India (asialaw)

Obhan Mason was formed through the merger of Obhan & Associates and Mason & Associates earlier this year, bringing together two well-established Indian practices with complementary strengths in intellectual property, media and entertainment, technology, corporate law and dispute resolution. The combination creates a substantially broader platform, uniting Obhan & Associates’ depth in patent prosecution, portfolio management, corporate advisory and commercial transactions with Mason & Associates’ recognised capability in copyright, digital platforms, media regulation and complex intellectual-property litigation.

The merger is particularly significant for intellectual property. The combined practice comprises more than 60 lawyers, patent agents and technical consultants and advises across patents, trademarks, designs, copyright, commercialisation and enforcement. Its breadth enables the firm to support intellectual-property owners throughout the lifecycle of an asset, from invention capture, analytics and initial filing strategy through prosecution, licensing, portfolio optimisation and litigation.

The patent practice combines legal expertise with specialist technical knowledge across scientific and engineering disciplines. Its lawyers and technical consultants advise on patentability and prior-art assessments, drafting, prosecution, domestic and international filing strategies, oppositions and infringement proceedings. A dedicated analytics team undertakes patent-landscape studies, freedom-to-operate searches, validity assessments, white-space analysis and competitor monitoring, helping clients align their portfolios with broader research and commercial priorities.

The trademarks team provides similarly comprehensive support, spanning brand ideation, clearance, prosecution, renewals, portfolio management, enforcement and contentious proceedings. The group has experience across aviation, consumer goods, technology, financial services, hospitality, fashion, beverages and digital assets. Its work ranges from supporting cross-border brand launches to protecting established names against infringement, impersonation and organised online fraud.

Obhan Mason’s design and copyright practices further strengthen the platform. The design team advises on searches, filings, renewals, oppositions and enforcement in India and internationally, while the copyright group handles rights clearance, licensing, content exploitation and disputes. The firm also advises on intellectual-property-intensive commercial arrangements, including technology licences, joint development agreements, franchising, brand collaborations and the intellectual-property aspects of corporate transactions.

The merger has created a particularly strong media and entertainment practice. The combined team brings together experience across publishing, news broadcasting, music, film, digital content, hospitality and the visual arts. Its lawyers advise publishers on author contracts, translation and adaptation rights, pre-publication reviews and content-related disputes, while broadcasters and digital platforms turn to the team for guidance on regulatory compliance, licensing, intermediary liability and contentious content.

The former Mason & Associates practice adds significant depth in music rights, statutory licensing, digital platforms and copyright litigation. This complements Obhan & Associates’ work for publishers, news organisations, production businesses, hospitality ventures and art galleries. The resulting practice can advise on both commercial arrangements and disputes involving the creation, distribution and monetisation of content.

Technology and telecommunications is another area strengthened by the merger. The firm combines corporate and regulatory lawyers with patent practitioners, litigators, engineers and scientists, allowing it to address the commercial, technical and legal dimensions of technology-led mandates. Its work encompasses technology transactions, data governance, cybersecurity, fintech, artificial intelligence, digital platforms, software licensing and intermediary liability.

The practice is led by managing partner Essenese Obhan, a prominent intellectual-property practitioner whose experience spans patents, trademarks, designs, copyright and litigation. Neel Mason is a central senior figure in the firm’s intellectual-property, media and technology disputes work, while senior partner Ashima Obhan advises across corporate transactions, private equity, employment, media and dispute resolution. Other key practitioners include Aparna Kareer and Sneha Gandhi in patents and designs; Vihan Dang and Ekta Sharma in intellectual property, copyright and disputes; and Vrinda Patodia and Akanksha Dua across corporate, technology and media-related mandates.

Through the merger, Obhan Mason has combined a substantial intellectual-property prosecution and portfolio-management platform with enhanced transactional, regulatory and litigation capabilities. The resulting practice is equipped to support rights holders, content businesses and technology companies from the creation and commercialisation of intellectual assets through to enforcement and dispute resolution.