The dedicated labour and employment team at IndusLaw excels across the full spectrum of matters, both contentious and non-contentious, and acts for large multinational corporations across all industry sectors. Bengaluru-based head of the practice Avik Biswas has extensive expertise advising on employment contracts, in internal disciplinary inquiries, and in handling sexual harassment proceedings. Mumbai-based Sowmya Kumar is a key contact for mandates relating to reductions in force exercises and senior management severances. Vaibhav Bhardwaj in New Delhi is also key name. Bengaluru-based principal associate Ivana Chatterjee‘s broad practice has particular emphasis on industrial relations and disputes.

Counting major domestic and international corporates among its impressive roster of clients, Khaitan & Co. assists on the full-range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including industrial disputes, workplace harassment and discrimination, and workforce management matters. Mumbai-based Anshul Prakash leads the team and has a broad practice that covers the full suite of contentious and advisory cases. In Bengaluru, Vinay Joy is the key name for corporate and M&A-related work, whilst New Delhi’s Jeevan Ballav Panda takes point on labour disputes. The practice also fields a strong team of associates, including senior associate Kruthi Murthy and principal associate Abhimanyu Pal; both are Mumbai-based and recommended for their expertise in domestic and cross-border employee transfers and relocations, as well as social security and benefits issues.

With a large team and significant geographic spread, Kochhar & Co.‘s dedicated labour and employment team handles a robust mix of advisory, contentious, and transactional work for domestic and international corporates. The team is jointly led by New Delhi-based Rohit Kochhar and Bengaluru’s Suhas Srinivasiah; Kochhar specialises in sexual harassment matters, whilst Srinivasiah is an experienced litigator with a focus on tech and outsourcing. Also in Bengaluru, Debjani Aich acts for global IT companies on their workforce-related operations in India in addition to her anti-sexual harassment advisory work. At the same office is senior associate Sidharth Santosh, who assists on workforce restructurings and social security compliances. In Chennai, Savitha Kesav Jagadeesan is the key name for labour disputes and termination contracts.

With an impressive client roster that includes blue-chip multinational tech companies and major domestic and international corporates, Trilegal’s stand-out labour and employment offering covers the gamut of contentious and non-contentious issues. The team is led by seasoned specialist Atul Gupta, whose broad practice has particular emphasis on high-value and sensitive matters. The cohort also includes Swarnima, who takes point on POSH as well as diversity and inclusion matters, in addition to advising on the Indian Labour Codes. Both are based in Bengaluru. Counsel Parvathy Tharamel is a key contact in Mumbai, recommended for matters relating to employee benefits, business transfers, and restrictive covenants. The firm strengthened its advisory offering with the February 2023 arrival to its Bengaluru office of sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace-focused practitioner Veena Gopalakrishnan, formerly of AZB & Partners, who also has expertise in senior managerial exit cases.

ALMT Legal’s full-service labour and employment practice is routinely instructed by multinational employers and senior executives across a broad-range of industry sectors, including life sciences, tech, and manufacturing in both contentious and non-contentious contexts. Led by the Mumbai-based Aliff Fazelbhoy, the team has seen growth in instructions related to workplace misconduct and terminations. Junia Sebastian in Bengaluru is the key name for cross-border employment issues, particularly those arising from business transfers and acquisitions. Also in Bengaluru is Souvik Paul Mazumdar, who advises corporates on the structuring and streamlining of HR practices, as well as on ESOP scheme drafting. Principal associate Ahetesham Thaver in Mumbai, supports multinational companies on all aspects of Indian employment laws.

