Service: Legal Advisory

Corporate Law

Our Corporate Law advisory supports European companies across throughout the entire lifecycle of their Indian operations – from initial incorporation and capitalisation to growth, eventual restructuring, and exit, whenever required. We help clients establish governance structures that meet Indian legal requirements while remaining aligned with European board-level expectations and control standards.

From the outset, we focus on establishing clear and workable structures around shareholder rights, board authority, decision-making processes, and statutory compliance. As businesses evolve, we continue to support clients through changes in ownership, capital structure, or group organisation, ensuring that legal frameworks remain robust and adaptable.

Whether supporting routine compliance or complex restructuring scenarios, our advice is designed to reduce risk, enhance transparency, and enable effective oversight. By combining technical corporate law expertise with practical execution insight, we help clients operate confidently within India’s regulatory environment while preserving strategic flexibility.

Our focus areas

Our corporate law support is structured to address both foundational and ongoing requirements:

• Corporate governance frameworks, board composition and board procedures
• Shareholder rights, reserved matters, voting mechanisms and minority protection
• Holding structures and inter-company arrangements
• Corporate secretarial services and statutory filings
• Ongoing compliance with Companies Act and allied regulations
• Special focus areas like customization of charter documents (i.e. Memorandum and Articles of Association)
• Corporate Events such dividend declaration, change of directors, change of auditor and appropriate approvals for the same
• Support during restructuring, divestments, mergers, and exits (e.g. liquidation, winding up or strike off)

Our focus is on building governance structures that are compliant, clear, and resilient over time and facilitate pro-active support to European Decision Makers.

Our strengths

Our Corporate Law offering is distinguished by deep local expertise combined with international governance understanding:

• India-based specialists with cross-sector and cross-regional experience
• Strong familiarity with European governance and reporting standards
• Practical experience across the full corporate lifecycle
• Clear, board-ready advice that supports decision-making
• Proactive identification and mitigation of governance risks

We help clients maintain control, transparency, and legal certainty throughout their India journey.

Employment Law

India’s employment law landscape is complex, highly regulated, and deeply influenced by local practices and cultural expectations and currently is undergoing a paradigm shift, particularly with the introduction of the new Labor Codes. Our Employment Law advisory helps European companies design people policies that are legally compliant, commercially competitive, and culturally appropriate for Indian operations.

We support clients in translating global HR principles into locally workable frameworks that minimise legal risk while supporting talent attraction and retention. Our advice covers the full employee lifecycle, from hiring and compensation structuring to workforce restructuring and separations. We place particular emphasis on managing compliance across multiple labour laws, avoiding disputes, and ensuring consistent application of policies.

By balancing regulatory requirements with operational realities, we help clients create stable employment frameworks that support growth while protecting the organisation from reputational and legal exposure.

Our focus areas

Our employment law support addresses both preventive compliance and risk management:

• Drafting and review of employment and leadership contracts
• HR policies, employee handbooks, and workplace codes of conduct
• Advisory on the issues of Employee’s Provident Fund, Employees’ State Insurance, Professional Tax, Labour Welfare Fund etc.
• POSH & Internal Governance: Setting up Internal Committees (IC) and conducting mandatory awareness training for staff.
• Working time regulations, compensation structures, and benefits
• Terminations, redundancies, and workforce restructuring
• Industrial relations and union engagement
• Employment dispute prevention and litigation risk mitigation

Our focus is on creating employment frameworks that are compliant, practical, and scalable.

Our strengths

Our Employment Law advisory combines legal rigour with business pragmatism:

• Deep understanding of Indian labour laws and enforcement practices
• Experience supporting European HR and leadership teams
• Practical, solution-oriented approach to people matters
• Strong sensitivity to cultural and workforce dynamics
• Clear guidance that balances compliance with operational flexibility

We help clients manage workforce complexity while maintaining operational stability.

