Dua Associates

The firm: Established in 1986, Dua Associates is one of India’s  prominent  law firms, serving a wide spectrum of clients drawn from several Fortune 500 companies, publicly-listed organisations, public-sector enterprises, privately owned businesses as well as multi-national companies. With  offices in  eight key metropolitan cities in India, Dua Associates is widely recognised for its depth of experience and the  knowledge of its  over 250 legal professionals including 75 partners and counsels. Dua Associates is also uniquely placed to draw on the capabilities of Dua Consulting, an independent and stand-alone full-service consulting entity to address issues pertaining to policy framework, advocacy, Government engagement and business advisory.

The firm recognises the support of some long standing clients such as Dow Chemical, McDonalds, Boeing, Dell, Fourth Partner Energy, CapitaLand, Estee Lauder, Brookfield Asset Management, TVS Motors, TAFE, Tata, ICICI, L&T, Gillette, IFC, Deutsche Bank and GE Healthcare among several others, who have been associated with it during its 30-year journey.

The firm’s expertise in complex transactions involving M&A, foreign direct investment, private equity,  venture capital , international trade,  space,  infrastructure projects ,  project financing ,  and corporate deals as well as litigation, arbitration , regulatory and tax structuring issues  is widely recognised. Under its real estate  and urban development practice, the firm is credited with some significantly large deals. Additionally, several partners of the firm have also been individually ranked and recognised for the stellar contributions to their respective practice areas.  

New domains:  Dua Associates remains at the forefront of helping global organisations navigate fresh Indian investment opportunities. Underscoring its resilience and future-readiness, the firm has additionally created specialized practice groups, comprising of  senior leadership team members  and domain experts, to focus on emerging opportunities, in sectors like:

Healthcare: Dua Associates is leveraging its in-depth understanding and experience in assisting prominent pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to further customise its services for clients in this sector.

Data privacy and cyber-security: The firm’s specialised team backed by legal and sector-specific experts and industry stalwarts, has stayed ahead of the curve in dealing with techno-legal issues, privacy and data security-related enforcement trends and new laws and regulations.

Aviation, defence and space:The firm’s practice focuses on various aspects of international and domestic civil aviation industry.  In Defence, the firm has advised OEMs to technology providers and suppliers on various issues besides negotiating joint ventures with foreign investment firms.

With the recent opening up of India’s space program to the private sector, the firm has focused on this space opportunity – having subject-specific expertise to advise clients in this domain.

Technology, media and telecommunications: In addition to the technology and regulatory advisory, the firm provides high level strategic advice on the current concerns around 5-G implementation, spectrum related issues and related matters.

Key practice areas
Mergers and acquisitions: This highly ranked practice, combines the firm’s rich international experience and expertise with Indian domestic laws / regulations, to devise effective structures for M&A.

Private equity and venture capital: With a wealth of experience in representing both domestic and foreign funds as well as prospective investee companies and their promoters, the firm has  proven capacity and a track record for providing assistance in every phase of the investment lifecycle, from fund creation to investment execution and exit strategy, across a spectrum of industry sectors.

Corporate and commercial: The firm advises on a broad spectrum of matters from general corporate advice, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, company formation to regulations and securities laws.

Real estate and urban development:The advisory services to clients include institutional investors in all aspects of transactions such as financing, acquisitions, joint development, disposition and leasing matters and complex title due diligences.

Projects/infrastructure/ energy:The firm has substantial sector-specific experience in energy, both fossil-based and renewables, airports, oil & gas, SEZs, ports, and transportation, amongst others.

Banking, finance,  and insurance: A wide ranging practice in corporate finance, banking and project finance and representing funds, NBFCs, financial institutions and project developers in secured and unsecured transactions, makes it a significant one for the firm.

Capital markets: The firm has rich experience in equity, capital and derivative markets and has advised private parties and the Government and public sector undertakings on Qualified Institutions Placements, IPOs and matters relating to SEBI.

Dispute resolution/litigation: The firm’s highly ranked active and robust litigation and arbitration practice covers civil, commercial, tax, regulatory, criminal and constitutional matters.

Arbitration and alternative dispute resolution:The firm’s  involvement in proceedings in connection with the enforcement of partial, interim and final awards passed in domestic and international arbitrations has grown significantly.  The teams have  been advising clients, in pre-dispute and prior to invocation of arbitration-type situations as to the applicability and enforceability of the Rules of Arbitration of bodies, besides working on various types of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms including pre-arbitration advice, contractual advice and claim analysis.

  International trade and anti-dumping: This practice team assists domestic and international clients in international trade and customs-law matters and guides them through investigations or enforcement programs with respect to anti-dumping and WTO issues.

Intellectual property rights: Clients are advised by the firm regarding identification, development, protection and enforcement of their IPR portfolios, including trademarks, patents, copyrights and cyber-laws besides offering prosecution services before relevant IPR registering authorities

Antitrust and competition law: The firm assists  in merger control assessments and filings, abuse of dominant positions, cartel investigations, undertaking competition compliance programmes and training, evaluating impact on day to day business operations as well as longer-term business strategies, anti-competitive agreements and defining contractual arrangements.

Taxation: The tax planning services offered relate to establishing a corporate business presence in India, besides assistance in formulating tax-efficient structures consistent with the prevailing tax regime

Labour and employment: Specialised advice is rendered on labour matters, employee relations and compliance with the various prevalent labour, industrial and immigration laws including regulatory compliance, statutory contributions and registrations thereunder.

Anti-bribery and white-collar crime: The firm advises and supports clients on issues related to anti-bribery, white collar crime, corporate governance failures and frauds, adopting an integrated and multidisciplinary approach.

Food and beverages: The firm has expertise on the complex laws and regulations that govern food products, including packaging, labelling and product specific advertisements.

Technology, media and telecommunications: Under its technology advisory, the firm offers guidance on legal issues, advocacy and interpretation of policy matters , and  the seamless connect with specialised experts from various other related practices of the firm, especially, tax, real estate, labour laws, intellectual   property and dispute resolution enables the TMT team to provide comprehensive solutions to  clients.

Restructuring and insolvency: Dua Associates  offers a complete range of restructuring capabilities and  experience in addressing the complex, diverse issues involved in dealing effectively with stakeholders including, committees of creditors, public sector and international banks, and distressed debtors in corporate restructurings, which enables the team members to offer valuable insights and fresh perspectives to clients, across  all major industries and business sectors.  The firm has acted on behalf of clients from sectors as varied as aviation, corporates, asset reconstruction firms and banks among others.

Special service – Japan desk:This practice team which includes several Indian lawyers and Japanese nationals, focuses on assisting Japanese companies to invest and operate in India. Having advised over 250 Japanese clients on corporate, commercial and business laws, the Japan desk team also assists M&A and inbound investment from Japan and on corporate law, regulations and compliances to established Japanese businesses.