Ashok Dhingra Associates equity partner Smita Singh has joined Singh & Associates to head its indirect tax practice as a partner in Delhi.
Singh commented in a press release: “With my expertise in indirect taxes, custom & trade, I hope to further strengthen the firm’s talented indirect tax practice team and best serve our clients’ needs.”
Singh & Associates founding partner Manoj K Singh added: “With Smita leading our indirect tax practice team now, we have reinforced our continued commitment to our clients in driving their regulatory requirements and resolving their legal hindrances, if any, and at the same time we have augmented our practice area.”
She is the latest of several lateral hires to join Singh & Associates this year, after nabbing Neeraj Dubey from Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan (LKS) Bangalore and setting up a forensics team with an experienced management consultant, and L&L Partners principal associate Apoorve Vashistha as a partner designate.
Singh, a 2006 Delhi University law grad, had been elevated to equity at the tax and regulatory boutique Ashok Dhingra in 2015 by her and Ashok Dhingra.
Dhingra, a former J Sagar Associates (JSA) partner and tax chair, had in March of this year handed over the reins as managing partner to partner Sonia Gupta.
We have reached out to Gupta for comment about Smita Singh’s departure.
Update: Gupta commented: “Smita wanted to explore opportunities outside the firm. We wish her best of luck.”
In April, Dhingra had told us: “I wanted to transition leadership role to next generation to let fresh air flow and young & dynamic leadership carry ADA to greater heights. In the last 2 years I had largely transitioned relationship with other professional firms to Sonia.
“Further, I wanted to focus on my practice area and training of team. In line with these thoughts, partnership during meeting on March 12, 2018 elected Sonia as next managing partner to takeover from me by April 1, 2020. Accordingly, Sonia took over from me during partners meeting on March 5, 2020.”
Back then, Ashok Dhingra Associates had three equity partners and a total of 7 fee earners.
Comments
[...] - never heard of the firms mentioned here, though I think I've seen Singh's offices while passing through EoK.
Why pull someone down? Please let me know what is achieved by stating this on a post mentioning a major move in their career to a firm that a whole lot of people do know of. Are you somehow mistaken that this entire website was built to cater only to you and what interests you? Or is it just a way to hide your envy and be happy when a few other lonely sods like this comment?
Also, I wonder if are you someone who works in indirect tax? If not, how will you know who these people are? You wouldn't know the names of most of the senior advocates practicing in Delhi, but asking "Who are these people?" will only make [i]you [/i] look foolish and not dent their reputation in their circles - and those are the circles that matter. "These people/firms" are known enough; I'm sorry but you will just have to take my word and this LI article as proof of that.
Re: "They are notable enough that a substantial number of people care to know about them and obviously they matter more than you know since LI carried a story about it."
Yeah, no. LI usually doesn't cover moves by [...], sorry. It's quite apparent that there hasn't been a lot of buzz among the bigger (read: relevant) firms of late in terms of entries and exits, hence this story.
Re: "You didn't know about them, buy you opened the article and [presumably] read it, and now you know about them."
.... And forgot about them.
Re: "Are you somehow mistaken that this entire website was built to cater only to you and what interests you? Or is it just a way to hide your envy and be happy when a few other lonely sods like this comment?"
Mistaken, no. But I've noticed that my interests and LI's coverage usually aligns on at least most issues. And I'm definitely not envious about some random random person's moves.
Re: "If LI kept reporting on the majorly known people, you wouldn't get any news beyond a select few partners from a few firms."
So? That's bad because...? Wait, it's not.
Re: "...asking "Who are these people?" will only make you look foolish and not dent their reputation in their circles - and those are the circles that matter. "These people/firms" are known enough; I'm sorry but you will just have to take my word and this LI article as proof of that."
That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. Whether it's based on ground realities, is another question. These circles matter to them, not most others. Known enough? Not really. Literally nobody in my circle (mostly lawyers across levels in bigger firms) knows them.
The point is: had there been more newsworthy material out there (and there usually is), this wouldn't have been reported. Hell, LI was almost a week late on CAM's promotions (which actually matter).
[quote]Hell, LI was almost a week late on CAM's promotions (which actually matter).[/quote]
Yes, of course, CAM is the only law firm in India. It's the only firm that matters. You're a hoot.
a) How is the work culture at the firm?
b) Generally, what are the increment percentage or scope for growth in the firm?
c) My starting salary is 40k so post probation, what would be the break up and in hand?
Again apologies for these questions but do provide some insight if possible.
His/Her question is genuine. The question is not questioning or disrespecting the firm. Let the future society live with a free mind without any fear, unlike the current situation.
My intention however was not to scare, but to put across a thought in the newbie's best interest. I hope a situation doesn't arise where the firm tracks him/ her down and asks him/her as to why such information was sought on li, instead from the firm itself. Also, s/he has disclosed the probationary salary- this may be a violation of the confidentiality clause of the retainership. The firm may not be overjoyed with this. As a future lawyer, the newbie needs to be more cautious with his words and choice of fora. That's all I wished to convey.
The PPO salaries should generally be standard and not subject to confidentiality. The entire post appears to be innocent and genuine concern of a beginner.
To Hzfc Strong - My general impression is that the firm is good. You may wait for inputs from more people who would have had direct contact with the firm.
(However, (as someone else mentioned already) - they will definitely not appreciate you writing /inquiring this way on a public forum.)