Karthik Kumar

Partner

Singapore

Karthik Kumar is an experienced project development, acquisition and finance lawyer who advises clients on novel and complex, high-profile renewable energy and infrastructure projects in the Asia-Pacific region.

Karthik has a strong focus on the renewable energy sector with extensive experience in solar, onshore and offshore wind, biomass, and waste-to-energy projects across the region. Karthik is highly regarded in the market for his in-depth regulatory knowledge and significant transactional experience. Clients laud him for his commercial approach and deep regional background.

He has extensive experience advising developers, sponsors, borrowers and financial institutions, including banks and multilateral lending institutions, on a wide range of renewable energy projects in jurisdictions such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, China and Australia.

Karthik is a top-ranked lawyer in the Chambers Global and Asia Pacific directories as well as by Legal 500 and India Business Law Journal. Clients describe him as a “top-notch lawyer” and is “known for his project finance capabilities, particularly in the renewable energy segment.” They also note that he “deeply understands the business needs and stakeholder expectations and has time and again proven to have our 100% confidence in his counsel.” Clients extol his India-focused project finance practice, commending him for his "second to none" knowledge of Indian law and practice and noting a particular acquisition of an Indian company where "his ability to understand unique local issues" was "amazing." 

    • Represented Macquarie Asset Management (“MAM”), via Macquarie Green Investment Group Renewable Energy Fund 2 (“MGREF2”), in its acquisition of 50% of the shares in Island Green Power Limited (“IGP”), a UK-based renewable energy developer focused primarily on the development of utility-scale solar plants.
    • Represented ATN International, Inc. on the sale of a majority stake in its renewable energy subsidiary Vibrant Energy Holdings Pte. Ltd. to Macquarie-owned renewable energy development platform Blue Leaf Energy Asia Pte. Ltd.
    • Represented UPL Limited in a US$500 million sustainability-linked loan with a US$250 million greenshoe option, arranged by MUFG Bank, Ltd. and Cooperative Rabobank U.A.
    • Represented Macquarie Asset Management in the execution of a put option agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Group, for approximately €2.4 billion.
    • Represented a Multinational Energy Company and its affiliates on the sale of their interests in the Block B offshore gas development project in Vietnam.
    • Represented UPL Limited (“UPL”), a leading global generic agrochemical company based in India, in connection with its subsidiary, UPL Corporation Limited’s, US$4.2 billion acquisition and related US$3 billion term financing of Arysta Lifescience Inc. (“Arysta”), a global provider of crop protection solutions from NYSE listed Platform Specialty Products Corporation (“Platform”).
    • Represented Babcock Power, Inc. on the technology collaboration agreement with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (“BHEL”), for selective catalytic reduction systems for De-NOx application with respect to thermal power projects in India.
    • Represented Surya Prakash Vietnam Energy Company Limited, a subsidiary of India’s Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital, in connection with its Phase 1 development of a 50MW grid connected solar power project in Ninh Thun Province in Vietnam.
    • Represented Ahana Renewables, a subsidiary of ATN (NASDAQ: ATNI), in its purchase of the development business of Armstrong Energy Global (“Armstrong”), a developer, builder, and owner of solar farms in India.
    • Advised Twilio Inc. in its acquisition of ValueFirst Digital Media Private Limited, a leading Indian provider of digital communication solutions through telephone voice and data communications offering services in India and South-East Asia.
    • Represented Groupe Solmax Inc. and its shareholders (including institutional investors Caisse de dépot et placement du Québec and Fonds de Solidarité FTQ) in connection with Solmax’s acquisition of TenCate Geosynthetics Holding B.V. from Dutch conglomerate Koninklijke Ten Cate.
    • Represented GAIL Global (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a leading LNG trading, shipping, and risk management company, in connection with a US$100 million trade finance facility from HSBC, Singapore for the financing of trading activity of liquefied natural gas.
    • Represented Babcock Power, Inc. on a joint venture with ISGEC Heavy Engineering Ltd., relating to licensing wet flue gas desulfurization technology by Babcock for thermal power projects in India.
    • Advised PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited in the €4 billion acquisition of Allnex Holding GmbH from Advent International.
    • Advised the Queensland Investment Corporation (“QIC”) on its A$200 million combined debt and equity investment and participation in the A$3.5 billion recapitalization and acquisition out of administration of Australia’s second-largest airline, Virgin Australia, by Bain Capital.
    • Represented Bank of America, N.A. in connection with a US$500 million syndicated asset-based revolving credit facility provided to Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., a major U.S.-based multinational microprocessor manufacturer and distributor.
    • Advised GreatPoint Ventures as lead investor in the US$17 million Series A financing round of Symbl.ai, a developer-first platform providing the best-in-class conversation intelligence (CI).
    • Advised The Riverside Company in the acquisition of PeopleGrove, the leading provider of career mentorship and alumni engagement software for higher education institutions.
    • Represented Cardinal Health in connection with the divestiture of its Cordis business to Hellman & Friedman for approximately US$1 billion.
    • Advised Fortino Capital Partners NV in the acquisition of Sigma Conso Asia, the Southeast-Asia distributor of the Sigma Conso consolidation and reporting software.
    • Advised UPL Limited in its investment into TeleSense, Inc., a California-based company that is revolutionizing grain storage and supply chain, in connection with the US$10.2 million Series B fundraising by TeleSense.
    • Represented Arsenal Capital Partners (“ACP”) on the four acquisitions by portfolio company Seal for Life of Flame Control Coatings, Highland International, LifeLast, and US Coatings, manufacturers of protective coating technologies.
    • Advised Western Digital Corp. in the sale of its IntelliFlash™ business to DataDirect Networks, Inc. (DDN®), a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and multi-cloud data management.
    • Advised Arsenal Capital Partners on the US$328 million acquisition of Seal for Life Industries, a global manufacturer and supplier of corrosion prevention and control products, from Berry Global Group.
    • Represented Wabtec Corporation in a Reverse Morris Trust merger with GE Transportation, valued at US$11.1 billion.

    Karthik’s experience includes that prior to joining Orrick.