Sherbir Panag
‘Sherbir is a rockstar lawyer and leader. The quality of his work speaks for itself. It is an absolute pleasure to work with him.’
Chambers and Partners (2024) Asia-Pacific
Education
Bachelors of Business Administration & Bachelors of Law (B.B.A/LL.B), Symbiosis Law School, Pune, India.
Memberships
Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa
International Bar Association
International Association of Penal Law
Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics
Languages
English (native)
Hindi (native)
Punjabi (native)
Overview of Practice
Sherbir Panag is the chair of Panag & Babu’s, internationally acclaimed and highly respected – Compliance and Investigations Practice and is India’s pre-eminent white collar crimes practitioner. Sherbir’s practice has consistently been listed as a market leader for white collar crimes in India and is ranked by Who’s Who Legal, Global Investigations Review, Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.
Sherbir has deep experience in crisis management, defending multinational companies, conducting complex internal investigations, as well as counselling clients on navigating India in a compliant manner.
Sherbir has led investigations and acted as defence counsel in some of India’s most high profile cases, which have also had an interplay with law enforcement in the United States, Europe and Asia. These matters have involved allegations of bribery and other misconduct under Indian and foreign anti-corruption laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.K. Bribery Act; financial and regulatory fraud (e.g., non-performing assets / loan impairment, tax evasion, insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings); procurement fraud; infrastructure fraud (e.g., misuse of development funds sanctioned by multilateral development banks); violation of sanctions laws; and violation of corporate governance and corporate policy norms.
Sherbir is an overseas door tenant with the Foundry Chambers in the United Kingdom and is also a founder of the Concilium Network – an international network of highly acclaimed white-collar crime law firms.
Sherbir’s public service includes being a member of the B20 India’s Digital Transformation Taskforce and the Bureau of Indian Standards committee drafting an India anti-corruption standard. He previously served on the B20 Indonesia’s Integrity and Compliance Taskforce and as the Vice Chairman of the Alliance for Integrity’s Advisory Group (an initiative by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit’s (GIZ)).
Sherbir is a Senior Fellow at the Wharton School’s Carol and Lawrence Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research and is a member of Cornell University’s – Meridian 180 and the Forbes Business Council. He regularly lectures and writes on the subject of white-collar crime, corporate governance and business ethics.
Professional Listings
Recommended by Chambers and Partners as a ‘Top ranked lawyer for White Collar Crime & Corporate Investigations’ in the Asia Pacific for the year 2024.
Recommended by Chambers and Partners as a ‘Leading Lawyer for White Collar Crime’ in the Asia Pacific for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.
Listed by Who’s Who Legal as a Global Leader and Thought Leader for Business Crime Defence (Corporates) in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.
Listed as an Indian Thought Leader by Who’s Who Legal.
Listed as one of the ’40 under 40 Rising Stars of India’ by Legal Era Magazine in 2016.
‘Sherbir is a rockstar lawyer and leader. The quality of his work speaks for itself. It is an absolute pleasure to work with him.’
Chambers and Partners (2024) Asia-Pacific
‘Sherbir is a fantastic lawyer and a specialist in handling cross-border investigations with a service-oriented European mindset, combined with local experience and a pragmatic approach.’
Chambers and Partners (2024) Asia-Pacific
Sherbir Panag acts principally on contentious defence, internal investigation and compliance matters, advising extensively on bribery, fraud and money laundering issues. A client praises him as ‘one of the finest lawyers I’ve ever met, and an amazing problem solver’.
Chambers and Partners (2024) Asia-Pacific
‘Sherbir is trusted by all clients. He takes on the position of a sounding board early on. His advice is very practical from a business and commercial perspective.’
Chambers and Partners (2024) Asia-Pacific
‘Sherbir is a focused individual who brings himself to each meeting prepared and ready to deliver the optimum solution for his clients.’
Chambers and Partners (2024) Asia-Pacific
‘A master at his craft with deep knowledge of the law.’
Who’s Who Legal, Business Crime Defence
‘He is able to relate to people and get to the root cause of the issue and provide solutions.’
