Manika Brar is a Partner in the Firm’s Competition Law Practice and is based out of the Delhi office.

Manika has considerable expertise in advising on cartel investigations, dominance cases and other competition issues. She has also worked extensively on the merger control side, making her an all-rounder when it comes to competition law. She has been with the Firm since 2007 when she joined as a part of the Corporate/M&A team. Since the enforcement of the Competition Law in India in the year 2009, Manika has worked in the Competition Law Practice of the Firm, thereby, being an integral part of the team since inception.

Manika has many firsts to her credit. She was involved in, the first case in India on predatory pricing – the National Stock Exchange case, the first compensation claim before the Competition Appellate Tribunal, and the first case where the Director General Office of the Competition Commission of India successfully conducted a “dawn raid”.

Over the years Manika has represented many multinational and domestic companies, including Transitions Optical on a case involving multiple allegations such as refusal to deal, discriminatory pricing; Hiranandani Hospital on alleged exclusivity with a stem cell banking company; and DLF, a real estate company, on allegations of abuse of dominance in respect of unfair terms in buyer agreements. Manika is also advising clients on complex cartel cases.

On the merger control side, Manika has many notable successes including obtaining clearances for Konecranes Plc and Terex Corporations on Konecranes Plc’s USD 1.3 billion acquisition of Terex Corporation’s Material Handling Business, CMA CGM SA on its USD 2.4 billion acquisition of NOL Limited, Nestle SA on its joint venture with PAI Partners, American & Efird’s acquisition of majority ownership of Vardhman Yarns and Threads Limited, H. J. Heinz on its USD 28 billion acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital, and investment in Future Consumer Enterprise Ltd, the food and consumer goods arm of Kishore Biyani-led Future Group by Black River Asset Management, the private equity arm of US food and agriculture company Cargill.

Manika regularly conducts competition law compliance trainings for several Indian and multinational companies. Manika has also made valuable contributions to the market intelligence chapters on cartels for Getting the Deal through (GTDT).

Professional Memberships

• Bar Council of Delhi

Education

• LL.B (Faculty of Law, Delhi University)
• LL.M (University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia)