ELP team of MP Devnath re-unites into 7-partner LKS (+NLU-J) alum firm of S Seetharaman, re-brands as Sarvada Legal

MP Devnath, Vivek Sharma, Abhishek Anand join rebranded Seetharaman Associates
MP Devnath, Vivek Sharma, Abhishek Anand join rebranded Seetharaman Associates

Economic Laws Practice (ELP) indirect tax partners MP Devnath and Vivek Sharma, and associate partner Abhishek Anand, who had joined in 2017 after leaving Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan (LKS), have joined Seetharaman & Associates, which has now rebranded to Sarvada Legal.

Devnath, who with his other partners were members of the dispute resolution practice at ELP, commented: “The legal landscape is witnessing a new paradigm with GST, work around BEPS, the digital economy, integration of goods and services value chains, and trade disputes.

“I am quite certain interesting days are ahead. Sarvada Legal has been set up to serve clients in such challenging times and offer requisite solutions.”

He is a Supreme Court AOR and also argues across high courts and tax tribunals, and has more than 20 years of experience.

Sharma, a Delhi University alumnus, had before LKS and ELP also worked in KPMG’s tax practice; Anand is an NLU Jodhpur alum and had previously also worked in the chambers of a senior advocate in Delhi.

Economic Laws Practice (ELP) managing partner Suhail Nathani said: “We wish them well.”

New avatar for seven co-founders, all from LKS

Sarvada had been set up by former LKS senior equity partner S Seetharaman, who had left in October 2017, and a number of other LKS Delhi partners Abir Roy and T Sundar Ramanathan who went independent in January.

S Seetharaman commented: “I am extremely happy about, and proud of the new team at Sarvada Legal. Our team comprises of both experienced and young professionals with a genuine desire to excel at what they do. Sarvada Legal is in a position to offer complete solutions to our clients.”

This makes Sarvada, which means “always” or “all bestowing” and is an acronym of the seven co-founders’ names, an all ex-LKS peel off start-up.

Abhishek Anand, who is now joining from ELP, and partners Atul Sharma, Abir Roy and T Sundar Ramanathan have been friends since their days of studying at NLU Jodhpur, according to a statement from the firm.

Sarvada specialises in competition law, corporate and commercial laws, dispute resolution, international trade and customs, insolvency and bankruptcy, policy and regulatory, and tax advisory and tax litigation, as well as niche areas such as data protection and Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET) controls in the technology, defense and aerospace sectors.

Sarvada Legal now consists of 7 partners and a total of 25 fee-earners.

Comments

Well Wisher 1 Jul 2019, 07:51
+18 -0
All the best to MPD and team ...
bolo zubaan kesri 1 Jul 2019, 09:39
+30 -5
All the Best SARVADA. [...] SARVADA will be a place where young Partners will build a future and I am sure they will not introduce FACTOR system and deduct sallaries of the Juniors to pay the Seniors of the firm. Hope the senior partners will not be doing ‘MAN KI BAAT’ and ‘unnecessary meetings’ and concentrate on work. All the best folks!!
Robin Hood 1 Jul 2019, 17:09
+21 -2
Totally agree, Mr. Sasta Ajay Devgan! ;)

Sarvada should be the go-to place for all lawyers interested to start off their careers in taxation laws. After what Mr. Seetharaman and Mr. Devnath witnessed in LKS, things will only get better for them.

And having seen the worst, one definitely learns what NOT to do!! Cheers to MPD and team, and everyone single individual who walks out of LKS never to look back again.
Friend from Law School 1 Jul 2019, 10:33
+12 -1
All the Best Vivek. Bro, party is due.
Guest 5 1 Jul 2019, 13:49
+7 -0
Good
Guest 5 1 Jul 2019, 13:50
+14 -7
Good going Anand Bhai.. a rising star of indirect tax practice. Have heard of your abilities from many quarters ..
Whats in a name??? 2 Jul 2019, 07:12
+12 -0
The Oasis for talented stars who have been parched in LKS for too long.
Guest 2 Jul 2019, 10:08
+13 -1
Good going MPD and team. All the very best to you all. As someone else has commented, adverse past experiences (and I am referring to your tenure at ELP..!!!!!!) should indeed be used to guide the path to the next milestone. This is clearly ELP's loss and Seetharaman's gain, and I wish the best to you.
Legalastrologist 3 Jul 2019, 03:07
+6 -7
Very early comment for gains and losses, wait for two years and post again.
Whats in a name??? 7 Jul 2019, 06:44
+12 -0
Dunno about gains for Sarvada Legal but the losses to the firm they left (read LKS) is palpable for sure! The international trade team's business reduced to the extent that revenue became one third after Seetharaman's exit. People had to be let go and existing talent had to be shifted to other teams. The competition practice packed up and left alongwith Abir and Sundar and the said practice vertical all but exists in LKS . After Atul's exit, LKS is not even pitching for WTO disputes any longer. Once a bastion of excellence and learning, as somebody aptly said in another article, it has become of a fiefdom of the princelings and not a law firm any longer. A certain somebody should take a leaf out of Rahul Gandhi's notebook and step down. Everyone knows that he is the engineer of LKS's downfall.
Guest 27 Jul 2019, 05:53
+2 -0
Congratulations!!