Who’s Who Legal, Business Crime Defence
‘Sherbir has tremendous experience in advising corporates on investigations and defence strategy.’
Who’s Who Legal, Business Crime Defence
Publications
Extradition Guide for India, published by the Global Investigations Review
How to Customize Your Compliance Program in Response to India’s Updated Anti-Corruption Legislation, published by the Anti-Corruption Report.
Diwali: An Opportune Moment for an Anti Corruption Compliance Reminder, published by JD Supra
Where India’s Companies Act meets the FCPA, published by Law 360
Bribery & Compliance in India, published by JD Supra
Misconceptions About India’s Anti-Corruption Framework, published by the FCPA Professor
A focus on Indian pre-contract integrity pacts, published by the FCPA Professor
Challenges of arbitration in India, published by the Corporate Disputes Magazine
Catching companies that bribe published by Business Standard
India’s Anti-Corruption Laws must take cues from its foreign counterparts, published by Legal Era
The growing need for criminal compliance, published by Legal Era
Bail: Law, Trends & Judgments – published by Lex Witness
Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2011 – Comparative analysis with UK and German Laws, published by Lex Witness
Mentions in the Press
India’s ultra-rich create havens abroad to siphon funds, says ED, Hindustan Times
PNB scam: Why it’s time to change the way fraud cases are handled in India, Economic Times
Inside the thriving world of India’s private detectives, Business Standard.
India’s defence procurement rife with risk, Wall Street Journal – Morning Risk Report
MoD’s blacklisting policy for arms vendors has few of the promised changes, Business Standard.
Corruption in defence procurement, blacklisting must remain an option, Business Standard
Private Bankers are Public Servant decrees the SC, Moneylife Magazine
Law Firms Venture Into Audit Companies Turf, Economic Times
New Corruption Laws May Level the Field for US Business, Wall Street Journal – Corruption Currents
From NYPD Fraud to Firing the Cops, Wall Street Journal – Corruption Currents
Wal-Mart halts expansion of cash & carry stores till 2015, Economic Times
Catching companies that bribe, Business Standard
No one can be a Lawyer unless he is a cultivated man, Interview by Libertatem Magazine
Netflix India’s Bad Boy Billionaires series triggers controversy, Hindustan Times
Yes Bank case: Wadhawans get bail, Live Mint
Sherbir Panag called to Foundry Chambers in UK as Door Tenant, Bar and Bench
Firm Overview
Panag & Babu is a boutique firm with offices in New Delhi and Bengaluru, India. Panag & Babu are trusted advisors to several publicly traded, Fortune 500 and DAX 40 companies and form a critical component of our clients India strategy and growth.
The Firm focuses on advising multinational companies in matters pertaining to Business Crimes, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Compliance and Technology Laws. Our team of experienced attorneys excel in handling cross-border, multi-jurisdictional cases, providing seamless and comprehensive legal solutions.
Panag & Babu has been ranked as one of the best law firms to work for in India, by Vahura.
Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific Guide Commentary
‘Their ability to handle complex matters is extremely high thanks to a very proactive, responsive and strategic team. They are extremely good at targeted strategic advice and then equally capable of delving into the detail of complex commercial matters.’
‘Law Offices of Panag & Babu has very skilled lawyers who provide very high attention to clients.’
The Law Offices of Panag & Babu is widely recognised for its white-collar crime practice. It is well versed in advising on cross-border investigation mandates, including whistle-blower complaints, as well as regulatory defence and criminal litigation. The firm regularly acts for Fortune 500 and multinational companies, and sought after as co-counsel by international law firms. Its clients also benefit from the firm’s founding role in the Concilium Network’.
‘Panag & Babu is one of the best firms in handling complex matters. Complex matters are the firm’s forte.’
‘The team provides excellent and thoughtful legal advice and has experience in investigating complicated matters.’
NEWS STORIES
Chambers is delighted to announce Sherbir Panag has joined Foundry as an Associate tenant.
FCsewAmi9bell2024-01-09T13:28:53+00:00August 10th, 2020|