Professional Experience

Ashneet is a Senior Associate at Ahlawat and Associates (A&A) and is a part of the Intellectual Property (IP), Technology, Media & Telecommunications and Data team at the firm.

She handles various matters pertaining to IP laws and specializes in matters relating to trademarks, copyright, domain names, designs, geographical indications, etc. She regularly advises domestic and international clients, ranging from individuals to multinational companies, as regards IP protection and filing, enforcement actions and disputes including in the field of emerging technologies (such as AI, NFTs and the metaverse). 

She also handles matters pertaining to technology, media, gaming and data laws in India. In this domain, she advises a diverse range of international and domestic clients, including fin-tech, healthcare, telecom, gaming, educational institutes and other entities operating in the online sphere, in undertaking applicable legal compliances specific to their industry under the prevailing laws in India. She also works with and advises clients in the media and entertainment (M&E) industry, ranging from individual artists to production houses, advertisement agencies and other media firms. She is experienced in negotiating, vetting and drafting diverse legal contracts, notices and other documentation, including cease-and-desist notices, assignment and licensing agreements, settlements, privacy and other user policies, marketing, branding and advertising agreements, artist and production agreements, among various other agreements pertaining to her areas of practice; as well as preparation of legal opinions and notes concerning applicable compliances, business structuring,  media, IP and tech transactions and other  aspects pertaining to her areas of practice.

Ashneet was previously engaged in-house at Zimmer Biomet, a multinational medical devices company, whereat she was responsible for coordinating with different regional offices in India, and international offices in the Asia Pacific. As part of her previous role, she handled the drafting, reviewing and negotiation of various commercial contracts and documentation (concerning marketing, distribution, supply and purchase of services and goods in South Asia) and was responsible for providing advisory on relative corporate-commercial aspects, legal risks and disputes.

Some key assignments in the areas handled, and being handled, by Ashneet at A&A, include the following: –

• Advising and handling various aspects of IP matters for clients including pre-filing clearances, prosecution, handling oppositions/rectifications, post-registrations activities (in respect of trademarks, copyrights etc.) as well as licensing, assignment and enforcement thereof.
• Advising and assisting prominent online platforms, including platforms constituting a ‘significant social media intermediary’ in India, in undertaking IT, data and other compliances and in preparation of relative agreements and policies for this purpose. 
• Advising and assisting media and production houses in negotiation, drafting and closing media transactions and agreements with sponsors, broadcasting and distribution entities including prominent OTT Platforms as well as with artists, producers, directors, singers and other creatives
• Advising gaming and e-sports entities proposing to set up businesses in India as regards the legal viability of their intended business, applicable licenses, regulatory requirements and compliances in India and preparation of requisite documentation and agreements.
• Advising a prominent entity in the fintech space in relation to establishment of a neo banking platform, applicable compliances, and the legally appropriate manner for onboarding users (and processing their data) on the proposed Platform for availing financial products/services.
• Advising and assisting entities engaged in business of virtual digital assets and cryptocurrencies in structuring, pertaining and establishing businesses in India in a legally compliant manner.

Professional Memberships:

• Bar Council of Delhi
• Trademark Reporter Committee (2024-2025), International Trademark Association
• Technology, Media & Telecom Group, International Lawyers Network

Awards & Recognition: 

• Recipient of International Trademark Association’s Tomorrows Leader Award 2023.

Publications: 

• Practice Note on Contract Execution (India), Practical Law, Thomson Reuters (March 1, 2024) Read here
  
• The Risks of Noncompliance with India’s New Data Protection Law, INTA Bulletin (March 6, 2024) (Read here)
  
• HG.org – ‘Information Technology Act, 2000 amended to promote ease of doing business, free speech in India’ (Read here)
• Legal 500  – Regulation of Online Gaming in India: An analysis of the recent legal amendments introduced by the Indian Government (Read here) 
• Communications Today – ‘Indias New Data Protection statute signifies a call to-action for the Telecom industry’ (Read here) 
• Communications Today – ‘Technological Trends in Telecommunications’ (Read here)
• International Trademark Association – ‘Class Distinction Inconsequential When Adoption of the Mark Is in Bad Faith’ (Read here) 
• International Trademark Association – ‘Trademark Squatting Key to Court Decision to Vacate Registration for Bad Faith’ (Read here)
• International Trademark Association – ‘Delhi High Court Confirms Hermès ‘H’ Logo as a Well-Known Trademark’ (Read here) 
• International Trademark Association – ‘Court Recognizes ‘Investment’ Function of Trademarks’ (Read here) 
• International Trademark Association – ‘CrossFit Wins Trademark Infringement Suit (and INR 1 million in costs)’ (Read here) 
• International Trademark Association – ‘Trademark Owner Wins Protection for Distinctive Elements in Advertising Campaign’ (Read here) 
• International Trademark Association – ‘Crossing the Fine Line in Comparative Advertising’ (Read here) 
• International Trademark Association – ‘Court Examines Standard of Proof in Cases of Infringement and Passing Off’ (Read here) 
• International Trademark Association – ‘Court Issues Directions for Trademark Show-Cause Hearings’ (Read here) 
• International Trademark Association – ‘Court Examines Disparagement in Comparative Advertising’ (Read here) 
• JD Supra  – ‘Delhi High Court permits use of the mark ‘FLY HIGHER’ by VISTARA Airlines on the ground of the mark not being used as a trademark’ (Read here) 
• Lexology – ‘Everything You Need To Know About How To Register A Trademark In India’ (Read here) 
• Lexology – ‘CERT-In Releases FAQ’s On Directions On Cyber Security’ (Read here) 
• Lexology – ‘New Directions On Cyber Security Practices In India Will Impact Crypto-Entities, VPN Providers And Data Privacy Of Users’ (Read here) 
• Lexology – ‘Data Protection And Privacy – Cyber Security Laws In India’ (Read here) 
• Lexology – ‘Can I really own the shape of my product?’ (Read here)