Global Trade & Legal Services

Early identification of dumping exposure, subsidy risk, and regulatory threats before investigations or border actions arise.

HS classification, tariff engineering, customs valuation, and litigation before customs authorities and appellate tribunals.

Origin determination, RVC analysis, certificate management, and verification defence under India's FTA network.

Preferential tariff utilisation, supply chain restructuring, and FTA negotiation advisory for exporters and associations.

Product standards, conformity assessment, CE/REACH compliance, and challenges to disguised technical trade barriers.

Food safety, phytosanitary, and veterinary requirements for agricultural and food exporters entering global markets.

Dispute settlement, trade policy analysis, STCs, and WTO compatibility advice for government and industry stakeholders.

Anti-dumping measures constitute a significant trade remedy mechanism under international trade law, aimed at addressing situations where imported goods are introduced into a domestic market at prices lower than their normal value. Such practices may distort fair competition and cause material injury to domestic producers and industries. Pursuant to the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of GATT 1994 under the framework of the World Trade Organization, member states are entitled to initiate anti-dumping investigations and impose anti-dumping duties where evidence establishes the existence of dumping, resultant injury to the domestic industry, and a causal nexus between the two. These measures are intended to restore equitable market conditions while ensuring compliance with international trade obligations.

Countervailing measures are legal instruments employed to offset the adverse effects of actionable subsidies provided by foreign governments to their exporters or producers. Such subsidies may create artificial competitive advantages by lowering production or export costs, thereby causing material injury to competing domestic industries in the importing state. In accordance with the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement), investigating authorities may impose countervailing duties following a detailed examination of the existence and specificity of the subsidy, the extent of injury suffered by the domestic industry, and the causal relationship between subsidized imports and such injury. These measures seek to preserve fair competition in international trade while maintaining conformity with multilateral trade rules.

Safeguard measures are temporary emergency trade remedies imposed to protect domestic industries from serious injury or threat thereof resulting from a sudden, sharp, and unforeseen increase in imports. Unlike anti-dumping and countervailing measures, safeguards do not require proof of unfair trade practices, as their primary objective is to provide temporary relief to domestic industries facing significant import-induced disruption. Governed by the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, such measures may include tariff increases, quantitative restrictions, or other permissible trade restrictions designed to facilitate industrial adjustment and market stabilization. Safeguard measures must be applied in a transparent, proportionate, and non-discriminatory manner consistent with international trade law obligations.

Lawset offers comprehensive legal and regulatory support to businesses navigating the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification framework and compliance with Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by various Indian Ministries. As BIS certification requirements expand across a growing list of products, both domestic manufacturers and importers face significant compliance challenges. Lawset assists clients in understanding applicable BIS standards, obtaining BIS licenses, managing product testing and certification, and responding to BIS enforcement actions. Lawset also advises on the interaction between QCO compliance and Customs clearance requirements.

Lawset's dedicated customs team offers end-to-end legal solutions for all customs and allied law matters arising from cross-border transactions in India. Our professionals have extensive experience in handling customs disputes for major domestic and multinational clients, covering import and export documentation, customs valuation, classification under the Customs Tariff Act, origin determinations, and customs duty exemption claims. Lawset also advises on Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status, import licensing, and anti-smuggling compliance. Our team appears before Customs Commissioners, CESTAT, and High Courts in customs litigation matters.

Lawset assists domestic and international organizations in navigating the complex intersection of Indian trade law and global WTO obligations. Our international trade law expertise helps clients increase market access, manage trade barriers, and gain competitive advantage. We advise on trade policy matters, WTO dispute settlement, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) implications, rules of origin under trade agreements, and the strategic use of trade remedy mechanisms. Lawset also assists exporters in accessing preferential tariff benefits under India's various bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.

The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) represents one of the most significant new trade-related regulatory challenges for Indian exporters to the European market. Lawset advises Indian exporters, importers, and industry associations on CBAM compliance obligations, carbon pricing documentation requirements, CBAM certificate purchase and surrender processes, and the strategic implications of CBAM for supply chains. Lawset helps clients manage both the regulatory and commercial dimensions of CBAM to protect market access and minimize compliance costs.

