GLC Mumbai 2007 alumnus Nitin Jain has joined his GLC senior Archana Balasubramanian's four-year-old start-up Agama Law Associates as managing partner, having left his role as in-house counsel at Tata Chemicals.

Jain commented: “I have strong views on what part of the current offerings in the legal services market must evolve and what must remain the same. Archana and my ethos and thoughts are very aligned regarding this, and so I feel it is a good partnership for us.

“It does feel like the right time in India to test one’s entrepreneurial desire and therefore, I decided to move out to pursue engagement with multiple clients.”

Jain has previously had stints with Tech Mahindra and Mahindra & Mahindra before joining Tata Chemicals in 2014. His expertise is in laws relating to logistics, automobiles, chemicals, food and real estate sectors and he has gained experience in M&A, strategising for commercial and general litigation, arbitration, advice on contracts, compliances and documentation

A 2006 GLC alumnus, Balasubramanian had formerly worked at AZB & Partners, Udwadia & Udeshi and in senior advocate chambers before starting up Agama in 2013 as “a one-man commercial documentation” firm, according to the firm's press release.

She has advised clients on standardisation and negotiation of documents, statutory compliance advisory including employment advisory, corporate advisory, advice on compliance with Companies Act, foreign exchange laws as well as SEBI laws, according to Agama's website.

She commented: “Essentially we are sort of a boutique firm. We do end-to-end core documentation and dispute management and dispute resolution. We do not do peripheral services.”

Jain, with whom she had been friends for a very long time, had come on board after leaving Tata Chemicals to bring industry-related experience and a “business outlook”, she said, because the firm catered to a lot of emerging companies and sectors.

She added that the firm had grown considerably since starting with two clients four years ago.

Agama currently has three associates in addition to Subramanian and Jain.