EquiCorp Associates

  Today in high octane and complex business relationship runs on contractual relationship and at times the strain on such relationship results in disputes among the parties in commercial relationship which makes it difficult to continue together in business. Arbitration is an efficient and effective manner to resolve such disputes among the parties. Arbitration often try to preserve or protect the existing relationship amongst the parties, unlike court procedures where sometimes the final outcome can result in the relationship coming to an end between both parties. To protect their rights, the parties enter into agreements and include the arbitration agreement /clause as part of their commercial transactions. In recent few years, the enforceability of such agreements had been challenged on ground of no-payment of stamp duty or insufficient stamp duty. In 2021, in the matter   N.N. Global Mercantile Private Limited v. Indo Unique Flame Limited & Ors. [1]   (“ NN M...

With the initiation of “Unlockdown” for opening of business in India, to navigate the challenges brought   on by the rapid spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) is now more complicated than ever as the companies are been forced to confront the way of doing business with the continuous spread of COVID-19 and to be more vigilante and preparation is requisite by the companies to address the business risks as they arise. COVID-19 has caused serious disruptions for every businesses, where some have had direct commercial impacts along with interruptions to supply chains, challenges in meeting contractual obligations, payment of commercial leases, whereas there are some universal impacts on each and every business- workplace health and safety obligations, travel restrictions, increased burden of data protection with the implement of work from home policy. As business risks, legal, regulatory and other commercial implications due to COVID-19 will continue and evolve in coming days with f...

Given the disruption caused by Covid-19 pandemic, the performances under many contracts will be delayed, interrupted or even suspended. Many of the corporate tenants in commercials lease may seek to delay and/or waive the commercial rentals for the duration especially during the 21 days lockdown. This unprecedented Covid-19 has legitimately prevented them from carrying out their business. With the outbreak of Covid-19 and government lockdown, commercial property landlords and corporate tenants should carefully review the following sections of their leases in particular to identify the impact of Covid-19 and help mitigate risk: a)      “Force Majeure” Provisions Effect on Rent Payment:  Force majeure refers to a legal doctrine under which a party may be relieved from liability for non-performance if circumstances beyond the party’s control prevent the party from fulfilling its obligations under a contract. Force majeure provisions are standard in re...

A database of millions of customers including their contact details are found freely accessible online and are available for sale at a very nominal price at various online social media platforms has brought a serious and basic question in focus- who all can be held responsible and accountable for such unauthorize and illegal acts? Prima facie , the person who is selling the database is responsible under the eyes of law, but do the technology services providers or the platform where such database is been listed, owes any obligation to the customers and can be held responsible for unauthorize acts by a third party on their platform? The technology service providers or the online platform operators are commonly known as “ Intermediaries ”. In India, these technology service providers or Intermediaries are governed by the provisions of Information Technology Act, 2000 (“ IT Act ”) along with Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011 (“ Intermediary Rules ”) ...

In deciding an appeal in the matter of MAIF Investment India PTE Ltd. v/s Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited & Ors ., Company Appeal (AT) No. 334 of 2018, NCLAT has reviewed and decided on the issue of exclusive jurisdiction of NCLT in all the company matters and to bar the jurisdiction of civil courts including   complex and contentious one. The appeal was against the order given by NCLT, Hyderabad, where the NCLT, Hyderabad bench declined to entertain the petition under Section 59 of the Companies Act, 2013 for seeking a rectification in the register of members. The alleged dispute involved conversion of compulsory convertible debentures without requisite consent and quorum. NCLT, Hyderabad dismissed the petition stating the reason that issue raised were complex or contentious issue which required the examination of the Arbitration Act, 1996 & Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016. While dismissing the petition, NCLT, Hyderabad had relied on Supreme Court’s 1998 j...