Atman Law
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General Corporate and Commercial
We provide a broad range of legal services to companies, both domestic and international. We advise corporations during all stages of their corporate existence, from the incorporation of the company through all aspects of its development and operation and provide allied services such as drafting of shareholders' agreements and charter documents. We also assist our clients in devising the most effective structures to suit their businesses and provide advice on various commercial arrangements (including terms of sale/ purchase of goods, services/consultant agreements, manufacturing, supply, distributor and franchise agreements). We regularly advise on business practices from a competition point of view and provide opinions in respect of compliance with government regulation and policy.
Mergers and Acquisitions
We have structured and implemented mergers & acquisitions, amalgamations and takeovers across several industries and sectors in India. In this respect, we conduct due diligences, prepare and negotiate transaction documents and draft schemes of merger, de-merger and amalgamation, etc. We also act closely with merchant bankers and ensure stock exchange compliances in the case of listed companies.
Foreign Investment
We provide assistance and guidance to foreign investors/technology providers, and Indian companies seeking to source capital/technologies from abroad, in relation to the Foreign Exchange Management Act, exchange-control regulations and the sector-specific limits on foreign investment (where applicable). We render advice on the various approvals required, and assist in preparing and filing necessary applications (for approval of foreign investment/technical collaboration) before the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and the Reserve Bank of India and liaising with these authorities.
Joint Ventures
Joint ventures and similar transactions can sometimes involve complicated issues and we advice clients on the preferred organization of the joint venture, the relationship with their partners, the management and governance arrangements, deadlock and termination provisions, exit strategies and negotiation of commercial arrangements between the joint venture and its partners. Our extends to negotiating and drafting diverse kinds of joint venture agreements ranging from contractual joint ventures to corporate joint ventures.
Technology
We structure, draft, review and negotiate service contracts, license contracts, maintenance contracts, outsourcing contracts (onshore and offshore), data privacy related issues, service level agreements, assignment of copyright, escrow arrangements in respect of source code, hosting services contracts, technology transfers and co-marketing arrangements. We regularly provide assistance to clients in respect of legal issues concerning IT enabled services in a wide range of industries (e.g., financial services, health care and life sciences, manufacturing, travel and hospitality, retail, telecommunications, and utilities). We also advise and assist on outsourcing arrangements including infrastructure management, applications development and maintenance, data center, desktop outsourcing and managed network services.
Media and Entertainment
We assist and advise event, artiste and sports management organizations, organizations in the print media industry, webenabled entertainment providers and ad agencies. We have drafted and negotiated specialized contracts such as music publishing agreements, video and audio license agreements, display board operating agreements, movie and music rights assignment deeds and broadcasting agreements.
Intellectual Property
Our services include conducting searches, provision of advice on potential registrability, preparation of applications for registration in India and abroad, continuing maintenance, conflict watch and the conduct of intellectual property audits. A large part of our practice involves providing advice on a wide range of agreements relating to the use, protection, licensing and acquisition of intellectual property rights. We maintain close working relationships with patent and trademark lawyers across the world, which enables us to address our domestic clients’ overseas requirements in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Real Estate
We provide the entire gamut of legal services in relation to the sale, purchase, lease and licensing of immoveable property (whether commercial, industrial, agricultural or residential in nature) and represent developers, investors, lenders and users. Our services include conducting title searches, rendering advice on applicable stamp duty and registration fees, drafting of necessary deeds and agreements and assisting in the procedures for registration. Where required, we also provide advice and opinions on the structuring of transactions, such as the creation of trusts, joint property development agreements, financial security related documents such as mortgages (including drafting, vetting and negotiation). We also render advice in planning the structure of, and negotiating, complex real estate transactions.
Venture Capital, Project and Structured Finance
We assist our clients in relation to providing/sourcing venture capital finance (including inter alia the structuring of the finance, advice on tax implications, and preparation, vetting and negotiation of related documentation such as subscription/investment agreements, shareholders agreements etc.). We also provide advice and services in relation to project-related finance and structured finance both from a lender’s, as well as a borrower’s perspective. The scope of our services include structuring of the transaction and drafting, vetting and negotiation of the finance and security related documentation such as loan agreements, debenture subscription agreements, mortgages, debenture trust deeds, hypothecations, pledge agreements, etc.
Employment
We have advised clients on labour-management relations, employee benefits (including executive compensation and establishment of stock option plans), employment contracts, disciplinary issues, personnel policies, plant closing and reduction in work force, safety and health issues and unfair labour practices. We regularly assist our clients with structuring employment / offer letters, job description and compensation arrangements, intellectual property, non-compete/solicitation and confidentiality agreements, employment and termination notices / agreements to reduce the risk of litigation, drafts responses to government and statutory enquiries, employee handbooks, policies and manuals.
Regulatory Compliance
We advise clients on regulatory and compliance requirements under Indian laws and assist in obtaining approvals from various government authorities, like Foreign Investment Promotion Board, Reserve Bank of India, Securities Exchange Board of India and others. We assists our clients in ensuring day-to-day compliance of various applicable laws including making statutory filings with various authorities, and provide corporate secretarial services.