Christopher Manoharan

Christopher carried out comprehensive Corporate Law Due Diligence for a Singapore-based Investor while working for Luthra & Luthra. The Due Diligence covered General Corporate, Commercial Loan Agreements, Real Estate, Intellectual Property and Labour and Employment Laws. Christopher led teams that advised the client from end to end, right from the stage of due diligence to the closure of the share subscription and share purchase agreement. He was recently involved in an inbound merger where the Indian Joint Venture Partner was acquired by the French Joint Venture Partner, and in the takeover of an Indian Promoter held company by a US IT Company.

He was instrumental in setting up the USD 100 million India Advantage Fund while at ICICI Venture. Christopher recently advised a German Company on the Make in India Policy and the ability to take advantage of local content in manufacture. He has also advised a leading FMCG on Labour and Employment law, centering around double employment and the methods to tackle the issue, and advises on employee cost cutting strategies, employment transfer and other sensitive employee related issues with solutions for both employees and the management.

He played an active role in acquiring 102 acres of land at Sholinganallur for the Wipro Offshore Development Centre Campus, Chennai. The transaction involved purchase from multiple individual and family holdings, ascertaining actual physical possession, examination of title deeds, drafting of the due diligence report and drafting of title deeds in favour of Wipro Limited. Christopher is appointed as an Arbitrator by the Madras High Court and handles disputes referred to him from time to time.

In his role as a transactional lawyer, he has had substantial experience handling early-stage investments in venture funding and private equity, joint ventures and technical collaborations. He was also instrumental in creating handbooks related to Employee Policies, Data Privacy and Security, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property Protection and zero tolerance harassment policies.

His practice focuses on Corporate Commercial transactions, Venture Capital, Private Equity transactions, Joint Ventures, Trademark Litigation and raid execution, large Information Technology Outsourcing deals, Licensing Agreements, commercial real estate, employment law, and Government Policy. In addition, Christopher is involved in litigation and has been acting for clients before the NCLT and the NCLAT, Chennai.