LKS Bombay corporate lateral Ashwin Mathew moves on after 2 months

Tuesday, 11 February 2020 By Legally India Law firms

4th corporate partner to exit LKS in last year but firm vows continuing organic, inorganic growth

Ashwin Mathew to work independently
Ashwin Mathew to work independently

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan (LKS) partner Ashwin Mathew, who had the firm in December 2019 from Mansukhlal Hiralal, will be going independent.

We have reached out to him for comment, and he said: “My future plans are to work independently and to address any opportunities that come my way, despite my faults.”

The 1998 NLSIU Bangalore graduate with a 2007 University of Cambridge LLM had previously also worked at Khaitan & Co and the erstwhile Amarchand Mangaldas.

Mathew had written in a post on Linked-in yesterday evening:

It is with a heavy heart I would like to inform all of you that I am no longer a part of Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan. I have been asked to move on since my team abilities have been seriously questioned.

The three months I spent at L&S were the best of my career so far. I am ever grateful to Mr. Lakshmikumaran, Mr. L. Badri Narayanan, Mr. Mathivanan, Mr. Sridharan and all the others who touched my life in this wonderful organisation. I only wish the best for this wonderful organisation.

I hope they achieve their dream of setting up a path breaking corporate practice, something I tried but failed to do. New horizons, new boundaries and a life left to live…

The firm commented: “We wish him well and thank him for his contribution in the months he has been with us.”

Other partners to have left LKS’ corporate practice in the last year include:

“We are committed to building a strong corporate and commercial practice,” the firm responded when requested for further comment on its plans for the corporate practice. “We intend to do so both organically and inorganically.

“Nupoor Agrawal, partner and Asish Philip, joint partner would be leading the practice. Both have been involved in our corporate practice for a few years now and are ready to lead it.”

Ashwin MathewWork history From: Feb 2020: Independent Lawyer (Mumbai Area) Dec 2019 - Feb 2020: Partner, Corporate Advisory Team, Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan (Mumbai Area) Jun 2017 - Dec 2019: Partner, Mansukhlal Hiralal & Company (Mumbai) Oct 2013 - Mar 2017: Partner, SB Partners Jan 2011 - Mar 2013: Consultant, Khaitan & Co (Mumbai) Apr 2010 - Jul 2010: Partner, Khaitan & Co Sep 2007 - Mar 2010: Senior Associate, Khaitan & Co (Mumbai) Sep 1998 - Mar 2004: Associate, Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & CoEducation 1984 - 1991: Lawrence School, Lovedale 1991 - 1993: Kendriya Vidyalaya, Cochin 1993 - 1998: National Law School of India University, Bangalore, BA LLB (Hons), Law 2006 - 2007: University of Cambridge, Master of Laws (LLM), Commercial Law

Ashwin Mathewpartner moves Lakshmikumaran & Sridharanpremium contentpartner hires

Comments

Please Stop 11 Feb 2020, 10:05
+56 -4
One needs to have guts to openly write such genuine reasons for quitting the firm. Kudos to Ashwin.
Huh 11 Feb 2020, 10:47
+14 -4
What does this even mean? "since my team abilities have been seriously questioned"
But 11 Feb 2020, 15:25
+13 -0
His post says [i]"I have been asked to move on"[/i].

