“It’s been three months of fairly good work we've done,” Pal told Legally India two weeks ago but added: “I definitely plan on opening up in Bombay.” The timing would depend on forging the right local relationships, which should not be hurried.
“First the intention is to get good people on board, then to aggressively recruit and to expand to other cities,” he noted. “It’s very easy to grow fast but retaining that structure is difficult.”
Augustus was set up by Pal as partner and Adwitiyaa Das as designated partner after the split from PXV became effective on 15 February.
The firm currently specialises in representing banks and financial institutions in security enforcement proceedings in court and before the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT), as well as assisting local developers in real estate matters.
The name, Augustus, was a personal preference of Pal's derived from the ancient Roman name that means “the illustrious one” or “someone who is respected”, Pal said. “It conveys royalty, seriousness and combines intellect and hard work.”
Pal and Rohit Das, who had separated from PXV with Das intending to jointly re-start PXV's precursor firm RDA Legal, eventually decided to both be independent, they explained. Augustus’ offices are near Minto Park and neighbouring the offices of RDA Legal.
“We had our discussions: we wanted to get together but were not able to finalise on the terms and conditions so right now we’ve kept it a bit open ended. If the opportunity is there then we can do something,” said Pal.
“Rohit still remains one of my closest friends – I’ve known him now for a decade,” added Pal, who both graduated from NUJS Kolkata in 2006. “He keeps referring work and since I don’t have a Bombay office as of now, I keep using services of Rohit and his team when the situation arises.”
Das said: “We had a very mature discussion – the business models were different and it appeared that it could be better if we started two firms rather than one.
“We are on very good terms, we are still referring work to each other, so it’s a very, very amicable thing.”
Das added that RDA, which has just crossed 10 lawyers in size, was currently consolidating the Mumbai and Kolkata offices, with “plans for expansion throughout the year” to other cities, including Delhi.
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All the best Arindam and Adwitiyaa. Hope your firm does exceedingly well.
The main reason for this is greed. Just when the PXV was doing okay and earning some money that partners were greedy and wanted to corner more profits without working hard. This is the main reason for any business split.
www.legallyindia.com/201202032546/Law-firms/young-pxv-partnership-splits-over-vision-with-rohit-das-restarting-rda-legal
An timing of three months of Augustus Law would roughly fit within that, no?
Best wishes
Kian
After the excited comments on yesterday's NUJS story, we were reminded that it still needed to be published...
Best wishes
Kian
wish rohit, arindam, deepto, mohit, shobha, thomas, pingal, sauvik, anuj (beg ur pardon if i have missed out on any of the partners of these three firms) and the respective teams of these three firms (oh my god!!) all the very best for whatever they do... come what may, as an nujs alumni, i will feel proud to see all three going great guns!!!
PXV: Deepto: was a PA in AMSS - would have been made a partner this year. Wanted to do it on his own. Complete rockstar.
Mohit: Again a dude manifested by his topping the AOR exams but very lil corp law firm experience
Bobby: hrd good things bout him
Pingal: has matured greatly over the yrs.
Firmwise: best chance of surviving
RDA: Just Rohit: and believe me when i say it that just Rohit is enuf. He is a genius but needs to stay focused. A leader but obviously not able to convince ppl of his vision. If RDA and PXV had stayed together it could have become the NUJS version of Trilegal
Augustus:[...] u just do not wake up 1 day and open a firm.
Verus: Krishnayan- he is ok i guess but not exceptional like deepto or rohit
Ponky and Jay : the lesser said the better - its only a matter of time they realize working in a law firm is so much cushier and comes back
AND I AM NOT BEING BIASED TO MY FIRENDS. FELT THE NEED TO ADD THE DISCLAIMER.
'COMPLETE ROCKSTAR"
You should get your facts straight. Actually, don't mind, I understand that ignorance is a bliss for you.
PXV: running well.. currently in "no comment" zone (best in the trois)
RDA: will catch up and better PXV in one and a half years.. reason (rohit das)..
