Khaitan & Co promotes 23 to partner in bumper round dominated by corp, disputes, banking

Wednesday, 31 March 2021 By Legally India Law firms

Khaitan & Co has promoted a total of 22 principal associates and counsel to salaried partner positions.

One counsel - Sumit Chakraborty - was promoted to the partner-equivalent director position in Kolkata’s corporate team.

A total of four principal associates were promoted to counsel.

The Mumbai office - the firm’s biggest - saw 13, Delhi’s NCR region eight and Bengaluru one promotion.

The broader corporate practice got a total of 7 new partners (3 in mainstream corporate, with another 4 in various private equity and/or venture capital teams). After that, the largest practice areas were disputes and banking with 4 new partners each.

Other promotions also happened in the following teams: financial services, debt capital markets, competition, employment and insolvency.

The new partners are:

Aayushi Anand, Private Debt & Insolvency (NCR)
Abhinav Chandan, TMT (NCR)
Abhisaar Bairagi, disputes (NCR)
Ahana Sinha, banking (Mumbai)
Anchit Oswal, disputes (NCR)
Arvind Ray, disputes (NCR)
Deepak Kumar, employment (Mumbai)
Kapish Mandhyan, corporate (Mumbai)
Kartikeya Prakash, VC & new age business (Mumbai)
Nidhi Killawala, PE & VC (NCR)
Pranjal Prateek, competition (NCR)
Radhika Agarwal, PE (Mumbai)
Rahul Chakraborti, banking (Mumbai)
Rolwine Alva, banking (Mumbai)
Saswat Subasit, corporate (Mumbai)
Smita Jha, banking (Bengaluru)
Sneha Janakiraman, disputes (NCR)
Soumya Mohapatra, debt capital markets (Mumbai)
Stuti Galiya, corporate (Mumbai)
Tanushree Bhuwalka, private equity - real estate (Mumbai)
Tarunya Krishnan, ESG & commercial (Mumbai)
Vidushi Gupta, financial services (Mumbai)

Senior partner Haigreve Khaitan said in a statement: “It has been an extraordinary year for everyone and it is a great privilege to welcome these outstanding individuals to our Partnership. These promotions reflect the dedication, sincerity and contribution each one of them has made. I wish them the very best as their careers progress and am excited to work with them shoulder to shoulder to build a great future.”

Executive director, human resources, Amar Sinhji added: “We are very excited to have these outstanding minds bring their invaluable expertise and knowledge to our Partnership. Grooming the right people, with the right skills, culture and values has always been of utmost importance for the firm. We are certain that with these new promotions, we continue to be on the right track to provide sustained support to our clients and ensure continued success.”

The four new counsel are:

Abhinav Rastogi, employment (NCR)
Achint Kaur, commercial (NCR)
Nayantara Kutty, corporate (Mumbai)
Ratnil Chauhan, disputes (NCR)

In July 2020, in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Khaitan had promoted 16 to partner, while in April 2019 it had elevated 11.

Comments

Ex KCO 31 Mar 2021, 14:06

+4 -1

New SA and PA names?

Ex-Lawyer 31 Mar 2021, 14:07

+1 -2

What is the pay package like?

Catty 31 Mar 2021, 14:40

+12 -3

What's it to you

Kco 31 Mar 2021, 14:58

+4 -13

Partner : 1 crore

No 31 Mar 2021, 15:52

+2 -23

It's 2 crores +.

Malaamaal 31 Mar 2021, 19:03

Troll

+1 -6

At least 5 crores

Its 1 Apr 2021, 09:11

Troll

+4 -1

10 crores

Ex KCO 31 Mar 2021, 14:10

+0 -1

Didn't they publish SA and PA promotees this year?

Kco 31 Mar 2021, 14:37

+20 -7

And that’s how a bumper year and a bumper crop of partners truly looks like! Well done Pranjal, Ahana, Arvind, Nidhi. Haigreve is a true leader and when he says shoulder to shoulder he means it. No PR, no hidden agendas.

lastthwgad 31 Mar 2021, 14:46

+2 -1

Is Khaitan partnership an all equity partnership? Or do they have salaried partners and equity partners?

