Fox Mandal London founding partner Ajit Mishra quits, Khindria left in charge

Thursday, 11 October 2012 By Legally India Law firms

Exclusive: Fox Mandal Delhi’s London founding partner Ajit Mishra has resigned from the firm, as the firm has left its old office and moved into a new one in the UK’s financial capital.

Mishra, who headed up Fox’s London office when it was started in 2008 and is a dual-qualified Indian and English lawyer, left the firm on 26 September. Fox Mandal Delhi managing partner Som Mandal confirmed the departure.

According to a source close to Mishra, he may set up a new law firm with offices in London and India.

Mishra declined to comment.

He had started his career in 2001 at New Delhi Law Offices after graduating from Campus Law Centre (CLC) Delhi, then took an LLM at Queen Mary and Westfield, University of London in 2005, and joined Singhania & Co as a partner in London in 2006 before joining Fox in 2008.

Mandal said in an email: “The firm in London is headed by Tony Khindria, who as you may remember merged his firm LexIndia’s practice in London, Paris and India with us last year. After joining of Tony, we had two partners based in London and now we have one.”

Khindria added that he would continue to divide his time between London and Paris, continuing the arrangement under his and Fox’s original tie-up. He commented: “We have an understanding of Indian and European cultures and our aim is to provide easy access to Indian legal services in Europe in real time.”

It is understood that apart from Khindria no other lawyers are currently based in London for the firm.

The firm has now also moved out of its King Street office in the city’s financial district to Temple Chambers in Temple Avenue, near Fleet Street, confirmed Mandal.

Moving back to the firm’s original London office in Windsor House was not possible because that office had been demolished and reconstructed in July of this year.

In July, Delhi partner Sumes Dewan had joined Desai & Diwanji, having left Fox’s Delhi office with only four non-family partners.

Photo by Ignacio Garcia

Comments

*** 11 Oct 2012, 14:27

+2 -0

Who is Tony? And where are his Indian, London and French offices. All rubbish. How can someone buy such story. There is no FM office in London now.

zzzzzzzz 11 Oct 2012, 17:27

+1 -0

FM guys are good at manipulating things. They project themselves as a big law firm, in reality it is a bunch of junk crowd. They have an awful work culture sans ethics. They only run with the brand name and an empty 'box'.

Moma Andal 12 Oct 2012, 08:06

+0 -0

So, in your opinion, it is a Box Bandal!

But of course 11 Oct 2012, 15:49

+8 -0

"And so, how did you lose your last job?"

"The firm relocated, and did not tell me where."

Pity... 11 Oct 2012, 17:42

Well, Mr Som Mandal and family were present at the IBA Annual Conference at Dublin looking quite desperate for any sort of marketing opportunity...

Anonymous 12 Oct 2012, 05:57

Its said to see another Partner leaving for non payment of dues. [...] as non payment to lawyers continue

UK.. 12 Oct 2012, 06:42

An Ex- fox mentioned during the IBA that the financial situation of the firm is said to be so bad that now even the office staff in Delhi has not been paid for 3-4 mths.

Moma Andal 12 Oct 2012, 07:07

This is all rubbish! In fact, nobody has ever asked salary!

FM-II 12 Oct 2012, 07:16

London office closed for non payment of rent for almost six months

foxy moxie 13 Oct 2012, 07:42

Its true that the FML London office was shut down for non-payment of rent- which isnt surprising considering the rent was well over GBP 50K pounds a year. Apparently, the furniture and fixtures were attached to make part payment for the rent dues.

[...]

makemytrip...! 12 Oct 2012, 08:07

....I was wondering about poor travel agent..!

Anon 12 Oct 2012, 08:01

I am a bit curious. Tony says he shares his time between London and Paris (say 6 months in London and 6 months in Paris). But admittedly he is only lawyer in Fox's London office. Therefore, ether the London or the Paris office will remain shut when he is in the other office.

*** 12 Oct 2012, 08:23

I disagree absolutely, precondition for closure of office is existence of office in London or Paris.. There Was no Paris office and now after Ajit's resignation London office is locked. ...

Bandal Baz 12 Oct 2012, 09:43

You contradict yourself! First you say there is no office then you state the office is locked! Shame on you!

Senor Agape 13 Oct 2012, 03:34

Can someone with a cameraphone walk over and take a photo of the shut office and post it. Same thing with Paris. If this Anon poster actually knows what they're saying let them produce some evidence instead of rumours.

%%% 12 Oct 2012, 09:13

What a fall of a firm, which was once upon a time one of the leading firms in India, with offices in every major city in India (and as claimed, even in London and Paris). Where did they go wrong? Few years back, they couldnt pay salaries for months, then their tie up with Litte also collapsed, several of their partners have left them. Yeh Kya hua? Kyu hua? Kaise hua?
FM was an old firm (AMSS time) and look where AMSS is and where FM is now. Too family oriented? Wrong moves? Complacency?
Another firm that brings to my mind is Dua Associates. Where is it now?
What happended to all these firms - Dua, Fox, Mulla, Crawford, Kanga, Little? They were amongst the top a decade and a half back. Seems like only Wadia, AMSS and Khaitan have been able to survive, innovate and grow amongst the traditional/old firms.
Newer firms like Luthra, AZB, Trilegal have taken over their space. I wonder what was the USP amongst the newer firm (or for that matter, AMSS/Khaitan amongst older firms) to come to the forefront.

I am not Kishen 12 Oct 2012, 09:24

+5 -0

Pre-empting Kishen:
Trilegal is a Tier II/III firm

Old Block 12 Oct 2012, 09:33

I wish all the best to Ajit! Hope he gets his dues also. I know him personally. He has introduced so many important personalities in UK to the firm but all in vain!

foxy moxie 13 Oct 2012, 07:53

Kian, why has Ajit's experience at Arlington Sharma's been left out? He worked there for a while after Singhania and before FML.

Ex- Dua 13 Oct 2012, 08:59

Dua has never believed in marketing/publicity and that is why it is never in the news. It still boasts of some of the most solid partners in the industry and the services rendered by it are still considered top quality. But yes their visibility is low due to non participation in marketing. Have worked there before so I know the quality of lawyers there.

ranjeeta bundal 13 Oct 2012, 18:51

puff puff ... mandals have nothing to boast about now .... infact delhi iv heard is also about to shut shop ... like london first reason being non payment of facility rent and they dont seem to be doing much on generating business either .. what a pitty

legz 17 Oct 2012, 13:49

I believe they are stil battling money suits in delhi high court by former partners..and now this-its a shame. However its still puzzling...why cant they pay people???

Ex Fox Box 1 Nov 2012, 11:47

I just read this article after a few weeks of not having access to Legally India. This is so very pathetic. Where was Fox once upon a time and where has it reached.
Spoke with a few of the remaining persons still at the firm. Its almost like Fox has become a shell of an office, with few occupants in the cubicles and offices and hardly any work or clients to provide services to… Moreover no sign of any changes to turn things around, I remember the time when this was an office of competent lawyers and provided sound trust worthy legal advice. This is indeed very sad.

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