ESTABLISHED IN 2012
Total number of professionals: 36 (4 partners)
Principal office: New Delhi
Other offices: Bengaluru and New Delhi
Key practice areas
Data protection; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; healthtech; policy & regulatory; technology, media and telecommunications.
Our services
Ikigai Law is a specialist law firm focused on technology and innovation-led businesses. The firm has a reputation for helping emerging-tech businesses navigate complex regulatory and policy environments. It is consistently ranked as a leading law firm for innovative technologies, data protection and fintech.
The firm has a deep capability in a growing list of tech and innovation sectors. Our work spans data protection, blockchain, digital gaming, digital payments, drones, healthtech, cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), online gaming, telecoms and others. The firm has advised on several technical and complex business models including an AI-driven health diagnosis and disease management platform, an IoT based smart lighting product; digital payments platform for minors, global privacy risks for an advanced surveillance application, and satellite communications for a first-of-its-kind satellite launch in India.
The firm works in sectors defined by regulatory uncertainty and complex policy issues. Ikigai advises satellite manufacturers on launch (in and outside India) and satcom and data analytics’ applications. It has advised the Drone Federation of India and the broader drones industry on its regulatory engagement on several key policy changes in the past six years. The firm often structures business models and first-to-market products to solve regulatory risk. Illustratively, Ikigai advised FamPay on India’s first numberless debit card targeted at minors, India’s first crypto-exchange and the first large token offering, India’s first and largest fact-checking platform and the world’s first private moon mission (now-abandoned). The firm has played an entrenched role in solving existential challenges for various technology businesses. In 2020, for instance, Ikigai represented India’s largest crypto-exchanges before the Supreme Court leading to a verdict overturning a ban on the industry.
Ikigai was the first law firm to have a dedicated technology policy and government affairs practice. This practice helps clients stay informed about key developments and their business impact, develop policy positions and stakeholder engagement and advocacy strategies.
The firm is deeply entrenched in India’s TMT law and policy ecosystem. It works with some of the world’s largest tech companies, investors, industry associations, think-tanks, and government organisations. With more than 350 deeply researched and informed articles, the firm’s blog deals with 16-plus areas of technology law and policy relevant for India and other important markets including the Asia-Pacific region and the African continent.
Independent intelligence on this law firm
The following information is sourced directly from India Business Law Journal and/or Law.asia and is not part of the directory listing provided by the law firm.
Testimonials
“Being an early-stage crypto startup, there are very few law firms who can help you navigate the legal space keeping in mind the business aspect. Ikigai helped us sail through that,” says Srivar Harlalka, co-founder of Flippy. “I highly recommend [managing partner] Anirudh Rastogi and his team for everything to do with cryptocurrencies and digital assets. The knowledge and understanding that the Ikigai team has of this space is probably one of the best in the country.”
“They are truly excellent on matters of policy research and thought leadership on sunrise sectors,” says one client.
Vardhan Koshal, from payment app Fampay, turned to the firm for advice on contracts and banking regulations, and says it provided “constant and high-quality support for our important contracts with parties that are far bigger in size than we are”. Singling out principal associate Aparajita Srivastava, he adds that Ikigai Law excels at communicating legal risks in a manner that is understandable to a business.
Notable deals
Recognised by India Business Law Journal as Deals of the Year
| CoinDCX becomes unicorn | 2021 | US$90 million | Details |
| Supreme Court reverses RBI ban on cryptos | 2020 | N/A | Details |
Contact us
New Delhi
Tower 7 – 402
Commonwealth Games Village
New Delhi
Contact
Surbhi Goel
E: contact@ikigailaw.com
Website
www.ikigailaw.com