AWgustus: Good Luck, God Bless
Verus: Different league, but looks a bit dicey.. krish is a good guy
The number of people who cannot "fit into the culture of RDA" seems to be growing quite fast. Even before the 2011 folks joined, there were a number of partners who left; samarpita, gandharbika, her husband whose name I cannot recall, bhargav and may be more. One can only speculate whether they left because they couldn't "fit into into the culture of RDA". And now with arindam and adwitiyaa, that is an alarming body count of at least 14 people in 3 years - definitely serial killer league! Since this is across 3 different firms (or versions of the same firm depending on how one would look at it) with only rohit as the common link, this is clearly an individual problem rather than an institutional one - although it is suggested that the problem is with the world at large. In any event, rohit's various takes on the events that transpired over these years need to be applauded - possible difference in culture with the pre-2011 chaps, "difference in vision" with the 2011 ones, and now "difference in business model" with arindam and adwitiyaa.
Anyway, one doesn't have to be nostradamus to predict an immediate partner promotion at RDA. Or a senseless lateral hire.
Has to be. Seems like that has been the "vision" from the beginning :D Hopefully, no further "differences" will arise within a sole proprietorship!!:D
Superb!Quoting OBSERVER:
You made [...]'s day with the first line... Till you shot him with the next!! How cruel! :D
and to all his detractors, wait and watch if possible learn. It's a long race my friends.. "Girte hai sah-sawaar hi maidan-e-jung mein,Wo tifl kya girenge jo ghutno ke bal chale"
Good luck Augustus..
Thus spake the wise one! As if any of the guys involved are bothered or havent moved on. But for the rest of us, this sure is fun! :)
In fairness, we should have also taken a comment from Arindam Pal at the time. However, I suspect that since the intention to merge was there at the time, we may have got a no comment or nothing enlightening at that time either.
Also, PXV did not clarify when we put this to them.
Yes, we regret the error, which could possibly have been avoided, although it may also reflect the fluid factual situation at the time.
Best wishes,
Kian
Are you saying LI and B&B made up the initial story that Arindam and Adwitiyaa will join RDA? Or that Rohit/Arindam/Adwitiyaa lied to the legal media? Please check the relevant reports from LI and B&B- both had quotes from Rohit and we'll have to assume that he made these statements as well. At the very least, this was never denied by Rohit even when it was, as you claim, incorrectly reported in articles in which he was quoted. Yet, you claim to know more than any of those actually involved!
Indeed, as per reported news in the legal circuit RDA Legal is doing truly unbelievable things since the split...Like splitting again!! The guys at PXV must be quite concerned that they haven't been doing the amazing things RDA has done after the split - must also be envious of all the media attention RDA Legal is getting! :D In fact, Im sure they are holding a day-long partnership meeting today to address both :D
rofl can't stop laughing :D
Stop praising yourself Rohit.
Also what market? When i was in the second grade i remember my class teacher constantly referring to the class as a Fish Market.
Partners filing criminal complaints against each other is surely more fun than a barrel of monkeys. But your picking on "Noojie alums" shows where the actual prejudice lies. Try doing something on your own before commenting on others who have the courage to go against the tide, rather than commenting from your cramped cubicle in a law firm where you will undoubtedly be slaving till 2:00 a.m.
I did not mean any prejudice as your pleasant words suggest. If you read my comment, I referred to "THESE Noojie alums" and you construed it as "ALL Noojie alums", it's ok if you did. Many average people tend to read only half of the things written, no offences though.
Secondly, the stories of RDA, PXV, Awwww..gustus have at best given us the best entertainment. I am sure they are capable lawyers and would make it big, that is if they resist the temptation of forming new partnership or going solo every quarter.
Thirdly, Thank you for the long distance psychoanalysis. I/We do not slog till 2 am, it's at most 8 or 9 pm. Regarding my cubicle, well drop me your mail id and I shall send you my office address. Please drop in, anytime before 8pm.
