Shinoj Koshy of SK & Partners Joins GLE as India's Cross Border M&A Expert

Welcome To Our Exclusive Member For Cross Border M&A In India 

We, at Global Law Experts, are pleased to welcome Shinoj Koshy as our Exclusive Member for Cross Border M&A in India. Shinoj joins GLE as the founding partner of SK & Partners, a senior led boutique established to advise on complex India facing cross border transactions, regulatory strategy, and governance matters. His arrival strengthens our ability to connect businesses with partner level expertise for transactions that require seamless international coordination and rigorous local execution.

Proven International Training & India‑Focused Practice

Shinoj’s professional experience spans leading global and Indian firms. He trained and qualified in London at Linklaters and worked on cross border transaction matters at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton before returning to India, where he held senior roles at Nishith Desai Associates and was a partner at Luthra & Luthra for over a decade. That combination of international training and substantive India experience shapes his perspective and the execution focused counsel he now offers through SK & Partners.

SK & Partners: A Senior‑Led Boutique For Complex Cross‑Border Deals

SK & Partners was launched as a deliberate, partner led practice to deliver senior counsel involvement on every mandate. The firm’s practice focus includes cross border M&A, private equity investments, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and regulatory engagements that typically determine whether international deals close successfully in India. Clients engaging the firm can expect a compact team model that emphasises rapid partner decision‑making and tailored regulatory strategy.

Representative Work That Demonstrates Depth & Scale

Across his career, Shinoj has worked on multi‑jurisdictional mandates and large corporate transactions. During his time at Luthra & Luthra he led transaction teams on significant India deals, including work across sector such as manufacturing, IT and ITES, and pharmaceuticals, demonstrating his ability to coordinate cross border buyer consortia, joint ventures and lender interactions. Such experience underpins his capacity to manage complex structural, competition and regulatory hurdles common to inbound and outbound investments involving India.

What Distinguishes His Approach To Cross‑Border M&A Law In India

Shinoj’s practice is defined by three complementary strengths: international transactional standards from his Magic Circle training and white shoe experience, deep familiarity with India’s regulatory ecosystem, and a partner led delivery model that keeps senior advice at the centre of execution. He is frequently engaged where timing and regulatory touchpoints such as FDI clearances, competition filings and foreign exchange considerations can make or break deals. His teams emphasise practical documentation, contingency planning for regulatory friction and governance solutions that anticipate post‑closing compliance obligations.

Why Global Law Experts Is Proud To Feature Shinoj Koshy

Global Law Experts seeks members who combine technical excellence, market credibility and a demonstrated record of partner level involvement in high stakes matters. Shinoj meets those criteria: his international training, senior roles at leading Indian firms, and the deliberate boutique model of SK & Partners align with the needs of global sponsors, private equity investors and multinationals pursuing India strategy. We are proud to feature a lawyer whose practice consistently focuses on closing the gap between global commercial strategy and on the ground legal execution in India.

Cross‑Border M&A Law In India: The Practical Legal Landscape

Cross‑Border M&A law in India sits at the intersection of corporate law, FDI policy, foreign exchange regulation and competition law. The Consolidated FDI Policy and related government circulars set sectoral caps, prescribe automatic versus government approval routes, and include targeted national security screening mechanisms; these rules determine whether investments clear automatically or require detailed governmental review. Parallelly, the Reserve Bank of India’s FEMA framework governs cross border payments, capital structure and outbound investments, while merger control is driven by the Competition Commission of India’s thresholds and filing rules. Early structural analysis and coordinated regulatory strategy are therefore essential in every substantial India facing deal.

Key Challenges For Investors & Sellers In India‑Facing Transactions

First, sectoral limits and approval routes: FDI restrictions can make certain inbound investments subject to government approval or special conditions, which impacts timing and deal terms. Second, merger control: combinations that meet asset/turnover thresholds may require pre merger notification to the Competition Commission of India and, in some cases, remedies to secure clearance. Third, foreign exchange & repatriation rules: FEMA and RBI guidance affect capital structure decisions, escrow mechanics and cross border loan arrangements. Fourth, tax, transfer pricing and indirect tax issues frequently require parallel structuring work to preserve the intended economics. Finally, growing emphasis on compliance, ESG and national security considerations adds layers of diligence and post‑closing governance planning.

How Expert Counsel Preserves Deal Value

Experienced cross-border counsel mitigates execution risk at each touchpoint: from pre deal structuring through regulatory filings and closing mechanics to post closing governance. Counsel with cross border experience anticipates regulatory concerns, sequences filings to avoid unnecessary delay, and negotiates contractual protections such as tailored warranties, escrow arrangements and conditional covenants that reflect India specific regulatory exposures. A partner led model is particularly valuable where agility and rapid, senior decisions are needed to maintain momentum, increase deal certainity, and preserve investor confidence.

What Clients Can Expect From Shinoj & SK & Partners

Clients engage Shinoj for buy side and sell side M&A, private equity transactions, joint ventures, carve outs, cross border restructurings and regulatory clearances. His teams focus on practical, commercially calibrated advice: designing structures that accommodate FDI rules, anticipating competition concerns, integrating foreign exchange constraints into deal mechanics and crafting governance and compliance protocols that reduce post closing friction. The boutique model also allows for bespoke resourcing partner oversight where complexity demands it and focused teams when timing is critical.

Practical Advice For Businesses Considering Cross‑Border Deals In India

Begin planning early. Early structural analysis of FDI permissibility, competition thresholds and foreign exchange implications reduces the chance of late stage surprises. Build multi disciplinary diligence teams that include regulatory, tax and compliance advisors so that negotiated protections align with regulatory risk. Where timing matters, consider partner led counsel models to ensure senior decision making and to coordinate multi jurisdictional counsel efficiently. Finally, document governance and remediation mechanisms clearly to address potential post closing compliance or anti corruption exposures.

A Final Note From Global Law Experts

Cross Border M&A law in India is a specialist field that rewards counsel who combine international transactional craft with granular knowledge of Indian regulatory practice. Shinoj Koshy’s career spanning international firms and senior roles in India, and now leading SK & Partners exemplifies the kind of partner level experience that delivers results on complex India facing mandates. We at Global Law Experts are delighted to feature Shinoj as our Exclusive Member for Cross Border M&A in India, and we look forward to connecting him with businesses, sponsors and counsel who need seasoned, pragmatic legal leadership for their India strategies.