Rajiv Khanna

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

New York
United States
T:+1 212 318 3168
New York
United States
T:+1 212 318 3168
Rajiv Khanna

Rajiv Khanna

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Biography

Rajiv Khanna focuses on domestic, cross-border and multijurisdictional mergers and acquisitions transactions. His clients are in the technology, EVs, life sciences, pharmaceutical and other industries.

Rajiv is the architect of many seminal pathbreaking transactions, including complex SPAC business combinations; first ADR linked share subscription facility for an Indian company; the first proposed reverse merger of an Indian privately held corporation with a NASDAQ- listed, publicly traded US company; the first merger of a US private company with a publicly traded Indian company; the first merger of a NYSE-listed Indian company with a NASDAQ-listed US company; and the first triple-dip aircraft financing, which allowed full depreciation to be claimed in the US, Japan and India for the same aircraft.

Rajiv uses not only his legal acumen, but also his business education to understand his clients' needs and their business functions and objectives. He takes a practical and solutions-oriented approach to each matter as he works through legal issues, always keeping his client's ultimate business goals in mind.

Above all, Rajiv makes impossible deals happen in a difficult market!

Professional experience

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  • LL M, first in class, University of Miami School of Law, 1984
     
  • LL B, University of Delhi, 1979
     
  • Bachelor of Commerce  (BBA), with honors, University of Delhi, 1976
  • New York State Bar
  • Represented Stardust Power Inc. to go public through its business combination with Nasdaq listed global partner Acquisition Corporation II.
  • Represented Burtech Acquisition Corp. to go public through its business combination with Blaize, a leading global provider of AI Solutions for Edge Computing.
  • Represented Aeries Technology Inc. to go public through its business combination with Worldwide Webb Acquisition Corp.
  • Represented Mobiv Acquisition Corp. in its business combination with SRIVARU Holding Ltd.
  • Currently representing DigiAsia in its business combination with StoneBridge Acquisition Corp.
  • Currently representing Aeries Technology in its business combination with Worldwide Webb Acquisition Corp.
  • Currently representing Srivaru Motors in its business combination with Mobiv Acquisition Corp.
  • Represented a specialty pharmaceutical manufacturer on the acquisition from a privately-held global specialty pharmaceuticals developer/manufacturer of in-development biopharmaceutical, for development and commercialization in the United States and Canada. 
  • Represented a specialty pharmaceutical manufacturer on the acquisition from a privately-held specialty global pharmaceuticals developer/manufacturer of assets regarding trio of in-development biopharmaceuticals, for development and commercialization in the United States and Canada.
  • Represented a specialty pharmaceutical manufacturer on a permanent irrevocable license with respect to an in-development biopharmaceutical, for development and commercialization in the United States and Canada. 
  • Currently representing a pharmaceutical company in a licensing and co-development agreement with another pharmaceutical company.
  • Represented DifGen Pharmaceuticals in the acquisition of Aveva Drug Delivery Services.
  • Represented a pharmaceutical company in contracts relating to an offshore development center.
  • Supervising multiple litigations.
  • Represented Azurity Pharmaceuticals in the acquisition of a neurology portfolio from Eton Pharmaceuticals.
  • Represented Indegene Inc in a U.S. acquisition.
  • Represented a subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals in exclusive licensing agreement with Hikma for commercializing Ryaltirs.
  • Represented Dr. Reddy's Laboratories in an asset sale of a portfolio of products to Upsher Smith.
  • Represented the Founders of a U.S. medical outsourcing company with an offshore outsourcing affiliate in India in the sale of 51% of the equity in the company to a Middle Eastern private equity fund.
  • Represented Trans American Information Systems, Inc., Trans American Information Systems Pvt. Ltd. And TAISTech LLC in their sale to the U.S. subsidiary of Mastek Ltd.
  • Represented The Encima Group, Inc. in its sale to the U.S. subsidiary of Indegene.
  • Represented the Committee of Independent Directors of Cadista Inc. in a tender offer by the parent, Jubilant Life Science, for acquisition of minority interest in the company.
  • Represented the audit committee of an international company listed on NYSE in an investigation on earning management.
  • Represented Par Pharma in its acquisition of Edict Pharma.
  • Represented Aditya Birla Chemicals in purchase of technology assets from a U.S. company.
  • Represented a solar power developer in an asset sale of a 186 MW power project.
