Exclusive: M Dhruva & Partners (MDP) has hired former J Sagar Associates (JSA) senior associate Dipali Sarvaiya Sheth as a corporate partner to edge towards full-service law firm status.

MDP founding partner Nishit Dhruva told Legally India: “Basically Dipali is into hardcore M&A practice which she has been doing at JSA. The idea would be to develop MDP as a full service law firm.”

“We were finding these issues whenever we used to approach clients. They would ask us what’s your deal list. Because Manthan [Unadkat] has been looking after capital markets and real estate we realised we needed somebody who was hardcore M&A.”

He explained that she would be introduced to the firm’s existing clients and would also bring some existing clients.

Sheth holds dual qualification in India and as a solicitor of England & Wales and had worked at FoxMandal, Thakker & Thakker and Pravin Mehta & Mithi & Co after completing law in 2002. She is also a registered patent and trade mark agent.

She had joined JSA in 2008, leaving in November 2010 and joining MDP earlier this month after a short break.

Sheth said: “I do have certain clients and a lot of MNCs [multinational companies] that want to set up their shop here. I am going to capitalise on and build the corporate M&A practice.”

She added that she would start with a team of one senior associate and two associates, with scope for future expansion.

MDP was started by former JSA partner Dhruva and two former associates from Khaitan & Co and Dhir & Dhir Associates as a litigation and conveyancing-focused practice in February 2010 with a total lawyer headcount of around eight.

Dhruva said that there were now 18 lawyers in the firm, having also hired a lateral corporate partner in March 2010.