Trade Marks|Patents|Copyright|Designs|Investigations and Enforcement|Litigation|Data Privacy & Security|Corporate & Commercial|Legal Metrology|Media & Entertainment Laws|International Trade

Rajkumar Varier has turned to be an Independent Practicing Lawyer in the year 2023 after being a Corporate Lawyer with over 25 years of work experience in cross-cultural, multi business and multinational environments.

He is today a retainer consultant with ABP Network Private Limited and is advising various Media Companies and is in the Legal Committees of IBDF, NBDA, IAMAI, DNPA etc. He closely works on Policy Issues touching the Media and Entertainment Sector and is closely following and working on with various Industry Bodies on issues related to Personal Data Protection Bill, Digital India Act, Telecom Bill, IT Rules, and Related Amendments.

He is also a Panel Lawyer with Zupee ( Cashgril Private Limited) and thus advising on Gaming Related Laws, Policy Developments etc. and is also empaneled with Equitas Bank Earlier He has worked as General Counsel / Group General Counsel/ Public Policy, Strategy and Regulatory Head at ABP Networks and DEN Network Private Limited and has also held senior positions in organizations like Airtel, Samsung, and Disney Star.

He also brings with him a strong background of Litigation and has also worked in the past as a practicing litigating lawyer with Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan and in Office of Mr. Ramji Srinivasan- Senior Advocate. He is an energetic self-starter with exceptional Leadership, Analytical, Organizational, and Creative skills, with a talent for evaluating problems, developing, and simplifying procedures and finding innovative solutions.

Christopher is an Intellectual Property lawyer with experience in a wide array of intellectual property matters with his core strength being towards Trademark prosecution and litigation.

Christopher completed his graduation in B.Sc. Zoology (H) from Delhi University and then did his LL.B from Faculty of Law, Delhi University. He got enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi and thereafter, began his practice with an independent advocate honing his skills on IP Prosecution and Litigation. He has assisted in drafting and negotiating several documents related to IP matters and also provided counselling and support to clients on developing brand names and their subsequent protection.

Christopher has handled several TM Oppositions, Rectifications, Infringement suits and other such disputed proceedings across the Trademark Tribunal, District Courts and the Delhi High Court. At Ashwathh Legal, Christopher has been part of several suits involving Copyright, Trademark and IT laws.

Ivneet is a Certified Fraud Examiner and Digital Forensic Expert. He brings over a decade worth of experience in investigation and dispute advisory in India, South East Asia and emerging markets especially in responding to alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures and Standards of Conduct by evaluating, investigating and/or recommending the initiation of other investigative procedures.

Having associated with large corporates and law enforcement agencies on many high-profile investigations and white-collar crimes, Ivneet’s overall experience involves using professional digital forensic tools for investigating/analysing various civil and criminal matters which assisted to establish and proof certain facts which were denied earlier by the wrong doers and unethical individuals. Ivneet has a Bachelor of Science in Information System Security from Staffordshire University, United Kingdom. He has also presented and delivered trainings on Investigation techniques to various corporates and investigating agencies and is a regular faculty with Institute of Chartered Accountants of India to provide trainings to chartered accountants on Forensic Accounting and Fraud Prevention. Areas of expertise: Digital Forensics, investigations related to frauds and corruption, cyber-crime investigations, brand protection, third-party due diligence and litigation support.

Mayank is a Data Privacy, Regulatory Compliances, Fraud & Forensics Professional with over 17 years of demonstrated success and varied experience in data privacy & protection, white-collar crime investigations, fraud & forensic examination reviews, market intelligence, regulatory & trade compliances, and law firm management with exposure to IPR and Technology laws apart from IT security and consulting, especially around Crypto Currencies & Blockchain Technology.

His previous experiences span across BFSI and Consulting industry focusing especially on Business Analysis, CRM, Investment Management as well as Wealth Management & Advisory domains. He brings proven competency around strategic client management, and partners with key stakeholders & decision-makers to make highly specialized and strategic, result-driven recommendations and execution of the same.

Mayank is equipped with a well-rounded and diversified expertise across varied skill-sets and subject matters with a professional certification as Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) accredited by ACFE USA, along with a stellar academic background including an MBA – Marketing degree from KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Delhi University.

