Spice Route Legal > Mumbai, India > Firm Profile
Spice Route Legal Offices

No. 201, 2nd Floor, B Wing Pinnacle Corporate Park, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East
MUMBAI
400051
India
Spice Route Legal > The Legal 500 Rankings
India > Data protection Tier 1
Fielding a dedicated team for data protection, privacy and cyber security, Spice Route Legal is a destination of choice for a considerable client list of both multinational and domestic clients in the core TMT industries and beyond. Practice head Mathew Chacko has recently been assisting Microsoft with the structuring of its cloud-based services Azure and Office 360 so as to comply with India’s pending data privacy laws. Assisting on this and the full scope of the team’s work is standout senior associate Aadya Misra, who also has significant recent experience advising European Union clients on financial services data transfers to India after the Schrems II decision.Practice head(s):
Mathew Chacko
Other key lawyers:
Aadya Misra; Ankita Hariramani; Shambhavi Mishra
Testimonials
‘Spice Route Legal provides very business-friendly advice. We worked with Mathew and this great team for one or our clients in relation to local Indian law advice. The advice was so to the point and the team answered all our questions in timely manner and without follow up questions.’
‘Mathew Chacko is the best DP lawyer in India that I have worked with. I am very confident to refer him to our clients.’
‘Very few lawyers and law firms understand data protection. SpiceRoute is one of them.’
‘We work closely with Mathew Chako, Ankita Hariramani and Aadya Misra who have been of great help to us. Complex regulatory and data related issues are resolved for us by Spice Route with ease.’
‘Aadya Misra continues to put in the legwork, and both her and Mathew Chako have been willing to act as evangelists when it comes to India’s open data standards across current and upcoming public digital goods. We also had a good experience working with Shambhavi Mishra from the data team.’
Key clients
3M
Adobe Inc.
Airtel
Dell
HDFC Bank
Hewlett Packard Enterprises
Hitachi Energy
ICICI Bank
John Lewis & Partners
Microsoft
Zoom
Aveva Group plc
Calypso Technologies
Emptech Inc.
Fiserv
Disney
Gameopedia
Livspace
Moneyview
SHL Group
Srijan Technologies
Stryker Inc.
Talview Inc.
Tanla Platforms Limited
The Trade Desk
Tricog Health
Urban Company
Yext Inc.
Work highlights
- Advising Microsoft on compliance with India’s upcoming data protection laws.
- Assisted Urban Company with implementing a global data protection plan – including compliance activities in India, Australia, Singapore, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- Advising John Lewis & Partners on India’s upcoming data protection law, including conducting a gap analysis between the client’s existing data protection practices and the proposed Indian data law.
India > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 1
Spice Route Legal offers a full service to pharma, primary healthcare, medical devices, and biotech companies, encompassing cross-border transactional support for both M&A and private equity investments, regulatory compliance advice, commercial and distribution agreements, and utilising the firm’s intellectual property practice in support with patent filings. The team acts for a wide range of international clients, including major domestic drug producers and healthcare providers, international pharma giants, and investment funds, further benefitting from connections to a strong network of international law firms. Mumbai’s Praveen Raju heads up the team, offering significant expertise in the life sciences space, including advising on cross-border transactions, joint ventures, and commercial agreements, while Bengalaru’s Mathew Chacko is also a key name, leading on M&A and private equity transactions with significant data, IP, and technology elements. Kochi-based senior associate Renuka Abraham has a strong focus on M&A within the sector.Practice head(s):
Praveen Raju
Other key lawyers:
Mathew Chacko; Adithya Jayaraj; Aadya Misra; Renuka Abraham
Testimonials
‘SRL team is unique in the sense the advice provided by them makes a lot of commercial sense blended with a solid legal structuring that makes it a perfect suite for clients like us.’
‘Praveen is very cooperative and engaging not to mention his excellent legal oversight. For our company he is on the go when it comes to advice and time.’
Key clients
Agilon Health
AIG Direct LLC
Balchem Corporation
Esco Micro Pte. Ltd.
Cardiotrack
Impelsys Inc.
Iosynth Labs
IQVIA
Lignoil Technologies
Prana Inc.
Perrigo Inc.
Saveo Healthcare
Stryker Inc
Season Two Ventures Management LLC
Strand Lifesciences
Tricog Health Pte Ltd.