Lawset advises businesses on compliance with international trade sanctions regimes administered by the UN Security Council, the European Union, the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and other key regulatory authorities. Managing geopolitical risks, supply chains, and sanctions exposure is increasingly critical for businesses operating in global markets. Lawset assists clients in conducting sanctions screening, designing internal compliance programs, responding to sanctions investigations, and navigating complex dual-use export control requirements. Lawset also advises on debarment and restricted party list matters.

Lawset advises exporters, importers, and manufacturers on leveraging India's growing network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs), including agreements with ASEAN, UAE, Australia, and the UK, to reduce customs duties and gain market access advantages. Our team provides rules of origin analysis, certificate of origin advisory, and FTA compliance frameworks. Lawset also advises on strategies to maximize preferential tariff benefits while remaining compliant with applicable rules of origin requirements.

Lawset's multidisciplinary direct tax team delivers comprehensive solutions encompassing tax advisory, investment structuring, business reorganizations, and tax-efficient planning for corporates, partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals. We provide end-to-end support in tax assessments, audits, and represent clients before Income Tax Authorities, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), and High Courts. Lawset's integrated approach ensures that tax strategies are aligned with your commercial objectives and are compliant with the latest legal requirements.

Lawset advises multinational corporations and Indian businesses on complex international tax issues, including treaty interpretation, permanent establishment analysis, withholding tax obligations, and cross-border structuring. Our team helps clients optimize their global tax positions while ensuring compliance with BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) guidelines, Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting, and India's General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR). Lawset also provides advisory on inbound and outbound investment structures for tax efficiency.

With the rapid expansion of cross-border trade and increasingly rigorous scrutiny by tax authorities, transfer pricing has become a critical compliance and planning issue for both multinational and domestic enterprises. Lawset assists clients in designing and documenting robust transfer pricing policies, conducting benchmarking analyses, responding to transfer pricing audits, and advancing Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) applications. Our team provides a clear, strategic, and data-driven approach to managing transfer pricing risk and ensuring compliance with India's transfer pricing regulations and international OECD guidelines.

Lawset provides strong representation in tax litigation and dispute resolution proceedings across all levels from assessment orders and appeals before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) to the ITAT, High Courts, and the Supreme Court of India. Our team combines deep legal knowledge with strategic advocacy to challenge arbitrary tax demands, penalty orders, and reassessment proceedings. Lawset also advises on settlement schemes and settlement commission filings.

Lawset advises businesses on tax-efficient structuring for corporate transactions, business reorganizations, and new investment projects. Our team evaluates the tax implications of different business models, helps design optimal corporate structures, and identifies available deductions, exemptions, and incentives. Lawset ensures that tax planning is robust, commercially aligned, and fully compliant with applicable laws, minimizing tax risk and maximizing after-tax returns.

Lawset is a leading arbitration practice, representing clients in complex international commercial arbitration and domestic arbitration matters across India and global jurisdictions, including ICC, SIAC, LCIA, and DIAC proceedings. From drafting arbitration clauses and developing pre-arbitration strategies to conducting hearings and enforcing awards in cross-border and domestic disputes, our team delivers strategic, business-focused, and result-oriented legal representation at every stage of the arbitration process.

Lawset advises and represents clients in a wide range of custom disputes involving regulatory compliance, import-export restrictions, customs valuation, duty classifications, anti-dumping matters, and enforcement actions. Our team provides strategic legal solutions before adjudicating authorities, tribunals, and courts while ensuring efficient resolution aligned with commercial objectives and evolving trade regulations.

Lawset handles complex cross-border disputes involving multinational corporations, international transactions, foreign investments, and jurisdictional conflicts. With a strong understanding of international legal frameworks and commercial practices, we assist clients in managing disputes across multiple jurisdictions while safeguarding business continuity and global commercial interests.

Lawset represents businesses, corporations, and individuals in high-value commercial litigation matters before courts and tribunals across India. Our expertise covers contractual disputes, shareholder conflicts, recovery proceedings, partnership disputes, and business torts. We combine strategic advocacy with practical commercial insight to achieve efficient and result-oriented outcomes for our clients.

Lawset assists clients in resolving compliance disputes arising from regulatory investigations, corporate governance issues, statutory obligations, and sector-specific compliance requirements. Our team works proactively to minimize legal exposure, manage regulatory risks, and provide effective representation before regulatory authorities, tribunals, and courts.