Reply 31 Mar 2021, 15:06

+9 -1

Salary and Equity both- however, KCO has done away with the designation distinction.

lastthwgad 31 Mar 2021, 15:56

+0 -2

So these partners are all salary partners right? Can you please explain how the designate distinction works also?

New Associate hirings? 31 Mar 2021, 15:16

+8 -6

To all new partners- congratulations ,hope each of you build large(read gigantic) new teams of your own and hire for a hell lot of new associate positions.Time to get CVs ready,bid goodbye to Lala law firms for good.Serious big realisation during pandemic,money is never good enough and definitely not to compensate for the way you made to feel like your lives just dont matter.

Little Finger 31 Mar 2021, 14:54

+10 -1

Will they all get cabins after work from home ceases?

Leaseed 31 Mar 2021, 15:48

+9 -1

Yup. Probably lease (soon to be) free space from that other firm that just moved to the same building since they probably won't need all that space after all.

Goggled 31 Mar 2021, 15:04

+9 -1

Another year passes without CC

JeanM 31 Mar 2021, 15:38

+3 -2

CC is BCCd.

CC and AC 1 Apr 2021, 08:42

+6 -3

Despite the backing of AC?

Fire on the wall 31 Mar 2021, 15:12

+15 -2

I hear bonus' was pretty good this year.

Present KCO 1 Apr 2021, 04:57

+3 -0

The most likeable and talented senior around - we need more like him in the law firm fraternity :)

Ex KCO 31 Mar 2021, 15:32

+20 -1

Many congratulations, Rolwine!! You have been a fantastic senior to work with when I was having a tough time.

Me Too 31 Mar 2021, 15:53

+17 -2

Truly one of the best PAs I had the good fortune of working under.
Congratulations Rolwine! You deserve all the success coming your way and much more!!

Wow 31 Mar 2021, 15:33

+12 -12

More partner means more undercutting now

Dieting 31 Mar 2021, 15:50

+18 -16

That's what the KCO model is. Under cut. Do numbers. People prefer Mc Donalds to Gourmet burgers. They hit the spot...at half or a third of the cost.

KCO guy 31 Mar 2021, 20:14

+16 -1

Bhai apan client ko paise deke waapas bhejte hain.

Ab Khush.

Mera partner rate sunega na to teri aatma kaamp jayegi.

Guest 31 Mar 2021, 15:37

+5 -1

Congratulations Rolwine! Very well deserved!

Pangs of Fortune 31 Mar 2021, 16:16

+3 -5

Compare this to when CAM announces its partners. The mudslinging will start. As if everywhere else there is only quality.

Pangs of Fortune 31 Mar 2021, 16:17

+0 -0

[img]https://media4.giphy.com/media/xT1R9YUaUwR49MdDLa/200.gif[/img]

Pangs of Fortune 31 Mar 2021, 16:18

+0 -0

Don't be troll it says. So there - not trolling.

Guest 31 Mar 2021, 17:06

+6 -1

Partner saturation point coming soon! I wonder what the firm will be like in the next 5 years?

LOL 31 Mar 2021, 19:28

+0 -1

LOL, since its a ranking debate, its not the no. of partners a lawschool has produced, but the no. of years in which they made partner! Some take 8 years, some take 12 years (and I've met people who took 15 years)!

STOP LYING 1 Apr 2021, 07:45

+3 -0

Radhika is NLS

Guest 31 Mar 2021, 18:00

+7 -4

Here is the law school wise ranking:

1st: Symbiosis (5): Aayushi, Ahana, Kartikeya, Saswat, Smita
Joint 2nd: NUJS (4): Abhinav, Abhisaar, Rahul, Sneha + GNLU (4): Kapish, Pranjal, Smita, Tanushree
Joint 4th: NLIU (2): Anchit, Radhika + NLUJ (2): Deepak, Vidushi + GLC (2): Rolwine, Stuti
Joint 6th: NLSIU (1): Nidhi + DU (1): Arvind + ILS (1): Soumya, Tarunya

[img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/27/97/9b/27979bd1e5e4332d45c8da2cd9a57f7b.jpg[/img]

Guest 31 Mar 2021, 18:10

+13 -1

Arre bhai, yeh ranking nikaal ke kya ukhaad liye?!

