CAPITAL MARKETS AND SECURITY LAWS

Areas of Practice

• ASSET / PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT We offer advice to fund and portfolio managers and advisors to optimize asset allocation and enhance portfolio management.
• PUBLIC OFFERINGS We assist clients in public offerings by minimizing risks and maximizing returns.
• MUTUAL FUNDS We advise and structure fund documents based on current market factors and compliance issues.
• REGULATORY COMMUNICATIONS We assist in all aspects of regulatory communications, from drafting and filing to obtaining requisite approvals.
• LEGAL REPRESENTAION We represent our clients at inquiries, proceedings and litigation before RBI, SEBI, the Securities Appellate Tribunal, High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.

CAPITAL MARKETS & SECURITY LAWS

Solomon & Co.'s team approach and dedication combined with our experience and emphasis on strategic objectives have made us a leading capital markets and securities law firm in India.

We advise our clients on qualified institutional placements, issue of listed/unlisted non-convertible debentures, issue of international bonds, issue of FCCBs and GDRs, public offerings, portfolio management and related regulatory compliance matters.

We also advise on all Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) related issues and also represent our clients at inquiries, proceedings, and litigation before RBI, SEBI, the Securities Appellate Tribunal, High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.

Our clients include Indian and global mutual funds, portfolio managers, investments advisers, investment banks, shareholders, issuers and large and medium-sized companies. We are valued for our ability to continually track the pulse of capital markets and securities laws in India.

BUSINESS AND TRADE LAW

Areas of Practice

• COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS
  We assist in preparing, drafting, negotiating and executing documents for all kinds of commercial transactions.
• ANTI-TRUST AND COMPETITION LAWS
  We advise on diverse aspects of antitrust laws including Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices, Unfair Trade Practices & Competition Laws.
• INTERNATIONAL TRADE, IMPORT & EXPORT
  We offer a wide range of services with respect to customs laws and policies, foreign trade regulations, anti-dumping duty and International Commercial Terms (INCOTERMS) and strive to ensure that our clients are equipped with the knowledge to enable them to enter global markets confidently.
• ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES & ENERGY
  We advise on the assessment of carbon credits, waste disposal, and management (including electronic waste), environmental regulations and zoning regulations, in addition to advising on regulations governing natural resources and energy.
  

BUSINESS AND TRADE LAW

Our business and trade law team advise clients ranging from multi-industry conglomerates to private companies and start-ups on various business and trade law issues.

INVESTMENT FUNDS AND PRIVATE EQUITY

Areas of Practice

• INVESTMENT FUNDS AND PRIVATE EQUITY
  We assist on the establishment of investment funds and advise on legal, commercial and compliance issues concerning investment funds and its investments.
  
• FUND INVESTMENT
  We assist venture capital clients and investment managers on their investments in India by minimizing risks and maximizing returns.
  
• REGULATORY COMMUNICATIONS
  We assist in all aspects of regulatory communications, from drafting and filing to obtaining requisite approvals.
  
• LEGAL REPRESENTATIONS
  We represent our clients at inquiries, proceedings, and litigation before RBI, SEBI, the Securities Appellate Tribunal, High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.
  

INVESTMENT FUNDS & PRIVATE EQUITY

Solomon & Co.'s dedicated team experience and dedicated team and emphasis on strategic objectives have made us a leading funds and private equity law firm in India.

We advise our clients on structuring and establishment of Indian domestic and offshore fund, structuring and registration of foreign portfolio investors, structuring of equity, quasi-equity, quasi-debt instruments for investments and related regulatory compliance matters. We advise on all aspects of foreign exchange laws, including notifications and circulars issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and also represent our clients at inquiries, proceedings and litigation before RBI, SEBI, the Securities Appellate Tribunal, High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.

Our clients include Indian and global investment banks, venture capitals, investment managers, large and medium-sized companies.

CORPORATE AND M&A

Areas of Practice

• SHARE AND BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS
  We specialize in structuring entry and exit routes for investors, including private equity investments.
  
