Baker & McKenzie International’s Singaporean member firm Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow has hired Prashanth Venkatesh as a local principal on 1 July.

He was previously a partner at Amarchand Mangaldas Bangalore, which is now part of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, from where he left in March of this year.

He specialises in finance, banking, derivatives and other structured products.

According to a Baker’s press release:

Prashanth has significant experience in India-related financing transactions. This includes assisting sponsors to negotiate leveraged exposure with Indian banks and financial institutions, as well as advising on the financing of road, port and renewable energy projects. He also has expertise in structuring debt instruments for non-resident clients investing in the real estate debt sector through listed and privately placed debt instruments. Additionally, Prashanth has advised lenders on corporate debt restructurings of infrastructure companies.

Local managing partner Andy Leck commented in the release: “Prashanth’s solid track record in India-related deals will reinforce our strengths in supporting clients at a time when India is experiencing an exciting growth story.”

Venkatesh commented in the release: “I look forward to drawing on my experience of the Indian and London markets to contribute to the Firm’s standout profile in this area.”

Venkatesh graduated from NLSIU Bangalore in 2003, obtained a master’s from the London School of Economics (LSE) in 2007, and has worked in the chambers of Rajeev Dhavan in Delhi between 2003 and 2006, Linklaters between 2007 and 2011, and joined Amarchand Mangaldas Bangalore in 2012, where he was promoted to partnership in 2013.