Instalexprovides a complete range of legal services to the Maritime Industry which includes Ship Owners, P&I Clubs, Charterers, Ship Building, and Repair Yards, Bunker and necessary suppliers, Dredging Companies, International Banks, Insurers, Ports and Terminals, Cargo Interests & Traders, with strong client base locally and internationally

Starting a business is equally exciting and challenging. While not the immediate focus, it is important to get specialist legal support at the inception, even though, unfortunately, that is also the time when financial resources are constrained. Our specialist startup and early-stage advisory team understands the challenges of starting and growing a new business, and is dedicated to providing commercial and value-added legal services and support to ensure that the entrepreneurs do not fail to reap the full reward from their idea because of overlooked legal issues. With a team of specialist advisors who have in-depth experience in various practice areas (from corporate and commercial, compliance and audit to employment) we offer a one-stop solution for all legal needs.

Due to the current multifaceted legal environment and strict Government implementation, various companies are required to adhere to several compliances whether statutory or legal. Further, owing to demands from overseas partners as well as ever-growing activism, the focus on the actions of companies is on the rise. The non-compliances with such laws and statutes would mostly result in possible civil and/or criminal persecution. Moreso, digitization has led to a wider list of compliances.

Our team at Instalex Associates aims to help corporate discover such administrative and legal loopholes, rectify them and simplify the process for any future inadvertence. Our legal and statutory compliance team has the expertise to identify the sectors the corporate operates in and to customize an industry-specific checklist to commence the audit activity.

There is a broad and diverse body of laws which require compliances by the companies incorporated and operational in India. Our team at Instalex Associates have the requisite know-how to support Indian and foreign companies on all aspects of legal and regulatory compliance.

Competition/ Antitrust-competition is the body of law that regulates business activities and markets, especially agreements and practices that limit competition such as unlawfull restrictions, price fixing, and monopolies. Our firm includes a combination of handling various antitrust matters and antitrust litigations at the Competition Commission of India, the national company law appellate tribunal, and the Supreme Court of India

Corporate governance is the system of rules, practices, and processes by which a firm is directed and controlled. Our firm deals with protecting the interests of the company’s many shareholders. Our firm encompasses practically every sphere of management from action plans and internal controls to performance measurement and corporate disclosure.

Employment laws are those that mediate the relationship between workers, employing entities, trade unions, and the government. Our firm regularly advices clients on stand-alone labor, and employment matters. our expertise in this area ranges from assisting clients in the preparation of service rules, structuring of compensation packages, drafting of employment contracts, non-compete, and confidentiality agreements and termination notices to negotiating collective bargaining contracts, advising on termination, retrenchments, lay-offs, and strikes and seeking permissions and registrations under various labor/employment-related laws and regulations.

In an investment fund, each investor owns their individual shares but they don’t have any influence on where the money in the funds is invested. This is down to the investment manager, who decides which assets to buy or sell, how many, and when. Investors decide to enter an investment fund based on the fund’s objective these generally target geographic areas or specific industry sectors. We participate and actively contribute to the evolution of funds regulatory and tax regime in India, by representing our clients before the Ministry of Finance and the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Our experience of working on transactions across sectors and the domain knowledge of our M&A team, enable us to deal with and advise on complex legal issues in M&A transactions. We handle a full range of M&A transactions including:

i) Mergers & Amalgamations (cross border & domestic) both for public and private entities;
ii) Schemes of Arrangements, Reconstructions, and Demergers;
iii) Acquisitions & Divestments - of shares, assets, and businesses (private, public, and listed entities);
iv) Leveraged Buy-outs;
v) Stressed Assets Resolution;
vi) Restructuring & Reorganisation (for listed & unlisted entities), buy-back of securities & reduction of capital;

We act for the target company, acquirer as well as the seller, (whether strategic or financial investor) and the management, in a wide range of sectors including technology space, TMT, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare, consumer products, apparel and textile, agricultural, energy and natural resources, infrastructure, financial institutions, manufacturing entities, food, and beverages, etc. As a full-service firm, we can deliver on every legal aspect of a M&A deal.

Our Private Client practice is a bespoke service offering that addresses the many complex challenges that multi-generational business families, successful entrepreneurs, celebrities, and senior executives face in relation to succession planning, tax planning, philanthropy issues, and their desire to remain strong in the wake of globalisation and regulatory compliance. The workload of a typical private client lawyer might be comprised of drafting wills, executing the terms of the will in the instance of death, and the subsequent disbursement of properties and assets. Private clients are also working for charitable bodies will provide legal services for registration, restructuring, creating charters or trust deeds, compliance with statutory and local authorities, and regular management and disbursement of funds, which have been received or earned for charitable endeavours.

Private equity investments in India are subject to a complex web of regulations. The law on this subject is constantly evolving and structuring of private equity transactions is getting more and more complex and sophisticated by the day. The Private Equity & Venture Capital practice group draws upon the rich experience of astute professionals in diverse transactional and commercial advisory matters as well as dispute scenarios. Our market-leading and dynamic team offers end-to-end services to our clients ranging from fund formation, investment advisory, step-down portfolio acquisitions, and exits.

