UK-based firm Ashurst has hired Kalpana Unadkat and Shishir Mehta, previously partners at Khaitan and Co to serve as the co-heads of the India practice based in London.
“India is an increasing source of outbound investment across the globe, while also remaining an attractive destination for foreign investment, tech and infrastructure being notable examples,” said Paul Jenkins, global CEO at Ashurst.
“Kalpana and Shishir’s appointments come at an exciting time. Both perfectly complement our existing team and are well-equipped to lead our India practice, and I am confident they will play a key role as we continue to build out our offering.”
Geoffrey Picton-Turbervill, who will also be seen playing a key role as chair of Ashurst’s India practice in London, adds, “We have a long history in relation to India, notably being one of the first firms to respond to the country’s liberalisation and opening to foreign investment in the mid-1990s, and these appointments signal the latest step in advancing our India offering.
“With their combined experience and knowledge of the Indian market, Kalpana and Shishir bring deeper bonds to our clients and enable us to further expand our capabilities.”
Unadkat returns to Ashurst where she initially worked for a decade from 1998-2008 as a corporate lawyer. She was also the chair of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Western Region corporate governance committee, which comprises the states of Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. She later moved to Khaitan where she served as a partner.
Her expertise spans cross-border joint ventures and M&As, commercial contracts, and corporate governance laws. She has also worked with a global clientele from the US, UK, Japan, Canada, China and Australia.
Mehta is an international banking and finance lawyer, who has worked with both Western and Indian parties, and has played an instrumental role in establishing Khaitan & Co’s banking team in India.
Prior to moving to India, Mehta worked at Slaughter and May in London and White & Case in New York before joining Khaitan & Co as a partner. He has extensive cross-border experience across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US.
Unadkat and Mehta will collaborate with Ashurst’s core India team to expand the firm’s India practice globally. The firm will also maintain its “best friend referral arrangement” with Indian Law Partners for Indian law matters and will engage with other leading firms in India on a case-by-case basis.
