Mumbai niche firm LawQuest has hired its second partner Ranjana Iyer, specialising in litigation.

“Law was often looked at as a marriage degree - three years in law, then you get married,” recalls AZB founding partner Zia Mody about women’s views of a legal career 30 years ago. Since then law firms have gradually fought the profession’s gender bias, arguably more successfully in India than abroad. But there is still a long way to go.

The Mumbai chapter of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) is starting on its drive to become an organisation relevant outside of Delhi, kicking off with a continuing legal education programme for associates.