SN Gupta & Co is launching its Mumbai litigation practice with the hire of former MLS Vani & Associates senior associate Hiren Mehta as a partner, who will look to building a practice of 10 lawyers in the firm's new High Court office.

Mehta (pictured) said his focus was property and commercial litigation, and he would initially focus heavily on finance too, which was SN Gupta's core strength.

Managing partner Rajesh Gupta said: "Until we build a base financial services are our forte and we'll drive with financial disputes including economic offences."

He left because he was looking for an opportunity and challenge. "Here I will be setting up my own team and my own way of working," he explained.

He joins from MLS Vani by himself. His team will initially consist of seven lawyers, although SN Gupta managing partner Rajesh Gupta said this would grow to 10 within the next month.

All litigation team members are lateral hires, around seven of whom have already started or are just about to start with the firm. The firm will be looking to grow the practice to around 15 lawyers in the coming months.

MLS Vani managing partner Akshay Vani confirmed Mehta's departure and wished him all the best for his future career.

MLS Vani is a member of the MLS Chase Group, which includes London-based English legal advisory firm MLS Chase LLP, which was started up by former ALMT Legal partner Manoj Ladwa.

SN Gupta's Delhi office has also hired Kochhar & Co senior associate and team leader Rakhi Shankar as a banking and corporate senior associate. Before her stint at Kochhar she was at SN Gupta for five years from 2002.

She will be working under the firm's recent projects hire Rashi Anand Suri.