Ahlawat & Associates

Senior Associate

Ashneet is a Senior Associate at Ahlawat and Associates (A&A) and is a part of the Intellectual Property (IP), Technology, Media & Telecommunications and Data team at the firm.

She handles various matters pertaining to IP laws and specializes in matters relating to trademarks, copyright, domain names, designs, geographical indications, etc. She regularly advises domestic and international clients, ranging from individuals to multinational companies, as regards IP protection and filing, enforcement actions and disputes including in the field of emerging technologies (such as AI, NFTs and the metaverse). 

She also handles matters pertaining to technology, media, gaming and data laws in India. In this domain, she advises a diverse range of international and domestic clients, including fin-tech, healthcare, telecom, gaming, educational institutes and other entities operating in the online sphere, in undertaking applicable legal compliances specific to their industry under the prevailing laws in India. She also works with and advises clients in the media and entertainment (M&E) industry, ranging from individual artists to production houses, advertisement agencies and other media firms. She is experienced in negotiating, vetting and drafting diverse legal contracts, notices and other documentation, including cease-and-desist notices, assignment and licensing agreements, settlements, privacy and other user policies, marketing, branding and advertising agreements, artist and production agreements, among various other agreements pertaining to her areas of practice; as well as preparation of legal opinions and notes concerning applicable compliances, business structuring,  media, IP and tech transactions and other  aspects pertaining to her areas of practice.

Ashneet was previously engaged in-house at Zimmer Biomet, a multinational medical devices company, whereat she was responsible for coordinating with different regional offices in India, and international offices in the Asia Pacific. As part of her previous role, she handled the drafting, reviewing and negotiation of various commercial contracts and documentation (concerning marketing, distribution, supply and purchase of services and goods in South Asia) and was responsible for providing advisory on relative corporate-commercial aspects, legal risks and disputes.

Some key assignments in the areas handled, and being handled, by Ashneet at A&A, include the following: –

Advising and handling various aspects of IP matters for clients including pre-filing clearances, prosecution, handling oppositions/rectifications, post-registrations activities (in respect of trademarks, copyrights etc.) as well as licensing, assignment and enforcement thereof.

Advising and assisting prominent online platforms, including platforms constituting a ‘significant social media intermediary’ in India, in undertaking IT, data and other compliances and in preparation of relative agreements and policies for this purpose. 

Advising and assisting media and production houses in negotiation, drafting and closing media transactions and agreements with sponsors, broadcasting and distribution entities including prominent OTT Platforms as well as with artists, producers, directors, singers and other creatives

Advising gaming and e-sports entities proposing to set up businesses in India as regards the legal viability of their intended business, applicable licenses, regulatory requirements and compliances in India and preparation of requisite documentation and agreements.

Advising a prominent entity in the fintech space in relation to establishment of a neo banking platform, applicable compliances, and the legally appropriate manner for onboarding users (and processing their data) on the proposed Platform for availing financial products/services.

Advising and assisting entities engaged in business of virtual digital assets and cryptocurrencies in structuring, pertaining and establishing businesses in India in a legally compliant manner.