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Clifford Chance NRI Sumesh Sawhney makes partner

Sumesh Sawhney
Sumesh Sawhney

Clifford Chance has promoted Indian passport holder and India-practice senior associate Sumesh Sawhney to partner in London.

Sawhney (pictured) joined Clifford Chance in late 2006 from Amarchand Mangaldas in Delhi where he was a partner, and has since focused exclusively on India-related corporate work.

He said: "It is a huge step forward for me both in terms of my responsibility and in terms of the India practice. India is a very key market for us and a very important part of our strategy from the firm's perspective - I look forward to developing our India business to much greater heights."

Sawhney had qualified as an Indian lawyer in 1992 from Punjab University Chandigarh's faculty of law and took on in-house roles in two conglomerates before joining Amarchand in 2000, becoming a partner in 2003.

After he joined Clifford Chance in 2006 he gained the right to practice law in England and Wales after passing the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT).

He said that he had originally decided to move to London to gain experience in international markets and practices, although he hoped that he would one day be able to return to India if regulations allowed it.

"As far as my views of liberalisation are concerned I am not that hopeful of a timing of less than two to three years time," Sawhney explained. "I hope that it happens, but fear it won't happen so soon."

Clifford Chance also made up a record 21 other partners this year following the major reshaping of its partnership following the credit crunch. The firm now consists of 560 partners.

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