Our real estate practice includes advice on all aspects of commercial, residential, and industrial development. Our lawyers advise on the entire life-cycle of a Real Estate transaction, from structuring and title diligence to negotiation, preparation of transaction documents, and closing. The Firm regularly advises on joint ventures and collaborations in the real estate space, setting up of factories and manufacturing units, acquisitions and leasing of development land, industrial parks, power projects, and data centres, and sale and lease back arrangements. In short from “Realty to Reality – We get your deals done”.

We have a strong tax practice that draws on the expertise of our multidisciplinary team of lawyers. We understand the complex legal aspects of direct and indirect taxation, and specific issues that emanate from an evolving tax environment. Our Direct Tax team regularly advises multinational and foreign corporations on complex issues including cross-border investments and transaction structures, mergers and acquisitions, transfer pricing issues, availing beneficial provisions under applicable double taxation avoidance agreements to optimise tax implications, and tax effective repatriation & exit arrangements. Whereas on the Indirect Tax, our multidisciplinary team handles advisory, compliance, and litigation services by offering tailor-made solutions on Customs as well as allied laws relating to cross-border transactions viz SCOMET, Foreign Trade Policy, Food laws, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, The Legal Metrology Act, etc. The team has extensively worked on Customs laws including all subordinate rules, regulations, and issues relating to the classification, valuation, interpretation of exemption notifications, prohibitions and restrictions on cross-border trade, and Free Trade Agreements. We also provide GST support, including advisory, litigation, and post-implementation assistance, in addition to it we assist in investigations and representation on tax disputes before tax authorities, tribunals, and courts.

Intellectual Property plays a vital role in the modern economy. Intellectual Property can be regarded as a single generic term that protects applications of novel ideas and information that are of commercial value. The Intellectual Property practice of the firm is engaged in extensively advising its clients on IP-related issues including trade marks registration, copyright registration, trade marks and copyright litigation and enforcement, and, domain name disputes, litigation, patent applications (PCT), and patent litigation, IP Licensing, and transactions as well as cross-border enforcement of IP rights. The IP team has a wealth of experience in advising across varied industry sectors including, inter alia, the publishing industry, media and entertainment industry, pharmaceutical industry, computer software, pharmaceuticals, automotive sectors etc. Our IP prosecution practice comprises not only expert trademark attorneys but also patent attorneys with varied scientific backgrounds. Our trademark attorneys and branding experts handle brand portfolios for our clients before the trademark and copyright office and also advise on brand protection strategies in India.

Our Banking & Finance team brings industry-leading expertise to the table and intrinsically understands the diverse needs of our clients to provide both legal and commercial solutions. We are ideally positioned to respond to changing market conditions and to offer pragmatic solutions with our innovative thinking. Our team of lawyers is hands-on with the evolving legal landscape and works alongside our financial regulatory, insolvency, litigation, and other specialists to offer bespoke solutions. The firm advises a multiplicity of clients; banks and financial institutions (Indian and foreign), multilateral and international financial institutions, export credit agencies, non-banking financial companies, concessionaires, foreign portfolio investors (investing under the corporate debt route), mutual funds, private equity funds, alternative investment funds, and government bodies. Our full suite of services ranges from project finance, trade and export finance, working capital, acquisition finance, corporate finance, syndicated lending, structured finance, debt capital markets, securitisation, regulatory advice, and product documentation and standardisation.

Instalex’s practice in banking and finance is demonstrated by the depth of its clientele across sectors. We advise leading national and international banks, financial institutions, NBFCs, debt funds, and corporate houses in almost all forms of banking and finance transactions including structured finance, securitization, project finance, promoter funding/loan against shares, syndicated lending, consortium lending, bonds, debentures, and commercial papers. Whilst a large majority of our assignments are as lenders’ or investors’ counsel, we have also acted as borrowers' or issuers' counsel in various transactions.

Our project finance advice spans almost all sectors of infrastructure finance. From transport to energy, the Firm has advised on infrastructure projects across verticals. From negotiating complex and multitier trust and retention agreements and other security arrangements to senior and subordinate lender rights, we have advised on all facets of infrastructure finance.

The Firm advises various clients on complicated domestic and international structured finance transactions. We regularly advise on securitization transactions, pooling of assets or financing management buyouts, acquisition finance, or structuring surrogate leveraged buyouts (as leveraged buyouts for public companies are not permissible under Indian laws).

We have been involved as counsel for various Real estate financing.

The introduction of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“Code”) has provided relief to financially distressed corporate debtors and aggrieved creditors in view of the timely resolution process. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy practice demands substantial technical ability coupled with expertise in formulating a suitable strategy.

The team at Instalex supports clients with advisory as well as litigation services. The strong expertise in core commercial and corporate laws, coupled with the understanding of various business sectors enables the firm to deliver holistic and effective guidance to Clients.

The team at Instalex has been involved in several matters involving the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 representing both creditors as well as debtors before various company law and appellate tribunals. The team has represented creditors in various sectors, such as power, heavy industries, tourism, and the financial sector. Specifically, the team has rendered advisory and consultancy services to creditors on various potential issues that could arise as a result of an interplay between the Code and other applicable laws.

