Business lawyers in Chennai
Legal work for businesses, from startups to established groups.
Overview
Business law work at the chambers covers the decisions a company makes from incorporation to exit: the structure it uses, the contracts it signs, the people it hires, the intellectual property it creates and the disputes it faces.
We act for startups, family-owned businesses, Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies and established groups. The practice area that fits the question handles the work, with one lawyer coordinating the matter so that corporate, tax, employment and litigation advice do not pull in different directions.
Most matters begin with a short review of the constitution documents, the contract or notice, the correspondence and the timeline. From that review we set out the options, the forum, the limitation period and the immediate steps. Where a transaction is involved, we also identify the approvals and filings that have to be completed before completion.
The sections below describe the work, the statutes that usually apply and the forums in Chennai where these matters are heard. Each practice area has a detailed page linked from this one.
Business law services
Corporate & Commercial Law
Company formation, M&A, joint ventures, foreign investment, governance and commercial contracts.
Commercial Litigation & Arbitration
Business disputes, commercial suits, arbitration, IBC matters and appeals before the courts and tribunals in Chennai.
Employment Law
Labour codes, POSH, HR policies, contracts, terminations and workplace disputes.
Intellectual Property
Trademarks, patents, copyright, designs, GI, IP litigation and licensing.
Tax Law
Income tax, GST, customs, transfer pricing, tax disputes and appeals.
Insolvency & Bankruptcy
IBC petitions, Committee of Creditors work, resolution plans, liquidation and guarantor proceedings.
Banking & Finance
Loan documents, security, banking regulation, SARFAESI and DRT recovery.
Regulatory Compliance
FEMA, competition law, data protection, SEBI and company law compliance.
Real Estate Law
Title checks, sale deeds, leases, joint development, and land and property disputes.
Maritime Law
Vessel arrests, cargo claims, charterparty disputes and maritime contracts.
Our Business Law services
Setting up and structuring the business
Incorporation and entity choice
Choosing between a private limited company, a limited liability partnership, a branch or a liaison office, and completing the incorporation under the Companies Act, 2013 or the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. The choice affects liability, tax, foreign investment and the way the business can raise money.
Founders' and shareholders' agreements
Agreements on equity split, vesting, roles, reserved matters, transfer restrictions, exit rights and deadlock. These terms are easier to agree when the business starts than after a disagreement has begun.
Foreign investment and FEMA
Advice on the entry route, sector limits under the foreign direct investment policy, incorporation of the Indian entity, and the reporting required under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. This includes downstream investment and the documents a foreign parent needs for its Indian subsidiary.
Registrations and licences
GST registration, Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments registration, professional tax, trade licence, and provident fund and employees' state insurance registration where they apply. The list depends on the activity, the number of employees and the premises.
Commercial contracts
Drafting and negotiating supply, distribution, service, manufacturing, SaaS and non-disclosure agreements. The work covers scope, price and payment, delivery, liability, termination, confidentiality and dispute resolution.
People, intellectual property and data
Employment contracts and policies
Offer letters, employment agreements, confidentiality and non-solicitation clauses, notice periods, leave, POSH policies and the staff handbook. We also review the terms that apply to consultants and contract staff.
POSH compliance and inquiries
Constitution of the Internal Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, training for its members, the inquiry process and the annual report to the employer and the District Officer.
Intellectual property
Trademark searches and applications, copyright, patent and design work, assignments, licensing and infringement advice. We also check that the company owns the IP created by employees, consultants and vendors.
Data protection and cyber incidents
Readiness for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, privacy notices, consent and vendor terms, with the principal obligations for data fiduciaries commencing on 13 May 2027, and the breach reporting duties under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the directions issued under it.
Technology and e-commerce contracts
Terms of use, privacy policies, intermediary terms, payment and settlement arrangements, and the contracts behind online marketplaces and subscription services. The work includes the notices and policies a platform needs for complaints and takedowns.
Tax, finance and insolvency
Direct tax
Corporate tax, tax deducted at source, assessment, reassessment and appeals. The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from 1 April 2026, while earlier assessment years remain under the Income-tax Act, 1961.
Indirect tax
GST registration, returns, input tax credit, refunds, show-cause notices and appeals under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The work also covers the classification and valuation questions that lead to disputes.
Banking and finance
Loan and security documents, guarantees, charges, enforcement under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, and proceedings before the Debt Recovery Tribunal.
Restructuring and insolvency
Insolvency applications and claims under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, resolution plans, the position of operational and financial creditors, and personal guarantor proceedings. We act for creditors, corporate debtors and resolution applicants.
