FoxMandal brings environment law firm on board

Environmental law specialist and Trust Legal founding partner Sudhir Mishra has joined Fox Mandal Little (FML) Delhi as a consultant to expand the firm's environmental law practice.

FML managing partner Som Mandal said that Mishra has entered into an exclusive arrangement with FML for rendering advice and assistance on matters related to environmental law both in litigation and corporate side.

Mandal said: "Law firms in India don't have strong environmental law practices and we believe it is a big area to build a practice around.

"We would like to take [environmental law] as a strong practice area of the firm since we're doing a lot of infrastructure and power projects and all these involve environment issues. This induction is one of the steps taken to further strengthen the practice. With Mr. Mishra's expertise we'll bring in many others," he added.

Mishra will not join FML on a permanent retainer but will continue to run his litigation practice from his Barakhamba office in Connaught Place alongside working for FML, but he told Legally India that the arrangement would be exclusive in the field of environmental law.

Mandal commented: "He has his own firm at this time; we may merge sometime and that's when he may become a partner."

Mishra started his law firm nine years back and has since then advised individuals and companies on environment laws.

He said: "In India, environmental law practice was not in focus before liberalization - more regulations have been brought in because of the economic position we're in today. Sustainable practices and projects have become increasingly possible in future with the prepositioning of environmental law."

"Nowadays, big companies and corporates want to understand the entire gamut of environmental lawyering, which would include impact assessment, environmental consultancy, prepositioning of environmental issues and dispute resolution," Mishra explained.

Mishra has worked with the Central and State Governments, non-Governmental organizations and heavily regulated industries in the sphere of environmental law.

FML is engaging his services for environmental litigations, corporate environmental issues, impact assessment and clearances of infrastructure projects, consensus building with key stake holders in large projects and international environmental issues with focus on climate change and carbon credits.

Photo by Paulo Brandão

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NB: The comments below are the personal views and opinions expressed by readers and are not those of Legally India. If you believe a comment is inappropriate, please send us a message with your objection and contact details and we will review it as soon as practicable.

#1 Ajay
written by Anonymous, 01 February 2010 23:47

Having come across many Environmental Law Specialists in India , I found Mr. Sudhir Mishra the best due to his thorough knowledge of the subject and his passion for a Environmentally sustainable development. FML will benefit hugely with this association.

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#2 MKS Pasha
written by Anonymous, 02 February 2010 11:30

Mr. Sudhir Mishra has been battling for environment more than a decade now. It is overwhelming to know that leading law firm like FML has thought of getting an enviro-legal expert on board. Sudhir Mishra will definitely be a value addition to the firm and will also be a guiding element to the corporate world to engage in more eco-friendly manner. Having known Sudhir for a long time and also been privileged to work alongside him for capacity building programs conducted for wildlife and environment enforcement agencies, he will be an asset to the firm. The lucidity and professionalism in his work will be of great value. (MKS Pasha - WWF-India)

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#3 tataji
written by moortymvn, 02 February 2010 11:35

this is very good news for people of india. so many cases are there in relating to environment, law& practice. but dont know how to file cases, legal remedies for environment problems in and around of srikakulam district, visakhapatnam & viziagaraam district which facing problems from coming nuclear power plant at kovvada village, srikakulam district. please respond me for to whom i may to contact in foxmandal.
sincerely,
moortymvn

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#4 Exploitatation
written by Anonymous, 02 February 2010 13:10

Most corporate environmental lawyers just help companies to exploit the environment more without getting into trouble.

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#5 LKS
written by Anonymous, 02 February 2010 16:20

new bottel wid old wine as Mr. Mishra is associated with FML r Mr. Mandal since long back....... Publicity stunt

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#6 Onkuri Majumdar, Freeland Foundation, Bangkok
written by Anonymous, 02 February 2010 16:25

This is excellent news! Sudhir has had years of experience battling wildlife crime cases at every level - from Magistrate's courts to the Supreme Court. Having worked closely with him, I have seen the passion and sincerity he brings to his work.
I espcially hope that Sudhir will continue to train law enforcement officers with the same knowlege and passion as he has been doing for the last 10 years - and most recently at a UNEP workshop for Border Enforcement Officials, as a consultant for Freeland Foundation, which works with more than 10 national governments to end human and wildlife trafficking interdiction efforts

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#7 ...
written by Anonymous, 02 February 2010 22:29

agree wth LKS...Sudhir is Mamta Tiwari husband, SOM ab to jag jao.. [...]

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#8 Keshav Kumar
written by Anonymous, 03 February 2010 07:51

The comments that I read , have been mentioning that Sudhir Mishra has been battling Environmental issues and Wildlife Crime issues at the national level . I have had a personal experience of his distilled wisdom and wealth of experience in the aforesaid field , when he was instrumental in getting the biggest wildlife crime conviction of the country in the ' Gir Lion Poaching case ' in the year 2007 when 32 poachers were convicted in one go . His perseverance to pursue the legal battles in the High Court prevented the accused getting bail till the date of conviction . They are still behind bars serving the term . His legal acumen were instrumental in the award of conviction , thereby seeing the Lions rest in peace in the Gir Sanctuary from the hands of the Poachers . He is the legal Counsel and on the Advisory Board of the Committee set up by the State Government .

