INTRODUCTION
In recent years, India’s Intellectual Property (“IP”) regime has seen significant reforms, according to intellectual property owners. In addition to regularly adjusting the IP rules, the country has worked hard to reduce the time it takes to advance cases through the judicial system. India’s IP lawyers and law firms have carried out the bulk of the work in making India one of Asia’s and the world’s most desirable investment destinations, even as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi deserves credit for reforming the country.
Unquestionably, the dawn of 2021 marks a momentous time. Several countries are still on alert, as an outbreak continues. Vaccines have been introduced throughout the world, and trade challenges aside, the global economy remains resilient. It will be necessary to reorganize activities and increase concentration to stay on top of a rapidly changing intellectual property enforcement and brand protection environment in 2021.
The following list of the top 10 law firms in India that practice IPR, while not exhaustive, will provide you with ideas about which firms excel in this field and identify their core practices, as well as the level of skills required for success in these firms.
TOP LAW FIRMS WITH IPR PRACTICE:
ANAND AND ANAND (TIER 1):
Founded in 1979, Anand and Anand is an intellectual property firm offering integrated legal solutions in all areas related to intellectual property. The firm is governed by a partnership board of partners and a senior director, as well as a management team that includes a CEO, CFO, and CIO. At the firm, there are more than 400 employees, including over 100 qualified engineers and attorneys. Firm offices are located in New Delhi, Noida, Chennai, and Mumbai.
In the area of intellectual property law, Anand and Anand has gained a reputation for excellence. It has extensive experience in handling complex IP issues of all kinds. A wide variety of clients are represented in traditional IP areas like:
- trademarks,
- patents,
- designs,
- trade secrets,
- confidential information, and
- emerging IP areas like domain names, media and entertainment law, information technology and e-commerce, technology transfer, and internet and privacy laws.
Among the many types of clients who Anand and Anand represents are authors, software programmers, musicians, artists, designers, as well as collecting societies involved in copyright law.
SAIKRISHNA & ASSOCIATES (TIER 1):
Ranked as a Tier 1 firm, Saikrishna & Associates provides a full range of services. The firm’s intellectual property practise area is supported by the verticals of telecommunications media and technology, corporate law, and competition law.
To meet clients’ business and IP goals, the Litigation/Dispute Resolution, Prosecution, and Enforcement departments work together with the Commercial, IP, TMT, Corporate & Competition law teams. In addition to its 19 partners and associate partners, the firm has over 100 professionals and has provided top-notch, dedicated services to a range of Indian and international clients since 2001.
There are several industry groups and practice groups at the Firm that are highly ranked, including those focused on telecommunications & electronics, pharma & life sciences, software & artificial intelligence, automotive, FMCG & retail, print-publishing, real estate, and energy.
NAIK NAIK & CO. ADVOCATES (TIER 2):
The law firm Naik Naik & Co. is a famous full-service firm based in Mumbai. In addition to the over fifty highly skilled legal professionals employed by the Firm, which was founded in 2004, it strives to provide clients with strategic, innovative, and comprehensive legal advice. The Firm’s primary areas of expertise include:
- intellectual property rights,
- litigation & arbitration,
- corporate & commercial advisory,
- mergers & acquisitions, private equity, and
- banking & finance.
The Intellectual Property practice of the firm focuses on protecting the intellectual property rights of our clients, which include multinational corporations, start-ups, financial institutions, and government agencies. This firm is well-equipped to handle a full range of IP rights, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, and designs. As a result of their strong litigation expertise, the firm is the client’s first choice for handling contentious IP matters.
The expertise in copyright matters in the firm, which is central to its Media & Entertainment practice, is achieving new milestones every day. Today, the firm represents the top media executives. With its first-mover advantage and its rapid growth in both volume and profile, the firm has consistently been ranked as a leading law firm serving the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sector. Several big-name broadcasters and digital brands are represented. In addition to representing individuals, corporations, production houses and top industrial echelons, the firm has been involved in a large number of landmark cases.
LAKSHMIKUMARAN & SRIDHARAN (L&S) (TIER 2):
L&S is an Indian law firm that specializes in intellectual property and technology law, as well as tax, corporate, commercial, competition, environmental, and international trade law. Over the past 35 years, the firm has expanded its customer base globally, with 46 partners and more than 400 experts serving clients in 14 offices in India and two foreign offices in Geneva and London. In all of its commercial operations, the firm is known for its high ethical standards, top-quality work, and complete transparency.
There are more than 100 IP specialists at L&S who can assist clients with obtaining, protecting, and enforcing their IP rights in India. Among the firm’s primary areas of focus are intellectual property litigation, as well as preparing and prosecuting patent, trademark, design, and plant variety protection applications. With the firm’s other practice areas, the IP team works on M&A transactions, competition law disputes, and intangible taxation issues.
KOCHHAR & CO. (TIER 2):
In several areas of proprietary rights formation, registration, protection, and commercialization, the Firm’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Practice Group has delivered quality services to clients for more than a quarter-century.
Trade Marks, Patents, Industrial Designs, and Copyrights are among areas in which the IPR Group has considerable experience. A feasibility search of national and international IP databases, the filing of new IP registration applications, the writing of patent applications, infringement assessments, and opinions, including opinions regarding freedom to operate are among these activities.
