Smriti Yadav is a Partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group at our Mumbai and Kolkata offices. With over two decades of experience, she brings a deep understanding of intellectual property law and its application across a broad spectrum of industries, including pharmaceuticals, tobacco, music, automotive, retail, real estate, FMCG, and finance.
Smriti oversees the IP portfolios of several multinational corporations, offering strategic counsel on both contentious and non-contentious matters. Her core expertise spans trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs, handled at both national and international levels.
In addition to prosecution and litigation, Smriti has played a pivotal role in guiding the intellectual property aspects of complex transactions and negotiations. As a registered patent agent, she has successfully led select patent cases and also advises on plant variety protection and licensing, reflecting her versatility in niche areas of IP law.
Beyond her professional practice, Smriti is deeply committed to pro bono work and has worked for organisations like Teach. She also serves on the Board of Advisors at Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai; IPR Committee of Rajiv Gandhi College of Management Studies, Navi Mumbai amongst others, contributing her expertise to support legal education and public interest initiatives.
Intellectual Property
Advised Anand Mahindra and Mahindra & Mahindra on personality right encroachment advisory work
Advised Andersen Tax, LLC and India Capital on trans-border trade mark dispute
Advised Honda Motors on counterfeit goods advisory and criminal enforcement actions
Advised Reliance Industries Limited and Viacom 18 Media Private Limited (Viacom 18) on its strategic joint venture with The Walt Disney Company (Disney). The transaction has merged the digital streaming and television assets of Disney and Viacom 18 in India to create one of the leading TV and digital streaming platforms ‘Jio Hotstar’ for entertainment and sports content in India.
Advised INOX India in Cryogas Equipment v. INOX India before the Supreme Court of India, in a copyright infringement matter in internal drawings of cryogenic semitrailers and the contention that such drawings were design registrable.
Advised Skechers USA and Skechers South Asia before the Bombay High Court and Delhi High Court in trademark and copyright infringement matter against use of their marks by multiple identified and unidentified sellers across India engaged in sale of counterfeit / lookalike footwears.
Advised Asian Paints, HUL, Bisleri International, Doms Industries in various courts across India in trademark and copyright infringement matter against use of their marks by multiple identified sellers in across India engaged in sale of counterfeit / lookalike paints products.
Advised Norton Motorcycle Co Limited in policing of IP in various countries of the world
Advised Westfalia Fruit Estate (, The South African Avocado Growers' Association, and Proprietary Fruits Varieties (Contracts) with pre-filing advisory and filing of applications before the PPV&FRA for registration of 'avocado' and 'cherry' plant varieties in India, respectively. Also, assisted Rockit Global in relation its an ‘apple’ plant variety.
Smriti has been recognised in various rankings such as IP Stars, Legal 500, Asialaw, WTR 1000, IAM, Managing IP, etc.
She has also been recognised in Managing IP’s list of Top 250 Women in IP for the years 2020 and 2022.
