Global Law Experts Appoints RSA Legal Solutions as Exclusive Trade and Customs Member in India

Welcoming RSA Legal Solutions as Our Exclusive Member for Trade & Customs in India

We at Global Law Experts are pleased to welcome RSA Legal Solutions as our Exclusive Member for Trade & Customs in India. RSA Legal Solutions has established itself as a specialist law firm in trade and customs, GST, Bureau of Indian Standards (“BIS”) regulations and allied indirect tax and regulatory matters. The firm delivers partner-led technical expertise across regulatory advisory, compliance, litigation and transaction support.

Its integrated capabilities assist importers, exporters, manufacturers and multinational businesses in managing cross-border costs, indirect tax exposure, product conformity requirements and regulatory risks. The inclusion of RSA Legal Solutions strengthens our ability to connect businesses with market-leading counsel on Trade & Customs, GST and BIS-related matters in India.

Firm Background and Founding Leadership

RSA Legal Solutions is recognised for its deep experience in indirect taxation, customs law, foreign trade policy, GST and product regulatory compliance. The firm’s founding partner, S.C. Jain, combines extensive government service with private practice experience. He served as a Customs and Central Excise officer for approximately two decades before entering private practice and has authored important practitioner texts on customs and foreign trade law, reflecting the benefit of both institutional and professional perspectives.

This combination of practical and institutional experience enables the firm to advise clients on complex customs assessments, tariff classification and valuation disputes, foreign trade policy interpretation and regulatory issues affecting the import, manufacture and sale of goods in India.

Specialist Capability in Trade & Customs Law in India

RSA Legal Solutions advises on the full spectrum of Trade & Customs law in India, including tariff classification, customs valuation, rules of origin, preferential trade agreements, free trade agreement eligibility, anti-dumping and safeguard proceedings, export incentive schemes, import and export licensing, duty drawback, warehousing and customs-related litigation.

The firm follows a two-track service model, with a dedicated litigation team representing clients before adjudicating authorities, appellate tribunals, High Courts and the Supreme Court, and a separate advisory and compliance team handling licensing, certifications, duty benefits, documentation and procedural matters. This structure provides clients with both litigation readiness and day-to-day operational support.

The firm’s customs practice is complemented by its capabilities in GST and BIS regulations, allowing clients to obtain coordinated advice on issues that frequently overlap across customs valuation, import taxation, input tax credit, product certification and market access. This integrated approach supports transparent risk management, timely regulatory responses and commercially practical decision-making.

GST Advisory, Compliance and Litigation

RSA Legal Solutions maintains a comprehensive GST practice covering advisory, compliance reviews, transaction structuring, departmental investigations and litigation. The firm advises clients on classification, valuation, place of supply, input tax credit, zero-rated supplies, exports, supplies to Special Economic Zones, reverse charge obligations, job work, e-commerce transactions, refunds and other sector-specific GST issues.

Its GST advisory team works closely with the Customs and Foreign Trade Policy teams where transactions involve imports, exports, bonded manufacturing, Special Economic Zones or export incentive schemes.

This multidisciplinary approach enables businesses to assess the complete indirect tax implications of their supply chains rather than considering customs duties and GST obligations in isolation.

BIS and Product Regulatory Compliance

RSA Legal Solutions has developed a specialised practice in BIS certification and product regulatory compliance. The firm advises Indian and foreign manufacturers, importers and brand owners on the applicability of Quality Control Orders, mandatory Indian Standards, BIS certification and registration requirements, product testing, labelling obligations and conformity assessment procedures.

Its assistance includes product coverage and classification analysis, regulatory due diligence, preparation and filing of BIS applications, coordination with laboratories and certification authorities, factory inspection support, licence amendments and renewals, and advice on the import of regulated products. The firm also represents clients in matters involving detention of consignments, denial of customs clearance, alleged non-compliance with Quality Control Orders and requests for exemptions, extensions or regulatory clarifications before the concerned ministries and government departments.

By combining BIS expertise with customs and foreign trade capabilities, RSA Legal Solutions is particularly well positioned to assist businesses where product certification requirements directly affect import clearance, manufacturing operations, inventory planning and market access in India.

Publications and Thought Leadership

The partners of RSA Legal Solutions are active authors and commentators on customs, foreign trade, GST and regulatory policy. Notable practitioner texts credited to the team include widely used works on customs practice and the Foreign Trade Policy, updated through successive editions and published by established legal publishers.

The firm also regularly publishes legal updates, articles and newsletters on developments relating to customs, GST, foreign trade policy, export incentives, BIS regulations and product compliance. These publications serve as practical reference tools for legal professionals, customs brokers, tax teams, importers, exporters and corporate compliance professionals navigating India’s evolving regulatory landscape.

The firm’s thought leadership enables clients to anticipate regulatory changes, evaluate emerging risks and design effective compliance programmes.

Awards, Recognition and Professional Profile

RSA Legal Solutions has received recognition within India’s tax, customs and trade community, including shortlistings and finalist placements in respected professional and industry awards. In addition to such recognition, the firm regularly contributes to specialist publications and conducts professional seminars, training programmes and client workshops on customs, GST, foreign trade policy, BIS and allied regulatory matters.

This professional engagement reinforces the firm’s visibility and credibility while ensuring that its lawyers remain closely connected with legislative amendments, departmental practices, judicial developments and industry concerns.

