Saraf adds ELP securities pro in first 2024 partner hire

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Indian law firm Saraf and Partners has continued its aggressive expansion from last year with the addition of Abhiraj Arora as a partner in its securities and regulatory practice. Arora joins from Economic Laws Practice, where he was associate partner.

CROSS-BORDER INVESTMENT: Asia’s New Power Couple

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Increased economic activity between India and Japan is creating new work for lawyers in both countries, but there is still a long way to go to facilitate cross-border legal market growth and expansion. 

IndusLaw adds three disputes partners in Delhi from Luthra

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Indian law firm IndusLaw has bolstered its disputes capabilities in the National Capital Region (NCR) with the addition of partners Divij Kumar, Amrita Tonk, Abhimanyu Kampani, along with four associates, from Luthra and Luthra Law Offices.

SAM, HSF guide BAT’s $2.1 bln ITC share sale

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Indian law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co and Herbert Smith Freehills have guided British American Tobacco (BAT) on its $2.1 billion strategic divestment in Indian tobacco giant ITC.

India’s Precept forms UAE alliance with Ahmed AlRaeesi

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Five-partner Indian law firm The Precept Law Offices has formed a strategic alliance with Dubai-based Ahmed AlRaeesi Advocates and Legal Consultants to serve clients in India and the United Arab Emirates.

SAM, JSA, Trilegal advise on $300 mln Bharat Highways InvIT IPO

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas has advised the sponsor, investment manager and Bharat Highways InvIT (infrastructure investment trust) on its  $300 million initial public offering in India, with J. Sagar Associates advised the lead managers.

ALB Conversations: Ramya Mohan, Vice President and Asia-Pacific General Counsel, Huhtamaki

BY Mari Iwata |

Ramya Mohan, Vice President and Asia-Pacific General Counsel at Finnish food packaging company Huhtamaki, champions a lean, adaptable legal team, emphasizing curiosity and ethical values. Mohan values external lawyers who offer clear advice and understand business context. Her guiding principle? Clear intentions and responsible choices. Mohan's leadership integrates legal expertise with business acumen, driving sustainable growth in packaging.

IN-HOUSE INSIGHT: ESG and a GC’s Role in Encouraging Sustainable Business Practices

BY Anushree Saha |

Over the past few years, businesses are increasingly gaining a conscience regarding the need to address sustainability-related issues. Owing to this newfound corporate awakening, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives have slowly transitioned from being beneficial add-ons to becoming business imperatives. ESG has become a focal point for investors, customers, suppliers, commercial partners, regulators, and other key stakeholders in the supply chain. Earlier this year, a report published by Morgan Stanley revealed that more than three-quarters of global investors are interested in sustainable investing, and believe that strong ESG practices can lead to higher financial returns.

Q&A: ‘This partnership aims to strengthen ties and promote legal cooperation’

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Ajit Mishra is the founder and chair of the UK-India Legal Partnership (UKILP), which aims to bring about networking and closer ties between lawyers in the two countries. He explains his reasons behind setting up the UKILP, talks about why most UK law firms prefer to run their India desks from Singapore and Dubai instead of opening offices in India, and the industry view from within the country about the liberalisation of the legal market.

EXPLAINER: Disney-Reliance Media Mega-Merger Faces Antitrust Scrutiny

BY Nimitt Dixit |

The proposed stock and cash media and entertainment mega-merger between Disney’s India business and Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance’s media unit Viacom18 is now in its final stages, with antitrust due diligence reportedly underway.

FORUM: Listen to the Client

BY Nimitt Dixit |

A Thomson Reuters Market Insights research report has revealed that law firms conducting formal client feedback programs can earn nearly twice the share of a client’s external legal spend compared to those not engaging in feedback. Client feedback plays a pivotal role in helping law firms evaluate their performance, improve service quality, build strong client relationships, and differentiate themselves in a competitive Indian legal market.

Time Is Money

BY Nimitt Dixit |

For decades, timesheets have been the bane of junior lawyers, as law firms almost uniformly use them to track productivity. But recent moves are seeking to make them less burdensome – as well as incentivise lawyers to complete them.