AZB Competition Partner Samir Gandhi to start his own chambers; will continue as senior advisor to firm

AZB & Partners Competition Law Head and Partner Samir Gandhi is leaving to set up his own chambers, while continuing his association with the firm as a senior advisor..AZB and Gandhi have agreed to this new relationship effective September 1, to cater to his desire to start his own chambers and pursue academic and policy interests.Although he will cease to be a Partner from next month, Gandhi will be available to mentor and advise the firm's anti-trust team, when needed..Commenting on this development, AZB Founding Partners Ajay Bahl and Zia Mody said,“We see this more as a role change for Samir, where he will continue to be a trusted advisor to the firm and the team. Samir is and remains a dear friend and well-wisher of the firm. He has contributed significantly to the firm by building a top-tier, pan-India competition law practice, which consists of very experienced and competent lawyers with market leader partners and associates, all of whom are continuing with AZB. The competition team at AZB has 5 very experienced partners namely Ram Kumar Poornachandran, Bharat Budholia, Hemangini Dadwal, Gaurav Bansal, and Toshit Shandilya, and 24 associates. The AZB team has a great reputation earned through excellent client service over the years, which will continue to be delivered seamlessly as before. Both Samir and the firm look forward to a continued association in his new role.”.On his decision to move on, Gandhi said,“I have had the satisfaction of heading a truly top-notch competition team at AZB over the last decade. While I chart out a new path for myself in this next phase of my professional journey, I will remain connected to the AZB competition team as an advisor and will be available to advise and mentor them whenever needed. The firm’s clients will receive the same level of high-quality advice from the AZB competition team that has been their hallmark, and I will be available to advise on all ongoing matters as required. Establishing my own chambers is the logical next step for me professionally, and will enable me to pursue academic and public policy interests along with advising clients on competition law issues. Equally, as an advisor to AZB, I will continue my long-standing association with the firm, which I deeply value.”.Gandhi joined AZB in 2012 and headed the firm's Competition Law practice for a decade.He is a graduate of the National Law School India University, Bangalore. He started his career at Amarchand Mangaldas, where he worked for three years before going to the London School of Economics for his LL.M. He also worked with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva for almost a year before returning to India to join Economic Laws Practice (ELP) in 2005..Gautam Saha recently left AZB along with his team of 11 partners to join Talwar Thakore & Associates in Delhi.