Spice Route Legal

Managing Partners: Mathew Chacko, Praveen Raju

Number of Partners: 5

Languages: English, Hindi, Spanish, French, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Gujarati

Memberships

• International Bar Association
• IAPP
• ITechLaw
• Sedona Conference
• Society for Computers and Law

Spice Route Legal is a full-service law firm focused on (i) technology, media and telecommunications; (ii) lifesciences, pharmaceuticals and healthcare; (iii) energy and sustainability; (iv) financial services; (v) mobility, aviation, and defence. We provide exceptional levels of legally astute and commercially relevant advice to participants in international trade and commerce and bring a unique approach to the table, designed to offer the best solution for legal and business challenges that our clients face across the world.

Corporate & M&A

Partners: 4; lawyers: 32

Our Corporate M&A practice is at the forefront of advising on high-value, cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, and restructurings. We work with both public and private entities, guiding them through some of the most complex and demanding transactions in India and across international markets. Our team’s practical insights, regulatory acumen, and transactional experience make us the preferred legal partner for businesses looking to navigate global M&A and investment landscapes.

Key contact: Praveen Raju

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Mathew Chacko

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Ankita Hariramani

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Janhavi Joshi

Email: [email protected]

Key Contact: Harsh Kumra

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Karthik Somasundram

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Felina Das

Email:[email protected]

Private Equity and Venture Capital

Partners: 3; lawyers: 32

Spice Route Legal’s Private Equity and Venture Capital practice is recognised for its cutting-edge, cross-border work across the full investment lifecycle. Our sector-agnostic experts advise leading global and domestic funds on fund formation, deal structuring, regulatory approvals, IPO strategies, distressed acquisitions and investor/shareholder disputes. With a truly 360-degree approach to Private Equity and Venture Capital, we have acted for some of the most active investors in the region on marquee and first-of-its-kind mandates.

Key contact: Praveen Raju

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Mathew Chacko

Email:[email protected]

Key contact: Ankita Hariramani

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Janhavi Joshi

Email: [email protected]

Key Contact: Harsh Kumra

Email:[email protected]

Data Protection, Privacy, and Cybersecurity

Partners: 3; Lawyers: 20

Spice Route Legal houses Asia’s largest and most sophisticated data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity practice, combining deep technical expertise with unparalleled cross-border regulatory insight. A core pillar of the firm since inception, the practice advises global enterprises, fast-growing technology companies, and regulated institutions on the full spectrum of data mandates, including domestic and international compliance, product structuring, AI and data use, cybersecurity and incident response, global data transfers, disputes, regulatory engagement, and sector-specific data issues. With a network of leading data lawyers worldwide and a market-leading track record across both advisory and contentious matters, the team is trusted for its ability to manage complex, multijurisdictional data challenges with clarity, precision, and exceptional commercial understanding.

Key contact: Mathew Chacko

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Aadya Misra

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Ankita Hariramani

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Ada Shahrbanu

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Vishnu Naduvakkad

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Ajeeth Srinivas

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Dhruvo Das

Email: [email protected]

Fintech and Financial Sector Regulatory

Partners 4; lawyers 24

Spice Route Legal’s Fintech and Financial Services Regulatory practice is India’s largest financial services regulatory practice, advising on the full spectrum of financial sector innovation and regulatory strategy. The team acts for leading global financial institutions, pioneering fintech companies, technology giants, and high-growth businesses across banking, lending, payments, insurance, AML / KYC, tokenisation, AI-driven solutions, digital identity, and financial infrastructure. Known for its deep engagement with the regulators –RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA –the practice has helped shape India’s modern financial services regulatory landscape, with several regulatory clarifications reflecting our recommendations. With a 360-degree capability spanning regulatory advisory, commercial contracting, technology procurement, M&A, PE/VC investments, product structuring, large-scale digitisation programmes and disputes, we deliver end-to-end, commercially grounded advice that enables clients to build, scale, and transform financial services in India.

Key contact: Ankita Hariramani

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Mathew Chacko

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Karthik Somasundram

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Soumitra Ponkshe

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Harshda Bakshi

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Vishal Singh

Email: [email protected]

Key Contact: Swastik Sharma

Email: [email protected]

Technology, Media, and Telecommunications

Partners: 4; lawyers: 43

Spice Route Legal is India’s largest and most sophisticated TMT practice. With the deepest pool of experts in the region, the practice is uniquely structured with market-leading TMT generalists working alongside subject matter specialists who focus on enterprise solutions, artificial intelligence, big data, licensing, ad-tech, HR-tech, aviation tech, E-commerce, digital media, SAAS, Ed-tech, digital media, gaming, sports, social media, Telecommunications, cleantech and prop-tech.

Key contact: Mathew Chacko

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Ankita Hariramani

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Aadya Misra

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Karthik Somasundram

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Ada Shahrbanu

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Soumitra Ponkshe

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Harshda Bakshi

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Vishal Singh

Email: [email protected]

Key Contact: Harsh Kumra

Email: [email protected]

Key Contact: Swastik Sharma

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Vishnu Naduvakkad

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Ajeeth Srinivas

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Dhruvo Das

Email: [email protected]

Intellectual Property

Partners 2; lawyers 9

Spice Route Legal’s expertise in advising on complex questions of IP is widely recognised, having advised on some of the most contentious disputes and assisted on some of the most complex transactions that involve intellectual property. The firm has been at the forefront of the evolving contributory infringement jurisprudence in India, of the recognition of the doctrine of prosecution history estoppel, of some of the largest IP disposals and of defending multiple actions by patent trolls. The firm’s uniquely integrated IP team offers corporations the ability to rely on it for advice on the protection, monetisation, licensing and sale of IP and for disputes involving IP.

