Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas Bangalore-based partner Roshan Thomas will be leaving to become group general counsel (GC) at online education giant Byju‘s, according to a press release from the firm.

Byju is a close client of SAM’s with Thomas having been the point partner.

SAM’s press release therefore made it very clear that it intended to remain in that seat, stating: “Our bond and relationship with Roshan, who we consider an integral part of the SAM family remains very strong and we look forward to working even more closely with him and the rest of the team at Byju’s as we move forward.”

SAM’s release also added that its Bangalore-based partners Prateek Lala and Arjun Perikal “would continue to service our large client base in Bangalore with active support from all our offices and from Amit Khansaheb, our partner based in our Gurugram”.

Gurgaon is mentioned as Roshan (a 2003 Nalsar Hyderabad graduate) had joined SAM with Khansaheb from BMR Legal in 2017.

SAM executive chairman Shardul Shroff said in a statement: “Whilst as a firm we are sad to see Roshan go, we take great pride in Roshan joining Byju’s, which is undoubtedly the most valuable and fastest growing Unicorns in India and set to become a global Ed-Tech giant. I would like to personally wish Roshan the very best.”

Delhi-based managing partner Pallavi Shroff added: “Whilst we wish Roshan the very best in his new endeavor, we have thoroughly enjoyed having Roshan with us at the Firm for 4 years. He is an excellent lawyer who makes business happen for our clients and leaves with tremendous goodwill of the entire firm.”

And Mumbai-based managing partner Akshay Chudasama said in the release: “Roshan is an excellent and effective lawyer with a very good roster of clients. We would like to thank him for his tremendous contribution to the growth of our Bangalore office and look to his continued support in the days to come, albeit now as a client.”

And finally, completing the mutual admiration in the press release, Roshan Thomas added: “I wish to thank the entire SAM & Co family for welcoming me into the firm, offering me the platform to grow our Bangalore practice and finally giving me a very warm and graceful farewell to pursue my new role as Group General Counsel at Byju’s. I consider myself as an extension of the SAM & Co. family and look forward to working very closely with the Firm in the days to come.”