Poovayya & Co has promoted Bangalore-based Pallavi Smriti to partner in its litigation practice, with effect from this year.

She is the second litigation partner in a department that had been growing the fastest at the firm, confirmed managing partner Sanjanthi Sajan Poovayya.

Smriti is a 2009 NLIU Bhopal graduate, who had previously also worked at Wadia Ghandy and Platinum Partners. She had joined Poovayya in 2018 (see below).

The other litigation partner at the firm is Bangalore-based Manu Kulkarni, with he rest of the firm’s six partners active primarily in corporate.

In part, Poovayya’s disputes practice had benefited - as it usually does - from a slowing economy.

“We are consolidating and keeping with the existing clients and hoping to hang in there for the next few months till the market recovers,” added Poovayya about the current market.

One reader and market insider said, anonymously: “Bangalore has limited senior, female litigators and even smaller number of such partners. It’s a significant news in the litigation circle.”