AZB promotes 2 in Mumbai, 8 in Delhi: Majority corporate but 2 litigators evidence ‘significant’ disputes push

AZB & Partners has promoted 10 lawyers to partner level, with two getting the nod in Mumbai and 10 in Delhi.

In Mumbai, two were promoted:

  • Nandan Pendsey (IP head), and
  • Rushabh Maniar (corporate).

In Delhi, a total of 8 new partners were made up:

  • Amrita Patnaik (corporate),
  • Daksh Trivedi (corporate),
  • Deepika Khanna (corporate),
  • Gautam Varma (corporate),
  • Kamal Shankar (litigation),
  • Niladri Maulik (corporate),
  • Rohit Bajaj (real estate), and
  • Sidhartha Barua (litigation).

The promotions take effect on April 1 2015.

The firm’s name partners Ajay Bahl, Zia Mody and Bahram Vakil said in an emailed statement: “All of them have been with us for a while and exemplify the core values at AZB in striving towards excellence at work, outstanding client commitment and humility in conduct, all with a view to being great professionals and good human beings.”

They added:

Amrita Patnaik, Daksh Trivedi, Deepika Khanna, Gautam Varma, Niladri Maulik and Rushabh Maniar represent the continuing focus on our M&A, private equity, corporate advisory and regulatory practices.

Nandan has been outstanding in our IP practice‎. Rohit Bajaj’s elevation with his extensive experience in real estate and Kamal and Sidhartha’s elevation from our litigation team in Delhi, with their vast and diverse experience, are reflective of the importance and focus we give to our real estate and litigation practices. The latter, in particular, has seen very significant growth across the firm under the active mentorship and leadership of our senior partner Rajendra Barot in Mumbai and our senior partners Percy Billimoria and Nanju Ganpathy in Delhi.

In 2014, AZB promoted one to partner in April, three in May, and one in October.

Khaitan & Co has announced the promotion of five partners to equity and 18 to salaried partner level today.

Amarchand Mangaldas has informally told individuals about upcoming promotions, which would result in a total of 14 new equity and 26 new salaried partners. However, the firm has made no formal announcement since the Delhi and Mumbai managing partners are in the midst of a mediation over dividing the firm in two, the deadline for which has been postponed to 30 April.

Trilegal has promoted two to partner level in Mumbai in its all-equity partnership.

J Sagar Associates (JSA) promoted eight of its salaried partners into its equity earlier this month.

Luthra & Luthra has promoted has promoted two to partner and two to “partner designate” level in February, following two promotions to partner in January.

Comments

Guest 31 Mar 2015, 12:29
+3 -3
its 8 in delhi and not 10.
kianganz 31 Mar 2015, 12:30
+7 -6
Thanks! Having a hard time counting properly today...
AZN 31 Mar 2015, 12:38
+6 -2
Nilu and AP - where is the party?
DYS 1 Apr 2015, 04:40
+2 -1
Mauka mauka...party ka mauka.
DB 31 Mar 2015, 12:39
+5 -3
how much is the starting salary in the Litigation team? Much lower than Corporate,M & A, etc??
Rollercoaster Poet 31 Mar 2015, 13:14
+41 -0
What a quarter it has been...
Such upheavals it has seen...
From part-not to Partners in a week...
Mighty lions from mice so meek...
But, this too shall pass...
Caesar's curse lurks behind the glass...
Those with money buyeth their power...
Sipping malts in their ivory tower...
But, alas, too many cooks spoilt the broth...
Time will split the gold and froth...
And in months, the lunacy shall settle...
Whence, no more whistle shall this kettle...
To those who sat bemused this while...
I'm sure this will bring a smile :-)
kianganz 31 Mar 2015, 13:18
+3 -1
Wow, Shakespeare it's maybe not quite yet, but nonetheless, impressive rhyming skills! :)
Rollercoaster Poet 31 Mar 2015, 13:27
+12 -0
Thanks for the compliment, Kian, and if you noticed, its a sonnet...
Mr. X 31 Mar 2015, 13:53
+1 -0
You have an admirer!
From the Sidelines 31 Mar 2015, 13:45
+1 -0
[quote name="kianganz"]Wow, Shakespeare it's maybe not quite yet, but nonetheless, impressive rhyming skills! :)[/quote]
Why so gloomy, mister sonnet maker? Its all good!
bhaaai 1 Apr 2015, 11:46
+0 -0
sonnet writer*
midget 1 Apr 2015, 10:24
+0 -0
You aren't a lawyer... You are way too... You can't be!
Rollercoaster Poet 3 Apr 2015, 11:46
+1 -0
Sorry, but I AM a lawyer!! Why can lawyers not write poetry?
Grokster 31 Mar 2015, 13:46
+1 -0
Will fluttered,
Flags stutter,
Summer rolls.
Hildul 31 Mar 2015, 14:27
+2 -0
Partners were “made up”? HAHAHAH
Guest 31 Mar 2015, 17:03
+2 -0
Here's a thought. So many partners in Delhi? Is I because Joshi quit and their Delhi guys could be poached by cam Sam or khaitan? Hmm
hubba 31 Mar 2015, 19:06
+2 -1
so basically amarchand has made 26 new partners in one year. record pharu
Chikni Chameli 1 Apr 2015, 02:19
+2 -0
This is going to ruffle some feathers. Won't be surprised if some people who were overlooked consider SAMS as an option.
Naval 1 Apr 2015, 06:39
+13 -1
No one wants to join SAM. We have called almost everyone we could think off in Mumbai, but alas...most declined..so money cannot actually buy everything. Reworking our strategy.
hk lawyer 1 Apr 2015, 08:47
+3 -1
i hear there are some prominent exits at AZB, Mumbai on the cards.
Magic Tomato 1 Apr 2015, 10:14
+14 -2
Exits are always on the cards at AZB Mumbai.
Guest 2 Apr 2015, 07:27
+2 -0
are you kidding me? Would love to negotiate against some of these "partners" and watch the show!
Anon 2 Apr 2015, 09:07
+7 -0
Hi Kian - does the Pune office have a partner?
Nope 2 Apr 2015, 18:47
+14 -0
Although a partner is desperately needed...with the recent spate of persons leaving the pune office - seems unlikely that the SA will get promoted to partner...the wait continues...
AZB Intern 3 Apr 2015, 03:07
+5 -5
Congrats Rushabh! You are a very competent lawyer, seen you and been in awe of you while interning at AZB
There we go again... 6 Apr 2015, 22:51
+0 -0
There was a time
Notional Motion 3 May 2015, 17:11
+0 -0
Dude partnership is serious business !!! At least was...at one point of time. I remember around the time that i graduated, being promoted to partnership was an extremely prestigious issue.

But today it seems like law firms are rushing in to declare as many partners as they can. Hang in there for a while and low and behold, you are one !! Firms today are top heavy with most of these partners not being able to draw clients.

To my mind, all this is just notional motion ! In reality neither the declaration of these partnerships, nor the firms make any difference to the legal system, apart from huge bills raised to their clients. This is all just an eye wash and a feel good factor for these lawyers !