Kritika Bharadwaj, Esq.

Press Note 3 has become lingua franca for foreign investors looking at India and market participants since 2020. While the market quickly evolved to analyse and address the implications of the rules in the past 5 years, the Goverment’s decision to build in some clarity and process relaxations is a positive step in the right direction. Dhrumil and I take a look at some of the key aspects in this blog post, with more to follow once the FEM (NDI) Rules, 2019 are amended to reflect this recalibration. Stay tuned. #crossborder #mergersandacquisitions #privateequity

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FCRA renewals have been subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny, which often has led to some practical challenges for the stakeholders. Recently, the SC has emphasised on the need for balanced regulatory approach. This blog discusses that, and a bit more. Do give it a read!

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Arohana Legal Advocates and IC RegFin Legal Partners LLP advised on CraftifAI’s USD 3 million seed funding round. Arohana Legal acted as legal counsel to CraftifAI. The team was led by Partner Disha Toshniwal, & Associate Suhani Gupta. IC RegFin Legal Partners LLP advised lead investor Ankur Capital. The team comprised Partner Puneet Shah, Senior Associate Amrita Ghosh, Associates Shubham Rustagi, Dhawal Srivastava, & CS Dhaval Patel. More at: https://lnkd.in/daAadQjv #TheDealMatter #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #VentureCapitsl

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"Yezdi's Legal Heartbeat": A Landmark Trademark Victory That Redefines Heritage Brand Revival in India On November 27, 2025, the Karnataka High Court's Division Bench delivered a landmark ruling in a case that will reshape how Indian courts treat abandoned trademarks and dormant heritage brands. The Win: Boman R Irani and Classic Legends secured irrevocable ownership of the iconic Yezdi motorcycle trademark, overturning a 2022 Single Judge order that had declared the mark an asset of the defunct Ideal Jawa Ltd. The Core Issue: Who owns a trademark when the original company abandons it? A liquidator claiming unpaid debts? Or the individual who actively resurrects the brand? The Court's Decisive Answer: Trademarks are intangible assets, they live only through continuous use and timely renewal. Non-use for 15+ years = legal abandonment. No amount of historical goodwill or unpaid company debts can resurrect a mark that has been left to decay. Three Game-Changing Principles: 1️⃣ Abandonment Through Neglect: Ideal Jawa allowed Yezdi registrations to lapse (2007-2008) without any renewal or protection attempt for 15 years. That's abandonment. Period. 2️⃣ Intangible IP ≠ Tangible Assets: The Official Liquidator argued: "The company owes money; therefore the brand belongs to the liquidation pool." The court rejected this, holding that IP rights dissipate without active stewardship, they're not warehoused assets. 3️⃣ Active Stewardship Wins: Irani maintained www.yezdi.com since 1998, filed fresh registrations from 2013 onwards, and invested in reviving the brand through Classic Legends (formed 2015). That's the opposite of abandonment. The Lesson: This judgment validates a critical principle, heritage brand revival through lawful, active investment is rewarded by Indian courts. Passive ownership claims backed by nostalgia alone are not. Custodians of IP-owning companies must proactively renew and protect marks, or risk losing them permanently. Liquidators bear a fiduciary duty to identify and safeguard IP assets, not merely file insolvency notices. The Precedent: Dormant heritage brands in India (Hindustan Ambassador, Premier Padmini, and many others languishing in private collections) now face a clearer legal framework. Revival through lawful acquisition + demonstrated commercial use = validated ownership. Yezdi roars back on Indian roads. And so does a new chapter in Indian trademark jurisprudence. #IntellectualProperty #TrademarkLaw #HeritageIP #ClassicLegends #Yezdi #IPLitigation #IndianLaw #IPStrategy

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Trilegal Advised Premji Invest And TPG NewQuest On Their Partial Exit From iD Fresh Foods To Apax Partners Team : Ankit Kejriwal, Rutvij H. R. Naik, Aakanksha Ranjan, Dhanush Thonaparthi, Kirti Balasubramanian, Kanishka Maggon, Atishay Jain, Shalika ., Hitarth Parikh, Jakeer Hussain Link to read full News:https://lnkd.in/gUs8EPAF #Trilegal #PremjiInvest #TPGNewQuest #iDFreshFoods #ApaxPartners #MergersAndAcquisitions #PrivateEquity

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With a growing number of QCOs issued in the last few years, the Standards Authority has now trained its guns on the #ecommerce sector. Post the comments by stakeholders, a revised draft has been issued by the #BIS. Too many overlapping “guidelines” just muddy the waters and tends to treat unequals as equals. Do read my perspectives on the draft #Standards which operate as #guidelines for the E-Commerce sector.

