LawQuest Profile 2014

Advocates and Solicitor (E&W)

LawQuest’s Team

Advocates and Solicitor (E & W)

EDUCATION

LL.M., University of

Pennsylvania Law

School, USA

Solicitor, England and Wales

Advocate, the Bar Council

of Maharashtra and Goa

Attorney, the New York

State Bar

ADMISSIONS

Maharashtra and Goa

New York

England and Wales

Poorvi Chothani, Esq.

Founder & Managing Partner – LawQuest

SUMMARY PROFILE

Poorvi is the founder and managing partner of The Law Offices of Poorvi Chothani and

LawQuest a unified business and immigration law firm with offices in New York, Mumbai and

Bengaluru.

Poorvi's practice has been focused on immigration law since 2003.This coupled with more than

25 years of experience in dispute resolution, corporate and commercial laws enable her to

provide holistic legal counsel to LawQuest's clients.

She has worked closely with large, local and international clients, including renowned

international consulting firms, Indian and American banks and investor relations companies,

multi-jurisdictional business processing companies, pharmaceutical and health product

organizations to name a few, helping them achieve their business goals in India and abroad.

Poorvi serves as Vice-Chair of the India Committee and is a member of the Immigration &

Nationality Committee, both of which are a part of the Section of International Law, the

American Bar Association (ABA). She has been the past president of The American Alumni

Association, Mumbai (2008-2010), the convener of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF),

Mumbai Chapter and a founding member of the New York State Bar Association's (NYSBA)

India Chapter. As a member on the board of the executive committees of the National and the

Western Regions of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce's, she is actively involved in

cross-border work between the two countries. She is also part of the Steering Group of

American Immigration Lawyers Association's (AILA) Global Migration Section and has served

as conference chair for the section's Global Migration Forums in 2012 and 2013 and co-chair in

2014.

Additionally, Poorvi is often quoted in the Economic Times and Business Standard, India's

leading business daily and on radio, CNBC-TV18 and Zee Business News. She is a regular

speaker at events organized by leading national and international organizations. Poorvi is an

Associate Editor of the India Law News (ILN), a quarterly publication by the International

Section of the ABA. She regularly publishes articles in prominent national and international law

and business journals. (Poorvi has been nominated, amongst the world's leading private

practice lawyers in “Who'sWhoLegal” each year since 2009.) Poorvi was nominated for the

prestigious ICICI-CNBCTV18 Emerging India Awards as “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year–

SME” for 2013.

Poorvi is actively involved in fund raising activities for education related charities and under her

leadership, the team at LawQuest renders pro-bono services to several charitable institutes.


PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS

Poorvi was the panel speaker at the International Bar Association's 6th Biennial Global Immigration Conference, London, speaking on “Hot Tips for Indian Immigration”;

Poorvi was the panel speaker on “Consular Processing/Immigrant Petitions: It's as

straight forward as Skateboarding Lombard Street” at the American Immigration

Lawyers Association (AILA) in San Francisco, U.S;

Poorvi was the U.S. conference chair at the American Immigration Lawyers

Association (AILA)–Global Migration Forum titled “Navigating a Global Practice

through Dynamic World Markets”, held in June 2013 in San Francisco, California;

Poorvi attended the Inter Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) Annual Conference 2013 in

Seoul, South Korea. The topic covered was “The Future of Law & Business in the

Asia-Pacific Region”;

Poorvi was the discussion leader for a series of three teleconferences on “Global Migration” organized by Immigration Law Works (ILW.Com);

Poorvi is a member of the Steering Group and Executive Committee Bangkok District

Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA);

Poorvi was the conference co-chair at the Global Migration Forum of the American

Immigration Lawyers Association's (AILA) – Global Immigration Forum in Nashville,

Tennessee. The topic for the forum was a detailed discussion on “Workforce

Globalization: An International Immigration Law Perspective”; and

Poorvi was a speaker and panelist on the Immigration Committee Panel at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Annual Conference in San Diego. She also spoke at AILA's Global Forum–Indian Immigration on “Consular Processing”;

LawQuest co-hosted a CxO Forum event in association with More Than HR (MTHR)

Poorvi spoke to a select audience at the IMC on "Update on U.S. Immigration Reform Initiatives: How They May Impact Indian Businesses";

Poorvi attended the 6th

Biennial International Bar Associations Conference in London, UK. The topic of discussion was "BRICS Countries & Emerging Markets".

