Corporate partner Sanjay Buch explained that the adoption by Crawford Bayley of an non-equity partner model, which many other law firms have also been introducing, was aimed at retaining good talent and moving towards a more progressive model.

“We should be able to stand with other competing law firms,” he said about the new structure.

Shetty’s promotion continued last year’s elevation of six to associate partner level, said Buch.

Shetty specialises in corporate transactional and M&A, competition law and corporate litigation. She has been at the firm for six years after completing her LLB from Mumbai’s JC Law College in 2006 and a master’s degree in business law from NLSIU Bangalore in early 2007.

“If you see the history of the firm there has not been a tradition of elevations,” she agreed, and added that it was an extreme honour to be bestowed with the tag by senior partner RA Shah and Buch, in whose teams she works.

“It is not dished out so easily and coming from someone so senior as Mr Shah definitely makes it more special.” She added that her new role would motivate her efforts to lead the firm towards greater productivity.

Crawford Bayley now has six equity partners, six salaried partners and seven associate partners, making up a total partnership corps of 19.