Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Ashurst names two co-heads for India market

The two co-heads, Kalpana Unadkat and Shishir Mehta, will be based in London and work alongside Ashurst’s core India team to increase its presence in the country

Ashurst names two co-heads for India market

LAW firm Ashurst has named two new co-heads for its India market, which is of 'key strategic focus' for the London-headquartered company.

The two co-heads, Kalpana Unadkat and Shishir Mehta, will be based in London and work alongside Ashurst's core India team to increase its presence in the country, Economic Times reports.


The move follows Bar Council of India's decision last March to permit foreign lawyers and law firms to practice in India on a reciprocal basis and in restricted nonlitigious areas.

Matthew Wood, Ashurst's lead India practice partner said in a statement that the company was committed to further investing in the region.

Kalpana and Shishir with their impressive track record and vast experience make a great fit to steer our India practice forward, he added.

For Unadkat, this is her second stint at Ashurst. She had earlier worked with the firm between 1998 and 2008. She has advised clients located across the world on cross-border and commercial contracts.

Mehta is an alumnus of the National Law School of India University (Bengaluru), London School of Economics & Political Science, and Columbia Law School.

A banking and finance expert, he started his career as an associate with the British law firm Slaughter and May in 2000, and later joined White & Case LLP in 2005.

In 2010, Mehta joined the Indian law firm Khaitan & Co as a partner.

Ashurst global CEO Paul Jenkins said India is an increasing source of outbound investment across the globe, while also remaining an attractive destination for foreign investment.

Geoffrey Picton-Turbervill will be taking on the role of Chair of Ashurst's India practice.

He said Kalpana and Shishir with their experience in the Indian market will enable Ashurst to expand in the country.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less