A resourceful professional having strong interpersonal skills developed through extensive years engaged in a variety of roles, Mayank possesses a strong interest and in-depth understanding of intricate problems and strategic growth areas. He is equally adept at comprehending and explaining complex information clearly and succinctly, combined with delivering on objectives through analytical skills and creative thinking that combine both - the bigger picture and attention to detail at the same time.

Prabhu is the founder & Managing Partner of the Firm. Prabhu graduated from CCS University in 2004 and competed his master in Intellectual Property laws from kings College (University of London) in 2007. In the past 16 years, Prabhu has emerged as a highly reckoned and ranked counsel associated with an extensive array of civil, commercial and criminal litigation in India for various fortune 100 and fortune 500 clients including many Indian clients. Over the past many years, Prabhu has been associated with some of the leading Intellectual Property cases in India touching on a diverse array of topic ranging from anti-piracy litigation, Anton Pillar orders etc. Prabhu has also been actively involved in high stake trademark and copyright related litigations in Delhi High Court. He has successfully argued various injunction applications and overseen successful search and seizure actions in both Civil as well as criminal domain. Prabhu is also actively involved in Global Trade Mark portfolio management for a wide range of multinational corporations. He handles matters involving Prosecution, Oppositions, Litigation, Cancellations, clearance searches - strategy building and IP Enforcement strategies. He has a has very strong network in the Indian Subcontinent and regularly advises clients for IP related queries for countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Prabhu also regularly handles domain name disputes under the INDRP and UDRP, strategy work for anti-counterfeiting and recordation of trademark registrations through the Indian Customs to stop the importation of counterfeit at the Indian border.

Sazid graduated in Mathematics from Delhi University and completed his law from Faculty of law Delhi University. He was enrolled in Bar Council of Delhi in 2006 and brings with him more than 16 Years of experience in handling non-contentious and contentious IP related matters and advisory in the domain of competition law.

Sazid specializes in Intellectual Property Rights litigation and competition Law. He has represented many Fortune 500 companies before the Delhi High Court and the District Courts of Delhi and also various other High Courts and Tribunals across India. Sazid has also extensively argued Trademark Opposition matters and rectification petitions before Trademark registries and the erstwhile Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB).

Sazid has worked with the Competition Commission of India [CCI] for almost 2 years while representing the CCI in Competition Appellate Tribunal [COMPAT] and the Delhi High Court. He also assisted legal department of CCI in finalizing orders under Sec. 3 and Sec. 4 of the Competition Act, 2002. He has also appeared as counsel for CCI in various matters, apart from the representation before COMPAT.

Having finished his law studies from ILS Law College, Pune, Ranjit went to read the Master of International Business Law course at King’s College London. On returning to India, he joined chamber practice as a junior to eminent jurists, including Mr Harish Salve (Queen’s Counsel, UK, and Former Solicitor General of India); he assisted them on a wide range of litigations and arbitrations - covering commercial, constitutional, civil and criminal issues.

Thereafter, Ranjit began his independent practice extensively working on commercial transactions, while also assisting clients in litigations and arbitrations. This combination during his practice gave Ranjit the opportunity to not just view commercial transactions from the perspective of negotiations and formation, but also of dispute resolution; thus, gaining valuable insight of the practical effect of contractual terms, and their interpretation. Ranjit has also worked as an in-house lawyer with Panasonic India Pvt Ltd in their regional (ISAMEA - India, South Asia, Middle East and Africa) headquarters where he extensively dealt with domestic as well as international commercial transactions.

Ranjit’s core strength lies in the fields of intellectual property rights, contracts, and corporate and commercial transactions. Ranjit also has a deep understanding of international bi-lateral and multi-lateral investment law, ICSID, and trade and mercantile law and practice.

Navreet graduated from Army Institute of Law in 2012 and was enrolled with the Bar Council, the same year. She has around 10 years of professional experience in Intellectual Property and handles contentious trademark matters by advising clients across a wide range of industries on the protection, growth and sustainability of their brands globally.

Navreet deals with trademark clearance searches, overcoming objections during the prosecution of trademark applications, advising clients on use requirements, recording changes in title and licensing of marks. Her forte is handling global trade mark prosecution. She also has substantial experience in IP due diligence and drafting and negotiating complex transaction agreements.

