TMT in India

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is routinely sought out by various blue-chip tech companies, financial services corporations, and key entertainment industry players for assistance on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including high-profile cross-border acquisitions and implementations. The TMT group is jointly led by Bangalore-based technology specialist Arun Prabhu, and Mumbai-based Bharat Vasani and Anu Tiwari, who lead on media and financial regulatory matters, respectively. Prabhu is noted for his prolific transactional and advisory practice, working continually with an array of high-profile businesses and investors active in the tech sector. Vasani’s recent highlights include various licence and contract negotiations on behalf of major studios and distributors, while Tiwari – who arrived from AZB & Partners in September 2020 – heads up the team’s fintech offering, representing various entities at the domestic and international level.

With offices nationwide, IndusLaw‘s TMT practice is well situated to advise on complex, technical matters for a broad roster of high-profile domestic entities and multinational corporations. Delhi-based Avimukt Darr boasts a wide-reaching corporate and commercial practice, with recent highlights including regulatory analyses and multi-jurisdictional online listing agreements. Also in Delhi, newly promoted partner Shreya Suri is a key contact for clients operating in the fintech, cryptocurrency, and cybersecurity spaces. In Bangalore, Namita Viswanath is recommended for her extensive IT and telecoms experience, while Suneeth Katarki regularly advises on data privacy, fintech, and consumer tech regulations. Seasoned adviser Srinivas Katta is recommended for his expertise in the start-up arena.

Khaitan & Co LLP‘s sizeable TMT practice handles a broad array of regulatory and corporate advisory instructions for some of the most high-profile domestic and international entities in the market. New Delhi-based Harsh Walia is highly experienced in a range of TMT matters, most recently in relation to national telecoms policy and regulatory frameworks. Rahul Dutt specialises in technology licensing, while Kartick Maheshwari regularly leads on high-value, cross-border transactions. Tanu Banerjee focuses on advising OTT platforms, digital media companies, and production houses. Abhinav Chandan is recommended for his expertise in telecoms regulatory, IT and data protection matters, and commercial media sector transactions. Shobhit Chandra advises clients on satellite communications, cloud services, and virtual network operators.

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co‘s sizeable practice and broad geographic footprint enables the firm to act on a range of corporate and commercial transactions for numerous technology, media, and telecoms companies, both at home and abroad. In addition to heading up the firm's arbitration practice, Tejas Karia is noted for his expertise in  IT law, including data protection, privacy, and confidentiality. Former practice head Gv Anand Bhushan left the firm for an in-house role in August 2021.

Trilegal‘s TMT practice is renowned both for its size and the scale of its expertise, advising some of the biggest names in the market – both domestically and internationally – on telecoms regulatory challenges, outsourcing contracts, policy matters, e-commerce, and alternative internet service provider models. Practice head Rahul Matthan is a highly experienced technology practitioner who regularly works with the government on policy pertaining to spatial data infrastructure, IP, and e-governance solutions. Nikhil Narendran concentrates on telecoms and tech work, and has a particular niche in content liability issues. Upasana Rao is especially adept in the transactional space, advising numerous leading entities in the data centre arena. Newly promoted partner Jyotsna Jayaram is recommended for her capabilities in data privacy, telecoms licensing, and OTT services. All named lawyers are based in Bangalore.

The sizeable team at AZB & Partners boasts extensive transactional capabilities across the TMT sector, working with a mix of Indian corporates and blue-chip conglomerates. Gautam Saha regularly advises leading multinationals, financial institutions, and private equity funds on acquisitions, sales, and investments, while Rachit Bahl is a key contact for foreign companies seeking assistance regarding Indian market strategy and operations. Bangalore-based Srinath Dasari handles both transactions and regulatory mandates, particularly in the areas of payment processing, data privacy, and telecoms law. Sachin Mehta and Mumbai-based Darshika Kothari are both noted for their cross-border experience. All named lawyers are based in Delhi unless stated otherwise.

An interdisciplinary team of litigators and transactional attorneys ensures that Bharucha & Partners‘ TMT practice is well placed to handle a variety of deals, regulatory reviews, and contentious mandates for major companies. The team is especially active in the entertainment law space, advising major studios, producers, artists and OTT platforms on distribution and production agreements and defamation claims. Kaushik Moitra works across multiple sectors, with a distinctive, cross-platform focus on media litigation and policy advisory. Swathi Girimaji is recommended for her broad experience with tech start-ups. Shreya Sircar joins the team from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.

DSK Legal handles corporate, commercial, and contentious work for established companies and start-ups across the TMT sector. The team boasts key strengths in the media and entertainment space, where Mumbai-based managing partner Anand Desai represents numerous actors and talent agencies in high-profile lawsuits before some of the highest courts in the country. Chandrima Mitra acts for an equally strong roster of entertainment industry clients, handling contract negotiations, trademark licensing, and IP clearance issues. In New Delhi, technology specialist Rishi Anand regularly advises new age technology driven businesses on structuring and regulatory matters, often alongside IT and software expert Nakul Batra. Jitendra Soni has key experience in major e-commerce transactions.

