ESOP & Advisor Equity

We specialize in ESOPs and equity-linked compensation, vital for attracting and retaining top talent. We help startups leverage equity-based instruments like phantom stocks for advisors, ensuring tax-efficient, compliant, and growth-aligned structuring for IPO or exit strategies. Our services cover startup equity compensation planning and advisory, including equity grants and performance-based compensation structuring. We provide end-to-end support, from ESOP-related legal documentation and contract drafting to advisory services for equity dilution and investor agreements, and equity advisory for co-founders and key employees. We also offer ESOP implementation and operational support, along with ESOP valuation and regulatory compliance, ensuring comprehensive ESOP structuring and compliance services.

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ESOP Advisory and Implementation Services

We provide end-to-end structuring of equity-based compensation strategies, including Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs), phantom stock, stock appreciation rights (SARs), and other innovative instruments tailored to business needs.
Our team drafts all necessary legal documentation, such as ESOP policies, board and shareholder resolutions, grant letters, phantom stock agreements, and employee communications.
We assist in designing optimal vesting schedules—whether time-based, milestone-based, or hybrid—aligned with employee retention and performance goals.
We advise on choosing the appropriate equity structuring route: direct equity issuance, ESOPs, phantom stock, or founder share transfers, based on your company’s stage, goals, and regulatory environment.
Our experts provide in-depth advisory on tax implications, covering GST, TDS, perquisite taxation under the Income Tax Act, and potential capital gains on eventual sale or liquidity events.
We support valuation exercises by coordinating and reviewing FMV or book value reports as mandated under the Companies Act, 2013 and the Income Tax Act, 1961.
We ensure full compliance with statutory requirements, including private placement provisions under Section 42, employee stock option issuance under Section 62(1)(b), and other applicable company law norms.
Our team assists in cap table modeling and runs impact analyses to show dilution effects and post-grant equity structures under various scenarios.
We offer ESOP-specific tax planning services tailored to Indian companies, helping both employers and employees optimize their tax outcomes.
Our legal experts provide complete ESOP documentation support in India, ensuring compliance and enforceability of employee equity grants.
We advise on equity structuring for advisors, helping startups design equity-linked incentive structures that are both tax-efficient and regulatorily sound.
We provide ESOP valuation services specifically tailored for startups in India, aligned with both accounting and tax requirements.
Our services include advisory on ESOP exercises, secondary sale structuring, and liquidity event management to help employees unlock value effectively.
We offer ESOP tax advisory for employees and companies to ensure proper withholding, reporting, and long-term tax efficiency.

We help you with Legal and tax advisory services in relation to ESOP / Advisory Equity

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ESOP / Advisor equity structuring for businesses

ESOP Taxation in India – A Complete Guide (2025)

Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs) have become an essential tool for businesses, especially startups and growth-stage companies, to attract, retain,…