Tax due diligence and transaction support
Review of direct and indirect tax exposure before an investment, merger or acquisition, including past assessments, pending notices, tax litigation and the warranties and indemnities that should go into the transaction documents.
Disputes, investigations and regulatory action
Commercial litigation
Contract, shareholder, partnership and property disputes before the Commercial Court and the Madras High Court under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. The work includes interim injunctions, pre-institution mediation and the enforcement of decrees.
Arbitration
Domestic and international arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, including the arbitration agreement, appointment of arbitrators, interim measures, the award and its enforcement or challenge.
White-collar and corporate crime
Fraud, cheating, criminal breach of trust, money laundering and corruption allegations involving companies and their officers. Civil and criminal proceedings often run together, so the strategy has to account for both.
Regulatory notices and investigations
Replies and representation in inquiries by the Registrar of Companies, GST and customs authorities, the Competition Commission of India, SEBI and sector regulators. The work includes document production, witness statements and confidentiality claims.
Sector disputes
Disputes in real estate, maritime, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and renewable energy projects, using the practice areas that deal with the underlying contract, regulation or offence.
Laws we work with
- Companies Act, 2013
- Indian Contract Act, 1872
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
- Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
- Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
- Trade Marks Act, 1999
- Income-tax Act, 2025
- Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017
Courts and tribunals
- Madras High Court
- National Company Law Tribunal, Chennai
- Debt Recovery Tribunal, Chennai
- Commercial Court, Chennai
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
12 questions. These answers are general information about Indian law, not legal advice on your situation.
Do you work with startups?
Yes. We advise on incorporation, founders' and shareholders' agreements, vesting, funding documents, ESOPs, intellectual property and the compliance a young company needs. The work is scaled to the stage of the business.
Can you act for a foreign company setting up in India?
Yes. We advise on the entry structure, the foreign direct investment route and sector limits, incorporation of an Indian subsidiary or branch, reporting under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, and the contracts and registrations needed to start operations. We also act for the Indian entity in disputes.
What should a founders' agreement cover?
It should record the equity split, vesting, the role of each founder, the decisions that need unanimous or special consent, restrictions on transferring shares, exit rights and what happens if the founders reach a deadlock. It should also assign intellectual property created for the business to the company.
Do two founders need a shareholders' agreement?
A shareholders' agreement is still useful with two founders. It records what happens if one founder leaves, how decisions are taken when the two disagree, and how shares are valued and transferred. The articles of association should be consistent with it.
Should a business use an LLP or a private limited company?
An LLP suits professional services and businesses that want limited liability with fewer compliance formalities. A private limited company is usually better for raising equity from investors. The choice depends on funding plans, taxation and how the business will be sold or transferred.
Can you review a commercial contract before we sign it?
Yes. We review supply, distribution, service, SaaS, licensing and construction contracts before signature. The review covers scope, payment, liability, termination, dispute resolution and the clauses that are likely to cause a dispute later.
What should an employer do when it receives a POSH complaint?
The employer should refer the complaint to the Internal Complaints Committee and keep the complaint and inquiry records confidential. The committee must complete the inquiry within ninety days under Section 11(4) of the POSH Act, 2013, and the employer should avoid any action that could be seen as retaliation while it is pending.
Who owns intellectual property created by an employee or contractor?
A company usually owns intellectual property created by an employee in the course of employment, but the position is different for contractors. A written assignment is the safest way to ensure the company owns the copyright, design or invention, and employment and vendor contracts should say so.
Which tax law applies to the 2026-27 assessment year?
The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from 1 April 2026, and earlier assessment years remain under the Income-tax Act, 1961. The return and assessment for a year depend on which Act applies to that year, so the first step is to identify the assessment year and the applicable law.
What can a creditor do if a company does not pay?
A financial creditor can apply under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 after a default of at least one crore rupees. An operational creditor serves a demand notice under Section 8 and can apply if the debt is not paid or a dispute is not shown within ten days.
Can a shareholder dispute be referred to arbitration?
Yes, if the shareholders' agreement or the articles contain an arbitration clause that covers the dispute. The arbitrator's jurisdiction can be challenged if the dispute falls outside the clause or is not arbitrable, so the clause and the relief sought need to be checked first.
What should a company do when it receives a regulatory notice?
The company should check the legal basis of the notice, the deadline for a reply, and whether the regulator has asked for documents or a hearing. A reply should be filed within the deadline, with the documents and a clear account of the facts, and the company should preserve the records the notice covers.