L&L Partners has hired Advani & Co partner Shonali Choudhry in Mumbai, we understand from two sources and as first reported by Bar & Bench.
The 1999 NLSIU Bangalore graduate has spent just under a year at Luthra & Luthra in Mumbai in 2006 as a senior associate, and has since also worked in-house at Trimex International as general counsel across Asia.
She also had a stint at Larsen & Toubro as deputy general manager legal in Mumbai, two years as a self employed consultant in London, and had then joined Advani & Co in 2019 as a partner.
We understand that Choudhry’s hire has taken place under managing partner Rajiv Luthra, after senior partner Mohit Saraf was allegedly (but practically) ousted from the firm, over which Saraf has filed a claim in the Delhi high court, which is currently pending mediation.
We have reached out to Luthra and Saraf for comment.
Shonali ChoudhryWork historyFrom: Aug 2019: Partner, Advani & Co.Full-time (Mumbai Area)Aug 2017 - Jan 2019: Consultant, Self employed (London)Jul 2016 - Mar 2017: Deputy General Manager, Larsen & Toubro (Mumbai Area)Jan 2012 - Jul 2014: General Counsel, Trimex International Group (Mumbai Area)Sep 2010 - Dec 2011: General Counsel, Trimex International Group (Singapore)Aug 2009 - Sep 2010: General Counsel, Trimex International Group (Greater Jakarta Area)Jul 2008 - Aug 2009: General Counsel, Trimex International Group (Dubai)Jun 2007 - Jun 2008: Senior Associate, Universal Legal (Chennai Area)Jul 2006 - May 2007: Senior Associate, Luthra & Luthra Law Offices (Mumbai Area)Jul 2000 - Jun 2006: Partner, Advani & Co. (Mumbai Area)Education1994 - 1999: National Law School of India University, B.A. L.L.B. (Hons.), Law1999 - 2000: Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, Master of Laws - LLM, Environmental Law
It is widely understood that L&L mumbai folks will go with MS. So RKL is strategically adding ppl to Mumbai. But I am not sure if these new hires can actually fill the void in any substantive way.
Mumbai office24 Oct 2020, 08:09
+23-5
Partners no longer believe in MS.
MS Dhoni24 Oct 2020, 13:26
+8-14
Wrong comment. Every corp partner believes in MS and the numbers will be shown soon
Question24 Oct 2020, 01:33
+4-7
Is she Mohit’s replacement?
Ha ha. Can’t be true.24 Oct 2020, 12:06
+0-0
Ha ha. But Mohit claimed to be an elder brother for all. There is a Bengali word for that. Now you know
[img]https://media1.giphy.com/media/3ohfFy17ftFqlbvarS/200.gif[/img] A picture speaks louder than words. This is the shape of the new L&L. [...]
MS Dhoni24 Oct 2020, 14:40
+2-13
VERTICES partners will definitely make wfh for next 2 years. Exceptional firms take exceptional decisions and next is vertices .
Vertices whaa24 Oct 2020, 17:47
+13-0
Uhm why is this relevant here
Guest25 Oct 2020, 02:44
+5-0
Marketing tactics
Ugh25 Oct 2020, 10:54
+2-2
Since this partner has been hired and some more have been promoted, does it mean that they might induct the rest of us 2020 joinees soon?
Pulakesin II25 Oct 2020, 17:37
+5-1
Yes. Now that the person who objected is no longer there, all of you will be recruited to L&L by Diwali. Mark my words.
Really?26 Oct 2020, 03:44
+0-0
Really? But Diwali is like 14 days away and we’ve been told nothing yet
Really?26 Oct 2020, 05:07
+0-0
Sorry 3 weeks :3
Check List26 Oct 2020, 05:40
+5-2
Have you even issued a representation to RKL? Have you formed a group of freshers kept in lurch? Have you tried calling RKL and Khushboo Chester or the Partner who issued the PPO? Have you asked your Placement Committee to speak to L&L?
Once all of that fails, come to LI with your queries.
Really?26 Oct 2020, 06:04
+6-1
Yep we have :/ Also we can’t bug them directly so yeah this is another safer more anonymous way of getting our woes heard
How is this childish btw? Did YOU graduate during a pandemic and wait more than 6+ months post graduation for getting inducted into your job? Wait while the rest of the firms inducted all your batchmates on time and your firm just inducted a few while making the rest of us wait? Explain to us why this is childish For the record we have called,emailed, done everything And we’ve gotten vague replies since June and a joining date that’s been pushed continuously. So obviously we’d want to hear any inside info that we can from LI commentators.
It is26 Oct 2020, 07:00
+2-1
It is childish because the managing partner has already written an email to you, comforting that the offers will not be revoked. Same thing can't be told time and again. Wait for the deadline mentioned in the mail. And stop irritating others.
Guest26 Oct 2020, 07:52
+9-3
This is childish because you know you graduated during pandemic and have observed firms and businesses take preemptive actions to preserve existing payrolls but you continue with your immature queries and comments. That the offers have not been rescinded is a great thing. Anyway as lockdown and pandemic impact reduces, firms and businesses are realigning to growth and you would be called in.
And don’t propagate lies. Most firms have postponed inductions and L&L is no stranger to this. On a need basis, wherever possible, inductions have been made.
Loans are a hogwash of an argument. It’s not like when you took the loan, you had a job, so repayment and that liability was not contingent on your job.
I may be sounding mean, but a dose of reality is necessary for all. All this anxiety of induction and then in a year, you will jump ship. [...]
