India’s education and EdTech sectors are undergoing transformational growth, propelled by digital innovation, investor interest, and the evolving regulatory landscape under frameworks like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This dynamic sector presents unique legal challenges at the intersection of regulatory compliance, corporate governance, dispute resolution, technology, and intellectual property.
At KNM & Partners, we support stakeholders across the education and EdTech ecosystem – including schools, universities, EdTech startups, online platforms, investors, and global education service providers. The Firm’s Education & EdTech practice brings together seasoned professionals with cross-functional experience across corporate transactions, dispute resolution, and compliance advisory. This enables us to deliver holistic, business-aligned legal counsel that addresses the sector’s unique sensitivities while facilitating growth, innovation, and regulatory compliance.
The Firm advises clients through the full lifecycle of educational ventures – from formation, investment structuring, and platform licensing to institutional governance, employment management, and dispute resolution. The Firm’s services include assisting clients in establishing and structuring compliant business models, drafting and negotiating key commercial contracts, resolving disputes across forums, and ensuring alignment with the regulatory frameworks administered by UGC, AICTE, NCERT, CBSE, and State Education Departments.
The Firm also counsels EdTech platforms on digital compliance, data privacy, consumer protection, and grievance redressal mechanisms under India’s IT Act, Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and allied regulatory frameworks. As the sector faces increasing scrutiny from regulators and stakeholders, the Firm assists clients in mitigating reputational and operational risks while supporting sustainable business strategies aligned with India’s education reforms.
Our Expertise
Advising on formation, structuring, and operational frameworks for for-profit, not-for-profit, and hybrid education ventures and EdTech platforms.
Supporting M&A transactions, joint ventures, and collaborations involving education businesses, including negotiation of shareholder agreements, licensing, and franchise arrangements.
Advising on sector-specific regulations issued by UGC, AICTE, NCERT, CBSE, and State Education Boards; assisting in structuring cross-border affiliations, twinning programs, and digital education partnerships.
Drafting and negotiating platform development agreements, content licensing contracts, service arrangements, and institutional collaborations.
Representing clients in disputes involving students, faculty, vendors, and collaborators across courts, tribunals, and arbitration forums; advising on regulatory show-cause matters, employment-related litigation, and consumer complaints.
Advising EdTech clients on data protection, content moderation, and platform compliance under the IT Act, 2000, DPDPA, 2023, and consumer laws.
Assisting in drafting institutional policies, codes of conduct, fee and refund structures, and grievance redressal procedures in compliance with statutory norms.
Related Practice Areas
Our Experience
- Advised India-based EdTech platforms on digital content licensing, platform governance models, and regulatory compliance under emerging digital education guidelines and data privacy laws
- Supported K-12 schools and higher education institutions in matters involving regulatory compliance, fee structure reviews, institutional governance, internal policy frameworks, and employment disputes.
- Represented international academic service providers and content licensors in structuring partnerships, franchise agreements, and affiliations for market entry into India, ensuring alignment with NEP 2020 and sectoral regulations.
- Assisted investors and acquirers in the education and EdTech space on conducting legal and regulatory due diligence, structuring shareholding arrangements, and evaluating sector-specific transaction risks.
- Represented educational platforms and aggregators in managing consumer complaints, regulatory show-cause notices, and dispute resolution arising from platform services, fee disputes, and content-related liabilities.
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