The ‘very diligent’ labour and employment team at AZB & Partners leverages the firm’s strength in litigation, corporate, and tax to provide a comprehensive offering across the full-range of matters. In Mumbai, Nohid Nooreyezdan advises on workforce restructurings, employee benefits and stock option plans, while New Delhi’s Sunila Awasthi and Rachit Bahl are recommended for their expertise in internal investigations and severance programs, respectively; the three jointly head the practice. The ‘highly innovative’ Jatinder Singh Saluja is another key member of the Delhi team. In April 2023, the Mumbai practice was strengthened with the arrival of Ajay Singh Solanki, previously at Nishith Desai Associates; Solanki is a specialist whose practice has a particular emphasis on enforcing restrictive covenants, sensitive confidentiality and IP matters, and anti-discrimination law work. Former co-head Veena Gopalakrishnan left the practice in December 2022 and is now at Trilegal.

Acting for major clients across the finance, life sciences, and telecoms sectors, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas’ employment team is adept at handling a broad and varied range of matters, both advisory and transactional. Practice head Rashmi Pradeep, in Bengaluru, is sought out by clients for her expertise in large transactions, retrenchments, and workforce restructurings, as well as in complex and sensitive whistle-blower investigations. Also in Bengaluru is Abe Abraham, who is recommended for his expertise in employment benefits and work involving social security laws, whilst Bharath Reddy takes point on matters concerning share-based employee benefits. In Mumbai, Ankita Ray is a key contact, regularly assisting clients entering the Indian market on workforce structuring and compliance issues.

With particular strength in transactional and contentious employment matters, as well as employee tax issues, Majmudar & Partners’ employment team routinely advises clients in the tech, construction, and financial services sectors. The team is noted for its 'knowledge and expertise in labour and employment law'. Neerav Merchant and N. Raja Sujith jointly head the team; Merchant, in Mumbai, is an experienced employment litigator, while Sujith leads the Bengaluru office and the firm’s broader south India employment practice.

Nishith Desai Associates’ HR and employment practice takes a multidisciplinary approach, working closely with its tax, IP, and data protection teams to provide a comprehensive offering for its clients. Ajay Singh Solanki left the team in April 2023; he is now at AZB & Partners. Associate Archita Mohapatra left the team in August 2022. Since publication, former practice head Vikram Shroff also departed.

Leveraging the firm’s broader strength across other practice areas, the dedicated Delhi-based labour and employment team at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co has notable strength in benefits, industrial relations, workforce management, and transactional mandates. Practice head Pooja Ramchandani takes point on corporate restructurings and M&A-related employment issues; she is assisted by senior associate Suryansh Gupta. Kriti Kaushik was promoted to partner in September 2022 and has particular strength advising on compensation, benefits, and executive engagement matters, whilst Suruchi Kumar is the key contact for industrial relations, investigations, and issues pertaining to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The ‘very diligent and thorough‘ team at Ashlar Law acts for multinational pharma companies; banks and financial institutions; and government companies, handling the full spread of labour and employment mandates. Head of the practice and founding partner Pingal Khan splits his time between the firm’s Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi offices, and handles the full range of employment matters, with particular strength in transactional and corporate employment issues-related mandates. Senior associate Roshan Jacob is recommended for labour disputes and gig economy contracts work.

Acting for individual executives and multinational corporations, the full-scope HR and employment practice at Bharucha & Partners is noted for its expertise handling sensitive mandates and business-critical cases, including industrial disputes, internal investigations, and POSH compliance-related work. Managing partner Justin Bharucha co-heads the team and handles both advisory and contentious matters. Vandana Pai is the key name for corporate restructurings, business closures, and employee benefits. Bharucha and Pai jointly head the team from Mumbai. In Bengaluru, corporate expert Swathi Girimaji advises start-ups and established companies on regulatory employment issues and compliance.

Leveraging the firm’s broader capabilities in criminal litigation, the labour and employment team at HSA Advocates has notable strength in conducting internal investigations and audits, acting for domestic and multinational clients across a broad-range of industries. The team is jointly led by Jivesh Chandrayan and Soumya Kanti De Mallik, both from the New Delhi office. Chandrayan advises on the employment aspects of domestic and cross-border transactions as well as corporate regulatory requirements, while De Mallik takes point on compliance issues, disciplinary proceedings, and strategizing employee litigation matters.

