In a significant legal maneuver on January 30, 2026, Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group, hired prominent Wall Street attorney Robert Giuffra Jr. to defend him in the ongoing civil lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Giuffra is the co-chair of the “white-shoe” law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and is widely recognized for his high-stakes financial defense work. He is also notable for representing U.S. President Donald Trump in his efforts to overturn his criminal conviction, creating a high-profile link between the legal defenses of the two global figures.
1. The Legal Strategy: Breaking the Deadlock
The hiring marks a shift in the Adani legal team’s approach as the SEC case—stalled for over 14 months—begins to move forward in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
- Accepting Service: Giuffra contacted the SEC to confirm he is representing Gautam Adani and indicated a willingness to accept the legal summons on behalf of both Gautam and his nephew, Sagar Adani.
- Bypassing the Hague Convention: This move effectively resolves a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. The Indian Ministry of Law and Justice had previously declined to serve the summons twice on procedural grounds (missing seals and ink signatures), leading the SEC to request court permission to serve the papers via email.
- Negotiating a “Stipulation”: Giuffra has asked the court for time until January 30, 2026, to finalize a “stipulation” (a mutual agreement) with the SEC on how the case will proceed while the Adanis remain in India.
2. Background: The $250 Million Bribery Allegations
The SEC’s civil complaint, originally unsealed in November 2024, is separate from the U.S. Department of Justice’s criminal indictment.
| Allegation | Detail |
| Bribery Scheme | Accusations of orchestrating $250 million (₹2,100 crore) in payments to Indian officials to secure solar power contracts. |
| Securities Fraud | Making false and misleading representations to U.S. investors during a $750 million bond offering by Adani Green Energy in 2021. |
| Adani Group Stance | The conglomerate has consistently called the allegations “baseless” and maintains that neither the group nor its listed units are defendants in the suit. |
3. Market Impact and Volatility
The procedural advancement of the case triggered a sharp reaction in Indian markets last week:
- Market Cap Loss: Adani Group stocks lost approximately $13 billion (₹1.08 lakh crore) in combined value on January 23, 2026, after the SEC first asked the court to bypass the Indian government.
- Adani Green Energy: The most affected entity, seeing its shares drop as much as 14.6% in a single session before recovering slightly as the legal team was finalized.
4. Why Robert Giuffra Jr.?
Hiring a lawyer of Giuffra’s caliber signals that Gautam Adani is preparing for a sophisticated, “take-no-prisoners” defense in Manhattan:
- Financial Expertise: Sullivan & Cromwell is the go-to firm for global banks and billionaires facing SEC enforcement.
- Political Connectivity: By choosing an attorney currently representing the President of the United States, Adani is ensuring his defense has maximum visibility and weight in the U.S. legal and political landscape.
Conclusion: A High-Stakes Legal Counter-Offensive
The entry of Robert Giuffra Jr. into the case suggests that the “quiet phase” of the Adani SEC saga is over. With service expected to be completed electronically or through counsel by the end of January, the case will now move into the discovery phase. For the Adani Group, the goal is clear: utilize Wall Street’s most formidable legal talent to dismantle the SEC’s fraud allegations before they can impact the conglomerate’s international credit ratings and expansion plans.
