Pravin Anand

Managing Partner
PRACTICE AREA/INDUSTRY FOCUS

Intellectual Property, Litigation and Dispute Resolution

SUMMARY

Pravin Anand is the Managing Partner at Anand and Anand. In a career spanning over four decades, Pravin has emerged as an IP trailblazer with an experience of appearing in over 2500 cases.

He has strengthened India’s IP jurisprudence with a practice encompassing all areas of IP litigation including patents, copyright, design, trademarks, enforcement, and dispute resolution.

Pravin joined Anand and Anand in 1979 as an extension of the law firm established by his grandfather in 1923. From a one-room office in Old Delhi, he took the firm to new heights with offices in four major cities and a diverse gene pool of 400 professionals.

His approach in and out of court has broken new grounds in Intellectual Property Rights and today, from Christian Louboutin to Cartier, from pharma to tech majors to policymakers and from art to entertainment, Pravin represents most famous brand owners, leading industries and eminent personalities who rely on his matchless experience for protection of their Intellectual Property.

EXPERIENCE

Pravin has engendered several landmarks and first-ever IP cases which have led to growth of India’s IP jurisprudence by leaps and bounds.

Of the numerous landmarks under his belt, the recent ones are:

  • Vifor International v MSN Labs & Ors – India’s first judgement on Product-by-Process Patent
  • Nokia v Oppo – India’s first protem security order
  • InterDigital v Xiaomi – India’s first Anti-Anti suit injunction
  • Multi-year, Multi-technology patent cross-licence agreement between Nokia and Lenovo, and settlement of all pending patent litigation worldwide
  • Renaissance Hotel Holdings Inc v B Vijaya Sai & Ors:- first decision from the Supreme Court of India clearly distinguising between section 29 (2) and section 29 (4) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
  • Ferid Allani case – paves way for software patenting in India
  • Merck and Hermes case- Heralds era for social damages for IP violations.
  • Pioneer Overseas Corporation case – paves way for DNA testing for disputed IPR in plant variety
  • Philips v. Bhagirathi – India’s first Standard Essential Patent case recognizing principles like FRAND and granting damages to the Plaintiff for the DVD patent.
  • John Richard Brady’s – recognized breach of confidentiality as a separate Tort capable of being protected even if there is no contract and the copyright in drawings can be infringed by the 3-Dimensional reproduction.
  • The Christian Louboutin case – protected ‘Red Sole’ as a single-colour trademark; a second case of the same Plaintiff developed the law on ‘Intermediary Liability’ restraining rogue websites.
  • Philips Vs Amazestores – Landmark judgment on aggravated damages for IP infringers. This judgement developed the law on damages by recognizing not only compensatory and punitive damages but aggravated damages, reconciling English and Indian law.
  • Merck vs. Glenmark- First patent law suit to be decided in Plaintiff’s favour post trial under Patents Act.
  • HMV Gramophone case – India’s First Anton Piller order
  • Philips case- India’s first Mareva Injunction order
  • Hollywood Cigarettes case – India’s first Norwich Pharmacal order
  • The Amarnath Seghal Case – Involving the Vigyan Bhawan Mural which had been distorted; the sculptor was protected through his moral rights of integrity
  • AstraZeneca case – India’s first order under Hague convention for collection of overseas evidence in India
  • Glenfiddich Case against McDowell protecting trade dress in India
  • The Bandit Queen Case – First of its kind case where a woman bandit called Phoolan Devi received protection for her right of privacy with deletion of certain objectionable portions in the film ‘Bandit Queen’
  • Najma Heptullah v Orient Longman – a case that brought up interesting questions of joint authorship under the Copyright Law
  • Pharmaceutical patent cases like AstraZeneca, BMS, Eisai Co. Ltd. – answered complicated questions on Genus and Species patents.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Pravin has co-authored ‘Halsbury’s Laws of India on Intellectual Property’ and contributes regularly to The Life Sciences Review, IP Review and Bloomberg BNA’s Life Sciences Global Guide. He serves on editorial board of CTLR, PLC – Life Sciences, Asia IP and Patent Lawyer and is a regular speaker at WIPO, MIP- International Patent Forum etc.
He invests hugely in IP infrastructure to solve his clients’ problems.
Pravin’s leadership can be summarised by ‘RiCcE’, an acronym he has devised to keep his team driven and wise. He believes that much like Rice is a staple diet (in India) making for major nutrient supply, we all need some RiCcE at work. R stands for Ruthlessly, i- Intelligent, Cc – Creative and Competitive and, E-Ethical.
Key drivers for achieving RiCcE, he says, are, ‘Knowledge’, ‘Strategy’ and ‘Desire to Succeed’.
Outside courts, he engages with the larger community to spread the message of IP through:

