Summary: This article is the second part of a two-part series, examining the implications of India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, on internal investigations conducted by organisations and their legal counsel. While Part I addressed the foundational framework and the applicability of exemptions under the DPDP Act, particularly Section 17(1)(c); Part II focuses on the practical compliance obligations that Data Fiduciaries must navigate during internal investigations, including security requirements, breach notification protocols, data retention and erasure mandates, and cross-border transfer complexities.Continue Reading Implications Of The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025: Stoking Internal Investigations – Part II
Implications Of The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025: Stoking Internal Investigations – Part I
Summary: India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, effective November 13, 2025, have fundamentally transformed the regulatory landscape for internal investigations. This analysis is the first part in a two-part series examining the critical compliance challenges facing organisations and law firms navigating data-sensitive proceedings under the new regime.Continue Reading Implications Of The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025: Stoking Internal Investigations – Part I
Navigating the MSME Minefield: When Party Autonomy Meets Statutory Reality
Summary: The recent decision in GEA Westfalia highlights the importance of an exclusive jurisdiction clause in contracts involving MSMEs, particularly for determining the court with the jurisdiction to hear challenges to awards passed as part of the mandatory statutory arbitration under the MSMED Act.Continue Reading Navigating the MSME Minefield: When Party Autonomy Meets Statutory Reality
Emergence of the EU sanctions regime and their wide-reaching cross-border impact
Summary: This blog examines the increased compliance challenges faced by Indian companies due to the introduction of EU sanctions. European financial institutions and trading partners strictly enforce these measures, often adopting a zero-tolerance approach to secondary exposure. Consequently, Indian businesses with links to European markets must conduct rigorous due diligence as they face the risk of being cut off from euro-denominated transactions or even delisted from European stock exchanges.Continue Reading Emergence of the EU sanctions regime and their wide-reaching cross-border impact
Waste of an ODR process
Summary: The methods for appointment of arbitrators, as laid down by the Supreme Court, namely, mutual consent of the parties or pursuant to Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, were reiterated by the Bombay High Court in a Section 34 challenge. The petition relates to a financial institution unilaterally appointing arbitrator(s) through an ODR platform. The Bombay High Court sought statements from two ODR platforms, namely, Presolv360 and ADReS Now, on steps taken to ascertain whether the request for the appointment is lawful. It is imperative to have a carefully drafted arbitration clause to ensure that the outcome of arbitral proceedings involving an ODR platform aren’t nullified.Continue Reading Waste of an ODR process
UK Sanctions Enforcement: Implications for Indian Businesses
Summary: This article explores the ramifications of UK sanctions on Russia for Indian businesses that engage directly or indirectly with sanctioned individuals or entities.Continue Reading UK Sanctions Enforcement: Implications for Indian Businesses
Global, India implications of US DOJ resuming scaled-back enforcement against foreign bribery
The present US administration signed an Executive Order (“EO 14209”) in February, halting the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), pending new guidance to prosecutors. On June 10, 2025, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) issued new guidelines (“Guidelines”) on the enforcement of the FCPA, marking a significant shift in its approach to combating foreign bribery. These changes are a part of a broader strategy to recalibrate US anti-corruption efforts in line with national security interests and economic competitiveness.Continue Reading Global, India implications of US DOJ resuming scaled-back enforcement against foreign bribery
Expanding the Regulatory Framework: Deep dive into SEBI’s new AML/CFT guidelines
INTRODUCTION
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (‘SEBI’), through its Master Circular dated June 06, 2024, issued ‘Guidelines on Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) Standards and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (“CFT”)/ Obligations of Securities Market Intermediaries under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002,’ (“Master Circular/2024 Guidelines”),[1] emphasising the need for stricter AML/ CFT measures in the securities market, given global efforts against drug trafficking, terrorism, and other serious crimes. The 2024 Guidelines supersede the SEBI AML/ CFT Guidelines of February 03, 2023 (“2023 Guidelines”),[2] strengthening the obligations of market intermediaries and aligning with international standards from the Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”).Continue Reading Expanding the Regulatory Framework: Deep dive into SEBI’s new AML/CFT guidelines
Internal Investigations Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
Introduction
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (“Act”), marked a pivotal development in India’s framework for data protection by addressing the longstanding need for safeguarding personal information, data protection, and data handling. Continue Reading Internal Investigations Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
Time to harmonize AML control systems for global, commercial Indian companies
Introduction
For many global organisations, finding the right balance between having global, unified compliance programs, and the need to address local legal and compliance risks, is a challenge. In this blog, we will address the challenge that money laundering and related issues presents to Indian companies operating in Europe.Continue Reading Time to harmonize AML control systems for global, commercial Indian companies