Exclusive: Two-and-a-half-year old Argus Partners has merged with Mumbai-headquartered Udwadia & Udeshi to create 12-partner, 60-lawyer national firm, which will be managed by Argus co-founder Krishnava Dutt.

Exclusive: Kolkata-headquartered Argus Partners has hired former Amarchand senior associate Soorjya Ganguli as a managing associate with one associate to head up its new litigation practice.

Exclusive: HSA Advocates Mumbai partner and office head Utsa Shome, who had joined the firm in 2009 from AZB & Partners, will head up Kolkata firm Argus Partners’ new Mumbai office.

Argus Partners, which broke away from Amarchand Mangaldas Kolkata last year, has set up a Mumbai office relocating partner Ramya Hariharan to the city full-time while partner Krishnava Dutt will also spend half his time in the financial hub.

Argus Partners and Nishith Desai Associates have advised on the Rs 200 crore ($43m) sale of Ravin Cables to an Italian cable manufacturer, while ALMT Legal has scored its first mandate for a Reliance fund, which was one of Ravin’s shareholders.

Kolkata Amarchand spin-off Argus Partners and AZB & Partners have scooped roles on the $124m private equity placement and open offer by Bain Capital in coal tar manufacturer Himadri Chemicals & Industries.