Uttam Hathi (Mr)
Practicing Partner
BSc, PGDMMT., LL.B., LL.M
Advocate Bombay High Court
E: uttam@brus.in
M: +91 9757282670
OFFICE : Mumbai, INDIA
PRACTISING SINCE 1992
EXPERTISE:
+ Corporate, Commercial & Contracts
+ Banking &Finance
+ Insolvency & Restructuring
+ Trademark & Copyright
Pro-active
- Legal500
'Uttam Hathi- Leading Merger & Acquisition lawyer'
- IFLR
'Uttam Hathi- Leading Corporate/ M&A Lawyer in India'
- Asia Law Profiles
''Creme-de-la-Creme for Corporate mandates''
-Economic Times
''Uttam Hathi detangled the problem with a better business road map''
-Gulf News
''..exceptional at Corporate and project work, Uttam Hathi is considered at the top of his game''
-Khaleej Times
Uttam
Hathi, senior partner at Brus Chambers, leads one of Indias most
strategically focused and legally accomplished Corporate and Insolvency
Practices. Recognised consistently for his unparalleled command over complex
transactional structures, insolvency regimes, and multi-jurisdictional mandates,
Uttam Hathi has positioned the firms corporate advisory and restructuring
verticals at the very forefront of Indias legal landscape.
With
decades of professional legal experience spanning mergers and acquisitions,
private equity, corporate restructuring, distressed asset strategy, and
insolvency resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, Uttam
Hathi has successfully curated a practice that is equal parts regulatory,
commercial, and strategic. Clients ranging from Fortune 500 conglomerates to
family-held business houses seek his counsel for not only his legal dexterity
but also his foresight in structuring viable and durable business solutions.
Corporate
and Corporate Advisory Practice
The
Corporate and Corporate Advisory Practice, under Uttam Hathis leadership, is
widely recognised as one of Indias most formidable and technically proficient
legal offerings. The team is known for its precision-driven execution, deep
regulatory insight, and nuanced commercial understanding across transactional,
advisory, and governance mandates. Whether it be cross-border M&A, strategic
investments, foreign direct investment, or shareholder rights management, the
practice offers tailored solutions anchored in legal depth and commercial
sensibility.
From
the inception of corporate transactions to post-deal integration and compliance,
the practice handles the entire life cycle of corporate activity with rigour and
agility. Clients are comprehensively advised across structuring, tax
optimisation, negotiations, documentation, due diligence, regulatory approvals,
closing formalities, and post-closing obligations. Special attention is given to
commercially aligned solutions and risk-adjusted structuring, particularly in
dynamic sectors such as fintech, renewable energy, e-commerce, and healthcare.
Uttam
Hathis contribution to the evolution of corporate law practice in India lies
in his ability to bridge legal exactitude with pragmatic strategy. Whether
acting for multinational acquirers, private equity investors, Indian promoters,
or regulatory-facing enterprises, his advice is marked by clarity, foresight,
and balance.
Transactional
Excellence with Regulatory Precision
One
of the defining characteristics of Uttam Hathis practice is its exceptional
ability to handle high-stakes, high-value transactions with regulatory and legal
precision. His experience spans the full spectrum of corporate work, including:
-
Mergers,
amalgamations, and demergers under Companies Act and sectoral statutes
-
Business
and asset acquisitions through slump sale, hive-off, or court-approved
schemes
-
Structuring
and negotiating joint ventures and strategic alliances with balanced
governance frameworks
-
Private
equity and venture capital investment structures, including staged
investments, exit rights, liquidation preference arrangements, and
equity-linked instruments
-
Shareholder
activism and corporate governance advisory
-
ESG-compliant
structuring and AI-driven business modelling
-
Corporate
rescue, revival, and insolvency-linked asset acquisition
-
Legal
due diligence and regulatory audit in high-risk sectors
Uttam
Hathis deep understanding of market dynamics allows him to anticipate
potential issues, craft legally robust frameworks, and enable transaction
smoothness even in multi-layered cross-border contexts.
Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Practice
Uttam
Hathi also leads the firms Bankruptcy and Insolvency vertical, which is
consistently ranked as one of the most effective and commercially strategic
advisory practices in India. Under his stewardship, the firm has acted for a
wide gamut of stakeholders including:
-
Financial
creditors (banks, NBFCs, bondholders)
-
Operational
creditors (vendors, service providers)
-
Corporate
debtors and promoter groups
-
Resolution
applicants and strategic asset acquirers
-
Insolvency
professionals and liquidators
-
Asset
reconstruction companies
Uttam
Hathi is regularly instructed in complex litigation before the National Company
Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT),
including cases involving corporate insolvency resolution processes (CIRP),
liquidation proceedings, voluntary insolvency applications, and avoidance
transactions such as preferential, undervalued, or fraudulent transfers.
His
ability to devise viable and executable resolution plans, safeguard stakeholder
rights, and manage interim finance mechanisms has won accolades from distressed
debt investors and financial institutions. He also has deep experience in
handling cross-border insolvency coordination, particularly where Indian and
foreign insolvency regimes intersect.
Scope
of Services
1.
