Varun Kalsi

Varun has over 17 years of experience across the private client, general corporate, commercial, and real estate practices.

He possesses expertise in tax-efficient intergenerational wealth transfer, succession, and investment planning across
jurisdictions with sophisticated structures such as Singapore VCCs, bespoke trusts, foundations, and international
inheritance & estate tax matters with a focus on the India/Gift City-Singapore & India-Middle East corridors. He was recently heading the legal and wealth planning functions at Lighthouse Canton (covering Asia, the Middle East, India, and the UK markets).

Relevant Experience:

*Experience listed below are that of the Partner before she joined the Firm

Advised a prominent Indian conglomerate in establishment of its family office in Singapore. Further, supported them with the requisite roadmap for procuring the section 13 tax exemption in Singapore while also advising on aspects of a Singapore variable capital company.
Represented a person of Indian origin in incorporation of a foundation in the Abu Dhabi Global Market with the perspective of protecting his holdings in an offshore operating company from a possible dispute with another family member.
Counselled an Indian conglomerate on the legalities, taxation, pros and cons of investment in an outbound
Category 3 alternative investment fund in Gift City.
Assisted a multi-family office in establishment of its feeder fund in Gift City whereby accredited investors from India would make investments in the gift city alternative fund, which would ultimately invest in global public and private markets.
Counselled a person of Indian origin in establishment of a purpose trust in Cayman Islands whereby this trust
would hold the shares of a section 13 tax exempted entity in Singapore. Address peculiar considerations of the
settlor concerning the trust in terms of applicable laws.
Represented a UHNI concerning advice on his offshore BVI private investment company and trust in view of
the then proposed abolishment of the UK non-domicile regime.
Advised the Aga Khan Foundation in establishment of its charitable trust in India. The main purpose of this trust was to become the central vehicle for dealings with the government of NCT of Delhi concerning an urban
renewal project for the Sundar nursery, Humayun’s tomb, and the Nizamuddin basti.
Represented the Indian JV partner of a prominent UAE developer in the demerger of their India real estate
venture.
Counselled an IT infrastructure provider to the air travel industry on a comprehensive review of its existing
telecommunication licenses and the need for upgrade where necessary.
Assisted an UHNI in the title due diligence, and purchase of premium real estate in Golf Links, New Delhi,
which was the highest valued residential property acquisition at that time.