Tata Group General Counsel Bharat Vasani has snubbed Times of India for its malicious reporting and spreading rumours that he is leaving the Tata Group because of the change in leadership. Rather Vasani clarifies that he has been planning his retirement for the last couple of years

Tata Group recently appointed Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas Partner Shuva Mandal as the new Group General Counsel.

Shuva will succeed Bharat Vasani, who has been with the Tata Group for more than 17 years.

Speaking to Bar & Bench, Vasani said, “This is all part of my succession planning. I will continue as the Legal Advisor to the Group Chairman Mr. Chandrasekhar in a more strategic and advisory role.”

“Shuva is a very competent lawyer. He has been involved in the Cyrus Mistry litigation. We know him quite well and we have appointed him as my successor. I will be around till August 2018.”

Vasani, who has been handling a team of about 400 lawyers, said, “I have been planning my retirement for few years and I had informed about my plans to the earlier chairman and to Mr. Chandrasekhar too.”

Talking about his retirement plans, Vasani says, “Teaching has been my passion…and I want to teach at National Law Universities and share my experiences with law students.”

“I will also do fast track commercial arbitration, where I will act as an arbitrator. I also want to get into some corporate advisory”.

Upset with all the rumours, at the end of his career at Tata Group, Vasani says,

“I have been an integral part of the Tata Group and I love this group and they are very fine employers.”