Was he fired?
Obviously 11 Feb 2020, 17:10
+24 -1
Obviously
216 11 Feb 2020, 11:33
+36 -1
something very sad about this post ... dunno what
Guest 11 Feb 2020, 17:10
+20 -1
True. I felt as if I were resigning. futility of life.
Honest talk 11 Feb 2020, 11:44
+40 -5
Before the dirty linen is washed in public, i have just one serious question. What is the reason that L&S has not been able to retain talent (Ashwin included). The reason is bloated EGOs of the seniorship . I worked with Ashwin for ages, I know he is a powerhouse. I as a client also interacted frequently with the attorneys of L&S. It looks as if the entire firm has been created to brief two managing seniors. The juniors on many occasions inspite of knowing a better litigation strategy refuse to recommend an alternate counsels name who can be briefed. Some great cases have been lost for want of better orators before the Courts who can manage the bench sentiments better. The same seniors are claiming themselves to be good in all laws including commercial matters and refuse to recommend a better strategy. At the end it is the result which matters...even Shah Rukh Khan cant always give hits. The managing senior spends time endlessly on meetings and loves to waste time of the attorneys on Sundays and Saturdays. Times are changing, either be a senior or a managing partner...you cannot be managing senior and micro manage.
Sick 11 Feb 2020, 15:05
+27 -7
Quite sick of firms like L&S, Majmudar, etc which fire good lawyers and lower the lawyers self esteem for their own personal gains. They break even the good ones. He shouldn't lose heart and for sure in couple of months will be doing something much better. What is l&s in corporate anyway? A nothing firm. Now there are even better tax firms
Camite 11 Feb 2020, 16:06
+7 -1
Add CAM to the list too.
Really 12 Feb 2020, 03:36
+1 -0
Heard CAM never fires
Yep 12 Feb 2020, 06:13
+0 -0
Never has
Guest 16 Feb 2020, 03:25
+4 -0
They create an environment where u will feel that you don’t even belong to this world
Reader 20 Feb 2020, 09:51
+1 -1
DMD has picked up the best in tax baton.
Xasd 11 Feb 2020, 17:23
+6 -3
Very sad to see such a sordid state of affairs at Indian law firms. How can you call such a firm as professional when they can't get along even for few months? Partnership and firms, in theory, are meant to last for a full career. Such churn will make them a laughing stock before foreign clients.
Juice 11 Feb 2020, 18:11
+20 -10
Legally India is doing a great job moderating all the comments that perhaps tell the other side of the story. Alas, one may never know! With 22-23 years of experience and having worked at premier law firms, word is that this fellow wasn't able to take with him a single associate or client to LS. [...]
Anoynomous 11 Feb 2020, 18:34
+25 -14
I am surprised to see so many critical comments about the firm. There is always two sides of a story. Anyone who has worked at LKS will tell you that the firm does not have a culture of being trigger happy. Considering all the shortcomings and so called bad decisions, the firm still sticks to it's people and supports them as far as possible.
[...]
Atlantis 11 Feb 2020, 18:41
+13 -4
I have so much respect for this guy. So much innocence and honest sentiments in his letter.
I have seen big legal posts are given to relatives, friends, friends of friends.
Lexpert 11 Feb 2020, 19:45
+24 -10
Just look at the track record.. Sumesh Sawhney, Shafaq, Vikas Kumar, Ajay Joseph, Vatsal Gaur, Anurag Pareek, Ashwin Mathew.. The gestation periods grow slimmer and good talent walks out, sometimes without even a job in hand! Maybe the right question is whether the firm model of having a Nehruvian 'command & control' structure can ever give LKS a good inorganic corp team? Add to that the hero worship of the managing seniors, weekends at work and pathological vegetarianism; and it's a potent combination!
huh? 12 Feb 2020, 00:38
+18 -5
Pathological vegetarianism - is this a disease? What does that have to do with the issue at hand?
It keeps you safe 12 Feb 2020, 06:58
+4 -3
From Corona virus.

This law firm saw this coming years in advance. Hear hear.
It does. 12 Feb 2020, 07:11
+10 -7
Unfortunately, the almost rabid cult of vegetarianism practices at LKS is relevant to the discussion at hand. This is not to say that exits are triggered by food policies, but it is indicative of the larger work culture issue that has been brewing for a while. Food policing of adults tells you a lot.
Dazed and Confused 12 Feb 2020, 15:40
+6 -4
Kia - this is a topi of legitimate inquiry. Is this firm policing its members' food habits? How widespread is this in the market? I know corporates that will fire people for having non-veg in office, and it's super common not to reimburse spending on non-veg and, commonly, liquor. Because of beliefs, of course. Not costs. Heavens no!
Dazed and Confused 12 Feb 2020, 01:21
+20 -8
Let us hope he can recover his self esteem after the exposure to this manifestly unfriendly environment. Business aside, the firm has a track record of driving away talent. Not someplace one would send a young associate.
W 12 Feb 2020, 05:08
+13 -3
In 3 months he was asked to 'move on'. What exactly did the firm expect in 3 months time?

He also says that the 3 months he spent at LKS were the 'best of his career' !

Lots of unanswered questions.
Ex-lks-new-happy 12 Feb 2020, 06:38
+7 -6
Partners like him are made to leave, while others mooch on young talent and are promoted. Anyone who has worked at LKS will tell you how demotivating the work ethics are.

Sad.
Straight talk 12 Feb 2020, 06:48
+27 -4
another reason for departure of talent is the CULTURE. If anyone has ever attended a meeting at L&S. The meeting starts with [...] praising himself and how he sleeps for two hours a day and runs 25km a day and how he stood first in every exam he gave in school and college. Why should a client care!!! He is interested in advice...then the constant sermons on ethics and technology. Clients dont buy that any more (and even the Courts and Tribunals dont consider). This way of working may work with the Finance Managers and Accounts officers but not with the next generation GCs.
Dazed and Confused 12 Feb 2020, 15:37
+3 -2
This absolutely requires follow up...the picture is vivid, the points well taken. Tell us more!
Prahlad Mann 12 Feb 2020, 07:48
+14 -2
Please read my following comments, which I recorded when Mr. Ashwin Mathew got into LKS. I think I am not Off-the mark!

