Rakesh Gupta is the Co-Founder and Senior Partner at KNM & Partners, and is widely recognized as a trusted legal advisor in the areas of banking & finance, real estate, insolvency & restructuring, general corporate advisory, and indirect tax. With over 27 years of extensive experience, Rakesh has consistently led complex, high-value, and cross-sectoral transactions for a diverse range of stakeholders, including leading domestic banks, financial institutions, NBFCs, asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), and corporates.
Rakesh is known for his deep expertise in structuring, negotiating, and executing sophisticated debt transactions across asset classes and industries. His proficiency spans secured and unsecured debentures, bonds, structured debt, project finance, acquisition finance, real estate finance, and syndicated lending. Rakesh is also sought-after by clients in matters relating to stressed asset resolution, enforcement strategies, distressed asset acquisitions, and debt restructuring under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
In the real estate sector, Rakesh commands unparallel experience in advising on complex land acquisitions, township and group housing developments, development rights transactions, regulatory and title diligence, joint ventures, and large-scale project documentation. His practice is distinguished by his ability to deliver commercially viable, tax-efficient, and regulatorily compliant solutions for investors, developers, and lenders alike.
Rakesh has also played a pivotal role in advising resolution applicants, financial creditors, and other stakeholders in IBC processes, resolution plan negotiations, liquidation, and acquisition of stressed assets.
In the corporate and restructuring space, Rakesh regularly advises on business transfers, group reorganizations, debt and capital restructuring, buybacks, franchise arrangements, and strategic M&A support. He is known to provide advice which is pragmatic, commercially nuanced, and focused on facilitating the requirement of the client along with mitigating risks.
Rakesh is highly respected for his ability to provide holistic, commercially astute, and transaction-specific legal solutions, ensuring risk mitigation while optimizing deal structuring. His cross-sectoral insights, strategic approach, and client-centric execution have positioned him as a trusted advisor to a wide spectrum of domestic and international clients across banking, real estate, infrastructure, and corporate sectors. His clients value his ability to provide bespoke, end-to-end legal solutions that balance commercial imperatives with regulatory safeguards.
Practice Areas
Key Experience
Banking & Finance
- Advised multiple lenders, including NBFCs, FPIs, and ARCs, in structuring and executing secured, redeemable, non-convertible debenture transactions and other debt structures aggregating over INR 10,000 crores across diverse sectors.
- Acted for a prominent developer in Gurugram in the structuring and negotiation of a large listed NCD issuance aggregating to INR 1,500 crores.
- Represented financial institutions in multiple structured debt transactions, real estate funding, and corporate debt restructuring assignments.
- Advised on distressed debt acquisitions under Swiss Challenge methods and other resolution frameworks.
Real Estate Transactions
- Advised on the acquisition of land exceeding 350 acres in Panipat Haryana for development of integrated projects.
- Acted in the transaction for the redevelopment of a marquee urban land parcel in Delhi, earmarked for a mixed-use development.
- Represented a large business conglomerate in the acquisition of premium hospitality assets, including hotels and resorts across Jaipur, Agra, and Delhi.
- Advised lenders and investors on financing and structuring of residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects in key markets including Gurugram, Noida, and Delhi.
Insolvency & Restructuring
- Advised resolution applicants in formulation, submission, and negotiation of resolution plans, including project-specific asset takeovers and group-wide restructuring under IBC.
- Advised on court-driven and out-of-court restructuring and revival of distressed real estate, manufacturing, and hospitality projects.
- Provided strategic advisory in debt-to-equity conversions, asset sales, and complex group reorganizations involving distressed asset pools.
General Corporate & Business Restructuring
- Advised on complex group reorganizations, business transfers, and corporate restructuring aimed at shareholder value maximization and business continuity.
- Drafted and negotiated business and asset transfer agreements, master sale and purchase agreements, franchise and license arrangements, and related transaction documentation.
- Led legal due diligence, escrow structuring, and transaction closure support for transactions in infrastructure, real estate, manufacturing, and financial services sectors.