Advaita Legal principal Gaurav Gupta has set up an independent litigation practice called Vantage Law Chamber (VLC) focusing primarily on servicing consultancy firms with litigation support services.

Gupta has taken 1,500 square feet of office space in Noida, with a team including two other lawyers and assistance from two chartered accountants.

He said that the set-up would primarily focus on working with consultancy firms, providing them with tax litigation services, as well as corporate restructuring and alternate dispute resolution.

The ambition was “to collaborate with tax professionals to serve the dynamic needs of the businesses in an increasingly complex world punctuated by disruptive technologies”.

“This may also be a way out for resolving conflict between [chartered accountants] and lawyers, which is in debate before [Delhi bar council],” added Gupta, referring to the complaint pending before the Delhi bar council. “Essentially, in that case an independent law chamber shall be undertaking legal work,” he added.

The aim to work with the Big Fours and other firms makes sense, both considering his CV that includes stints at PwC, BMR and Advaita - KPMG’s best friend law firm, and the fact that several other former Big Four lawyers are focusing on the consultancy market to pitch legal services.

Gupta is a 2006 LLB graduate of Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre, a qualified chartered accountant, company secretary and holds a 1998 BCom in Commerce.

He had begun his career at Mayur Batra and Co in 2005, joined Vaish Associates in 2007, Ernst & Young in 2009 and Seth Dua Associates in 2010.

In 2012 Gupta had joined PwC as a retainer in direct taxation, moving to BMR Legal in 2014 and joining Advaita Legal in 2017.

Advaita senior partner Atul Dua had left the firm last month over client conflicts with KPMG, as two former Seth Dua partners who were part of Advaita moved to Khaitan & Khaitan.

Advaita co-founder Sujit Ghosh had become arguing counsel in 2018.