Eversheds flies in to survey Indian legal landscape

Eversheds is repositioning itself in anticipation of the liberalisation of the Indian market, with its new India head Gauri Advani flying out to the region for the first time since joining the firm.

Advani, who was hired from Denton Wilde Sapte in July, joined the firm's chairman Alan Jenkins and India group chair Parmjit Singh for a "reconnaissance" mission to weigh up to what extent the firm can enter the Indian market.

Eversheds set up its dedicated India team 18 months ago with the intention of ramping up its relationship network of Indian firms.

Jenkins said that the firm has had five partners in the region in the past two weeks alone as part of the push to raise its profile and show its commitment to India.

"Whatever form liberalisation comes in there will be a need for Indian lawyers, which is why we're pushing to build a broad base of relationships with firms," he said. "There are considerable opportunities in India, but we're still at the reconnaissance stage in relation to how we will exactly fit into the new liberalised market."