These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the website www.salotandshah.com (“Website”), owned, developed and operated by Salot and Shah Associates, a partnership firm having its registered office at 503, 5th Floor, Phoenix Complex, Opp. New Girish Cold Drink, Vijay Cross Road to Commerce Six Road, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad – 380009, Gujarat, India (hereinafter referred to as “the Firm”, “we”, “us” or “our”).

By accessing, browsing or using this Website, you agree to be legally bound by these Terms, the Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and any other policies published on the Website (collectively referred to as the “Agreement”). If you do not agree, you must immediately discontinue use of the Website.

You represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into a binding agreement. If you are under 18 years of age, access shall only be through a parent or legal guardian.

1. Nature and Purpose of the Website

This Website is intended solely for general informational purposes regarding the Firm’s areas of practice, legal services, publications, knowledge centre, blogs, testimonials, recognitions, client representations (where permitted), and contact information.

Nothing contained on this Website constitutes legal advice, solicitation, advertisement, or creation of an advocate-client relationship. Accessing or using this Website does not create any professional or fiduciary relationship between you and the Firm. Any professional engagement shall arise only upon execution of a formal written engagement letter.

The Firm reserves the right to modify, update, restrict or discontinue any part of the Website at its sole discretion without notice.

2. Electronic Record

This Agreement constitutes an electronic record in terms of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and applicable rules thereunder, and does not require any physical or digital signature.

3. Intellectual Property Rights

All content on this Website, including but not limited to text, articles, publications, blogs, research notes, graphics, logos, trademarks, service marks, layout, design, compilations, databases, downloadable materials and overall look and feel, are the exclusive property of the Firm unless otherwise stated.

All intellectual property rights, whether registered or unregistered, are strictly reserved.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable license to access the Website strictly for personal, non-commercial informational use only. You shall not:

• Copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit or distribute any content;

• Create derivative works;

• Use the Firm’s name, logo or trademarks without prior written consent;

• Frame, mirror, deep-link or embed the Website;

• Use automated systems such as bots, scrapers or data mining tools.

Any unauthorized use shall automatically terminate your limited license and may result in civil and/or criminal action.

4. Knowledge Centre, Blogs and Publications

Articles, blogs and knowledge materials available on the Website are published for general awareness and academic purposes only. They may not reflect the most recent legal developments.

The Firm expressly disclaims any liability arising from reliance placed on such materials. Users are strongly advised to seek independent legal advice for specific issues.

Reproduction of any article or content is strictly prohibited without prior written permission of the Firm. Where permission is granted, proper attribution and backlink to the Website shall be mandatory.

5. Testimonials and Client References

Testimonials and client names displayed on the Website (where applicable and permissible) are published with consent or as per professional norms. Such references do not constitute endorsement, guarantee of results, or prediction of outcomes.

The Firm shall not be responsible for interpretation or misuse of such information.

6. User Conduct

By using this Website, you agree not to:

• Use the Website for any unlawful purpose;

• Transmit defamatory, obscene, abusive or misleading material;meaning that the user is not allowed to send, upload, share, publish, or circulate any content through the website that falls into the following categories:

1. Defamatory Material: Content that harms someone’s reputation by making false statements presented as facts.

2. Obscene Material: Content that is sexually explicit, vulgar, or morally offensive under applicable law.

3. Abusive Material: Content that is insulting, threatening, harassing, or degrading toward any person or group.

4. Misleading Material: Content that contains false, manipulated, or deceptive information intended to misguide others.

• Impersonation or providing incorrect identity details.

• Attempt unauthorized access to secure areas;

• Introduce viruses or malicious code;

• Impersonate any person or entity;

• Misrepresent your identity or affiliation.

The Firm reserves the absolute right to restrict or terminate access in case of violation.

7. Data Collection, Cookies and User Awareness

By accessing or interacting with this Website, you acknowledge and agree that the Firm may collect, record, store and process certain information including but not limited to:

• IP address
• Device information
• Browser type
• Geographical location
• Pages visited and duration
• Clickstream data
• Contact details submitted through forms
• Email communications
• Login credentials (where applicable)

8. Cookie Management

The Website uses cookies, analytics tools (including but not limited to Google Analytics or similar technologies), server logs and other tracking mechanisms for the purposes of ensuring proper website functionality, monitoring and analysing performance, maintaining security and preventing misuse, tracking and managing leads or enquiries submitted through the Website, improving overall user experience, and facilitating marketing, communication and business development activities. By continuing to use the Website, you consent to the use of cookies and tracking technologies. You may disable cookies through browser settings; however, certain features may not function properly.

Any information submitted through contact forms, newsletter subscriptions, or communication channels may be stored in internal systems and CRM tools for responding to queries, business development and compliance purposes.

The Firm reserves the right to retain such information in accordance with applicable laws and internal policies.

9. Confidentiality

Information shared by you through the Website shall be treated as confidential subject to applicable laws. However, transmission of information over the internet is not completely secure. The Firm does not guarantee absolute security of data transmission.

The Firm may disclose information where required by law, regulatory authorities, court orders, or professional obligations.

