Khaitan & Co hired a total of three specialist lateral partners: banking & finance from White & Case, infrastructure from JSA and absorbing a TMT boutique. The firm has also promoted three of its associates to partnership (see LegallyIndia.com on Monday for the full story).
ALMT Legal also landed a scoop on 1 April, taking a fully-fledged infrastructure team from lender-side projects boutique India Law Services.
These strong moves could be transformational for both firms to turning the true full-service route with genuine specialisation.
Something that could be even more of a game-changer is the initiative by NUJS Kolkata professor Shamnad Basheer. He has launched the start of a "mass movement" to bring diversity to law schools and the profession by encouraging more students from rural areas to become lawyers. Please pledge your support and assistance.
On the deals front Allen & Overy and Trilegal have proven their best friendship by bagging the banking mandates on one of the largest cross-border takeovers in Indian history, as Bharti Airtel has finally found itself that African presence it has been craving. AZB & Partners, Herbert Smith and Linklaters were the other beneficiaries.
Legal process outsourcer (LPO) UnitedLex has sewn up a contract with telecoms giant BT and is eyeing turnovers of $35 to $40m this year. Easily on par and exceeding revenues at most of India's top law firms.
Two other April surprises:
1. A Delhi Bar Council member has said that the body would crack down on law firm websites and advertising. And let's face it, many firms have been technically bending the rules on this slightly. But whether the rules themselves need reform in an age of organised professional legal services is another question.
2. NUJS Kolkata has made a major comeback (together with GNLU Ghandinagar) in the Mooting Premier League sponsored by Clifford Chance. NUJS proved its mettle after a difficult mooting year for the college, excelling not just in international competitions but also securing funding for the Manfred Lachs Space Moot qualification.
In sadder and more Foolish news this week Luthra & Luthra did not really build a cricket ground in its Delhi office.
However, Luthra & Luthra did win the SILF Kushal T-20 law firm tournament in a riveting final.
On the blogging front, a lot of quality posts this week:
Sss brings up a subject most don't: Jugaad, or the "do you know who my dad is"-card, which he argues all too often unfairly also makes Indian legal careers.
Danishsheikh has reviewed the Bangalore Queer Film Festival.
LegalPoet has penned a poem to your Lordship on the joys of drink mooting.
Also two fresh new voices on the blogging competition scene:
Legaldrift writes about date rape and the law, and discusses the national judicial services and how it could improve the quality of justice.
Biharu Babuu has begun a mindbending blog on churning brains like butter and how simpler speech therapy could help lawyers.
To get future newsletters straight to your inbox every Friday for free, please enter your name and email below.