India’s booming digital economy has transformed the way businesses operate, connect with consumers, and deliver goods and services. The internet and e-commerce sectors are at the forefront of this digital revolution, driving innovation across industries such as retail, logistics, financial services, media, and entertainment. As digital-first businesses scale rapidly and attract significant domestic and foreign investment, they also face a maze of complex legal and regulatory challenges that require sophisticated, forward-thinking counsel.
At KNM & Partners, our Internet & E-Commerce Practice is designed to help businesses navigate this dynamic and evolving environment. Drawing on the Firm’s strengths in corporate advisory and dispute resolution, the Firm provides tailored legal support that addresses the full lifecycle of internet and e-commerce ventures – from formation, funding, and platform governance to handling high-stakes disputes, consumer claims, and regulatory investigations.
The Firm works with a diverse client base, including online marketplaces, D2C brands, SaaS platforms, aggregators, digital content providers, logistics startups, social commerce platforms, and global technology players entering the Indian market. The Firm’s approach is rooted in understanding the commercial drivers of the digital economy while ensuring legal robustness and risk mitigation at every stage of business growth.
Whether structuring cross-border deals, drafting platform-specific agreements, resolving consumer disputes, or defending IP rights, the Firm’s team offers agile, business-aligned legal strategies. With India’s regulatory ecosystem continuing to evolve – especially around FDI norms, data protection, e-commerce guidelines, and consumer protection laws – the Firm is well-positioned to assist internet and e-commerce businesses in scaling responsibly, managing risk, and protecting brand reputation.
Our Expertise
Advising on the formation and structuring of e-commerce entities, including marketplace and inventory-based models, subsidiaries, and holding companies. The Firm also assists in corporate governance, founder arrangements, and shareholder negotiations.
Assisting in domestic and cross-border M&A, strategic acquisitions, and investment transactions involving digital-first companies, including legal due diligence and risk assessment.
Advising on compliance with India’s FDI policy, including single-brand and multi-brand e-commerce regulations, marketplace guidelines issued by DPIIT, and RBI-related filings.
Drafting and negotiating platform terms of use, vendor and warehousing contracts, content licensing, advertising partnerships, influencer agreements, and SaaS contracts.
Representing platforms and sellers in disputes before consumer forums, commercial courts, and arbitral tribunals, including payment failures, order cancellations, chargebacks, IP infringements, and online defamation.
Advising on pre-litigation strategy, reputation management, negotiation, mediation, and responding to regulatory inquiries or public scrutiny related to digital content and consumer rights.
Related Practice Areas
Our Experience
- Market Entry & Structuring for Online Marketplaces
Advised leading online retail and aggregator platforms on structuring B2B and B2C models in line with India’s FDI policy and evolving e-commerce regulations. - Investment & Exit Advisory for E-Commerce Startups
Supported venture-backed e-commerce startups in multiple investment rounds, corporate restructuring exercises, and negotiating exit arrangements with investors and strategic buyers. - Social Commerce & Content Platforms
Guided social commerce platforms on user-generated content moderation, data privacy compliance, influencer contracts, and vendor onboarding protocols. - Consumer Disputes & Vendor Conflicts
Represented D2C brands and online platforms in disputes with logistics partners, advertising service providers, and online resellers, including litigation, arbitration, and pre-litigation settlements. - Cross-Border SaaS & Technology Contracts
Assisted technology and SaaS providers supporting e-commerce operations in cross-border licensing agreements, platform services contracts, and service-level dispute resolution. - Consumer Protection & Litigation Management
Advised online platforms on responding to consumer complaints, regulatory notices, class actions, and handling disputes relating to defective products, seller fraud, pricing anomalies, and data breaches.
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