Anil Motwani

Anil Motwani

Partner

Email

anil.motwani@aoshearman.com

Phone

+65 62303848

Offices

Singapore

V-CARD
Anil focuses on advising Asia-based sponsors on the formation and operation of private funds, including private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate funds, as well as hedge funds.

He has over a decade of experience in Asia structuring funds that invest across strategies and sectors in India, Southeast Asia and other regional and global markets.

Anil provides legal and strategic compliance advice to fund managers under US federal securities laws, in particular the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

In addition, Anil represents sovereign wealth funds and large family offices in the build-out of their global investment portfolios, including through co-investments, direct investments and secondaries’ transactions.

Anil also provides legal advice to non-US companies under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 in connection with equity and debt offerings and other financing transactions.

Anil is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • An India real estate sponsor with USD$5 billion+ deployed in aggregate on multiple capital-raises and financing projects, including the largest commercial property transaction in India for 2024, valued at over INR 20 billion.
  • A startup team of venture capitalists in the formation of an India-focused consumer tech fund, including the recapitalization of this fund with debt from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC; formerly OPIC) as the inaugural investment in DFC's venture program.
  • An India 'long-biased' hedge fund with AUM of USD 1.5 billion+ on the launch of its flagship fund series, including the sale of a strategic interest in the manager to an Asian sovereign wealth fund.
  • A Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund in numerous fund investments and co-investments, including the clinical development of several groundbreaking, pre-market drugs (Bempeg, a potential cure for head and neck cancer; Bardoxolone Methyl, for preventing kidney failure; and Inclisiran, for treating heart disease using first-of-its-kind siRNA technology).
  • An Asian sovereign wealth fund in numerous fund investments and co-investments, including the establishment of a USD$6 billion account with a New York-based manager to invest in ESG-linked real estate and infrastructure assets.

Published Work

  • Motwani A., Lin E., Sethi P., (2024), “Capitalizing on India’s growth: A dive into fund structures and regulatory insights”
  • Chen, L. X., Motwani A., Zhang J., Gao N., (2024), “Chambers Global Practice Guide: Investment Funds: Hong Kong Law and Practice Chapter”, London: Chambers and Partners
  • Chen, L. X., Motwani A., Fu F., Lin E., (2024), “ESG Regulatory Trend: Visions of a Unitary Regime”, Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association Journal
  • Chen, L. X., Motwani A., Zhang J., Gao N., (2024), “The Private Equity Review: Hong Kong Fundraising Chapter”, London: Law Business Research Ltd

Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, Illuminating Opportunities in Indian Markets, Maybank Securities Singapore, October 2024
  • Moderator, Middle Eastern Capital Raising Strategies for Asian Fund Managers, A&O Shearman, June 2024
  • Presenter, Regulatory Update in Hong Kong and the United States (covering the digital assets' space), Shearman & Sterling and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, September 2023
  • Presenter, Understanding Financial Statements for In-House Lawyers, ACC, August 2023
  • Presenter, Measures by Licensed Corporations to Deal with Stress Events, Shearman & Sterling and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, December 2022
  • Speaker, Legal Aspects of ESG Investment, Shearman & Sterling and Association of Corporate Counsel Hong Kong, August 2022
  • Presenter, U.S. SEC Proposal Targeting Private Fund Advisers, Shearman & Sterling and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, March 2022
  • Speaker, Young Lawyers Program, Shearman & Sterling, August 2020

Awards

  • Recommended Lawyer for Investment Funds in China, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2024
  • Recommended Lawyer for Investment Funds in Hong Kong, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2024
  • Leading Lawyer - Rising Star in Hong Kong Investment Funds, IFLR1000, 2023-2024 

Qualifications

Admissions

New York, 2014
Hong Kong, 2020

Academic

B.A., University Of Southern California, 2009
J.D., Columbia Law School, 2013
CFA Charterholder, CFA Institute, 2021
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.