About Us
Yasmin Bhansali & Co. is a full service boutique law firm focused on servicing clients across multiple sectors. Mrs. Yasmin Bhansali and Mrs. Nikita Bhansali Shah are the equity partners, leading a team of young Advocates and Solicitors, specialising in a variety of sectors.
We pride ourselves on being a one-stop law firm and on our ability to support a large and varied client base including individuals, domestic and foreign commercial enterprises, financial institutions, private equity funds, venture capital funds, start-ups, educational institutions, trusts, NGO’s, Societies, Developers and other institutions.
We are committed to consistently delivering quality. That means providing timely, innovative, strategic, integrated and solution-oriented legal advice, which is also cost-effective. Our lawyers strive to understand our clients’ needs and circumstances, to think independently and maintain honesty, fairness, integrity, and professionalism in everything they do.
Practice Areas
Clientele
Individuals (including NRI’s and OCI’s)
Developers & Project Managers
Social Media Marketing Companies
Food & Beverage Companies
Corporates
Start-Ups
Societies
Trusts
Tourism Companies
Financial Institutions (including NBFC’s)
Private Equity Funds
Venture Capital Funds
Educational Institutions
Pharmaceutical Companies
Non-Government Organisations
Fashion Designers & Bloggers
Film Fraternity & Production Houses
Domestic & Foreign Commercial Enterprises
Small & Medium Scale Enterprises
Locate Us
Get In Touch
ADDRESS:
1st floor, Crescent Chambers,
Tamarind Lane, Fort,
Mumbai – 400 001
PHONE NUMBERS:
+91 22 2264 1585
+91 22 2264 1738
+91 22 4347 4361
+91 98207 41071
EMAIL:
© 2020 Yasmin Bhansali & Co. All Rights Reserved.
Arbitration & Mediation
We engage in all forms of dispute resolution and have been actively advocating alternative dispute resolution process with a view to protect the client’s time and resources. The areas covered by the practice extend across all domains including arbitrations involving complex corporate disputes, commercial disputes, regulatory disputes, family disputes, domestic & international arbitration as well as mediation and negotiations.
Our arbitration services include formulating strategy, assistance in seeking urgent ad-interim/ interim reliefs from courts and tribunals, drafting and documentation work, representation in domestic and international commercial arbitrations within and outside India, assistance in mediation and settlement processes between parties and assistance in setting aside or execution and enforcement of Awards within and outside India.
Litigation
We represent clients in all types of civil, corporate, commercial and testamentary litigation across varied courts and tribunals across the country. We work out a dispute resolution strategy in close coordination with our clients, aiming to resolve disputes as quickly and as cost effectively as possible. The drafting is done in-house, keeping in mind the best interest of our clients while lucidly putting forth their case.
Our forums of practise include the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, Bombay City Civil Court, National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), Cooperative Courts, Mantralaya, Revenue Tribunals and the High Power Committee.
Apart from our in-house lawyers, our strong network of civil litigation attorneys around the country enables us to engage local lawyers and Advocates on Records (AOR) who can file petitions directly with the Supreme Court, and appear and/or plead before various High Courts, Tribunals, and other forums as well.
Real Estate
We assist our clients in acquiring and developing properties, both commercial and residential, malls and industrial parks all over India. We have also advised clients in acquisition, sale and disposal of agricultural lands. We draft and review documents related to infrastructure and construction and related contracts including development agreements, bank guarantees and performance bonds, agreements with architects, contractors and sub-contracts, consultancy agreements, work orders and purchase orders. We advise on creation of joint ventures and assist in necessary documentation for the same. Our in-house lawyers regularly draft documents pertaining to purchase, sale, construction, development and redevelopment projects, leases, licenses, mortgages, agency, facility management and loan documentation (where immovable property is being offered as a security).
