R. K. Dewan & Co. > Chennai, India > Firm Profile

Diversity

• At RKD, our Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) mission is to emerge as a leader through insight, innovation, diversity and inclusion. We put our people first as we work to deliver excellence in service to our clients. We accomplish this by integrating our goals and concepts into the way in which the firm manages its people and business.
• Our D&I efforts are initiated and led from the very top of the global firm by our senior management team, holding our leaders accountable. Firm resources − including our Professional Development, Marketing and Recruiting departments − are aligned to actively support the implementation of our Group Diversity and Inclusion Action Plans.
• These plans are tailored to each group’s unique D&I priorities, needs and culture, demonstrating how each group would focus on such goals as advancement, retention and equitable utilization of team expertise. Practice group leaders are responsible for managing their action plans and the results stemming from them.
• Our firm’s recruitment process is based on merit and merit alone. We do not discriminate on any basis including religion, caste, age, sex, disability, or economic and social background. We have team members from 16 states in India that speak over 10 different languages and come from different religions. We celebrate our differences and practice respect for everyone and that is the basis of our strength.
• The firm’s strategy focuses on recruitment, retention, advancement and promotion of the best lawyers. Our three strategic pillars being:

1. Workforce – The objective is to build an inclusive and sustainable pipeline for succession in leadership and promotion.
2. Workplace- The objective is to create an inclusive work environment that values differences and promotes respect, support and a sense of belonging to retain talent across all lawyer levels.
3. Marketplace – The objective is to proactively engage clients in discussions around effective D&I strategies to support all communities and foster effective outreach to diverse suppliers.

• These pillars provide a framework for the firm to address all aspects of the following areas:

1. Recruitment – Increasing the representation of lawyers across all cultures, backgrounds and experiences.
2. Engagement – Creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all RKD associates and employees
3. Advancement and Promotion – Ensuring that opportunities for success and leadership are accessible to everyone
4. Pipeline Programs – Supporting the education and development of future legal professionals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences
5. Supplier Diversity – At RKD, we consistently track the firm’s engagement with certified women-owned and minority-owned businesses. The goal is to diversify our supplier network with these businesses over time.

• As we work toward identifying specific benchmarks, we strongly encourage our attorneys to consider and recommend women-owned and minority owned-businesses as opportunities arise. This initiative is important to us and reinforces our commitment to our clients, our communities and our people.

Notable cases

1. Category – Trademark (Passing Off) Litigation 

Grand View Research (GVR) is an India & U.S. based market research and consulting company, headquartered in San Francisco, having revenue of $60 Million, and database featuring statistics and analysis on 46 industries in 25 major countries worldwide.

Type of work –

• A company named ‘Grand View Report’ was found in passing off GVR’s registered trademark by adopting a nearly identical company name, acronym and colour combination in its logo and providing identical services under the marks ‘GRAND VIEW REPORT’, ‘GVR’.
• R K Dewan & Co. has successfully protected the client’s trademark in India and simultaneously initiated a passing off action against Grand View Report. Accordingly, several trademark applications were filed for the protection of the marks. The passing off suit was also filed amidst the ongoing pandemic before the Pune District Court and now the matter has been settled and a decree has been obtained in Client’s favour. Grand View Report’s website has been taken down and is not in operation any more.

2. Category – Trademark (Infringement) Litigation, Investigations – UAE

Kamal & Sons, (annual turnover 50 Cr) a Star Export House and the owner of the renowned “S.B. DEER BRAND” ® Sat Isabgol (Psyllium Husk & Powder)

• R K Dewan & Co. assisted Kamal & Sons in taking criminal action against trademark infringement in the United Arab Emirates through our representatives and with the assistance of the Dubai Police. Upon investigation by the Dubai Police, the Case was sent to the Public Prosecution and then to the Criminal Court for hearing and issuance of a Decision.
• September 2022, the Court passed a Decision in favor of Kamal & Sons. The Court has also imposed a penalty of AED20000 (INR 4, 45,000 Approx.) to be paid by the Infringer and ordered the destruction and confiscation of three truckloads of counterfeit products weighing about 7.41 tons (6722 Kilograms) under the infringing “STAG” trademark.

