Abhyankar said that he would be looking after the company and commercial law practice, as well as M&A and internal talent management and training. In particular he focused on advising clients in the telecoms and packaging industry, as well as joint ventures across other sectors.

He is also a registered patent and trademark attorney.

Mehul Shah, who was part of his team at ANS, has also joined Khaitan as a principal associate.

Abhyankar said that he decided to take the new role at Khaitan “essentially to work on a bigger canvas, a bigger platform and obviously to utilise my experience in training and nurturing talent”.

In 2002 Abhyankar and Anil Wani, who were both partners at Little & Co in Mumbai at the time, had set up ANS Law Associates. Abhyankar said that his departure was amicable.

Wani, who specialises in indirect taxes, was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

Khaitan partner Rabindra Jhunjhunwala said that Khaitan was now 54 partners, of whom 52 were equity partners on one of the three Khaitan & Co partnerships. He added that the firm had not set itself a target in terms of growing to a certain number.

“We are looking at growth opportunities, and as and when they come along we will expand,” he said. “We have attracted young talent both international and domestic. In Sharad’s case specifically it adds balance to our ambition, with him bringing more than 20 years in the profession.”