J. Sagar Associates (JSA), a prominent Indian law firm, has made a significant move in the legal market by attracting a team of approximately 20 M&A lawyers from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (SAM), led by the esteemed rainmaker, Iqbal Khan.
This strategic acquisition marks one of JSA’s most notable lateral hires in what has already been a dynamic year of recruitment.
Headed by Khan, who will now spearhead JSA’s national corporate/M&A practice, the team includes equity partner Ambarish, partner Tanavi Mohanty, and newly appointed partners Ashid Basheer and Devika Menon, both former principal associates at SAM.
Khan’s M&A division is highly sought-after in the market and is regarded as one of the most lucrative practice groups among Tier 1 firms. With a client roster boasting top conglomerates, sovereign wealth funds, and private equity giants like TPG, Bain Capital, Brookfield, Advent, Apax, and KKR, Khan’s expertise has been instrumental in landmark deals. Notably, he recently advised Reliance Industries and its media arm, Viacom18, on their proposed $8.5 billion merger with Walt Disney’s Star India.
Other notable transactions include representing Tata Technologies in its joint venture with BMW, facilitating TPG’s acquisition of shareholding in Quality Care India from Blackstone, and assisting Advent in acquiring majority shareholding in Suven Pharmaceuticals.
In addition to Khan’s leadership, JSA’s meritocratic structure ensures that partners across the equity spectrum have a voice in the firm’s management. Sources within the team highlight JSA’s offering of more autonomy and strategic independence in managing matters.
This move comes amidst JSA’s aggressive expansion efforts. In recent months, the firm has welcomed a four-member disputes team from Krishnamurthy & Co (K Law) and former Trilegal counsel Anurag Shrivastav in Mumbai, as well as partners Brijita Prakash, Santosh Vijay, and Rakesh Warrier in Bengaluru, and Harshavardhan Abburi in Hyderabad. JSA’s strategic hires underscore its commitment to growth and excellence in legal services.
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