Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan > Mumbai, India > Firm Profile
Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Offices
2ND FLOOR, CNERGY, OLD STANDARD MILL
APPA SAHEB MARATHE MARG, PRABHADEVI
MUMBAI 400 025
India
Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan > The Legal 500 Rankings
India > Tax Tier 1
The tax practice at Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan is ‘very thorough in their preparation for any given assignment‘ which enables ‘extremely high-grade‘ results for its clients. The team is well-versed in customs advisory and litigation, with a practice dedicated to this area. Income tax is also an area of its expertise as it regularly handles various tax issues for companies, including tax assessments, advisory, structuring and investment strategy and due diligence. On the litigation front, the team represents clients in matters before the High Courts and Supreme Court. The practice is led by founding and managing partner V Lakshmikumaran
 who boasts a broad expertise. Charanya Lakshmikumaran is a key member of the practice and handles tax litigation. S. Vasudevan is also a name to note. Practice head(s):
V. Lakshmikumaran
Other key lawyers:
Charanya Lakshmikumaran; S. Vasudevan; L Badri Narayanan; N. Mathivanan; Dhruv Matta
Testimonials
‘Throughout our long association with M/s Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan they have continued to provide us excellent services mostly relating to Indirect Taxes. In this regard, they have provided us multiple legal opinions and have also represented us before various judicial and quasi-judicial forums (all the way up to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India). We have consistently found their services to be extremely high-grade, with their staff and partners having developed a great finesse and expertise in their respective fields. The quality that we would like to especially highlight is that they have always reflected genuine concern and sincerity towards the interests of their clients, enabling them to always put in a bit extra than what would generally be considered conventional or regular.’
‘Although we have had positive interaction with most of their lawyers, we would specifically like to recommend Mr. V. Lakshmikumaran, Mr. L Badri Narayanan, Mr. N. Mathivanan, Mr. S. Vasudevan and Mr. Dhruv Matta for their mastery of the Tax/Legal craft. Not only each of them is a foremost expert in his field, their insight towards the matter at hand and the dedication with which they pursue each task is exemplary.’
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Key clients
Amazon
Gas Authority of India (GAIL)
Honda Cars India
Sony Corporation
Canon
Nikon Corporation
Ultratech Cement
Xerox Holdings Corporation
Nestle
Mondelez
Work highlights
India > WTO/international trade Tier 1
The Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan team specialises in trade investigations, including anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard inquiries across various sectors like steel, copper, aluminium, and technology. Heading the practice is V. Lakshmikumaran, who is renowned for his expertise in international taxation, transfer pricing, and foreign trade policy. Devinder Bagia takes the lead in managing high-profile cases, successfully representing foreign clients from jurisdictions including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the EU, and the US. Moreover, supporting the team, associate partner Ankur Sharma specialises in WTO and trade remedy laws, deftly drafting submissions from investigation to appellate stages; while associate partner Pareesha Gupta brings expertise to trade remedial investigations, handling matters both domestically and cross-border. Practice head(s):
V. Lakshmikumaran
Other key lawyers:
Devinder Bagia; Ankur Sharma; Pareesha; Aayush Rastogi; Gopakrushna Das; Baratwaj Viswanathan; Jayant Raghu Ra; Arpit Mehra
Key clients
Bergwerff Organic India Private Limited
Jiangsu Wujin Stainless Steel Pipe Group Co., Ltd.
KL-Kepong Oleomos Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia; |FPG Oleochemicals Sdn Bhd., Malaysia & Procter and Gamble International Operations SA Singapore
The Royal Thai Government
Ministry of Commerce, Government of India
Hyosung Group
Mahle Anand Thermal Systems Private Limited
Technova Imaging Systems (P) Ltd.
DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Switzerland
Schenectady International Group
Directorate General of Trade Remedies, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India.
Bahru Stainless SDN BHD
ACERINOX EUROPA, S.A.U
SIJ ACRONI D.O.O.
Synchem International Co., Ltd.
Intellectual property Tier 2
Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan acts as counsel to Indian and global businesses, with notable capabilities in patents, including drafting patent specifications for complex inventions that can be filed as international and national applications in Europe and the US. Practice head and registered patent agent Malathi Lakshmikumaran specialises in the filing and prosecution of patent applications in the pharmaceutical, chemical and biotech sectors. Her team includes Prashant Phillips, who is a regular fixture on design and patent prosecution matters, in addition to litigation; and founding partner and taxation expert V Lakshmikumaran. All named individuals are based in New Delhi. Practice head(s):
Malathi Lakshmikumaran
Other key lawyers:
V Lakshmikumaran; Prashant Phillips; Jaya Pandeya
Work highlights
India > Antitrust and competition Tier 3
Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan's practice is well versed in handling a broad range of competition matters, with a focus on anti-competitive agreements, unilateral conduct issues, abuse of dominance, bid rigging, vertical agreements and cartels. The team has solid expertise in representing clients before the CCI, the NCLAT, the High Courts and the Supreme Court, and regularly acts for companies in the automotive, infrastructure, manufacturing, aviation, e-commerce, energy, real estate and healthcare sectors. New Delhi-based Charanya Lakshmikumaran heads up the practice, in which Neelambera Sandeepan is a practitioner to note.Practice head(s):
Charanya Lakshmikumaran
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Honda Siel Cars Ltd.
