Former K Law Mumbai partner Praveen Raju’s two year old Bangalore start-up Spice Route Legal, which he started up with former Kochhar & Co Singapore partner Mathew Chacko, has opened an office in Kochi.

“This comes about just as we are about to close our third private equity deal into a company headquartered in Kerala,” the firm said in an emailed announcement about the new office.

“Modern day Kochi, built on the ruins of Muziris - the fabled centre of the historic spice route, is today (much like it once was) a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity, from artificial intelligence, financial services, tourism, consumer goods and traditional medicines. While the office is conceived as a full-service standalone office, I expect an initial focus on disputes, mergers & acquisitions, intellectual property, TMT, Securities law and real estate,” the email further stated.

Chacko told us today: “We had a lot of work in Kerala, by accident, not by any plan - we had a couple of clients there so we thought it would be helpful if we add a couple of [lawyers from our firm] on the ground there in a small office.”

He said that currently the Kochi office is run by the founding partners Chacko and Raju, and some associates, flying into the city from Bangalore, while one associate who handles compliance work is based in Kochi.

Corporate restructuring and acquisition matters made up the current load of work for the firm in Kochi but Chacko said they have been building up on mandates from the local press as well.

Spice Route Legal currently has around 20 lawyers including the 2 founding partners and Delhi-based of counsel Neeraj Choudhary who was formerly a litigation partner in Kochhar & Co.

The firm has active practices in M&A, private equity, technology media and telecommunication, corporate and FEMA disputes and intellectual property, defense and renewable energy.