Contracts with Indian parties are governed by the Indian Contract Act 1872 unless another law is chosen; energy contracts often choose English law. Because an Azerbaijani judgment cannot be executed directly in India, an arbitration clause is the key protection; both countries are New York Convention parties. Without a tax treaty, Indian withholding tax on payments to Azerbaijani companies follows domestic rates.
- Document route
- Azerbaijani notary and apostille, or Indian Embassy attestation
- Time difference
- IST is 1h30 ahead of Azerbaijan all year
- Core law
- Indian Contract Act 1872
- Foreign awards
- Part II, Arbitration Act 1996
Commercial Contracts from Azerbaijan: how it works
We draft and review supply, services, logistics and joint venture agreements, focusing on scope, price, payment security, liability and dispute resolution, and on gross-up clauses for Indian withholding tax.
For logistics under the North-South corridor, we advise on multimodal transport documents and liability.
We also make sure the contract is stamped in India if it will be relied on there.
For logistics contracts along the North-South corridor, we define responsibility at each handover point, from Indian ports through Iran to Azerbaijan, and the documents each party must provide.
What clients in Azerbaijan should know
- Address withholding tax with a gross-up clause.
- Specify both the seat and the arbitral institution.
- Stamp the contract in India if needed.
Step by step from Azerbaijan
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Azerbaijan, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani notary and apostille, or Indian Embassy attestation
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Azerbaijan where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Azerbaijan. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Commercial Contracts, or see all services for clients in Azerbaijan and the Doing Business in India practice area.
Questions from clients in Azerbaijan
Is Indian withholding tax higher without a treaty?
It follows domestic rates, which can be higher than treaty rates.
Should we choose arbitration?
Usually, because awards are easier to enforce in India than foreign judgments.
Can you review an English-law contract?
Yes, alongside the Indian law points.
Who is liable for loss during transit through Iran?
Whoever the contract makes responsible at that stage; we define it.