The Delhi High Court on May 28, 2025, set aside an earlier interim order passed by a commercial court that had stopped Fox Mandal & Associates, led by Shuvabrata Mandal and Shouryabrata Mandal, from using the 'FoxMandal' trademark. This trademark is claimed to be owned by their brother Som Mandal, who runs the firm Fox Mandal & Co.
The order was passed by a division bench of Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Ajay Digpaul after hearing both sides and noting mutual consent.
“Having heard, with consent, the appeals are disposed of in the following terms — The impugned order is quashed and set aside without expressing any opinion on the merits of the contentions from either side...” – Delhi High Court
The court directed Fox Mandal & Associates to file their response by June 2, 2025, to Som Mandal’s application filed under Order 39 Rule 1 and 2 of the Civil Procedure Code. Som Mandal may file a rejoinder by June 5, 2025.
Further, the commercial court is scheduled to hear the matter finally on June 6, 2025. The High Court clearly stated that the commercial court should decide the matter “uninfluenced by any observations” from the earlier interim order.
“This order is being passed without prejudice to rights and contentions of the parties... Either party who may continue to remain aggrieved... would be entitled to agitate their rights in accordance with law.” – Delhi High Court
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Senior advocates Sandeep Sethi and Jayant Mehta represented the appellants — Shuvabrata Mandal and Fox Mandal & Associates. On the other side, senior advocate A.S. Chandiok appeared for Som Mandal.
The matter traces back to a May 15, 2025, order passed by District Judge Vidya Prakash of Patiala House Courts. In that order, the court had restrained Shuvabrata and Shouryabrata Mandal from offering legal services under the ‘FoxMandal’ name. It also barred them from using the name for their website domain.
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Som Mandal, who runs Fox Mandal & Co., had filed the suit claiming that he had been using the ‘Fox Mandal’ brand since 1989 and had built significant goodwill. He argued that his brothers’ use of the name ‘Fox Mandal & Associates’ and a similar logo was misleading and an unfair advantage.
In response, Shuvabrata Mandal and Fox Mandal & Associates challenged the interim order in the High Court, leading to the latest development.
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The legal dispute continues, with the next hearing scheduled for June 6, 2025.
Case Titles:
FOX MANDAL AND ASSOCIATES AND ANR V/s SOMABRATA MANDAL AND ORS — FAO (COMM)-132/2025
And
SHUVABRATA MANDAL V/s SOMABRATA MANDAL & ORS — FAO (COMM)-133/2025
