Breaking: What remains of Udwadia Udeshi & Argus to split in two

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Friday, 20 March 2015 By Legally India Law firms

According to authoritative sources, Udwadia Udeshi & Argus (UUA), which was created in 2012 by merging young Kolkata-Amarchand breakaway Argus Law Partners and Bombay solicitors firm Udwadia & Udeshi, will separate into what remains of the two pre-merger legacy-firm by next month.

A partners’ meeting earlier this week evening resulted in the decision, which will see the erstwhile-Argus law firm demerge from the team under Darius Udwadia. An announcement has been made within the firm, but UUA managing partner Krishnava Dutt did not respond to calls and a message seeking comment.

Darius Udwadia could not be reached for comment by telephone but we have reached out for comment via email.

Udwadia & Udeshi co-founder, Dilip Udeshi, left the firm last year for Dhruve Liladhar & Company as a partner.

His departure was followed by the quitting of three other partners: litigation partner Amol Bavare joined Legasis Partners as a partner and litigation partner Mihir Kamdar joined Financial Technologies (India) as its head legal.

Argus co-founder Ramya Hariharan left the firm in September 2014, with other senior departures having hit the Delhi and Bangalore offices.

Comments

Leave 20 Mar 2015, 07:08

+4 -3

LOL looks like Dutt is getting ready to join CAM/ SAM again!

ABC 20 Mar 2015, 07:45

+2 -5

What is CAM/SAM?

Leaving 21 Mar 2015, 09:27

+5 -3

Dutt/Argus will be a prized catch for CAM/SAM.

Rumour 21 Mar 2015, 19:22

+2 -1

CAM maybe trying to poach Argus

Surprising...Not 20 Mar 2015, 07:38

+17 -12

About time. Its been in the offing since last year. There is obviously a clash of cultures. Although the partner exits have been reported, very few people know about the associates exodus. Since the merger, a lot of associates from the UU side had quit. The corp team in Mumbai has a high associate attrition rate. Since Udeshi left, not just the Mumbai partners but the ENTIRE Mumbai litigation team quit. Post that the corp team has been losing associates every month. Most of this is due to poor Argus work culture is what I have been hearing. And also apparently UU and A did not see eye to eye ever. Its been two firms functioning under one office for the longest time.

Shardul/ Cyril 20 Mar 2015, 08:25

+3 -5

What is CAM/SAM?

Outsider 20 Mar 2015, 08:35

+21 -7

It is slightly surprising how Krishnava managed to acquire a pretty decent reputation while he had been holding fort in AMSS Kolkata, but never managed to settle down comfortably since he has set up his own shop.

Guest 20 Mar 2015, 10:58

+2 -5

Yeah, Krishnava had a great reputation in Kolkata and did quite well initially as Argus Partners. Never quite understood the logic of relocating to Mumbai or merging with UU.

Now outsider 20 Mar 2015, 13:13

+6 -7

Well...that mostly resonates the fact that how easy it is to be bossed and then be a boss! Every one thinks they can but not everyone can be the best boss/partner/team leader/colleague at senior positions. Its mostly because of work ethics and management issues.

LolXD 20 Mar 2015, 08:37

+0 -1

Hope that answers it :p

Surprising...Not 20 Mar 2015, 11:00

+1 -3

You didn't publish my comment. There is no reason not to! It was all true.

kianganz 20 Mar 2015, 11:38

+0 -0

Sorry, had missed that one...

Guest 20 Mar 2015, 14:32

+18 -18

partner exits since Krishnava walked in are, Chetana, Smitha, Yadav, Udeshi, Amol, Mihir.

Ramya, Argus' founding partner also left without any real notice. One new partner in Ranjit Shetty was brought in to replace the litigation team.

Lack of transparency, good work and hypocrisy has done this firm in. People who held the firm together were disrespected and diregarded by the senior partners and the managing partners. Eventually when the partners of a firm focus on politics and building sides, this is bound to happen.

This split between Udwadia and Krishnava was to happen last year, but no one knows who blinked and it didn't go through. Udeshi, fed up with the nonsense, quit. Amol and Mihir quit for varied reasons. They were a six member team and they all resigned. One of them continued later, but the others quit.

The litigation team exodus screwed the firm as the profitability came down. Krishnava hadn't really made any headway in Mumbai.

Sweet 20 Mar 2015, 17:31

+4 -6

Wow! You seem to have some real issues in life man. I want some random gossip about CAM and SAM too. Can I hire you?

Guest 22 Mar 2015, 11:25

+5 -2

This isn't some random gossip. It is true that this time last year udeshi and krishnava were planning to move out leaving udwadia behind.
the partner exits have also occurred. Couple of subjective things have been said but the facts are correct.
The real issues are with what is remaining of an institution that had potential.

jackal 22 Mar 2015, 13:17

+1 -1

Get a life man. let it be.

Guest 20 Mar 2015, 14:53

+4 -8

Krishnava should go to CAM and say lets go after SAM together. Otherwise his best days are behind him. I feel for those lawyers who left their cushy amarchand kol jobs to follow him - they really got a raw deal in the process.

Old UU Hand 20 Mar 2015, 16:29

+7 -7

Last i heard there's no one really left in Udwadia's team. He's 80 and a terror to work with. No partner or associate has stuck with him ever!

Ex-Associate 21 Mar 2015, 03:39

+7 -8

I'm not surprised. It is impossible to work with Mr. Udwadia. Arghh.

Now outsider 21 Mar 2015, 07:14

+10 -2

Not really. He is a tough task master but has LOADS to teach and there is loads to learn from him as you can work directly under him (but that only if you keep off from politics and snitching). He just has higher standards of expectation from a person he likes/hires.