The IPR Group counsels clients on standard IP issues, unfair competition law, domain name issues, internet infringement issues, as well as IP concerns relating to media and advertising. Besides helping clients develop their IP policy, the IPR group conducts IP audits to assess and analyze the breadth and status of IP assets – both registered and unregistered – that cover not only traditional IP areas but also staff know-how, confidentiality, and trade secrets.
L&L PARTNERS LAW OFFICES (TIER 2):
The Firm’s IP team includes professionals with extensive experience in patent, trademark, copyright, and design prosecution, as well as business transactions (structuring, licencing, franchising, joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, IP audits / Due Diligence, and so on) and litigation (including enforcement and anti-piracy).
Small start-ups as well as large international and multinational firms turn to the firm for practical solutions to their intellectual property and product portfolio challenges. As part of our interdisciplinary practise, the Firm’s IP practice has a worldwide perspective.
AZB & PARTNERS (TIER 1):
As one of India’s most prestigious law firms, AZB & Partners has a long tradition of excellence. Using a thorough understanding of the legal, regulatory, and commercial environment in which they operate, the firm strives to provide clear, succinct, and actionable advice to clients. Clients’ needs are met by the firm’s services, which depend on the firm’s and its members’ aggregate knowledge. Throughout every stage of a project, from conception to completion, from planning to execution, value is sought.
As part of its IP practice, the firm’s IP team has represented worldwide fashion brands in anti-counterfeiting litigation and enforcement. As co-heads, Akhilesh Kumar Rai and Nandan Pendsey often deal with IP rights transfer for global transactions, with recent requests coming from travel and tourism clients. In addition to filing and prosecuting trademarks, the firm also handles current infringement and passing-off litigation in the healthcare industry. Clients in the sports industry are also protected and exploited through trademark law.
Major clients include:
- Bayer AG,
- Shopify Inc.,
- Sachin Tendulkar / SRT Sports Management Pvt. Ltd.
- Dell, Inc.,
- Unilever PLC, etc.
TMT LAW PRACTICE:
Technology, media, and communications are distinct areas of law that TMT Law Practice focuses on. Expansion of the IP practice team has bolstered the IP offerings, particularly in the areas of licensing and litigation. Among their recent representations are broadcasters, sports clients, and media personalities for copyright infringement and royalty issues. In addition, they handle patent disputes.
Copyright and media law are among the Firm’s key areas of expertise. Intellectual property law at the Firm includes patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, trade secrets, etc. The firm’s services include litigation, prosecution, advisory, enforcement and management of intellectual property rights.
Highlights include:
- In the first case concerning Standard Essential Patents ever brought in India, the team advised leading telecom companies.
- Representative of a leading pharmaceutical company in a patent infringement lawsuit relating to blister packaging material before the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court of India.
- The firm represented leading private FM radio operators in the first-ever case of the Copyright Tribunal determining the compulsory copyright license fee. The case was before the Copyright Board, the High Courts of Delhi, Bombay, and Madras as well as the Supreme Court of India.
- Advised Television broadcasters and FM radio operators as well as leading sports franchises concerning the first case concerning the allegation of infringement of Performers’ Rights.
- Acted as an attorney for a creator in a landmark case concerning Moral Rights.
- In a landmark case relating to the payment of license fees for underlying musical works and lyrics, representation to radio and television broadcasters in the Supreme Court of India.
- Represented and advised leading broadcasters concerning copyright infringement allegations.
SHARDUL AMARCHAND MANGALDAS (TIER 1):
The firm which is specializing in patents, trademarks, copyrights, and designs offers several different services. The intellectual property extends from conception to enforcement, and from discussions to sophisticated corporate structures based on intellectual property. Their expertise lies in identifying intellectual property and offering advice on the different levels of protection available in India.
Additionally, the firm specializes in conducting patent searches that could infringe on one’s intellectual property or keep an eye on competitors. The firm’s value to our clients is derived from results analysis. This firm specializes in patentability searches, patent validity/invalidity searches, Freedom to Operate (FTO) searches, infringement searches, State of the Art searches, and patent landscape searches.
INDUS LAW (TIER 3):
A wide range of clients benefits from the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) practice, from start-ups to large enterprises. IP Practice Group members are not only skilled and enthusiastic about IP rights, but also committed to protecting and enhancing their clients’ IP rights. The team has considerable experience with all types of intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights, designs, geographical indications, and patents.
The firm assists clients not only in India but also throughout the Indian Subcontinent and abroad.
Here are some of the specialized services provided by the team:
- IP ideation, identification and protection,
- Contentious matters (non-litigation),
- IP commercial and transactional support,
- IP Litigation and Dispute Resolution, etc.
Other notable firms include:
- R.K. Dewan & Co.
- Remfry & Sagar.
- Obhan & Associates.
- Fox Mandal.
- Beruar & Beruar.
- Mehta & Mehta Associates (MehtaIP)
- Bharucha & Partners.
- Singhania & Partners LLP
- RNA Technology and IP Attorneys.
- Eldiplis Counsels.
YLCC would like to thank Nikunj Arora for his valuable inputs in this article.