10. Third-Party Links

The Website may contain links to third-party websites for convenience. The Firm does not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for such external sites or their content. Access to third-party sites is entirely at your own risk.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, the Firm and its partners, associates, employees and representatives shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive or consequential damages arising out of:

• Use or inability to use the Website;
• Reliance on Website content;
• Technical errors or interruptions;
• Unauthorized access to data;
• Viruses or harmful components.

In any event, total liability, if any, shall not exceed the amount paid by you (if any) for accessing the Website.

12. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Firm, its partners and associates from any claims, losses, liabilities, damages or expenses arising from your misuse of the Website, violation of these Terms, or infringement of third-party rights.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of India and the Courts at Ahmedabad; Gujarat shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the usage of this website and the content extracted from it.

14. Dispute Resolution

Any dispute shall first be attempted to be resolved amicably within a period of thirty (30) days.Failing such resolution, disputes shall be referred to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The seat and venue of arbitration shall be Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Proceedings shall be conducted in English. The arbitral award shall be final and binding.

15. Modification of Terms

The Firm reserves the absolute and unfettered right, at its sole discretion, to amend, modify, update, revise or replace these Terms of Use, in whole or in part, at any time without any prior notice, intimation or individual communication to the users. Such modifications may be made to reflect changes in law, regulatory requirements, professional standards, operational practices, security considerations, technological developments or business needs of the Firm. The updated Terms shall become effective immediately upon being published on the Website, unless otherwise specified. It shall be the sole responsibility of the user to periodically review the Terms for any revisions or updates. Continued access to, browsing of, or use of the Website after any such modification shall constitute deemed acceptance of the revised Terms and a binding agreement to be governed by the same. If you do not agree with any amended Terms, you must immediately discontinue use of the Website.

16. Force Majeure

The Firm shall not be held liable for any delay, interruption, suspension or failure in the operation of the Website or its services if such event arises due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to, acts of God, natural disasters, fire, flood, earthquake, pandemic, war, civil unrest, governmental restrictions, regulatory changes, cyber-attacks, hacking, server failure, power outages, internet service disruptions, hosting provider failures, technical malfunctions, or any other unforeseen technical or infrastructure breakdown. In such events, the Website may be temporarily unavailable or restricted without notice. The Firm shall make reasonable efforts to restore services as soon as practicable but does not guarantee uninterrupted availability. By continuing to use the Website, you acknowledge and accept the above conditions and confirm that you are legally competent and of majority age to enter into this Agreement. Any breach of these Terms may result in appropriate legal or technical action as deemed necessary by the Firm.

17. Termination

The Firm may suspend or terminate access to the Website at its sole discretion without notice, especially in cases of violation of these Terms.

18. Severability and Survival

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. Provisions relating to intellectual property, limitation of liability, indemnity and jurisdiction shall survive termination.

By accessing this Website and clicking “I Accept” / OR accepting the DISCLAIMER of the website (where applicable), you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these Terms of Use in their entirety, and that they carry the same legal force as a physically signed agreement.

1. One-Time Consultation and Subsequent Professional Engagement

1.1. The consultation facility offered by the Law Firm is strictly limited to a single, one-time interaction per individual and is intended to provide only a brief and limited consultation between the requester and the Law Firm. Each individual shall be entitled to only one consultation session under this facility, irrespective of the subject matter involved, the mode of consultation adopted, or the time elapsed since such consultation.

1.2. For the avoidance of doubt, this one-time consultation shall not include, nor shall it entitle the requester to, any repeat consultations, follow-up discussions, clarifications, continued advisory, extensions of time, additional review of documents, or supplementary opinions, whether in relation to the same matter or any other matter. Any further request for advice, assistance, or interaction with the Law Firm, whether oral or written, shall constitute a separate and independent professional engagement.

1.3. Any assistance sought after completion of the one-time consultation, including but not limited to detailed legal opinions, drafting, documentation, contract preparation, compliance advisory, non-litigation support, representation, appearances before any court, tribunal, authority or forum, filing of proceedings, or any other professional service, shall be treated strictly as a fresh and independent engagement and shall be chargeable in accordance with the Law Firm’s applicable professional fee structure.

1.4. Such subsequent services shall be rendered only upon: (a) mutual agreement on the defined scope of work; (b) acceptance of the Law Firm’s professional fees and commercial terms; and (c) execution or acknowledgment of such formal engagement terms, documentation, or retainer arrangements as may be prescribed by the Law Firm at its sole discretion.

1.5. The one-time consultation shall not be construed as creating any obligation on the part of the Law Firm to accept any further engagement arising out of or related to the consultation. The Law Firm reserves the absolute right to decline, discontinue, or limit the consultation or any subsequent request at any stage, including where it determines that the requester is attempting to obtain continued advice beyond the permitted scope, or where the Law Firm, in its sole judgment, lacks sufficient interest, availability, or resources to undertake further engagement.

1.6. All professional fees, retainers, out-of-pocket expenses, statutory charges, and other costs relating to any subsequent engagement shall be payable strictly in accordance with the agreed commercial terms, the Law Firm’s prevailing billing policies, and the stipulated payment timelines.

