Baker & McKenzie appoints Ashok Lalwani as India Practice Leader

He has more than 23 years of experience advising leading financial institutions and corporates.

Baker & McKenzie is pleased to announce that Ashok Lalwani has been appointed head of the Firm’s Global India Practice, effective October 2012. He succeeds David Jacobs who led the practice since 2005 and is retiring as a partner of the Firm. Mr. Lalwani will be responsible for leading a dynamic India practice that includes more than 300 multi-disciplinary lawyers globally and maintaining the Firm’s leading position as the counsel of choice for Indian companies on outbound matters, and for multinationals on their inbound investments.

Mr. Lalwani joined Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow, as a partner in 2002. He has more than 23 years of experience advising leading financial institutions and corporates on international securities, mergers and acquisitions, as well as general corporate law. He is also head of the Firm’s Asia Pacific and US Securities practices.

“I am delighted to be transitioning leadership of our India practice to Ashok. The combination of his knowledge of the Indian market and comprehensive corporate skills makes him among the most sought-after legal advisors by Indian and international companies for India-related transactions and a natural leader of our practice,” said Mr. Jacobs.

“I am honoured to have been appointed as head of the practice,” said Mr. Lalwani. “India presents one of the best growth opportunities for business today, with strong economic fundamentals and burgeoning domestic consumption. As Indian companies continue to go global to gain access to overseas markets, acquire natural resources, new technologies and established brands, our priority is to further assist our Indian clients with their global aspirations.”

Baker & McKenzie has acted on a number of significant India-related transactions recently, including Abbott Laboratories’ US$3.8 billion acquisition of Piramal Healthcare; Hospira and its subsidiary’s US$200 million acquisition of Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceutical’s API manufacturing facility; State Bank of India’s US$500 million loan facility to Indian Railway Finance Corporation; and Coal India’s acquisition of a coal mine in Indonesia, according to a Baker & McKenzie report.

“Ashok’s entrenched relationships with many of the Indian conglomerates and his strong cross-border transactional experience makes him a natural fit for this position,” said Eduardo Leite, Chairman of the Firm’s Executive Committee. “We thank David for his outstanding leadership and insight in building a pre-eminent India practice. He has been instrumental in driving the Firm’s strategy and roadmap for India .”