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We are excited to launch the latest edition of IP Bazzaar Magazine, where Deep Tech takes center stage not just as a concept but as India’s call to action. This issue underscores the transition from convenience-based startups to IP-led deep tech ventures, with a vision of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat powered by innovation. Highlights in this Issue: IP-Led Investment trends decoded by leading investors Special editorial: India's Journey to Deep Tech Sovereignty Startup voices on moving from "apps to algorithms" Investment insights from from seasoned investors And a special tribute to Alan Turing — the man who made machines think From cutting-edge technologies to impactful inventor stories, this edition brings together voices shaping India's innovation economy. For full access, download the magazine here: https://lnkd.in/dmeGDsyn Shruthi Kaushik Naveen Coomar Pedro Saturio Carrasco Chahat Aggarwal Naina Sehgal Medha Kaushik, PhD IP Bazzaar ASPA AUTM IIT Bombay Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi Indian Institute of Technology, Madras #IPBazaar #DeepTech #AlanTuring #StartupIndia #InnovationEconomy #IPLedGrowth #AtmanirbharBharat #TechTransfer #IPBazaarMagazine

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Our latest FIG Paper on the emerging regulatory landscape for stablecoins and its potential impact on the Indian market. #cryptoregulation #virtualdigitalasset #crypto #policy #stablecoins

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From practice to platform 🚀 Good representation is essential, but today, it isn’t enough on its own. For large corporates handling multiple matters every day, transparency and effective management are just as critical, yet often the most time-consuming. This is where technology becomes an enabler, not a replacement. With WITTS, we’ve strengthened transparency, structure, and oversight: allowing us to manage complex, high-volume litigation efficiently while staying focused on quality legal practice. At Clergy and Wisemen LLP, we see technology as a tool that supports better decision-making, accountability, and client confidence. Thank you, Bar and Bench & Ravi Kanth, for featuring the launch of WITTS on our 5-year anniversary, a milestone that truly reflects our shift from traditional practice to tech-enabled legal delivery. #LegalPractice #LegalTech #LitigationManagement #TransparencyInLaw #LegalOperations #ClergyAndWisemen #WITTS

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#cleantech #fundingalert #startupfunding New Delhi-based cleantech startup Chakr Innovation has raised $23 million (Rs 193.5 crore) in its Series C round led by Iron Pillar. The round also saw participation from existing investors including SBI Cap Ventures, ONGC, IAN, and Inflexor. Founded in 2016 by IIT Delhi graduates, Chakr Innovation is known for Chakr Shield, India’s first certified retrofit emission control device for diesel generators, which reduces particulate emissions by over 80%. The company has over 5,000 installations, 2,000 customers, and claims to have cut more than 2.5 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions. Read on

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IndusLaw advised Unilever Ventures on the sale of its stake in POP, a consumer UPI payments and reward platform, as part of the USD 30 million investment round led by Razorpay. The IndusLaw team comprised Partner Rashi Saraf, Principal Associate Rohit Jain and Associate Ankit Sharma. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gNn_XaxW #IndusLaw #Deal #POP #Razorpay #UnileverVentures #Fintech #UPIPayments #VentureCapital #FundingNews #DigitalIndia

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Priya Sachdev Kapur, entrepreneur, fashion investor, and wife of the late businessman Sanjay Kapur, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking that details of her husband's assets be disclosed only in sealed and confidential form. She argued that public disclosure could expose sensitive personal and financial information to privacy and cybersecurity risks. The Court has agreed to hear the matter in detail later this month. Having recently worked on a matter where the court set up a confidentiality club, the first of its kind in Karnataka, it was a great example of how this system works in practice. It allows only counsels on record and an independent observer duly appointed by the court as well as the parties to see sensitive documents, keeping the process fair while protecting confidential information. It's encouraging to see this shift toward thoughtful and pragmatic confidentiality mechanisms becoming part of our judicial approach.

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In this second part of Blogpost on alcoholic beverages, we focus on the fast-evolving regulatory environment specific to digital media, packaging and labelling norms, and the divergent approaches adopted by states.

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Abhishek Lodha and Abhinandan Lodha have formally closed a five thousand crore trademark dispute through mediation, ending a long-standing business separation that began in 2015. As per the final agreement: * Macrotech Developers will be the sole and exclusive owner of the brand names Lodha and Lodha Group. * House of Abhinandan Lodha will operate under its own distinct brand identity. * Both parties have committed to publicly clarifying that there is no association between the two entities. This dispute reached the Bombay High Court earlier this year, with Macrotech seeking a permanent injunction and damages for alleged trademark infringement. The matter was referred to mediation by the Court and was resolved under the guidance of retired Supreme Court judge Justice R V Raveendran. From a legal lens, this resolution highlights the strength of well-drafted agreements and the role of mediation in high-value commercial conflicts. Despite earlier settlements, it took a focused process and mutual intent to reach final closure. This was a complex and high-stakes matter involving identity, brand legacy, and years of business history. It has now concluded with clarity on rights, ownership, and communication. Lodha House of Abhinandan Lodha #India #Law #Legal #TrademarkLaw #BusinessDispute #MediationInIndia #IntellectualProperty #CorporateLaw #LegalResolution #FamilyBusiness #BrandStrategy #HighCourtMumbai

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What’s Not Confidential Can’t Be Protected: No Injunction for Disclosed Customer Data In the case of Indrex Private Limited vs Suresh Balasubramanian, the Bombay High Court examined whether customer information held by a former employee remained confidential after termination of a cooperation agreement. The plaintiff sought an injunction to restrain use of such information, but the Court declined, finding that the cooperation terms required disclosure and permitted lawful use by the business partner’s successor. https://lnkd.in/g4sZ_q2w

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Following our first edition on gun-jumping trends in India, we are pleased to share the sequel edition, analysing recent fining decisions of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). This piece looks at key developments and decisions on : • The risk of consummation of a minor step in multi-step integrated transactions • How access to commercially sensitive information acts as a trigger for material influence and the risk of losing the minority acquisition exemption. As the CCI sharpens its enforcement approach, these decisions offer important lessons for structuring and implementing transactions. Give this piece a read for more insights. #CompetitionLaw #GunJumping #MergerControl #Antitrust #IndiaBusiness Siddharth Bagul Khaitan & Co

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