  • Represented the sellers of a U.S. tech company to an Indian tech company in renegotiating their earn outs and early exit from the company.
  • Represented Sonnet Biotherapeutics in its acquisition of Relief Therapeutics.
  • Represented an Indian outsourcing company in issues related to multiple employee departures.
  • Represented a borrower in a $75 million high yield debt transaction.
  • Supervised the representation of FDC Limited in the bankruptcy of ACETO Corporation.
  • Represented a public company director in an investigation on allegations of divulging insider information.
  • Supervised the representation of Gokaldas Exports in Sears bankruptcy.
  • Acted as U.S. counsel to U.S. subsidiaries of an Indian pharma company in the parent's proposed public offering on the Singapore stock exchange.
  • Supervised a major litigation against an Indian infrastructure tax company in New York Supreme Court.
  • Representing MasterCard in various M&A and strategic investment transactions, and supervising their insurance regulatory work, IP and labor and employment work.
  • Supervised a Paragraph IV litigation for Innopharma and later Pfizer.
  • Supervised the creation of a health care regulatory program for an Indian outsourcing company.
  • Represented a for-profit international educational institute in their U.S. operations.
  • Represented the Singapore parent of an Indian FinTech company in exchange of its 7% equity interest for the 19.5% equity interest in a NASDAQ listed blockchain company.
  • Supervised litigations and labor and employment work for Computershare USA.
  • Represented Sapience Analytics in a private equity investment by a Credit Suisse fund.
  • Represented an Indian parent company and its subsidiaries in their negotiations with the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation over control group liability.
  • Represented Core Projects in its acquisition of ITN Mark Education Ltd.
  • Represented a Saudi Prince in arbitration with Pakistan Airlines over Roosevelt Hotel.
  • Represented Strand Life Sciences in its proposed reverse merger into Venaxis, a NASDAQ listed company.
  • Represented Jubilant in debt financing by ICICI Bank.
  • Represented TAIB Securities in numerous U.S. matters.
  • Supervised litigation against a pharmaceutical company on allegations of theft of trade secrets.
  • Represented an Indian conglomerate in the restructuring of its U.S. subsidiary.
  • Supervised patent landscape searches for a biosimilars company.
  • Represented an Indian company in a wind-down of its U.S. subsidiary.
  • Represented in internet games company in various rounds of financing.
  • Represented Viacom on contracts relating to India.
  • Represented the fund division of a major India-centric investment bank in the formation of its India fund.
  • Represented successfully an Indian company in an FCPA investigation.
  • Represented an Indian company in the Chapter 7 liquidation of its U.S. subsidiary.
  • Represented IDFC Securities in obtaining their U.S. broker-dealer license.
  • Supervised a long standing contentious litigation in the U.S. for a major Indian bank.
  • Represented an Indian broker-dealer in getting its broker-dealer license in the U.S.
  • Represented a major Indian conglomerate in the acquisition of a U.S. technology company.
  • Represented the Audit Committee of a NYSE company in an internal investigation which exonerated the CFO and his team.
  • Represented ICICI Securities, a major indian investment bank, in the asset sale of its investment advisor business in the U.S.
  • Closed a transaction for the largest Indian bank of a major construction loan in the U.S.
  • Closed several loan transactions for major Indian banks.
  • Represented Quant Broking (a subsidiary of Reliance Capital) in obtaining a U.S. broker-dealer license.
  • Represented Wal-Mart in its India work and strategy.
  • Represented MasTec Inc. in its India work and strategy.
  • Represented Revlon in its India work and strategy.
  • Represented Marathon Real Estate Opportunity Fund in the workout of an Indian transaction.
  • Represented Siemens First Capital in an Indian transaction.
  • Worked on a 100 acre mixed use real estate project in southern India for a U.S.-based fund.
  • Represented Vornado controlled fund in its acquisition of land in BKC, Mumbai, India.
  • Worked on major structuring issues relating to the establishment of U.S. operations by one of the largest Indian conglomerates in an environmentally sensitive area.
  • Successfully supervised a criminal anti-trust investigation by the DOJ of an Indian company.
  • Represented ICICI Securities in several amendments of its U.S. broker-dealer license.
  • Represented ICICI Securities in acquisitions of a registered investment advisory business.
  • Represented an Indian-centric outsourcing company in its potential sale.
  • Represented an Indian group in a mining acquisition.
  • Closed the acquisition of K12 division by Core Education and Consulting Solutions, Inc. from Princeton Review.
  • Closed the acquisition of a registered investment advisor by a major Indian securities company.
