in the country. Manu was also involved in advising and representing Vodafone Essar Ltd. before the Supreme Court on issues of allocation of spectrum and determination of spectrum usage charges.

Select Experience Statement

General Corporate and Civil/ Criminal Litigations and Advisory

• Tata Housing Development Company Limited in relation to PIL proceedings filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Delhi High Court and Supreme Court with respect to construction of a major housing project near Sukhna Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Committee of Creditors (CoC) in the corporate insolvency process initiated against Essar Steel Limited before the Supreme Court.
• Rajputana Properties Private Limited, in its capacity as resolution Applicant, for Binani Cements Limited. The proceedings involved representation and advice to the client in fast paced complex litigation before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and the Supreme Court of India.
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) before the Supreme Court in a Special Reference initiated by the President of India on whether auction was the ideal method for the Executive to distribute and allocate scarce natural resources in the country.

Electricity Laws

• JSW Energy Ltd. on writ proceedings arising out of allotment of Kutehar Hydro Power Plant in the State of Himachal Pradesh.
• Alstom Hydro Finance on writ proceedings challenging award of Hydro Power Project in the State of Uttaranchal.

Mining

• JSW Steel Ltd. on various disputes and litigations relating to mining rights under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957.
• Indophil Resources NL on matters concerning reconnaissance, prospecting and mining operations within a State’s Scheduled Areas, with specific reference to the scope of Constitutional prohibition against transfer of lands to individuals other than members of designated Scheduled Tribes.

Employment / Consumer Protection and Unfair Trade Practices

• Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Motorola in matters pertaining to review of contracts between the companies and employees/ disbursement of employee provident fund/ advice on anti-corruption compliance.
• Microsoft Corporation and Zuari Cement Ltd. in relation to various matters concerning restrictive and unfair trade practices under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act and Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practice Act.
• State municipal corporations in matters pertaining to employee state insurance and consumer protection.
• Coca Cola Corporation before the Supreme Court in respect of disputes with an employee seeking to invoke provisions of arbitration in respect of her grievance – which provisions do not govern/ apply to such employee’s case as per the Company’s organizational policies.

Arbitration

• Indian Oil Corporation on various domestic arbitrations including constructions disputes.
• Technopromexport Russia on adjudication proceedings concerning the design, installation, erection and overall commissioning of a super thermal power plant located in Barh, Bihar.

Taxation

• Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works before the Supreme Court in respect of taxation issues concerning whether the assessee could claim benefit of the deductions on the purchase of intangible assets such as trademarks, copyrights, know-how and good-will under the Income Tax Act.
• Flemingo Duty Free Shops on writ proceedings before Delhi High Court challenging levy of service tax on renting of immovable property under Section 65 (105) (zzzz) of the Finance Act, 1994.

A detailed experience statement can be shared on a confidential basis.

Professional Memberships

• Supreme Court Bar Association
• Delhi High Court Bar Association

Education

• B.A. (Hons) Economics, Punjab University
• LL.B., Faculty of Law, University of Delhi