Linklaters’ two ‘best friends’ Talwar Thakore & Associates (TTA) and Vinod Dhall, former Chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) have signed a collaboration agreement on December 3, 2012, which will combine Vinod Dhall’s competition law practice with TTA’s corporate and finance practice.

Vinod Dhall will be the Chairman of the combined competition law practice and will be supported by TTA to further strengthen the competition practice.

This arrangement is effective from April 1, 2013. The entire team of Vinod Dhall will move to a new TTA office in Delhi, which will be the second TTA office though the location is yet to be finalised.

Vinod Dhall had set up an independent competition practice after he retired as Chairman of the CCI. Dhall had also entered into a best friends relationship with Linklaters only for competition law advice.

Speaking to Bar & Bench while confirming the collaboration between TTA and Vinod Dhall, TTA Partner Feroz Dubash said, “Now is the right time for this practice to grow and develop. The combined strength and expertise of the collaboration between Linklaters’ two “best friends” in India in corporate, finance and competition law will provide national and international clients with the highest quality advice and service. It will also enhance and support the long-term development of the market’s leading competition law practice which we will operate out of our Delhi office under the continuing management and leadership of Vinod Dhall”.

Feroz also notes that this collaboration will provide associates with opportunities for wider career development, including skills and practice training as well as opportunities to become involved in other practice areas. There will also be increased opportunities for secondments both ways.

Vinod Dhall has a team of 5 lawyers including him. TTA, which has been associated with Linklaters since its inception in January 2007, has a team of 23 lawyers including 4 partners.