Manjula Chawla

Co-founding Partner
New Delhi

Identify the issue that is causing a problem and to come up with commercial solutions.

Manjula Chawla is the co-founding partner of Phoenix Legal. She concentrates in the areas of strategic investments, M&As, corporate finance and restructuring, and general commercial matters.

She was one of the first handful of lawyers who chose to become a corporate lawyer and advise on cross-border transactions soon after the liberalization of the Indian economy in 1991 thereby setting a path for many women lawyers looking for an “alternate” but wished to remain in the profession of law.

For over 30 years now, she has assisted many MNCs (including Fortune 500 companies) in establishing their presence in India in a variety of sectors including automobiles, energy, financial services, F&B, healthcare and pharma, IT, oil and gas, ports, transportation and telecom.

She advises on a wide range of issues involving anti‐corruption, competition law, corporate governance, exchange control, data privacy, labour and employment and real estate. She has advised several international non-profit organizations in relation to their activities in India on a pro bono basis.

She has counselled and represented various clients in numerous mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. Some of these include Adient Inc. (formerly part of Johnson Controls Inc), Air Liquide International, Bechtel Corporation, Baxter Corporation, Cooper Standard Automotive Inc., Ford Motor Company, Ford Motor Credit Company, Johnson Controls Inc., The Lubrizol Corporation, Dell, Kameda Seika Ltd., (Japan), Monster Energy Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Prayon SA, Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS), NTT Communications Corporation, Tokai Rubber Industries Co., Ltd. (now Sumitomo Rikko) and Visteon Corporation.

Her client commitment and consistent delivery of high quality services have been recognized by her clients and peers. She was awarded the National Law Day Award - 2000 by the Union Law Minister for "Excellence in Corporate Law and for unique contribution in bringing foreign exchange into India". She also featured in the recently published book “100 Legal Luminaries of India” which throws light on some of the most illustrious legal minds in India. She has been highly recommended as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate /M&A by Chambers & Partners’ Asia’s Leading Lawyers for Business for last several years.

Other notable Awards and recognition include:

Legal500 – Ranked as a Leading Partner for Corporate and M&A.
Legal Era (2024-2025) – Recognized as a Leading Lawyer Star Practitioner for Corporate and M&A.
WWL: Product Liability Defence (2024) – Highest-ranked Lawyer.
Asialaw Leading Lawyers (2021-2024) – Recommended as a Notable Practitioner for Corporate/M&A.
Indian Business Law Journal (2017-2024) – Featured in “The A-List: India’s Top 100 Lawyers”.
Chambers Asia – Ranked as a Leading Lawyer for Corporate and M&A.
LawWiser’s Lawyers Power League (2023) – Recognized among “100 Leading Law Firm Professionals”.
Legal Media Group Expert Guides – Recognized for ‘Women in Business Law’ (Corporate Governance).
Women in Business Law Awards, Asia (2021) – Awarded ‘Corporate Governance Lawyer of the Year’ by Euromoney Legal Media Group.
Corporate Counsel Association of India (2021) – Awarded ‘Visionary Women Counsel of the Year’ at the Legal Excellence Awards.
Asian Legal Business (2021) – Recognized among “ALB India Super 50 Lawyers”.
The Economic Times (2021) – Recognized as one of the ‘Most Promising Women Leaders’.
Indian National Bar Association (2018) – ‘Woman Lawyer of the Year (Corporate)’.
Insight Success (2018) – Featured in ‘The 10 Powerful Women Lawyers’.
Indian Corporate Counsel Association (2017) – Recognized in ‘The Vanguards – Trusted Corporate Lawyers’.
Legal League Consulting (2017) – Awarded ‘Woman of Distinction – Leadership Excellence Award’.
Legal Era Awards (2014-2015) – ‘Woman Lawyer of the Year’ for Legal Finesse & Accomplishments.
International Who’s Who Executives & Professionals (2011-2012) – Awarded ‘Woman of the Year – India’.

Testimonials:

Manjula Chawla, has been featured in Woman's Era Magazine under the special segment, "Breaking Barriers: Stories of Women Who Inspire Change" Read More.
Asialaw (2022) – Described as a “gifted lawyer focused on delivering the best legal solutions”.
Legal500 (2022) – Dispute Resolution & Litigation: “Responsive and takes the time to explain issues thoroughly”.
Chambers & Partners (2020) – Clients commend her for being “very responsive and accommodating”, specializing in strategic corporate investment, corporate finance, and restructuring.
Asialaw Profiles (2020) – Recognized for “in-depth legal knowledge” and “creative solutions” in client matters.
RSG Consulting (2019) – Recognized as “among the top five lawyers in India”; clients praised her “practical legal advice” and “solid commercial experience”.
IFLR100 – Known for “clear communication, solution-based approach, and responsiveness to client needs”.
Asialaw 2018 - “Partners provide practical and clear decision making in resolving queries”.
Chambers and Partners 2018 - “identify the issue that is causing a problem and to come up with commercial solutions”.

She regularly writes for international journals and publications and makes presentations at various conferences. Her recent work includes can be accessed here.

Current Positions /Memberships

At Large Council Member for India - International Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)
Member – Legal Task Force of Confederation of Indian Industries
Member – India Working Group of the International Bar Association
Patron Member – Bar Association of India
Council Member – North India Council (NIC) of the Indo- American Chamber of Commerce (IACC)
Treasurer – Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF)
Member – DWEN (Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network) India Community, an initiative by Dell