She has expertise in drafting oppositions and rectifications, collating and submitting evidence in such proceedings, and attending hearings and arguing matters before the Trade Marks Office and Intellectual Property Board (IPD).

She also counsels’ clients on wide array of copyright and design prosecution and enforcement issues. Over time, she has developed a high level of proficiency in tackling complex IP issues and devising suitable strategies for resolution.

Sumit is a dispute resolution professional with over twelve years of experience in handling matters related to general civil litigation, corporate commercial litigation, alternate dispute resolution and intellectual property rights across various sectors such as infrastructure, real estate, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, media and electronics, etc.

Sumit has been representing foreign and domestic clients in an array of matters before various Courts and Tribunals including the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, District & Sessions Courts, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, National Company Law Tribunal, National Green Tribunal, Consumer Forums & Commissions, Industrial Tribunals, Intellectual Property Appellate Board, Trademarks Office, etc.

Professional Membership: Supreme Court Bar Association Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association – Advocate on Record Delhi High Court Bar Association.

Lalima is part of the IP prosecution practice at the firm and advises on domestic trademark, design and copyright prosecution. She advises clients on trademark clearances, prosecution, registration, maintenance, and complete portfolio management in India. She also handles oppositions and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Registry and Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB). Lalima also advises clients on privacy and personal data protection issues including in relation to the policy development surrounding personal data protection issues in India.

Kripa brings over 13 years of experience to the Firm. She enrolled with the Bar council of India in 2007, and has been practicing law for well over a decade now. Kripa completed her Law from CCS university and has a Masters in Intellectual Property Law from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY.

Kripa’s work profile entails both prosecution as well as in conflict and litigious matters for all clients ranging from the IT sector to various fields and industries like Pharmaceuticals, Apparel, leading cosmetic brands, Fashion, FMCG, Liquor in Intellectual Property Law. Her repertoire consists of prosecution of trademarks, designs and copyrights, and she has gained immense experience and success in litigious issues across various forums. Kripa’s profile entails drafting pleadings and representing and arguing cases on behalf of many Fortune 500 companies before the Delhi High Court, New Delhi and the District Courts, Delhi. She is also experienced in conducting and supervision of search and seizures, raids and detailed advising, negotiating settlements on behalf of clients for the best possible returns, rendering opinions, holding conferences with clients and conducting research on various legal issues which were not limited to Intellectual Property Rights other than assisting with conflict matters, Kripa also provides in-debt day to day legal support to numerous start-up companies spanning from the IT sector to consumer goods and cosmetics on all corporate issues including Corporate governance and Employment issues.

Kripa has had the privilege and distinct opportunity to work for several years with India's and UK's top lawyers during her long tenure with Senior Attorney, Mr. Harish N. Salve, (Queens Counsel, UK) on matters involving Constitutional law, Taxation laws, Company laws, Arbitration laws and Intellectual Property Laws before the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court. She has also appeared before The UK Arbitration Tribunal and before the prestigious International Court of Justice, The Hague.

Kanika has extensive work experience of 16+ years in the field of law. She has a well-rounded experience of Intellectual Property laws (IP laws) and has been advising, strategizing and managing the IP portfolios of national and international clients. She has expertise in efficiently handling IP matters including trade marks, copyright and designs. She also assists clients on IP licensing, assignments, contract drafting, negotiation and due diligence. She has experience in conducting civil raids pertaining to trade marks enforcements particularly counterfeit issues for various industries including Food and Beverages, Liquor, Fashion Accessories, Cosmetics, FMCG etc. She is an empanelled Trade Mark Facilitator under the Government of India scheme for Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP).

She has also made contribution in the academic field and wrote few chapters of the book titled “ADRs A Special Focus on The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996”.

Her knowledge and understanding of law alongwith vast and varied experience has equipped her with a unique approach towards addressing complex issues and providing holistic solutions to her clients in the most cost-effective manner.

Investigations

Ashwathh Legal builds its synergy with Ashwathh Partners that deals with investigating white-collar crime, fraud prevention check-up and identifying vulnerabilities and addressing the same. The investigation team of Ashwathh partners consists of experienced accountants, financial analysts, technology experts, compliance professionals and fraud examiners who further work with a network of experienced field investigators. Members of our multi-disciplinary team work together to handle complex investigations to find crucial evidence in domains including Brand Protection, Anti-Counterfeiting, Trademark Acquisition, Anti-Piracy, Anti-Fraud, Market Surveys, and Internet Investigations.

