Allen & Overy appoints two women to lead India from Singapore: Sheila Ahuja, Gopinath Aney (NLS ‘04)

Ahuja (l), Aney to head up India group of 100 at A&O
Ahuja (l), Aney to head up India group of 100 at A&O

Allen & Overy (A&O) has appointed two Singapore-based partners, Sheila Ahuja and Pallavi Gopinath Aney, as joint chairs of its India group, after the departure of London-based former India head Sanjeev Dhuna.

According to the firm, the firm’s India group consists of more than 100 partners and associates globally.

Ahuja leads the India arbitration vertical at the firm and has worked at A&O for her entire career since graduating from the University of Hong Kong and Cambridge University.

Aney heads up the India capital markets practice, having joined the firm only in 2019 from Baker & McKenzie and had worked in India for two years after graduating from NLSIU Bangalore in 2004 before heading to Singapore.

Ahuja commented in a statement: “We are proud to be fronting a diverse and successful group in the form of Allen & Overy’s India Group and look forward to leading it with a new perspective.”

Aney added: “Our core focus will be to provide our clients with a combination of quality legal services and innovative solutions against the backdrop of our lawyers’ deep-rooted understanding of India.”

A&O senior partner Wim Dejonghe continued: “Sheila and Pallavi’s expertise and knowledge of the Indian market makes them two of the top India-focused lawyers. They offer complementary skills with their respective disputes and transactional focused backgrounds and will together build on an already highly successful India practice.”

Aney has become the second NLSIU graduate to join management at A&O this year, following from Gautam Narasimhan who became co-managing partner of the firm’s Singapore office.

Pallavi Gopinath AneyWork history From: Jun 2019: Partner, Allen & Overy Aug 2015 - May 2019: Partner, Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow (Singapore) 2006 - Jul 2015: Managing Associate, Linklaters (Singapore) Jun 2008 - Aug 2008: Secondee, UBS AG 2004 - 2006: Associate, Pathak and Associates, S&R AssociatesEducation National Law School of India University, , Sheila AhujaWork history From: May 2018: Partner, Allen & Overy (Hong Kong) undefinedAssociate, Allen & OveryEducation University of Cambridge, Master of Arts - MA, Law The University of Hong Kong, , University of Cambridge, Master of Arts - MA, Law

Comments

Congratulations 25 May 2021, 14:26
+13 -0
Congratulations to both. This is a positive message from so many perspectives - gender, diversity, leadership and pure skill-sets. Good luck to both!
Fan 25 May 2021, 15:32
+14 -5
So glad to see A&O is not a boys club. Indian firms have so much of unlearning to do.
Nluzindabad 25 May 2021, 16:34
Troll
+8 -26
NLUs ruling the roost! Several NLU promotions in Magic Circle firms show how good the NLUs are. I have not seen a single private uni grad or anyone from GLC/DU for that matter achieving such heights as NLU grads. Kudos to all!
NLS student 25 May 2021, 17:44
+20 -5
Please shut up. I'm a current NLS student and such arrogance doesn't do anyone help. Yes, our alums are doing well and we're proud of them but I've seen my share of seniors from private universities making waves at law firms.

Remember, they are 2004 alums. So unless you give private law schools time, you're essentially comparing NLUs and private law colleges of 2004. And no one's saying private law colleges were good in 2004.
Nluzindabad 26 May 2021, 08:59
+1 -6
Not sure who you are trying to fool. Private law schools have been around since the 90s. They clearly haven't been able to challenge the NLU's superiority. And I don't even want to talk about random private colleges like JGLS which only accept students on the basis of money. Looking at current trajectories, NLS and the other top 5 will see a lot more alum partners in these places. Dk why you are so offended
Guest 26 May 2021, 05:44
+22 -4
No offense, the headline is so sexist “two women”. Never heard of headlines saying “hires two men”.

Why not only mention the lawyer’s name, since they’re such big deals - man or woman? Appreciate the focus on highlighting that “a woman can also lead” 🙄
Guest 26 May 2021, 06:16
+13 -0
Breaking the glass ceiling is still news.
Guest 26 May 2021, 14:14
Troll
+0 -3
Liberal snowflake thanks to whom the right keeps winning: Is the fact that these two women have managed to shatter the glass ceiling not worth a mention?

[Publication goes on to refer to gender]

Lib: How sexist can you be?
Guest 26 May 2021, 15:25
+3 -0
I've actually got no problem if people's genders are mentioned along with their achievements. So long as you don't use it to imply that women have got a role because they are women, or even worse, distinguish between two identical roles by tagging one with the female gender to imply that it has lesser responsibility or less competition.
You would actually find liberal ideas actually make logical sense only if you read a little bit every once in a while, there is a good chap!
LinkedIn Bot 26 May 2021, 06:23
+11 -1
Indian law firms have so much to learn. Except Zia and a couple of Trilegal examples, I do not see many other women in leadership positions in any of the top 10-12 firms in the country. I'm leaving out the Lala firms. Being in a leadership position in a firm which your father/spouse/family has started and manages, doesn't count.
Bot zPnKr 26 May 2021, 09:06
+3 -3
Zia and Pallavi had to start their own firms. Nisha and Kasturi would have succeeded anywhere. Hard facts that there are very few women at the top. I would add Reeba to this small club of highly successful women.
College 26 May 2021, 17:02
+2 -1
Aney is not well known in NLS circles as she kept a low profile but has risen due to hard work. Well done.
Fan 27 May 2021, 11:01
+0 -1
Shes got a great 1work ethic. And her team past and present really swear by the training she gives.
Law10 28 May 2021, 03:40
+2 -1
Even if not known much within law school she has done well.