Chennai is a very underrated commercial market. It houses most of India's physical foriegn investment in the form of Automotive manufacturing plants and other top industrial parks. It more of a industry Oriented economy. Chennai is also second to Bangalore for its IT industry. Tamil Nadu as such is the most industrialized state, and second to Gujarat in terms of economic growth. With many other tier 2 cities in the form of Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy and industrial towns like Salem, Erode, Tuticorin, Hosur etc the legal market in Chennai isn't restricted to Chennai alone. It encompasses a wider legal practice encompassing these places too, whether in the form of M&A, disputes etc.
Chennai legal practice Coming to corporate work, the Chennai Bar has traditionally been a top disputes oriented practice for centuries. This is understandable considering that Madras HC is among the 3 oldest Chartered High Courts in India. High stake corporate work for TN/Chennai has been mostly done by Bombay Solicitors for close to a century since Bombay was always the commercial capital of India and that is where the practice of a transactional attorney took shape in india historically. That translates to why the Chennai bar did not have a fledgling corporate practice for a larger part of the 20th century, while it was doing wonders in the disputes practice
However, the scene has been changing in the last 15 years with many corporate lawyers being ex lawyers at several big indian corporate law firms returning to Chennai to either start their boutique practice or starting a local branch for Mumbai/Delhi firms. At present, SAM, CAM, Indus Law, Dua, AZB, Khaitan, ICUL, JSA, Tatva Legal, Kochhar, Fox Mandal have a thriving corporate practice largely due to the positive economic atmosphere in the state that has been regularly attracting a big chunk of foriegn and domestic investment in the state.
Pay
Yes, pay will not match Mumbai because Chennai is obviously a cheaper city to survive. You don't have to pay 40-50k for a 1rk near your office like you have to do in Mumbai. You will be getting a great 1bhk/2bhk for 18-24k near your Chennai law firm offices. Starting salaries in the national law firms will be around 40-50k and other top local law firms like HSB is 35-45k and that grows with pqe. So you will be able to have a decent life with savings as well if you budget properly.
Diversity
Chennai is a metropolitan city with a cosmopolitan culture unlike the general false perception that the City is anti North Indian. There is large population of marwadis, gujjus, Jain's and bora muslims that have settled in Chennai for centuries. The locals aren't hostile unless you criticise/mock the culture and language or CSK (lol). Yes, it is true that the diversity is lesser than Delhi/Mumbai/Bangalore which is largely due to geography and weather and not due to a dearth of employment opportunities. A UP person would prefer Mumbai rather than Chennai similar to his a malayali/tamizhan preferring Chennai over Mumbai.
The global borders are vanishing in the legal world. This move shows that Indian Law Firms are keen on maintaining its dominant presence in India by intruding into regional spaces. A welcome move, Indeed.
However, I suspect as to whether this will benefit TNNLU, as it is not even in Chennai/Madurai. (PS: I was from TNNLU)
Chennai has been one elusive market for Bombay and delhi law firms to set a regional presence. The Chennai legal market is heavily dominated by local players that have a deep rooted presence with the top corporates and MNC's that have been in Chennai for decades. However, it is pertinent to note that these Lala firms have been doing Chennai work on a fly in fly out basis and also servicing clients from Mumbai and Bangalore.
In the last 10 years, Chennai circles have opened up with Khaitan, Amarchands and Induslaw in recent years. Kochar has been around for a decade too. Interesting times ahead. With the recent establishment of NCLAT and a regional office of CCI, excellent times ahead for lawyers in Chennai. Tnnlu would largely benefit from these in the long run.
AZB starts office in Chennai with long time JSA partner. With SAM, Khaitan, Indus Law rapidly expanding in Chennai in recent months, AZB has finally managed to get an entry in a somewhat closed but very lucrative legal market in Chennai.
2 days ago
CAM has an office there no? Is the pay same?
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by Guest
5 days ago
Only North India best for law practice.
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by Ex Chennai lawyer
3 days ago
Chennai economy
Chennai is a very underrated commercial market. It houses most of India's physical foriegn investment in the form of Automotive manufacturing plants and other top industrial parks. It more of a industry Oriented economy. Chennai is also second to Bangalore for its IT industry. Tamil Nadu as such is the most industrialized state, and second to Gujarat in terms of economic growth. With many other tier 2 cities in the form of Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy and industrial towns like Salem, Erode, Tuticorin, Hosur etc the legal market in Chennai isn't restricted to Chennai alone. It encompasses a wider legal practice encompassing these places too, whether in the form of M&A, disputes etc.
Chennai legal practice Coming to corporate work, the Chennai Bar has traditionally been a top disputes oriented practice for centuries. This is understandable considering that Madras HC is among the 3 oldest Chartered High Courts in India. High stake corporate work for TN/Chennai has been mostly done by Bombay Solicitors for close to a century since Bombay was always the commercial capital of India and that is where the practice of a transactional attorney took shape in india historically. That translates to why the Chennai bar did not have a fledgling corporate practice for a larger part of the 20th century, while it was doing wonders in the disputes practice
However, the scene has been changing in the last 15 years with many corporate lawyers being ex lawyers at several big indian corporate law firms returning to Chennai to either start their boutique practice or starting a local branch for Mumbai/Delhi firms. At present, SAM, CAM, Indus Law, Dua, AZB, Khaitan, ICUL, JSA, Tatva Legal, Kochhar, Fox Mandal have a thriving corporate practice largely due to the positive economic atmosphere in the state that has been regularly attracting a big chunk of foriegn and domestic investment in the state.
Pay
Yes, pay will not match Mumbai because Chennai is obviously a cheaper city to survive. You don't have to pay 40-50k for a 1rk near your office like you have to do in Mumbai. You will be getting a great 1bhk/2bhk for 18-24k near your Chennai law firm offices. Starting salaries in the national law firms will be around 40-50k and other top local law firms like HSB is 35-45k and that grows with pqe. So you will be able to have a decent life with savings as well if you budget properly.
Diversity
Chennai is a metropolitan city with a cosmopolitan culture unlike the general false perception that the City is anti North Indian. There is large population of marwadis, gujjus, Jain's and bora muslims that have settled in Chennai for centuries. The locals aren't hostile unless you criticise/mock the culture and language or CSK (lol). Yes, it is true that the diversity is lesser than Delhi/Mumbai/Bangalore which is largely due to geography and weather and not due to a dearth of employment opportunities. A UP person would prefer Mumbai rather than Chennai similar to his a malayali/tamizhan preferring Chennai over Mumbai.
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However, I suspect as to whether this will benefit TNNLU, as it is not even in Chennai/Madurai. (PS: I was from TNNLU)
In the last 10 years, Chennai circles have opened up with Khaitan, Amarchands and Induslaw in recent years. Kochar has been around for a decade too. Interesting times ahead. With the recent establishment of NCLAT and a regional office of CCI, excellent times ahead for lawyers in Chennai. Tnnlu would largely benefit from these in the long run.