We advise and represent clients not only in conventional real estate practice but also conduct title investigations and due diligence into unique and complicated issues relating to property title. We have handled numerous transactions involving a combination of real estate and corporate structuring. We have also successfully represented numerous clients in, and obtained favourable outcomes in, high-stakes litigation in respect of strategic and commercially valuable properties. We also advise on structuring investments in this sector and advise on the most suitable entry route for foreign clients.
Over the years, we have also earned a strong reputation for developing innovative structures and assisting clients with documentation and negotiations in this practice area. We advise clients on both legal and technical issues related to real estate as well as providing strategic support to clients.
Corporate & Commercial Law
We have been advising and acting for clients on a wide range of corporate law and commercial law issues. We provide a wide range of services necessary for the establishment of business by foreign investors and Indian business houses and their operation, regulation and growth in India. We help clients manage their existing commercial relationships, form alliances and expand into new markets. We advise clients on manufacturing, distribution and agency issues, outsourcing, public private partnerships, partnering arrangements, event management arrangements and regulatory matters. We assist in drafting various general commercial agreements, such as employment agreements, consultancy agreements, confidentiality agreements, services agreements, escrow agreements, software development agreements, tender documents, term sheets, definitive agreements, non-compete agreements, non-disclosure agreements, stock swap agreements etc.
We advise companies on raising corporate finance, including on equity issues and share transfers and allotments. We also provide general corporate advisory and consultancy services with representation before the concerned authorities. We specialise in all forms of Corporate and Commercial Documentation including conducting negotiations on behalf of our clients to ensure successful completion of the transaction. We regularly advise clients on structuring and issue opinions/ memorandums of advice on various provisions of Company Law and applicable Commercial Law, for the benefit and guidance of our Clients.
Banking & Finance
Our Banking and Finance practice involves advising clients on all aspects of banking law, including banking regulations, secured commercial lending, leasing and hire-purchase, the raising of loan finance, loan agreements, security documentation and negotiations. With appreciable experience in debt recovery litigation, we also advise on the enforcement and realisation of security interests. We advise our clients on the structuring of transactions and assist with legal due diligence, legal audit, documentation, procedural follow-up and closing for loan and financing transactions. We advise on both joint venture and project finance contracts.
Services rendered by us in the financial sector include acquisition finance, project finance and legal opinions. Our Firm also deals in securitization of assets, cases with respect to dishonour of cheques, debentures, guarantees and other forms of securities, etc. The services provided by us include conducting due diligence exercises, providing title reports and documentation and negotiating and preparing loan, investment, mortgage and other credit and security documents, such as loan or investment agreements, escrow, hypothecation documents, debenture trust deeds, pledge and lien agreements etc.
Capital Market and Securities Law
Our services range from advisory to appearing before different forums on behalf of our clients in matters related to Capital Markets. We have advised and represented clients before the various stock exchanges and SEBI in investigations, adjudication proceedings, inquiries, settlement proceedings etc commenced against our clients. We handle litigation up to the Appellate stage at the Supreme Court for cases related to capital markets or those stemming from operating markets like the commodities market and the currency market. We have also handled litigation pertaining to the illiquid stock options segment and routinely appear before the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) having its bench in Mumbai. We also handle procedures related to Investor Grievances, Conciliatory Proceeding, Negotiating and Arbitration Proceeding at various Stock Exchanges, Depositories etc.
Intellectual Property
We advise clients on copyright and trademark laws, including patent, design, trade secrets, geographical indication, data protection, etc. We provide legal opinions on complex intellectual property rights-related issues and conduct due diligence with a specific focus on intellectual property rights, drafting detailed review reports and evaluating the risks, liabilities and opportunities involved for clients with respect to the acquisition and licensing of various intellectual property rights. We formulate strategies for acquisition and licensing of various intellectual property rights for clients and draft, negotiate and finalise the various agreements, such as development, support, and maintenance agreements, licensing, franchise, reseller, and distribution agreements, outsourcing and service agreements, website design, hosting and maintenance agreements, satellite broadcasting agreements, internet streaming agreements, intellectual property licensing agreements etc.