Plasser India Pvt. Ltd
Indian Corrugated Case Manufacturers’ Association
Federation of Corrugated Box Manufacturers
Central Warehousing Corporation
Work highlights
- Represented FCBM and its members before the CCI regarding a cartelisation matter.
- Advised CWC on competition law compliance and clearance matters required for the fulfilment of a transaction.
City focus: National Capital Region: NCR > Real estate and construction Tier 3
Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan‘s real estate and construction practice, in collaboration with the corporate and tax group, manages diverse transactions including project sales, data centre land acquisitions, and exclusive office space agreements. Led by Mathivanan N., the team provides services encompassing due diligence, regulatory matters, and the negotiation and finalisation of transaction documents. With a widespread presence in multiple Indian cities and pan-India capabilities, the team is well-equipped to advise in accordance with local practices and requirements.Practice head(s):
Mathivanan N.
Other key lawyers:
L. Badri Narayanan; Kunal Arora
Key clients
Ambience Group
Amazon Data Services India
Ingenico International India
India > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 3
The team at Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan offers full-service intellectual property support to a range of clients, including pharma, biotech, and medical device producers. The firm advises clients on patent applications, drafting and prosecution proceedings, and handles IP litigation, cross-border commercial and branding issues, as well as contentious trade and anti-dumping proceedings. Mumbai-based Malathi Lakshmikumaran leads the team, and is an experienced patent practitioner, handling the full range of patent work, and notably specialising in the field of biodiversity as relates to drug production. Prashant Phillips in New Dehli focuses on patent prosecution and litigation, and has practiced in the US.Practice head(s):
Malathi Lakshmikumaran
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
BASF
MERCK
Monsanto Technology LLC
Regeneron
L’Oreal
Indian Institute of Science
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
EPL
IIT Delhi
Omya International AG
Work highlights
India > Corporate and M&A Tier 4
Based out of New Delhi, Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan has vast expertise in all elements of corporate governance and regulatory compliance. Specialising in handling private equity, venture capital transactions, and cross border M&A, the two co-heads, Mathivanan N. and L Badri Narayanan are highly praised for their advice to financial institutions and multinationals. Gaurav Dayal and Kunal Arora are experts on joint venture and capital funds.Practice head(s):
N Mathivanan; L Badri Narayanan
Other key lawyers:
Gaurav Dayal; Kunal Arora; Noorul Hassan
Testimonials
‘In-depth experience in tax law and mergers and acquisitions During a M&A exercise LKS has made legal advice and way of working a support than strain for a promoter.’
‘Noorul Hassan well varied knowledge and experience and ability to reference it.’
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Key clients
National Gas Company (SAOG) Oman
Belgacom International Carrier Services Asia Pte Ltd
Manufacturing Technology Inc.
Fleming Laboratories Limited
IndiaMART Intermesh Limited
Central Warehousing Corporation and Central Railside Warehouse Company Limited
Predible Health Private Limited and its Promoters
Axiscades Technologies Limited
Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan > Firm Profile
The firm:Â Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan (LKS) is a premier full-service Indian law firm specializing in areas such as corporate & M&A/PE, dispute resolution, taxation and intellectual property.
The firm, through its 14 offices across India works closely on litigation and commercial law matters, advising and representing clients both in India and abroad.
The firm has handled more than 30,000 litigation cases before various forums including 2,000 cases before the Supreme Court of India. Over the last 37 years, the firm has worked with over 15,500 clients which range from start-ups, small & medium enterprises, to large Indian corporates and multinational companies.
The professionals within the firm bring diverse experience to service clients across sectors such as commodities, automobile, manufacturing, healthcare, IT/ITeS, FMCG, hospitality, real estate, petrochemicals, e-commerce, fintech, big data, renewables, cryptocurrency, gaming and sports. The firm takes pride in the value-based, client-focused approach that combines knowledge of the law with industry experience to design bespoke legal solutions.
The firm’s driving principles to achieve our vision are integrity, knowledge, innovation, and collaboration
International desk: The firm has a focused International desk which comprises of dual-qualified lawyers (India and US/ Europe mostly) with expertise across practice areas such as cross border M&As and investments, anti-trust / competition law, international trade law and international commercial arbitration. These attorneys have significant experience in advising clients across multiple jurisdictions such as US, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Korea, China, Australia, Middle East, Africa etc.
International presence and alliances: LKS is an India member firm of a top International legal network – Terralex. & First Law International.
Practice areas:
- International arbitration and commercial disputes
- Aviation
- Banking and finance
- Competition/antitrust
- Corporate
- M&A and PE/VC
- Data protection and technology
- Tax (indirect, GST, direct, M&A and international tax)
- Insolvency
- Customs
- International trade and WTO
- IPR
- Employment
- Environment
- Food safety
- Infrastructure
- Real estate
Main areas of practice
Tax (indirect, GST, direct, M&A and international tax): With experience and years of knowledge in direct, indirect and international tax, the team handles tax disputes and represents clients at various levels from the quasi-judicial authority up to the Supreme Court of India. The team advises on transitional provisions and helps in re-designing supply chain, training, hand-holding and compliance review for assessing GST readiness. Additionally, the attorneys are adept in advising corporations on issues relating to business re-structuring, setting up new units, withholding taxes, royalty and fee for technical services, transfer pricing and contracting.
