Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM) Delhi-based partner Sandeep Chilana, who is specialising in customs, GST, liquor and state excise laws, has resigned, we have learned.

The 2005 CLC Delhi University law graduate, and 2002 BCom Delhi University Kirori Mal College graduate, will be setting up an independent tax practice in early 2019, according to multiple sources.

His leaving date is likely to be in late January, depending on continuing responsibilities and handover at SAM.

Chilana and SAM declined to comment when contacted.

It is understood that the firm is in advanced stages of finalising a lateral hire to join and fill the gap to be left by Chilana in the lucrative practice area, possibly from a Big Four chartered accountancy firm.

Chilana had begun his career in 2005 at Bansal & Co, followed in 2006 by two years at his father’s tax firm firm Chilana & Chilana Associates, before joining what was then Amarchand Mangaldas.

At Shardul Amarchand, he was promoted to partner in 2016.