1.7. Failure or refusal to agree upon, accept, or timely pay the applicable professional fees and charges shall entitle the Law Firm to decline, suspend, or discontinue the provision of any further services, without incurring any liability whatsoever.

2. Eligibility, Nature of Consultation, Disclaimer and Indemnity

2.1. This consultation facility is strictly and exclusively available only to employees of entities that are active retainership clients of Salot and Shah Associates at the time of booking and consultation. No other individual shall be eligible to avail this facility.

2.2. At the time of physical consultation, the requester shall produce:

(a) a valid employee identity card issued by the retainership client and/or other acceptable proof of employment or association.

(b) a valid government-issued identity proof.

The Law Firm reserves the absolute right to verify, accept, or reject such documents at its sole discretion. Failure to provide satisfactory proof may result in immediate denial or cancellation of the consultation without any obligation, refund, or liability on the part of the Law Firm.

2.3. The consultation, if provided, is extended purely as a goodwill facility and is limited in scope. It does not include and shall not be construed as providing any fee quote, cost estimate, pricing assurance, binding legal opinion, final strategy, confirmed course of action, or guarantee regarding outcome, success, timeline, or resolution of any matter. Any discussion during the consultation is preliminary, general in nature, based on limited information, and subject to detailed review and independent evaluation.

2.4. The consultation shall not create any obligation on the Law Firm to accept or continue any further professional engagement. Any future engagement, if at all, shall be subject to the Law Firm’s independent discretion, mutually agreed scope of work, formal engagement terms, and acceptance of applicable professional fees.

2.5. The requester acknowledges that no liability whatsoever shall arise against the Law Firm, its partners, advocates, associates, employees, or representatives in connection with the consultation, including any denial, cancellation, limitation, or refusal of the facility, or any reliance placed on discussions held during the consultation. Any decision or action taken by the requester based wholly or partly on the consultation shall be at the requester’s sole risk and discretion.

2.6. The requester agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Salot and Shah Associates and its partners, advocates, associates, employees, consultants, and representatives from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, or consequences arising out of: (a) any false, incorrect, misleading, or incomplete representation regarding eligibility or employment status; or (b) any reliance placed on or use made of the consultation despite its limited and non-binding nature.

2.7. The above indemnity and disclaimer obligations shall survive the completion, cancellation, denial, or non-availability of the consultation and shall remain binding notwithstanding termination, expiry, or modification of these Terms and Conditions.

3. Right to Modify or Cancel Appointment

3.1. Salot and Shah Associates reserves the absolute and exclusive right, at its sole discretion, to edit, modify, reschedule, postpone, suspend, or cancel any booked appointment at any time, whether before, at the commencement of, or during the consultation.

3.2. Such action may be taken for administrative reasons, scheduling constraints, non-availability of advocates, verification or eligibility issues, or for any other reason whatsoever, without any obligation to assign or disclose reasons.

3.3. The requester expressly acknowledges that any such modification or cancellation shall not give rise to any claim, refund, compensation, damages, or proceedings against the Law Firm or its partners, advocates, associates, employees, or representatives. Any rescheduling, if offered, shall be entirely at the discretion of the Law Firm, and no obligation shall arise to provide an alternate date or future consultation.

4. No Liability and Indemnity

4.1. The requester acknowledges that the consultation facility is provided strictly on a limited, non-binding, goodwill and “as-is” basis. It does not create any professional engagement, obligation, duty of care, assurance, warranty, or liability on the part of Salot and Shah Associates or its partners, advocates, associates, employees, consultants, or representatives.

4.2. To the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, the Law Firm shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss, damage, cost, expense, claim, or consequence of any nature arising out of or in connection with the consultation, including any advisory, discussion, exchange of information, cancellation, rescheduling, denial, or non-availability of the consultation.

4.3. The requester expressly agrees that any reliance placed on the consultation or any statement made therein is at the requester’s sole discretion and risk. The Law Firm shall not be responsible for any interpretation, assumption, decision, action, omission, or strategy adopted by the requester based wholly or partly on the consultation.

4.4. The Law Firm shall not be liable for any consequence arising from inaccurate, incomplete, misleading, or insufficient information or documents provided by the requester, and the consultation shall be deemed to be based solely on the limited information made available at the relevant time.

4.5. The requester irrevocably agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Salot and Shah Associates and its partners, advocates, associates, employees, and representatives from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, or proceedings (including reasonable legal fees) arising directly or indirectly out of: (a) the consultation or reliance placed thereon; (b) any false, incorrect, incomplete, or misleading representation made by the requester; (c) any breach of these Terms and Conditions; or (d) any third-party claim resulting from the requester’s acts, omissions, or decisions following the consultation.

4.6. This clause shall operate to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law and shall survive the completion, cancellation, denial, rescheduling, or non-utilisation of the consultation, as well as termination or expiry of these Terms and Conditions.

5. Jurisdiction

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the booking, use, or interpretation of this consultation facility shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The requester expressly waives the right to initiate proceedings before any other court, tribunal, or authority.

6. Acceptance of Website Policies

By proceeding to book or avail this consultation facility, the requester confirms that they have read, understood, and agreed to the Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Cookie Policy of the main website of Salot and Shah Associates.