We are also well versed in drafting, reviewing and advising on legal issues relating to website acceptable use policy, privacy policy, etc.
We represent clients in proceedings, suits and writ petitions before various courts in India, including the Supreme Court of India, High Courts and District Courts, and before various Indian authorities, associations and tribunals, to enforce intellectual property rights and defend against infringement. Our lawyers have special expertise in acting for clients in the entertainment, media and pharmaceutical sectors with respect to intellectual property matters.
Entertainment & Media
We are experienced in negotiating and drafting all kinds of agreements for the film and television industry. We provide a wide spectrum of services to our clients across various sectors such as motion pictures, television, talent and celebrity managements, brand endorsements, music, internet and digital media, publishing, outdoor advertising, social media advertising, blogging, and public relations, amongst others.
Our lawyers have drafted and vetted all kinds of agreements ranging from co-production and film financing agreements to talent agreements, agreements related to live events, satellite broadcasting agreements, internet streaming agreements, endorsement deals, co-branding agreements, distribution agreements etc. We provide legal opinions on complex issues relating to broadcasting, licensing, telecommunications, technology and intellectual property.
Our practice area also includes representing clients in proceedings, suits and writ petitions before various courts and commissions in India, including the Supreme Court of India, Hon’ble Bombay High Court, District Courts and before various Indian authorities, associations and tribunals, to enforce intellectual property rights and agreements. We also advise and represent clients in film and television-related arbitrations before various arbitration tribunals and film associations.
Start-ups & Emerging Companies
We provide multifaceted guidance to new ventures and start-ups, through all the phases of their growth, including their formation, financing, intellectual property etc. We provide pre start-up assistance in form of advising on structuring, legal and regulatory aspects of doing business in a particular territory in India, incorporation of companies and formation of limited liability partnerships. We advise on corporate compliances, allotment of shares, share transfers, shareholders’ agreements, employment and other ancillary agreements.
Our corporate team assists in the raising of finance and private equity funding and/ or seed investments including assisting with negotiations between start-ups and investors, drafting and reviewing documents, advising on exit strategies and mechanisms. Our corporate team provides on-going assistance on general operational issues, including issues relating to board meetings and shareholder meetings and related documentation, including litigation and arbitrations in that regard.
Family Arrangements, Estate Planning & Succession
In this sector, we provide practical legal advice to clients mainly consisting of high net-worth individuals as well as family-run business houses on private and confidential issues relating to wealth management, distribution and preservation. We assist clients with the drafting of the documentation pertaining to the formation, registration and governance of private and public charitable trusts, societies and charitable companies. We routinely advise on issues such as domestic partnerships, resolution of family disputes, particularly in respect of the division and distribution of family estates and property settlements for families in India and across the globe, including structuring the estates of individuals, companies, trusts, societies etc. and advising on the maintenance and partition of Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) property.
Our services include not only structuring but also drafting the necessary documentation such as family arrangements, settlements, trust deeds and ancillary documents for the management of trusts by the settlor, trustees, companies, financial institutions etc. We assist with issues related to succession and testamentary disposition of property, including advising on the inheritance of ancestral property. We routinely prepare wills and codicils and advise on filing and obtaining probates, letters of administration and succession certificates. In case of contested matters, we advise clients on the measures to be taken for protection of the estate so that the same is not frittered away. We have also advised on and prepared advanced directives, which consists of a living will and a durable power of attorney and/ or healthcare proxy.
Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Venture Capital
We regularly advice and represent governments, concessionaires and contractors in a wide array of matters including tender documentation, bids, consortium arrangements, and other contractual work in this field. We also represent clients who own coaching classes/ colleges/ schools and educational institutions/ trusts. We have played a role in settling disputes between the educational institutions and the various employees/ teacher’s union employed by them. We have addressed legal notices and initiated/ defended proceedings on behalf of our clients who are colleges/ institutions and have assisted in arriving at mutually amicable settlements in these matters. We have drafted agreements for our clients (who are colleges/ institutions) with teachers containing non-compete clauses and have advised our clients in entering into business sharing agreements with coaching classes whereby our client’s premises and infrastructure (such as chemistry labs etc.) are licensed to such coaching classes and negotiated revenue sharing arrangements whereby in addition to the fixed fee for such use, our client also gets a percentage in the revenue generated.
