SETTING UP GLOBAL CAPABILITY CENTRES (GCCs) IN INDIA

Building High-Performance Global Operations from India

MLegal provides end-to-end legal support for UK, UAE, and multinational companies establishing Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India. We help organisations design, implement, and scale India-based operations that deliver strategic value, operational efficiency, and long-term innovation.

India has emerged as the world’s leading destination for GCCs across technology, financial services, engineering, analytics, R&D, and digital transformation. However, successful setup requires more than cost savings — it demands precise legal structuring, regulatory compliance, tax alignment, and workforce strategy.

MLegal acts as a single integrated legal partner, coordinating corporate, tax, employment, data protection, and immigration strategy so that your GCC is built on a legally robust and commercially sustainable foundation.

Our objective is simple: Set up faster. Comply fully. Scale confidently.

Who We Work With

We support:

• UK and European corporations expanding into India
• UAE-based businesses setting up delivery centres in India
• US and global multinationals building regional hubs
• Technology, fintech, SaaS, and engineering firms
• Professional services firms (legal, consulting, accounting)
• Manufacturing and supply-chain companies
• Startups transitioning into India as a talent hub

Why India for Your GCC?

India offers a compelling combination of advantages for global businesses:

• Highly skilled workforce — world-class engineers, data scientists, analysts, and professionals
• Cost efficiency — competitive operating costs without compromising quality
• Mature legal and regulatory framework — predictable corporate laws and enforcement
• Digital ecosystem — strong IT, cloud, and innovation infrastructure
• Time-zone advantage — seamless 24/7 global service delivery
• Deep talent pool — expertise in AI, analytics, fintech, R&D, and digital services

MLegal ensures your GCC leverages these advantages while remaining fully compliant with Indian law.

Our GCC Legal Services

Entity Formation & Corporate Structuring

We advise on and implement the most suitable legal structure, including:

• Wholly owned subsidiary setup
• Branch or liaison office registration
• Special Economic Zone (SEZ) vs non-SEZ structuring
• Holding company and group alignment
• Intercompany agreements and governance frameworks

We design structures that are tax-efficient, regulator-ready, and investor-friendly.

Employment Law Compliance

We ensure your workforce model complies with Indian labour laws, including:

• Employment contracts and policies
• Statutory benefits and social security compliance
• Workplace regulations and HR governance
• Contractor vs employee classification
• Restructuring and workforce optimisation

Our aim is to minimise legal risk while enabling operational flexibility.

Tax & Transfer Pricing Strategy

We align your GCC operations with Indian and global tax frameworks through:

• Corporate tax planning
• GST compliance and indirect tax advisory
• Transfer pricing policy design and documentation
• Intercompany pricing models
• Double taxation treaty optimisation

We help you avoid regulatory disputes while maximising tax efficiency.

Work Permits & Visas for Expatriates

For leadership teams and specialists relocating to India, we advise on:

• Employment visas and business visas
• Compliance with Indian immigration rules
• Executive relocation planning
• Cross-border mobility alignment with UK and UAE strategies

We ensure seamless movement of key personnel.

Regulatory Filings & Approvals

We manage all required filings and interactions with authorities, including:

• Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) registrations
• RBI compliance for foreign investments
• SEZ approvals where applicable
• Sector-specific licences (fintech, telecom, data, etc.)

We handle the complexity so you can focus on operations.

Data Protection & Cyber Compliance

We help businesses build compliant data governance frameworks, including:

• Alignment with India’s digital data laws
• Cross-border data transfer mechanisms
• Cybersecurity policies and incident response planning
• Data localisation considerations
• Contractual protections for shared services

This is critical for technology, fintech, and analytics-led GCCs.

GCC Models We Support

We assist with multiple GCC operating models, including:

• Captive Centres — wholly owned service delivery hubs
• Hybrid Centres — combination of captive and outsourced functions
• Innovation Hubs — R&D and product development centres
• Shared Service Centres — finance, HR, and operations back-offices
• Global Delivery Centres — IT, analytics, and engineering operations

UK–India–UAE GCC Corridor

MLegal is uniquely positioned to support businesses expanding across:

• UK → India — market entry, talent deployment, and regulatory compliance
• UAE → India — operational scaling and tax alignment
• India → Global — structuring GCC output for international operations

We coordinate corporate, tax, employment, and mobility strategy across jurisdictions.

Why Choose MLegal for GCC Setup?

• Senior partner-led advisory
• Integrated approach across corporate, tax, employment, data, and immigration
• Deep experience with UK, UAE, and multinational clients
• Strong understanding of SEZ and non-SEZ frameworks
• Practical, commercially focused implementation

We do not just register companies — we build scalable global operations.