Legal analysis and practical guidance on cross-border business, disputes, corporate, employment and IP matters across India and the UAE — including the Legal Help Desk, our Q&A column on the problems clients actually meet.
Dubai has introduced a new regulatory framework requiring tenancy contracts for shared accommodation to be officially registered in a government registry, a move aimed at strengthening legal protection for residents and improving oversight of shared housing arrangements across the emirate. The requirement forms part of Dubai Law No. (4) of 2026 on Shared Accommodation, issued […]
Imagine receiving a call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer. They tell you your Aadhaar number has been used to open a bank account linked to a money laundering network. An arrest warrant has been issued. You have just a few hours to comply — or face public disgrace and criminal prosecution. This is the […]
Question: A partner who is also an investor wants the trademark in their name. How do we structure the ownership/licensing, so we don’t lose control later? Answer This is a classic commercial convenience vs. long-term control dilemma. The safest principle is simple: The party that controls brand strategy and quality should own the trademark. Everyone else should receive rights through a carefully drafted licence — not ownership. If […]
When art is generated by machines, India’s copyright law is left grappling with authorship, ownership, and originality. Can You Copyright AI-Generated Art in India? The Legal Gray Zone Creators Face Artificial intelligence has transformed creative industries at unprecedented speed. Platforms such as image generators and generative design systems now allow individuals to produce complex artworks […]
Question: A competitor/opponent has challenged our mark. What’s the strongest legal and commercial game plan, and what outcomes should we aim for? Answer An opposition is not just a legal argument; it is a strategic inflection point in the life of a brand. Handled well, it strengthens your market position. Handled poorly, it delays expansion, drains budget, and weakens leverage. The strongest […]
Question: Our application got an examiner objection/refusal—should we respond, amend, split, or refile? What response actually works in practice? Answer An examiner objection is not a rejection of your brand. It is a strategic crossroads. Handled correctly, it can be resolved efficiently. Handled emotionally or blindly, it can waste months and additional filing fees. The key is to identify the type of objection first, then choose the response path that produces […]
How India’s real estate dispute framework allows homebuyers to pursue remedies through RERA Authorities, Consumer Commissions, and insolvency proceedings before the NCLT. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) was enacted to address chronic issues in India’s real estate sector, including project delays, lack of transparency, and weak consumer protection. A key feature […]
Question: We’re launching in days and need protection fast—what’s the best filing strategy to cover the launch without wasting money on the wrong classes or a weak mark? Answer When launch is days away, the objective is not “maximum protection.” The objective is fast, defensible positioning without creating avoidable legal risk. You need to: Avoid a last-minute trademark disaster Secure a […]
Question A company—one of our clients—wants to ‘restructure’—but that word can mean very different legal routes: share transfer/sale, asset transfer, merger/amalgamation, conversion of legal form, or an internal hive-up / hive-down within a group. How can a business figure out which route it is actually taking (in UAE terms), and why does choosing the wrong label—or following a template from another country—often lead to rejections, extra approvals, […]
Question: Our company group has multiple UAE entities (mainland + free zone). The paperwork is ready, but filings keep getting delayed because someone says the ‘signatory is not authorised’ or the ‘wrong person signed in the wrong capacity.’ How do we correctly identify who should sign corporate documents (resolutions, applications, MOA amendments, share transfer documents, etc.), and what proof of […]