Law firms

Surana & Surana head consultant litigation M L Joseph has set up the law firm Chennai Law Associates to focus on contentious and intellectual property matters.

Joseph was with Surana & Surana since 2001 and started up his sole proprietorship firm last month.

He said: "I've got a lot of experience and I decided I might encash on my own skills."

The initial team would consist of himself, four lawyers with around 10 years of experience and four junior lawyers on a consultant and retainership basis, as well as three paralegals.

The basic practice would be focused on litigation, arbitration and intellectual property and trademarks disputes, he explained. "We see a lot of surge in business especially in Chennai - we get a lot of queries."

Joseph, except for a small stake held by his wife, is the sole equity holder in the firm. He explained that it had been a mutual decision as it would also enable the lawyers to work independently and bill on their own account, or alternatively bring the work into the firm.

"It is to be a very open ended system," he said, "and all of us are very clear it is better if it remains."

Joseph added the size of the practice would probably not grow for the next two years but in 2012 or 2013 he would think about expanding it to perhaps twice the size.

Surana & Surana managing partner Vinod Surana said: "We are happy that Joseph has started his own law firm. We wish him all success."

He added that partner Kalyan Jhabakh would continue to heading the firm's litigation practice.