Fox Delhi down to 4 non-fam partners as Sumes Dewan resigns

Monday, 25 June 2012 By Legally India Law firms

Exclusive: Fox Mandal Delhi corporate and capital markets partner Sumes Dewan, who joined the firm two-and-a-half years ago, has resigned, leaving only around four non-family partners in the firm’s Delhi office.

It is understood that Dewan’s notice period ends by 30 June, but Dewan declined to comment when contacted.

Managing partner Som Mandal said: “Sumes is indeed moving on as the capital market practice of the firm for which we primarily recruited him has been very quiet.”

Dewan joined the firm as a corporate and capital markets partner in January 2010 from KR Chawla together with Patni Computer Systems general counsel (GC) Ajit Yadav, who has since returned in-house to become group GC and president at Vedanta Resources.

In early 2010, Fox was recovering from a partner exodus following non-payment of associate and partner remuneration, some of which is currently under litigation.

In 2009 the firm’s website listed a total of nine partners in Delhi. Since then new partners have been hired or promoted, but at least 13 partners have also left the firm according to Legally India data, with litigation partner Sandeep Mahapatra having joined Juris Corp in February.

It is understood that there are now only around four partners remaining in FoxMandal’s Delhi office, excluding Som Mandal and his wife Sangeeta Mandal.

Som Mandal declined to confirm the figure, but commented: “We have recently also recruited Asish Swarup, who was earlier in our Chandigarh office as the head and then went on to join MGF-Emaar, the real estate company. He is rejoining us as a partner now in charge of Chandigarh Office and will also head up our real estate practice.”

Swarup was not reachable for comment at the time of going to press.

“There are few more recruitment in the process and we will inform you,” added Som Mandal.

FoxMandal Mumbai recently re-started its Mumbai office after demerging with Mumbai solicitors’ firm Little & Co after protracted litigation and disputes.

The Fox inside story: Legally India’s in-depth report from December 2011.

Comments

AV 25 Jun 2012, 06:52

+2 -0

Its sad another Partner leaves Fox Mandal, the reason is always the same non payment of dues

Delhi lawyer 25 Jun 2012, 07:43

+1 -0

Fox Mandal is following the Dewey & Leboeuf way !

By the way, where is he joining ?

AV 25 Jun 2012, 08:32

+0 -0

Its much worse than Dewey & Leboeuf, its a simple case of greed [...] and refusal to pay salaries and dues to lawyers and Partners, despite getting over Crores from Little & Co.

Jal Cooper 25 Jun 2012, 11:42

The hounds are chasing the fox!

Anonymous 25 Jun 2012, 11:57

All partners and associates should be payable on the basis of the billed hours. Their contracts should be revised such that no fixed payment be made to them (for sitting idle). And everyone should be asked to bring in business / clients. Instead of blaming the Managing Partner (despite of what he has done or what has happened), there should be an executive committee separate from the owners / promoters which should takeover the running of the firm. The brand is still very much there, lots of people are trying to sink it though - nevertheless, people join as Associates then get promotions to a partnership; Then payments delayed / not made (as no work billed, or what billed not shared). It's a collective effort / flaw.

Abhishek 26 Jun 2012, 09:33

@Anonymous.. Managing Partner should just chill. is this what you want to say? if everyone can bring business they will open their own firm rather than sulking at FM.

Bored Lawyer 28 Jun 2012, 05:34

Fantastic. Except what is the compensation for the billable hours? Say I bill at 10k as an associate, I should be entitled to at least 5-6k of that for myself. And how do you account for administration and business development (surely not sitting idle right?)? The Managing Partner gets the brickbats because he has collected the bouquets so far and that's called accountability. Since the payments (or lack of it) is a management responsibility, obviously the management gets blamed for it. Your suggestions seem to take away responsibility/accountability of the management. If a company underperforms, then the blame is with the management (assuming that things are within their control), unless you are happy to let it go, cricket style and said the team failed.

Its not as simplistic as it seems and they seem to have got their management issues horribly wrong. Surely, they could have figured out their cash flow issues (and they still don't seem to have judging by the comments). Please never absolve these guys of their greed, which is what got them to this mess. Greed is good only for the movies or if you are a salesman.

