Energy giant Essar has recruited former Clifford Chance and Jones Day Partner Sumesh Sawhney as its Group General Counsel in London. He was previously working at Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan (L&S).

Sumesh Sawhney will advise the group companies on strategic matters, including acquisitions, both in India and abroad. Internationally, Essar has a presence in the UK, USA, Canada, Middle East, and Africa in the oil, gas, power, shipping, ports, steel and telecom sectors.

Sumesh resigned from L&S at the end of February. He was heading the London office of L&S, which was shut down at the end of March due to unforeseen conditions arising out of Brexit.

Prior to joining L&S in 2016, Sumesh was working at Jones Day. He joined Jones Day in 2012 from Clifford Chance, where he had worked for over six years. He was made Partner at the firm in 2010.

Before Clifford Chance, he was working with Amarchand Mangaldas, where he joined in 2000 and was made Partner in 2003. Prior to that, he worked as an in-house counsel with Thapar Group and Escorts Group for almost eight years.