Indian Law Firm Awards - India Business Law Journal

Indian Law Firm Awards
the firm. “Aaron Solomon’s sound knowledge of legal
issues and practical approach made me choose Solomon
& Co for legal advice,” says Rachna Singh, senior legal
counsel at HSBC India. “I have known Aaron for many
years now and it has always been a pleasure to work with
him. His solution-oriented approach is his biggest plus
point. I have interacted with Solomon & Co on various
corporate law-related issues and have always found their
service prompt, cost-efficient and of high quality.”
Few firms have a specialized focus on the tightly regulated
insurance sector so only five winners were chosen in
this category. The other winners are Luthra & Luthra and
Mulla & Mulla.
Intellectual property
A more popular niche specialization is intellectual property.
India is peppered with dozens of IP boutiques, the
oldest being award winner Remfry & Sagar.
Remfry & Sagar owes much of its fame and fortune to
senior partner Vidya Sagar who, sadly, passed away last
March. A legendary figure among the IP fraternity and one
of India’s most formidable IP lawyers, he is remembered
as a strong-willed visionary who contributed immensely to
the development of IP in India. As one IP lawyer remarked:
“What Dr Sagar has built is not just another IP law firm. It
is an institution in itself. In the early 1990s, IP in India was
only Remfry & Son. Although the scenario has changed,
Remfry & Sagar has retained its position as an institution.”
Despite Sagar’s loss, the firm appears to be in good
hands with managing partner Ashwin Jhulka at the helm.
Last May, the firm secured a favourable decision for client
Gorbatschow Wodka, whose trademark rights in the
unique shape of a vodka bottle were recognized and
upheld. In October, the firm persuaded the Delhi Patent
Office to reject three pre-grant oppositions against against
a patent application covering retapamulin, an antibiotic
developed by GlaxoSmithKline and SmithKline Beecham.
The objections raised were based on a lack of inventiveness.
The decision is a rare instance where the applicant
succeeded in overcoming the opponents’ objections under
section 3(d) of the Patents Act.
The firm’s list of clients includes Audi, Sony, Porsche,
Procter & Gamble Singapore, Carlsberg India and The
Financial Times. Jon Webster, senior trademarks counsel
at Bausch & Lomb, praises Remfry & Sagar for being
“practical, responsive and creative”.
Among Anand and Anand’s clients are Huawei, Tata
Sons, Mars, Abbott Laboratories, Toyota Motors, Philips
India and Visa International Service Association. Anand
and Anand is keen to develop its expertise in new areas of
IP such as plant variety registration and litigation, customs
and border enforcement of patent rights, sports law and
geographical indications cases.
Last year, the firm obtained ex parte interim injunctions
against the defendants in four patent cases: Vifor
(International) Ltd v Dr D Mohan Rao & Ors, United Phosphorus
Pvt Ltd v M/s Gujarat Pesticides, Yuhan v Ajanta and Dong
and A Pharma Co Ltd v Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The
firm has also helped restrain parties from counterfeiting
and infringing trademarks for clients such as Ferrero
Rocher, Louis Vuitton and Zippo.
Clients describe managing partner Pravin Anand as
“articulate” and “by far the best”. “He is a pioneer in IPR
litigation,” says Kabir at Strides Arcolab. “All of us owe a
February 2012
Intelligence report
lot to how he handled IPR issues and the rulings that help
us now.”
Anand and Anand plans to publish an IP comic book this
year.
Krishna & Saurastri, K&S Partners, Saikrishna &
Associates and Singh & Singh also win awards for intellectual
property.
Mumbai-based Krishna & Saurastri has initiated more
than 2,500 criminal cases across India over the past 10
years, relating to food, medicine, cosmetics, clothing, footwear,
textiles, engineering, electronic goods, automobiles
and more. The firm is headed by Sunil Krishna and Manish
Saurastri. Krishna counsels a wide range of Indian and
multinational clients on the development of IP portfolios,
licensing and joint ventures.
The modest K&S Partners is a quiet yet powerful contender
for path-breaking IP work. The firm boasts dynamic
litigators and effective trademarks, copyright and patents
practices. “Experience with K&S Partners, particularly with
Mr Ravi Bhola, has been very good,” says Charanjit Sehgal,
head of IPR at Arch Pharmalabs in Mumbai.
Another standout firm for IP litigation is Singh & Singh.
Led by the driven and vivacious Pratibha Singh, this firm
has “done a lot of work on patent litigation, winning most
cases” according to one peer.
Noida-based Saikrishna & Associates is a young firm not
to be underestimated. Representing the likes of eBay India,
Walt Disney, Pfizer and Microsoft, Saikrishna has proved
that it has the gumption and talent to win big clients and
bigger cases. Despite its heavy workload, the firm makes
time to actively assist I-Probono, an online network offering
free advice through a network of lawyers. The firm has
advised TARSHI (Talking About Reproductive and Sexual
Health Issues) – an NGO based in New Delhi – on IP and
IT laws.
The firm recruited five associates last year taking its head
count to 32.
Jacob at Star India has consulted Saikrishna primarily on
IP and litigation matters but now uses the firm for all media
and entertainment-related legal issues including laws relating
to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. “They
have outstanding turnaround times, personalized services,
highly competent and skilled lawyers with very good legal
understanding, not only on substantive laws but also on
procedural aspects,” says Jacob. He commends Sidharth
[Mulla & Mulla has a] high
reputation with overseas
investors
Andrea Clavarino
CEO
Coeclerici Logistics
India Business Law Journal 45