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A):
The practice advises Indian and international companies across the M&A
spectrumhandling inbound and outbound deals, statutory amalgamations, public
takeovers, spin-offs, and asset transfers. Regulatory approval strategy,
antitrust considerations, and tax alignment are seamlessly integrated into the
transaction framework.
2.
Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances:
Uttam Hathi frequently structures joint ventures in regulated sectors such as
defence, insurance, real estate, and technology. The firm prepares and
negotiates shareholder agreements, management structures, deadlock mechanisms,
exit rights, and profit-sharing models aligned with sector-specific compliance
needs.
3.
Private Equity & Venture Capital:
The firm advises private equity funds, venture capital investors, and investee
companies across the lifecyclefrom term sheets and investment documentation
to exits via IPO, secondary sale, or buyback. Uttams strength lies in
safeguarding investor rights while ensuring business operability.
4.
Corporate Restructuring & Turnaround Advisory:
Uttam Hathi handles restructuring under statutory frameworks, court-supervised
processes, and out-of-court negotiations. He is also engaged in business
reorganisations, family settlements, and distressed M&A, often advising on
transaction design, stakeholder alignment, and regulatory compliance.
5.
General Corporate Advisory:
The practice serves as outside general counsel to numerous Indian and
multinational companies for day-to-day commercial contracts, employment law,
statutory compliance, secretarial functions, and regulatory filings. Uttams
preventive advisory mitigates litigation exposure and enhances operational legal
efficiency.
6.
Foreign Direct Investment & Exchange Control:
The team assists with entry strategy, FEMA compliance, repatriation planning,
pricing norms, downstream investment, and sectoral cap compliance. Uttams
understanding of the FDI landscape in sensitive sectors makes him a key advisor
to overseas investors.
7.
Governance, ESG, and Compliance:
Boards and executive committees regularly consult Uttam Hathi on boardroom
governance, ESG obligations, director responsibilities, whistleblower policies,
and SEBI/Companies Act mandates. His approach emphasises preventive law and
regulatory harmony.
Sectoral
Strengths
Uttam
Hathis practice spans diverse industries:
-
Manufacturing
& Industrial: Plant acquisitions, leasehold structuring,
regulatory clearances
-
Real
Estate & Construction: SPVs, JDA structuring, title diligence,
REIT structuring
-
Energy
& Infrastructure: PPP structuring, BOOT models, EPC/O&M
contracts, green finance
-
Insurance
& Financial Services: Compliance with IRDA and RBI frameworks,
product structuring
-
E-commerce
& Technology: Platform structuring, data protection, IP
licensing, intermediary liability
-
Pharma
& Healthcare: Licensing, distribution, clinical trial
structuring, hospital M&A
-
Media
& Entertainment: Brand licensing, acquisition of content
libraries, digital rights structuring
International
Experience
Uttam
Hathi routinely coordinates with foreign counsel in multi-jurisdictional
transactions. He has advised on:
-
International
investment structuring
-
Offshore
holding company frameworks
-
Anti-trust/competition
clearances
-
Foreign
exchange strategy and repatriation
-
Enforcement
of foreign judgments in India
In
addition, he is an expert in marine
insurance and shipping-linked corporate structuring, often
collaborating with Brus Chambers maritime law specialists in multi-modal
logistics deals involving admiralty, shipping finance, and marine claims.
Strategic
Legal Design
Uttam
Hathi is known for his ability to align legal documentation with commercial
purpose. He is often invited into early-stage deal discussions to:
-
Design
convertible instruments and hybrid securities
-
Introduce
call/put options and deadlock exit frameworks
-
Protect
IP assets via tax-efficient licensing models
-
Structure
ESOPs and IPO-readiness strategies
-
Craft
non-compete, non-solicit, and exclusivity covenants
His
strategic contributions are instrumental in creating documents that not only
safeguard legal risk but also deliver functional commercial value.
Education
& Credentials
-
LL.B.,
Government Law College, Mumbai
-
LL.M.,
Government Law College, Mumbai
-
Advocate,
Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa
-
Languages:
English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali
-
Membership:
Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa
-
Position:
Partner, Brus Chambers, Solicitors
Recognitions
and Accolades
Uttam
Hathis market stature has been repeatedly affirmed by legal directories,
industry analysts, and client testimonials. Notable recognitions include:
-
Leading
Merger & Acquisition Lawyer India
-
Exceptional
at Corporate and Project Work
-
Strategic
and Commercially Visionary
-
A
Quality Lawyer with Unmatched Structuring Strength
-
Top-Tier
for Insolvency and Complex Corporate Work
These
accolades reflect not only his technical competence but also his client-focused
approach and industry impact.
Uttam
Hathi is widely regarded as one of Indias most astute and respected corporate
legal minds. His dual mastery of transactional law and insolvency strategy has
enabled Brus Chambers to offer industry-leading counsel to clients navigating
Indias evolving regulatory and commercial environment. As corporate law
continues to be transformed by regulatory reforms, technological disruption, and
ESG imperatives, Uttam Hathis leadership ensures the firm remains at the
cutting edgedelivering results with clarity, competence, and strategic
foresight.