Former Mayer Brown JSM Asia chief operating officer (COO), Jennifer Milford, has joined Amarchand Mangaldas in Delhi today as its first COO in four years.
Milford was director of business development and marketing at regional firm Johnson Stokes & Master in Hong Kong from 2002 until it merged with Mayer Brown, where she worked as COO Asia until October 2012.
For around eight years before that she worked as an executive coach in Sydney and Brisbane, following 12 years in a sales role in Sydney.
An Amarchand Delhi spokesperson confirmed Milford’s joining but said that neither the firm nor Milford would be commenting further.
Amarchand Delhi had been without a COO since 2009, when long-time COO and chief financial officer (CFO) Bithika Anand had resigned.
Amarchand Mumbai had created the role of COO in November 2009 with the hire of Valerie Bowles, who was previously COO and chief executive officer (CEO) at UK regional firm Langleys after similar roles at a number of UK firms and Australian firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques.
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However, I'm not sure whether AMSS PR kicked in to give 'no comments' to other websites after we called them, or whether those websites took it upon themselves to rehash our story and call Amarchand for a 'no comment' (without attribution, obviously), but I don't actually mind either way. Each to their own. :)
I am a regular reader of both websites and have always stated that LI is my first choice...but this kind of behaviour (bordering on hubris) is more pronounced here. Just giving you a reader impression.
However, LI was the first to put the column into context after the NEET judgment came out (i.e., to 'report' it before the MSM jumped on it) and ask the question of whether it was leaked, which I don't think B&B ever bothered to do on their own column. I think that linking directly to our coverage of the column, rather than the column itself, actually provided better context for the Thapar interview.
Hubris is certainly not the intention, but maybe I am a bit smug that the only reason this discussion keeps coming up is because we try to be transparent when we rehash stuff, and actually engage with readers who are upset about it rather than censoring comments or pretending other publications don't exist. Suffice it to say, others in the legal space (including most of the Indian MSM) have a very different view, and the only thing stopping us from adopting such a policy is a respect for journalism and our readers' intelligence.
Best wishes,
Kian
In theory, as I understand it, a COO could be responsible for anything from making sure time sheets are filed in time, to being involved in firm-wide strategy, to implementing human resources and billing systems and processes, coordinating partnership meetings, etc, etc.
Basically, a right hand man or woman for a managing partner. In fact the role is not dissimilar in principle from a COO in a company vis-a-vis a CEO.
Happy to get some more views on that though, to be honest, I don't know 100% either since it's such a potentially vaguely defined position.
Basically, over and above an HR manager or office manager, a COO is supposed to be much more strategic and concerned with practice and firm management. Whether a COO is allowed to do all that, will depend on the firm, but considering they can get paid partner-level salaries, it'd be silly to hire one and not utilise them.
I agree with Dilliwalla - six months and she'll be out, unless they're keeping her at the Taj and shuttling her about in a Merc. I'll give her a year then.
The role is reportedly to help launch AMSS's big foray abroad, with an anticipated head count of around 50. AMSS will be arguing against foreign lawyers from offices in New York.
Oh and please don't make this a family camp v non family campt bashing page. Discuss the new COO. Its a great addition to t he indian legal mkt.
Oh and please don't make this a family camp v non family campt bashing page. Discuss the new COO. Its a great addition to t he indian legal mkt.[/quote]
Either you're totally joking - protectionist's babies as thought leaders! - or you're simply doing your job as a PR person. My guess is you're being droll...very! What was the last "thought" to emerge from AMSS other than "more! more! more!"
People should just chill about AMSS - it is not a law firm so much as it is an influence machine. The recent marriages, cementing the family's ties to the elite, and the family's disinterest in creating capable juniors, clearly indicate their true business model. And that's perfectly fine - it's their business, and the Shroffs have built it.
The problem is their protectionist stance against progress in the profession, which has squelched career opportunities of young Indian lawyers since the beginning of liberalization. For that there is clear economic motivation but no moral justification. Any non-family member defending the firm's "professionalism" has a ring through his or her nose. (And I don't mean a "nath.")