Lull 31 Mar 2021, 20:18

+14 -2

Symbi Pune se 5. Gazab.

Ye Null Stop ke pohe mein kuch to jaadu hai

Lull 31 Mar 2021, 20:20

+20 -2

On a serious note, I am happiest to see Pranjal's promotion. It's a rarity to see such a nice guy in a law firm. Perennially well behaved, great attitude and straightforward advice.

Coolguy 1 Apr 2021, 01:11

+0 -0

I wonder not a single one from nalsar

Do some real work 1 Apr 2021, 05:14

+0 -0

[img]https://media3.giphy.com/media/O1oJ840fg6uOVCqdzJ/200.gif[/img]

What? 1 Apr 2021, 09:33

+3 -2

Radhika is from NLSIU not NLIU

Guest 1 Apr 2021, 09:57

+0 -1

ILS should also be joint 4 with Soumya and Tarunya

AkSha 4 Apr 2021, 08:38

+0 -0

Smita is from two colleges?

SKK 8 Apr 2021, 22:55

+0 -0

Radhika is NLSIU too

Insider 31 Mar 2021, 18:01

+1 -1

Atleast 4 are from GNLU

Toofaan 31 Mar 2021, 18:08

+3 -14

Just wait for promotion announcement of vertices partners. At least 10 new partners in offing !

Congratulations to all new kco partners !

Lull 31 Mar 2021, 20:17

+5 -8

Sorry bro- But I had to google Vertices partners.

But as you say, we will wait because 10 new partners has blown me away already.

April fools 1 Apr 2021, 07:46

+0 -0

Seems like your management played a nice joke on you. The firm hardly has 10 associates. Unless of course they plan to make all partners. [...]

That said, it seems like the motto of vertices is that what if we can't make it to khaitan and top tiers [...]

Big Fan 31 Mar 2021, 19:53

+7 -5

Vidushi congratulations !!! You're a stellar senior and a great mentor. What a year it has been for you. Keep rocking

Guest 31 Mar 2021, 20:48

+32 -15

Plot Twist: Khaitan's partners report to associates, a la Benjamin Button.

Seriously, 23 promotions is a joke. It cheapens the office of partner and changes nothing on the ground. These chaps are little more than glorified SAs who have the skills to answer a phone call or two without saying "I'll speak to my partner and get back to you"

Revertal 31 Mar 2021, 21:56

+14 -3

Some will always be able to look to the sky for answers. The sky is pink was truly a foreboding title :)

Jimmy aa ja 4 Apr 2021, 04:32

+0 -0

Purple haze, all in my brain
Lately things they don't seem the same
Actin' funny, but I don't know why
Excuse me while I kiss the sky

New Age 31 Mar 2021, 22:02

+9 -2

This has set the stage for some true power couples (i can think of at least 6)! Take a bow, ladies - our time has come!

Guest 1 Apr 2021, 09:59

+8 -1

At one place you hoot it out for ladies and in the next breath, you mention about power couples. What is a woman’s achievement to do with her husband?

Guest 1 Apr 2021, 10:06

+5 -0

Old AMSS tactics. The HR is a master at these strategies.

Bitter 1 Apr 2021, 04:51

+7 -1

Why does anything have to change on the ground? They're freshly minted law firm partners, not military leaders. Retained partners are given a (much) larger share of the money they make for the law firm, in recognition of their efforts over time. There's not much more to that. Would you rather law firms make everyone SA and just let them stagnate there with no meaningful change in pay and benefits?

Guest 1 Apr 2021, 10:54

+7 -0

While it's a good HR strategy, in the long run, everyone will be a partner and then who reports to whom will have to figured.

I'm presuming, we'll soon have partner classification in these firms - associate, affiliate, deputy, vice, general, executive. Lots of fancy titles for all the special little people.

Keep the structure simple. You're a partner, if you can feed yourself and your team. Else you're a senior associate.

Guest 1 Apr 2021, 21:31

+9 -1

Um yes, if someone is not fit for partner he should stay as SA/PA. Only those with independent books covering 1.5x their cost should be made partner.

A partner by definition is the firm, therefore should have the revenue to back it up. Merely making these doughboys into Partner does nothing but satisfy their egos. It misleads only the hapless clients who wonder why a partner needs ok from another partner who needs ok from another partner to confirm a listing requirement letter.

