did not getting why khaitan is hunting amss tigers one by one....is this something like boston legal end..when chinees take over crane pool and smith.....never wonder if amss become kmss sonn..........danie crane

It interesting to see how K&Co. is acquiring startegic talent and expanding in a manner that will certainly make the competition sit up and ask why people leave them even at partner (or partner equivalent level). If recent trends are an indication it seems K&Co is hiring every talented Indian or PIO lawyer looking to move back to India!

Havent seen paku at cci on any matters... What was his role at AMSS and what role is he now taking on?
were ganesh and him recruited together?
What about manas who is still at khaitan? Is he leaving?

what is a quasi partner?? if he is not an indian qualified lawyer, is it not an illegal practice of law? In the absence of a proper indian qualification, this sort of surrogate and illegal practice is quite strange! Why do the indian law firms blow hot and cold about foreign lawyers???! The Bar Council should investigate Khan's status and check what he is doing in India as a quasi lawyer and investigate the entire matter.

Khaitan - you cant build a firm just by buying random partners from different firms! that strategy has never worked for anyone! its a train wreck waiting to happen....

As long as it is under the supervision of an Indian lawyer like Pallavi or whoever, its ok. Quite a catch for Khaitan!

KCO hires and then frustrates the like of Paku and M.... I am surprised that even through KCo Delhi has no or very less work after Sec 5 notification competition work why they need another specialist. Manas will be enough to deal with matters...KCO hires but does not have enough work to keep their associates or even specialist partners busy. May be Paku has promised book of business to KCO. This in no way means that AMSS is better.,,

It is rather funny to see people target Khaitan which it's aggressive hiring and ambitious growth plans. I have been the industry for a long time and know for a fact that people in AMSS and AZB were not able to move to equivalent good law firms because lack of options in Indian market. AMSS and AZB have also some informal non-poach agreement which makes it difficult for people in these firms, and have to continue to stay back even if they are competent but dissatisfied with their roles in these firms.

Khaitan is a great firm, has one of the lowest attrition rate and has come up before some of these hirings. I am sure we are going to see rise of a formidable firm in Khaitan, and a genuine alternate to AMSS and AZB.

Dont they make fans?

Isn't Paku joining Khaitan Bombay office? Amarchand Delhi's competition law practice is entirely a family practice of mother, daughter and son in law. Paku will be impossible to replace.

Interesting how ppl commenting on paku's competence/him being irreplacable without any basis... As the article points out his only real experience is working in ireland and then at amarchand... What's the big deal? So many indian lawyers with better experience such as mr sameer gandhi, mr anand pathak, mr mm sharma... Paku who?

While I am now a great fan of Kaithan, I do have doubts about some of their hires. I do think hiring Ganesh and Paku will immensely add value to Kaithan. However, I am more concerned about the other hires – [...], in particular. Query if these hires were sensible if you want to be a Tier 1 firm? No criticism in terms of either [...]’s or [...]’s ability as lawyers – I am sure that both of them must be very good lawyers, else Kaithan would not have chosen them. But these two individuals just don't have the market presence which a Rajath, a Murali or a Bharth bring to the table. Is this truly an equal partnership?

The next criticism is one of lockstep. Since Kaithan has not made any announcement re lockstep, I assume that Kaithan are on an eat what you kill model. Again query if this is the best model when you want to establish yourself in the market as a Tier 1 firm?

The CCI must prohibit any Private Law Firm to represent it before the COMPAT and Supreme Court and simultaneously allow it to represent private clients before the CCI. These are basics of legal practice and principles of naturual justice.

Bharth or Bharat - market presence? Mr Observer you need to visit Indian market (means work in Indian market) to understand who has market presence or not...but in all fairness Khaitan is on "eat what you kill model" as observed by you.

Pakhu please rethink and once again do a market and an organisation research before joining KCO.Pls speak to the people working in KCO before taking this decision.

As special advisor to amarchand?
If thats true, its quite a coup!

First, many congratulations to Paku on his move. Khaitan is really spicing up the upper hierarchy of the Indian legal industry and deserves compliments for its well thought out strategy on acquiring talent with an outlook towards future expansion and opportunities. Competition is always good for the industry.

If one were to track Khaitan's hiring in the last two years, one would see a definite design. Khaitan first acquired a couple of guys from JSA. Then there were some good hirings from Indians working in foreign firms. Thereafter, it was AZB. Subsequently, Khaitan acted smartly and promptly in picking up people from Thakker last year after news spread that Thakker was closing. Now, probably, the hunting ground is AMSS.

Mobility of professionals amongst law firms is good for the professionals at large as this will compel the firms to think seriously about things like talent retention and integration. However, at the same time, it must be mentioned that this is not good for the clients of firms from where these professionals exit. Having said that, I really doubt whether exits are going to effect a firm like AMSS, whose core remains intact notwithstanding the departure of the Bharuchas.

Time for AMSS and AZB to start giving serious thoughts about talent retention and the developments in other law firms. However, retention of talent is a matter that needs an understanding of human psycology above all things. Law firms need to be more sensitive on this count. The BCG proposed mechanism may not work out well in India though it may work great abroad. As for Khaitan, it needs to ensure that the lateral hires taken on board in the last two years integrate well with the firm. Secondly, market indications are a little gloomy and Khaitan has to work hard to ensure that there is sufficient work for an increasing work force. A couple of years down the line will actually say whether the hirings were wise or otherwise. In any case, the Indian legal market appears to be volatile and interesting to watch.

There is no doubt that Khaitan is hiring from good law firms but the problem is retaining the talent. There is very little work to feed the aspiration of professionals and due to this the management after maximum period of two years start to create a situation that the partner/associate has to leave or is sidelined and disgraced and this trend is very evident in Delhi office. One has to keep in mind before joining Khaitan that they must leave in two years time. The management in Delhi office is highly unprofessional and hence in all fairness when people from AZB, JAS or AMSS take a decision to join Khaitan they must tread very cautiously.