Vvaan Lifesciences
Zenfold Ventures LLP
Work highlights
- Advised Esco Micro Pte. Ltd. on a US$200 series A financing.
- Advising Zenfold Ventures, a healthcare sector-focused investment fund that is an affiliate of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, on a range of investments in the life sciences industry.
- Assisting Iosynth Labs with commercial and intellectual property arrangements, including over contract manufacturing, licensing and distribution agreements.
India > Fintech and financial services regulatory Tier 2
The team at Spice Route Legal makes use of its ‘deep-seated financial services expertise‘ and ‘unparalleled understanding‘ of fintech to assist domestic and international banks, as well as cryptocurrency, fintech and payments companies. Mathew Chacko heads the fintech practice and draws on over 19 years’ experience in advising on blockchain, trade finance platforms, and the structuring of new fintech products. The ‘fantastic‘ Ankita Hariramani was promoted to counsel in July 2022; she focuses on assisting blockchain and fintech clients on the complex regulation surrounding payments, settlements, lending and wealth management. Senior associate Aadya Misra contributes her data expertise and often provides advice on cybersecurity architecture and the structuring of breach responses from a regulatory angle.Practice head(s):
Mathew Chacko
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Spice Route Legal has one of the most advanced Fintech and FSR practices I have come across. The team derives its unique position from the deep-seated financial services expertise, coupled with a passion and understanding of the technology behind it. They have the unique ability to predict the regulator’s moves and have earned the RBI’s respect through their keen observations. They have also helped us structure our product, behind which there is an unparalleled understanding.’
‘They’re always available and feels like they are not an external counsel, but rather approach things like in-house teammates!’
‘Business friendly and genuine set of people. They keep themselves updated about regulatory guidelines, well connected with financial startup eco-system to validate that helps a lot when in doubt.’
‘Ankita’s work is fantastic.’
‘Ankita has been able to help us with our queries. Very grateful for the SRL Fintech practice and Ankita, and their willingness to take challenges and help us out.’
‘Mathew Chacko and his team have been our go-to lawyers for the last 6 years. We value the attention our mandates receive from the SRL team. When it comes to Fintech and FSR, Ankita is a key member of the team. Ankita’s understanding of how technology functions in the financial services industry are unparalleled.’
‘The fintech team of Spice Route Legal has an extensive understanding of how financial products work.’
‘Reasonable and genuine set of people.’
Key clients
IBM
Dell
Disney+ Hotstar
IBBIC Pvt. Ltd. (formerly known as Blockchain India Consortium)
HDFC Bank
ICICI Bank
Bank Open
BharatPe
Banque Nationale
DBS Bank
Fennia
Finvu
Fiserv
Indipaisa (formerly known as Nexxo)
Instamojo Inc.
KarbonCard
Milaap Inc.
Moneyview
Mobikwik
RentoMojo
Sahamati
SETU
Slice (formerly known as SlicePay)
Tally Solutions
Yodlee Inc.
Zoop.One
Work highlights
- Assisting IBBIC with its blockchain-focused trade finance platform.
- Advising Slice (formerly known as SlicePay) on undertaking a detailed compliance of its Buy Now Pay Later product, Prepaid Card Instrument and multiple digital lending products.
- Advising two of India’s leading neo-banks (Bank Open and Decentro) on structuring multiple banking products.
India > Projects and energy Tier 2
A core strength of Spice Route Legal‘s projects and energy practice is the range of legal services provided for its diverse list of clients operating in the alternative fuels, fuel technology and renewable sectors. For co-founder and head of the alternative energy, sustainability and e-mobility practice and corporate, M&A and private equity group, Praveen Raju advises international and domestic clients in the solar, electric mobility, infrastructure and energy drone technology, and hydrogen fuel cell technology segments. Raju offers advice on acquisitions and inward investment, in particular matters pertaining to O&M agreements, EPC contracts and land acquisitions for constructing and expanding energy-related tech facilities. Alongside Raju, star senior associate Janhavi Joshi helps clients navigate regulations and advises them on foreign inward investments into their companies through share purchases. The pair deal extensively with contractual and transactional arrangements.Practice head(s):
Praveen Raju
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Spice Route Legal is a unique gem. They are strategic, business-minded thinkers who are able to provide practical solutions.’
