Mr. Vikas Varma

Mr. Vikas Varma received his Masters of Laws (LL.M.) degree, with concentration in International Business Practice, from Boston University School of Law. At Boston University, he was the recipient of the "Sebastian Horsten Prize for Academic Achievement". Mr. Varma's clients cover a wide variety of businesses including technology companies, professional practices, breweries, distilleries and wineries, restaurants, liquor stores, transportation companies, farms, minority and women owned businesses (MWBE) and not-for-profit corporations. Mr. Varma's practice includes representing clients with interest in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage industry, and he regularly advises his clients on start-up issues structuring, formation, financing and licensing (including liquor licensing with New York State Liquor Authority and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau [TTB]) and intellectual property issues. Mr. Varma has been the lead counsel in numerous acquisition and joint venture transactions for various US, Indian and multinational corporations. Mr. Varma regularly advises clients on start-up ventures and private placements. He has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating share-purchase agreements, joint ventures and cross-border business transactions, operating agreements, private equity investment agreements, licensing agreements and commercial leases.

Mr. Varma is the recipient of the "40 Under 40" Shaker Award from the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and "Rising Star" Award from Orange County Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Association.  He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of New Hope Community, Inc., and Board of Directors of Leadership Orange.

Areas of Practice:

• Banking and Finance

• Corporate, Contractual and Commercial Transactions

• Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Cross Border Transactions & Foreign Investments

• Licensing and Franchising

• Health & Healthcare Law

• Liquor Licensing – Breweries, Distilleries, Restaurants and Stores

Bar Admissions:

• New York

• California

• India

Education:

• LL.M., Boston University School of Law

• LL.B. (Bachelors of Law), Campus Law Centre, Delhi University

• Bachelor of Commerce (Honors), S.G.T.B. Khalsa College, Delhi University

• Company Secretary, Institute of Company Secretaries of India

Awards:

• Sebastian Horsten Prize for Academic Achievement, 2007.

• "40 Under 40" Shaker Award from the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

• "Rising Star" Award from Orange County Chamber of Commerce.

Publications:

• India Recognizes Limited Liability Partnerships - Any Attraction for U.S. Investors? PERSPECTIVE (NYSBA), Winter 2010.

• Singapore – India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement: A Major Leap Towards Free Economy Amongst Asian Countries, CHARTERED SECRETARY (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) Vol. XXV No. 11.

• Company Law Issues in Mergers, CHARTERED SECRETARY (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) Volume XXVI No. 3.

• SETH DUA & ASSOC., Joint Ventures & Mergers and Acquisitions in India – Legal and Tax Aspects, 9-157, 221-298, 417-435 (Lexis Nexis – Butterworths 2006).

Memberships:

• American Bar Association

Other Languages:

• Hindi

• Punjabi