L. Viswanathan advises leading banks, financial institutions and private credit providers as well as India’s largest corporates on a spectrum of transactions, including structured lending, corporate debt restructuring, and recovery of loans and investments.
With an enviable track record in Infrastructure and Energy Projects and Banking and Project Finance, he holds expertise in the regulatory aspects of major energy projects. He advised on insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. He has been involved in some of the most complex debt resolution / restructuring transaction having recently advised the lenders on the debt settlement of Altico Capital and lenders on resolution of debt of Dewan Housing Finance Ltd. He acted for the Murugappa group, their acquisition of CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd. and settlement of the company’s onshore and offshore lenders debt.
Chambers and Partners 2022 has ranked Mr. Viswanathan as a Band 1 Lawyer for Banking and Finance and Star Individual for Restructuring and Insolvency in India. IFLR1000 2022 has recognised him as Highly Regarded for Energy and Infrastructure, Project Development, Banking and Project Finance. Asia Law 2022 has described him as Distinguished Practitioner for Banking and Finance and Restructuring and Insolvency. Legal Era Leading Lawyer 2022 ranked him as “Leading Lawyer Legend” for Banking & Finance and Projects & Energy.
He won the ‘Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year 2021’ and ‘Lawyers of the Year: Restructuring and Insolvency 2020’ at IFLR1000 India Awards.
Particularly lauded for his “fantastic understanding of complex matters” by Chambers Global, Mr. Viswanathan has been included in the top Indian lawyers in Project Finance and Banking & Finance by leading international legal publications such as Who’s Who of Project Finance Lawyer, International Who’s Who of Public Procurement Lawyer, Expert Guides, IFLR 1000, Chambers Global, Project Finance International, Asia Law and Asia Pacific Legal 500.
“Strive for excellence, find purpose and value what you have.”
“L Viswanathan is highly adept at advising international financial services companies on a range of matters, with clients benefiting from his significant expertise in project finance and restructuring and insolvency.”
Chambers and Partners 2022
L. Viswanathan, Partner and Chair of Finance, Projects and Insolvency Practices, is truly in a league of his own. He has acted on a number of landmark transactions, including the restructuring of the Dabhol Power Project; Swiss Ribbons v Union of India in which the constitutionality of the Bankruptcy Code was upheld by the Supreme Court, resolution of Essar Steel, the IL&FS Group and DHFL, recapitalisation of Yes Bank, acquisition of controlling interest in the Mumbai Airport and significant foreign investment in infrastructure sectors.