‘The team is flexible and able to incorporate complexities of US-governed entities. They respond at all hours of the day and night and are highly-skilled. They treat me as if I am their only client, when I know they have many.’
‘The partners place a great emphasis on diversity in hiring outstanding women to be part of their team.’
‘Praveen Raju is very smart and business-minded. He is focused on developing outstanding talent and has cultivated an incredible group of attorneys to support him, allowing his team to shine.’
‘Janhavi Joshi is an absolutely outstanding attorney. Janhavi understands what is important from both a legal and business perspective, and is able to focus on resolving issues quickly and efficiently. She also spends a lot of time training her team. She is highly responsive. She is an absolute rock-star.’
‘They can handhold you through the entire transaction, almost like they are part of the internal team. They are approachable and easy to deal and interact with. Great support for lean in-house legal teams.’
‘Praveen Raju – competent, always available, good negotiator, reliable and trustworthy, especially for M&A matters. His practical advice is highly valued within the company.’
Key clients
SunEdison Infrastructure
Indian Power Corporation Limited (IPCL)
Aerem Solutions
Gro Solar Energy RA
Hitachi India Energy Ltd
Lighthaus B.V.
Mytrah Mobility
Orxa Energies
Sistema Bio
SenseHawk Technologies Private Limited
South Lake One LLC
Fenice Investments
Ohmium International
MLR Auto
Shareholder of ANI Technologies (OLA Cabs)
Work highlights
- Advised IPCL (Indian Power Corporation Limited) as consortium leader on its bid in response to the Indian government’s request for proposals to scale up ACC battery cell manufacturing.
- Assisted US-based company Ohmium International in general corporate advisory such as shareholder, employment and non-disclosure agreements, and O&M mandates.
- Assisting SunEdison Infrastructure on strategic tasks such as the demerger of multiple solar businesses and a report on 25 solar projects.
India > TMT Tier 2
Spice Route Legal provides a sizeable, growing team that serves a diverse portfolio of clients across the technology and media sectors. Bangalore-stationed co-founder, Mathew Chacko, heads the practice, serving many of the most prominent hardware and software companies, telecom players and banks in the context of fintech, as well as leading tech sector unicorns. Chacko is routinely supported by Aadya Misra, a specialist in data management and protection, privacy policies, licensing and regulatory matters. Additional support comes from Ankita Hariramani, a fintech specialist.Practice head(s):
Mathew Chacko
Other key lawyers:
Aadiya Misra; Ankita Hariramani
Testimonials
‘The team at Spice Route are very practical in their approach, their ability to explain complex regulations in clear language helps us understand the in-depth aspects and make better decisions.’
‘Ankita and Harshda are always hands-on and dependable, they understand the operational concerns and provide a better solution which has always given us a major advantage.’
Key clients
Microsoft
Meta Inc.
Adobe Inc.
Airtel
Disney and Disney+ Hotstar
Hewlett Packard
3M
BharatPe
Byjus
Calypso Technologies
Equinix
Orange
Fiserv
Fireblocks Inc.
Gameopedia
Gamestream
HDFC Bank
IBBIC
ICICI Bank
Liftoff Games
Milaap
Sahamati
Savex Technologies
Srijan Technologies
Stryker Inc.
Tricog Health
Tanla Platforms Limited
Urban Company
WeWork
Xandr (part of AT&T)
Work highlights
- Advising Microsoft, the world’s largest cloud service provider, on structuring its cloud service products.
- Advising Savex Technologies Pvt. Ltd on acquiring a majority stake in Inflow Technologies.
- Assisting Disney+ Hotstar with structuring arrangements with technology service providers to measure the success of advertisements made available through ad-measurement tools.
India > Corporate and M&A Tier 3
The ‘collaborative‘ and ‘responsive‘ team at Spice Route Legal has continued to expand its presence in the M&A space, increasingly active on upper mid-market transactions and complex cross-border deals and restructuring arrangements for clients in its focus areas of life sciences, TMT, and sustainable energy and beyond. The team regularly collaborates with international firms in work for multijurisdictional clients as well as Indian companies investing and establishing operations abroad, and is led by Mumbai-based Praveen Raju, a specialist in cross-border M&A, and technology and media-focused Mathew Chacko, based in Bengalaru. At senior associate level, Kochi’s Renuka Abraham is noted for her life sciences expertise, Bengalaru-based Nikhil Joseph specialises in advising US companies investing in India, and Mumbai’s Janhavi Joshi focuses on deals involving new and alternative forms of energy.Practice head(s):
Praveen Raju; Mathew Chacko
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Mathew Chacko, Nikhil Joseph- excellent lawyers, well versed with Indian laws, commercial issues, practical advice and anticipate issues, able to provide solutions where legally available’
‘Mathew Chacko- outstanding , experienced and handles wide range of legal areas- has depth of knowledge and practical advice Nikhil Joseph- pro-active, sharp , hardworking and enthusiastic. understands the issues and provided practical solutions’
‘Very responsive team. Collaborative and good to work with.’
