1.1 Mergers: This takes place not merely through a contract but through a forum namely the National Company Law Tribunal.

1.2 Other Structures: These can be demergers, compromise and arrangement, and reduction of capital. These also take place through the National Company Law Tribunal.

1.3 Acquisitions: These involve trust formation, joint ventures, primary (share subscriptions), secondary (share sale), shareholders’ agreement, composite/ investment agreements, the amendment to the charter documents, business transfer / slump sale agreements, asset purchase agreements. Series A, Series B etc. are merely different stages in the lifecycle of an entity and involves the aforesaid agreements as the main transaction documents.

2.1 The main law is the Companies Act, of 2013. Transactional law requires an in-depth understanding of the rights (including governance rights) and obligations of a shareholder with respect to a company, inter-se rights of shareholders, rights and duties of a director, and rights of shareholders in case of oppression and mismanagement.

2.2 Corporate law assistance can also entail incorporating companies, provision of registered offices, provision of directors, appointment and removal of directors, and holistic secretarial compliances (which shall include but not be limited to board and shareholders’ meetings, and filing requirements).

2.3 A few types of companies which are regulated under the law above are one member company, a private company, public company, company not for profit.

The Foreign Exchange Management Act, of 1999 is the main law regulating the Indian foreign exchange regulatory framework. Foreign direct investments through various modes, overseas direct investment, external commercial borrowing, export and import of goods and services, payments, and remittances amongst others are regulated under the aforesaid law and rules, regulations etc. framed thereunder.

4.1 Arbitration and conciliation: These are regulated by the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. This governs amongst other domestic Indian arbitration, enforcement of foreign awards, appeals therefrom etc.

4.2 Civil courts: There are different forums for civil litigation depending on the subject matter. In a State, the highest court is the High Court, and the Supreme Court is the highest/ apex court in India.

4.3 Regulatory forums: Depending on the subject matter, there are different regulatory forums for dispute resolution such as SAT (for securities law), redressal forums namely district– state– national (for consumers), APTEL (electricity/gas), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (for appeals from orders made by the National Company Law Tribunal (Companies Act, 2013 the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016), Competition Commission of India), Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT (Telecom, Broadcasting and Airport tariff matters – Information Technology Act, 2000), National Green Tribunal (for environment-related matters).

5.1 They are regulated by the Copyright Act, 1957, the Patents Act, 1970, the Trademarks Act, 1999, the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, the Designs Act, 2000 and the Semi-conductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Act, 2000.

5.2 Documents can entail license agreements, royalty agreements, assignment agreements etc.

6.1 They entail agreements such as optionally convertible / non-convertible/ fully convertible debentures, financing agreements, mortgage, hypothecation, guarantees (personal and corporate), pledge, escrow, trusts and retention agreements amongst others.

6.2 The relevant laws are the non-banking finance regulatory framework, Transfer of Property Act, 1882, the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Ašsets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, the Recovery of Debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

The principal laws are the Factories Act, 1948, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, Payment of Wages Act,1936, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

8.1 The principal laws are the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, the Indian Easements Act, 1882, the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, and the Registration Act, 1908.

8.2 Even State laws are applicable to immovable properties. Thus, the concerned State’s stamp laws, land revenue code, property tax regime, and development contract regulations must be analysed.

The principal act is the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It applies to amongst other setting up of a factory, air and water pollution, and disposal of hazardous chemical/e-waste.

The principal law is the Competition Act, 2002. The competition regime in India encompasses M&A transactions (domestic and international) labelled as combinations, anti-competitive agreements, and abuse of dominant position

11.1 The principal laws are the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 and the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956.

11.2 The securities laws apply to the listing (going public) of companies, and ongoing compliance by listed entities. They also apply to an extent to unlisted public companies.

11.3 The securities laws are also relevant in case of a takeover, insider trading, and setting up of a mutual and private equity fund.

12.1 There are 2 (two) types of taxes levied in India direct and indirect. Primarily the direct tax regime is governed by the Income Tax Act, 1961, and the indirect tax by the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

12.2 We provide advisors with respect to the above as well as the double taxation avoidance agreements which India has entered into with various countries. This is pertinent when it comes to choosing the India entry route.

13.1 The principal laws are the Indian Trust Act, 1882, Indian Succession Act, 1925 and the concerned personal laws.

13.2 We assist in drafting and advising on the formation of private trusts, wills, and family settlement agreements.

The principal law is the Information Technology Act, 2000. This applies to amongst other protection and sharing of sensitive data.