Prahlad Mann 5 weeks ago
The problem with LKS is that unlike in the Indirect Tax Laws (Excise, Customs and Sales Tax), it does not have any domain knowledge about Corporate Practice. Therefore, it has to depend upon the lateral entry. But it does not trust the laterals fully and does not give a free hand. The lateral entrant will feel the heat even during the Honey moon period - not to speak about thereafter. LKS focuses only at immediate revenue, without first bothering to gain foot hold in the Corporate area. Mr. Ashwin Mathew will realise it sooner than later. The number of big names which came and gone will vouch for it. While the LKS has the habit of tom toming any new arrivals - seldom announces the departures!
One can only wish and hope that Mr. Ashwin would prove to be an exception to this unfortunate trend in LKS.
Admirer 12 Feb 2020, 08:37
+6 -8
Sad for LKS to have let him go. I read his knowledge updates and words of wisdom he shares on the LinkedIn , and they are so enriching. LKS needs stalwart corporate partners and he was one among them . Feel sorry for LKS and all to best to Ashwin
Get well soon 12 Feb 2020, 09:03
+33 -7
Not able to gel up with others and abusing every firm after leaving is nothing new [...]
Insider 12 Feb 2020, 11:44
+16 -1
LI is doing well by only showing one side of the story. That too, who knows, is true or not. [...]
Side note 12 Feb 2020, 16:48
+10 -0
Data practice is doing well
Anybody know? 12 Feb 2020, 17:20
+22 -2
Does anyone actually know why he was fired? Wait, LI must've not published any comments that share this. So much unnecessary bias against LKS without good reason.
fernandez 13 Feb 2020, 00:17
+0 -6
IF that be so, then why not LKS come out with its side of the story/reason?
CAM co 12 Feb 2020, 17:40
+12 -2
Firm which hires senior associates from our firm as Joint Partner speak about their corporate practice .... lol
Unbiased 13 Feb 2020, 12:37
+3 -0
Look who is talking
Lol 13 Feb 2020, 00:47
+8 -0
I still remember Ashwin's article - "Ramblings of a former Amarchand Associate". It was hilarious and made me really think about joining erstwhile AMSS. Haven't worked with him but good literary skills!
Bhakshak 13 Feb 2020, 09:53
+14 -2
I must point out. The [...] calls the attorneys for briefing on weekends and makes them sit in office for entire day. While the [...] does everything else except for briefing. Then he adjourns the meeting and calls the attorneys next day at 4:00am. Is this correct? Can you behave this way? In a matter concerning entry tax on cement where questions of constitution was concerned, he was more concerned in taking the case of juniors for not knowing how cement is manufactured. Shame!!!
Admirer 13 Feb 2020, 11:14
+4 -41
If he is calling attorneys at 4 am, don't you think he is trying to inculcate a good practice of waking up early. All come to offc on time in LKS and don't stay late unlike other firms where people start coming by 1 pm and stay until 2 am . Don't underestimate the power of these habit. LKS is and will remain a legal powerhouse.
Guest 13 Feb 2020, 12:17
+25 -1
He is an employer, not his employees' dad to inculcate 'good' habits in them. Also, by no stretch of imagination is attending work calls at 4 a.m. a 'good' habit, regardless of whether people wake up by then or not. If he's insomniac, that doesn't mean his employees are too. I seriously believe that associates should make it a practice to switch off their phones while going to sleep. Now that's a good habit if any.
Garden 13 Feb 2020, 16:32
+13 -0
One GC use to send email at 2 in morning and tell every one that he world till 2 am.
He used to play tennis and squash and go to gym during day on his corporation membership.
So dont take all these fake senior people seriously.
Excuse me? 13 Feb 2020, 12:52
+23 -7
LKS is a tax consultancy firm, not a law firm, anyone who pretends otherwise is lying to themselves.
novel knowledge 14 Feb 2020, 18:55
+10 -4
have you ever read a good judgment on tax (esp. IDT) in the past few years where name of a LKS partner does not appear? do you have any idea about tax practice?

oops.. you're busy with the clause referencing/ or "due d" it is?

anything said and done - due credit to the practice must be given. they amazing in what they do!

#notfromlks
Zaalim Sheher 14 Feb 2020, 17:16
+3 -2
Great loss to LKS!
Kid Twist 17 Feb 2020, 09:14
+3 -0
Great username! Or is it a clue?
Responsible 14 Feb 2020, 18:58
+13 -34
LKS is a known firm and comments here are nothing but malicious. But LKS won't be affected and it will continue like a winner it has been always ! LKS is not only an organization but also gives a personal touch in its relationship with retainers. It's offshoots like sarvada legal , leaving of partners, won't affect LKS. Badri is way more capable and able administrator and Lks is only poised to grow faster .
Ghanta 17 Feb 2020, 02:37
+7 -5
Ghanta
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