Venkat Raman
A South Auckland based legal firm has just launched a wide range of services in India, available to all its clients in New Zealand.
Legal Associates (Barristers & Solicitors), winners of the ‘Supreme Business Award’ at the Eleventh Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards in 2018, has announced that it will provide Legal Advisory, Sale and Purchase of Property, Litigation (Property and Commercial) and other services to clients in New Zealand.
The Firm’s Principal Solicitor Raj Pardeep Singh said that Legal Associates Lawyers will assist and advise in drafting, vetting and reviewing of various documents and represent clients in various courts, forums and tribunals in India.
Growing demand
“There is a growing demand for these services in New Zealand and our services followed the feedback received from members of the Indian community,” he said.
His wife and Legal Associates Partner Ashima Singh said that the move represented yet another step towards serving the community.
She cited the example of a customer who approached Legal Associates seeking advice on a dowry case pending in India.
“They were issued a summon to attend the court. However, they were, like many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and People of Indian Origin (PIO) were not familiar with the legal process in India. This was a fabricated case and fearing the worst, they did not visit India for the past several years,” she said.
Ms Singh said that the customer feels more secure now.
Birth Certificate issue
Many people in India find it hard to provide Birth Certificates since these were not issued until the late 1960s. The issue becomes acute when some government departments (such as Immigration and Internal Affairs) insist on Birth Certificates for processing applications for visas and citizenship.
Mr Raj mentioned the case of a client who was born in Punjab more than 60 years ago.
“The client’s birth was not registered, there were no documents of proof and there were no relatives to certify. The client could not apply for Residence Visa. We helped the client to obtain a Birth Certificate in India after providing appropriate proof,” he said.
Property matters
He said that Legal Associates is currently attending to several property issues of clients.
“These range from non-payment of rent, wrongful transfer of title deeds and other critical matters. Our team at Legal Associates is geared to attend to all property matters in New Zealand and India,” Mr Raj said.
Ms Singh said that the population of people from India is on the rise and hence their varied legal requirements. Of these, commercial matters and commercial agreements are complex and differ between clients.
Among the services rendered are (a) Legal issues pertaining to Property and Assets Management (b) Drafting of Lease Deeds, Sub-Lease Agreements, Leave and License Deeds, Maintenance Agreement, Commercial Leases of Property, No Objection Certificate, Partition Deeds, Power of Attorney, Special Power of Attorney, Service Agreements, Amenities Agreement, Family Settlement, Sale Deeds and Agreements to Sell (c) Drafting of Wills, Power of Attorney, Trust Deeds, Succession Certificates, Probate of Wills, Title Search and Representations before all Judicial Authorities and Forums and Commissions (d) Matrimonial, Adoption and Child Custody Related Issues (e) Resolution of cases arising out of Domestic Violence and Dowry Harassment (f) Criminal Litigation and Legal Assistance during Investigations/Inquiries with Specialised Law Enforcement Agencies dealing in White Collar Crimes like Prevention of Corruption Act, Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Banking Frauds and (g) Advisory/Opinions on queries relating to Reserve Bank of India, Security and Exchange Board of India and Foreign Exchange Management Act (h) Protection of Intellectual Property (i) Taxation and all other matters.
Raj Pardeep and Ashima Singh can be reached at Legal Associates (Barristers & Solicitors), Level 1, 31 East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland 2025. Phone: (09) 2799439 Fax: (09) 2799419
Email: office@legalassociates.co.nz; Website: www.legalassociates.co.nz
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Photo Caption:
Ashima and Raj Pardeep Singh
(Photo Supplied)