Capital Structure & Finance

Inbound investment into India is governed by a strict regulatory framework under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). For a European parent company, funding an Indian subsidiary involves more than just a bank transfer; it requires compliance with FDI caps, valuation norms, and rigorous strict reporting timelines (such as FC-GPR filings).

Capital structuring decisions have long-term implications for taxation, cash flows, regulatory compliance, and financial flexibility. Our Capital Structure & Finance advisory supports European companies in designing financing frameworks that align with both Indian regulatory requirements and group-level funding strategies. We advise clients on the optimum combination of equity and debt instruments, intercompany funding to support initial investments as well as ongoing operations.

Our approach considers not only regulatory compliance but also capital efficiency, repatriation flexibility, and risk management. We work closely with legal, tax, and finance teams to ensure that funding structures remain sustainable as the business grows. By anticipating regulatory constraints and documentation requirements upfront, we help clients avoid costly restructurings and ensure smooth execution of cross-border funding arrangements.

Our focus areas

Our work spans the full range of India-related financing considerations:

• Advisory on regulatory or sectoral limits for inbound investments in India
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) structuring
• Intercompany loans/ External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs)
• Cross-border funding routes and capital allocation strategies
• Security packages, guarantees, and charge creation
• Review and negotiation of financing and banking documentation
• Regulatory compliances regarding foreign currency and capital flows

Our focus is on creating funding structures that are compliant, efficient, and future-ready.

Our strenghts

Our strength lies in bridging regulatory complexity with financial practicality:

• Proven cross-cultural expertise across European and Indian finance environments
• Integrated legal, tax, and regulatory advisory capability
• Strong experience with regulator-driven funding structures
• Practical understanding of treasury and cash-flow considerations
• Clear, execution-focused advice for finance leadership

We help clients fund Indian operations with confidence and control.B13

FEMA

India’s foreign exchange regulations under FEMA directly impact how capital is introduced, utilised, and repatriated. Our FEMA advisory helps European companies navigate these regulations to ensure compliant capital structuring and cross-border transactions. We support clients across inbound investments, ongoing operations, and outbound payments, ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory norms.

Our approach balances strict compliance while retaining commercial flexibility, enabling clients to structure transactions efficiently without regulatory exposure. We also assist in managing reporting obligations and approvals, reducing the risk of delays or penalties. By providing clear guidance on complex exchange control rules, we help clients maintain confidence and predictability in cross-border financial flows.

Our focus areas

Our FEMA support covers all key regulatory touchpoints:

• Inbound equity and debt structuring
• Pricing, valuation, and arm’s-length compliance
• External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs)
• Dividends, royalties, and technical-service fees
• Ongoing FEMA reporting and filings
• Advisory on repatriation and exit-related transactions

Our focus is on ensuring compliant and predictable cross-border transactions.

Our Strenghts

Our FEMA advisory is defined by independence and regulatory depth:

• Objective advice free from transaction or implementation bias
• Strong understanding of Indian Central Bank (RBI) and FEMA regulations
• Experience supporting complex cross-border flows
• Ability to anticipate regulatory scrutiny and risks
• Clear, commercially grounded regulatory guidance

We help clients manage foreign exchange compliance with confidence.

Insolvency Laws

India’s insolvency framework, centred on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC), has fundamentally reshaped how financial distress, creditor rights, and business failure are addressed. While the IBC is designed to be time-bound and creditor-driven, its practical application requires careful navigation of procedural rules, judicial interpretations, and commercial dynamics.

Our Insolvency & Restructuring advisory supports European companies across the full spectrum of insolvency situations in India—whether as creditors seeking recovery, investors evaluating distressed opportunities, or group entities managing financial stress within Indian subsidiaries.

We provide strategic guidance that balances legal rights, commercial outcomes, and reputational considerations.