Salary increments can continue to be given to these SAs/PAs but its ridiculous to call them partner simply because they completed 7/8/9/10 years.

5th floor B wing 31 Mar 2021, 21:50

+7 -11

Congratulations Aayushi!! well deserved :)

AB 1 Apr 2021, 04:38

+2 -0

Congrats Akshay Sharma.. ab mujhko bhi bol

Former colleague 1 Apr 2021, 06:49

+1 -0

Congratulations Deepak! Truly deserved.

Red line 1 Apr 2021, 07:18

+3 -3

The quality difference between AZB Bombay and KCo Bombay is so stark.

Client 1 Apr 2021, 08:34

+16 -5

When you make such a large number of partners, it casts a shadow on the whole thing. Were they made because they threatened to leave? Did you make them just to make a splash? Are all of them worthy (assuming they are all so)? Or are you just looking for numbers?

Also, how do these newly minted partners support themselves? There are only so many fish in the sea that you can net right?

Not from Khaitan 2 Apr 2021, 07:37

+3 -0

Dear @Clinet, Frankly,this is more like disgruntled non-promotee than client(whose?).Firms decide which people they promote as partners on basis their criteria.You mind your business,not ours.

Curiouser 1 Apr 2021, 09:14

+0 -0

S(H)CAM promotions?

Red Line 1 Apr 2021, 09:24

+0 -0

Why is my comment not published. Ridiculous censorship by LI. If a certain comment is not directed against any specific individual, then it ideally should be published.

Banking Doob Gayi 1 Apr 2021, 11:02

+4 -7

4 partners in banking ?? Itna business hain hi nahi. Also Bhatta ko kyu nahi banaya

Bk c 1 Apr 2021, 11:47

+2 -4

Toh KCO charity kar raha hai kya tumko lagto hai? They unlike other firms don’t make partner and then ask them to get their own business or forgo their salary!

Ex KCO 1 Apr 2021, 14:43

+4 -2

There's only one Bhatta and he is in Cap Marks!!

Guest 2 Apr 2021, 07:45

+2 -2

If you can't bring business, then you're not a partner.

Who says 2 Apr 2021, 09:54

+6 -0

This whole drill that comes from the family owned law firms that only those who bring business become partners(because it was effective in retaining full profits for them) is bygone.In professional firms run on professionalism and not "personal" whims even those who execute deals, advisories etc get to reach partnership.

KCO target 1 Apr 2021, 12:50

+0 -3

What are KCO partner targets like?

- 1 Apr 2021, 16:22

+13 -3

And meanwhile Khaitain is yet to make a statement about Devanansh and improve working conditions. Sickening.

NoCo 1 Apr 2021, 17:32

+8 -2

Thanks for pointing it out again. I can't understand how the loss of a human life can so easily be ignored. A public statement and a little clarity would have gone a long way way in showing a humane face. RIP Devansh.

Bro 1 Apr 2021, 20:45

+1 -0

The firm instituted a medal after him at his alma mater.

Guest 2 Apr 2021, 06:25

+0 -0

Really?

Right 2 Apr 2021, 07:43

+1 -0

Heard they are in touch with deceased’s law school to set up scholarship and medal.

Guest 1 Apr 2021, 17:19

+1 -0

Hearty congratulations to Arvind. You deserve the best. Well done!!!
Atanu Datta,RINL

Guest 1 Apr 2021, 23:44

+0 -0

Outstanding. Congratulations

Rahul C. 2 Apr 2021, 10:32

+8 -6

Congratulations Rahul. One of the very few people in the KCO B&F practice who actually know the law. You may now have to pick up the burden of the remaining dead weights!!

Ex colleague 2 Apr 2021, 12:34

+4 -5

Very few breeds of nice guys left in top law firms. Rolwine is one of them. Treat for new juniors to work under him

M&A Guru 3 Apr 2021, 11:32

+3 -3

Stuti Galliyas rise to partnership is well deserved

FanBoy 17 Apr 2021, 08:30

+3 -0

Really happy for Radhika! One of the best seniors I have had the privilege of working with in past five years. Really well deserved.

Commenting is closed for this article.