Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas Delhi disputes partner Surjendu Sankar Das is going independent to set up a Supreme Court advocate-on-record and arbitration practice.

We have reached out to him for detailed comment about his strategy for independent practice, which he will run independently under his own name.

He has worked at Amarchand Mangaldas, as it then was, since 2008, directly after graduating from NUJS Kolkata.

Das was promoted to partner last year, and qualified as an AOR in 2016.

Update 12:44: Das commented: “My passion for arbitration was deeply ingrained by Mr Ciccu Mukhopadhaya in the firm and thereafter had immense experience under the guidance of Mr Karia.

“Being a first generation lawyer, it’s always challenging to plunge into independent practice.

“Having said so, I must also emphasise that with the enriching experience of working in the top law firm of this country, I am confident to take up the new challenges and hurdles in my upcoming journey.”

He added that the AOR tag comes “with responsibilities” that he intended to “discharge with utmost care and professional ethics”.

His “long tenure in the firm” has “afforded the opportunity to handle wide variety of clients and complex disputes before the Supreme Court, high courts in different parts of India and different fora”, he noted.

In addition, his time at SAM, had nurtured his arbitration practice, he said, having handled international arbitrations under ICC, SIAC and ICADR rules, in addition to ad hoc arbitrations, in sectors such as construction, power projects, oil and gas, supply contracts, telecoms and shareholders’ disputes, as well as enforcement and challenge proceedings before courts.

A SAM spokesperson commented that he currently works in the team of disputes equity partner Tejas Karia: “His team and clients will continue with Tejas and other partners in a smooth transition upon Surjendu’s departure.

“We wish Surjendu much success in this new phase of his professional journey.”