Lawset stands at the forefront of indirect tax dispute resolution, representing clients in complex GST, Customs, and Central Excise litigation before GST Appellate Authorities, the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT), and High Courts. Our team combines deep legal acumen with effective advocacy to protect clients' financial interests and challenge arbitrary tax demands, show-cause notices, and departmental actions. Lawset's litigation strategy is tailored to each client's commercial and legal context.

Lawset's GST consultancy practice resolves complex Goods and Services Tax (GST) challenges from classification disputes and input tax credit issues to e-invoicing compliance and annual return filings, ensuring all solutions are aligned with your commercial objectives. We provide proactive GST advisory to help businesses navigate India's evolving GST framework, optimize their credit chains, and avoid costly compliance errors. Lawset also advises on industry-specific GST issues and helps clients respond to GST notices and audit queries.

Lawset's Tax Compliance Review (TCR) service is a comprehensive diagnostic exercise covering your sales, purchases, and export/import transactions to assess compliance with GST, customs, and other indirect tax laws. Our team identifies compliance gaps, missed input tax credit opportunities, classification errors, and valuation issues and provides a clear roadmap for rectification. Lawset's TCR ensures you are fully compliant with all applicable tax laws and never miss any eligible financial benefits or refunds.

Lawset provides comprehensive customs and excise advisory services, helping businesses navigate India's complex customs tariff structure, valuation rules, import-export licensing, and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) regulations. Our team advises on customs duty optimization, duty drawback, advance authorizations, and EPCG licenses. Lawset also assists in responding to customs notices, show-cause notices, and adjudication proceedings before the Commissioner of Customs and the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT).

Lawset assists exporters, SEZ units, and other eligible taxpayers in efficiently claiming and recovering GST refunds, including IGST refunds on exports, accumulated input tax credit refunds, and refunds for inverted duty structures. Our team manages the entire refund application process, responds to deficiency memos, and represents clients in appeals where refunds have been incorrectly denied. Lawset ensures that you receive every rupee of refund you are entitled to under the law.

Lawset advises clients on the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and intellectual property law. We provide guidance on IP ownership of AI-generated content and inventions, freedom-to-operate analyses for AI systems, data licensing strategies, and AI governance policies. Lawset helps technology companies, startups, and research institutions navigate the complex and uncertain IP landscape surrounding AI tools, automated systems, and data-driven innovations.

Lawset acts as a strategic litigation partner in intellectual property disputes, protecting clients' creative works and innovations through vigorous enforcement and defence. Our team handles infringement claims, passing-off actions, copyright disputes, trade secret misappropriation, and IP-related criminal proceedings before High Courts, the Intellectual Property Division, and specialized tribunals. Lawset is committed to providing robust IP protection while pursuing commercially smart, results-oriented litigation strategies.

Lawset provides comprehensive patent advisory services including patent prosecution, portfolio management, freedom-to-operate opinions, and patent validity challenges. Our team advises technology companies, pharmaceutical firms, and research institutions on patent strategy, licensing negotiations, and enforcement of patent rights in India and internationally. Lawset also assists clients in navigating the intersection of patents and regulatory approvals, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

Lawset advises agribusinesses, research institutions, and seed companies on the protection and commercialization of new plant varieties under India's Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act (PPV&FR Act). Our team assists with variety registration applications, licensing arrangements, and enforcement of plant breeder's rights. Lawset also advises on the interface between plant variety protection, patent rights, and farmers' rights in the agricultural sector.

Lawset manages complex technology disputes arising from software licensing conflicts, domain name disputes, cybercrime, data breach liability, and IT contract enforcement. Our team appears before the Information Technology Appellate Tribunal, High Courts, and other relevant forums. Lawset combines technical understanding with legal expertise to effectively represent clients in fast-evolving technology disputes and deliver practical outcomes.

Lawset provides end-to-end trademark services including trademark search, application filing, prosecution, opposition proceedings, cancellation petitions, and portfolio management in India and across international jurisdictions through the Madrid Protocol system. Our team aggressively defends brand owners against infringement, counterfeiting, and dilution, while also advising on brand acquisition strategies and co-existence agreements. Lawset is a trusted partner in building and protecting the brand value of businesses of all sizes.

Lawset advises creators, publishers, software companies, and media businesses on copyright ownership, registration, licensing, and enforcement in India and globally. Our team handles copyright infringement disputes, moral rights issues, and online piracy takedowns, while also advising on design registrations for industrial and commercial products. Lawset provides proactive protection strategies to safeguard creative and commercial assets across all media and industries.