Our focus areas

Our support spans advisory, strategic, and execution-related aspects of Indian insolvency and restructuring matters, including:

• Creditor strategy under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (financial and operational creditors)
• Filing, defence, and management of insolvency proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)
• Representation and strategy for participation in Committees of Creditors (CoC)
• Assessment and enforcement of security interests and guarantees
• Evaluation of resolution plans and distressed investment opportunities
• Support in out-of-court restructuring, settlements, and negotiated exits
• Cross-border considerations involving Indian insolvency proceedings
• Advisory on liquidation, dissolution, and recovery mechanisms

Our focus is on maximising recovery, preserving value, and enabling informed decision-making throughout the insolvency lifecycle.

Our strenghts

Our Insolvency & Restructuring practice is distinguished by a pragmatic, commercially aligned approach:

• Strong understanding of the IBC framework and evolving judicial trends
• Experience advising international creditors, investors, and group companies
• Strategic coordination with insolvency professionals, local counsel, and financial advisors
• Clear, time-sensitive advice tailored for boards, lenders, and senior management
• Emphasis on outcome-driven strategies rather than procedural formality

We help clients navigate financial distress in India with clarity, control, and confidence—whether the objective is recovery, resolution, or exit.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

Protecting intellectual property in India requires a clear understanding of local registration regimes, enforcement mechanisms, and practical market realities. While India offers a comprehensive statutory framework for patents, trademarks, designs, and copyrights, effective protection depends on timely structuring, accurate filings, and proactive enforcement strategies.

Our Intellectual Property Rights advisory supports European companies in securing, managing, and enforcing their IP assets in India. We help clients align global IP strategies with Indian legal requirements, mitigate infringement risks, and preserve the commercial value of innovation, brands, and proprietary know-how across the Indian market.

Our focus areas

Our IPR support covers both strategic and operational aspects of IP protection and enforcement in India, including:

• Registration and prosecution of patents, trademarks, designs, and copyrights
• IP portfolio structuring and alignment with group-level IP strategies
• IP due diligence for investments, acquisitions, and collaborations
• Drafting and review of IP licensing, assignment, and technology transfer agreements
• Protection of trade secrets, confidential information, and know-how
• Monitoring, enforcement, and infringement response strategies
• Support in opposition, cancellation, and rectification proceedings
• Coordination of civil, criminal, and administrative enforcement actions

Our focus is on safeguarding IP assets while enabling commercialisation and scalable operations in India.

Our Strenghts

Our Intellectual Property practice is distinguished by a combination of legal precision and commercial awareness:

• Deep understanding of Indian IP laws and administrative procedures
• Experience advising European companies across technology, manufacturing, and consumer sectors
• Practical, business-oriented approach to IP protection and enforcement
• Close coordination with technical experts, enforcement agencies, and local counsel
• Clear, actionable advice for management and innovation teams

We help clients protect innovation, strengthen brand integrity, and maintain competitive advantage in the Indian market.

Antitrust & Competition

Competition law risks in India can arise from routine commercial arrangements such as distribution models, pricing strategies, and cooperation with partners. Our Antitrust & Competition advisory helps clients assess and mitigate these risks before they escalate into regulatory scrutiny or enforcement action. We provide preventive guidance tailored to Indian competition law and enforcement trends.

Our support enables companies to design compliant commercial structures while preserving competitive flexibility. We also assist clients in preparing for regulatory investigations and responding effectively if issues arise. By embedding competition compliance into commercial decision-making, we help clients operate confidently and sustainably in the Indian market.

Our focus areas

Our competition law support focuses on risk prevention and preparedness:

• Review of distribution and vertical agreements
• Assessment of exclusivity and cooperation arrangements
• Cartel and abuse-of-dominance risk analysis
• Dawn-raid preparedness and internal protocols
• Competition-compliant pricing, discounts, and rebates
• Training and awareness for commercial teams

Our focus is on reducing exposure while enabling compliant growth.

Our Strenghts

Our Antitrust & Competition advisory combines legal insight with practical risk management:

• Strong understanding of Indian competition law enforcement trends
• Preventive, compliance-led advisory approach
• Experience advising on complex distribution models
• Clear, management-ready guidance for commercial teams
• Ability to translate legal risk into business action

We help clients stay competitive without crossing regulatory boundaries.