Kirtee Kapoor, head of Davis Polk & Wardwell’s India practice group, was struck and killed by a train in Menlo Park, California on June 5. A corporate partner, he was 46 when he passed away.
Kapoor joined Davis Polk in 1999 as an associate at its New York office. He became a partner in 2007 and relocated to the firm’s Hong Kong office later that year. In 2015, he moved to the firm’s North California office.
He extensively advised on matters related to M&A, divestitures, join ventures, alliances, restructurings, complex cross-border disputes, and employment and governance issues in various countries including the U.S., India, China, Japan, Israel, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, and Sri Lanka.
He advised China’s internet service portal Tencent Holdings on its strategic partnership with JD.com in 2014. He represented CNOOC on its $15.1 billion takeover bid for Canadian oil producer Nexen. He also acted for Chinese pharmaceutical company Novast Holdings in its partnership with U.S.-based peer Eli Lilly in 2012.
Kapoor completed his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Delhi Faculty of Law, earned his Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) at Balliol College, University of Oxford, and received his Master of Laws (LLM) from New York University School of Law.
According to U.S. media reports, the coroner’s office in San Mateo County, Calif., is conducting an investigation into the cause of Kapoor’s death. It will release its conclusion after the case is closed, which could take a few weeks.