We have successfully advised in settling matters and insisted on inclusion of non-disclosure clauses (i.e. without making the dispute public/ available to the press) to ensure protection of our client’s name and reputation in case of a controversy/ allegations being made against our client. With our experience in transaction support, project financing, strategizing litigations and dispute resolution, our clients’ needs in all stages of infrastructure development are catered to.
Infrastructure Projects & Education Sector
We regularly advice and represent governments, concessionaires and contractors in a wide array of matters including tender documentation, bids, consortium arrangements, and other contractual work in this field. We also represent clients who own coaching classes/ colleges/ schools and educational institutions/ trusts. We have played a role in settling disputes between the educational institutions and the various employees/ teacher’s union employed by them. We have addressed legal notices and initiated/ defended proceedings on behalf of our clients who are colleges/ institutions and have assisted in arriving at mutually amicable settlements in these matters. We have drafted agreements for our clients (who are colleges/ institutions) with teachers containing non-compete clauses and have advised our clients in entering into business sharing agreements with coaching classes whereby our client’s premises and infrastructure (such as chemistry labs etc.) are licensed to such coaching classes and negotiated revenue sharing arrangements whereby in addition to the fixed fee for such use, our client also gets a percentage in the revenue generated.
We have successfully advised in settling matters and insisted on inclusion of non-disclosure clauses (i.e. without making the dispute public/ available to the press) to ensure protection of our client’s name and reputation in case of a controversy/ allegations being made against our client. With our experience in transaction support, project financing, strategizing litigations and dispute resolution, our clients’ needs in all stages of infrastructure development are catered to.
Restructuring & Insolvency
We advise and assist in implementing restructuring through the formal court or tribunal process, including the formulation of strategies in line with the prevalent legal, regulatory and policy framework, preparation of schemes, and legal representation in courts and tribunals. We advise and assist directors and key managerial personnel on their liabilities and obligations arising out of a restructuring and formal and informal insolvency process.
Our in-house lawyers draft, negotiate and finalize relevant transaction documents, including applications, petitions and resolutions to be filed under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, whether as financial creditors or operations creditors. We are well-versed with drafting restructuring plans and transaction documents, including Master Restructuring Agreements, Debtor Creditor Agreements and Inter-Creditor Agreements, including Settlement Agreements for our Clients.
We are well versed with the procedures for enforcement of security, in case of a default and assist in enforcing and implementing security mechanisms available to lenders under the legal, regulatory and policy framework, including the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993, the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
We advise and assist in structuring and implementing an exit strategy for investors from stressed assets, including under a strategic sale, demerger, slump sale and auction. We draft, negotiate and finalize relevant transaction documents pertaining to divestment and exit strategy. We advise and assist in the liquidation process available to debtors under the legal, regulatory and policy framework, including the Companies Act, 2013 and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and our lawyers have attended meetings of the Committee of Creditors on behalf of and for our Clients. We have also instituted and successfully defended insolvency proceedings commenced under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 by and against our clients.
Transactional Documentation
Our transaction advisory practice involves assisting Tech start-ups, NBFCs, construction companies/ developers, hospital chains, hotel chains/ hospitality sector and others in their efforts to raise capital or enter into general business/ commercial transactions for business growth and development. We advise on the structuring and documentation for the incorporation of public and private companies, Non-Banking Finance Companies, other forms of companies, Limited Liability Partnership under LLP Act, 2008. We conduct Due Diligences and Legal Audits. We draft agreements and legal opinions in raising debts (both long term and short term), Angel Investments, Private Equity investments etc. and necessary documentation for joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, development of townships and the like.
