Former SEBI executive director IIM faculty to launch boutique securities firm

Faculty at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and former executive director of SEBI, Sandeep P. Parekh has set up a boutique law firm. Finsec Law Advisors will be located in the Fort area in Mumbai and will advise specifically on legal issues relating to securities law..Faculty at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and former executive director of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Sandeep P. Parekh has set up a boutique law firm. Finsec Law Advisors will be located in the Fort area in Mumbai and will advise specifically on legal issues relating to securities law..Sandeep, a graduate of Delhi University, pursued an LL.M in Securities & Financial Regulations from Georgetown University’s Law Centre. He worked with Harish Salve in parallel with his studies. He also worked as an Associate for a year at Wilmer Cutler & Pickering after his LL.M. Upon his return to India in 1998, he worked for two years at Wadia Ghandy’s Mumbai office before joining P.H. Parekh & Co. at Delhi, which he quit as a partner in 2006..After his stint at P.H. Parekh which lasted over six years, he joined the SEBI as an executive director heading the Legal Affairs and Enforcement departments. Considered as a specialist in securities regulations, investment regulations, private equity, corporate governance and financial regulations, Sandeep has been honoured by the World Economic Forum as a ‘Young Global Leader’ in 2008..Sandeep confirmed to Bar & Bench that he is in talks with lawyers to join him and will be fully operational come July. He said, “We intend to provide corporate and litigation advise on financial services.” He disclosed that he had plans for setting up a firm ever since he quit SEBI..Lucrative corporate world continues to attract talents from academics. Whilst Sandeep has had prior experience working in law firms, there have been others who have leaped from academics into practicing law. Former professor Anil Kumar Rai from the National Law School of India University for example, joined Luthra’s Delhi office. Sripada Venkata Joga Rao, a founding faculty member of the same college set up his own boutique firm, Pegasus Health Law Consultants in Bangalore. We are yet to witness the reverse trend in India where practitioners move to full time teaching. V. Umakanth at the National University of Singapore is probably the only partner of a law firm who moved full time into academics. Umakanth previously advised on corporate and commercial laws as a partner in Amarchand Mangaldas.