Rishika Agarwal

Top 1% ranked Company Secretary in India with 4-5 years of experience in delivering expert legal, secretarial, and compliance solutions. Skilled in navigating SEBI, FEMA, and RBI regulations, corporate law, due diligence, and auditing. Adept at managing complex transactions, providing tailored solutions for corporate, institutional, and private clients, ensuring adherence to regulatory compliance, and driving organizational efficiency. Proven success in supporting mergers, acquisitions, capital restructuring, and high-level corporate governance functions.

Company Secretary (CS) Examination Excellence:

• Achieved All India Rank 23 in the CS Foundation examination.
• Awarded the Ramakrishna Memorial Award by the ICSI Hyderabad Chapter for outstanding performance in the "EBCL" subject and for clearing the CS Executive Program in a single attempt and sitting.

Best Trainee Award: Recognized for exceptional performance during training program.

Leadership and Professional Development:

• Successfully completed the 81st Management Skills Orientation Programme (MSOP) conducted by CCGRT, Mumbai.
• Served as Head of Delegation for the 81st MSOP, demonstrating leadership and team management skills.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

Community Leadership and Service:

• Charter President of the Rotaract Club of Hyderabad Centennial, leading and managing club activities.
• Treasurer of Rotaract District 3150, responsible for financial management and reporting.
• Dedicated volunteer with Make a Difference for two years, providing educational support to underprivileged children.
• Advisor to the Board of the Rotaract Club of Hyderabad Centennial, offering guidance and support to club leadership.

OFFERING 1

Expert in SEBI, FEMA & RBI Compliance

• FEMA Mastery: Expert on FDI, ODI, ECBs, and cross-border transactions, ensuring full compliance.
• RBI Specialist: Prepare and file all RBI applications, including FC-GPR, FC-TRS, SOFTEX, FLA.
• Global Expansion: Advise on and establish foreign subsidiaries and joint ventures, ensuring legal compliance.
• Capital Markets: Execute buy-backs, listings, IPOs, and FPOs, ensuring SEBI compliance.

OFFERING 2

Due Diligence and Audit Services

• Due Diligence: Legal, financial, & secretarial due diligence for transactions and regulatory compliance.
• Audits: Internal, compliance, social, and corporate governance audits with detailed reporting.
• Agreement and Reports: Drafting of shareholder agreements, commercial Contracts, Search, Scrutinizer, Charge and Compliance Reports
• Corporate Compliance Management

OFFERING 3

Company Law and other Secretarial Services

• Entity Formation & Management: Incorporation of companies and LLPs. Conversions and compliance for existing entities. Legal opinions on entity structuring.
• Corporate Restructuring: Mergers and amalgamations (including cross-border). Liquidations and strike-offs. Legal compliance throughout the restructuring process.
• Securities & Capital Restructuring: Management of securities issuance, allotments, and transfers. Advisory on equity restructuring, mergers, amalgamations, and liquidations.
• Board & Governance: Director/KMP appointments, cessation, and remuneration. Management of interest disclosures and related party transactions. Ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Statutory Compliance: Annual, periodic, and event-based filings for companies and LLPs. AOC-4 XBRL filing and management.

CASE 1 : Due Diligence of  Foreign-Owned IT Subsidiary of INR 65 Million + IT company

• The scope included a thorough review of the company's legal, financial, and operational standing, with a focus on compliance with Company Law, FEMA, IT Act, Labour Laws, and other relevant regulations.
• This due diligence played a critical role in facilitating the successful sale of the company, which was a wholly-owned subsidiary of a foreign entity and held foreign investments.

CASE 2:  Providing Expert Legal Counsel to Shapoorji Pallonji Group on CSR Compliance

Provided key assistance in drafting a comprehensive legal opinion for the Shapoorji Pallonji Group (a Tata Group conglomerate) concerning Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, focusing on their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure and compliance strategies.

This involved:

• Detailed scrutiny by analyzing legal provisions and case law (e.g., citation of a relevant case regarding unspent CSR funds) to minimize risks and maximize societal impact.
• Developing strategies for managing unspent CSR funds and aligning spending with Schedule VII activities.
• Ensuring adherence to the 2% expenditure rule while promoting long-term sustainability goals and maximizing societal impact.

CASE 3: Corporate Restructuring: Leading the Merger of 5 Gubba Group Companies worth INR 60 million  

Synergising performance by strategically consolidating operations through merger integration. This high value merger involved navigating complex legal and financial challenges while ensuring seamless regulatory compliance. This includes:

• Developing a Robust Legal Framework:
• Advised on the optimal merger structure, considering factors such as tax implications, stamp duty optimization, and corporate governance requirements.
• Drafted and negotiated all essential transaction documents, including shareholder agreements, merger schemes, asset transfer agreements, and novation agreements.
• Conducted meticulous due diligence to identify and mitigate potential legal and financial risks.
• Representing the Gubba Group in NCLT proceedings: actively represented the group in hearings, presenting arguments, and addressing queries to ensure a smooth and efficient approval process and to ensure smooth and swift resolutions.
• Developed and executed a comprehensive communication strategy to engage with key stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, creditors, and regulatory bodies
• Facilitating seamless integration: Assisting with post-merger integration activities, including consolidation of assets, liabilities, and operations of the merged entities.

CASE 4: Series B Funding for Startup - FEMA Compliance & RBI Liaison

Leveraged my expertise in complex legal and regulatory framework for FDI regulations, to guide a high-growth Indian startup through a seamless and compliant Series B funding process, enabling rapid expansion.

Key Contributions:

• FEMA Expertise: Advised on FDI regulations, entry routes, sectoral caps, and pricing guidelines.
• RBI Approvals: Secured necessary RBI approvals by preparing and submitting comprehensive documentation.
• As legal counsel, spearheaded the finalization of all investment agreements, collaborating effectively with investors and stakeholders
• Post-Investment Compliance: Guided the startup on ongoing reporting and corporate governance.