It’s Official: Khaitan Competition Partner Avaantika Kakkar leaves to join Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas

As reported on Saturday, Khaitan & Co has just confirmed that Competition Partner Avaantika Kakkar has resigned from the firm..Confirming the news Khaitan & Co Executive Director Amar Sinhji said,.“Avaantika Kakkar, our Partner from the Competition Practice based at Mumbai has decided to leave the Firm and pursue her career elsewhere. She joined the Firm in 2005 and made Partner in 2011. .We very much value her contribution to the Firm and wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.”.Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Managing Partner Cyril Shroff too has just now confirmed to Bar & Bench that Kakkar will be joining Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas as Head of the firm’s Competition Law Practice. It is understood that she will be joining as Equity Partner. She would be joining the firm on May 2..Cyril Shroff commented,.“We are thrilled at Avantika induction to the firm. Apart from being an exceptional professional I strongly believe she will contribute in multiple ways to the partnership..With her leadership we hope to grow our antitrust practice robustly.”.Avaantika is a 2003 graduate of ILS Law College. She is a senior member of the firm’s Competition team. She joined Khaitan & Co in 2005 after previously having worked at Nishith Desai Associates and Udwadia & Udeshi..Avaantika too confirmed her decision today to Bar & Bench and said,.“I cannot help but feel sadness at leaving KCO – my home for 13 years. What a wonderful journey this has been! Equally, I look forward to the next adventure!”.This will be third big hire for Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas from Khaitan & Co. Khaitan Direct Tax Partner Daksha Baxi and Corporate Associate Partner Pooja Patel too are leaving to join Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas..In 2016, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Competition practice head Nisha Kaur Uberoi had resigned from the firm to join AZB & Partners. Later in 2017, Uberoi moved to Trilegal.