‘Praveen Rajiv and Matthew Chacko are great operators. They have good teams and provide very responsive advice to clients. Our experience is that they have particularly good experience and expertise in the technology sector.’
‘Knowledge, appropriate staffing and discipline – some of the key virtues.. to ensure quality service they have ended up refusing mandates when there are bandwidth issues; giving full justice to the work assigned and fighting hard to protect client interest (this includes fighting with the client as well.’
‘Dedicated focus and attention. partners have been spending ample time and leading the negotiations from the front.’
‘Praveen has been our go-to person for all legal matters.’
‘Spice Route Legal is a unique gem. They are strategic, business-minded thinkers who are able to provide practical solutions. They are flexible and able to incorporate complexities of US-governed entities. They respond at all hours of the day and night and are highly-skilled. They treat me as if I am their only client, when I know they have many. The partners also place a great emphasis on diversity in hiring outstanding women to be part of their team.’
Key clients
Brandenburg India Private Limited
ESCO Lifesciences
Indian Power Corporation Limited (IPCL)
MLR Auto
Ohmium International Inc.
Savex Technologies Pvt Ltd
Shareholder of ANI Technologies (OLA Cabs)
StudyIQ
SunEdison Infrastructure (Restructuring advisory)
SunEdison Infrastructure (Investments + SEBI advisory)
Work highlights
- Assisted Savex Technologies, a $2 billion corporation with acquiring a stake in Inflow Technologies.
- Advising Indian Power Corporation Limited on its US$176 million bid in response to the Indian government’s request for proposals to scale up ACC battery cell manufacturing in India.
- Advising SunEdison Infrastructure on a complex restructuring, involving the hive-off of several businesses and re-domiciling to the UK.
Intellectual property Tier 4
Spice Route Legal is an up-and-coming firm in the broad technology space and its offering in intellectual property law is characterised by expertise in transactional IP and IP disputes. On the contentious side, a standout matter sees practice head Mathew Chacko leading advice to crowdfunding platform Milaap on a dispute with Google alleging trademark infringement relating to Google’s AdWords service. In November 2021 the firm strengthened its offering with the addition of senior associate Adithya Jayaraj.Practice head(s):
Mathew Chacko
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Quick, easily accessible, practical, very supportive and mostly have a good understanding of our business.’
‘We recommend Adithya Jayaraj and Matthew Chacko.’
‘SRL is different and we are very happy with them as a whole.’
‘I find the team up to date with the latest law on the subject. The team regularly updates its clients in respect of the law, writes and analyses various judgments pronounced by various courts from time to time in India and abroad. They provide complete support in the matter starting from drafting the pleadings, and providing case laws on the points raised. In prosecution matters, guides the clients about the registrability of any intellectual property.’
‘They are able to answer all queries. Instructions provided are very clear and always in the best interest of the client. Always discuss the best case and worst case for the clients. Able to handle matters and work extensively with foreign law firms which gives them an understanding of the foreign law on the aspect.’
Key clients
Meta Inc.
Disney+ Hotstar
Lenovo
Airtel
HDFC Bank
SunEdison
Pernod Ricard
Milaap (client for 5 years)
Agilon Health
ASM
Cardiotrack
EnRecover
IBBIC
IdeaForge
Iosynth Labs
LetsDaily India Private Limited (trading as Daily Basket)
Neogen Chemicals
Ohmium International Inc.
OkCredit
Saveo
Strand Lifesciences
Tricog
Urban Company
Work highlights
- Representing Milaap in a dispute with Google and Impact Guru over contributory trademark infringement involving Google Adwords.
- Advising OkCredit on over 30 trademark filings.
