Flying below the radar

India boasts a rich and diverse legal market, but only a handful of its largest law firms are visible to international clients. Following an in-depth investigation, India Business Law Journal reveals some of the hidden treasures of the country’s legal profession

Alfred Romann reports

There are a million lawyers in India and 80,000 new ones join the profession every year. For every famous practitioner there are thousands that never hit the headlines.

For each Luthra & Luthra, AZB or Amarchand Mangaldas there are dozens of smaller, less well-known firms that are doing respectable – sometimes remarkable – work for domestic and international clients. The nature of these firms is as varied as their specializations. The tasks with which they are entrusted include managing large mandates and pioneering new areas of law.

Many of these high-quality, yet lesser-known firms do not limit themselves to the major business centres of Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Some operate in highly specialized niches, while others offer a comprehensive range of legal services. A few are new or run by young energetic lawyers; others have garnered extensive experience and boast stables of Fortune 500 clients.