Trilegal has denied "malicious rumours" that Equity Partner and National Head of its Competition Law practice Nisha Kaur Uberoi recently slapped an Associate in office after a heated exchange..The rumour took flight after an anonymous post surfaced on a website a couple of weeks ago. It then spread through various online channels, including WhatsApp, where messages claimed that the firm was trying to cover up the incident..A slug then appeared in the Economic Times claiming that the firm was in damage control, paying a six-figure bonus to the Associate who was slapped..Denying rumours that it paid the junior lawyer in question in a bid to hush up the fiasco, the firm said in a statement published on LinkedIn:."The firm stands in solidarity to categorically reject these malicious rumours. No complaint (formal or informal) of any such incident was ever received. No money was paid out of turn to any associate for any reason. This is an utter fabrication, and the Firm is taking recourse to remedies available to it under law. We are determined to see these actions through until we stand vindicated.".Uberoi herself denied that the incident occurred, writing on LinkedIn,"I am a first-generation lawyer. I am a professional and not a hapless victim. Tactics such as constant trolling, creating fake news, whether it’s the so-called “slapgate”, whether to divert attention or create a false narrative, are unacceptable and will be called out. This is clearly a well-orchestrated attempt to target a successful first- generation woman professional like me. We have standards, ethics, and morality - something the rumour mongers, and trolls lack. It is high time anonymous witch-hunts and smear campaigns face legal consequences. I will not take the fall for something that never happened. I was brought up to be strong and stand tall - and to face adversity with courageI will not take the fall for something that never happened. I was brought up to be strong and stand tall - and to face adversity with courage. Where I come from, integrity, courtesy, and fairness in how we deal with people matter most. My team defines who I am, and there is a reason we remain the best competition practice in the country....".Responding to rumours doing the rounds on WhatsApp groups, Uberoi said,"To the disseminators of fake news across platforms, including WhatsApp groups: As part of the legal fraternity, does it not behove you to at least attempt a fact-check once before forwarding malicious gossip? Introspect and be better...We will get justice, the trolls and disseminators will stand unmasked - IP addresses leave a digital footprint.".In the end, she concludes,"To my wonderful Firm Trilegal team, clients, seniors and peers across the profession, friends, and family who are supporting me through this - you are the silver lining. Class and courtesy show and set you apart from the crowd. We will get justice, the trolls and disseminators will stand unmasked - IP addresses leave a digital footprint.I am a self-made woman. And, none of this will break me.".The Firm and Uberoi in their statements have categorically denied the alleged incident ever happened and have publicly stated they are taking recourse to remedies available to them under law.
