Ms. R. Leelavathi Naidu heads the Financial Services, Asset Management and Regulatory practice at its Mumbai office.
She has been advising various Mutual Funds amongst the top 15 mutual fund houses and also advising new mutual funds in set up, takeovers and entire spectrum of governance, policy and compliance issues. She constantly engages with SEBI on various compliance matters and representations including proceedings for various mutual funds.
Leelavathi also advises various domestic fund managers on formation and registration of alternative investment funds (including private equity funds, hedge funds, venture capital funds, debt funds and so on), and drafting, and negotiation of associated documentation. She also assists in structuring of the India focused offshore funds including funds in GIFT City and other jurisdictions and FPIs.
She is the sought-after legal advisor for global asset managers who are seeking to establish their fund offering services in Indian markets. She also has wide experience in advising on setting up of structures and advising on synergies for wealth management and asset management set up and ancillary licences such as investment advisers, portfolio managers, research analyst.
She is also very active on advocacy for various regulatory matters and works alongside various associations and intermediaries. She works alongside regulators in various regulatory initiatives for industry.
Prior to joining RegFin Legal, Ms. Naidu was Vice-President at Avendus Capital leading their Compliance function for the asset management services including offshore funds, AIFs and PMS. Prior to that she held leadership position in legal-compliance departments of IIFL Asset Management, IDFC Asset Management and Principal PNB Asset Management.
She holds Masters degree in Commerce degree from University of Mumbai, Company Secretary from Institute of Company Secretaries of India and Bachelor in laws from KC Law College, Mumbai. She is also a Certified Anti Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS).
She was recognized as one of the ‘Top 40 under 40’ Alternative Investment Professionals in India by the Association of International Wealth Management of India (2020). She was also recognized as ’40 under 40’ compliance professionals at Compliance 10/10 (2020).