Khaitan expands litigation team in Mumbai with lateral hire from Udwadia

Raj Panchmatia, former Associate Partner at Udwadia & Udeshi has joined the Mumbai office of Khaitan & Co. with effect from April 1, 2012. Raj has joined as an Associate Partner and will be part of Khaitan’s litigation team. He will further strengthen the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice..Raj Panchmatia, former Associate Partner at Udwadia & Udeshi has joined the Mumbai office of Khaitan & Co. with effect from April 1, 2012. Raj has joined as an Associate Partner and will be part of Khaitan’s litigation team. He will further strengthen the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice..Raj started his career in 2000 with Mulla & Mulla and worked with them for almost five years before joining Udwadia & Udeshi in January 2005. He worked at Udwadia for more than seven years and was looking after the firm’s arbitration and litigation practice..Raj is dual qualified in India and UK and has more than 12 years of experience advising a wide range of clients on various contentious matters. He also has an LLM degree from the University of Mumbai..Speaking to Bar & Bench on his decision to move to Khaitan Raj said, “I thought it was a brilliant opportunity that came my way and I was also looking forward to new challenges”..Talking about his future plans at the firm Raj said, “I am looking forward to boosting the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice and taking it to the fore front”..Former Amarchand Mangaldas Partner Ganesh Prasad has also joined the Bangalore office of Khaitan with effect from April 1. 2012. Bar & Bench had earlier reported that Ganesh had resigned from Amarchand to join Khaitan..Khaitan Partner Rabindra Jhunjhunwala in a statement said, “On behalf of the firm, I am delighted to welcome Ganesh and Raj to the Khaitan & Co fold. Their practice is an excellent fit and have strong synergies with the growth strategy of Khaitan & Co in all offices. Our new partners bring with him some vital and specialist experience and we are confident this will not only help maintain the firm’s momentum, but build on its rapidly increasing reputation”.