Rival Indian law firms in tussle over office head

Indian law firm sues office head over confidentiality and non-compete clauses

Indian outfit Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) has taken its former Chennai office head to court over allegations relating to confidentiality and non-compete clauses.

According to court filings, CAM alleged that the former head of its Chennai office, Dorothy Thomas, resigned from the law firm, along with 11 other employees to join rival firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.

The High Court filings further accuse Thomas and company of resigning on October 3 and eventually “unauthorisedly remained absent from the Chennai office” in “flagrant breach” of the partnership agreement.

Further, the document said Thomas copied confidential documents belonging to CAM and used the information “to solicit the clients of CAM.”

CAM is applying for a hold order preventing Thomas from soliciting for work and compelling her to return confidential data until the arbitration is concluded.   

CAM and Shardul Amarchand are fragments of what used to be India’s largest law firm, Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co. The two brothers, Cyril and Shardul, who took it over, split up the firm over an ownership dispute last year, and created two rival practices.


Related stories:
Alternative dispute resolution set for shake-up
India’s new PM – A fresh chance for firms?

Recent articles & video

EU FTA ratified as legislation gets Royal Assent

Domain Legal principal urges lawyers to 'stay curious'

Lawyer accused of pressuring dementia-stricken mum into granting him power of attorney

Corcoran French expands partnership with seasoned solicitor

NZ legal professionals mourn lawyer's death in Sydney car accident

Standards committee finds unsatisfactory conduct in senior lawyer's comment to junior staff

Most Read Articles

Tauranga firm brings in new senior solicitor

Standards committee finds unsatisfactory conduct in senior lawyer's comment to junior staff

NZ legal professionals mourn lawyer's death in Sydney car accident

Lawyer accused of pressuring dementia-stricken mum into granting him power of attorney