--- title: "USA Desk" date: 2026-09-29 author: "Sagar Agrawal" url: https://ksandk.com/usa-desk/ --- USA Desk ยท King Stubb & Kasiva # Indian Legal Counsel for *US Companies and Investors* King Stubb & Kasiva is a full-service India law firm with nine offices across seven Indian cities. Our USA Desk helps American businesses, founders and investors set up in India, protect their IP here, and comply with India's new data privacy law. [Talk to the USA Desk](#contact) [Explore our practices](#practices) USIN - Company setup, FDI approvals and ongoing corporate compliance - Trademark and patent filing, licensing and enforcement in India - DPDP Act compliance programs for US businesses serving Indian users - One point of contact who works with your US counsel About the USA Desk ## A dedicated India team for American clients US companies are among the largest investors in India, and most of them run into the same questions early: which entity to set up, whether their US trademark protects them here (it does not), and how India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act applies to a business based in California or New York. The USA Desk brings those answers together. You get partners who have worked on US transactions, portfolios and privacy programs, a single relationship manager, and advice written for a US reader, with Indian concepts explained against the US rules you already know. - Partner-led work on every matter, from first call to filing - Clear scoping and fee estimates agreed before work starts - Calls scheduled around US business hours **9**offices in 7 cities: three in Mumbai, plus New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and Kochi **3**core practices for US clients: corporate, IP and data privacy **100%**foreign ownership allowed under the automatic route in most sectors, including IT and manufacturing **1**relationship manager as your single point of contact Practice areas ## How we help US businesses in India Three practices cover most of what an American company needs when it enters or operates in India. Each has a detailed guide. ### General Corporate Setting up and running your Indian business, from the first entity decision to board governance and exits. - Subsidiary, LLP, branch or liaison office - FDI routes, RBI and FEMA filings - Joint ventures, M&A and shareholder agreements - Global Capability Center (GCC) setup [Company setup guide](https://ksandk.com/usa-desk/company-setup-in-india-for-us-companies/) ### Intellectual Property Your US registrations stop at the border. We secure and enforce your brands, patents and content in India. - Trademark filing, national or via Madrid - PCT national phase patent filing and prosecution - Licensing, technology transfer and IP assignments - Anti-counterfeiting and infringement actions [Trademark and patent guide](https://ksandk.com/usa-desk/trademark-patent-protection-in-india-for-us-companies/) ### Data Privacy India's DPDP Act reaches US companies that offer goods or services to people in India. We build programs that fit. - DPDP gap assessments and compliance roadmaps - Notices, consent flows and vendor contracts - Cross-border transfer and localization review - Breach response and Data Protection Board matters [DPDP Act guide](https://ksandk.com/usa-desk/india-data-privacy-law-for-us-companies/) Who we work with ## US clients we typically advise ### SaaS and technology US software and platform companies hiring engineering teams in India or selling to Indian customers. ### Global Capability Centers Enterprises moving finance, technology or R&D functions into a captive Indian center. ### Life sciences and manufacturing Pharma, medical device and industrial companies building supply chains and plants in India. ### Investors and founders Private equity and venture funds, and US founders with Indian subsidiaries or India-origin IP. Why the USA Desk ## What working with us looks like ### Built around US hours Calls and updates are scheduled for US mornings and evenings, so decisions do not wait a day for the time difference. ### Advice you can act on Short written answers that compare Indian rules with the US ones you know, such as a Pvt Ltd against a Delaware C-corp, or DPDP against CCPA. ### Compliance-aware structuring We structure vendor, distributor and government-facing arrangements with FCPA and Indian anti-corruption exposure in mind. ### National reach Nine offices across seven Indian cities mean filings, registrations and hearings are handled locally, wherever your business lands. ### One team with your US counsel We slot into deals and projects led by your US law firm, and keep the Indian workstream on their timetable. ### Clear scope and fees Every engagement starts with a written scope and fee estimate, so there are no surprises on the invoice. Our team ## USA Desk partners Each US matter is led by a partner with direct experience in that practice. ![Rajesh Sivaswamy, Senior Partner, King Stubb & Kasiva](https://ksandk.com/wp-content/uploads/Rajesh-Ksandk.webp) #### Rajesh Sivaswamy Senior Partner Leads cross-border M&A and FDI mandates, including advising a New York Stock Exchange-listed company on its exit from an Indian listed entity. [View profile](https://ksandk.com/people/rajesh-sivaswamy/) ![Jidesh Kumar, Managing Partner, King Stubb & Kasiva](https://ksandk.com/wp-content/uploads/jidesh-Ksandk.webp) #### Jidesh Kumar Managing Partner Leads the firm's IP, corporate and technology work, including trademark portfolios for US-based market leaders in the computer industry. [View profile](https://ksandk.com/people/jidesh-kumar/) ![Vivek Boray, Partner, Corporate and Cross-Border Transactions](https://ksandk.com/wp-content/uploads/vivek-boray-coloured-Edited.webp) #### Vivek Boray Partner, Corporate & Cross-Border Advised start-up founders and enterprises in New York and Silicon Valley before building his India practice in cross-border transactions and FDI. [View profile](https://ksandk.com/people/vivek-boray/) ![Himanshu Deora, Partner, Intellectual Property](https://ksandk.com/wp-content/uploads/Himanshu-Deora-ksk.webp) #### Himanshu Deora Partner, Intellectual Property Handles trademark and patent prosecution, IP portfolio strategy and enforcement for