Ashwath Rau
Senior Partner
MumbaiPractice Area
Sectors
I continue to be driven by the pursuit of excellence albeit in a manner that extends beyond me to solving problems, delivering results and building value for my clients, team and firm.
Ashwath Rau oversees a large body of work that covers M&A and investments. He is a well-known figure in the market, regularly acting on high-profile transactions in the technology, banking and cement sectors. “He is a well-known figure in the market, regularly acting on high-profile transactions in the technology, banking and cement sectors.”
Chambers & Partners Global (2025)Ashwath Rau has over 26 years’ experience across a diverse range of practices, including Corporate / M&A, Investment Funds & Asset Management, Private Equity, Joint Ventures, Financial Regulatory, Corporate Governance and General Corporate Advisory. His clients include leading multinational corporations, private equity houses, banks and other financial services companies, as well as companies in the infrastructure, IT & ITES and telecom & digital services sectors.
DIRECTORSHIPS, MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
- Member, SEBI committees / working groups for the review of regulations
relating to mutual funds and foreign portfolio investors (2018 – 2019) - Member, Investment Funds Committee, International Bar Association (2014 – 2018)
- Member, Limited Partners + Manage in India Council, Indian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (IVCA) (2018 – Present)
- Invitee, SEBI Working Group on redrafting the SEBI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) Regulations, 2014, under the Chairmanship of Shri. Harun R. Khan (2018 – Present)
- Invitee, SEBI Working Group to reconcile the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996 with the Companies Act, 2013 and the Insolvency and the Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (2018 – Present)
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
-
On its (i) acquisition of GIP for USD 12.5 billion; (ii) asset management JV with Jio Financial Services; and (iii) acquisition of Preqin for USD 3.2 billion
-
On its USD 8.5 billion media joint venture with Reliance and Disney
-
On its USD 16 billion acquisition of the consumer healthcare business of Sanofi
-
On its USD 60.9 billion merger with HDFC Bank Ltd., the largest M&A transaction ever in India and globally in banking since 2007
-
On its USD 10.5 billion sale of its India business (comprising of Ambuja Cements and ACC to the Adani Group, the largest transaction in India’s infra and materials space)
-
On the USD 20.6 billion investment by 13 globally reputed strategic and financial investors in Jio Platforms Ltd. in India’s largest FDI ever
RECENT RECOGNITION
2025
2024
2023
2022
Asian Legal Business India Law Awards
Dealmaker of the Year
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- ‘Leading Partner’ for Corporate and M&A, Private Equity Funds and Fintech & Financial Services Regulatory
- Recommended for Insurance
Lexology Index
- ‘Thought Leader’ for M&A
- ‘Recommended’ for Corporate Governance
Asialaw Awards
Corporate and M&A Lawyer of the Year
Asialaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate/ M&A, Private Equity and Investment Funds
Asian Legal Business India Law Awards
Dealmaker of the Year
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A
IFLR1000
‘Market Leader’ for M&A, Private Equity, Investment Funds and Financial Services Regulatory
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Leading Lawyer for Fintech & Financial Services Regulatory and Private Equity & Investment Funds
- Recommended for Corporate/M&A
Who’s Who Legal
Recommended for M&A and Governance
Asialaw Profiles
‘Distinguished Practitioner’ for Corporate and M&A, Investment Funds and Private Equity
Asian Legal Business
Named among ‘Asia’s Top 15 M&A Lawyers’
Asian Legal Business India Law Awards
Dealmaker of the Year
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A
IFLR1000
‘Market Leader’ for M&A, Private Equity and Investment Funds
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Leading Lawyer for Fintech & Financial Services Regulatory and Private Equity & Investment Funds
- Recommended Lawyer for Insurance
Legal Era
Named a Leading Lawyer Champion for Corporate / M&A and Private Equity
Who’s Who Legal
‘Thought Leader – India’ for M&A
Asialaw Profiles
‘Distinguished Practitioner’ for Corporate and M&A, Investment Funds and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A, Investment Funds and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A
IFLR1000
‘Market Leader’ for M&A, Private Equity and Investment Funds
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
• Leading Lawyer for Financial Services Regulatory and Private Equity & Investment Funds
• Recommended Lawyer for Insurance
Legal Era
Named a Leading Lawyer Champion for Corporate / M&A and Private Equity
RECENT RECOGNITION
Asian Legal Business India Law Awards
Dealmaker of the Year
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- ‘Leading Partner’ for Corporate and M&A, Private Equity Funds and Fintech & Financial Services Regulatory
- Recommended for Insurance
Lexology Index
- ‘Thought Leader’ for M&A
- ‘Recommended’ for Corporate Governance
Asialaw Awards
Corporate and M&A Lawyer of the Year
Asialaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate/ M&A, Private Equity and Investment Funds
Asian Legal Business India Law Awards
Dealmaker of the Year
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A
IFLR1000
‘Market Leader’ for M&A, Private Equity, Investment Funds and Financial Services Regulatory
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Leading Lawyer for Fintech & Financial Services Regulatory and Private Equity & Investment Funds
- Recommended for Corporate/M&A
Who’s Who Legal
Recommended for M&A and Governance
Asialaw Profiles
‘Distinguished Practitioner’ for Corporate and M&A, Investment Funds and Private Equity
Asian Legal Business
Named among ‘Asia’s Top 15 M&A Lawyers’
Asian Legal Business India Law Awards
Dealmaker of the Year
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A
IFLR1000
‘Market Leader’ for M&A, Private Equity and Investment Funds
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Leading Lawyer for Fintech & Financial Services Regulatory and Private Equity & Investment Funds
- Recommended Lawyer for Insurance
Legal Era
Named a Leading Lawyer Champion for Corporate / M&A and Private Equity
Who’s Who Legal
‘Thought Leader – India’ for M&A
Asialaw Profiles
‘Distinguished Practitioner’ for Corporate and M&A, Investment Funds and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A, Investment Funds and Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Band 1’ for Corporate/M&A
IFLR1000
‘Market Leader’ for M&A, Private Equity and Investment Funds
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
• Leading Lawyer for Financial Services Regulatory and Private Equity & Investment Funds
• Recommended Lawyer for Insurance
Legal Era
Named a Leading Lawyer Champion for Corporate / M&A and Private Equity