In the global drive for sustainability, energy and infrastructure are the two major aspects which get prominence. The tremendous impetus in the energy and infrastructure sector and global interest in the area in our country strengthens opportunities for corporate law firms to expand their core areas of practice. However, they need lawyers who not only possess experience in this field but genuine interest and expertise.
Rachika Agrawal Sahay, Partner at Argus Partners (Solicitors & Advocates), in the domain of Energy and Infrastructure and Corporate and M&A, has been playing the role of an expert legal advisory counsel in this regard.
An Empowering Corporate Law Attorney
Rachika joined Argus’s Delhi office as a Partner in the Corporate and Infrastructure practice in 2021. She has worked on a broad range of deals, particularly in the power, oil and gas and mining sectors. She also has experience in working on PPP projects for developing infrastructure relating to transport facilities like rail and ports.
Rachika has handled a broad range of corporate transactions across sectors including domestic as well as cross border joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and foreign direct investments.
At Argus, Rachika is extensively advising both public and private sector players in corporate/ M&A/ foreign investments, bids/tender assistance, project development and advisory, due diligence, contract negotiations and finalisation including concessions, EPC and O&M contracts and various other types of project contracts, project operations, financing, land issues, regulatory and tariff issues and disputes across various sectors such as:
- Electricity (Thermal – generation, distribution and transmission)
- Ports and Shipping (investments – M&A, development and financing)
- Oil and gas (Upstream – Advising on NELP, HELP, PSC and RSC regime, farm-in, farm-out; Downstream – pipeline, CGD, gas sales and transmission, PNGRB, LNG – sales, port terminals, financing and re-gas)
- Transport and Logistics (Roads/Airports/Bridges/Rail – Investments- M&A and Joint Ventures, development, regulatory issues, construction and financing)
- Mining (concessions, regulatory issues, MDO and financing)
- Renewables and Clean Energy (solar, wind, hydro, biogas – due diligence, project development, investments-M&A and joint ventures, EPC and O&M contracts and various other types of project contracts, project operations, financing, land issues, regulatory and tariff issues and disputes)
- Water and other Utilities (concessions, project development, contracts and operations)
- Waste and Environment (solid waste, waste to energy, environment – concessions, project development, contracts and operations)
- Urban Infrastructure/Real Estate (bidding, project development, construction, financing and regulatory issues relating to various types of urban infrastructure projects such as residential projects, commercial projects, convention centres, townships, aero-city, railway stations, smart cities, etc.)
The Legendary Counsellor
Rachika expresses, “We possess extensive knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework and the local markets in order to provide practical and solution-oriented advice, tailored to suit the commercial needs of our clients.”
Rachika`s prior experience of acting as a General Counsel of a leading renewable energy company has also played key role in shaping her commercial approach and also, becoming a solution-oriented professional.
She is a 2005 graduate from National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal and pursued her LL.M. from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), United Kingdom.
Rachika’s Expertise Portfolio
- Advised GMR on its potential investment in a portfolio of RE projects including both wind and solar.
- Advised Oakridge Power on structuring its business model for setting up rooftop solar projects.
- Advised Sansera on its arrangement with Clean Max Energy for setting up captive power project for its facilities including drafting the shareholder’s arrangement between RE power developer and captive consumer.
- Advised Spring Energy on structuring the potential acquisition of RE project and on issues arising out of Detailed Procedure issued under Connectivity Regulations for its existing projects.
- Advised an Energy major on setting up a captive power project including drafting the shareholder’s arrangement between RE power developer and captive consumer.
- Advised Neera Power on its potential captive power project in Tamil Nadu including drafting the shareholders’ arrangement between RE power developer and captive consumer.
- Advised GAIL on various Master Sale and Purchase Agreements including with BP and Mitsui.
- Advised ACME on repowering related issues under current PPAs and regulatory due diligence for potential acquisitions.
- Advised Renew Power on issues arising out of Detailed Procedure issued under Connectivity Regulations for its existing projects.
- Advised Sembcorp Energy on the bid process for selecting a vendor for setting up FGD systems to meet the environmental norms for its coal-fired power plant.
- Advised HLS Asia Limited (a joint venture of Halliburton) in relation to the drafting of a comprehensive compliance checklist for each business vertical exclusively, i.e., Operations; Bases & Warehouses; and Office spaces.
- Advised a renewable energy major on the sale of a 2 GW solar and wind power portfolio.
- Advised a rooftop solar company on raising funds from a German crowdfunding platform.
- Land due diligence for various renewable energy companies such as Engie, Azure Power and Amp Solar.
Awards and Recognition
- Recognised by Forbes Legal Powerlist 2021 as Top 100 Individual Lawyers for Energy (Renewable and Conventional) and Infrastructure and Projects.
- Rising Star (40 under 40) Legal Era Award 2017.
- Included in the GC Powerlist India Teams, 2017 by Legal 500.
- Regularly invited to be part of panels and training for discussion on women empowerment and energy laws.
Memberships
Rachika is a member of the Bar Council of Delhi and also, SAWIE (South Asian Women in Energy).