Working across the firm’s offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata, HSA Advocates assists a range of TMT clients with both transactional and advisory matters, including outsourcing, cybersecurity, data protection, processing and localisation issues. The team is also experienced in representing clients before ministries, regulators and various regional and national courts.

Ikigai Law specialises in an array of technology and innovation matters, working with start-ups and mature companies alike on commercial, regulatory, and policy-based mandates. Core competencies include contract development and negotiation, UX modelling, and strategic policy advice. Founding partner Anirudh Rastogi is a key contact for numerous cutting-edge entities in the tech space seeking advice on a host of transactional and regulatory issues. Nehaa Chaudhari heads up the firm’s tech-focused public policy practice, advising numerous clients on IT and data governance regulation throughout South Asia and beyond. Aparajita Srivastava heads up the dedicated fintech and regulatory offering, with recent highlights including instructions from businesses in the payment services and consumer goods sectors. Sreenidhi Srinivasan is noted for her expertise in data governance and cyber security.  All named lawyers are based in New Delhi.

Majmudar & Partners regularly handles transactional and advisory mandates for major clients from the worlds of fintech, telecoms, e-commerce, IT, AI, cloud computing, and semiconductors. The triple-qualified (in India, England and Wales, and California) Akil Hirani is highly experienced in the areas of tech M&A, IT regulation, and strategic IP. Neerav Merchant is an equally seasoned tech sector practitioner, with niche expertise in data privacy and trademark law. South Indian lead N. Raja Sujith is recommended for his knowledge of corporate transactions and outsourcing.

S&R Associates advises a number of renowned multinationals, Indian companies, and investment funds on corporate transactions and issues pertaining to data sharing and data privacy. Mumbai-based practice head Rajat Sethi is highly experienced in major TMT sector corporate deals, both for foreign and domestic clients. Sandip Bhagat advises issuers and major international and Indian investment banks on a wide range of capital markets transactions, with recent highlights in the tech venture capital space. New Delhi-based Mohit Gogia is a key figure within the team for data protection concerns.

With a client base that ranges from fast-growth start-ups to multinationals, Samvad Partners is regularly involved in TMT disputes, regulatory challenges, and commercial transactions. Natasha Mahajan works closely with a number of tech-focused businesses, most notably at the intersection of tech and financial services. New Delhi-based Ashwini Vittalachar is highly active in the e-commerce space, advising clients in relation to IT law, data privacy, and regulatory compliance. Neela Badami routinely handles investments and business structuring matters for media companies and fintech businesses. All named partners are based in Bangalore unless stated otherwise.

Underscored by the opening of a new dedicated tech and fintech office in Pune, Spice Route Legal has continued to cement its position as one of the fastest growing TMT practices in the market. In recent months, the team has acted for some of the world’s foremost tech companies on content licensing and acquisition mandates, enforcement actions, and trademark disputes. Bangalore-based practice head Mathew Chacko is noted for his wide-ranging experience in tech M&A, blockchain and data legislation. Ankita Hariramani leads on the full gamut of fintech work from the firm’s Pune office. Aadya Misra is recommended for global data privacy and regulatory advisory issues.

Dhir & Dhir Associates' offering spans the full spectrum of the TMT sector, with the team advising clients on a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters including regulatory compliance, IP matters, content licensing and adjudicatory proceedings. Managing partner Maneesha Dhir is recommended for her litigation and regulatory expertise in the telecoms sphere.

With offices in Chennai and Bangalore, Fox Mandal boasts national capabilities in the TMT space, advising a host of e-commerce platforms, media houses, banks, and telecoms companies on contentious and non-contentious matters. Chennai office lead Jeevanandham Rajagopal is an experienced adviser who routinely assists clients operating at the intersection of tech and renewable energy. Bangalore-based Rajesh Vellakkat is highly regarded by a range of tech start-ups, with recent highlights including advising on master collaboration agreements, IP post-separation settlements, and platform development reviews.

Juris Corp fields numerous offices and TMT practitioners across the length and breadth of India, routinely advising a range of high-profile clients from the worlds of tech and financial services. The team is increasingly active in fast-growth and emerging sectors, advising clients in the healthtech, edutech, cryptocurrency, and peer-to-peer lending spaces. Bangalore-based Arunabh Choudhary heads up the group’s fintech offering, and is recommended for his expertise in regulatory and policy analyses, as well as joint ventures, fund establishments, and other transactional matters. Mumbai-based Avikshit Moral is another experienced adviser who is frequently sought out by major tech and finance groups.

Link Legal's reputation in the telecoms disputes space ensures that the team is regularly sought out by a number of India's leading service providers for representation in arbitration and litigation. TMT practice head Nusrat Hassan focuses chiefly on cross-border corporate deals for the firm's most high-profile US, European and Indian business clients. Prasad Dhande acts for multinationals and Indian corporates on a broad range of commercial issues, often appearing before the Supreme Court of India as well as various High Courts and the Securities Appellate Tribunal. Sidhartha Srivastava has extensive litigation experience.

Phoenix Legal‘s TMT practice advises clients on a sweep of matters ranging from software development to regulatory compliance, foreign direct investment, e-commerce, and licensing issues. Telecoms legislation and policy analysis is also a core competency. New Delhi-based Manjula Chawla is a key contact for cross-border transactions and strategic investments.