Antitrust, Competition and Trade

In advising our clients on competition law matters we combine strategic insight with a deep understanding of evolving market dynamics to help businesses across the full spectrum of competition law matters - from cartel enforcement, abuse of dominance, and leniency applications to complex merger control issues including cross-border transactions. With the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 ushering in a new era of regulatory scrutiny and expanded enforcement powers, we assist businesses anticipate risks, implement robust compliance strategies, engage effectively with the regulator - Competition Commission of India (“CCI”) and appellate forums, and resolve competition law issues swiftly and efficiently.

We believe that what distinguishes us is our ability to blend regulatory insight with practical business requirements. Having worked on some of the most complex and high-profile competition matters, we are consistently  involved in advising, assisting and representing clients across a wide range of competition law issues, including: 

Antitrust Enforcement

• Abuse of dominance: We assess dominance and potential abuse across markets, represent complainants and respondents before the original and appellate forums, and craft pragmatic remedies to mitigate regulatory exposure.
• Cartels and horizontal agreements:  We advise on cartel risks, leniency applications, and defence strategies, drawing on extensive experience in dawn raids and high-stakes investigations.
• Dawn raid preparedness and training: We design and conduct tailored dawn-raid response programmes and provide immediate on-site and procedural support during investigations to safeguard clients’ rights.
• Risk assessments and advisory: We offer strategic advice on market entry, pricing, and business conduct to help clients manage competition law risks in dynamic markets.
• Vertical restraints (arrangements): We review and structure a wide range of vertical arrangements - including supply, dealership, and licensing agreements- and advise on issues such as exclusivity, resale price maintenance, refusal to deal, and tie-in arrangements, ensuring compliance with competition law while maintaining commercial flexibility.

Merger Control

• Transaction structuring and documentation: We collaborate with transaction teams on due diligence, deal structures and documentation to ensure competition-compliant deal execution.
• Pre-filing strategy and engagement with the CCI: We engage in proactive consultations with the CCI through pre-filing consultations and advocacy to streamline review processes and address regulatory concerns early.
• Merger Strategy & Risk Assessment: We evaluate notifiability thresholds, filing strategies, and timelines to deliver commercially aligned merger control solutions.
• Merger notification and filings: We assist domestic and foreign clients in securing timely approvals for complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions.
• Gun-jumping proceedings: We advise on stand-still obligations and represent clients in penalty proceedings arising from alleged premature consummation/part-consummation or delayed filings.

Compliance (training) and audit

We design bespoke compliance frameworks and conduct competition law audits and training to embed a culture of compliance and minimise enforcement risk.

Our sectoral experience - particularly in digital markets, e-commerce, technology, telecom, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and consumer goods - allows us to build strategies that balance legal precision with commercial priorities. Our track record in handling complex, high stakes matters, combined with hands-on experience with regulators, ensures our clients receive commercially astute, forward-looking solutions tailored to their business needs.

Please reach out to our Competition & Antitrust team to discuss how we can help you navigate your competition law challenges.

Trade and Customs Practice

The Trade and Customs Practice which is also a part of the Tax Practice of the firm offers integrated advisory, compliance, and litigation support across the full spectrum of customs law, international trade regulation, export controls, and trade policy.

We help global and Indian businesses navigate the complex cross-border trade environment through legal interpretation, supply chain structuring, and strategic representation. Our practice draws on decades of cumulative experience in Customs, Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), Anti-Dumping and Safeguard Duties, Export Controls (SCOMET, OFAC, EU), and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regulation.

Our Trade and Customs group is also well regarded for its disputes practice and have numerous judgments in this area to their credit. Our tax litigation lawyers regularly appear before Investigating and Adjudication Authorities, Tribunals, High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.

With clients spanning across sectors our lawyers combine technical expertise, regulatory insight, and industry knowledge to deliver commercially aligned solutions.

Customs Law and Regulatory Assistance

Our team advises on all aspects of customs law which, inter alia, includes:

• Classification and valuation: Assistance with product classification, interpretative rules for classification and valuation and advise on transaction value disputes.
• Exemptions and concessions: Advisory on interpretation and applicability of exemption notifications and concessional rate notifications.
• Special Valuation Branch (SVB): Assistance in related-party import investigations, transfer pricing interface, and valuation issues related to related party transactions under Customs.
• Free Trade Agreements (FTAs): Guidance on use of preferential rates under India’s CEPA/FTA frameworks (India–UAE CEPA, ASEAN, SAFTA, Indo–Korea, Indo–Japan, etc.), origin certification, and cost-benefit evaluations.
• BIS and Legal Metrology: Advisory services in relation to product certification including Indian Standards and Quality Control Order requirement analysis, registration, and labelling requirements for various regulated products. Our services also include preparation of BIS application, handholding during the certification process and liaison with BIS officials wherever required.
• EOU and STPI: Advisory to export entities on the legal and regulatory framework governing business operation set up in units such as SEZs, EOUs, STPIs, and Free Trade Warehousing Zones, including a comparative assessment of the advantages and limitations of each structure, tailored to the client’s specific business requirements and operational objectives.
• Assistance on other compliances required by import/export entities like registration for IEC, STP/non-STP license, ICEGATE registration etc.

Foreign Trade and Export Control

Our team assists clients in understanding and implementing India’s FTP and export control laws in line with global compliance frameworks:

• Structuring of supply and service exports to maximise benefits available under FTP.
• Advisory on various beneficial schemes under FTP, which, amongst others, include Export Promotion Capital Good, Advance Authorisation, Duty Free Import Authorisation etc., including post-export obligation requirement under these schemes.
• Licensing, classification, and end-use certification under SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies) for dual-use goods and technologies.
• Design and implementation of Internal Compliance Programmes (ICPs) aligned with DGFT and OFAC best practices.
• Advisory on sanctions and export restrictions, including applicability of U.S. OFAC, EU, and other foreign sanctions regimes to Indian businesses and supply chains.
• Representation before DGFT, Policy Relaxation Committees, and Development Commissioners for FTP-related disputes and clarifications.

Trade Remedies: Anti-Dumping, Countervailing and Safeguard Measures

We represent both domestic producers and importers/exporters before the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), and the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) in matters relating to:

• Initiation and defence relating to anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard duty investigations.
• End to end suppler till appeal stage on levy, circumvention, and refund claims under trade-remedy rules and notifications.
• Strategic planning for importers sourcing from multiple jurisdictions to manage landed cost impact.

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Our trade practice team has a demonstrable record of representing clients before CESTAT/GSTAT, High Courts, and the Supreme Court on issues ranging from classification to valuation and refund disputes. Our representation spans:

• Customs and FTP litigation: We represent clients across the entire lifecycle of a dispute i.e., from pre-litigation stages such as replies to show-cause notices, summons proceedings, and audit investigations to appellate and writ proceedings before CESTAT, High Courts, and the Supreme Court. Our team’s end-to-end involvement ensures consistency of strategy, comprehensive documentation, and robust representation at every stage of adjudication and appeal.
• Anti-dumping and trade remedy challenges: Writ petitions and appeals challenging levy or validity, quantification, and issues relating to interest on anti-dumping duties and related matters.
• DRI and investigative proceedings: End-to-end support during search, seizure, summons, and adjudication, including strategy for amnesty schemes and settlements.
• Legacy indirect tax litigations: We integrate sectoral insight, policy engagement, and legal depth to provide a holistic solution for closing out legacy litigations which help Clients clear out their case portfolio and ensure consistency and clarity for the business teams.

We also assist clients in engaging with industry bodies and government departments on trade policy representations, ensuring clients’ interests are effectively articulated during regulatory consultations and investigations.