Enforcement

In India, where the legal system is troubled by delays, it is important that a strategy be selected which is a fine balance of civil and criminal actions. Ashwathh Legal handles countrywide joint Civil and Criminal enforcement campaigns on behalf of leading brands in different sectors. Under the Criminal Enforcement, Ashwathh Legal provides services such as Market Survey, Detailed Investigations & Sample Purchase, Filing FIR, conducting on-ground raids, and attending the Court hearings. Under the Civil Enforcement Action, Ashwathh Legal regularly files civil suits seeking Injunction and appointment of a court commissioner (usually a lawyer) with authority to conduct search and seizure at the premises of the defendant or any other premises where there is reasonable suspicion of counterfeiting activities being conducted.

Ashwathh Legal provides litigation services in all conventional IP subject matters such as trademarks, patents, designs, copyrights, media & entertainment law, IT & e-commerce, plant varieties, geographical indications, etc.

The Firm has been associated with an extensive array of civil, commercial and criminal litigation in India for various fortune 100 and fortune 500 clients including many Indian clients. Over the past many years, the Firms Partnershave been associated with some of the leading Intellectual Property cases in India that span across a wide variety of sectors, goods and services including those as diverse as Media & Entertainment, Broadcasting, Luxury Goods, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Durables, E-Commerce, Automotive, Apparel, Software and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods.

We represent clients in all manner of litigation in the courts of first instance and the appellate courts (courts of second instance) in cities across the country, and in the Supreme Court of India.

Our Trade Compliances practitioners are well versed with import/ export control laws and regulations in India. With situations in a variety of business processes – including marketing engineering, and HR – to illustrate how export controls can affect a company’s daily activities. Our Trade Compliances capability is focused on the sanctions and embargoes regulations and dual-use and military controls of India. This includes how to recognise an export, regulatory regimes, licensing application and processing requirements, and regulatory policy reviews.

This includes assistance for IEC obtention from the DGFT,advisory on legal compliances under The Customs Act, 1962, The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act 1992 (FTDR Act)and TheForeign Trade Policy (FTP), assistance in application for licenses and custom clearances, BIN numbers, ITC (HS) compliances and EDI / Bill of Export compliances and RTA based compliances.

Ashwathh Legal offers holistic Legal Metrology services with an expertise in being well versed in the procedures as laid down by the Legal Metrology Act 2009 and in supporting businesses during the registration and knowledge support process.

Our legal metrology experts help businesses obtain necessary registrations & certifications, update licenses, comply with regulations and obtain other relevant licenses.

We also help businesses in complying with all the basic and complex requirements as well as enforcement of legal metrology laws, Litigation support, Compounding offences and Compliance Settlements.

Media & Entertainment Laws

Ashwathh Legal represents some of India’s most trusted Media & Entertainment and Production houses & Broadcasters. Our team provides diverse services including negotiations around encompassing:

• Acquisition, protection, distribution, and exploitation of rights
• Drafting and vetting contracts and agreements
• Clearances and regulatory compliances
• Assistance regarding licensing and other ancillary issues
• Arbitration and mediation as well as and civil and criminal litigation

The firm also routinely advises clients on content acquisitions, production arrangements, distribution agreements, multi-jurisdictional licensing, and syndication arrangements. The firm handles international IP portfolios for various domestic India clients’ works with a network of foreign law firms in more than 80 countries across the globe. The Firm's Media litigation team acts in high-profile intellectual property disputes including content regulation, programming code violations and digitization of DTH/ cable systems, copyright, passing off and trade mark infringement, often involving multi-jurisdictional issues.

Corporate and Commercial

Ashwathh Legal provides support to its clients in the conceptualisation, negotiation, formulation, drafting, vetting and executing of Commercial Transactions and Contracts.

The firm’s team members have core strengths ranging from simple to the most complex Commercial Transactions and Contracts, including in the domain of Intellectual Property, Joint Ventures, OEM/ODM, IT, Technology Development, E-Commerce, Warehousing, Licensing, Royalty, Government Bids and Tenders, Sale / Purchase, Distribution, Transnational / Cross-border Trade, Shipping, Settlements, Notices, Employment and Miscellaneous Works, Complex Non-disclosure and Non-compete Agreements.

