Squire Patton Boggs has appointed former head of the India Practice at Herbert Smith Freehills, Nimi Patel, as a Director in its India Practice in London.

Patel has wide-ranging experience in UK and cross-border M&A, joint ventures, securities, capital markets, structuring and establishment of funds and other corporate finance work.

She launched the India Practice of Herbert Smith Freehills in 1994, and under her 20-year leadership, it became a recognized market leader.

Patel has assisted numerous Indian corporates, public sector undertakings and financial institutions in a variety of transactions.

Squire Patton Boggs European Managing Partner Jane Haxby commented in the firm release,

“With her experience, Nimi is a recognised specialist with a depth of India market knowledge and a network of relationships that few can match. We are very pleased to welcome Nimi to the firm. She will play a significant role in the continued development of our India Practice and her deal expertise will be highly prized by our clients.”

Frank Wisner, former US Ambassador to India and international affairs advisor at the firm, added,

“We have developed a high-quality inbound and outbound practice to assist Indian clients globally on legal, public policy and regulatory matters, which, we believe, sets us apart from other international firms. The fact that someone of Nimi’s caliber has chosen to join us is perhaps the best endorsement of our achievements to date.”

The firm has more than 50 lawyers globally and dedicated team members in key locations, including London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Washington DC, Dubai and Shanghai focusing on the India Practice.