Chitra Rentala
Partner - Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Practice, White-Collar Crime
Complex Commercial Litigation | Insolvency | White-Collar Criminal Defense and Investigations | Arbitration
Overview
Chitra is a Partner at Trilegal and focuses on white-collar criminal defense and investigations, complex and high value commercial disputes, including insolvency and arbitration. Having over 14 years of experience, she has built a stellar reputation for advising and representing clients in marquee disputes involving multiple stakeholders, significant financial exposure, and complex legal and regulatory issues.
She advises and represents Indian and multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals in sensitive investigations before central and state authorities, including the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Economic Offences Wing and State Police. Her practice spans the full spectrum of white-collar criminal and regulatory matters from investigations to criminal defense advocacy at the highest levels, including proceedings of anticipatory bail applications and writ petitions seeking quashing of FIRs. She also conducts anti-bribery and anti-corruption training programmes for boards, senior leadership and compliance teams of Indian and multinational corporations.
She also advises and represents leading Indian conglomerates, energy companies, financial institutions, multinational corporations and emerging growth companies on some of the most complex and consequential commercial matters, spanning insolvency and restructuring, debt recovery, domestic and international arbitration.
She regularly appears before the Supreme Court and High Courts across the country, as well as NCLTs, NCLAT, DRTs and institutional and ad-hoc arbitral tribunals across India. She also appears before specialised quasi-judicial forums such as the PMLA Adjudicating Authority and PMLA Appellate Tribunal.
Education
- LL.M. University of California, Berkeley School of Law
- B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, University of Law, Hyderabad (NALSAR)
Admissions
- Bar Council of Delhi
Select representative clients/matters
- Successfully represented Mr. Sashidhar Jagdishan (CEO & MD, HDFC Bank) in quashing FIR alleging cheating and criminal breach of trust, and successfully defended attempted intrusive search and seizure proceedings before the Magistrate court in Mumbai.
- Successfully represented HDFC Bank Limited before Bombay High Court in securing dismissal of interim application for a gag order in a INR 1,000 crore defamation suit.
- Successfully represented Piramal in the landmark acquisition of Dewan Housing under the first-ever CIRP of an NBFC, before the NCLT, NCLAT, and Supreme Court.
- Successfully represented Piramal Enterprises Limited and Piramal Finance Limited in their reverse merger.
- Successfully represented Piramal Finance Limited in securing discharge under Section 32A of IBC from prosecution of INR 5,050 crore money laundering case.
- Successfully represented SBI Life Insurance before the Securities Appellate Tribunal in an appeal against an IRDAI order directing takeover of Sahara Life’s insurance portfolio.
- Secured interim reliefs for Crown Veterinary Services before Bombay High Court for violation of fundamental rights arising from the state veterinary council’s refusal to register foreign-qualified veterinarians.
- Successfully represented Phoenix ARC in securing rejection of a commercial suit before Bombay High Court for non-compliance with pre-institution mediation under Commercial Courts Act, 2015.
- Secured lifting of debit freeze on a leading travel aggregator in PMLA investigation.
- Advised a leading investment management company in an internal investigation and facilitated registration of FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 against KMPs for siphoning company funds.
- Secured anticipatory bail for directors and officials of a leading corporate trusteeship company in an FIR alleging fraudulent creation of a mortgage deed for INR 200 crore loan.
- Successfully represented L&T Infra Investment Partners before Karnataka High Court and Supreme Court concerning an LCIA arbitration, reaffirming that no anti-arbitration injunction lies against India-seated arbitrations.
Recognition
- Recognised as ‘Future Star’ in White-Collar Crime by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific, 2026
- Recognised among ‘Top 15 Dispute Resolution Lawyers‘ by The LegalOne Blue Ribbon, 2026
- Awarded ‘Excellence in White Collar Crime Practice – Individual’ at ETLegal Awards, 2025
- Featured in GIR 100, 2024-2025
