Saumya Kakar has joined S&R Associates as a retained partner in the firm’s Mumbai office, the firm announced. She brings with her a well-rounded transactional practice spanning private equity, foreign investment, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures, with notable sectoral depth in automotive, healthcare, and aerospace and defence.
The appointment adds an experienced corporate transactions lawyer to S&R Associates‘ Mumbai presence. Kakar previously worked at two of India’s leading full-service firms — Trilegal and Khaitan & Co — both out of Mumbai, giving her strong roots in the city’s deal-making ecosystem.
S&R Associates currently operates out of New Delhi and Mumbai, with a combined strength of approximately 160 lawyers, including 43 partners and counsel. The addition of Kakar to the partnership reflects the firm’s continued investment in its Mumbai practice.
Education Background and Career Progression
Education
Saumya Kakar holds a B.Sc., LL.B. (Hons.) from Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), graduating in 2016. GNLU is among India’s National Law Universities and is recognised for producing lawyers who go on to prominent positions at leading Indian and international law firms.
Career Journey
Kakar began building her transactional practice in Mumbai following her graduation from GNLU in 2016. Her early professional years were spent at Trilegal, one of India’s prominent corporate law firms, where she developed her foundations in complex cross-border and domestic transactions. She subsequently moved to Khaitan & Co, another of India’s top-tier full-service firms, continuing to sharpen her corporate and private equity practice in Mumbai. Across both firms, she cultivated significant experience in the automotive, healthcare, and aerospace and defence sectors — industries that demand a nuanced understanding of regulatory frameworks alongside commercial deal-structuring. Her lateral move to S&R Associates as a retained partner marks a significant step forward in her career trajectory, placing her within a firm known for its work on high-value corporate and capital markets transactions.
Strategic Significance
Saumya Kakar‘s arrival strengthens S&R Associates‘ transactional bench in Mumbai at a time when deal activity across private equity, foreign direct investment, and M&A continues to grow in India. Her cross-sector expertise — spanning automotive, healthcare, and aerospace and defence — positions the firm to deepen client relationships in industries undergoing significant regulatory and commercial change. Having trained and practised at Trilegal and Khaitan & Co, she brings a pedigree that complements the firm’s existing partnership.
For more partner moves and lateral updates, see Inside the Partnership.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on the details provided.
