Anil Motwani

Anil Motwani

Partner

Anil focuses on advising Asia-based sponsors on the formation and operation of private funds, including private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate funds, as well as hedge funds.
He is experienced in structuring funds that invest across China, India and other Asian markets, as well as globally. Anil routinely provides regulatory and compliance advice to investment funds and their managers. Anil represents institutional investors in their global alternative investments, including sovereign wealth funds, family offices and the alternative investment arms of major banks. In addition, Anil provides legal advice to non-US corporations and underwriters under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 in connection with equity and debt offerings and other financing transactions. Anil is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Experience

Representative matters

A large Hong Kong-licensed hedge fund manager in the launch of a new, Asia-biased but market neutral hedge fund (involving consultations over, amongst other factors, the fund’s liquidity model, target concentration limits and risk/return profile).

A major non-US sovereign wealth fund in co-financing the clinical development of several potentially groundbreaking, pre-approval/market drugs/devices, including: Bempeg (a potential cure for head and neck cancer); Bardoxolone Methyl (for preventing end-stage renal disease (i.e., kidney failure)); Inclisiran (for treating heart disease using first-of-its-kind siRNA technology); and Medtronic, Inc.’s “Intrepid” transcatheter mitral valve replacement system.

The investment arm of an Asian e-commerce platform on a strategic JV investment in a German partnership designed for investment in sustainable food initiatives (e.g., alternative protein products, clean nutrition, functional food, food waste reduction).

A large Singaporean bank in the development of compliance systems and infrastructure around whether, when and how to deal with US person advisers, investors and intermediaries under covered U.S. laws and regulations.

Pro bono

Partnering with Lawyers Without Borders to prepare research material aimed at combatting the ivory trade in Tanzania, including meetings and trainings with key stakeholders in Dar es Salaam

Co-authoring a research paper with International Rivers to seek protected status for a river in Myanmar which had been dammed upstream

Published Work

  • Chen, L. X., Motwani A., Zhang J.,  Gao N., (2024), “Chambers Global Practice Guide: Investment Funds: Hong Kong Law and Practice Chapter”, London: Chambers and Partners
  • Chen, L. X., Motwani A., Fu F., Lin E., (2024), “ESG Regulatory Trend: Visions of A Unitary Regime”, Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association Journal
  • Chen, L. X., Motwani A., Zhang J., Gao N., (2023), “The Private Equity Review: Hong Kong Fundraising Chapter”, London: Law Business Research Ltd
  • Chen, L. X., Motwani A., Zhang J., Gao N., (2023), “Chambers Global Practice Guide: Investment Funds: Hong Kong Law and Practice Chapter”, London: Chambers and Partners

Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, Regulatory Update in Hong Kong and the United States, Shearman & Sterling and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, September 2023
  • Presenter, Understanding Financial Statements for In-House Lawyers, ACC, August 2023
  • Presenter, Measures by Licensed Corporations to Deal with Stress Events, Shearman & Sterling and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, December 2022
  • Speaker, Legal Aspects of ESG Investment, Shearman & Sterling and Association of Corporate Counsel Hong Kong, August 2022

Awards

  • Recommended Lawyer for Investment Funds in China, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2024
  • Recommended Lawyer for Investment Funds in Hong Kong, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2024
  • Leading Lawyer - Rising Star in Hong Kong Investment Funds, IFLR1000, 2023-2024 

Qualifications

Admissions

New York, 2014
Hong Kong, 2020

Academic

B.A., University Of Southern California, 2009
J.D., Columbia Law School, 2013
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.