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#9 Alok S Pandey CHIEFMANAGER(LAW),POWRGRIDCORPORATION OF INDIA LTD,GURGAON
written by Anonymous, 03 February 2010 11:26

WE HAVE SEEN HIS DRIVE IN SALMAN CASE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND WILD LIFE MATTERS.WE HAVE REALISED DURING THAT PERIOD THAT GENERALLY PERSON WORKS FOR FAME ,MONEY BUT HE HAS A PASSION FOR SUCH ISSUES AND REALLY PUTS LOT OF HARD WORK AND PREPARATION BEHIND THE WORKS.
WE CAME IN TOUCH 10YEARS BACK IN ENERGY MATTERS WHEN WE COULD NOT FIND ANYONE HAVING A NICHE IN ENERGY MATTERS FORGET ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES .TODAY HE IS OUR GUIDING FORCE IN ENERGY MATTERS. .INTERACTED IN LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN CHATTISGARH ALSO.
I WILL SAY THAT MR.SOM OF FOXMANDAL HAS TAKEN IN ITS FOLD A PERSON WHO HAS THE BEARING OF BECOMING A LEGAND IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY MATTERS.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR LOT ABOUT HIM IN FUTURE INLEADING MATTERS IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONALFIELD.
THIS COMING OF TWO GREAT FIRM WILL BEGIN THE ERA OF NEW CHAPTER IN THE LEGAL FIELD WHICH LOT ONLY GOING TO FOLLOW BUT WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GUAUGE THE PINNACLE.
WE ALSO LIKE TO INTERACT WITH SH,SUDHIR MISHRA AND TAKE HIS INNOVATIVE CONCEPT IN DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS IN OUR UPCOMING PROJECT IN STATE OF KERALA.
WISHING BEST OF LUCK TOBOTH OF YOU FIRMS FOR PROVDIING SERVICES IN THESE FIELD.
GOD BLESS YOU
ALOKSPANDEY

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#10 anand533
written by Anonymous, 03 February 2010 11:45

this is great news... having known and interacted with Mr Sudhir Mishra for several years now, I am sure that FM and its clients would be major beneficiaries of this arrangement. Sudhir is undoubtedly one of the best in this field and this formal alliance should add value to all the stakeholders.

My best wishes to both Som and Sudhir...

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#11 raj
written by Anonymous, 03 February 2010 17:04

That's great....I believe this is quite Innovative as till date Environmental Law is not considered to be a mainstream practise in India. Only Foxmandal can take a bet on this kind of exploration and foresightedness. I'm sure this will help corporate client to provide environmental as ell legal issues advisory since both these are interconnected and have legal intricasies. In history, we all know that there are major infastructure projects (like cojentrix) which got stalled since they were unable to handle their environmental issues.
Well done to Som and Sudhir to have this kind of vision.

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#12 Suneel
written by Anonymous, 03 February 2010 18:29

This is intersting development looking at huge environmental impact of large mega projects in the country. The legal entities will have better appreciation of environmental issues now

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#13 R.Hariharan
written by Anonymous, 03 February 2010 18:44

This is great news. Finally Trust Legal has got its due.

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#14 ...
written by Anonymous, 03 February 2010 19:02

Dear Hari, only time will tell whether Sudhir gets his dues! [...]

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#15 ...
written by Anonymous, 03 February 2010 22:02

i thinks he seems more in debt and worried by seeing that sudhir is getting back his dues. i wish all is well to him and develop belief in himself and stop worrinying about others achievement.so salute andsay tussi great ho and pesh your .

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#16 Shilpi
written by Anonymous, 04 February 2010 09:39

Great news ! Knowing Sudhir’s drive for sustainable practices, I am quite sure that now the Corporate including Industrialists in India as well as abroad will get the advantage of this tie up. Seeing Sudhir’s caliber and talent one can say that a new era of Environmental law practice will start in India ! Best of luck to both the firms !

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#17 Prof. Yogesh Dubey, IIFM Bhopal
written by Anonymous, 04 February 2010 09:46

I personally see this as a larger part of corporate environment responsibility by involving a committed law firm like trust legal which has been working tirelessly to take up environmental and wildlife issues in Indian courts. This agreement will see a new era as commercial law firms are a little weak on environmental law and compliance related issues. Mr. Sudhir Mishra and his team will not only add value to FML but will also bring the environmental concerns to the foreground and this will help spread grater awareness in legal issues related to environment amongst the corporate bodies...inspiring them to become the true corporate citizens of the country. I personally wish Mr. Mishra and his team a very good luck.....FML should feel happy to have such a person to work with them......

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#18 Observer
written by Anonymous, 04 February 2010 10:23

Wonderful move by FML. Issues relating to environmental laws are critical to infrastructure projects, health care, tourism and the foods & beverages industry. Till date apart from a couple of firms, environment law aspects were not addressed purposefully by the mainstream law firms. The clients of FML will certainly benefit by the coming on board of Mr. Sudhir Mishra. However, having known Sudhir, the only concern is how is he going to balance his pro bono and NGO work on one hand with allegiance to big corporates who primarily engage law firms and generally tend to flaunt/evade the environmental regulations.

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#19 Prof. Yogesh Dubey, IIFM Bhopal
written by Anonymous, 04 February 2010 11:34

This wlil surely help the environment

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#20 Sunil Trivedi
written by Anonymous, 04 February 2010 22:22

Passion ,resilience and sensitivity of the kind Sudhir has are needed to push any big agenda forward. He tops it up with his legal acumen . He has what it takes. I am sure this is the begining of a great synergy.

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