Law firms make a strong case for hiring top litigation partners
Demand spans experience in commercial and corporate disputes, including regulatory matters, insolvency, white-collar crime, investigations, sector-specific arbitration and complex shareholder disputes. Hiring has picked up not just in large firms ...
Mumbai: Law firms are aggressively chasing top litigation talent amid increasing client demand around complex corporate disputes, tighter regulations and cross-border cases. They are not just seeking more lawyers, but experienced partners who can bring strong client relationships, specialised expertise and the ability to lead high-stakes disputes.
Demand spans experience in commercial and corporate disputes, including regulatory matters, insolvency, white-collar crime, investigations, sector-specific arbitration and complex shareholder disputes. Hiring has picked up not just in large firms but also at midsize practices and boutiques. Akshay Chudasama, managing partner of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co's Mumbai office, said hiring was driven by client demand rather than the need to keep pace with competitors. Indian companies are increasingly facing disputes across jurisdictions, including Singapore and London, while foreign investors expect Indian lawyers to meet the standards they receive in their home markets. Regulators across sectors have also stepped up scrutiny, he said.
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"Against that backdrop, we see the strongest growth in international and domestic arbitration, insolvency-related litigation, infrastructure and construction claims, shareholder and investor disputes, and regulatory and white-collar matters," said Chudasama. "Competition for partners is real, and we would not pretend otherwise, but a hire made purely to take share from a rival rarely holds up. For us, a lateral hire's cultural fit is paramount," he added.
In October, DSA Legal announced onboarding of Abhinit Das as a partner in its disputes practice. JSA Advocates & Solicitors strengthened its disputes team with lateral hiring of two partners, Ankit Jain and Ishan Gaur, at its New Delhi office.
Last month, DSK Legal hired Khushbu Chhajed as an associate partner in its dispute resolution practice; she previously partnered at MDP Legal. "For clients, the stakes often extend beyond a court case's outcome," said Anand Desai, managing partner of law firm DSK Legal. "Disputes can affect deal timelines, capital allocation, business continuity, and corporate reputation, making experienced legal counsel a strategic requirement rather than merely a courtroom outcome," he added.
Experienced partners are particularly valuable because their expertise takes years to build. Over the past 12-18 months, law firms have increasingly sought not just strong general litigators but specialists in disputes seen as key growth areas.
"We are seeing significant interest in white-collar crime, sanctions, specialist IP disputes, international arbitration, regulatory investigations, and other niche disputes capabilities," said Premal Shah, partner at executive search firm FCL Search. As law firms compete for experienced disputes partners, they are looking beyond reputation to a candidate's ability to bring clients and teams with them, said Lee Ignatius, partner and co-founder of Vahura, another executive search firm.
Non-rainmaker litigation partners are available, but ones with a good book are rarer," said Rohit Jain, managing partner of law firm Singhania & Co. "There is a huge opportunity for rainmaker litigation partners to join midsize firms and enjoy better commercial terms with more flexibility and fulfilment."
