Raghunath Seshadri

Litigation

• assisting a prominent FMCG company in a dispute with ESI authorities over the application of exemption enjoyed by seasonal factory manufacturing coffee;   
• assisting a prominent player in the hospitality space in challenging the constitutional validity of imposition of service tax on online aggregators. Interim relief was obtained; 
• aiding a prominent wine dealers association challenge the levy of service tax on license fees paid by alcohol retailers. Interim protection against the launch of coercive proceedings was obtained;
• devising a litigation strategy for a prominent FMCG company where a successful quashing was obtained vis-a-vis a criminal prosecution launched for alleged sale of unsafe food;  
• handling a criminal prosecution against a director of a noted FMCG company where allegations pertained to violation of Legal Metrology (LM) regulations. A successful quashing was obtained; 
• research assistance in a criminal trial involving the classification of hand sanitizers with implications for sale of such products in terms of whether a license would be required; 
• handling a successful challenge at the level of the LM Controller vis-a-vis 4 notices issued to a prominent FMCG company alleging non-compliance with Legal Metrology provisions;
• mitigating potential criminal litigation in approximately 10 instances where notices were received alleging violations of LM regulations. Detailed replies rebutting the allegations mitigated criminal litigation against company directors; 
• assisting a leading DTH services provider in drafting submissions before the Apex Court in connection with the constitutional validity of entry tax;
• assisting in the obtaining of multiple favorable orders in cases lodged against encroachers of property belonging to an FMCG company in Tamil Nadu. 

Business Advisory

• assisting in the negotiation and execution of a key agreement with a Gift Card provider on behalf of a key e-commerce company;
• negotiating on behalf of a prominent FMCG company in striking an agreement for warehousing where the counterparty was a prominent player in the logistics space;  
• handling the negotiation and execution, on behalf of a prominent e-commerce company, of multiple advertising agreements;  
• assisting a prominent e-commerce company in devising a legally compliant SOP for the purposes of listing and handling food products; 
• assisting a prominent FMCG company in handling regulatory compliances and transition of labor in connection with the opening of a fulfilment center. 

Advocacy

• assisting in the research which contributed to the formulation of a report by the Steering Committee on Fintech Related Issues, 2019 (Ministry of Finance, Government of India); 
• assisting in research vis-a-vis the formulation of Draft Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2019;
• representing and making submissions on behalf of a major e-commerce company to the BIS Committee formulating guidelines to regulate fake ratings/reviews;
• assisting in the submissions made by a key e-commerce company in the context of inputs sought by the government for formulation of National Logistics Policy;
• assisting a prominent FMCG company in analyzing and ensuring compliance with norms regulating Dark Patterns on e-commerce websites.