• MERGERS AND CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING
  We advise on corporate bankruptcy, recapitalization, debt restructuring, leveraged buyouts, mergers, and acquisitions.
  
• CORPORATE COMPLIANCE AND GOVERNANCE
  We advise on compliance with laws, regulations, organizational practices and procedures. We assist corporate management including boards of directors and board committees on diverse issues concerning corporate governance.
  
• INDIA ENTRY
  We assist multinational clients, establishing their businesses in India through liaison offices, branch offices, subsidiaries, and joint ventures.
  
• TRUST AND PARTNERSHIPS
  We assist clients in the formation, registration, and governance of trusts and partnerships.
  

CORPORATE AND M&A

Our Corporate and M&A team has the cutting-edge capability on all aspects of corporate transactions and we advise clients ranging from closely held private companies to multi-industry conglomerates, private equity firms, investment banks, and financial institutions on their most challenging corporate issues.

INSURANCE

Areas of Practice

• INSURANCE LAWS
  We advise and assist clients on all aspects of insurance laws and practices in India.
• INSURANCE DISPUTES
  We assist our clients on various insurance disputes for enforcement of policies and recovery of compensation.
  
• LICENSES UNDER THE IRDA AND OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
  We advise clients on the procurement of licenses and approvals from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA) and various other regulatory authorities.
  

INSURANCE

We combine sector related knowledge of insurance with an understanding of insurance laws and how they operate to appropriately advise our clients on insurance and reinsurance claims in India and represent them in this regard.

Our clients include leading insurers, financial institutions, brokers and businesses who value our ability to provide far-sighted, timely advice to protect their interests in domestic and international contracts.

LITIGATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Areas of Practice

• ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
  We represent clients at all stages of domestic and international arbitration and also for enforcement or challenge of arbitral awards if required.
  
• CIVIL AND CRIMINAL DISPUTES
  We advise and assist companies, partnerships and individuals on all aspects of their civil disputes from strategy prior to the institution of a suit to obtaining a final decree, together with related issues such as enforcement of decrees and settlement discussions if needed. We have also begun assisting on criminal cases which are linked to or have arisen out of commercial disputes.
  
• BANKING LITIGATION
  We represent established banks and financial institutions and other clients in banking litigation matters and regulatory investigations.
  
• REAL ESTATE DISPUTES
  With the rapid emergence of real estate markets comes a plethora of disputes; we employ a solution-driven approach to deliver results while understanding the business needs of our clients.
  
• SHAREHOLDER DISPUTES
  We regularly advise and represent clients (including many international companies) in shareholder disputes and other disputes arising from joint ventures, share purchase agreements, mergers, and acquisitions in India.
  
• REGULATORY INVESTIGATIONS, INQUIRIES AND NOTICES
  We assist and advise clients on the correct course of action to be adopted during inquiries, investigations and upon receipt of notices.
  
• INSURANCE CLAIMS AND DISPUTES
  We have an excellent track record in the insurance and reinsurance arena and assist in all aspects of these disputes.
  
• SECURITIES & FINANCE CLAIMS AND DISPUTES
  We represent clients before SEBI, the Securities Appellate Tribunal, and other security law fora and dispute resolution bodies.
  

LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Our litigation and dispute resolution practice is one of the oldest and most reputed practices of the firm. We have excellent exposure to the Bombay High Court and several of our lawyers attend the Bombay High Court and City Civil Court on a daily basis and conduct oral advocacy on behalf of our clients. We have experience of representing clients in complex and high stake litigation in various courts across India including the Supreme Court, High Courts, Company Law Boards and Tribunals, the Securities Appellate Tribunal, Debt Recovery Tribunals and at various other fora.

Our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team is able to work with complex issues and across borders and practice areas in order to find the most efficient and practical way to resolve disputes.

We have acted on many landmark litigation and arbitration matters in India including disputes relating to land, property, and inheritance, disputes among company shareholders, disputes relating to initiating or defending debt recovery proceedings, writ petitions, regulatory inquiries, tax matters, and others.

MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT

Areas of Practice

• ARTISTES
  We advise and assist several artistes, scriptwriters, directors, singers and various performers with drafting and negotiating their agreements including performers/artist agreements, production agreement, finance agreements, licensing, assignment agreements, endorsement contracts, scriptwriter agreement, publication agreements etc.
  
• BUSINESS
  We assist and provide strategic advice to clients relating to their business deals, business creativities, contracts & agreements, prudent negotiation strategies, financial deals and various other activities related to media and entertainment law.
  
• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR)
  We assist and advise clients on various Intellectual Property matters under the umbrella of copyright and trademarks including the filing and prosecution of the Copyright and Trademark applications.
  
• DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS
  We assist and advise clients in settling infringement matters through negotiation, arbitration, and litigation.
  
• CONTRACTS
  We assist clients in their documentation for several kinds of media contracts related to copyright, sound broadcasting, digital media, music video production, live performances, music distribution, telecast rights, etc including performers/artist agreements, production agreement, finance agreements, licensing, assignment agreements, endorsement contracts, scriptwriter agreement, music agreements, consultancy agreements publication agreements, distribution agreements etc.
  
• FINANCE / INVESTMENT
  We advise and assist clients in structuring their investments in the media and entertainment industries including media groups and production houses. We assist clients across all areas of the media on their corporate and commercial matters including foreign investments, regulatory matters like insolvency, taxation, aspects of structured finance and securitization deals.
  

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

Our Media and Entertainment law team assists clients in protecting and enforcing their intellectual protection rights in films, television, drama, performing arts, publications, advertising, sponsorship etc. Our clients include production houses, film distributors, broadcasters, advertising agencies, artists etc.

PATENT FILING AND PROSECUTION

Areas of Practice

• SEARCH
  Prior to filing an application for registration of a trademark in India, our team conducts conduct an extensive trademark search in the relevant classes for the proposed trademark, in order to identify potential conflicts with existing trademark applications already on record with the Trade Marks Registry, India.
  
• ANALYTICAL SERVICES
  We assist clients with freedom-to-operate search, patent validity search, infringement analysis, and white space analysis.
  
• DRAFTING AND FILING PATENT APPLICATIONS
  We assist inventors in drafting and filing a patent application(s) in a manner that enhances the invention and provides a broader scope of protection, both legally and commercially.
  
• INTERNATIONAL FILINGS
  We work in association with a set of trusted, renowned and experienced foreign associates to cater to our clients’ global requirements for filing patent applications in various overseas countries. We also assist our clients in filing and prosecuting an international patent application under PCT.
  
• PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
  We prosecute, manage and advise on patent portfolios and strategy.
  
• PATENT LITIGATION
  We advise and assist clients to protect their patent and enforce their rights. We assist with matters including defending or opposing registration of patents, both at the pre-grant as well as the post-grant stage. We represent clients at various dispute resolution forums, including the High Courts and Intellectual Property Appellate Board.
  
• COMMERCIALIZATION
  We assist clients in commercial transactions involving patent license agreements, royalty agreements, technology transfer agreements etc.
  

PATENT FILING AND PROSECUTION

Our Patent team comprises experienced patent agents with extensive techno-legal skills and practical business experience, that enables them to protect an invention both legally and commercially and thus, enhance the client’s business strategies. Our clients include pharmaceuticals, software companies, the aviation industry, chemical industry etc. Through our relationships with foreign firms, we have the ability to register, prosecute and defend our clients’ patents around the globe.

REAL ESTATE

Areas of Practice

• LAND LAWS
  The Firm advises on matters relating to general laws regulating land and properties in India. It also assists in negotiating, drafting, settling and finalizing agreements relating to the sale and transfer of an interest in land and properties by way of gift, exchange, release, conveyance, assignment, and mortgage.
  
• TITLE INVESTIGATIONS
  We conduct detailed title searches and investigations including due diligence for immovable property.
  
• CONSTRUCTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT
  We regularly assist our clients with property development, re-development, issues relating to Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), Floor Space Index (FSI) approvals and licenses, assignments, and conveyancing. The Firm advises on development regulations and ways to minimize the inherent risks that impact real estate transactions.
  