AV 25 Jun 2012, 13:05

[...] no one is sinking the brand apart from Som Mandal itself. Associates cant be blamed for non payment. In case a Management Committe takes over, how would Managing Partner, spend crores on himself and his family, when the people who work for him are not paid, including office staff

Anonymous 2 25 Jun 2012, 13:09

Three lawyers have also resigned in last one week from Delhi office, for non payment. [...]

Vinarm 26 Jun 2012, 05:40

Actually...lawyers have not been paid for as long as over 7 months!! And there has been over 5 resignations till now when people ask for money then they are bluntly asked to leave without their settlement of dues!

Anonymous 2 26 Jun 2012, 13:02

Its the same story, every three years new set of lawyers, new Partners no payment of dues and Som Mandal promoises the moon and the sky, and get new lawyers and in bargain he is has brought to the brink of [...] which is imminent

s 27 Jun 2012, 06:04

another down. hope not on the non payment issues again...as we heard even associated and senior associate level people have not been paid for 3-4 months salary.

Old Timer 27 Jun 2012, 12:02

This is pathetic, being an ex FoxMandal retainer myself its very sad to see that the financial situation of the firm hasn't improved. This despite accusations of the Managment spending firms money on personal expenses and investments. FoxMandal was once a great place to work and learn.There is simply one reason for the failure of the firm - mismanagement.London office having being shut down and Little and Co. Paying the huge settlement seems to not have affected the firm. As a senior member of the firm I know how the firms monies were mishandled while the managing partner was least bothered spending more and more time in London.Personally I don't know why the firm is being kept alive as even Associates and Senior Associates have not been paid for over 3 months retainer backlog, leave alone Partners. We all came out in support for Som when he required it but he has taken everyones niceness for granted. Back in 2008 and right upto 2009 the firm had great lawyers and many good aspirant associates who had just joined the firm.I know people who have been personally maligned and even threatened at the instance of asking for the rightful retainerships due to them.Perhaps the Managing Partner has other more international plans. There are so many aspects to speak out about FoxMandals demise but it is best described as a father killing his own baby and destroying his family in the process.

Curious 2 Jul 2012, 11:05

Is non-payment an issue only in the Delhi office? Or across the country (and whichever other jurisdictions FM claims to have offices in)?

Lalloo T, Adhivakta 2 Jul 2012, 12:51

Has the Family come back from its world tour? Or it is still abroad since April?

Old Timer 9 Jul 2012, 08:43

From my knowledge non-payment is only in Delhi London and Chandigarh. Its a shameful and sorry state.there are rumors that everyone is being paid in cash repeatedly.I don't know how true this is. Let us remember the good years that we had at the firm and cherish them.Remaining people are there because...

Fastidious 9 Jul 2012, 08:55

I think the remiaing people are there because they are paid silently or are not good enough to go anywhere else. What other reason could there be...? Who works for free...

Old Timer 9 Jul 2012, 09:00

Could be true, if you look at the persons who have moved out have all got great legal positions at firms,companies or in the courts. FoxMandal had very competent lawyers and they're all doing well. Somebody has to stay there only because of lack of choice. No other reason.

Fastidious 9 Jul 2012, 09:04

People have forgotten that eventually only the truth prevails. You can fool the world for a while,and then look like a fool to the world.

Many people have taken a lot of advantage to ruin the reputation of the firm.simply, because it is convenient for them. But the firm has not made any amends to shut them up. Simple question is, where has all the money gone ???

Old Timer 9 Jul 2012, 09:10

Who are the persons still there?

Old Timer 9 Jul 2012, 09:40

This is not for us to opioninate on...

Fundamental point is,Fox is a closed story.

Confused Zeus Says . . . 9 Jul 2012, 10:31

To the commenter @ 14-19:

Pardon me, Sir. I think you forgot to change your pseudonym from "Old Timer" to "Fastidious" while posting comment #19

Old timer 13 Jul 2012, 06:53

Ever heard of two devices on the same internet, don't be confused Zeus :) Nothing personal.

Commenting is closed for this article.