Effectively managing human capital is essential for business growth. Our HR, Employment, and ESOPs practice offers comprehensive legal and strategic support to organizations across industries. We assist businesses in navigating the complexities of employment laws, workforce structuring, compensation planning, workplace policies, and employee incentive mechanisms, ensuring compliance with evolving labour regulations while fostering a productive and legally sound work environment.

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) – End-to-End Advisory

A key aspect of our practice is Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)—an effective tool for talent retention, employee motivation, and long-term value creation. We offer end-to-end ESOP solutions, guiding companies through every stage of the process, including:

• Structuring & Drafting – Designing customized ESOP schemes aligned with business goals and regulatory requirements, ensuring clarity on eligibility, vesting schedules, exercise mechanisms, liquidity options, and exit strategies.
• Regulatory Compliance & Approvals – Ensuring compliance with Companies Act, SEBI (for listed entities), FEMA (for foreign employees), taxation laws, and other applicable regulations, while assisting in obtaining necessary approvals.
• Grant Letter Issuance & Documentation – Drafting and managing ESOP grant letters that clearly define employee entitlements while safeguarding the company’s legal interests.
• Allotment & Execution – Facilitating the issuance of ESOPs, managing employee participation, executing share allotments, and ensuring adherence to corporate governance norms.
• Tax & Financial Compliance – Advising on tax implications for both employers and employees, including withholding tax, capital gains structuring, financial reporting, and compliance with regulatory filings.

Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) Contracts

Employment agreements for Key Managerial Personnel (KMPs) play a critical role in safeguarding a company’s leadership structure and business interests. We specialize in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts for C-suite executives, board members, and other senior personnel, ensuring that they align with corporate governance standards and regulatory requirements. Key aspects we focus on are:

• Roles, Responsibilities & Performance Expectations – Clearly defining duties, performance metrics, reporting structures, and decision-making authority.
• Compensation & Incentives – Structuring base salary, performance-linked bonuses, stock options (ESOPs) and severance packages in a tax-efficient manner.
• Confidentiality & Non-Compete Clauses – Protecting business-sensitive information through non-disclosure, non-compete, and non-solicitation agreements.
• Termination & Exit Clauses – Defining conditions for resignation, termination for cause, notice periods, and post-employment obligations to prevent legal disputes.
• Regulatory Compliance – Ensuring adherence to Companies Act, SEBI (for listed companies), employment laws, and industry-specific regulations regarding managerial appointments and removals.

Beyond ESOPs and KMP contracts, our employment law expertise covers a broad spectrum, including employment contracts, workforce restructuring, executive compensation, workplace policies, anti-harassment laws, labour law compliance, employee benefits, and dispute resolution.

With our holistic and strategic approach, we help businesses create legally sound, tax-efficient, and employee-friendly HR frameworks, ensuring seamless workforce management while safeguarding corporate interests.