Lawset guides clients in proactively identifying, managing, and mitigating competition law and antitrust risks across domestic and international markets. Our experienced competition law practitioners are adept at handling complex investigations involving cartels, vertical restraints, abuse of dominance, and unfair trade practices. Lawset advises businesses on merger control filings, competition compliance programs, and strategic responses to regulatory inquiries by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and equivalent authorities in other jurisdictions.

Lawset offers a distinctive combination of legal, technical, and scientific expertise to navigate the evolving landscape of data protection and privacy law in India, including compliance under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA). Our team advises on cross-border data transfers, data localization obligations, incident response, and privacy impact assessments. Lawset also provides comprehensive advisory, negotiation, and transactional support on laws governing technology contracts, e-commerce, media licensing, telecommunications, fintech, and emerging technologies.

Lawset provides strategic and practical counsel on all aspects of employment and labour law, helping organizations build legally compliant, productive, and resilient workforces. Our team assists employers in drafting employment contracts, policies, and HR frameworks; navigating restructuring and retrenchment; managing industrial disputes; and appearing before labour tribunals and courts. Lawset focuses on fostering balanced employer-employee relationships while ensuring regulatory compliance under India's labour codes and sector-specific regulations.

Lawset advises clients across the energy sector including oil and gas, renewable energy, power, and mining on regulatory compliance, project structuring, licensing, and dispute resolution. We assist clients in understanding and adhering to the complex regulatory frameworks governed by CERC, SERC, PNGRB, and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Lawset also advises on contractual matters, power purchase agreements (PPAs), environmental clearances, and cross-border energy trade.

Lawset provides end-to-end ESG advisory services, helping businesses design, implement, and communicate robust ESG strategies aligned with global and Indian regulatory expectations. Our team advises on ESG-related disclosures, sustainable finance, green bond structuring, supply chain due diligence, and compliance with India's Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework. Lawset also assists with carbon market participation, ESG risk assessments, and stakeholder engagement strategies.

Lawset delivers comprehensive legal guidance across the entire corporate life cycle from company incorporation, shareholder structuring, and governance frameworks to business restructuring and winding up. Our team advises domestic and international clients on board governance, statutory compliance, regulatory filings, joint ventures, and commercial contracts. Whether you are setting up a new entity or managing a complex business transformation, Lawset ensures that every step is legally sound and commercially practical.

Lawset provides a comprehensive suite of M&A legal services for domestic and cross-border transactions, including public and private company acquisitions, joint ventures, demergers, amalgamations, and corporate restructurings. Our team conducts thorough legal due diligence, structures transactions for regulatory and commercial efficiency, and manages negotiations and documentation from term sheet to closing. Lawset has deep experience advising on deals across diverse sectors, navigating CCI approvals, SEBI regulations, FEMA, and sector-specific foreign investment rules.

Lawset offers pragmatic and commercially-oriented legal support at every stage of the private equity and venture capital investment cycle from early-stage seed funding and Series A/B rounds to growth-stage and late-stage transactions. We advise founders, investors, and funds on term sheet negotiations, shareholder agreements, ESOP structuring, convertible instruments, and exit strategies including IPOs and secondary sales. Lawset identifies and addresses regulatory and legal risks while finding practical solutions that support business growth and investor returns.

Lawset brings specialized legal expertise to all facets of real estate transactions and advisory, serving landowners, developers, investors, government bodies, and HNIs. Our team advises on title due diligence, land acquisition, development agreements, leasing and licensing arrangements, RERA compliance, and real estate investment structuring. Lawset provides commercially practical solutions to complex real estate matters, including disputed land, distressed assets, and large-scale infrastructure projects.

Lawset provides strategic regulatory compliance advisory to businesses navigating India's complex and evolving multi-sectoral regulatory landscape. Our team develops compliance frameworks, monitors regulatory changes, advises on licensing requirements, and represents clients before regulators across sectors including financial services, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology. Lawset helps clients stay ahead of regulatory risk with proactive guidance and robust compliance systems.

Lawset advises Indian and foreign entities on all aspects of inbound and outbound investments under India's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Our services include structuring FDI transactions, obtaining approvals from the Reserve Bank of India and relevant ministries, ensuring compliance with sector-specific caps and conditions, and advising on compounding of FEMA violations. Lawset also provides guidance on External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs), Overseas Direct Investment (ODI), and repatriation of profits.