Practice area

Corporate and Commercial Lawyers in Delhi

Most corporate legal spend that actually pays for itself happens before a dispute — in the contract, the shareholders agreement, and the compliance calendar. Where a dispute has already arisen, the forum is usually the NCLT, an arbitral tribunal or the commercial division of the court.

What we handle

  • Commercial contracts, vendor and distribution agreements
  • Shareholders agreements and founders agreements
  • Company incorporation, LLP formation and ROC compliance
  • Shareholder and director disputes before the NCLT
  • Oppression and mismanagement petitions
  • Insolvency proceedings under the IBC
  • Startup documentation, term sheets and SAFE or CCPS rounds
  • Import-export and cross-border commercial documentation

Key facts

Governing law
Companies Act, 2013; Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016; Indian Contract Act, 1872
Where heard
NCLT New Delhi for company and insolvency matters; commercial courts and the Delhi High Court commercial division for contract disputes
Pre-institution mediation
Ordinarily mandatory for commercial disputes above the specified value where no urgent interim relief is sought
Corporate insolvency threshold
Minimum default of Rs 1 crore for initiating corporate insolvency resolution

How it works

  1. Structure it correctly at the startJurisdiction, governing law, dispute resolution and termination clauses decide what happens when things go wrong. They cost nothing to get right on day one.
  2. DiligenceBefore investing, acquiring or contracting at scale, verify the counterparty's filings, charges and litigation history.
  3. Escalate deliberatelyNotice, then mediation or arbitration if the contract requires it, then the tribunal or court.

Common questions

What is the difference between the NCLT and a civil court for a company dispute?

The NCLT has exclusive jurisdiction over specified company law matters — oppression and mismanagement, mergers, insolvency, and certain shareholder rights. Ordinary contractual disputes involving a company still go to civil or commercial courts, or to arbitration if the contract so provides.

Do we need a shareholders agreement if we already have Articles?

Yes in practice. The Articles govern the company; the shareholders agreement governs the relationship between the shareholders — exit, drag and tag rights, reserved matters, deadlock. Provisions intended to bind the company should also be reflected in the Articles.

Can a small supplier use insolvency proceedings to recover dues?

Only where the default meets the statutory threshold and the debt is undisputed. The Code is not a recovery mechanism and tribunals dismiss petitions filed as pressure tactics where a genuine pre-existing dispute exists.

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Disclaimer. In accordance with the Rules of the Bar Council of India, this website is not an advertisement or solicitation of work. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice, and no advocate-client relationship is created by visiting it or by contacting us. Information is provided for general reference only and may not reflect the most current position of law.