international brand owners in India. [View profile](https://ksandk.com/people/himanshu-deora/) ![Dhruv Kaushal, Partner, Data Protection and Technology](https://ksandk.com/wp-content/uploads/e18ba7fb-7799-4a25-b56b-436d5a95a1bf.png) #### Dhruv Kaushal Partner, Data Protection & Technology Advises on DPDP Act compliance, technology contracts and data-driven transactions, including the acquisition of an Indian business by a US buyer. [View profile](https://ksandk.com/people/dhruv-kaushal/) ## Entering India is a legal project before it is a business one Entity choice, IP filings and privacy compliance are cheapest to get right at the start. The USA Desk helps you make those three decisions once, in the right order. [Book a consultation](#contact) Insights ## Guides for US businesses in India Practical articles from our partners on Indian corporate law, IP and data privacy. Load more insights FAQ ## Questions US clients ask us Can a US company own 100% of an Indian company? Yes, in most sectors. India allows 100% foreign direct investment under the automatic route, with no prior government approval, for IT and software, most manufacturing, medical devices and many services. Some sectors carry caps or need approval, such as brownfield pharma above 74%, defense and multi-brand retail. We confirm the position for your sector before you commit to a structure. What is the best way for a US company to set up in India? Most US companies choose a wholly owned private limited company (Pvt Ltd), which works much like a Delaware C-corp subsidiary. An LLP, a branch office or a liaison office can suit narrower needs. A liaison office cannot earn revenue in India, and a branch office needs RBI approval plus a five-year profit track record. Our company setup guide compares all four. Do I need an Indian resident director? Yes. Every Indian company must have at least one director who stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous financial year. A private company also needs at least two directors and two shareholders, so a US parent usually holds shares alongside a nominee or a second group entity. How long does it take to incorporate a company in India? Usually two to four weeks from the point your documents are ready. The longest step for US clients is typically getting US documents notarized and apostilled. Incorporation itself runs on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' online system and issues the company's PAN and TAN with the certificate. Does my US trademark protect my brand in India? No. Trademark rights are territorial, so a USPTO registration gives you no rights in India. You can file directly with the Indian Trade Marks Registry or designate India through the Madrid Protocol. India lets you file on an intended-use basis, and first filers often win disputes, so filing early matters. How much does trademark registration in India cost? The official fee for a US company filing online is INR 9,000 per class (roughly USD 95). Individuals, startups and small businesses pay INR 4,500. Through the Madrid Protocol, India's designation fee is CHF 83 per class. Professional fees are separate, and we quote them upfront. Does India's DPDP Act apply to US companies? It can. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 applies to processing outside India when it is connected with offering goods or services to people in India. A US SaaS company with Indian users, or a US employer with an Indian team, should assume it is covered. When do DPDP obligations take effect? The DPDP Rules were notified in November 2025 with a phased start. Provisions setting up the Data Protection Board applied immediately, consent manager rules follow after 12 months, and the core obligations on notice, consent, security, breach reporting and data retention apply from about May 2027. That leaves a short window to build a compliance program. What are the penalties under India's data privacy law? The Data Protection Board can impose penalties of up to INR 250 crore (roughly USD 26 million) per instance for failing to take reasonable security safeguards, and up to INR 200 crore for failing to report a breach or for children's data violations. How do we start working with the USA Desk? Send us a short note through the form on this page or email our relationship manager. A partner will reply within one business day, set up a call in your time zone, and send a written scope and fee estimate before any work begins. Contact the USA Desk ## Tell us what you are planning in India Share a few details and a partner will reply with next steps and a fee estimate. - Reply within one business day - Calls scheduled in US time zones - Everything you share is kept confidential ![Nishika Palan, Relationship Manager](https://ksandk.com/wp-content/uploads/Nishika-Photo-2.jpeg) #### Nishika Palan Relationship Manager, USA Desk [nishika@ksandk.com](mailto:nishika@ksandk.com) [+91 88798 17069](tel:+918879817069) ### Request a consultation Tell us your name, company and what you are planning in India. A partner will reply within one business day. Prefer WhatsApp? [Message the USA Desk](https://wa.me/917428567444?text=Hello%2C%20I%20have%20a%20USA%20Desk%20inquiry.) or email [nishika@ksandk.com](mailto:nishika@ksandk.com). Sending an inquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship. --- ## Office Locations - [New Delhi](https://ksandk.com/locations/top-corporate-law-firm-in-delhi/) (HQ): +91-11-41318190 | info@ksandk.com - [Mumbai](https://ksandk.com/locations/top-corporate-law-firm-in-mumbai/): 3 offices (Nariman Point, Lower Parel, Andheri) | mumbai@ksandk.com - [Bangalore](https://ksandk.com/locations/top-corporate-law-firm-in-bangalore/): bangalore@ksandk.com - [Chennai](https://ksandk.com/locations/chennai/): chennai@ksandk.com - [Hyderabad](https://ksandk.com/locations/hyderabad/): hyderabad@ksandk.com - [Pune](https://ksandk.com/locations/pune/): pune@ksandk.com - [Kochi](https://ksandk.com/locations/kochi/): kochi@ksandk.com ## Contact - [Contact Page](https://ksandk.com/contact-us/) - General: info@ksandk.com | +91-11-41318190 - WhatsApp: +91-7428567444 - [Privacy Statement](https://ksandk.com/privacy-statement/) - [Terms of Use](https://ksandk.com/terms-of-use/)