Poorvi has hosted a series of seminars on H-1B Visas: Preparing for the Filing Season - Trends, Challenges and Opportunities in both Mumbai and Bengaluru annually.

Poorvi Chothani was a Discussion Leader for the AILA Global Immigration Forum in Boston. Her panel topic was MANAGING GLOBAL IMMIGRATION - INNOVATION, GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT.

PUBLICATIONS

Changes in the Indian Immigration System – October 2014 American Bar Association

– Year End Review;

“Amendments to Social Security Parameters in India” - Financier Worldwide;

“Evacuation and Exit Visas” – International Bar Association;

“Employee Stock Option” - Published online for Entrepreneurindia.com;

“Social Media and Networking” - International Bar Association (IBA);

“Sexual Harassment at the Work Place” - American Bar Association (ABA);

“Indian Business Visas” - American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) – 2014;

“Global Mobility Handbook”– Poorvi is the editor and author of three chapters (The

United States, the United Kingdom and India) (2013 and 2012 edition) and is

presently working on the third edition;

Poorvi co-authored an article on “Cross Border Immigration Law” for the Thomson

Reuters European Lawyers Reference Series;

“Indian Visas–An Update ” Poorvi is the co-author for this article published by the

International Bar Association (IBA) in September, 2012;

“Getting the Deal through–Corporate Immigration 2012 and 2013, India” Poorvi is the

co-author for this article for the Law Business Research, Official Research Partner

International Bar Association;

“Medical Visas” - Poorvi authored the article for the India Law News (ILN);

“Acquiring Indian Citizenship”- Poorvi co-authored the article for the International Bar

Association (IBA) in May, 2012;

“An Overview of Business Travel to India” The article was co-authored by Poorvi and

published in the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) Email Magazine,

e-zette for their 2011 issue;

“The Road to Independence”–This prestigious publication for the American Bar

Association, is a book that has 101 contributing woman authors. Poorvi was one of

the 101 women lawyers from all over the world who wrote about how they set up their

own law firms;

In addition over the years Poorvi has written for many publications such as

Interpreter Release, New York State Bar Journal, ILW.COM, India Law Journal (ILW),

New Managing Intellectual Property Magazine, Money Talk, Asia Law Journal,

Manupatra Intellectual Property Reports, Manupatra Newsline, NASSCOM's Portal

and The Economic Times.

LawQuest’s Team

Advocate and Solicitor (E & W)

EDUCATION

Advocate, the Bar Council of

Maharashtra and Goa

LL.B., University of

Mumbai, India

International MBA, United

Business Institute

B.Com. University of Mumbai

ADMISSIONS

Mahahrashtra and Goa

Manizeh Mistry

Senior Associate - Immigration, & Employment Law

103, Maker Tower F, 10th Floor, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400005, India

Tel.: +91 22 4002 0954, Fax: +91 22 2216 3215

[email protected]

SUMMARY PROFILE

Manizeh focuses on Employment and Immigration Law. She is routinely involved in advising on

Commercial Contracts as well as drafting Employment Contracts and Ancillary Documents,

Service and Contractor Agreements and preparation of Confidentiality and Non-compete

Agreements. Manizeh, a key member of LawQuest's Global Immigration team, is highly skilled

in preparing non-immigrant visa petitions and applications for multi-national corporations. She

works with large corporations, in conjunction with our network of local counsel in about 40

jurisdictions to facilitate the transfer of key personnel and their dependents abroad by securing

the appropriate employment authorizations, entry visas and residence permits. She also helps

companies with their operations and global immigration compliance program in India to obtain

work permits, registration requirements, extension of visas and compliance with local laws

pertaining to the employment of expatriates in India.

PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS

Manizeh has attended a seminar on "Doing Business with Vietnam & INDEE-VIETNAM";

Manizeh attended a webinar on "Consular Processing for Experts” organized by ILW;

Manizeh has attended a work shop on “New U.S. Visa Processing System, GS -Global

Support Strategy for Visa Services” organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in co- operation with the Consulate General of the United States;

Manizeh attended a seminar on “Doing Business with Indonesia” and was invited to the “Trade Expo Indonesia” organized by the Indian Merchant's Chamber.

