Kochhar & Co added ALMT Legal partner Gautam Bhatikar as a senior partner and co-head of the Mumbai office of the firm. Bhatikar has joined the firm with ALMT senior associate Zoeb Cutlerywala.

Bhatikar, who was a partner in the shipping practice of ALMT, graduated in 2001 from Shri Ramnath Damodar Kare College of Law and worked at Mulla & Mulla for 10 years leaving as a senior associate in 2009 to join as a partner at Paras Kuhad & Associates for less than a year before joining ALMT.

He had moved to ALMT to help it grow in the specialist area of UK international firm Clyde & Co, which was then its best friend.

Bhatikar will be focussing on maritime and shipping in Mumbai – including both dry and wet shipping – insurance, and dispute resolution, while also developing the firm’s Dubai international commercial arbitration practice, where Kochhar had hired local lawyer Nikhat Sardar Khan as a partner this month.

Kochhar said in a press release: “During his impressive professional career, he has acted for several prestigious clients including international banks, ship owners and charterers, cargo interests, insurers and P&I clubs etc. Gautam regularly advises on disputes pertaining to mortgage claims, bills of lading, charter parties, ship building & ship repair contracts, collision and limitation of liability, salvage, general average and marine pollution and has represented several multinational and reputed domestic clients on complex maritime and off-shore projects.”

KC Law college 2007 alumnus Cutlerywala has joined the firm as a senior associate in the disputes practice.

Kochhar & Co managing partner Rohit Kochhar commented in the release: “Gautam’s robust experience in the areas of shipping, arbitration and insurance will add fillip to our practice in these domains. We are enthused about larger opportunities that we can pursue in these areas leveraging our pan Indian presence and our footprint in Dubai.”

We have reached out to ALMT for comment.