For a firm that first made its name as a capital markets boutique, the fact that that S&R Associates did not have an office in India's financial capital was always glaring.

Now, after months of planning and speculation, S&R is finally (almost) ready to open in Mumbai. It clearly means business in One Indiabulls, with co-founding partner Sandip Bhagat rolling up his sleeves and relocating from Delhi.

S&R's ambitious aim is to continue its diversification from capital markets into mainstream corporate work and even into litigation. With a client base of banks and corporates babysat through years of fund raisings, S&R could potentially really shake up the Mumbai market. Watch this space.

Another firm that has so far strangely been absent from Mumbai is Induslaw, which this week took Nishith Desai Associates' former Bangalore office and funds head to strengthen its offering in the space. Nishith Desai meanwhile, saw the return of its senior Silicon Valley-based partner who will take charge of Bangalore.

Elsewhere, lawyers from Krishnamurthy and Co, Trilegal and Wadia Ghandy have done the socially responsible thing and pledged to fund and support NUJS Kolkata's new diversity project IDIA. Law students, now from across three colleges, have been visiting youngsters from disadvantaged rural areas and teaching them how to crack an opening to India's national law schools.

And supporting the project could even make financial sense in the long run if it results in a deepening of the graduate talent pool.

Also little surprise this week that a sixth writ petition has been filed against the bar exam, this time by a Nalsar Hyderabad student.

Meanwhile, the government also notified the new service tax regime yesterday. We have dissected and summarised the details.

Earning fees

Luthra & Luthra is representing Sony TV against the BCCI int a cricket IPL media rights dispute against the licensee WSG.

Also, two AZB M&A deals for the World Bank's sustainable investment arm and a $253m IPO of Ind-Barath Power for AZB, Luthra & Luthra and Jones Day. And more deals this week with Khaitan & Co in the private equity and Link Legal in the Maldives projects space.

Comment of the week

Solicitor general and BCI chief Gopal Subramanium engages with students about the bar exam: "i am not in the least intending to harm anyone's professional career. on the contrary i need to tell you the truth about the exam..."

Forum discussion of the week

napster gives his view on whether a company secretary course can help your legal career: "I have known a few seniors who got jobs just because they had a cs degree apart from the llb degree." What is your take?

The best of legal blogs

nandiireywal: Have you ever wondered how Nandii, everyone's favourite Indian lawyer in exile, bagged that high-paying job at Colby, Hewitt and Richards LLP? He worked the famed Reywal charm on surly Miss Janine of course. Beware!
LegalPoet explains what exactly makes NUJS' new diversity project IDIA so worthwhile (as well as rhyming about a frog in a pot)
socialmath: If India's 1975 emergency were to happen today, would you do your lawyerly duty?
john2010 celebrates baby Thackeray's decision to study in English.
Legalbeagle with another catchy, amusing and insightful rhyme on how to survive a reluctant internship.
RK Mathur argues for a reform of junvenile justice lest society goes to the dogs.
A great guide to acing CLAT's 2011 GK section.
And finally, False News With Balls reports on Parival Legal, where legal accumen lies in the genes.

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