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Nitin Banerjee

Special Counsel

London +44 20 7067 2287

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Nitin Banerjee is a lawyer in the Project Development and Finance Practice Group in the London office. Nitin has over two decades of experience in advising oil & gas, energy, infrastructure, mining, telecom, technology, and ports & logistics companies. Nitin has extensive oil & gas experience and was previously the General Counsel of Cairn India (Vedanta Limited). Prior to Cairn India, he was a senior lawyer at BG Group plc's in-house legal team and the General Counsel of BG Group plc's Indian business. Nitin's practice also focuses on the ports and logistics sector.

    Nitin has been named by the Financial Times, London in its annual 2020 FT Global GC list and have also been named as one of the top 25 GC Influencers in India by Chambers and Partners, in addition to being featured in India's top 100 GC Powerlist published by Legal 500 in 2018 and 2022. India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) has named Nitin as the winner of 2022/23 In-house Counsel Awards in Aviation, Shipping and Logistics category.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Represented BG Group plc on various oil & gas transactions in multiple jurisdiction across the globe, including advising on: various aspects of its oil & gas asset acquisitions, M&A transactions, projects (LNG, re-gasification, gas transmission & distribution, gas transportation & storage), oil & gas operations (EPC contracts), disputes, compliance and corporate governance.
    • Advised Vedanta Limited on various legal aspects of its mining and oil & gas operations, including advising on: acquisition of new oil & gas fields in India, relinquishment of a discovered oil & gas field in South Africa, issues arising from the mining and oil & gas concessions (in particular contractual and statutory issues with governmental authorities), multi-billion dollar capex procurement programs, offtake arrangements, EPC, O&M arrangements, risk management, disputes, compliance and governance.
    • Advised JM Baxi group on various aspects of its marine services, ports & logistics and marine technology businesses, including advising on: acquiring various sea port terminal concessions, financing for upgradation of sea port terminals, fund raising via capital markets and private equity route, divestment of a significant minority stake in JM Baxi's ports & logistics business to a global shipping line, M&A transactions, EPC and construction contracts, disputes and corporate governance.
    • Advised ANI Technologies (Ola) on its global mobility, electric, fintech and food businesses, including launching Ola's ride sharing services in London, Europe and US markets and various aspects of Ola's electric business, such as acquiring an European electric two wheeler company, setting up of a large electric two wheeler factory in India and the launch of a battery storage service project.
    • Advised on several complex litigation and disputes across different sectors, including:
      • an international commercial arbitration with the Government of India relating to BG Group plc's PSCs in respect of Panna Mukta & Tapti oil and gas fields (and related court proceedings);
      • an international commercial arbitration with ONGC and the Government of India in respect Cairn India's PSC pertaining to its producing fields in Rajasthan, India;
      • an oil and gas litigation with the Government of India in respect of Cairn India's Ravva PSC at the Delhi High Court, the Supreme Court of India, and Malaysian courts;
      • a bilateral investment treaty claim against the Government of India in respect of a retrospective tax claim on Cairn India;
      • litigation at various forums in respect of a forced takeover of Vedanta’s Zambian mining assets held by Konkola Copper Mines;
      • Vedanta's defense of a class action suit in UK arising from environmental damage and pollution claims in Zambia and its representation before the Supreme Court of UK;
      • legal issues arising from the closure of Vedanta's Copper plant at Tuticorin, India, including litigation at various forums such as the Supreme Court of India, the Madras High Court (and Madurai Bench) and the National Green Tribunal, India;
      • legal issues arising from the closure of Vedanta's mining operations at Goa, including developing legal strategies for restart of mining operations and various representations at the Supreme Court of India; and
      • contractual disputes with various contractors (either through domestic arbitration or in court proceedings or through settlements).
    • Represented Vodafone India on its enterprise business, technology & networks, wholesale mobility transactions (such as inter-carrier arrangements, infrastructure sharing) and special projects.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • University of Lucknow, India, LL.B., 2001
    • Solicitor (enrolled with the Law Society of England & Wales), 2007
    • Delhi University, India, B.A., 1997
        • Economics (Hons.)
    Bar Admissions
    • England and Wales
    • Bar Council of Delhi, India (Advocate)
    Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Bengali
    Accolades
    • Named by the Financial Times, London in its annual 2020 FT Global GC list.
    • Featured in India's top 100 GC Powerlist published by Legal 500 in 2018 and 2022.
    • Named as one of the top 25 GC Influencers in India by Chambers and Partners in 2019.
    • Named by BW Business World as one of the top 100 Indian General Counsels in its 2021 listing.
    • Winner of India Business Law Journal's 2022/23 In-house Counsel Awards in Aviation, Shipping and Logistics category.

    Areas of Expertise

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