Indian law firm, Lexygen has announced that it is offering free legal advice to Indian startups, not-for-profit organizations and funds associated with COVID-19 initiatives over a three-month period as part of their COVID Pledge 2.0 initiative.
As per the firm's announcement last week, for a period of three months, from May 17, 2021 to August 16, 2021, Lexygen will provide, on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis, an aggregate of up to Rs 1.10 crores’ worth of legal advice, free of cost, to the following categories of entities/ persons/service recipients) who seek help:
1. Any and all Indian startups. However, start-ups that are engaged in healthcare or health-tech businesses with a strong COVID-related focus would be given priority.
2. Legitimate not-for-profit organisations that are undertaking or plan to undertake high-impact work in any of the areas relating to COVID-relief. Access to hospital beds, ventilators, oxygen etc., rehabilitation of COVID-ravaged families are good examples.
3. Special funds that are being set up to raise structured capital for research and development, for direct sourcing of vaccines etc. and other similar COVID-related initiatives.
4. Any other entities/ persons as the firm may determine in its discretion.
The firm has informed that it plands to spread Rs 36 lakhs per months worth of free legal advice across 20-25 service recipients per month. This amount may be increased or reduced to maximize impact.
The broad areas of law on which the firm would provide advice would be corporate laws, FDI laws, contracts, labour laws, startups-related issues, legal metrology issues, commercial disputes resolution strategy and so on.
Whoever wishes to avail of the firm's services under this Pledge may do so by sending an email to info@lexygen.law.
The names of service recipients would be kept confidential, it is added, unless the recipient specifically allows the firm to make announcements pertaining to the recipient.
It is also informed that all those in the firm contributing their time and expertise pursuant to this initiative would be given full billing credit as if they are dealing with a fully billable matter.
This is the second edition of such an initiative being launched by the firm. Last year, Lexygen had donated approximately Rs 50 lakhs worth of legal advice to a mix of startups and later stage Indian businesses, it is stated.