Ever since the liberalisation of the economy in the 1990s, franchising has become a mainstay for foreign investors looking to establish their presence rapidly in India. With the flexibility it offers, franchising can be a very effective means of achieving economies of scale, while also benefitting small scale entrepreneurship.

In the absence of a special law, franchises are governed by the law of contracts, therefore, a well-drafted franchise agreement is all important. As franchising requires the franchisor to entrust its rights in the trademark, trade dress and / or products, and their reputation, to the franchisee for commercial use, intellectual property, contract and industry-specific laws all play a significant role.

Franchising is prevalent across many industries, and our franchise lawyers represent a large number of domestic and international clients in retail, hospitality, medicine, beauty and healthcare, automotive, education, real estate, and luxury and apparel sectors.

Our franchise lawyers provide essential services of drafting franchising agreements and maintains an ongoing engagement in the franchise community. Our teams are skilled in the finer nuances of brand management, international business and retail operations, enabling them to render practical and business friendly solutions to clients.

INDUSTRY SPECIFIC KNOW-HOW

The Indian regulatory environment has been welcoming of foreign investment, but remnants of a bygone planned economy remain. Our law firm’s extensive involvement in franchising helps our clients avoid pitfalls such as compulsory sub-licensing of technical know-how in certain industries. The firm has been empanelled by the Government of India to assist in the drafting of franchising laws, and we have also worked in close association with the British High Commission and the embassies of the USA, Spain and Italy to introduce franchising opportunities in India.

ENGAGING WITH THE FRANCHISING COMMUNITY

The firm has an ongoing engagement in the franchise community and is a knowledge partner with the Franchising Association of India (FAI) in annual events and workshops for franchisors, franchisees and entrepreneurs. The firm conducts training sessions to familiarize different industries such as education and retail with the position of the law.

OUR FRANCHISE SERVICES IN INDIA

Our skilled franchise lawyers provide comprehensive legal services, including:

• Drafting and vetting franchise agreements
• Structuring franchise models and manuals
• Partner searches and tie-ups
• Due diligence and compliance checks
• Representations to the Ministry of Commerce
• IP and brand protection strategies

Looking for experienced franchise lawyers in India? Our team advises franchisors and franchisees across industries with practical, business-focused legal solutions to help your franchise grow and succeed.