Cheers
I understand that India has been hit by a slowdown but lawyers cannot be so jobless so as to be posting so lame and jobless comments such as these.
I am taking the pain to write this and I know this is again going to invite certain comments and another chain of emails but cannot help but express.....
"any publicity is good publicity unless one is tainted by professional misconduct. Kudos to PXV, RDA and Augustus and VErus for getting the desired effect.....atleast you guys know ppl know who you guys are...."
Rohit seems to be in limelight here...... a word of advice for you mate....."ppl would love you or hate you but will not be able to ignore you".........as for the rest of Noojie alumnus....way to go guys......stupid criticisms will always follow you....but you guys know what you guys have achieved dont you.......keep up the good work.
There are many lawyers, some old some young who set up their practices and firms. None of that is reported and righfully so. If a well known partner from a prominent firm set up his own shop its perhaps worth a story. But why give so much attention to a nobody like arindam??
So if they start a new firm on 31 Mar their firms are useless and they are "degree holders of no repute" but if they'd taken that step the following day (when their respective partnerships would've been effective), they would become worthy of comparison with Vishnu & Priyanka.
Well evaluated...
Somebody made a comment about established firms like Fox Mandal and Little, or S&R and Pathak, ALMT and Clasis, Or Trilegal and Phoenix splitting as well. Are their promoters immature as well?
and what exactly do you mean by "I do not say they are hopeless, just that like many many other lawyers there is nothing special about their starting a law firm that is so newsworthy. "
Why don't you try and set up one, get clientele, work your pants brown in getting a reputation and also sacrifice life and family to infuse money in the venture ?
If you succeed, do come back and give your considered opinion. Else, be wise, and keep your thoughts to yourself.
Also, there is nothing wrong with LI reporting of NLUs. It's just that people there imbibe something from the water they drink.. believe its called zeal, inspiration and motivation to do big on a self sustaining individual level
Further, your comment on pxv/rda/augustus in the next line shows how clearly warped your thought process is.. there are many things which happen when an organization is born..some good, some bad.. people then move on and fry other fishes...which turn out also to be either edible or not...
there is nothing called immaturity in the process... its called (to use a slightly crass term "balls") and the ability to pick up and start afresh is called "spunk"
may I suggest a good dictionary where you can look up the above terms ... an oxford concise should help !!
cheers..
Friends, you're forgetting that in case of AZB, AMSS, Trilgal, PKA, etc., they have not had messy splits in just a matter of few months like in case of RDA, PXV, Augustus and what not
And what has given you the impression that any of these splits amongst the younger firms was messy? None of the Partners of these smaller firms have sued each other! In fact, whatever is reported in LI indicates that the splits have been handled amicably. Just cause you didnt read about the splits or the gory details of these other bigger law firm feuds on LI doesnt mean it didnt happen. Grow up!
AZB-Anoop Shah and AZB-Clifford Chance split : The two alliances lasted less than 18 months and termed each other from best friends to good friends to what not.
AMSS-Bharucha split: Was one of the messiest (ask the insiders of the flurry of open email exchanges between the two fractions)
Trilegal-Phoenix split: Well, everyone knows how it rocked the boat at the time when Sawant & Co. walked off.
Dua-Tatwa split: It was nothing short of a mutiny where all but one partner walked away from a 50+ office. It was a coup.
Fox-Little: The messisest of the lot.They filed FIRs and court proceedings against each others.
So, lets not have any illusions here.
(Agree, however, that PXV-RDA-Augustus split was quite funny especially the way the news came in.)
that may have happened under covers, but is not great public knowledge..
rda / pxv split that ways has been very mature considering the circumstances.. so to needlessly shoot off one's mouth (@zhow how howw ?) is not right and is further uncalled for..
come to think of it, everytime these followup comments hit the mailbox makes me very irritated at people like zhow...
aaaaarggghhh !!!
Take a print out of this page and eat your words... which mature Firms survived?
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