Sunil Agarwal, long-time senior tax partner at AZB & Partners Delhi, has left the firm after having been appointed as senior standing counsel for the Government’s Income Tax Department, responsible for cases before the Delhi high court and its subordinate tribunals.
He had been at AZB for 13 years, after having been additional commission of income tax at the Indian Revenue Service until 2006. He had joined the service in 1986, and completed his law degree in 1998.
“My passion is litigation in the courts,” he commented about his departure. While he had been handling disputes also at AZB, much of his work there had been advisory. “I wanted to be full-time devoted to litigation,” he added.
His primary work would obviously be income tax work for the government, however, he said that he would be free to appear in non-income-tax matters for private clients.
Agarwal said: “So long as I am on the panel of the Income Tax Department, then I can not take up income tax matters for the tax payer. But, all other laws, for example GST or company law matters, or [money laundering] matters, for them there is no conflict.”
Besides tax, at AZB he had been working on economic offences for around 10 years, as well as work such as amalgamations before the NCLT, and hoped to continue that practice too.
Agarwal’s relationship, as well as exit from AZB, had been “very graceful and very cordial”.
“In areas where there’s no conflict, I would work with AZB, but as independent counsel from my own office,” he added.
AZB Delhi managing partner Ajay Bahl commented: “Sunil has been and will remain a very good friend. He played a stellar role in our tax team and was highly regarded at the firm. We all wish him the very best.”
Comments
And he might have been able to make as much being a bureaucrat as he did at AZB, if not more, considering the way several governement departments work.
Just respect that and congratulate the human on being able to pursue his passion. Unless you think age should lead to diminished passion.
Ffs the toxicity EVERY where....
Please change the caption. It is a little demeaning.
Mr. Agarwal is a respected senior.
Besides, DU doesn't really have much of an attendance criterion that is actually enforced, apparently.
Anything is possible. :)
I would have such a diverse career anytime than being a cookie cutter partner at some firm.
shame on that generation of law firm managing partners/founders that this even has to be a mention.