We are a family of strong 800+ people including 470+ professionals working from 14 locations across India.
We have a rich heritage and enduring legacy which are pivotal in shaping trust, excellence, and unparalleled legal expertise, thus building a strong reputation and a trusted brand.
We started in 1985 in a single room set up by the two founders with no prior experience of working in a law firm. Both the founders had outstanding academic records and focused on their deep understanding of the law to form the foundation of the firm.
Integrity, Knowledge and Passion are the principles that resonate with every member of our LKS family and the work that we do. These values drive us to build a community of legally sound professionals and well-serviced clients.
Everything we have accomplished over the last four decades is a result of our unique way of thinking which is deeply influenced by our core values and principles that define us.
We and our professionals consistently garner appreciation for the quality of our services and the depth of our legal expertise. This consistent acknowledgment serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
We understand the constant need to stay informed about the latest developments in your field. In this section, we curate the most relevant and impactful updates covering developments in various laws.
Trademarks ‘Indian Royal Stag’ and ‘Indian Stag’, both used for IMFL, are deceptively similar with likelihood of confusion
The Delhi High Court has held that the marks INDIAN ROYAL STAG and INDIAN STAG, both used for IMFL, have necessarily to be regarded as deceptively similar with likelihood of confusion thus leading to prima facie case of infringement.
GI registration fee set to be reduced – Draft GI of Goods (Registration and Protection) (Amendment) Rules issued
The Ministry of Commerce has on 17 October 2023 issued Draft Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) (Amendment) Rules, 2023 to seek objections and suggestions on the amendments to the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002.
Insolvency – Doctrine of election – IBC provisions can be invoked even after issuance of recovery certificates by DRT
The Supreme Court has held that the ‘doctrine of election’, stemming out of the law of evidence that bars prosecution of the same right in two different fora based on the same cause of action, cannot be applied to prevent a financial creditor from approaching the adjudicating authority for initiation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process against a corporate debtor.
Online gaming sector – Developments in October 2023
The online gaming sector witnessed a series of watershed developments in the GST regime in the month of October 2023 from legislative and litigative standpoint. The key legislative development was the transition into the new deposit-based GST regime which has become effective from 1 October 2023.
Laptops, tablets, personal computers, etc. – Exemption from import authorisation provided in specific cases
The Indian Ministry of Commerce has on 19 October 2023 relaxed the provisions regarding requirement of import authorisation for import of laptops, tablets, personal computers, etc. It may be noted that the regime requiring import authorisation for laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers, and ultra small form factor computers and servers, falling under HSN 8471 of the ITC(HS), will be effective from 1 November 2023.
Refund of service tax is maintainable even when assessment/self-assessment is not challenged in appeal
The Larger Bench of the CESTAT has held that refund of service tax is maintainable in the absence of any challenge to assessment or self-assessment in appeal under the Finance Act, 1994.
‘Appropriate Office’ under Patents Rule 4 is not dispositive of jurisdiction of High Court under Article 226 of Constitution
The Single Judge of the Madras High Court in the case of Adiuvo Diagnostics Private Limited v. Union of India and Ors. [Judgement dated 27 September 2023 in WP(IPD)/23/2023] was adjudicating a writ petition by a pre-grant opponent against a refusal of a pre-grant opposition against a patent application [9067/DELNP/2010], leading to its grant.
Divisional Patent Applications in India – Delhi High Court clarifies the scope
The Division Bench of the Delhi High Court in the case of Syngenta Limited v. Controller of Patents and Designs was adjudicating a referral by a Single Judge, concerning the scope of divisional patent applications under Section 16 of the Patents Act, 1970. The Division Bench held that while plurality of inventions is required to file a divisional application, the plurality can be ascertained from the provisional or complete specification and need not be mandatorily restricted to the claims.
Scope of diagnostic methods under Section 3(i) of the Patents Act - Madras High Court elucidates
In a first by an Indian Court, the Single Judge of the Madras High Court in the case of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Sequenom, Inc. v. The Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs, CMA (PT) No.14 of 2023 (Judgement dated 12 October 2023) interpreted the scope of the exclusion for diagnostic methods under Section 3(i) of the Patents Act, 1970 (‘Act’) and held that the invention claimed in the instant case is not excluded under Section 3(i) of the Act.
Valuation (Customs) – Unattested copies of export declarations filed by foreign supplier when cannot be basis for enhancement of value
The Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of CESTAT, which had held that unattested copies of export declarations filed by the foreign supplier before the foreign Customs authorities cannot be relied upon for the purpose of enhancement of value of goods imported in India.
