Arunkumar Venugopalan

Arun has over 17 years of experience in the projects and project finance practice group of the firm, focusing on large-value infrastructure projects (including public-private partnership projects)

Arun has extensive experience advising and representing project developers and contractors in relation to public procurement, tendering and bidding, EPC contracts (including FIDIC), concession agreements, O&M agreements and other project contracts across multiple infrastructure sectors such as mining, ports, conventional energy, renewable energy, oil and gas, highways and other infrastructure projects.

Relevant Experience:

Government of Maharashtra on the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana – 2.0 (“Scheme”). The Scheme constitutes the world’s largest programme for solarisation of agricultural feeders, aggregating to over 14 GW of capacity. The engagement includes advising on the structuring of the Scheme, drafting of the tender documents for implementing the Scheme and assisting the Government of Maharashtra in conducting the bid process for various packages floated under the Scheme.
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited on the flotation of a composite bid pursuant to which it procured both solar (5,000 MW) and thermal power (1,600 MW) from a single bidder to ensure round-the-clock power supply and enhance peak power availability.
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited on the tender process for the procurement of long-term ISTS/InSTS-connected energy storage capacity of 4,000 MW (including a greenshoe option).
Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation in relation to the development of multiple road projects being implemented in the State of Maharashtra. The engagement included drafting the concession and sub-concession agreements, conducting the bid process and assisting in the selection of the successful bidder for the project.
A leading India-based infrastructure conglomerate on its bid for the dredging, reclamation and construction of the offshore protection bund at Vadhvan Port, India, under a public-private partnership model.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited on its bid for the development of the Vizhinjam International Multi-Purpose Seaport project in Kerala, including the review, negotiation and finalisation of the bid documents and the concession agreement.
Reliance Industries Limited on contract structuring and negotiation of complex project contracts for technology and chemical process licences, procurement of equipment (including proprietary equipment) and construction services from international vendors for the USD 12 billion expansion of the petrochemical complex at Jamnagar and the USD 1 billion state-of-the-art convention centre project in Mumbai.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited on the development, construction and operation of liquid terminals for the receipt, storage and regasification of (i) LNG at Dhamra, Odisha; and (ii) LPG at Mundra, Gujarat. The engagement included the drafting, negotiation and finalisation of project contracts, including EPC and project management agreements, cumulatively valued at approximately USD 490 million.
Adani Power (Jharkhand) Limited on the project contracts for the development of a 2×800 MW thermal power plant at Jharkhand, India. The engagement included: (a) drafting and review of tender documents; (b) advice on the contracting structure; and (c) drafting, review and negotiation of the project agreements with the selected bidders, with the aggregate value of project agreements being in excess of USD 1.3 billion.
Hindustan Powerprojects Private Limited on the project contracts for the development of a 1×800 MW thermal power plant at Madhya Pradesh, India. The engagement included: (a) advice on the contracting structure; and (b) drafting, review and negotiation of the project agreements with the selected bidders, with the aggregate value of project agreements exceeding USD 1 billion.
Sika AG on the contracting structure and the drafting, review and negotiation of the project agreements with the contractors for the establishment of a state-of-the-art specialty chemicals production facility in Kharagpur, West Bengal.
Adani Group on its Carmichael Coal, Rail and Abbot Point Port Project in Australia in relation to various project contracts, including mining services contracts, procurement contracts, construction contracts, design and engineering contracts, interface contracts, BOOT contracts and project management contracts for: (a) the development and operation of a greenfield open-cut and underground coal mine in the Galilee Basin, Queensland; (b) the supporting infrastructure comprising a dedicated railway line from the Carmichael Coal Mine to the Abbot Point Port; and (c) the expansion of a coal export terminal at the Abbot Point Port.
Adani ConneX Limited, through its subsidiary DC Developments NOIDA Limited (“DCDN”), on the contracts for the construction and development of a 50 MW capacity data centre in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, on a “build-to-suit” basis for Raiden Infotech India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Alphabet, Inc. The project is being developed on land leased by NOIDA to Adani Enterprises Limited (“AEL”) and further sub-leased by AEL to DCDN.
Equinix Asia Pacific Pte Ltd on the construction of multiple hyperscale data centres in India. The engagement includes advising on FIDIC contracts, customisation of the contracts for use in India, and negotiations with the contractors.
J.P. Morgan Services India Private Limited on design-and-build contracts for the fit-out of new offices in various cities in India. The engagement includes the review of contract documents, advice on compliance with Indian industry practices, and negotiation support.
Vitol in relation to the proposed acquisition of the Karaikal LNG terminal and city gas distribution networks developed by AGP Karaikal LNG Private Limited and AGP CGD India Private Limited respectively.
Adani Gas Limited in relation to the sale of 37.4% of its shares to Total Holdings SAS through a tender offer to public shareholders to acquire up to 25.2% of the shares, subject to applicable regulations, and the purchase of the remaining shares from the Adani Family, thereby creating one of the largest downstream integrated energy companies in India.
Adani Green Energy Limited on the establishment of multiple wind, solar and hybrid power projects across India and abroad, aggregating to over 10 GW. The ongoing engagement includes advising on the contracting structure, bid advisory services, risk mitigation strategy for tenders and bids, and the drafting, review and negotiation of power purchase agreements and project contracts (including supply contracts, services contracts, sub-contracts, civil works contracts and framework agreements) with original equipment manufacturers, erection and commissioning contractors, subcontractors and operation and maintenance contractors.
Mahindra Susten Private Limited on the establishment of a hybrid power project in the State of Maharashtra, India. The engagement includes advising on the contracting structure and the drafting, review and negotiation of project contracts.
SoftBank Group on the sale of its renewable energy portfolio of 4,954 MW to Adani Green Energy Limited, constituting one of the largest acquisitions in the Indian renewable energy sector.