Juris Corp opens in Chennai, with Islamic banking expert Hufriz Wadia

Hufriz Wadia: Creating Dubai in Chennai
Hufriz Wadia: Creating Dubai in Chennai
Juris Corp will open an office in Chennai next week after former Wadia Ghandy associate Hufriz Wadia, who is the sister of long-time Mumbai partner Hoshedar Wadia, joined the firm as partner two weeks ago.

She will focus on growing the firm’s banking, corporate, dispute resolution and real estate practice in Chennai, with a specialisation on Islamic finance.

She is currently based in Juris Corp’s Mumbai office but will move to Chennai next week.

Wadia, who returned to India in December 2012 after five years of practicing Islamic banking as senior associate in Dubai law firm Al Tamimi & Co, said: “[The Reserve Bank of India] seems to be quite negative about [Islamic banks in India] , but they have only ruled it out with the banks, we’re quite hopeful for other institutions and I look forward to look at other options that are available. I’ve seen interest in a few prospective clients.”

She told Legally India that she would be the only partner of the firm, permanently based in Chennai, while co-founder H Jayesh and senior partner Mustafa Motiwala will shuttle between the two cities to build the new practice. The firm will begin recruiting associates for Chennai in a few months.

Dual-qualified in England and India, Wadia obtained her LLB from KC Law College Mumbai in 2002 and became a Bombay Incorporated Law Society solicitor in 2005. She joined Udwadia & Udeshi in 2005 after her articled clerkship there, then moving to Wadia Ghandy in January 2006, followed by her move to the Dubai law firm in October 2007.

She said she was part of Al Tamimi’s Asia team and focussed on India-related work, collaborating frequently with Jayesh and Motiwala.

According to a press release from Juris Corp, her experience spans multi-billion dollar securitisation and financing facilities by the government of Dubai, advising leading Indian banks on issuances of US commercial paper notes, regulatory advice and support to MNCs, cross border and local product offerings, setting up of a multinational wealth management company, licensing and registration requirements, opinions on FEMA, joint venture agreements, various corporate law issues, and corporate litigations in the High Court of Bombay and international arbitrations.

Jayesh said: “We wanted to strengthen our Islamic Finance practice and are delighted to have someone on board with rich and varied experience. An added bonus is that this will give us a presence in Chennai.”

Comments

Dazed and Confused 21 Jan 2013, 08:58
+17 -4
The real news is that this woman's brother is, according to the story above, only ten years old and yet a partner in the Bombay office of a pretty good law firm. A precocious and talented young man he is! And now, his older sister is headed to Chennai. Quite a family! All the best.
hahahaha 21 Jan 2013, 09:19
+4 -0
Kian, whoever wrote this article needs to get better at precis writing. the opening paragraph is horribly written.
Seriously ?? 21 Jan 2013, 09:11
+4 -0
Islamic Banking is a joke !! Islam prohibits usury and not interest, but these Islamic banks have made a mockery out of the whole thing and in this process gullible and semi educated Muslims are blindly in love with their religion fall prey to them. Reserve Bank is right in its decision to not allow Islamic Banks in India.

Before anybody attacks me, please read Tarek Fatah's analysis on Islamic Banking, where he had tried to open the mask of Bankers who exploit innocent people in the guise of religious and commercial practices.
Dazed and Confused 21 Jan 2013, 10:02
+10 -6
Really, Kian. Have you given up? You can't let stuff like this hit the site and expect us not to notice.

There are ways to turn this into a legitimate news post by asking intelligent questions rather than simply taking a quote and printing the press release.

For instance, why does Jayesh think an Islamic finance associate will be an asset in Chennai? Is Ms. Wadia simply marrying someone in Chennai and hanging out the shingle out of convenience? What are Jayesh's intended sources of business? We would ask these questions of a startup. We certainly should ask them of an established niche firm.

Prachi's got to step up her game if we're to take her byline seriously. The English here is way too CBSE.

