The Legal500 has ranked us across seven distinct categories this year!

The Legal500, the world’s largest directory for law firms and lawyers, counts Spice Route Legal amongst market leaders across multiple categories, in their 2022 guide for the Indian region. Just 5 years since the firm’s founding, Spice Route Legal’s work in seven separate practice areas and industry sectors has been ranked alongside the best firms in the region – 

1. Data Protection (Tier 1) 
2. TMT (Tier 2)
3. Financial Services Regulatory (Tier 2) 
4. Corporate & M&A (Tier 3)
5. Projects & Energy (Tier 3)
6. Private Equity & Investment Funds (Tier 4) 
7. Intellectual Property (Tier 4) 

Mathew Chacko has been recognized as a Leading Individual lawyer by Legal500, and both founding partners have been singled out for praise by clients across practice areas. In addition, the Legal500 has commended Aadya Misra as a Rising Star in the Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity practice area for the second year in a row, and also recognized Ankita Hariramani as a Rising Star for her in depth expertise in all things fintech, in the Financial Services Regulatory practice area. 

The Legal500 piles on the praise in describing our market leading Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity practice as “Top Tier”, observing that we assist clients “on the full range of data privacy/security, transfers and data compliance” as well as also advising “on blockchain, Fintech services and products, and various uses of AI”. Practice head Mathew Chacko’s work is noted for “decades of experience of data protection as part of his wider TMT expertise” and Aadya Misra, a senior associate with the larger TMT practice group is recognised as a Rising Star by the guide as well. Clients tell Legal500 that “Mathew and Aadya stand out as the team members who take point on data advisory and actioning. As the requirements of the company are cross jurisdictional, it is a significant differentiator that they are able to run India, have a preliminary view on international positions and effectively coordinate with international counsels.”

The Legal500 lauds the firm’s expertise in Technology, Media & Telecommunications, commending Spice Route Legal on cementing “its position as being one of the fastest growing TMT practices in the country”. The guide  goes on to observe that the team has acted “..for some of the world’s foremost tech companies on content licensing and acquisition mandates, enforcement actions, and trademark disputes…(P)ractice head Mathew Chacko is noted for his wide-ranging experience in tech M&A, blockchain and data legislation. Ankita Hariramani leads on the full gamut of fintech work from the firm’s Pune office. Aadya Misra is recommended for global data privacy and regulatory advisory issues.” 

In regards to our Corporate and M&A practice, the Legal500 notes that “(w)ith a strong sector approach that focuses on TMT, energy and life sciences, Spice Route Legal‘s practice handles the breath of corporate advisory, M&A and private equity work”. They further recognise Praveen’s expertise in advising on “numerous acquisitions in the renewable and alternative energy sectors” and Mathew for his technology sector focused M&A work, and his practice acting “increasingly for multinational acquisitive entities”. 

Our cutting edge work within the fintech industry is recognised by a ranking for Financial Services Regulatory work by the Legal500 2022 guide. They note that “Spice Route Legal is valued by clients as its ‘holistic approach is very reassuring in the evolving financial landscape‘.” The Legal500 shares that the firm’s roster of clients has grown from a core of technology clients, to now include “global and domestic banks, and non-banking, often new, financial services companies, involving digital lending or payment gateways”. With ‘great insights on the industry‘, Mathew Chacko heads a smaller, focused team that includes the highly-rated senior associate Ankita Hariramani who is praised by clients for her ‘incomparable understanding of financial regulations‘, and recognised as a Rising Star by the Legal500, in the 2022 guide.

On our Private Equity practice, Legal500 notes our “expanding roster of investor and investee clients”, that we are advising on a “high volume of private equity buyouts, fundraisings and venture capital deals”. The world’s leading guide observes the “Through a team spearheaded by Praveen Raju, the firm completes deals across the sectors of energy, fintech, financial services and life sciences, while Mathew Chacko acts for start-ups and investors operating in the TMT sector.” We are pleased to hear private equity clients comment on our nimbleness in responding to client requests, and our ability to deliver in a timely and effective manner, and extremely happy to hear clients say they will continue to return to us for work in the future – thank you clients! 

The Legal500 goes on to recognise our emerging energy and electric mobility sector expertise in the market, observing that the firm’s core experience in this industry includes advising on “construction and project development, project finance, corporate transactions and regulatory assistance”. They further note that “Praveen Raju heads the practice with a focus on the solar, electric vehicles, hydrogens and alternative fuels industries.”

Finally, we round up the honours for 2022, with Legal500’s analysis of our Intellectual Property practice – that we are a “relatively new firm with an initial focus on corporate and technology law but with an increasingly strong practice relating to IP transactions and disputes expertise.” The guide comments on the practice’s work usually arising from “licensing, acquisitions and sponsorship deals and protecting brand names”, as well as our experience in advising on “high-profile cases concerning the misuse of IP assets online” and “expertise in areas such as healthcare and advanced tech/fintech”, in relation to the range of our intellectual property work.