Domestic law firms see movement of key partners

MUMBAI: Rahul Dwarkadas, litigation partner at Mumbai-based corporate law firm Wadia Ghandy & Co, is set to join the newlylaunched Veritas Legal, kicking off what many experts say is a much anticipated churn in domestic law firms.

Dwarkadas, son of senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas, will lead the litigation practice at the firm floated by Abhijit Joshi, former chief executive and senior equity partner of AZB & Partners. He will join the firm along with his team of five on April 1. He has practised litigation across judicial fora for about 12 years and became partner at Wadia Ghandy in 2011.

“The synergy in areas of practice creates great scope for growth. I am excited about the future,” Dwarkadas told ET.

Joshi said the flurry of movements in the legal fraternity suggests that there is space in the market for quality and optimally leveraged teams and that the economy may be improving.

In November last year, Joshi had decided to move out of AZB & Partners to pursue an entrepreneurial endeavour and many lawyers from his erstwhile firm have joined him since. With Dwarkadas and his team joining Veritas Legal, the firm will have three partners, including Joshi and Nandish Vyas, and 15 lawyers in all. “This strategic move strengthens the firm’s full-service platform,” said Aneesh Patnaik, head of the litigation consulting vertical of Vahura.

“Rahul is an excellent litigator and the potential cross-sell on litigation advisory, strategy and related services with Joshi’s corporate clients is enormous.”

Meanwhile, the legal community is watching the moves of the Shroff brothers, Cyril and Shardul, as they prepare to hire lawyers for their Delhi and Mumbai offices, respectively. The two brothers have decided to go their separate ways.