J Sagar Associates (JSA) has merged with a four-year old law firm Vichar Partners to expand in Chennai, the company said on Tuesday. This will be JSA's sixth office besides its existing presence at New Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Post-merger, Vichar founders Vinod Kumar and Aarthi Sivanandh will become equity partners of JSA while co-founder Chitra Narayan will be a retained partner. The Chennai office will have 12 fee earners.
“We have had a growing demand from both domestic and international clients to have a practice at Chennai. This merger will enable JSA to hit the road running, as Vichar Partners already has a significant presence in Chennai”, said Berjis Desai, senior partner, JSA.
“We are excited to become part of a national law firm that is ahead of the fundamental changes that occur in a market. JSA’s commitment to a culture, based on merit and excellence, is the only reality that matters,” said Aarthi Sivanandh, founder, Vichar Partners.
Vichar Partners was set up in 2010 by executives who previously worked at Universal Legal, Dua Associates and Paras Kuhad Associates.
JSA was founded in 1991 by Jyoti Sagar who retired a year ago. It is one of the leading law firms with a pan-India presence and currently employs more than 270 lawyers and consultants, including more than 70 partners. Last year, the firm elevated two as equity partners and 18 as retained partners.
In 2012, the country’s top corporate law firm Amarchand Mangaldas opened its office in Chennai.
(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)