- Assisting Meta with content licensing both nationally and internationally, including more than 3,000 pieces of content across Asia Pacific.
India > Private equity and investment funds Tier 4
The team at Spice Route Legal dispenses advice on exits, Series A to Series C investment deals, and regulatory issues for both investee and investor clients. Praveen Raju heads the practice from Mumbai, alongside Mathew Chacko, who leads from Bangalore. Raju directs his focus towards advising on investment transactions in the healthcare, life sciences, and alternative energy sectors, whilst Chacko handles matters relating to the technology and media sectors.Practice head(s):
Praveen Raju; Mathew Chacko
Testimonials
‘SRL team is unique as along with providing the legal support, they think about the commercial or holistic aspects of the clauses while supporting on transaction documents.’
‘The team is very approachable and always give their best.’
Key clients
Bizmo Technologies Pte. Ltd.
Butterfly Innovations Private Limited (CollPoll)
Esco Micro Pte. Ltd.
Finarkein Analytics Private Limited
Foundamental GmBH
India Filings (Verve Financial Services Private Limited)
Jambox Games Pte.
Java Capital
LetsKrypto
McLaren Fund
MoneyView
Nimai Trade Fintech
Prana Health Inc.
Pillow Fund
Sequoia Capital
Season2 Ventures
Shareholders of ANI Technologies (OLA Cabs)
SILRES Energy Solutions
WeGot Utilities
Ninjakart
Work highlights
- Advised Esco Micro Pte. Ltd. on successfully raising a Series A investment from a club of investors consisting of Novo Holdings, Vivo Capital, EDBI, and China Investment Corp. It is the largest private fundraising round by an Asia-based life sciences tools company.
- Acted on the exit of shareholders of ANI Technologies, after its buyout by private equity funds managed by Warburg Pincus LLC.
- Advised MoneyView on a Series C fund infusion, then on venture debt funding from Alteria Capital India Fund and Stride Ventures Debt Fund II.
Spice Route Legal > Firm Profile
Spice Route Legal is a law firm that is recognised as a leader in the provision of border- agnostic legal services in India. The firm is often retained (i) to negotiate and close complicated multi-jurisdictional deals, (ii) to advise on issues at the intersection of technology, business, and law, (iii) to accurately evaluate and mitigate regulatory and legal risks; and (iv) to assist on complicated disputes.
With market-leading practices in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, technology, media and telecommunications, data and fintech, energy and renewables, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences, intellectual property and disputes, the firm regularly advises clients on some of the most complex cross border mandates that involve India.
For more details, please see www.spiceroutelegal.com.
Main practice areas
Corporate and M&A: The firm advises on a full spectrum of corporate transactions in today’s increasingly global marketplace. In addition to mainstream M&A, the firm has been involved in some of the most challenging private equity, venture capital, take privates, spin offs and corporate restructurings that involve India. Today, Spice Route Legal is the ‘go to’ firm for Indian companies with global M&A or investment ambitions and for non-Indian companies investing in India.
Private equity and venture capital: Our private equity and venture capital practice is widely applauded for our cutting-edge, cross-jurisdictional work involving investments in technology, fintech, big data, energy and healthcare. The firm has a 360-degree approach to fund structuring – advising PE funds on investments, deal structuring, tax and regulatory approvals, and IPOs and distressed acquisitions, and has advised some of the most prolific investors in the region.
Technology, media and telecommunications: Spice Route Legal has, over the last six years, established itself as India’s largest and most sophisticated TMT practice. The practice is hyperspecialised with lawyers focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Licensing, Ad-Tech, HR-Tech, Aviation Tech, E-commerce, SAAS, Ed-tech, Digital Media, Gaming, Sports, Social Media, Telecommunications, Cleantech and Proptech.
Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity: The firm’s data protection, privacy and cybersecurity team combines strong technical and legal credentials, an appreciation of the global nature of data and a network of the best technology, data and information lawyers in the world, to advise on increasingly global data, privacy and cybersecurity mandates. As South Asia’s largest data practice, the firm regularly advises on international data flows, cybersecurity and data risk, privacy concerns, disputes involving data, incident reporting, localisation strategies, employment and health data issues and structuring whistleblowing hotlines and ethics investigations.
