IndusLaw partner Anupam Prasad has set up an independent firm called AP Law Chambers around six weeks ago.

Prasad had joined Indus with his team in 2016 from RDA Legal. IndusLaw partner Gaurav Dani commented: “[We] wish him well.”

Plans were still developing, said Prasad, but added that he had a good “bunch of people to work together” and be associated with the AP Law banner, whom he has known for a while. “The thought is to have a lean and an agile team, and hopefully cater to all / almost all areas of legal work, that a client may need assistance on (advisory / transaction / dispute resolution),” he explained.

“I continue to provide services to the some of my clients who moved with me post Indus, and in the past couple of months have developed new clientele as well, both in the advisory and the transaction space.”

The 2006 NUJS Kolkata graduate said he has taken office space in a co-working space in Mumbai’s One Indiabulls Centre, with “presence in Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Singapore” including via associations.

He added that he had decided to start the firm before the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in India, so a “lot of homework had happened prior to the start” and that the pipeline for the next four to five months was nevertheless strong at the moment.

“There is work still coming in and we have few mandates as well, so as of now we are adequately engaged,” he said, noting that work and invoices over the past one-and-a-half months had been good. “Of course, if these clients decide not to proceed with their plans, then yes, then I guess we need to work harder,” he joked.

That said, he noted that AP Law Chambers could offer a good value proposition and was focussed on further building out the pipeline of future work.

“In fact, with all humility, we have had engagement wherein clients have expressed their eagerness to work with ‘Tier1 lawyers but not with Tier 1 fees’,” said Prasad.

“I am fairly bullish and confident that services from lawyers such as us (who have moved out from traditional career path) will be more in demand (especially under the current circumstances) and we will be in a position to provide more value to clients.”

Anupam PrasadWork history From: Mar 2020: Founder Partner, AP Law Chambers, AP Law Chambers (Mumbai) From: Nov 2016: Member | Academia Panel (Industry), West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences Jun 2016 - Feb 2020: Partner, IndusLaw (Mumbai) Aug 2013 - Jun 2016: Partner and Head (Mumbai office), RDA Legal (Mumbai Area) Jun 2010 - Jun 2013: Senior Associate, Khaitan & Co (Mumbai Area) Jun 2006 - May 2010: Associate, Nishith Desai AssociatesEducation 2014 - : University of Michigan, Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills, Dispute Resolution 2016 - 2016: MICA, PG Programme in E-Commerce Business Management, 2017 - 2017: BSE Training Institute, Mumbai, , Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance 2001 - 2006: West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, B.A LLB (Hons.),