Jai S. Pathak is a partner in the Singapore office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups. Jai established the Singapore office in 2008 and has served as its partner in charge through 2021. He has also served as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
Jai has extensive experience in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, dispositions, privatizations, joint ventures, licensing, infrastructure development, as well as private equity and structured finance transactions. He has significant experience in the telecommunications, technology, banking, hospitality, oil/gas, pharmaceutical, FMCG and chemical industries. His clients have included governments, financial institutions, investment banks, multinational companies and U.S., European, and Asian companies. His practice has included projects in the United States, Europe, India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Canada, Australia and China.
Jai’s representative accolades include the following:
- Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 and Chambers Global 2024 ranked Jai as a leading lawyer for Corporate/M&A in Singapore and India (top tier). Chambers noted that Jai “is an experienced lawyer in Singapore with a good track record in M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructuring. He is particularly recognised for his expertise in deals involving India and the USA.” Client feedback from the publications also noted that Jai “is characterised by peers as “an excellent lawyer” with “many years of experience working in India”” and “his reputation precedes him, and his hold on the Indian market is unsurpassed.”
- Chambers Global 2024 also ranked Jai as Foreign Expert for India in the category Singapore: Corporate/M&A.
- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 recognized Jai as a Leading Individual for Corporate and M&A in Singapore.
- Best Lawyers in Singapore 2025 recommended Jai as a leading lawyer for Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Corporate Law.
- IFLR1000: Financial and Corporate guide 2024 recognized Jai as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for M&A in Singapore.
- Legal Era named Jai as the Cross Border Lawyer of the Year for Corporate & Mergers and Acquisitions at its annual Global Achievers Awards 2022 and 2023.
- India Business Law Journal named Jai to its 2024 International A-List, featuring “the top India-focused lawyers at international law firms."
- Asia Business Law Journal recognized Jai as an A‐List lawyer in its 2019 Top 100 Lawyers list featuring “the best lawyers from the top law firms in Singapore.”
- Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2013 identified Jai as a leading lawyer in Singapore.
- Asian Legal Business’s Legal Who’s Who Singapore 2003 awarded Jai the “Best Corporate Lawyer” award.
- The Indian Council of Jurists presented Jai with the "National Law Day Award – 2001" for his unique contribution to the development of Indian corporate law.
- The American Lawyer named Jai in its February 2009 issue to its Top 20 Lateral Partner Hires list for 2008.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Jai practiced with Jones Day since 1985, where he was a partner heading the transactional practice in Los Angeles and coordinating the M&A section for the California region. He previously served as head of that firm’s India practice and partner in charge of the Singapore office. He also spent more than a decade practicing in that firm’s London, New York and Cleveland offices.
Jai graduated from law school with a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence (Honors) in 1984 from the University of Oxford where he also earned his Master of Arts in 1989. He received his Master of Laws from the University of Virginia in 1985. He also received his Bachelor of Arts (Honors) and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Delhi (St. Stephen’s College) and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Capabilities
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Energy and Infrastructure
- Finance
- Power and Renewables
- Strategic Sourcing and Commercial Transactions
Credentials
Education:
- University of Oxford - 1989 Master of Arts
- University of Virginia - 1985 Master of Laws (LL.M.)
- University of Oxford - 1984 Bachelor of Arts
- Jawaharlal Nehru University - 1980 Master of Arts
- University of Delhi - 1978 Bachelor of Arts
Admissions:
- India - Bar Council of Delhi
- Ohio Bar