Fintech and financial sector regulatory: Spice Route Legal regularly advises and assists most of the prominent names in the financial services sector in India. With the ability to structure products, identify and mitigate technology, intellectual property, data and financial sector regulatory risks, the team straddles multiple practice areas to seamlessly advise banks, financial institutions, startups, credit rating agencies, investors and ‘brick & mortar’ companies.
Intellectual property: Spice Route Legal’s expertise in advising on complex questions of IP is widely recognised, having advised on some of the most contentious disputes and assisted on some of the most complex transactions that involve intellectual property. In 2021, the firm has been at the forefront of the evolving contributory infringement jurisprudence in India, of the recognition of the doctrine of prosecution history estoppel, of some of the largest IP disposals and of defending multiple actions by patent trolls. The firm’s uniquely integrated IP team offers corporations the ability to rely on it for advice on the protection, monetisation, licensing and sale of IP and for disputes involving IP.
Energy, renewables and sustainability: Since formation, Spice Route Legal has been a trusted advisor to energy clients. The firm’s practice focuses on the future of energy, i.e. new and alternate sources of energy. The firm has worked with multiple companies within the clean and renewable energy space, and is well regarded as a market leader in alternative energy, renewables and sustainability.
In addition to complex restructuring and investment advisory for its Energy clients, the firm has also assisted clients with several project development and project finance mandates, in the solar, wind, and hydrogen fuel technology sub-sectors. A recent specialisation and interest in electric mobility mandates has broadened the firm’s expertise within the energy space to include this most exciting and nascent sector, as well.
Healthcare, pharmaceuticals and life sciences: As a hyper industry focused firm that combines the M&A, regulatory, data and IP expertise of its founders, lifesciences is a natural sector specialisation. Over the last few years, the practice has grown exponentially into a 360-degree life sciences and health-tech focused practice, encompassing a range of practice areas including corporate/M&A, regulatory, IP, commercial agreements, and data practices.
The firm’s portfolio of clients boasts of companies and their investors across the life sciences industry, including in the pharmaceuticals, biotech, veterinary, diagnostics, medical devices, and health-tech sectors. The practice comprises of a team of five lawyers primarily focusing on the corporate M&A and PE-VC transactions in the life sciences space and a team of six lawyers who focus on regulatory, data, technology, IP and commercial contracts.
Litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution: Our disputes practice is uniquely structured to function as a part of our industry practice groups. As such, the team tends to focus on disputes involves tech, media or telecom companies, corporate governance, shareholder disputes, intellectual property, financial services regulatory issues, competition law or data privacy.
Sports and entertainment: Spice Route Legal advises some of the world’s leading sportspeople, teams, agencies and regulatory bodies on a host of contentious and non-contentious matters. Relying on traditional strengths in licensing, governance, disputes, intellectual property and privacy, we offer a one-stop legal solution for all entities involved in sports.
International work: Spice Route Legal’s “border agnostic” model of providing seamless solutions for cross border legal issues by relying on a wide network of friends is acknowledged as a market first. Relying on this network, the firm has:
- Assisted India’s largest telecom conglomerate on a global transaction involving over 40 countries;
- Assisted India’s leading rice manufacturer with conducting a purchase of assets in 60 countries;
- Assisted a German investment fund focused in the Industrials, Chemicals and Logistics sector on investments in eight countries in the Asia-Pacific;
- Assisted a leading Indian mobility player with conducting a 23-country regulatory, technology and risk analysis;
- Assisted some of India’s leading technology companies with entering markets in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas;
- Assisted in designing and implementing global data protection and compliance strategies;
- Assisted in global intellectual property portfolio management;
- Led multiple cross border venture capital and private equity deals.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Head of TMT, Data Protection and Privacy and Fintech | Mathew Chacko | mathew@spiceroutelegal.com | |
Head of Corporate, M&A and PE-VC, Energy, Renewables & Sustainability, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences | Praveen Raju | praveen@spiceroutelegal.com | |
Fintech & Financial Sector Regulatory | Ankita Hariramani | ankita.hariramani@spiceroutelegal.com | |
Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity | Aadya Misra | aadya.misra@spiceroutelegal.com | |
Corporate, M&A and PE-VC | Renuka Abraham | renuka.abraham@spiceroutelegal.com | |
Corporate, M&A and PE-VC | Nikhil Joseph | nikhil.joseph@spiceroutelegal.com | |
Projects and Energy | Janhavi Joshi | janhavi.joshi@spiceroutelegal.com |
Languages
English Hindi Tamil Telugu Kannada Malayalam Spanish French Marathi Bengali GujaratiMemberships
International Bar Association IAPP ITechLawDiversity
Spice Route Legal is an equal opportunity employer, encouraging the growth of all stakeholders, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, religion, caste, race, region, or ethnicity.