  • N K Anand Indian Science Competition
  • Hologram of Sir C V Raman, India’s First Nobel Laureate
  • The Raj Anand Moot Court Competition (since 1997)
  • Anaryst’ -an IP Board Game
  • ‘Brainchild’ -First IP-themed play
  • ‘Adventures of Mr IP’ – An IP Comic and
  • IPONOMICS’ – A picturesque coffee table book
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
  • INTA Board of Directors (2006-2008)
  • Past President – AIPPI Indian Group
  • Past President – APAA Indian Group (1994-2003)
  • Past President – FICPI Indian Group
  • Chairman, Sub-committee on Intellectual Property Rights – Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) (Beginning May 2021)
  • Chairperson, National Council on IPR – The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) (March 2022 to March 2023)
  • Technical Committee Member, Legal Services Sectional Committee SSD-17 – Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
  • Honorary Member to the Managing Committee – PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PDHCCI) (October 2021 – September 2022)
  • Member, INTA Enforcement Committee (2022 – 2024)
  • Member – AIPPI Standing Committee (January 2022 to December 2024)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

In truest sense of the term ‘visionary’, Pravin has married social responsibility with IPR.

He turned a new leaf in IPR with Merck tree order where the patent infringer planted 1,40,000 trees in pollution-stricken Delhi. Close on its heels came the Hermes case where the trademark infringer provided wholesome meals to underprivileged children, sanitary napkins in ten orphanages and foster care homes for two years. Well advised by him, clients gave up hefty monetary damages for public good.

He also engages in several pro-bono assignments like webinars while also encouraging members of the firm to participate in pro bono programs to spread IP awareness amongst masses.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

He also engages in several pro-bono assignments like webinars while also encouraging members of the firm to participate in pro bono programs to spread IP awareness amongst masses.

  • First Indian Legal Practitioner to receive the ‘AIPPI Award of Merit’ -2012
  • INTA President’s Award 2021
  • Inducted in IAM IP Hall of Fame 2022
  • Inducted in WIPF Hall of Fame 2023
  • Inducted in Legal 500 Hall of Fame – 2020-2022
  • AsiaIP Expert (2014-2023)
  • IBLJ A-List Lawyer (2016-2024)
  • Benchmark Litigation – Litigation Star Asia Pacific 2021 – 2023
  • Chambers and Partners – Top Ranked in IP and Life Sciences (2017-2024)
  • Most Innovative Lawyer – Asia Pacific (FT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2015)
  • National Law Day Award – 2010 by Indian Council of Jurists
  • Legal Era – Lifetime Achievement Award for Law Firm Partner (2013)
  • GIPC 2019 – presented with Award of Excellence for invaluable contribution in the field of Innovation and IP
  • Highly Recommended Leading Lawyer” in Intellectual Property – Chambers and Partners 2017 – 2020
  • Recognized as WTR Global Leaders 2019 & 2020
  • Ranked Key Figure in Patent Litigation & Prosecution Practice by Leaders League 2020
  • Managing Intellectual Property – IP Stars-Patents; 2013-2022
  • Awarded Leading IP lawyer of the Decade at the 9th Annual Indian Legal Era Awards 2020
  • Asia Business Law Journal A List Lawyer
  • IAM Strategy 300 – World’s leading IP strategists 2017-2024
  • IAM Patents1000 Gold band recommended Lawyer 2017-2024
  • WTR 1000 Gold band recommended Lawyer; Enforcement and Litigation 2017-2024
BAR ADMISSION AND EDUCATION

Pravin studied Law from Delhi University after completing Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. Called to the Bar in 1979, he has been practising as an IP lawyer since.