Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM) technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) partner Asim Abbas, who had joined the firm a year ago, will join Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM).

Abbas had joined SAM a year ago in May, after five years at Khaitan & Co.

Between 2008 and 2010 he had run his own start-up firm Legal Spectrums, after having left Bharti Airtel where he was vice president legal between 2004 and 2007.

After a 1990 LLB from Delhi University, he became director of tariff and costing at the Department of Telecommunications until 2000. He then joined Luthra & Luthra as a senior associate for one year, followed by J Sagar Associates (JSA) from 2001 to 2004.

CAM managing partner Cyril Shroff declined to comment when contacted.

We have reached out to SAM and Abbas for comment.

Update: In the firm’s press release, managing partner Cyril Shroff said that he Abbas was hired “to meet our requirements of our clients with dedicated focus on technology, media & telecom”.

Abbas commented: “I am looking forward to join the leading law firm of India and head its TMT practice. TMT sector is going through an exciting phase of consolidation and convergence and I believe that Cyril Amarchand’s credibility and reach will provide me a big platform and opportunity to use my experience and domain knowledge to strengthen its presence in TMT space.”

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