Economic Laws Practice (ELP) indirect tax partners MP Devnath and Vivek Sharma, and associate partner Abhishek Anand, who had joined in 2017 after leaving Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan (LKS), have joined Seetharaman & Associates, which has now rebranded to Sarvada Legal.

Devnath, who with his other partners were members of the dispute resolution practice at ELP, commented: “The legal landscape is witnessing a new paradigm with GST, work around BEPS, the digital economy, integration of goods and services value chains, and trade disputes.

“I am quite certain interesting days are ahead. Sarvada Legal has been set up to serve clients in such challenging times and offer requisite solutions.”

He is a Supreme Court AOR and also argues across high courts and tax tribunals, and has more than 20 years of experience.

Sharma, a Delhi University alumnus, had before LKS and ELP also worked in KPMG’s tax practice; Anand is an NLU Jodhpur alum and had previously also worked in the chambers of a senior advocate in Delhi.

Economic Laws Practice (ELP) managing partner Suhail Nathani said: “We wish them well.”

New avatar for seven co-founders, all from LKS

Sarvada had been set up by former LKS senior equity partner S Seetharaman, who had left in October 2017, and a number of other LKS Delhi partners Abir Roy and T Sundar Ramanathan who went independent in January.

S Seetharaman commented: “I am extremely happy about, and proud of the new team at Sarvada Legal. Our team comprises of both experienced and young professionals with a genuine desire to excel at what they do. Sarvada Legal is in a position to offer complete solutions to our clients.”

This makes Sarvada, which means “always” or “all bestowing” and is an acronym of the seven co-founders’ names, an all ex-LKS peel off start-up.

Abhishek Anand, who is now joining from ELP, and partners Atul Sharma, Abir Roy and T Sundar Ramanathan have been friends since their days of studying at NLU Jodhpur, according to a statement from the firm.

Sarvada specialises in competition law, corporate and commercial laws, dispute resolution, international trade and customs, insolvency and bankruptcy, policy and regulatory, and tax advisory and tax litigation, as well as niche areas such as data protection and Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET) controls in the technology, defense and aerospace sectors.

Sarvada Legal now consists of 7 partners and a total of 25 fee-earners.