Exclusive: Dua Associates Hyderabad has advised on the construction of a major NCC Infrastructure’s Rs 7,047 crore power project with Amarchand Mangaldas Delhi leading for the lenders, one year after India Legal merged with Dua following Tatva Legal’s mega-breakaway.

Dua Associates Hyderabad-based partner Varalakshmi Tadepalli, who had a year back combined her practice India Legal with that of Dua Associates, advised the construction company on this mega power project.

“This year we have the rest of the office back in shape,” Tadepalli told Legally India while adding that there are now eight professionals in Dua Associates’ Hyderabad office after she had joined with five last year.

“As real estate players we have done very well,” she said but added that she was now keen on expanding in the corporate practice too.

Amarchand Mangaldas partner Jatin Aneja acted as lender’s legal counsel on the project. The lender group consisted of Rural Electrification Corporation as a lead bank, Power Finance Corporation and ICICI bank.

Spread over 1,015 acres at Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh, the project is a joint venture between NCC Infrastructure Holdings and Gayatri Energy Ventures for the development of a 2x660 MW coal fired thermal power plant.

The legal work undertaken by Dua Associates included conducting land due diligence, structuring of the transaction for project implementation, documentation for investment by venture partner and loan documentation with the lenders.

Photo by Habeeb…second innings…