Ritu Shaktawat is a Partner at Khaitan & Co in Mumbai. She is a lawyer and a chartered accountant and has been part of the Firm’s tax practice since 2006. Being in the profession for over 19 years, Ritu focusses on matters involving transaction tax advisory, structuring and documentation of domestic, cross-border and global M&A deals having an India leg; complex interpretational issues pertaining to bilateral tax treaties; income characterisation and permanent establishment (Indian taxable presence of foreign entities) aspects in third party and intra-group business arrangements; and India entry structures.

She regularly advises PE / VC funds as well as strategic players on their India investment and divestment structures across sectors involving diverse set of commercial considerations. Ritu has also been advising clients on new age issues such as rules with respect to place of effective management of a foreign entity resulting in deemed tax residence in India and evolving anti-abuse regime under domestic law and bilateral tax treaties. Over the years, Ritu has developed a deep understanding of transactional tax and structuring issues, which she supplements with practical inputs and commercially sound solutions. Ritu has been recognized as a Notable Practitioner, Women in Tax Leader by ITR World Tax 2026 Rankings and as a “Recommended Lawyer” in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Rankings.

Vinita Krishnan is an Executive Director in the Khaitan & Co, Mumbai. A Chartered Accountant with over 19 years of experience, she advises clients on a wide range of domestic and international tax matters. Prior to joining Khaitan & Co, she was with EY India. Vinita is a well-regarded professional who has been recognized as a Recommended Lawyer in Legal 500 and as a Notable Practitioner in the Women in Tax Leaders rankings by ITR World Tax.

Vishal Lohia is a Partner at Dhruva Advisors, based in the Mumbai office.

He is a Chartered Accountant with over 13 years of experience in tax and regulatory matters, with a focus on
the banking, financial services and private equity sectors.

Alongside his financial services work, he has advised promoters, family offices and high-net-worth individuals
on tax-efficient holding structures, trust-based arrangements and succession-oriented planning, including
matters relating to private trusts and estate structuring.

His experience also includes advising on group restructurings such as mergers, amalgamations and internal
reorganisations, particularly in the context of promoter-led and family-owned business groups.

Vishal’s areas of expertise also include advising on regulations issued by RBI, SEBI, IFSCA.

Prior to joining Dhruva Advisors, he was part of the financial services team at Ernst & Young.

Maharshi Mehta is an Associate Partner in Dhruva Advisors based in the Mumbai office.

Maharshi is a qualified Chartered Accountant with more than 18 years of post-qualification
experience in Mergers & Acquisitions – Tax and Regulatory area

He has worked extensively on M&A deals and transactions (domestic as well as cross-border),
due diligences, co-invest / carry structuring, inbound/outbound investment structuring, corporate
restructurings, fund set-ups, etc

Prior to joining Dhruva Advisors, he was a Director in the M&A tax team at PwC and was earlier
associated with KPMG in a similar role. He started his career with RSM & Co.

Ipsita is currently working a leader in the Tax and Fund Formation
Practice of the research and strategy driven law firm, Nishith Desai
Associates. She is based in New Delhi, India.

Khyati is currently working a leader in the Private Equity and M&A
Practice of the research and strategy driven law firm, Nishith Desai
Associates. She is based in Dubai, UAE.