Dua Associates has staved off a major attack from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas. The firm will  be retaining Senior Partner Shiraz Patodia and her team, a few weeks after it was reported that they would be leaving.

Dua Managing Partner Ranji Dua confirmed Shiraz’s decision to continue at the firm and said,

“We respect and welcome Shiraz and her team’s decision to continue with the firm.  It reinforces the sound basis of the firm’s value system and encouraging its professionals to grow their respective practices in an atmosphere of responsible freedom. Given the current disruptions in the legal market we consider it an opportunity to consolidate and grow with carefully chosen likeminded professionals.” 

While Shiraz Patodia commented,

“There were significant client conflicts that emerged during my discussion with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas last week. Keeping that in mind, we came to the conclusion that it wouldn’t be possible for me to join them at this point of time.”

The second biggest equity holder after Ranji Dua, Shiraz has been working with Dua since 1999 handling the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice.

Shardul Amarchand Managing Partner Pallavi Shroff, who had confirmed Shiraz’s joining on June 5, has not responded yet.

Earlier, three Dua Associates Litigation Partners – Neeraj Sharma, Alok Tiwari and Seshagiri Vadlamani left the firm to join Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.