Key contact: Mathew Chacko

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Praveen Raju

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Karthik Somasundram

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Soumitra Ponkshe

Email: [email protected]

Litigation, Arbitration, and Dispute Resolution

Partners: 2; lawyers: 11

Spice Route Legal’s Litigation, Arbitration, and Dispute Resolution practice leverages the firm’s leading expertise across life sciences, financial services, technology, media, data protection, aviation and M&A to handle complex and high-value disputes. We represent clients in litigation, arbitration, and mediation nationwide, acting for major corporates, financial institutions, investment funds, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, technology leaders, insurers, real estate players, e-commerce businesses, and energy sector clients. The team also advises on regulatory and economic offences, including commercial and investor disputes, statutory inquiries, white-collar matters, enforcement actions, internal investigations, and market conduct issues. Led by experienced counsel with strong domestic and international credentials, we offer seamless, end-to-end support across every stage of a dispute, delivering strategic, commercially grounded solutions to sophisticated contentious matters.

Key contact: Karthik Somasundram

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Ankita Hariramani

Email: [email protected]

Energy and Sustainability

Partners 1; lawyers 16

Spice Route Legal’s Energy and Sustainability practice is recognised as a market leader in alternative and renewable energy, advising on the full spectrum of emerging clean-energy technologies and the transition to sustainable power. The team works across the entire energy value chain – acting for project developers, OEMs, investors, large consumers, and financiers on complex restructurings, cross-border investments, project development, and project finance mandates in solar, wind, hydrogen, and next-generation fuel technologies. As India accelerates its shift toward a net-zero future, the firm has become a strategic partner to companies at the forefront of this transformation, supporting everything from green hydrogen transitions to investments in advanced fuel cell systems. With deep sector insight and a strong track record on cutting-edge mandates, Spice Route Legal is not merely responding to the evolving clean-energy landscape – it is helping shape it.

Key contact: Praveen Raju

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Janhavi Joshi

Email: [email protected]

Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Life Sciences

Partners 2; lawyers 12

Spice Route Legal’s Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Life Sciences practice is recognised for its deep sector expertise and its ability to advise on the full spectrum of legal and regulatory issues shaping India’s evolving healthcare ecosystem. The team works with global and domestic pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, digital health platforms, hospitals, biotech innovators, and investors on complex mandates spanning regulatory compliance, product approvals, clinical trials, data and patient privacy, manufacturing and distribution, commercial contracting, R&D collaborations, and high-stakes disputes. With a strong understanding of the unique technical, ethical, and operational considerations that drive the sector, we provide commercially grounded, end-to-end counsel that enables clients to innovate, scale, and navigate one of India’s most tightly regulated industries.

Key contact: Praveen Raju

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Aadya Misra

Email: [email protected]

Mobility, Aviation, and Defence

Partners 3; lawyers 12

Spice Route Legal’s Mobility, Aviation and Defence practice advises leading domestic and international players across the transportation, aerospace, and defence ecosystems on complex regulatory, commercial, and operational matters. The team works with airlines, OEMs, MROs, logistics providers, electric mobility companies, defence manufacturers, and emerging technology innovators on mandates ranging from regulatory strategy, licensing, procurement, and compliance to large-scale transactions, joint ventures, infrastructure development, and sector-specific disputes. With deep insight into safety, security, technology integration, and evolving regulatory frameworks, we provide end-to-end, commercially focused counsel that supports clients in building, scaling, and modernising mobility and defence capabilities in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.

Key contact: Aadya Misra

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Praveen Raju

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Mathew Chacko

Email: [email protected]

Key contact: Soumitra Ponkshe

Email: [email protected]

Spice Route Legal’s proprietary border-agnostic model of providing seamless solutions for cross-border legal issues by relying on a wide network of friends is acknowledged as a market first.

The following are some examples of our international work:

• Advised the largest global life sciences company on setting up a “one-of-a-kind” digital lending platform, in collaboration with one of the largest financial services companies in the world.
• Advised one of the world’s largest FMCG conglomerates on the establishment and implementation of a global data governance strategy.
• Advised the world’s largest piracy-tracking software company on the privacy issues arising out of the deployment of anti-piracy tracking software and cross-border data transfer compliance.
• Advised on the cross-jurisdictional restructuring of what is possibly India’s largest solar company.
• Assisted a German investment fund focused on the Industrials, Chemicals and Logistics sector invest in companies in 10 countries in Asia.
• Assisted a leading Indian mobility player in assessing a 23-country regulatory, technology and risk analysis.
• Advised over 100 multinational corporations on the impact of Schrems II and the resultant guidance on data transfers to India.
• Led investment transactions in over 100 jurisdictions, amounting to well over USD 2.5 bn.
• Assisted an American conglomerate on the India leg of its USD 1.325 billion sale of its global PPE business to a leading international safety equipment manufacturer.
• Advised a Norwegian gaming referral service engine on contractual and technical safeguards to prevent reverse engineering of proprietary datasets through generative AI, while future-proofing its SaaS documentation and enforcement strategies against emerging AI risks.
• Assisted India’s largest air carrier service with data protection compliance for 50+ jurisdictions and global issues on consent inheritance and cross-border data flows that arose post its merger with a leading Singapore-headquartered airline.

Practice areas:

• Corporate and M&A
• Private Equity and Venture Capital
• Data Protection, Privacy, and Cybersecurity
• Fintech and Financial Sector Regulatory
• Intellectual Property
• Litigation, Arbitration, and Dispute Resolution
• Labour and Employment
• Banking and finance

Sector focus

• Technology, Media, and Telecommunications
• Lifesciences, Pharmaceuticals, and Healthcare
• Energy and Sustainability
• Mobility, Aviation, and Defence
• Financial Services

Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Delhi

Contact: [email protected]