June 2024

India’s approach to personal data protection has undergone a decisive shift. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, read with accompanying Rules, 2025 (collectively, the “DPDPA”), is currently being implemented in India in a phased manner. Once operational (by May 2027) it will apply to all businesses processing personal data in connection with any goods or service offerings in India – including offshore entities.

While India’s DPDPA draws inspiration from the EU GDPR, businesses should note that it introduces terminology, rights and roles unique to its framework. The DPDPA operates on a binary consent regime – where personal data may only be processed with the individual’s explicit consent or for specified “certain legitimate uses.” Data Fiduciaries (entities determining means and purposes of processing personal data) are required to discharge comprehensive obligations under the DPDPA, with non-compliance entailing significant penalties (to the tune of $25 million).

For Fiduciaries, formal Data Processing Agreements comprise a statutory requirement as well as a practical necessity – since they bear non-delegable statutory liability for the Data Processors they engage.

The DPDPA’s implementation will place India alongside a growing number of APAC jurisdictions that provide for extraterritorial application of data protection laws. For multinationals operating in India, the regulatory divergence between India and other data protection regimes, including in the EU or APAC, may present immediate and material compliance challenges.

Key Compliance Considerations

Given the extensive compliance requirements under the DPDPA and its structural divergences with other data protection frameworks, multinational businesses operating in India should engage qualified counsel at the earliest to determine their specific roles and cross-border obligations under the DPDPA. Carefully structured and interoperable Data Processing Agreements, in particular, may serve as a practical compliance pathway for businesses navigating obligations across multiple jurisdictions.

Our lawyers advise clients on DPDPA compliance, cross-border data transfer arrangements, and DPA structuring. If your organization is seeking clarity on its obligations under India’s evolving data protection regime, please contact our member firm identified below.

For more information, contact:

Ashneet Hanspal

ashneet.hanspal@ahlawatassociates.in

Ahlawat & Associates

Globalaw is pleased to announce its expansion into Honduras with the addition of LegalTech Consulting Firm!

LegalTech offers multidisciplinary legal services in Labor and Administrative Law, Civil and Commercial Law, Tax Law, Corporate and Business Consulting and Judicial and Extrajudicial Representation.

LegalTech's professionals have served on the Boards of Directors, General Management, Human Resources, and Financial and Administrative Management teams of national and international companies, as well as banking institutions, social organizations, and state-owned enterprises.

For more information, visit https://legaltechcf.com/.

Globalaw, a leading network of approximately 80 independent law firms in over 60 countries, announces that the Globalaw Foundation presented a donation of €5,000 to Berliner Rechtshilfefonds Jugendhilfe e.V. (BRJ) during the 2026 Globalaw EMEA Regional Meeting in Berlin, Germany.

Established over two decades ago, the BRJ is an ombudsman service in child and youth welfare, providing legal, professional, financial, and emotional support to young people and their families. The association is dedicated to balancing structural power between those who need assistance and those who provide it.

“BRJ combines access to justice, youth support and legal empowerment to assist and advise hundreds of new people each year,” said Peter J. Brown, Globalaw President and Partner at Edwards, Kenny & Bray LLP. “I’m thankful to our members for their generosity, which allowed the Globalaw Foundation to measurably advance BRJ’s mission through this donation.”

Contributing to local charities is a fundamental component of Globalaw’s event programming. Representatives from selected nonprofits are also invited to meet and network with Globalaw member firms, helping them raise awareness of their organisations and build ongoing connections and engagement.

"On behalf of all the young people we have the privilege of supporting, our volunteers, and also in the spirit of those who founded the BRJ 25 years ago, I would like to thank Globalaw for this generosity,” said Konstanze Fritsch, Berliner Rechtshilfefonds Jugendhilfe e.V. Managing Director. “Their support is a contribution to greater justice, greater balance, and a legal system that truly reaches the people."

About The Globalaw Foundation

The Globalaw Foundation supports community organizations focused on helping young people access legal education and increasing access to justice for those who would otherwise be denied it for financial or other reasons. The foundation is funded through donations from Globalaw member firms and funds raised at Globalaw events. Visit www.globalaw.net for more information.

About Globalaw

Founded in 1994, Globalaw is a global band one Chambers-ranked leading network of approximately 80 independent law firms and 4,000 lawyers in over 60 countries. Our mission is to foster seamless legal collaboration among member firms and assist them in delivering high-quality, cost-effective solutions to their clients worldwide. We take pride in our commitment to excellence, global reach, and innovative approach to legal services. Visit www.globalaw.net to learn more.

Founded 50 years ago, Nicholson y Cano has grown into one of Argentina's leading full-service law firms. With 30 partners and more than 150 attorneys, the firm has intentionally expanded through a combination of internal talent development and strategic lateral hires, building a large, highly qualified professional team across all major transactional and contentious practice areas.

Today, Nicholson y Cano advises on landmark domestic and cross-border transactions across a broad range of sectors, including energy, M&A, capital markets, infrastructure, agribusiness, and real estate. The firm is consistently recognized in leading international legal directories.

Human-Centered Approach

Nicholson y Cano is defined by a commitment to excellence, client loyalty, and creative legal thinking. The firm fosters a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment where partners and associates work across practice areas to deliver integrated solutions to complex matters.

The firm’s culture is rooted in the transformative power of human connection and the uniqueness of its people, whose shared values are professional excellence, integrity, and teamwork.

