Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan > Firm Profile

The firm: Founded by V. Lakshmikumaran and V. Sridharan in 1985, Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan is a leading full-service Indian law firm with approximately 400 fee-earners across its offices in 13 Indian cities. Members of the firm hold advanced degrees in law, business, science & technology, commerce and accountancy from leading institutions in India and abroad and include bureaucrats, scientists, jurists and accountants. The keywords that resonate with every member of firm and the work they do are Integrity, Knowledge, Passion and Humility. The firm believes in technology as a driver for legal services in the future and hence, invests heavily in technology and infrastructure, which allows the professionals and clients to work more efficiently, collaborate effectively and maintain standards.

Over the last 35 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 team has been involved in assignments across diverse industries like automobiles, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, financial services, power generation, manufacturing, shipping, broadcasting, FMCG, aviation, travel and hospitality, , education, electronics, telecommunications, IT and ITeS, real estate, healthcare and modern sectors such as e-commerce, big data, renewables, gaming, , cement, cable manufacturing and sports. The firm serves over 45% of India’s largest companies (top 100 NSE companies based on market capitalization and has worked with various clients in India and international markets such as Japan, China, Korea, Singapore, USA, the European Union (EU), Middle East, Africa, South America, South-east Asia etc.

As market-leading thought leaders, the Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan team has authored various articles in leading national and international legal magazines. The practice and its practice leaders have regularly been quoted in various reputable national newspapers, publications etc.

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.

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 vast legacy in litigation allows the team to advise clients in planning and complying with tax laws in India. With the new tax regime of GST being implemented in the country, L&S has a dedicated vertical to guide clients for a smooth transition into the new system. 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. In M&A transactions, the tax attorneys of the firm undertake investment structuring, tax due diligence and review.

International arbitration and commercial litigation: The team comprises professionals with deep industry and business knowledge. L&S 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: Through years of research and deliberation, the firm developed its competition law to ensure the smooth functioning of client businesses. The competition law team has expertise in drafting and reviewing agreements, obtaining M&A approvals and framing competition compliance strategies for enterprises. It has vast experience in representing clients before judicial and statutory authorities. The team works with a wide cross section of sectors including transportation, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, building materials, government procurement, broadcasting, sports, financial services, entertainment and telecom.

IPR and technology laws: The practice has expertise in all the IP laws including patents, designs, trademarks, copyrights and plant variety protection (PVP). This vertical provides end-to-end IP life cycle support with its attorneys and technologists specializing in preparation & prosecution, licensing, management, valuation and litigation of IP portfolios. The firm is ranked as a top tier IP firm by several leading publications and is recognized for handling several high- profile litigation and projects. The team also offers integrated advisory, legal compliance and litigation services related to environmental law issues, such as air, water, forests, hazardous substances, genetically modified organisms biological diversity. The team also comprises experts on food law, advising clients on the implementation of the FSS Act and Rules, and different regulations, notifications and advisories issued by FSSAI.

Corporate, M&A and PE/VC: The firm’s corporate team has profound transactional understanding as well as significant industry expertise. 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: India is a major trading partner for countries across the globe. Hence, from time to time there arises, wide range of business and bureaucratic dilemmas. The firm’s team of professionals in the customs and international trade practice cater to WTO and International Trade disputes arising out of or involving India. The firm’s attorneys have handled more than 400 anti-dumping 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 IBC 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. The team has represented creditors in various sectors, such as power, heavy industries, tourism, and financial sector.

Environmental law: The firm offers integrated advisory, legal compliance and litigation services related to environmental issues through a specialized team of professionals from diverse disciplines. This vertical 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 labeling, nutritional/health claims, food recall, import procedure compliance, country of origin determinations, product approval and various other aspects of food law. The firm has been advising clients on the implementation of the FSS Act and Rules, and different Regulations, notifications and advisories issued by FSSAI from time to time.

Real estate: With presence in multiple cities in India and a pan-India network of local lawyers, the team is equipped to advise clients on all real estate related aspects, including the 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. The team is routinely involved in advising on employment law related aspects in business structuring arrangements (transactions and internal restructurings), drafting and reviewing of employment contracts and agreements, employee handbooks, interpreting company policies and employee incentive plans from an Indian law standpoint. Apart from conducting employment law related due diligence/audits, the team is also experienced in carrying out training on prevention of sexual harassment (POSH) law and POSH investigations.

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. The services include advice in relation to: a. banking regulations; b. structuring and documentation for financing transactions; c. structuring and documentation for security creation; d. External Commercial Borrowings; e. debt restructuring; f. bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings; g. recovery and enforcement proceedings; and h. disputes relating to the financing and securitization arrangements.

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 aircraft, financing and chartering of aircraft 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: 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 Data Protection team at the firm offers the best of both worlds: IP and regulatory affairs specialists who work directly alongside our privacy professionals. The team can assist with data breach planning, advising on all forms of data consent, and reviewing of supply agreements. The team also advises on customer communications, particularly with regard to big data and web and mobile-based data collection. The team also consists of professions who are specially trained to handle disputes which require the submission or defence of privacy or data protection claim.

Lawyer Profiles

Photo	Name	Position	Profile
	Mr V Lakshmikumaran	Managing Partner	View Profile