• HOTELS, RESORTS AND TOURISM
  The Firm advises on the development and management of the tourism sector, hotels, resorts, and clubs.
  
• SUCCESSION AND INHERITANCE
  Our knowledge of personal laws in India helps us to advise our clients on matters relating to inheritance and devolution.
  

REAL ESTATE

As one of the premier real estate law firms in Mumbai, Solomon & Co. has an impressive track record in both conventional as well as cross-border real estate transactions.

An in-depth knowledge of the industry, coupled with our experience in interacting with several established real estate groups gives our lawyers a cutting-edge advantage.

TRADE MARK AND SERVICE MARK REGISTRATION

Areas of Practice

• TRADEMARK SEARCH
  We assist with trademark and service mark searches locally and internationally to determine the availability of the mark.
  
• REGISTRATION
  We advise and assist clients with the registration of trademarks and/or service marks in India.
  
• OPPOSITION/RECTIFICATION/REVOCATION/CANCELLATION
  We assist our clients with opposition, rectification, revocation and cancellation proceedings for the trademark/ service mark applications. We also provide prosecution services for suits of infringement, and passing off and anti-counterfeit action.
  
• TRADEMARK LITIGATION
  We assist our clients in protecting their mark and enforcing their rights. We represent clients at various dispute resolution forums, including the High Courts and Intellectual Property Appellate Board.
  
• INTERNATIONAL FILINGS
  We work with various law firms worldwide to assist our clients in filing trademark applications internationally as well as filing the applications under the Madrid Protocol.
  
• CONTRACTS
  We assist our clients with the drafting of the assignment deeds/agreements (with or without transferring goodwill) i.e. transferring of all the rights with respect to the trademark or transferring the restrictive rights with respect to the trademark; licensing of the trademark, and franchising.
  

TRADEMARK AND SERVICE MARK REGISTRATION

Trademarks and Service marks being one of the company’s most important assets need protection. We, at Solomon & Co., assist our clients to identify, manage worldwide portfolios, register and protect trademarks and service marks associated with their products and services.

Our team of specialized attorneys works closely with clients to develop and understand the brand and provides advice on the best ways to protect the identity of the trademark. Through our relationships with foreign firms, we have the ability to register, prosecute and defend our client’s trademarks around the globe.

INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING

Our firm has an active practice before the National Company Law Tribunals and is well versed with Indian bankruptcy and insolvency regulations. Our lawyers personally appear before the NCLT, and we engage counsel where necessary. We also represent our clients in the insolvency process, to submit and pursue their claims to the appropriate authorities.

Our firm also assists other stake-holders in the insolvency process, including employees, shareholders, lenders, investors, landlords, tenants, etc. We assist potential acquirers to prepare and submit their proposals for the acquisition of assets disposed-off in the course of insolvency.

We assist with the restructuring of all types – including mergers & amalgamations, demergers, slump sale, and other forms of corporate restructuring. We advise on the transaction structure, assist with preparing the documentation, file necessary petitions with the Courts, and provide our clients required legal support for implementing the restructuring.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Solomon & Co. is experienced in infrastructure transactions of all types, including in the power, chemicals, mining and townships sectors. Our team acts on all aspects of the power business, including development, construction, operation, financing, regulation and acquisition. Our team also brings their in-depth industry knowledge with respect to energy to assist in addressing and mitigating various legal and regulatory risks involved in complex transactions.

Solomon & Co. provides a full range of leading-edge contentious and non-contentious regulatory, commercial and transactional advice in sectors such as mining and infrastructure. Our Firm represents sponsors, lenders, contractors and government agencies involved in major infrastructure and transportation projects, including the development, financing and construction of roads, ports, bridges and other major infrastructure projects

ARBITRATION

Our firm has a strong practice in domestic and international arbitration. We assist our clients with arbitrations of all forms, including commercial claims, joint venture disputes, construction claims, maritime disputes, trade disputes, and others. We regularly appear before various domestic arbitration forums, across India. For international arbitrations, we work alongside legal counsel in the relevant jurisdiction and provide effective support and representation to our clients.