Strong International Perspective

The team combines deep knowledge of Argentine law and regulatory frameworks with an international outlook, enabling it to serve both domestic clients and multinational companies in the following practice areas:

• Corporate / M&A
• Banking, Capital Markets & Corporate Finance
• Oil & Gas
• Mining
• Infrastructure
• Agribusiness
• Tax
• Competition & Antitrust
• Litigation & Arbitration
• Compliance & Anti-Corruption
• Public Law
• ESG & Sustainable Finance
• Labor & Employment
• Real Estate
• Insurance
• Data Privacy & Technology
• TMT
• Environmental

Integrated, Full-Service Coverage

Nicholson y Cano is one of Argentina's few genuinely full-service law firms, offering integrated coverage across all major practice areas through a single, highly coordinated team. Key differentiators include:

• Scale and depth: A large, qualified team enables the firm to deploy multidisciplinary task forces for complex, high-stakes matters.
• Track record in landmark transactions: The firm has acted in some of the most significant deals in Argentina's recent history, including RIGI-framework energy projects, privatizations, and major capital markets transactions.
• Sector expertise: Recognized for strength in areas of strategic importance to Argentina's economy, including energy, M&A, capital markets, and agribusiness.
• International reach: Deep experience advising foreign investors and multinational companies on entry into and operations in Argentina, as well as cross-border transactions involving Latin American counterparties.
• Long-term client relationships: A firm culture built on hands-on partner involvement, trust, and consistent responsiveness.

The firm is consistently recognized in leading legal directories, including:

• Chambers & Partners Latin America 2026: Ranked Leading Firm, 5 ranked departments and 12 ranked individuals.
• Legal 500 Argentina: Ranked across 13 practice areas, including Tier 2 in Environment, Insurance, and Real Estate; Tier 3 in Banking & Finance, Compliance, Oil & Gas, Mining, Labour & Employment, Public Law, and TMT; Tier 4 in Corporate & M&A and Dispute Resolution.

Other rankings

• IFLR Banking & Finance and Capital Markets
• Latin Lawyer Award I Project finance: energy and natural resources I Vaca Muerta Pipeline gets US$2 billion financing
• Lexology Index (Who's Who Legal) — Real Estate 2026: Recognized in the Real Estate category, led by partner Agustín Alberto Pérez Cambiasso.
• Leader’s League - Mergers & acquisitions I Corporate / M&A - Tax law I Corporate tax / Banking & finance / Dispute Resolution I Claims and insurance litigation / Arbitration / Competition & Antitrust / Dispute Resolution

Client Success Highlights

The firm has completed the following notable transactions over the past two years:

• Proyecto Vaca Muerta Sur (Vista Energy / Pluspetrol, USD 3 billion, ongoing) — Advised Vista Energy Argentina S.A.U. and Pluspetrol S.A. as shareholders of VMOS S.A.U., a midstream infrastructure company under Argentina's RIGI framework to transport and export crude oil from Vaca Muerta. Scope included shareholders' agreement, option agreements, and crude transport agreements.
• Proyecto LNG — Southern Energy & San Matías Pipeline (Golar LNG, USD 15+ billion, ongoing) — Advised Golar LNG on two projects under Argentina's RIGI framework: a floating LNG production and export vessel (Southern Energy) and the San Matías Pipeline. Both projects involve a consortium of partners including Pan American Energy, YPF, Pampa Energía, and Harbour Energy, and include a 20-year agreement covering renegotiation of the shareholders' agreement and Bareboat Charter Agreement.

M&A & Corporate

• Fusión Ledesma (USD 5 million) — Lead legal adviser on the merger by absorption of Ledesma Frutas S.A. by Ledesma SAAI, including transaction documents, merger prospectus, and CNV/ByMA authorizations.
• Fusión compañías de seguros — Grupo Galicia (September 2025, ongoing) — Advised on the corporate reorganization of five insurance companies within Grupo Galicia through two mergers by absorption, providing support on all corporate and regulatory matters, including obtaining approvals before the Superintendencia de Seguros de la Nación and the Inspección General de Justicia. Coordinated with tax advisors on all aspects relating to the tax-free reorganization.
• Venta QatarEnergy / ExxonMobil Exploration Argentina (USD 1.7 billion) — Advised QatarEnergy on the sale of its 30% stake in ExxonMobil Exploration Argentina S.A. to Pluspetrol, covering assets in Neuquén province including pipeline participations in Oldelval.
• Santa Juana Farmland Fund (USD 270 million+, ongoing) — Advised Santa Juana Ltd. on the divestment of agro-industrial assets across Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, addressing tax, FX, and regulatory restrictions applicable to foreign ownership of rural land.

Banking & Capital Markets

• IPO San Miguel S.A. (USD 58 million) — Advised on the IPO of 955,303,128 new shares listed on ByMA, including conversion of subordinated loans to equity. Organizer Bank: Santander; AR Partners and Puente also involved.
• Fusión MatbaRofex-MAE / A3 (2024) — Advised Matba Rofex SA on its merger with Mercado Abierto Electrónico SA and the creation of the resulting entity A3 S.A., covering all corporate and regulatory aspects and obtaining authorizations before the Comisión Nacional de Valores and other regulatory bodies. Included filing before the national competition authority.
• Préstamo Sindicado ACA (USD 80 million) — Acted as local Argentine counsel to FMO on a syndicated loan led by FMO and Rabobank for Asociación de Cooperativas Argentinas (ACA), one of Argentina's largest grain producers.

15 Years of Globalaw Collaboration

For more than 15 years, Nicholson y Cano’s has provided legal assistance to clients of Globalaw member firms in a wide range of practice areas and industries. The firm actively participates in network initiatives and previously hosted the Globalaw Americas meeting in Buenos Aires.

For more information, visit: www.nicholsonycano.com.ar.