Nishith Desai launches in Silicon Valley

Indian firm Nishith Desai Associates is opening an office in Silicon Valley. It will be the first Indian practice to break into the US high-tech region.

The 20-lawyer firm's first office outside India will focus on helping clients from the US who want to invest in India and vice versa.

India is one of the world's fastest-growing regions for the manufacture and development of technology.

The practice will involve international taxation, e-commerce, technology, media, initial public offerings, M&A and venture capital financing. The firm's clients include ABN Amro Asia Securities, Barclays, Bear Stearns, HSBC Private Equity, Citibank, GE Capital, Merrill Lynch and Warner Bros.

The new office will be staffed by lawyers from the firm's base in Mumbai and will handle only Indian law. It will work closely with US firms such as Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Fenwick & West and Latham & Watkins.