Former HSA Advocates managing partner Amitabh Sharma, who had resigned in April from the role, has started up a new law firm called LexRidge Partners, with former Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan partner Vikas Kumar and former AZB senior legal counsel Naved Askari, according to the firm’s press release.

The firm is specialising in corporate commercial transactional and advisory work, as well as commercial disputes, energy and infrastructure.

The firm’s vision, according to the release, was to “provide premium legal advisory experience to our clients in cost- effective and commercially expedient manner”.

Sharma had ceased being managing partner at HSA in April, after three years at the firm in the role, having continued as an independent of counsel with the firm.

Before joining HSA, Sharma had been partner at Khaitan & Co, and J Sagar Associates (JSA).

Between 2006 and 2015, Askari had worked in-house at Wockhardt and Suzlon Energy, joining AZB in Mumbai until August 2018 as senior legal counsel.

Kumar had worked at Khaitan & Co from 2006 to 2010 (with a one-year stint at UK firm Olswang), moved to J Sagar Associates (JSA) in 2010, became partner at DH Law in 2011 and joined LKS in 2015 to date.