[quote name="Dazed and Confused"]How laudable...the kids work late building their own business. These are the same pampered scions who used staff lawyers to do their homework earlier, something acknowledged in another publication.
People should just chill about AMSS - it is not a law firm so much as it is an influence machine. The recent marriages, cementing the family's ties to the elite, and the family's disinterest in creating capable juniors, clearly indicate their true business model. And that's perfectly fine - it's their business, and the Shroffs have built it.
The problem is their protectionist stance against progress in the profession, which has squelched career opportunities of young Indian lawyers since the beginning of liberalization. For that there is clear economic motivation but no moral justification. Any non-family member defending the firm's "professionalism" has a ring through his or her nose. (And I don't mean a "nath.")[/quote]
In Delhi-speak, same difference. Just the work differs.
Then there is the sly "from what I hear" when talking about the 3 kids burning the midnight oil, since no one has actually seen this but have heard endlessly about late nights from the 3 concerned. I must admit, you do have a point that it's easier to believe their tales of workaholism when it's in office once in a while, and not from an undisclosed location.
I must admit I am a bit confused though. Did you mean to use "from what I hear" for their lack of interest in management? I suppose so, since it's a delicious use of irony. Clearly, given the public slanging over management positions that took place some time back, the management interest is anything but lacking! At the same time, the reference to "thought leaders" is genius! I wish I could be half as sarcastic as you. What better way to underscore the next generation's all-talk-no-substance approach to thought leadership (unless it comes to firm parties, retreats or reorganisations)!
Likewise on the last line of your post. I can't stop thinking about how great it was to use "It" when describing a person, because you've neatly critiqued the commoditised, "everyone's replaceable" philosophy the firm demonstrates. Indeed, you should have a column on LI (or not)!
@Dazed and Confused - Now now...let's learn from nasty! and be more civil in our criticism. S/he (or in nasty!'s parlance, It) has shown us how to damn with faint praise! Hurrah!
[quote name="Raj Rajratnam Protege"]@nasty! - I think Dazed and Confused just misunderstood your post, and didn't get the sarcasm dripping from it. I think your post is a wonderful example of how one can use a person's weakness and make a biting remark about it. For example, it's so obvious when you talk about the growing strength and unity of the 5 family members, you're taking acknowledging the rumours of how little one particular family member cares about certain others, and has actively (and ocassionally, vociferously) sought to undermine them. I also liked how you quietly added the "in Delhi" point, just to underscore the divide between Delhi and Mumbai wings of the family. Well done!
Then there is the sly "from what I hear" when talking about the 3 kids burning the midnight oil, since no one has actually seen this but have heard endlessly about late nights from the 3 concerned. I must admit, you do have a point that it's easier to believe their tales of workaholism when it's in office once in a while, and not from an undisclosed location.
I must admit I am a bit confused though. Did you mean to use "from what I hear" for their lack of interest in management? I suppose so, since it's a delicious use of irony. Clearly, given the public slanging over management positions that took place some time back, the management interest is anything but lacking! At the same time, the reference to "thought leaders" is genius! I wish I could be half as sarcastic as you. What better way to underscore the next generation's all-talk-no-substance approach to thought leadership (unless it comes to firm parties, retreats or reorganisations)!
Likewise on the last line of your post. I can't stop thinking about how great it was to use "It" when describing a person, because you've neatly critiqued the commoditised, "everyone's replaceable" philosophy the firm demonstrates. Indeed, you should have a column on LI (or not)!
@Dazed and Confused - Now now...let's learn from nasty! and be more civil in our criticism. S/he (or in nasty!'s parlance, It) has shown us how to damn with faint praise! Hurrah![/quote]
It doesn't take much, however, for him to go all Tourettes over foreign lawyers....
It is impossible to make a below-the-belt-pot shot at AMSS.
Oh and please don't make this a family camp v non family campt bashing page. Discuss the new COO. Its a great addition to t he indian legal mkt.[/quote]
Excellent comment! Even if it is from Amarchand PR.
Nepotism reeks from their evaluation as well as all other actions and no action is taken against them by the top management of the firm despite the firm wide discontent.