As of December 2020, the firm comprises of (i) more people who identify themselves as female than any other gender, (ii) a not insignificant group of stakeholders who do not conform to traditional notions of hetero-normativity, (iii) people who identify as atheists, as well as believers in 7 distinct religions, and (iv) people from 12 different Indian states, spanning most corners of the country.
Legal Developments
A GUIDE TO THE DATA PROTECTION BILL, 2021
11th January 2022 India’s proposed data protection law has been a long time in the making. In 2018, a committee of experts constituted by the Indian government issued a first draft of a proposed law on data protection. In late 2019, a revised version of the draft, titled the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 (the “PDPB”), was introduced in the Indian Parliament. The PDPB was dogged by controversies, especially on exemptions that were afforded to government agencies, the treatment of anonymised data, data localisation requirements, and regulated cross-border transfers. For a deeper examination of the proposed law, the draft was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee that comprised of members of both Houses of the Parliament (“Committee”).WHAT ARE GREEN BONDS?
4th January 2022 A Green Bond is a fixed-income debt instrument, like a regular bond, which is specifically earmarked for financing ‘green’ projects such as renewable energy projects, clean transportation projects, water management projects etc. It encourages sustainability and has numerous goals - from climate change mitigation to energy efficiency, and the prevention of pollution etc.[1].Cybersecurity Laws in India: Is It Time for a Regime Change?
4th August 2021- Introduction
- The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (“IPC”),
- The Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”), and
- various sectoral regulations, discussed in detail below.
- The Information Technology Act, 2000
- Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures
- Offences
- Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
- the targeted scanning or probing of critical networks or systems;
- a compromise of critical systems or information;
- the unauthorised access of information technology systems or data;
- the defacement of or intrusions into websites, and unauthorised changes to websites;
- malicious code attacks and attacks on servers;
- identity thefts, spoofing, and phishing attacks;
- the denial of service and distributed denial of service attacks;
- attacks on critical infrastructure, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and wireless networks; and
- attacks on applications like e-governance and e-commerce.
- Protected Systems
- Intermediaries
- Sectoral Regulations
- Financial Services
- Health
- Securities Market
- Telecom Sector
- Insurance Sector
- Enforcement Trends Across Sectors
- Conclusion
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:MATHEW CHACKOMathew is the Head of the Technology, Media & Telecommunications practice group at Spice Route Legal, and is recognised as a leading Indian lawyer by several national and international directories. With close to two decades of experience, he advises on a variety of cross-border corporate and commercial transactions, including in relation to investments, fund-formation, technology laws, data privacy, intellectual property, commercial and regulatory compliance, tech law disputes, and risk mitigation strategy.AADYA MISRAAadya is a senior associate with the firm’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications practice group, with a special focus on, and extensive experience in, handling data protection, cybersecurity and privacy mandates. Recognised as a Rising Star by The Legal500 in 2020, Aadya regularly works with domestic and international market leaders in industries, ranging from financial services, and blockchain, to telecommunications, consumer retail, and emerging technologies.SAMYUKTA RAMASWAMY Samyukta is an associate with the firm’s Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity practice, within the broader TMT Practice Group, with a focus on cloud services and cybersecurity mandates. She assists clients with structuring their data protection practices, procedures and policies to demonstrate compliance with applicable laws, and advises them on a range of issues including international data transfers, data breach response and management, and risk mitigation.
[1]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-22/cyber-attack-on-air-india-led-to-data-leak-of-4-5-million-fliers[2]https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dominos-pizza-data-breach-company-says-financial-information-safe-as-data-of-180-million-users-compromised-101621855567340.html[3] https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/india-saw-the-highest-number-of-ransomware-attacks-in-2021-report-71621331517413.html.[4] https://www.livemint.com/news/india/67-of-indian-organizations-paid-a-ransom-to-get-their-data-back-sophos-survey-11622526811992.html[5] Jagjit Singh v. The State of Punjab, Special Leave Petition Criminal No(s). 3583/2021.