PUBLICATIONS

“Getting the Deal Through –Corporate Immigration 2012 and 2013, India” Manizeh is the co-author for this article for the Law Business Research, Official Research Partner International Bar Association;

“Acquiring Indian Citizenship”-Manizeh co-authored the article for the International Bar Association (IBA) in May, 2012;

Manizeh has authored/co-authored multiple articles for LegalEra Magazine–“Trade Secret– A Matter of Confidentiality”, “Contract Demonstration and Damages”, ”Overview on Immigration and Work Visas for Foreign Nationals in India”, “Expatriates and Social Security in India”, “Foreign Nationals who wish to work and do Business in India”;

Manizeh has co-authored an article on Cross Border Immigration law for Thompson Reuters – The European Lawyer Reference Series;

Manizeh has authored articles for Nithia’s Indian Law Radar Newsletter on Arbitration in India and Non- Immigrant Visas.

LawQuest’s Team


EDUCATION

LL.B. K.C. Law College,

Mumbai

Advocate, the Bar Council of

Maharashtra and Goa

ADMISSIONS

Mahahrashtra and Goa

Deepak V. More

Associate – Civil, Property and Employment Law


Tel.: +91 22 4002 0954, Fax: +91 22 2216 3215

[email protected]

SUMMARY PROFILE

Deepak primarily focuses on Civil, Property and Employment Law as well as Legal Services

Related to the Charity Commissioner's Office as well as assists in other key areas at LawQuest.

He is well versed with the legal requirements of all Government office requirements; especially

at the Mantralaya - the administrative headquarters of the State Government of Maharashtra,

India.

LawQuest’s Team


EDUCATION

Juris Doctor from the Ohio State

University, Moritz College of

Law, USA

BBA in International Business,

USA

Bindu Mittal

Senior Relationship Manager


Tel.: +91 22 4002 0954, Fax: +91 22 2216 3215

[email protected]

SUMMARY PROFILE

Bindu is the Senior Relationship Manager at LawQuest and has been exclusively involved in

immigration law over the past few years especially in H-1 and L-1 visa preparation for the U.S.

market. She is the firm's liaison manager for clients who have global immigration and global

employment requirements.

LawQuest

LawQuest is a general business and immigration law firm, with offices in New York, Mumbai and Bengaluru, offering client

centric legal and business solutions. Our firm's vision is to establish a strong legal practice, based on local expertise and

intercontinental capabilities by offering high end services to global and local clients. LawQuest's growing team of lawyers and

support staff render professional services with integrity and dedication to meet client expectations effectively. LawQuest's

cross country and cross regional networks enable it to render seamless assistance to clients regardless of their location within

defined timeframes. LawQuest's team publishes a monthly newsletter, “LawQuest Alerts–Legal and Immigration Updates” and

subscriptions can be requested by emailing us on [email protected]

LawQuest's Clients

LawQuest's clients include both large and small corporations, online and offline agencies, consultants and other

professionals. Our clients range from multi-national companies, large national corporations and fortune 500 companies (who

are all world leaders in their respective industry segments) to small and medium business enterprises.

Most of our clients choose us based on referrals from other clients and colleagues; a testimony to the confidence the

community has in our work.

LawQuest's Corporate Social Responsibility Endeavours

In view of its commitment to the society, LawQuest renders pro-bono or subsidised services to several non-profit

organizations including:

Trust Law Connect – A Thompson Reuters Endeavour;

The Vedanta Academy;

Saathi;

Habitat for Humanity;

The American Alumni Association (AAA);

SAALT(South Asian Americans Leading Together); and

Ayzh, a social enterprise that provides health and livelihood solutions to impoverished women worldwide.

LawQuest

The LawQuest Professionals are Members of many Prestigious Organizations like:

The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa;

The American Bar Association (ABA) – Steering Group, the Immigration and Nationality Committee;

The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA);

The International Bar Association (IBA);

The Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) Tech Law;

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA);

The American Alumni Association (AAA) - President (2008-2010);

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE);

Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC)Member National and Western India Council Committees and

Legal Forum;

The Indian Merchants' Chamber Ladies Wing (IMC) – Co-Chair Legal Cell Committee;

The American Bar Association's Section of International Law - Vice Chair of the India Committee; and Vice-Chair of the Aerospace and Defence Committee;

New York State Bar Association's International Section - India Chapter Founder Member;

IvyLife, India - Founder Member; and

Penn Club of Mumbai – Committee Member;

Other Organizations:

Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) - Convener of the Mumbai Chapter (2009-2011);

The American Immigration Bar Association; and

Association of European Lawyers (AEL).