3. Category – Patent Searches, Drafting, Filing, Prosecution and Portfolio Management, Out-Licensing.

Mahindra Group (USD 21-billion-dollar multinational, multi-industry Indian conglomerate, presence in more than 21 countries)

Type of work –

• Since 2019, R K Dewan & Co. has filed over 75 patent applications for Mahindra and drafted over 150 provisional and complete specifications from scratch.
• Prosecuting patent applications and obtaining grants at the Indian Patent Office and also in the USA, Europe, South Africa, Brazil and Sri Lanka as well as handling oppositions (both pre-grant & post-grant) at various Patent Offices.
• Currently the firm handles a portfolio of over 300 patent applications worldwide.
• In the past year, R K Dewan & Co. has conducted more than 25 Freedom to Operate searches for Mahindra including in European countries, India and South Korea and assisted in licensing out its paint spraying technologies (for cars) to other industries by drafting and executing licensing agreements.

4. Category – Trademark, Trade Dress Litigation & International Prosecution

Parle Products Ltd. (India’s largest manufacturer of biscuits and confectionery for 80+ years, revenue ranging in USD 6000 Million, 70% share of the global biscuit market.)

Type of work –

• Britannia v. Parle (Bangalore): Britannia Industries Ltd filed a suit for trade dress infringement against Parle for use of the phrase “Twenty Twenty” for biscuits, at the Bangalore City Civil Court which passed an ex parte interim injunction. R K Dewan & Co. on behalf of Parle appealed to the Karnataka High Court against the Order. Due to R K Dewan’s efficient argument at the City Civil Court, the Interim Injunction order against Parle was stayed by the Court. Further, The High Court allowed disposal of the biscuits which have been already manufactured by Parle.
• Parle v. B & B Bake (New Delhi): A suit for passing off was filed in District Court of Delhi against Parle Products Pvt. Ltd. by B & B Bake Pvt. Ltd. seeking injunction against use of the trademark AMERICANA for its bakery products, of which the plaintiff claimed to be the prior user. An ex parte injunction was granted in favour of Plaintiff by the District Judge and after hearing the parties confirmed the ex parte
• Against the order of Ld. ADJ, R K Dewan filed an appeal at the Delhi High Court and had of the order of the District Court vacated, stating that since the word was a dictionary word evoking the affinity of the product to America, the plaintiff could not claim exclusive rights to it.
• Addtionally, R K Dewan & Co. handles the Parle International Trademarks Portfolio comprising a total of 700+ marks in 75 countries worldwide as well as Parle’s domestic trademark portfolio, now amounting to 600+ marks which includes the mark ‘Parle-G’, the largest selling biscuit brand in the world by volume.

5. Category – All round IP protection

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL, a Fortune 500 Indian multinational conglomerate company with annual revenues >$60 billion, engaged in energy, petrochemicals, natural gas, retail, telecommunications, mass media, and textiles. India’s largest exporter – 7% of India’s total merchandise exports in over 100 countries.)

Type of work –

• R K Dewan & Co. has worked with RIL and its various subsidiaries for patent drafting, patent searching, prosecution & post-grant maintenance requirements in India and abroad for over 10 years.
• Overall patent portfolio: The firm handles the entire patent portfolio comprising a total of approximately 800+ Indian patent applications/patents and approximately 1250+ international patent applications/patents covering diverse technologies in over 31 countries/regions.
• Trademarks: R K Dewan & Co. files trademark applications in India and internationally and assists RIL in navigating the hazards in IP in all sectors.
• Advises regarding Copyrights and Design in the artificial intelligence space and trade secrets. RKD has filed & obtained multiple Design registrations for the client.