No lies26 Oct 2020, 08:49
+0-0
All apart from CAM have inducted freshers, genius. AZB, Trilegal, JSA,SAM, KCO, Argus, Desai Dewanji etc
It’s just CAM and they’ve also inducted some and at least given details about which city which practice area
We’ve been given nothing
Most companies have inducted as well.
At this point you’d have to specifically name places which HAVEN'T inducted than places that have.
Also yeah we would’ve understood with all or most firms taking the same step but it’s JUST Luthra and CAM.
No lies26 Oct 2020, 08:54
+0-0
It’s not even about loans It’s just the extraordinary and inordinate delay of induction that L&L and CAM have done Most other firms and companies, non law included, have inducted freshers.
Pray tell, which all apart from L&L and CAM haven’t inducted freshers, really? Name some for all our benefit.
It’s different when you have been disadvantaged above and beyond everyone else in your batch on the career front okay?
If it were the norm across all law firms it wouldn’t have been this worrisome October joining wouldn’t have been so worrisome which is when most companies and firms have made people join
GoodNews26 Oct 2020, 05:36
+1-1
And you’ll also be paid the bonus for next 2 FYs in advance by Diwali.
Yes genius26 Oct 2020, 06:08
+4-2
We’ve done all of that All we got was a fairly vague mail from RKL which said they are trying very hard to honour the joining date given to us and are hopeful that we join earlier, on the date given or soon after.
:/ :/ as if there could be any other situation apart from those three.
Stop hating on us man. You have NO IDEA what it’s like to be kept in the lurch like this with zero work ex during a recession.
Do you get off on being this mean cuz that’s the only way you can take out your frustration or what.
Define “childish” dude
Guest26 Oct 2020, 10:14
+1-5
Look for another job if you are so anxious. If there are no other jobs, then sorry to say, just wait till the time you get the dates from LnL. If you can't do either, change the profession. Advocacy is far more difficult [...]
Why26 Oct 2020, 05:11
+0-3
Why did L&L hire such bunch of people? They are all childish.
Check List26 Oct 2020, 05:43
+2-1
That was my first reaction. But I I am sure I would have been quite anxious had I been in there position. They still have no real world experience, so it would take a while before they chill out. Some may even have student loans.
No lies26 Oct 2020, 08:58
+1-0
Also, not having rescinded is a great thing? Do you hear yourself? Continuous delay, as if that’s not almost as bad as a rescinding And it’s not like they can’t even now The firm is in a public spat and it’s likely that their business has taken a hit obviously we’re worried that we’d be waiting for 6+ months and then they’d come about saying ooops sorry your joining will be with the batch of 2021.
Insider26 Oct 2020, 19:13
+5-0
Hey Hey Hey! Watch out. Looks like the aggressive L&L Partners is gaining shape. Inductions announcement coming soon.
Comments
Tch tch
Hahah
A picture speaks louder than words. This is the shape of the new L&L. [...]
Once all of that fails, come to LI with your queries.
Also we can’t bug them directly so yeah this is another safer more anonymous way of getting our woes heard
How is this childish btw? Did YOU graduate during a pandemic and wait more than 6+ months post graduation for getting inducted into your job? Wait while the rest of the firms inducted all your batchmates on time and your firm just inducted a few while making the rest of us wait?
Explain to us why this is childish
For the record we have called,emailed, done everything
And we’ve gotten vague replies since June and a joining date that’s been pushed continuously. So obviously we’d want to hear any inside info that we can from LI commentators.
And don’t propagate lies. Most firms have postponed inductions and L&L is no stranger to this. On a need basis, wherever possible, inductions have been made.
Loans are a hogwash of an argument. It’s not like when you took the loan, you had a job, so repayment and that liability was not contingent on your job.
I may be sounding mean, but a dose of reality is necessary for all. All this anxiety of induction and then in a year, you will jump ship. [...]
AZB, Trilegal, JSA,SAM, KCO, Argus, Desai Dewanji etc
It’s just CAM and they’ve also inducted some and at least given details about which city which practice area
We’ve been given nothing
Most companies have inducted as well.
At this point you’d have to specifically name places which HAVEN'T inducted than places that have.
Also yeah we would’ve understood with all or most firms taking the same step but it’s JUST Luthra and CAM.
It’s just the extraordinary and inordinate delay of induction that L&L and CAM have done
Most other firms and companies, non law included, have inducted freshers.
Pray tell, which all apart from L&L and CAM haven’t inducted freshers, really?
Name some for all our benefit.
It’s different when you have been disadvantaged above and beyond everyone else in your batch on the career front okay?
If it were the norm across all law firms it wouldn’t have been this worrisome
October joining wouldn’t have been so worrisome which is when most companies and firms have made people join
All we got was a fairly vague mail from RKL which said they are trying very hard to honour the joining date given to us and are hopeful that we join earlier, on the date given or soon after.
:/ :/ as if there could be any other situation apart from those three.
Stop hating on us man. You have NO IDEA what it’s like to be kept in the lurch like this with zero work ex during a recession.
Do you get off on being this mean cuz that’s the only way you can take out your frustration or what.
Define “childish” dude
Continuous delay, as if that’s not almost as bad as a rescinding
And it’s not like they can’t even now
The firm is in a public spat and it’s likely that their business has taken a hit obviously we’re worried that we’d be waiting for 6+ months and then they’d come about saying ooops sorry your joining will be with the batch of 2021.
Watch out. Looks like the aggressive L&L Partners is gaining shape. Inductions announcement coming soon.