We have significant experience of drafting, vetting and negotiating sector-specific agreements and ‘standard procedure’ documents for diverse industries. With our diverse practice areas, we concentrate on immediate transactions as well as the potential disputes and the changing policy in that sector. Our team has an expertise in drafting agreements for various public sector undertakings, real estate and construction companies, telecom companies, retail sector and various other private and multinational companies. We draft agreements such as joint venture agreements, shareholders agreement, share purchase agreement, subcontractor agreement, outsourcing agreements, business transfer agreement, equipment purchase and leasing agreements, system installation agreements, guarantee deeds, asset purchase agreement, business conducting agreements, escrow agreements and consultancy agreements. We draft agreements for various real estate and construction companies such as licensing agreements, consignment agreements, design and construction agreements, annual maintenance agreements, etc. We also draft Employment related Contracts, and Confidentiality and Non-disclosure Agreements for companies. We draft transactional agreements such as MOUs, agreement to sell, sale deeds, lease deeds, mortgage deeds, license agreements, etc. For our clients in the IT Sector, we draft software licensing agreements, software maintenance contracts, mass market licenses, assignment agreements in respect of assignment of trademarks, patents, designs, etc.
Opinions & Advisory Work
We provide a full range of legal research services and solutions to private and public sector companies, firms and individuals. Our lawyers have diversified experience in varied fields of law and render research based services and opinions to our clients in the fields of corporate laws, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, banking and finance, real estate, intellectual property rights, employment and industrial relations, power and energy sector, retail sector, automobile sector, information technology sector, media, telecommunication, environment law, litigation, arbitration and case law research. We render opinions on the feasibility of transactions to be entered into by our clients. We give our opinion on various laws and regulations relating to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in various sectors including real estate, telecommunication, hotel and tourism, trading companies etc. We understand the needs and requirements of our clients and provide the best legal solutions within the shortest span of time. We analyse the risks and potentials of the transactions into which our client contemplates entry and assists them in making the right decisions by conducting legal due diligence and investigations.
General Legal Counselling
We assist clients in conducting due diligence for assessing legal position and credibility of their potential business partners, before entering into major transactions like joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, transfer of shares, commercial lease, etc. We conduct due diligence of corporate documents, title deeds and records, capital and shareholding details, credits and borrowing, tax, valuation of assets and intellectual property, filings with the ROC, etc. We engage in assisting clients with comprehensive real estate due diligence including title opinions, legal opinions and compliances under various laws including RERA. The Firm’s due diligence reports are comprehensive, integrated, present true valuations and meets the specific requirements of the industry and the transaction.
We represent clients in internal investigations and criminal and enforcement matters initiated by the government. We structure an organisation’s response to an incident. We assist our Corporate Clientele in establishing and enforcing company compliance policies. We assist our Clients in varied aspects of civil law and advise our clients in an array of matters such as Constitutional Law, Family Law, Company Law, Service Law, Banking and Finance Laws, Insolvency, Recovery Suits, Property Litigations, Disputes related to or arising from Contracts/Agreements, Intellectual Property Laws, Health Care Litigation, Testamentary and Intestate Succession, Enforcement of Decrees and Foreign Decrees/ Awards.
Quite often, a particular cause of action gives rise to not only a civil claim, but amounts to also a criminal offence. In such situations, we assist and consult on various aspects of Criminal Law, and assist in representing our Client in offences before the Police, Economic Offences Wing and other authorities, including giving guidance on criminal litigation by suggesting colleagues who are specialists in the field.
In addition to the practise areas set out above, being a one-stop law firm, we also assist our private clients in individual disputes relating to matrimony, divorce, settlement and child custody by guiding them to colleagues who are specialists in the field. We ensure complete confidentiality in this sector to serve the needs of our clients to the fullest.
DISCLAIMER & CONFIRMATION
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