Indian Legal Counsel for US Companies and Investors

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.