Trilegal, one of India’s leading full-service law firms, has announced the appointment of Jitendra Motwani, former Partner at Economic Laws Practice (ELP), to its Tax Practice. The move marks a significant lateral addition as Trilegal continues to expand its footprint in tax advisory and disputes, one of the most competitive and rapidly evolving segments of India’s legal market.
Background and Professional Profile
Jitendra Motwani brings close to two decades of experience in indirect tax, customs, and trade law. Over the years, he has built a strong reputation for representing clients before the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, and tax tribunals on matters involving GST, service tax, customs, excise, and foreign-trade policy.
Before joining Trilegal, Jitendra served as a Partner at ELP, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s indirect tax and trade practice. Under his leadership, the team advised leading Indian and multinational corporations on complex issues ranging from tax structuring and valuation disputes to supply-chain optimisation under the Goods and Services Tax regime.
Jitendra’s advisory portfolio includes multinational conglomerates, industrial manufacturers, infrastructure developers, FMCG and pharma majors, and trade bodies. He has also been actively involved in policy advocacy and industry consultations on the practical implementation of GST, customs reforms, and cross-border trade facilitation.
Expanding Trilegal’s Tax Capabilities
Trilegal’s hiring of Jitendra comes at a time when the firm is consolidating its tax, regulatory, and disputes offerings. The addition of a senior practitioner with deep litigation and regulatory experience is expected to strengthen the firm’s tax bench, particularly in Mumbai, India’s financial capital.
The firm already advises on a range of direct and indirect tax mandates, including tax litigation, structuring of M&A transactions, and regulatory compliance for cross-border deals. With Jitendra on board, Trilegal is positioned to offer integrated, end-to-end tax solutions — from preventive advisory to representation before tax authorities and courts.
According to people familiar with the move, Trilegal’s strategy is aimed at bridging the gap between its strong transactional practices (corporate, M&A, private equity, and finance) and the growing need for specialised tax advisory within those domains.
Evolution of the Tax Practice in Indian Big Law
Traditionally, India’s tax advisory space was dominated by accounting firms and specialised tax boutiques. However, over the past decade, full-service law firms have increasingly entered the fray, particularly following the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 and the heightened regulatory scrutiny of cross-border structures.
Firms such as Trilegal, Khaitan & Co, Nishith Desai Associates, ELP, AZB & Partners, and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas have since expanded their tax benches to handle both advisory and litigation work. Clients are now seeking integrated legal-tax solutions, especially where corporate structuring, foreign investment, or dispute resolution intersect with tax implications.
Trilegal’s recent senior-level additions — including Jitendra — indicate a clear focus on developing multi-disciplinary tax capability that complements its core corporate, finance, and disputes practices. The firm’s growing tax team is expected to focus not only on GST and customs matters but also on international tax, transfer pricing, and digital-economy taxation — areas witnessing policy flux and heightened compliance demands.
The Significance of Lateral Moves in Tax Law
Jitendra Motwani’s move also mirrors a larger wave of lateral mobility within the Indian legal and tax ecosystem. As tax law becomes more specialised, senior professionals are increasingly crossing over between accounting-led and law-firm-led platforms.
For law firms, bringing in established tax partners offers three advantages:
Institutional Credibility: A recognised practitioner adds immediate strength and market visibility to a relatively young practice area.
Cross-Functional Synergy: Integration of tax professionals allows firms to deliver unified advice on deals, regulatory investigations, and disputes.
Client Retention: Corporate clients increasingly prefer one-stop solutions that combine legal, tax, and compliance expertise under a single platform.
At the same time, senior tax partners find law-firm platforms attractive for their litigation privileges, client confidentiality protections, and independence from audit-related restrictions — advantages that accounting firms often lack.
The migration of senior talent like Jitendra thus signifies the convergence of law and tax advisory within India’s evolving professional-services landscape.
Broader Market Context
India’s tax regime has undergone a profound transformation over the past decade. The introduction of GST, increased digital enforcement by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and alignment with OECD’s BEPS framework have created both opportunity and complexity for businesses.
This has driven demand for law-firm-led tax expertise capable of handling not just compliance but also strategic dispute resolution and policy interpretation. With the GST appellate structure becoming operational and new rules on cross-border taxation emerging, large corporates are increasingly seeking counsel who can combine litigation, policy, and regulatory understanding.
In this environment, Trilegal’s expansion in tax is both timely and strategic. The firm joins a growing cohort of Indian law firms recognising tax as a growth frontier comparable to corporate, disputes, and regulatory practices.
About Trilegal
Trilegal is one of India’s leading law firms with offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Gurugram. The firm advises leading domestic and international clients across corporate, M&A, finance, projects, disputes, energy, and tax. Trilegal continues to be recognised for its collaborative culture and sector-focused expertise.
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