Ex UU 21 Mar 2015, 08:24

+3 -5

Beginning with Berjis every single partner has had a bitter split with Udwadia. I hear no one is really left with him.

Older UU Hand 23 Mar 2015, 06:20

+2 -3

Excuse me but Darius has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. He behaves all high and mighty and preaches a lot of principles but in practice not so much. He also was pretty stingy about what he paid his associates. I know of a situation where he did not pay someone who was leaving their last month's salary because he kept changing their last date in the firm which was not accepted to the concerned person. Kudos to the person who ultimately told him to keep the salary and quit for a much better opportunity! In my view, Darius's manner and attitude is the cause of the downfall of the firm.

Rather sad 21 Mar 2015, 07:19

+4 -4

The firm has politics since the day of inception. KD wanting to capture good out of the old UU team and UU trying to help poaching. This was to the extent that the associates could never take up work from any other partner but their own, and if it happens, it be treated like taking work from another rival firm. Weeeeh. Honestly, intent is greater than actions and the intent of A team reflected in their actions and explicit words of comforting good ppl in UU team to continue working until A has gulped the UUArgus's UU. Sad! Such great business takeover schemes for old ethical men in the profession.

Anonymous 20 Mar 2015, 16:49

+9 -10

Hahaha... Laughing at all these comments!! Hope Krishnava has learnt his lesson well. This is what happens when you take over a dead useless firm with (!!!) people and try to revive it.... It results in nasty comments by disgruntled ex-UU. Hahahahahaha. But Krishnava don't lose heart... as they say one learns from his mistakes!!! Continue with your good work. Cheers ;)

Observer 20 Mar 2015, 17:23

+11 -7

I can see a typical trend/phases in law firm mergers... dying firm (UU) and upcoming firm (Argus) merge..new management takes over... brings in change...takes hard decisions...clash with insecure old guard... few difficult days...then THE final revival and a fresh new profitable firm. This merger has done quite well so far. Just the last mile left....keep going Krishnava. Wish you and your team all the best.

Bithika Anand 20 Mar 2015, 18:34

+8 -2

Didn't Bithika 'effectuate' the merger?
I'd like to know her comment on this.

satya wachan 20 Mar 2015, 19:18

+7 -3

Krishnava is an extremely smart lawyer and highly enterprising. It is tough to break into the Bombay market and it will take time, but he is definitely making a mark. There will be several wins and losses on the way, what matters in the man behind it all. I think krishnava definitely has it in him to make it big. With or without cam / Sam. Give it time.

Observer 21 Mar 2015, 04:57

+5 -3

Yeah. Krishnava has a solid reputation in the market.

Comment 21 Mar 2015, 03:02

+9 -5

Have worked with Krishnava on a deal - a brilliant lawyer. The entire team had some very good talent and I hear all of them are still with the firm. Overall found it to be a promising firm. All the best Krishnava.

True Story 21 Mar 2015, 05:08

+9 -7

Off late, I've heard Krishnava is rarely involved in transactions and only steps in to give optical comfort to the client. This strategy would ordinarily work if he had seasoned hands to take care of things, but sadly, Krishnava has terrible generals. And generals win wars, not emperors.

False story 21 Mar 2015, 05:57

+6 -6

To the contrary their quality runs very deep. Krishnava has retained some of the best in the business and thats how he is building his team. With no disrespect to krishnava if he has built a solid reputation, then a captain is as good as his team.

Agree with True Story 23 Mar 2015, 06:23

+6 -2

Have had some personal experience working with Krishnava and his generals and have to say that I was not too impressed.

ROFL 21 Mar 2015, 06:24

+2 -1

Lol. Alexander, Ashoka, Genghis Khan et al must be turning in their graves coz the wars these Emperorers won were actually not won by them. ROFL.

not a planted comment 21 Mar 2015, 11:50

+11 -11

Argus is not good enough to stand on its own in bbay..krishnava with his managing associates have always known so and have piggy backed on established bbay solicitors..and now these same ppl are planting negative comments abt a senior Bombay solicitor. Well not surprising given how they treat their juniors..

And what abt their new "equity" partner. Wonder why he has moved arnd so much. Don't see him having too many clients as well. I guess its just added to the horror work environment there.

non planted part 2 21 Mar 2015, 21:35

+5 -4

Well...its time I guess "ambitions" require to be controlled by the "ethics". Argus has stolen all the established clients of UU, atleast tried their best to! Also managed to drain them of their people. Ensure AMSS-kinds dirty politics in the peaceful sustainable work environment. And throw dirt at an established bombay solicitor who has been always high on ethics. Tch..sad for the junior associates. Hope their rumoured pay packages are as high.

Iraqi 22 Mar 2015, 07:24

+7 -6

What is however missing in this jigsaw is the steady stream of exits at the associate/mid-tier levels in all offices of UUA. This is only because of the business model of the firm which is inherently flawed : have a team of minimal nos. (say 10 ppl) doing the work of 20 lawyers. Everyone is dispensable in this model. And those who are not will anyway leave (as has been happening) : no one wants to do double the work for the same pay!

Sad.... 24 Mar 2015, 09:41

+1 -0

Unfortunate that this happened. It is surprising why Krishnava came to Mumbai not on his own but riding on the name of UU. Most people worth their salt came to Mumbai and set up on their own. These people are doing quite well.

Query Holder 3 Sept 2015, 20:43

+0 -0

With all experts commenting here, I have a question. Argus, as evident is recruiting Associates on a massive scale in Mumbai. Wondering if they get paid at the 12 LPA package as heard in the market? Also,how big is the Argus office in Mumbai after the split, I am sure Argus has to procure its bills to pay the salaries at least. Can someone throw some light on this? Kian do you have any information?

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