About the Firm
Institutional Knowledge. Genuine Presence.
India by Keystone was founded on a single conviction: that consequential engagement with India demands more than analysis. It demands relationships, credibility, and the kind of on-the-ground intelligence that only comes from decades of operating at the intersection of government, industry, and capital.
Founded at the Intersection of India and the World
India by Keystone was established by practitioners who have spent their careers advising the world's most significant organisations on their India strategies — from initial market assessment through to operational establishment, regulatory navigation, and long-term strategic management.
Our founders recognised a persistent gap in the advisory landscape: the absence of a firm that combined genuine institutional relationships within India's government, regulatory, and business ecosystem with the rigour and discretion expected by global boards and investment committees.
We are not a research house, a lobbying firm, or a generalist consultancy. We are a specialist advisory practice — small by design, selective in our engagements, and deeply committed to the outcomes of the organisations we serve.
Precision Over Volume
Selective Engagement
We accept a limited number of mandates at any time. This is not a constraint — it is a commitment. Every client receives the full attention of our senior principals, not a team of analysts.
Institutional Credibility
Our value is inseparable from our relationships. We have spent decades building trust with India's policy makers, regulators, industry leaders, and institutional investors. That trust is not transferable — it is earned, and it is what we bring to every engagement.
Confidentiality as Foundation
The most consequential strategic decisions are made in private. We operate with absolute discretion. Our clients' identities, mandates, and strategic intentions are never disclosed.
Long-Term Orientation
India rewards patience and penalises short-termism. We advise our clients to think in years, not quarters — and we structure our engagements accordingly.
Senior Principals
India by Keystone is led by a small group of senior practitioners with complementary expertise across policy, finance, law, and industry. Our team has held leadership positions in government, multilateral institutions, and the private sector.
Arjun Mehta
Founding Principal
Former senior adviser to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Over 25 years advising multinational corporations on India market entry, regulatory strategy, and government relations. Previously a partner at a leading international law firm.
Priya Nair
Principal, Transaction Advisory
Former investment banker with 20 years of experience in cross-border M&A, private equity, and infrastructure transactions in India. Has advised on over USD 3 billion in completed transactions across technology, financial services, and infrastructure.
James Whitfield
Principal, International Relations
Former diplomat with postings in New Delhi, Washington, and Brussels. Brings deep expertise in India's foreign economic policy, bilateral investment frameworks, and the geopolitical dimensions of market entry strategy.
Track Record
30+
Years of combined India advisory experience
USD 4B+
In transactions and investments advised
60+
Engagements across 12 sectors
3
Office locations across India and the UK
Sectors Covered
Discuss Your India Strategy
We welcome introductory conversations with organisations at any stage of their India journey — from initial exploration to active operational challenges.