Why Global Law Experts Is Proud to Feature RSA Legal Solutions

Global Law Experts is proud to feature RSA Legal Solutions as its Exclusive Member for Trade & Customs in India. RSA Legal Solutions combines technical expertise, sectoral understanding and the ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into commercially workable outcomes. Drawing upon government and private practice experience, a strong publication record and a partner-led delivery model, the firm supports clients in both high-stakes disputes and continuing compliance matters. Its complementary capabilities in GST and BIS regulation further distinguish the firm by enabling it to address the interconnected tax, customs, product certification and market-access issues faced by modern businesses.

Businesses seeking pragmatic and technically sound Trade & Customs counsel in India will find RSA Legal Solutions’ combination of litigation capability, regulatory expertise and operational understanding particularly valuable.

The Current Landscape of Trade, Customs, GST and BIS Law in India

Trade and customs law in India continues to evolve through tariff changes, classification disputes, amendments to export incentive schemes, free trade agreements and the increasing use of faceless and technology-driven customs assessments. Revisions to schemes such as the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (“RoDTEP”), developments in rules of origin and stricter post-clearance verification have added to the technical complexity of cross-border compliance. At the same time, GST remains closely connected with import and export transactions, particularly in relation to integrated tax on imports, input tax credit, export refunds, zero-rated supplies, supplies to Special Economic Zones and the treatment of cross-border services.

Product regulation has also become an important component of market access in India. The increasing number of Quality Control Orders issued by the Government has brought a wider range of products within mandatory BIS certification. Importers and manufacturers must therefore assess product certification requirements well before production, shipment or customs clearance.

This interconnected regulatory environment makes proactive legal oversight essential for controlling landed costs, preserving tax credits, ensuring product conformity and minimising supply-chain disruption.

Key Challenges for Businesses Engaged in Cross-Border Trade

Importers and exporters frequently encounter uncertainty regarding tariff classification, customs valuation, rules of origin, retrospective duty demands, anti-dumping investigations, export incentive eligibility and operational issues such as detention, confiscation or blocked shipments. Businesses must also address GST-related concerns involving input tax credit, refunds, valuation, documentation, place of supply and reporting obligations. Where products are covered by mandatory BIS requirements, non-compliance may lead to the detention of consignments, denial of customs clearance, disruption of manufacturing activities and restrictions on the sale of goods in India. The regulatory framework administered by Customs, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, GST authorities, BIS and various line ministries requires precise documentation, tariff and product mapping, timely filings and carefully structured representations. Engaging specialist counsel helps organisations anticipate liabilities, preserve legal remedies and establish defensible compliance processes.

How RSA Legal Solutions Translates Expertise into Client Outcomes

RSA Legal Solutions translates its legal and regulatory expertise into practical outcomes aimed at reducing tax and audit exposure, optimising duty benefits and facilitating uninterrupted business operations.

Its work includes tariff classification and customs valuation strategies, rules of origin and free trade agreement reviews, DGFT representations concerning import licences and export entitlements, GST advisory and litigation, BIS applicability assessments, product certification support, representation before regulatory authorities and comprehensive compliance health checks. The firm also assists clients in aligning their procurement, manufacturing, import and distribution arrangements with customs, GST and BIS requirements. Its practitioner guides, newsletters and professional seminars provide clients with a clearer understanding of procedural risks and available mitigation measures.

This combination of advisory, compliance and dispute-resolution capabilities supports faster resolution, stronger regulatory positioning and more informed commercial decision-making.

Practical Advice for Businesses Seeking Trade & Customs Counsel

When engaging Trade & Customs counsel in India, businesses should prioritise firms with demonstrable technical expertise in tariff classification, customs valuation, rules of origin and foreign trade regulation, together with a proven record of representation before Customs, DGFT and appellate authorities. Businesses should also consider whether the firm can advise on related GST and BIS issues, since cross-border transactions often involve overlapping customs duties, integrated tax, input tax credit, product certification and import clearance requirements. A publications or professional training record may further demonstrate that the legal team remains current with changing regulations and administrative practices.

Partner-led teams that combine litigation capability with advisory and compliance disciplines are best placed to manage immediate disputes as well as long-term compliance programmes. Selecting the right counsel can help businesses control costs, avoid supply-chain disruption and reduce regulatory exposure across their Indian operations.

Sectoral Experience and Practical Areas of Support

RSA Legal Solutions advises businesses operating across manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electronics, electrical goods, automotive, engineering, chemicals and consumer goods sectors. This sectoral experience enables the firm to develop tailored customs, GST and BIS strategies affecting landed costs, product pricing, manufacturing structures, market access and supply-chain decisions. The firm’s services include customs advance rulings, tariff classification, valuation, free trade agreements and rules of origin, anti-dumping defence, export incentive claims, DGFT licensing, Special Economic Zone and bonded manufacturing matters, GST advisory and litigation, BIS certification, Quality Control Order compliance and regulatory representation.

This breadth of capability allows RSA Legal Solutions to provide coordinated advice aligned with both regulatory requirements and commercial objectives.

Concluding Welcome

Global Law Experts is delighted to introduce RSA Legal Solutions as its Exclusive Member for Trade & Customs in India. The firm’s combination of government experience, rigorous practitioner publishing, partner-led delivery and specialist capabilities in Customs, Foreign Trade Policy, GST and BIS regulation makes it a valuable resource for businesses navigating India’s complex indirect tax and regulatory environment. We look forward to featuring RSA Legal Solutions’ expertise and supporting our readers and clients in navigating Trade & Customs, GST and BIS-related matters in India with greater clarity, confidence and commercial control.