Fountainhead Legal is an expert law firm in major legal practice areas including Technology Law and Data Privacy, General Corporate, Indirect Tax and Litigation Management. It is known for providing strategic and practical legal solutions to a broad spectrum of clients ranging from newly built start-ups to mature companies and other domestic clients. The team of practitioners at Fountainhead Legal comprises lawyers with an in-depth understanding of the law and solution-driven acumen.
The firm has a tight-knit association with its clients and is determined to help clients navigate the complex legal landscape. It recognizes and addresses the challenges as the situation requires, fostering long-term associations with the clients. The dynamic approach of Fountainhead Legal towards providing actionable advice and timely delivery of services has made it the first go-to firm for its clients.
Meet Our Team
Rashmi Deshpande
Founder
Rashmi Deshpande is an accomplished advocate with 18 years of experience across Big 4 consulting and Big Law, having worked at Deloitte, BMR & Associates, KPMG, PwC, and as a partner at Khaitan & Co. before founding Fountainhead Legal in 2023. Her practice spans data privacy, general corporate advisory, contract drafting, and succession planning, covering industries such as Financial Services, Fintech, Insurance, IT/ITES, Life Sciences, and Real Estate. Rashmi is well-versed in data privacy regulations, including India’s DPDP Act and GDPR, helping clients navigate compliance, draft privacy policies, and establish robust data protection frameworks.
Rashmi’s extensive indirect tax experience includes advising on tax advisory and compliance matters, conducting due diligence for M&A transactions, and supporting clients through regulatory transitions like GST implementation. Known for her expertise in complex indirect tax litigation, she has represented clients from tribunals to the Supreme Court. Additionally, Rashmi has successfully secured Production Linked Incentives (PLI) and Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) benefits from Central and State Governments. A strong advocate for knowledge sharing, she has conducted numerous training sessions on GST, data privacy, and technology law, and regularly contributes to thought leadership through published articles.
Dr. (Lt Col) G. U. Deshpande
Advisor
Dr. (Lt Col) G. U. Deshpande, MD (Path), DCP, FICP is a distinguished CoDr. (Lt Col) G. U. Deshpande, MD (Path), DCP, FICP is a distinguished Consultant in Histopathology and Laboratory Medicine with close to 50 years of experience in the medical field. He serves as an Advisor to Fountainhead Legal, where he provides valuable support on medico-legal matters, data privacy issues in hospital administration, and offers specialised consultancy on legal cases related to the Armed Forces.
Dr. Deshpande completed his MBBS from Government Medical College, Nagpur in November 1974. He went on to earn his DCP in 1982, followed by an MD in Pathology from the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune in 1986, where he graduated first in order of merit from the University of Pune. Throughout his career, he has held prestigious academic positions and has been an approved postgraduate teacher and examiner for MD, DCP, and MBBS programs at the University of Pune and several other institutions.
Dr. Deshpande’s contributions to medical research have earned national recognition. He was awarded the Best Paper Award for young scientists at the 37th National Conference of the Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists (IAPM), and again at the 40th Annual Conference of the IAPM (Western Zone). In 2000, he received the Second-Best Original Article Award for a paper published in the Medical Journal of Armed Forces and was also honoured as a Fellow of the Indian College of Pathologists.
Dr. Deshpande has close to 28 years of teaching experience, including 11 years at AFMC and the Armed Forces, close to 2 years as Honorary Professor at RMC, Loni, and 15 years as Professor and Head of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology at MAR Dental College, Pune. Since August 2000, he has also served as the Director, Consultant, and Owner of Prabhat Pathology Laboratory in Pune, where he continues to lead with a strong commitment to diagnostic excellence and ethical practice.
Through his role at Fountainhead Legal, Dr. Deshpande combines his clinical, academic, and armed forces background to offer a unique perspective on the intersection of medicine, law, and data governance.
Aarushi Ghai
Senior Associate
Aarushi Ghai is a law graduate from NMIMS University and a dedicated legal professional with expertise in Data Privacy, Technology Law, Indirect Tax, and General Corporate. As an associate, she is focused on providing strategic legal solutions to businesses across various sectors and ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks. She has assisted FinTech companies on data deletion challenges, privacy policies, and software agreements, helping them navigate complex data protection regulations. Her understanding of India’s DPDP Act and global privacy laws enables her to assist clients in establishing robust data governance frameworks. Additionally, she has advised businesses on shareholders’ agreements, share purchase agreements, and key commercial contracts, ensuring seamless transactions. With a solution-driven approach, she helps clients mitigate legal risks while aligning regulatory compliance with business objectives, making her a trusted advisor in today’s evolving legal landscape.
Vaibhav Gupta
Associate
Vaibhav Gupta, is a legal professional with a strong foundation in litigation, contracts, and consumer disputes, coupled with specialized expertise in technology law. He holds an LL.M. in Technology Law from the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata, where he focused on emerging areas such as data privacy, fintech, healthtech, and technology regulation. Vaibhav has experience of practicing before district courts and tribunals, gaining hands-on experience in consumer disputes, contractual matters, and general civil litigation. His diverse background enables him to combine practical dispute resolution skills with a nuanced understanding of technology-driven legal challenges. At Fountainhead Legal, Vaibhav contributes to the firm’s practice in technology law, data privacy, litigation management, and GST-related advisory. His work involves assisting clients in navigating complex regulatory frameworks, managing disputes, and ensuring compliance across digital and commercial domains.
Work Highlights

Advisory

Advocacy

General Corporate

Litigation
Media & Insights
Lessons from the On-going Crypto Litigation The ongoing saga of a popular cryptocurrency exchange platform has exposed the structural and jurisdictional vulnerabilities in India’s cryptocurrency ecosystem. The Indian Government has long cautioned that investing in cryptocurrencies is inherently risky, but…
What does Madras HC’s judgement mean for WazirX’s rebalancing scheme and its impact on users In a new twist for cryptocurrency exchange WazirX, users whose tokens were not stolen in the $230 million hack may challenge the rebalancing scheme in…
Madras HC recognises cryptocurrency as ‘property’ under Indian law In a significant ruling the Madras High Court has recognised cryptocurrency as a “property” under Indian law that is capable of being possessed and and held in trust, pavign the way…
Crypto Void Leaves Indian Investors Vulnerable, Say Industry Experts - BW Businessworld Speaking at a recent gathering hosted by IndiaTech.org, experts highlighted the legal uncertainty faced by Indian users of cryptocurrency platforms, especially in the wake of the WazirX case…
A Brew on Crypto, Compliance & Courage with Rashmi Deshpande | Koffee Conversation @TEIF Welcome to another series of The Emerging Lawyer at The Koffee Conversation Show, powered by The Emerging India Forum (TEIF) and Tech Partner:- Prime Infotech Solution.…
Govt plans amendment to Aadhaar Act for enhanced privacy and consent controls As digital services in India become more integrated with identity-based platforms like Aadhaar, ensuring robust data protection and user rights is becoming increasingly vital. The upcoming amendments to…
Can margin trading losses on equity investments be recovered from spouse’s demat account? SC rules yes, it can be in this case Making a loss in equity investment is not an uncommon thing. Often, equity investment is done with leverage,…






