Harsh Pais
Harsh focuses on cross-border M&A and private equity transactions. He also heads our India corporate practice.

He has a broad corporate practice, representing clients in complex cross-border transactions (involving public and private targets), private capital investments and joint ventures. He is recognised for M&A by the leading directories, such as Chambers (Global) and IFLR.

Harsh has extensive experience in regulated sectors such as infrastructure and financial services. He also provides strategic advice on corporate governance, securities laws and crisis management.

In the past Harsh served as the Co-Head of the corporate practice at a leading Indian law firm and has practiced at a major international law firm in New York. He is qualified to practice in India, England & Wales and New York.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • EQT and Temasek on the sale of O2 Power Power Private Limited to JSW Neo for USD 1.5 billion.
  • A private equity firm on its carve out of Zelestra’s India renewables business from Zelestra Corporacion S.A.
  • Brookfield on its acquisition of a majority stake in CleanMax Enviro Energy Ltd.
  • Hapag Lloyd on its joint venture with JM Baxi Ports & Logistics and acquisition of a majority in Baxi Container Terminals.
  • Vedanta Group on its joint venture with KKR to establish India’s largest renewable power platform for industrial customers.
  • Sanlam on acquiring a majority stake in Sriram General and Sriram Life Insurance.
  • Mitsubishi HC Capital on the disposal of its interest in UK rail assets.
  • Sanlam on its acquisition and joint venture involving Sriram’s asset and wealth management business.
  • Reliance Industries on various strategic matters.
  • Arcelor Mittal on various strategic matters.
  • Tata Agratas on the financing of its battery gigafactory in Bridgewater, Somerset.
  • JSW Steel Ltd. and JFE Steel Corp on their joint acquisition of the steels business of Thyssen Krupp.
  • Wipro on its acquisition of Ferreto Automation.
  • Comcast’s co-invesment with Bodhi Tree to acquire a minority stake in India’s largest media business.
  • Shionogi on its joint venture with Apnimed to form Shionogi-Apnimed Sleep Science to develop and commercialize medical therapies for sleep apnea.

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member of National Committee on Corporate Laws, FICCI

Awards

Ranked individual for Corporate/M&A in Chambers Global 2025

Leading lawyer for Corporate M&A, IFLR1000 Guide

Recommended, M&A and Governance, WWL 2025

Notable practitioner for M&A and PE, Asialaw Profiles 2025

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England & Wales: 2009

Admitted to the New York Bar: 2007

Admitted as advocate, qualified to practise in India: 2002

Academic

Columbia University School of Law, New York, LL.M. (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar): 2006

National Law School of India University, Bangalore, B.A.LL.B (Hons): 2002

Languages

English, Hindi, Kannada
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.