LakshmiKumaran & Sridharan was started in 1985 in New Delhi and gradually it has grown to Elevan offices. The beginning could perhaps be described as humble yet it had the makings of the institution to come. Initially starting with Tax Practice, the firm has expanded to other areas.
The firm steadily identified and nurtured talent in various parts of India and established itself as a tax litigation firm of repute encompassing all indirect taxes including Service Tax and Sales Tax/VAT. It continued to handle litigation work right from quasi-judicial authorities and upto the Supreme Court of India.
In the year 1999, with the setting up of the Mumbai Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, the firm opened Mumbai branch of Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan. Trade in goods and services gained momentum as a result of liberalisation in the nineties. LKS assisted Indian and international trade by effectively taking up issues related to market access and anti-dumping and safe guard measures with Indian and foreign authorities. As a natural progression, where expertise backed by strong fundamentals and professional credentials are required, the firm has in the last ten years, added practice areas like direct taxation, intellectual property rights, commercial litigation as well as corporate laws. Thus the profile of LKS became one of a provider of comprehensive services harnessing diverse talents which broadens the perspective in problem solving, planning and compliance with laws that govern businesses and individuals pursuing any economic activity.
The year 2001 saw the firm marking its presence in Bangalore followed by the establishment of its Chennai office in 2002. To improve service delivery and provide greater accessibility to its expanding clientele the firm opened offices in Hyderabad in 2005, in Ahmedabad in 2007, in Pune in 2011, in Kolkata in 2013 and in Chandigarh in 2014. Since May, 2015, we are also present in Gurgaon. Office in Allahabad is also functional from June 2016.
The firm has built a strong reputation for its intense knowledge and deep understanding of technology having handled several litigations pertaining to classification of goods imported into or manufactured in India. The importance of intellectual property and protection of rights under various laws which continue to evolve cannot be over emphasised. The firm now provides complete end-to-end IPR services from creation of IP to litigation and licensing of IP. Today LKS is recognized as an established IP firm in India.
The corporate sector has taken the centre stage and is the key driver of growth in India. Emerging as a full service legal firm to corporates, the firm is now equally adept in handling M&A, restructuring of business, compliance with environmental laws, inbound and outbound investments as also traditional services like secretarial services. LKS guides and represents industry on competition law, environment law and food safety law and provides alternative dispute resolution solutions through its arbitration teams – both domestic and international commercial arbitration.
LKS has more than 300 professionals with law, accounting and science and technology degrees including 45 Partners/Directors. It has handled more than 50,000 litigation case before various forums both in India and abroad out of which more than 2,000 cases were before the Supreme Court of India. The firm operates out of 13 cities and has a presence in all the major courts and tribunals across India.
