The Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) has filed a writ in the Bombay High Court against the most recent Union Budget’s service tax on law firms, contesting its rationality and constitutional grounds.

Amarchand Mangaldas Mumbai has created the role of chief operating officer (COO) and filled the post with a former UK firm’s COO who will create a 100-day-plan to improve internal management at the firm.

The Mumbai chapter of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) is starting on its drive to become an organisation relevant outside of Delhi, kicking off with a continuing legal education programme for associates.

Another law firm partner has thrown his hat in the ring of local Bar Council elections, with ALMT Legal partner Hitesh Jain running for the Maharashtra & Goa Bar Council on a ticket of improving participation, relevance and infrastructure.

The Supreme Court of India has requested Clifford Chance to provide details of its India-billings of more than a decade ago in its long-running dispute against the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax (DCIT). The case is important to determine international firms’ income tax liabilities while billing for work in India.

Two partners from Linklaters have resigned to join its Indian best friend firm Talwar Thakore & Associates (TTA) as equity partners.

The firm has also promoted two of its associates to non-equity partner level and put in place a lockstep system.

Linklaters best friend Talwar Thakore & Associates has leased a new office in the Fort area with 70 per cent more floor space, bucking the recent trend of Mumbai firms moving North.

Delhi-based lawyer Madhurendra Nath Jha has been selected to advise the Government of Vietnam on WTO matters as a part of an international team of experts.

Luthra & Luthra has leased a new floor in its existing Delhi building, moving its corporate team of 60 heads into the 7,000 square-foot-area last week.

Trilegal will be the second law firm to move into Lower Parel’s One Indiabulls Centre in November, joining Khaitan & Co in the same Mumbai office block. Trilegal is also moving into its long-planned new office in Delhi this month and preparing for its move in Bangalore.

Khaitan & Co’s Mumbai office is moving from the Ballard Estate area to Lower Parel, where it has taken a lease of a large space allowing it to double in size in future.

AZB & Partners is sending four associates for training at Clifford Chance’s European training centres as the start of a more organised “knowledge transfer” programme between the best friend firms.

Delhi-based firm Priti Suri & Associates has moved into a new office that is more than twice its previous size, which is the first step in its plans to evolve out of a sole proprietorship model.

The two co-founders of Paras Kuhad & Associates’s Mumbai have quit as one is to start a new law firm and the remaining office continues working on last week’s merger with Hemant Sahai Associates.

Hemant Sahai Associates and Paras Kuhad & Associates have merged to create a firm of over 100 lawyers and streamlined office locations, following significant headcount reductions.

Luthra & Luthra has made offers to five further students from National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore after what is likely to be its last campus recruitment visit for the year.

Vaish Associates Advocates has formed a best-friends relationship with Chinese-Singaporean firm Dacheng Central Chambers (DCC).

Lawyers in Clifford Chance’s Gurgaon “knowledge centre” have earned 12,000 hours of work in the last financial year, according to the firm’s annual report which was published this week.

Khaitan & Co and Trilegal have taken the first formal steps towards becoming limited liability partnerships (LLP) by registering their LLP names.

Bangalore and Chennai-based Atman Law Partners has inked an alliance with Delhi start-up Salvus Partners. The firms hope that the partnership will lead to a full merger in the next six months.