International arbitration and commercial disputes: Apart from representing clients across various authorities, tribunals and courts, the team specialises in international as well as domestic arbitrations, under institutional rules and ad hoc arbitrations. The team has represented arbitration cases in all forums, in every possible format.
Competition: The competition law team has expertise in drafting and reviewing agreements, obtaining M&A approvals, representing clients before judicial and statutory authorities and framing competition compliance strategies for enterprises across various sectors.
IPR: The firm’s internationally ranked multidisciplinary IPR team serves Indian and global businesses to obtain and enforce the entire spectrum of IPR. Services provided by L&S include opining on patentability, patenting, filing, prosecution, pre and post grant opposition, freedom-to-operate, due diligence, patent watch, evolving effective patent strategy, trademark registration and protection, anti-trust, plant variety protection (PVP), IP litigation and licensing of copyright to name a few.
Corporate, M&A and PE/VC: The team advises various leading Indian and multinational corporations across diverse sectors on matters pertaining to joint ventures, mergers, demergers, acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, legal due diligence, spin-offs, foreign direct investments and entry strategies, restructurings including global restructurings of various multinational companies, regulatory approvals, setting up of industrial plants in India, sale of businesses, distributorship and commercial advisory agreements in India, real estate, employment, compliances, ESOP schemes, drafting, vetting and negotiating of commercial contracts and other corporate transactional work.
Customs and international trade: The team caters to WTO and international trade disputes arising out of or involving India. The firm’s attorneys have handled more than 400 antidumping and anti- subsidy investigations initiated by India, EU, USA, Korea, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey. The team also handles wide variety of matters pertaining to HS Classification, Customs Valuation, FTA, safeguards investigations, market access and national treatment.
Insolvency and bankruptcy: The team has been involved in several matters involving the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, representing both creditors as well as debtors before various company law and appellate tribunals across various sectors.
Environmental law: This team provides strategic and coherent advice to clients on issues pertaining to all aspects of environmental law such as air, water, forests, hazardous substances, genetically modified organisms, biological diversity. The team has rich experience to conduct compliance audit, provide legal advice and represent clients before the National Green Tribunal, High Courts, and the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in contentious matter.
Food safety law: The team offers advisory, litigation and consulting services to various stakeholders in the food chain in all areas of food law and procedures including classification of food/food ingredients under the Indian Food code, usage of food additives, packaging and labelling, nutritional/health claims, food recall, import procedure compliance, country of origin determinations, product approval and various other aspects of food law.
Real estate: The team is equipped to advise clients on all real estate related aspects, including local practices and requirements. The team has assisted government authorities, investors, financial institutions and other leading companies across various sectors, in relation to various aspects and commercial transactions involving real estate.
Employment: The team has rich experience in advising our multinational and domestic clients across sectors on various labour and employment issues by offering clear, business-friendly and pragmatic solutions.
Banking and finance: The team is well-positioned to support banking, corporate and cross-border financing requirements. It assists clients in structuring complex transactions that are successful and cater to regulatory and industry concerns.
Infrastructure and energy: The firm’s attorneys have been involved in various complex transactions and in framing model agreements with government agencies in various sectors where private entrepreneurship has shown interest.
Aviation: The team assists in structuring of transactions pursuant to legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to sale, purchase, wet and dry leasing of aircrafts, financing and chartering of aircrafts and buy back of planes. The firm advises on civil aviation requirements and approvals from Ministry of Civil Aviation extending to infrastructure and greenfield projects.
Data protection and technology: The team advises businesses, public sector bodies and not-for-profit organizations on all areas of data protection, privacy law, information governance and freedom of information. The team offers the best of both worlds: IP and regulatory affairs specialists who work directly alongside our privacy professionals.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indirect tax litigation, International arbitration | B L Narasimhan | narasimhan.l@lakshmisri.com | |
| Indirect tax litigation, International arbitration | V Lakshmikumaran | lakshmi.kumaran@lakshmisri.com | |
| Indirect tax (compliance), General corporate and M&A | N Mathivanan | mathivanan.n@lakshmisri.com | |
| IP (advisory) | Malathi Lakshmikumaran | malathi.l@lakshmisri.com | |
| General corporate and M&A | L. Badri Narayanan | badri.n@lakshmisri.com | |
| Direct, International & M&A Tax | S Vasudevan | vasudevan.s@lakshmisri.com | |
| Competition law, Data protection and TMT | Charanya Lakshmikumaran | charanya.l@lakshmisri.com | |
| International trade (WTO laws) | Atul Gupta | atul.gupta@lakshmisri.com | |
| Data protection and TMT | Prashant Phillips | prashant.phillips@lakshmisri.com |