Law firms

Media industry focussed firm Naik Naik & Co has hired two new partners from Wadia Ghandy & Co: partner Ashok Paranjpe joins as an equity and name partner while senior associate Leena Desai-Padhye came on board as a salaried partner.

The Indian legal process outsourcing (LPO) industry will more than triple in size and employ 17,000 professionals within five years, predicted research and analytics firm Evalueserve in a study. Around 15 per cent of outsourced services is so-called high-end work that is normally handled by US and UK associates.

Luthra & Luthra staff are mourning the loss of senior litigation lawyer Laliya Mukherjee who passed away on 1 May.

Clifford Chance has promoted Indian passport holder and India-practice senior associate Sumesh Sawhney to partner in London.

Economic Laws Practice (ELP) has promoted associate partner Nishant Shah to partner after one year, four senior associates were made up to associate partner level and ELP has created a new career step of "associate managers" to mirror accounting firms' structures.

Bristol-headquartered TLT has bagged the advice for a syndicate of Indian banks on a $110m dollar loan to Indus Gas alongside Amarchand Mangaldas, with the regional UK firm benefiting from its niche banking pitch.

Mumbai niche firm LawQuest has hired its second partner Ranjana Iyer, specialising in litigation.

Kochhar & Co's technology and media law partner Rodney Ryder has left the firm to start his own IP boutique practice called Scriboard in Delhi, hoping to also target Bihar and South India.

Linklaters India head Sandeep Katwala has been appointed as Emerging Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) regional managing partner while continuing in his role as India head.

Kochhar & Co has hired Delhi-based Corporate Law Group senior partner Ngangom Junior Luwang as a partner to attempt to build a North East India-targeted practice.

Bharucha & Partners has filled out its senior associate ranks by promoting four associates into the position.