  • Represented an Indian network major in an aborted acquisition of a U.S. television station.
  • Closed on the acquisition of Socrates, Inc. (a U.S. BPO company) by SCIOinspire, a company owned by Indians and funded by Sequoia Capital.
  • Closed the acquisition of J&B Software by 3i Infotech, formerly known as ICICI Infotech.
  • Underwriters' counsel in the initial public offering of Millennium India Acquisition Company, Inc.
  • Worked on an asset purchase transaction in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Worked on a Series A Financing for an internet games company.
  • Represented ICICI Securities in Rising India Fund, Urban Real Estate Investment Fund and other funds.
  • Represented a major Indian pharmaceutical company in disputes arising under a license and supply agreement.
  • Closed on an the merger of Mphasis and BFL Software and the resulting Reg D private placement, which involved, among other things, the drafting of a document which is the equivalent to an offering document for an initial public offering since non-accredited investors are involved.
  • Represented Wipro in the acquisition of an automotive design company.
  • Represented a major Indian group in a complex asset acquisition of a manufacturing company in the U.S.
  • Represented the largest Indian bank, in numerous real estate loans and other matters.
  • Represented an outsourcing company in various funding rounds.
  • Closed a $52 million sale of U.S. entities majority owned by an Indian group.
  • Represented the Lead Arranger in a sponsored ADR offering by Sify Limited.
  • Represented a NYSE listed Indian company in its acquisition of a NASDAQ listed company, the first acquisition by a company from India of a publicly traded U.S. company, which involved, among other things, the filing of an F-4 Registration Statement.
  • Represented an Indian issuer in its over $100 million ADRs offering.
  • Represented MphasiS in what would have been its initial public offering in the U.S. (The prospectus was almost completed, but the transaction did not close due to the change in market conditions).
  • Completed a venture capital investment in an Indian company.
  • Supervised two major arbitration matters for Indian software companies.
  • Closed on three transactions involving the transition of certain practice areas from an Indian technology company to three separate U.S. technology companies.
  • Closed on an acquisition of a Chinese company by an Indian technology company.
  • Represented an Indian conglomerate in the sale of the controlling interest in a U.S. technology company held by the Indian conglomerate to a publicly listed U.S. company.
  • Previously represented the Indian conglomerate in its acquisition of the controlling interest of the above-mentioned company.
  • Represented a NYSE listed Indian company in its acquisition of a Hong Kong and Australia based company.
  • Represented an Indian company in its acquisition of a strategic equity interests in a major U.S. company.
  • Counsel to a U.S. subsidiary of a Japanese conglomerate in a complex triple-dip aircraft leasing transaction involving the USA, India and Japan.
  • Worked on a transaction for an Indian issuer involving the exchange of Restricted Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") for GDRs traded over-the-counter, the first transaction of its kind, as a prelude to exchange offer of GDRs for ADRs.
  • Counsel to State Bank of India for its Medium Term Notes Program.
  • Represented an Indian IT services provider in its acquisition of strategic equity interests in a U.S. information technology company.
  • Worked on an approximately $800 million cross-border M&A transaction.
  • Worked on the acquisition of a U.S. agri-foods company by a Singapore company.
  • Represented major Indian infotech and outsourcing companies in various outsourcing contracts.
  • Represented Aditya Birla Group in acquisition of assets of Liberty Fibers from a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee.
  • Represented Office Tiger in an outsourcing transaction with a major U.S. investment bank.
  • Represented OfficeTiger, a provider of off-site dedicated enterprise service hubs for desk top presentation and administrative services, in BPO transaction with Bowne Business Solutions which included multiple service hubs and cost plus gain sharing structure.
  • Acted as outside general counsel to Air India.
  • Represented Kotak Mahindra in the formation of the Global Investment Opportunities Fund Limited.
  • Represented a major Indian pharmaceutical company in a long term distribution agreement.
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, Lawdragon, 2025
  • Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, M&A/Corporate Commercial M&A - middle market (sub-$500M), The Legal 500, 2016
  • New York Super Lawyer for M&A, 2006-2008
  • Deal Maker of the year, 2021, Finance Monthly Magazine
  • Profiled in Jewels of India (2012)

     

 

  • India-America Chamber of Commerce, President
  • Hindi
  • Urdu