Howsa 'bout doing some reporting on where the heck the AIBE exam scores are six weeks after most everyone sat for the exam? That's a story idea for you.
Anon 21 Jan 2013, 10:05
+3 -6
Horrible horrible English. Such writing in a law firm will lead to an early end to one's professional career. Please withdraw the article and re-post the same after a comprehensive re-write.
Lord Tennyson 21 Jan 2013, 17:38
+6 -0
Don't know why everyone 's knocking the English? Hardly seems bad to me.
Modi for PM 21 Jan 2013, 13:36
+30 -7
Ban Islamic banking in India. This is a secular country. There is a limit to appeasement of orthodox Muslims.
Rajnikanth 21 Jan 2013, 17:49
+7 -0
In Chennai only Rajni rules. Amarchand, AZB and now Juris Corp. interesting
Brun 22 Jan 2013, 03:22
+1 -10
Great! Congratulations to Hufriz Wadia for her achievements. I think you are doing a good job. I like your work. Thanks for sharing nice information.
All the best.
greetings,
property
Chulbul Pandey 22 Jan 2013, 05:17
+71 -0
Juris Corp has seen a lot of departures recently. The Assosicates and Sr. Associate rug appears to be sick of the working culture there. None of the associates who have left or are on verge of leaving have anything positive to speak about the firm. It is not the place anymore which it use to be some years back.
Guest 22 Jan 2013, 09:14
+0 -0
Attaboy! I agree, LI needs to an article pronto on where the AIBE has disappeared.


[quote name="Dazed and Confused"]Really, Kian. Have you given up? You can't let stuff like this hit the site and expect us not to notice.

There are ways to turn this into a legitimate news post by asking intelligent questions rather than simply taking a quote and printing the press release.

For instance, why does Jayesh think an Islamic finance associate will be an asset in Chennai? Is Ms. Wadia simply marrying someone in Chennai and hanging out the shingle out of convenience? What are Jayesh's intended sources of business? We would ask these questions of a startup. We certainly should ask them of an established niche firm.

Prachi's got to step up her game if we're to take her byline seriously. The English here is way too CBSE.

Howsa 'bout doing some reporting on where the heck the AIBE exam scores are six weeks after most everyone sat for the exam? That's a story idea for you.[/quote]
Comedian 22 Jan 2013, 11:15
+3 -14
Go Sumitava
Prachishrivastava 22 Jan 2013, 12:54
+11 -0
Thank you for your feedback. We have edited the story so that now the language is clearer - regrettably and inexcusably it wasn't originally.

You are absolutely right that the story could have revealed more. At the same time sometimes whether intelligent questions were asked or not is not necessarily reflected in the finished interview.

Thanks again for the feedback, appreciate the candour, we'll keep on trying to improve and deliver the best news possible.

Best wishes,
Prachi
donotputupwithtrashtalk 23 Jan 2013, 06:15
+10 -31
Many Congratulations to Hufriz. I am sure you will do a great job in Chennai as you always have.

All the very Best Hufriz.
Cheers!


As for people making predictions on Islamic finance associate being/not being an asset in Chennai? You all are just too negative here. I suggest all you prophets’ book a seat at Davos. As for those ___ making comments on Hufriz Wadia’s personal life, I think you people need to grow up, and do something productive with your time.
Ex JC 23 Jan 2013, 14:03
+90 -1
Lately LI only reports when partners join Juris Corp it was silent when old experienced partners like Ookabhoy and scores of talented seniors leave. It is understood that even currently two litigation partners M Fraser and another are in notice period Why this bias?
Former JC Client 29 Jan 2013, 11:18
+86 -0
JC is like the Indian batsmen on a bad day Staedy flow into and out of the partners pavilion.Earlier there were top class talented and repected partners and seniors but the HR policies of the firm have forced all of them to quit in the last 12 months. Lately the firm is in the news for the wrong reasons
Former JC 30 Jan 2013, 06:59
+79 -0
[quote name="Ex JC"]Lately LI only reports when partners join Juris Corp it was silent when old experienced partners like Ookabhoy and scores of talented seniors leave. It is understood that even currently two litigation partners M Fraser and another are in notice period Why this bias?[/quote]
Dear Kian, LI must have a balanced reporting and report when partners leave as well as when partners join, however much Juris Corp tries to suppress information about key talented partners quitting
sl 23 Jan 2013, 15:35
+1 -28
All the very best, Hufriz! I am sure you will shine!
Old member 23 Jan 2013, 16:20
+83 -3
Lot of nepotism in JC Two husband wife pairs now brother sister! so much for professionalism
Guest 24 Jan 2013, 09:53
+82 -1
is this going to become 'wadia & wadia' very soon. Jayesh should be careful
R.Sawant 30 Jan 2013, 13:01
+1 -34
All the best team JC. Mumbai, Delhi and now Chennai. Hoping for more offices across India and praying for lots progress. Congratulations Ms. Wadia.