Bombay High Court Applauds Mediator After Lodha Brothers Settle Trademark Dispute
The corporate fallout dates to 2015, when the brothers split their business interests
Bombay High Court Applauds Mediator After Lodha Brothers Settle Trademark Dispute
The corporate fallout dates to 2015, when the brothers split their business interests
The Bombay High Court has undertaken the consent terms of real estate tycoons Abhishek Lodha and Abhinandan Lodha, marking the end of a Rs.5,000 crore trademark dispute.
In the Macrotech Developers vs House of Abhinandan Lodha case, Justice Arif Doctor lauded the mediator, retired Supreme Court judge Justice RV Raveendran, in bringing an amicable resolution to the deeply contentious legal battle between the two brothers.
The judge stated, “I note the painstaking efforts of the mediator, Justice RV Raveendran. It resulted in the consent terms being arrived and my deep appreciation for the mediator’s efforts to bring about an amicable resolution of disputes between respondent No.5 (Abhinandan Lodha) and respondent No.16 (Abhishek Lodha).”
He added that the efforts not only put an end to the protracted litigation but also salvaged the relationship between the brothers.
The battle between the Lodha brothers escalated into a full-blown courtroom drama over the use of the ‘Lodha’ brand.
After a 31 January court order, Justice Raveendran was appointed as the sole mediator when all entities deliberated on a settlement.
On their consent, the court recorded the terms while acknowledging that certain board-level resolutions of the companies (in annexures to the consent terms), would need to be formally submitted before the settlement was fully implemented.
Under the settlement terms:
- Macrotech Developers (MDL), led by Abhishek, would be the sole owner and exclusive user of the brand names ‘Lodha’ and ‘Lodha Group’.
- Abhinandan would be the exclusive owner of the ‘House of Abhinandan Lodha’ (HoABL) brand.
- It has been mutually acknowledged that there is no connection between the ‘Lodha Group’ and the ‘House of Abhinandan Lodha’. Both parties have agreed to communicate this widely to the public.
- The agreement confirms that Abhinandan holds no rights or claims in Macrotech Developers, or any other businesses operated by Abhishek. Similarly, Abhishek has no rights or claims in HoABL or the businesses of Abhinandan.
The corporate fallout dates to 2015, when the brothers formally split their business interests, culminating in a detailed family settlement agreement in March 2017.
The agreement granted Abhishek control over the family’s flagship real estate business under MDL (formerly Lodha Developers), while Abhinandan was to pursue independent ventures unrelated to real estate, subject to certain non-compete clauses.
However, despite a supplementary December 2023 agreement reiterating these boundaries, particularly the brand usage, the dispute reignited after Macrotech alleged that Abhinandan's firms continued to use infringing names like ‘Lodha Ventures’.
The dispute reached a crescendo in September 2024, leading to the Rs.5,000 crore suit in January 2025.
Senior Advocates Darius Khambata and Sharan Jagtiani, along with senior counsels Hiren Kamod, Rahul Dwarkadas, Prachi Dhanani, Nutash Kotwal, Shireen Mistri, Silpa Nair, Juhi Bhairwani and Yashvi Dave, instructed by Veritas Legal, appeared for Macrotech Developers.
Advocate Rohan Kadam, along with Advocates Devanshee Shah, Rashi Shah, instructed by Kartikeya & Associates, represented the House of Abhinandan Lodha and its office holders.
Advocates Pravin Anand, Ameet Naik, Madhu Gadodia, Sandhya Singh, Ashutosh Upadhaya, Tarini Kulkarni and Lokesh Kansal, instructed by Anand & Naik, appeared for Lodha Ventures and others.
Advocates Rohan Kadam, Rohan Dakshini, Shweta Jayadev, Nikita Mishra, Anuja Bhansali, Urvi Gupte, Sailee Dhayalkar and Jai Sanyal, instructed by Rashmikant and Partners, represented Abhinandan Lodha.
Senior Advocate Janak Dwarkadas, with advocates Kunal Dwarkadas and Suraj Iyer, instructed by Ganesh & Co,s appeared for Abhishek Lodha.
Advocate Chaitra Rao appeared for Lodha Advisory Services and Lodha Trusteeship.