The insurance sector requires advisors who truly understand the regulatory environment surrounding insurers, reinsurers, and other players in the industry. The insurance team at Instalex grasps the challenges faced by the quickly growing Indian insurance industry and has structured its insurance practice to best assist clients in overcoming them. Our team comprises of specialist advisors who have in-depth experience in the sector, and holistically appreciate the operational nuances and practicalities of the insurance business. Our insurance practice involves both contentious and non-contentious work.

It is increasingly seen that corporates are keen to resolve their disputes through arbitration and mediation mechanism. Many contracts in their dispute resolution mechanism provide mediation as a precursor to the arbitration process. In our view, mediation in many matters could nip disputes in the bud. We, as a law firm, encourage mediation mechanisms and have senior members from the ‘Arbitration and Mediation Team’ who assist clients in mediation.

It is important that for an effective resolution of disputes, the Attorneys understand the complex issues easily. Our lawyers with their extensive experience and knowledge are able to comprehensively understand the nature of disputes and strive to provide the best strategy. Our team’s commercial knowledge also makes them good negotiators which is quite advantageous from a client’s perspective during the mediation process. Our team’s priority is to ensure that the matters are effectively resolved in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Through our Arbitration practice, we engage in mediation and arbitration on behalf of our clients, both in India and abroad. We negotiate settlement agreements when appropriate and represent our clients in defence of these claims before Courts, administrative agencies, and in arbitration proceedings within India.

A global economy, diverging legal systems, and increased cooperation among regulators present companies with a wide array of legal challenges. Through our Litigation practice, we advice and represent multinational clients in cross-border litigation, international arbitration, and investigations. These cases vary from ad hoc assistance on specific financial issues to major investigations undertaken jointly with the legal teams.

Our Litigation team is noted for efficient handling of all kinds of corporate & commercial litigations and disputes in different jurisdictions. It provides clients with creative and result-oriented litigation and arbitration counsel. Instalex lawyers are polished, and bring tremendous work ethics and quality standard into litigation.

Instalex’s White-Collar crime practice group represents multinational corporations and large domestic companies on matters concerning complex business, financial and economic offences including securities fraud, money laundering, bribery, foreign investment related offences, unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets and confidential information, criminal defamation and matters involving contravention or violation of laws & regulations attracting criminal liability.

Instalex has arguing counsels who are experts in criminal law and who have incisive knowledge, experience and understanding of the criminal jurisprudence, investigation process, bail and custody and trial procedures. Our attorneys represent clients before investigating agencies including Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Crime Branch, Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Special Investigation Team (SIT), Serious Fraud Investigation Office, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (SFIO), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

Instalex has a strong environmental law practice and the lawyers of the Firm regularly advise clients on contentious and non-contention environmental law issues. The advice is provided as part of large corporate/infrastructure/real estate related transactions as well as on a stand-alone basis.

Our environment practice also assists clients in obtaining necessary environmental law permits/approvals from both state and the central level authorities. The Firm advises and acts in proceedings, arising in relation to various environmental statutes, before the National Green Tribunal, High Court/s, and Supreme Court of India.

Our Instalex cyber lawyers are experts in information technology law, data privacy laws, intellectual property rights laws, media laws, and security guidelines of the Government. They assist people in case of cyber fraud or crimes and help them to safeguard their interests. We draw upon our highly specialised team that has a deep regulatory understanding and our Partners have also been part of several industry body discussions in relation to privacy and data protection.

Ranging from advice on contractual documentation to ensuring regulatory compliance, our employment team provides end-to-end solutions to clients. The team includes dedicated and experienced lawyers who regularly advise both domestic and international clients on the complex regulatory and legal aspects of employment and labour law, both at the Central and State level.

We have extensive experience in drafting all kinds of employment-related documentation including employment letters and agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-compete, and non-solicitation agreements, termination, severance, release and settlement agreements, consultancy agreements, intellectual property assignment agreements, employee handbooks, and company policies.

On the transactional side, the employment team works closely with the corporate and commercial team in conducting due diligence from a labour and employment perspective, analysing transactional issues, advising on the aspect of termination and other compliances pertaining to the transfer of employees, and reviewing employment provisions under the transaction agreements. Further, the employment team also works closely with the litigation and dispute resolution team in handling disputes arising out of employment relationships.

Instalex has a comprehensive technology practice and members of the Firm have had considerable experience dealing with issues relating to technology including information technology. The Firm's experience in the sector is varied and ranges from advisory work on software development to regulatory compliance and foreign investment and licensing issues to real estate and employment. Members of the Firm have advised software companies, internet start-ups, and investors and in the process are well versed with issues relating to policy, e-commerce and foreign direct investment, provision of IT-enabled services, registration, and compliance, intellectual property protection, data protection, employee handbooks/contracting /incentive schemes and other legal issues arising in the context of doing business in the sector. Our specialist lawyers allow us to provide industry-specific and tailored advice to our clients including strategic and commercial advice and anything requiring specialist technology inputs.