Algo Legal Gurgaon-based partner Vinayak Mishra has yesterday joined venture capital (VC) fund Lightspeed India Partners Advisors as its first de facto legal head for India and South-East Asia.

Mishra is joining as director legal, reporting to the India-based chief financial officer (CFO) Amit Mehra.

The remit of the 2008 HNLU Raipur graduate, who had previously also worked at firms such as Desai & Diwanji, BMR Legal and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, will be to build up a legal team for the fund.

Lightspeed in India has been working primarily with IndusLaw.

Mishra commented: “It has been a satisfying experience to see Algo Legal grow so rapidly over the past one year and I wish the firm best.

“Given my experience as a VC lawyer, I have always been intrigued by in-house roles at VC funds. Lightspeed is one of global leaders in the VC space and Lightspeed India has done fantastic work in India and South East Asia.

“I am excited to be part of their journey and look forward to next phase of my career.”

Mishra had joined Themis, in January 2019 and moved along to Algo as a lot of other Themisers had done.

We have also reached out to Algo for comment.

Update 24 July 2020: Algo managing partner Sandeep Kapoor commented: “I am happy that Vinayak is going to be a part of an excellent organisation like Lightspeed, I’m thrilled to see his career trajectory and wish him all the very best. Lightspeed is fortunate to have Vinayak on board as a partner, he will undoubtedly add tremendous value in every discipline of work. He is a TRUE ASSET.”

“I thank Vinayak for all his contributions to Algo’s journey.”