We guide our clients at each step, explaining the ramifications and consequences of various terms included in a proposed document, and how best to mitigate the business risks involved.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Ashwathh Legal deals extensively in the domain of International Trade law and policy related issues. Representing clients before domestic and international forums, we are one of the few firms who represent clients before governmental authorities as well as various tribunals and Courts across India. We deal extensively with WTO Laws, including issues related to WTO Agreements, WTO Compliance and Dispute Resolution, GATS, etc., Free Trade Agreements, Rules of Origin, Bilateral Safeguard Measures, Foreign Trade Policy, Customs, Export Controls, SCOMET, Trade Remedies (Investigations, Disputes and Strategies), Border Enforcement of IP and Product Standards to be met by imported goods.

Our dedicated team includes members with expertise ranging from WTO Laws, Agreements, Dispute Resolutions, Customs to Export Controls, and the range of aforesaid domains. We also provide workable solutions to our clients, advisory of risk mitigation and practical knowledge of in-depth law and policy.

We have an asset tracing team as well as support from a wide network of overseas affiliated agencies, where local knowledge of different jurisdictions is required to obtain fast and accurate results.

Our practice includes experienced trademark attorneys offering unparalleled quality services in the field of trademarks. From routine registration of marks to devising solutions to secure rights in new age brand related strategies, we hold the expertise to serve any trademark related need a business may have. The Firm handles trademark portfolios on Global level with Attorneys in more than 120 Jurisdictions all managed on Matter Management Suite.

The Firm provides expertise in copyright protection and infringement. We render services to those in the creative industries to protect their work from copying, whether wholly or substantially. Our team of experienced attorneys have worked in the fields of music industry copyright disputes, book publishing contracts, media houses, telecom, television, and sports, on both traditional and new media copyright issues.

Our team of professionals provide comprehensive services including Prosecution, Enforcement and Advisory services. We handle design prosecution covering everything from industrial products, handicrafts, technical and medical instruments, watches and jewellery, houseware, electrical appliances, automotive products to name a few.

The firm caters to filing and prosecution of patent applications in India and abroad through PCT/ Convention route. We work with a network of associate law firms in various jurisdictions. The firms patent practice includes patent prosecution support, prior art searches, invalidation opinions, infringement FTO) analysis and patent due diligence.ducts to name a few.

Customs law in India disallows articles infringing intellectual property from crossing national borders through importation of goods. With over 600 sea ports and inland ports, border measures are an important aspect of intellectual property policing and enforcement for right owners facing counterfeiting or largescale infringement issues in India.

Our team has expertise in managing the full lifecycle of customs actions beginning with e-recordation of IP rights (available currently for around 44 ports) up to the ultimate closure of an action after a show cause hearing before the customs authorities and extends to handling appellate proceedings.

A core component of Ashwathh Legal work is helping our clients identify and fully realize the value of their intellectual property. We have extensive experience drafting and negotiating license arrangements of all kinds in connection with software, music, merchandise, technology and cloud-based services, visual works, rights of publicity, and other intellectual property assets.

We also understand the different interests within the chain of distribution, and have experience viewing licensing through the eyes of creators and inventors, manufacturers, distributors, resellers, independent contractors, and end-users. We prepare and negotiate agreements involving the purchase and sale of intellectual property assets and counsel our clients concerning the risks associated with acquiring third-party intellectual property assets and clearing title to those assets.

The Partners have extensive experience in Intellectual Property enforcement and anti-counterfeiting across a broad spectrum of products and services including Electronics, Software, Fashion, Apparel, Luxury Goods and Consumer Durables etc.. The Firm takes pride in the fact that it has Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE’s) experienced in dealing with anti-counterfeiting activities including leading investigations involving Financial Frauds, Internal Frauds, and due diligence. Our practice includes active search and removal of infringing content on the internet. For patents, copyrights, trademarks, and rights of publicity, we provide active in-house monitoring services to locate infringing products and expediently and cost effectively remove them from the market.

The firm has requisite competence and experience in handling Domain Name Disputes and handling Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (“UDRP”) complaints and .IN Dispute Resolution Policy (INDRP) complaints. The attorneys have also been advising Indian and international clients on strategizing their legal disputes and framing a litigation strategy to efficiently handle and resolve domain name related disputes.