T: (917) 450-4743
LL.M., 1994 - New York University (NYU) School of Law
LL.B., 1993 - University of Mumbai - Government Law College
B.Com., 1991 - University of Mumbai - Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics
International Languages:
Business (fluent), Hindi (fluent) and Gujarati (conversational)
Bar Admissions:
New York State
Maharashtra State, India
Avinash “Avi” Ganatra is the Firm’s President and Head of Global Corporate Practice. Avi is the quintessential US and cross border business transactional lawyer. He brings to bear for the benefit of his clients a formidable combination of exceptional experience and business savvy, dedication to client service, professional and cultural diversity and multi-faceted creativity. Avi loves working with entrepreneurs and fast growing companies and using his extensive "BigLaw" expertise to turbo charge their "BigPlans."
Exceptional Experience and Pedigree
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Avi has over 27 years of experience practicing as a US and cross-border M&A, equity / debt capital markets, leveraged finance, and private equity lawyer in New York City. Avi practiced for the majority of his career at the preeminent global law firm, Skadden Arps, in its New York office. Subsequently, Avi was a partner at other major firms in New York, including global firms Dewey & LeBoeuf and Squire Sanders.
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In July 2014, Avi founded Ganatra Law to serve as a bridge directly connecting his exceptional experience and extensive US and international professional network to the US corporate and business law needs of discerning clients in the United States and abroad.
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Avi has represented US and multinational companies, investment banks, private equity funds and financial institutions in US and cross-border M&A transactions, equity and debt capital markets transactions, including Rule 144A / Regulation S high-yield debt offerings, initial public offerings, private placements and debt tender offers and consent solicitations.
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Avi has represented lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured lending transactions, including syndicated and second-lien transactions. He has advised companies and financial firms on complex restructuring matters and US and multinational companies on cross-border M&A and securities law matters.
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Avi has advised corporate and institutional clients on the regulatory requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including JOBS Act private placement reforms, Sarbanes Oxley regulations and periodic reporting requirements under the Exchange Act.
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He has counseled clients on internal controls and corporate governance requirements.
Thought Leader and Writer
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Avi closely follows business, legislative and judicial developments that can impact the business of the Firm's clients. Avi writes frequently on legal, business and documentation trends and, importantly, their consequences. Avi's previous writings were done under the aegis of his prior law firms and, for that reason, have not been posted on this web site.
Speaker and Presenter
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Avi is a sought-after speaker on topics related to equity and debt capital markets, leveraged finance and general business transactions. He has been invited to speak at high profile seminars hosted / sponsored by the LSTA (Loan Syndications and Trading Association), the NYSSA (The New York Society of Security Analysts), PLI (Practising Law Institute) and PLC (Practical Law Company) on high yield, debt capital markets and leveraged finance documentation and trends.
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Avi is the creator of The Irreverent Indenture (© 2002-2023, Avinash V Ganatra, All Rights Reserved), the world's only fully multimedia presentation on high-yield and leveraged loan debt covenants that brings to life an otherwise dry subject in a uniquely engaging manner by combining eye-popping animation & illustration and a pulsating music soundtrack with his dynamic spoken presentation.
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Avi has conducted several successful workshops featuring The Irreverent Indenture for banks, financial institutions and companies in New York, London and Amsterdam.
Mentor and Leader
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Avi was the founding president of the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY) and currently serves on its "private sector" committee that fosters the business and professional advancement of SABANY's senior members.
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Avi is frequently invited by his US alma mater, New York University (NYU) School of Law, to speak to all the students in NYU's LL.M. program and share his experiences about "breaking into" the elite New York City law firm scene and his journey to becoming a partner at major law firms.
A Bombay Boy . . .
Avi was born into a family of lawyers in Mumbai and spent his first 23 years in that dynamic city. Avi received his business undergraduate degree (B.Com.) from the University of Mumbai - Sydenham College. He received his law degree (LL.B.) with top honors from University of Mumbai - Govt. Law College, where he graduated each year in the Top 1% among all law schools in Mumbai.The US - Indian business corridor is an area of particular focus for the Firm. We have close-knit relationships with leading Indian law firms, banks and financial institutions, including in Mumbai, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Hyderabad. Avi enjoys close personal rapport with managing lawyers and senior professionals at these firms.
. . . and A New Yorker
In 1994, Avi began his American odyssey and received his US law degree (LL.M.) from New York University (NYU) School of Law. Upon graduation, Avi joined the corporate finance group in the New York office of the preeminent global law firm, Skadden Arps, where he practiced for close to 13 years. Subsequently, Avi practiced as a partner at other major global law firms, Dewey & LeBoeuf and Squire Sanders. In July 2014, Avi founded Ganatra Law to serve as a bridge directly connecting his exceptional experience and extensive international professional network to the US corporate and business law needs of discerning clients in the United States and abroad.
