Mr Viraraghavan has been Litigation lawyer for the past 32 years and has appeared before several courts in India including Supreme Court, Bombay High Court, Calcutta High Court, Delhi High Court, Madras High Court, Karnataka High Court, Kerala High Court, Orissa High Court and Sikkim High Court, National Company Law Tribunal, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, the Securities Appellate Tribunal, the Debts Recovery Tribunal, Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, as well as the High Court of England and Wales (Chancery Division), and Chief Judge, District Court, Colorado USA.
Constitutional Law
He has appeared in challenges to the constitutionality of statutes including writ petitions challenging the amendments to the Payment of Bonus Act and in writ petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Tamil Nadu amendment to the Registration Act, conflicts between the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1996 and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.
Court Fees Rationalisation Committee
Mr Viraraghavan was appointed in 2015 by Chief Justice’s Bench, Madras High Court as a member of the Court Fees Rationalisation Committee headed by late Mr Justice K Sampath to review court fees in Tamil Nadu. Mr Justice K Sampath and Mr Viraraghavan worked together to prepare the Committee’s report. The report was accepted by the Government and an Act to amend the Tamil Nadu Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act has been passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Corporate Law Winding Up, Corporate Restructuring
Mr Viraraghavan as a senior counsel has involved in prosecuting and defending company petitions before the National Company Law Tribunal, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal including petitions under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code; also advised voluntary winding up of companies outside the court; advised companies and obtained approvals on reduction of share premium, share capital & other forms of corporate re-structuring, including arrangements with creditors.
Mergers and Amalgamations, De-mergers
He has appeared in mergers, amalgamations and de-mergers, reorganisations relating to more than 300 companies; advised companies on issues of Companies Act, Public offers, buy-back, SEBI and stock exchange related issues Labour and employment.
Arbitrations
Mr Viraraghavan as a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London; appeared as counsel in a large number of arbitrations both domestic and international commercial arbitrations including an international commercial arbitration seated at The Hague. He has also appeared in the superior courts as senior counsel either challenging or upholding the challenge to arbitration awards the Madras High Court has often asked me to lecture on arbitration law to senior district judges at the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy.
General Legal Practice
He possesses excellent knowledge of general and procedural laws such as the Transfer of Property Act, Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Court Fees Act, Hindu Laws, Indian Succession Act, the Stamp Act etc advised in general law such as partition suits, declarations suits, suits for specific performance, money suits, rent control proceedings, criminal cases, economic offences, petitions for quashing and for bail, probate and administration proceedings, insolvency proceedings etc.
Education
BCom (University of Madras); LLB (University of Bangalore); PG diploma in Alternative Disputes Resolution (NALSAR University); Barrister at Law (Inner Temple); Diploma in International Arbitration (CIArb); Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London
1985: Enrolment as advocate in India
2013: Called to the Bar by Inner Temple
2017: Taken Silk in India
Professional / Organizational Affiliations
Supreme Court Bar Association, the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, London, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, Revenue Bar Association, Madras Bar Association, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, Madras High Court Advocate Association
>Legal Publications
Madras High Court Letter Speaking, Appellate & Original Side Rules 6th edition (2015) published by LexisNexis
Bhandari & Makhija Guide to Memorandum, Articles and Incorporation of Companies 6th edition (2015) published by LexisNexis
Guide to Indian Laws – an online publication (published by Globalex (New York University School of Law) http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/india.htm
Contributed articles to the Company Law Journal and to the SEBI and Corporate Laws.
