Monica leads the Firm’s Commercial IP, TMT & IT Transactions and Advisory Practice and has over 16 + years’ experience in this field. As a contract advisory, negotiation & drafting specialist, Monica has overseen and negotiated several high value Commercial IP transactions including multi-film production deals with Studios and with Film Super Stars, IT platform development and deployment by State Governments and multinational corporations, advised prominent industry houses in relation to brand separation via family arrangements. Monica’s experience includes advising clients across a diverse array of sectors such as the IT/ITES Sector, Broadcasting, Hospitality Industry, Telecom Industry, Healthcare. Monica has focused on supporting client requirements on commercial IP acquisition and licensing, technology transfers, procurement and outsourcing and brand franchising.
Monica has represented some of the world’s largest technology and entertainment companies in several complex and high value transactions. She regularly advises, drafts and negotiates IT related contracts including SaaS, PaaS contracts as well as software development and service agreements.
In addition to her commercial expertise, Monica has advised some of the biggest brand owners through the entire trademark prosecution lifecycle including on brand availability, protection and maintenance issues handling large brand portfolios in the media & entertainment, technology and tractor and agricultural implements sectors, among others.
In the technology sphere, Monica advised the State Government of Karnataka’s Centre of E-Governance, in setting up the Government’s Mobile e-governance platform and application “Mobile One” negotiating all contracts related to the development and maintenance of the platform. Monica’s advice to Centre of E-Governance has encompassed engaging with empanelled service providers for setting up online test centre and setting up a payment gateway mechanism on the portal. Monica expertise also includes advising and representing renowned multinational technology companies include technology majors as well as start-ups in relation to the development of technology, the licensing and deployment of large IT systems and platforms and legal clearance to software and hardware products.
In the media and entertainment space Monica, oversees India’s only end to end audio-visual production legal team which assists with script clearance during the development phase, drafting and negotiating above and below line contracts as well as all other related agreements for talent, services, marketing etc, assisting with film clearance issues during principal photography, assisting with third party IP licensing agreements, post production film clearance assistance.
Monica’s experience in the media sector ranges from advising on content acquisition, content clearance, negotiations of contracts for talent, actors, songwriters and other personnel, production agreements etc. She regularly advises the print sector, OTT players and broadcasters. Monica works closely with internationally prominent OTT players with the production of ‘originals content’ and advises on all content development, licensing, acquisition and clearance matters for major OTT platforms. Monica’s assistance to broadcasters and other platforms has included the due diligence and the acquisition of vast film and content libraries and assistance with development and deployment of complex electronic programming schedule software systems.
Monica is a highly ranked counsel and has been regularly recognised as an IP STAR and recognized in 2019 as part of “Managing IP Top 250 Women in IP”. Monica was ranked among 6 women in India in 2019.
Last updated 29th June 2020