Contracts and Foreign Direct Investment

The LawQuest team assists its clients create, operate, regulate and expand their businesses. Our

range of services includes assisting our clients with establishing new business entities or forming new

relationships and helping them administer and enhance their existing commercial relationships. We

assist with all phases of business development, including proffering strategic advice,

negotiations, drafting, conducting due diligence searches, title verification, and registration and

providing legal opinions. We also assist with establishing businesses under India's Foreign Direct

Investment (FDI) policy.

Legal Services Include:

Incorporation of Companies;

Statutory Filings of a Company;

Joint Ventures and Shareholders Agreements;

Commercial Transactions; and

Foreign Direct Investment.

Real Estate Law

LawQuest is equipped to handle multiple aspects of Real Estate Law. Our clients require us to represent them in

various capacities as vendors, purchasers, developers, licensors, licensees, lessors or lessees. When real estate

deals escalate to different levels of disputes, we assist with the protection of our clients' interests in an efficient

and cost - effective manner whether the manner of resolutions, mediation, arbitration or traditional litigation. The

LawQuest services include strategic advice, negotiations, and drafting, conducting due diligence searches, title

verification, and registration, providing legal opinions, litigation, alternate dispute resolution and re-development

among other things.


Conveyancing;

Sale Purchase Agreement;

Leave and License; and

Power of Attorney.

Legal Services - Charity Commissioner's Office

While today's globalized world has become a never ending rat race for most, there are still many people who

believe in giving back to society and the creation and foundation of Non-Government Organizational Charity trusts

is one such means. The governance of these trusts fall under the Charity Commissioners office and the LawQuest

team successfully handles work and causes related to this. The areas of work that are covered by the Charity

Commissioners office


Starting a NGO under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Registration Act, 1960;

Closure of an NGO;

Starting a Public Charitable Trust under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950; Winding up of

societies and trusts;

Legal matters that come under the purview of the Charity Commissioner's office (Maharashtra); and

Legal disputes related to NGO's and Public Trusts.

Employment and Labour Law

LawQuest assists clients with employment related issues within India, compliance with various applicable acts

that are pertinent to a set of employees, officers and senior management. Our services include strategic advice,

negotiations, drafting, providing legal opinions, litigation and alternate dispute resolution.


Employment and Labour Law

Assistance with Employment Contracts and Ancillary documents, including Technology and Intellectual Agreements. Property license Agreements, Confidentiality Agreements, Secrecy Agreements and Non-compete Agreements;

Advice on Non-compete Issues and their Enforceability;

Advice on Applicable Labour Laws and Employment Laws;

Advice on Data Projection and Privacy Issues;

Advice on Strategy and Documentation for Safeguarding of Confidential Information and Protecting Intellectual Property (IP);

Assistance with Employee Credential Verifications through Third Party Vendors;

Advice on Personal Policies, Drafting Handbook of Employment Terms and Conditions and Employee Manuals;

Litigation Strategy; and Employer – Employee Dispute under Industrial Dispute Act and the Minimum Wage Act

Global Migration –Work Permits and Visas

In a growing globalized world, human mobility is increasing exponentially. Indian and global clients often require

one- stop-shops to meet their requirements to post professionals and other personnel in international allocations.

The need for these services has seen a spurt, in view of Indian Companies acquiring or setting up businesses

abroad. LawQuest's qualified professionals and personnel offer these services across borders in over 30

jurisdictions worldwide. LawQuest collaborates with local and overseas network partners, to meet client

requirements as and when necessary.

Australia France Turkey

Japan The Netherlands Sri Lanka

Austria Germany Indonesia

Mexico China Argentina

Belgium Hong Kong Poland

Russia The Philippines Switzerland

Brazil India Romania

South Africa The United Kingdom Thailand

Canada Israel The United Arab Emirates

Spain The United States Kenya

Denmark Italy Saudi Arabia

In-house Expertise:

US Immigration

Immigrant Visas

Employment Visas

Family Based Immigration Visas

Non-Immigrant Visas

H-1B Visas

Business Visas

Student Visas

L-1 Visas

Tourist Visas

Consular Processing

Legal Consultation and Written Opinions

UK Immigration

Points Based Immigration

Work Permits

Sole Representative Visas

Business Visas

Tourist Visas

Indian Immigration

Employment and Business Visas

Registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Registration

Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Registration

Network Member: The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

LawQuest Profile 2014

Documents

Transcript of LawQuest Profile 2014