India Market Entry via Joint Venture

An international gas and oil holding was preparing to launch business operations in India together with a local partner. India's regulatory environment combines layered taxation rules, currency controls, and sector-specific permits, and the client's profile added a separate sanctions-compliance dimension on top. Before committing capital, the holding needed a structured view of the available legal forms, a clear read on tax and FX consequences, and a documented basis for choosing the right vehicle with the Indian partner — all in a market where missteps at the entry stage carry long-term regulatory and reputational risk.

We provided full-cycle legal support covering market-entry analysis and joint venture launch under Indian law:

1. Comparative entry analysis — conducted a structured review of legal registration options in India, weighing taxation, currency regulation, permits and licences for the client's sector, and applicable sanctions-compliance constraints.
2. Form selection — delivered a comprehensive opinion that led the client and the Indian partner to structure the business as a joint venture, with a clear rationale for the chosen form.
3. JV corporate documents — drafted the shareholders' agreement, delineating responsibilities between the client and the Indian partner at launch and during ongoing operations, alongside the articles of association and memorandum under Indian law.
4. Share acquisition and registration — prepared the SPA for the Indian partner's acquisition of shares in the JV and supported the JV registration process in India end to end.