JSA Law‘s employment offering is experienced acting for employers across the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious labour issues. In Gurugram, Shivpriya Nanda has a broad practice and advises on large-scale workforce restructurings and disciplinary issues, while Rupinder Malik takes point on matters in connection with POSH, workplace harassment, and code of conduct issues. Sajai Singh is the key contact in Bengaluru, while Sandeep Mehta is based in Mumbai; the four jointly lead the team. The ‘thoughtful, communicative, and responsive’ Gurugram-based Minu Dwivedi is recommended for workplace investigations and POSH inquiries work.

Adept at handling both contentious and non-contentious employment matters, Phoenix Legal regularly advises on employee transfers, disciplinary inquiries, industrial disputes, and terminations, with particular sector expertise in the manufacturing and service industries. Manjula Chawla and Abhishek Saxena take point on corporate employment matters; Saket Shukla handles restructurings and senior executive exits; Sawant Singh in Mumbai has a broad practice and is recommended for M&A-related employment mandates, while Pranav Srivastava is the key contact for clients in the tech and life sciences sectors. The five co-lead the practice. All lawyers mentioned are based in Delhi unless otherwise stated.

With a solid roster of clients spanning a diverse range of sectors, the full-service human resources and employment practice at Samvad Partners advises individuals, start-ups, and large multinationals. Bengaluru’s Poornima Hatti and Ashwini Vittalachar in New Delhi jointly head the team. Hatti acts for employers and senior mandates, handling both advisory and contentious matters, including workplace harassment and employee misconduct. Vittalachar has a strong focus on transactional and advisory employment issues, regularly advising on retention and compensation structures, as well as ESOP shareholder exits. Also in New Delhi, Junaira Rahman focuses on structuring workforce reductions and retrenchments.

As part of the firm’s larger dispute resolution practice, the employment team at Singhania & Partners LLP assists Indian and international companies on a broad-range of contentious and non-contentious labour issues, including severances, employee transfers, corporate restructurings, and regulatory compliances. Managing partners Ravi Singhania, Dipak Rao, Gunjan Gupta, and Rudra Srivastava are recommended for matters concerning employee transfers during M&A, while Vikas Goel takes point on contentious matters. Manish Kumar Sharma is another key name. The six jointly lead the team from New Delhi.

Clients in the tech, consumer goods, and life sciences sectors regularly instruct Vaish Associates on both contentious and non-contentious labour and employment mandates. In Mumbai, managing partner Bomi Daruwala and Tushar Shah oversee the team and are key names for employee agreements reviews, policy drafting, and anti-sexual harassment policies. Working alongside them is New Delhi’s Manish Tully, recommended for non-compete agreements, disciplinary proceedings, and compliance audits.

Jointly led by managing partner Uday Singh Ahlawat and Sheena Ogra, the labour and employment practice at Ahlawat & Associates leverages extensive industry experience to provide a full-service offering, with particular strength in general advisory matters as well as industrial disputes and trade union negotiation cases. Ogra has extensive experience advising on employee incentive schemes, including stock options and social security benefits, as well as on employee terminations and onboardings.

Leveraging the firm’s corporate, commercial, and litigation capabilities, Clasis Law advises both domestic and international clients on a broad-range of labour and employment issues, including POSH, mass employee terminations, disciplinary proceedings, and workforce restructurings. Managing partner Vineet Aneja and corporate and regulatory expert Vikram Bhargava jointly head the practice; both are based in New Delhi.

The labour and employment team at Fox Mandal & Associates acts for a diverse roster of clients in the manufacturing, IT, and healthcare sectors, advising on compliance handling, HR policies, and system implementations. Purnima Kamble in Hyderabad, Shyamal Mukherjee in Bengaluru, and Kolkata’s Kaustuv Nath Chunder jointly oversee the practice.

With strength in cross-border matters, the labour and employment team at G&W Legal is regularly instructed by large international corporations. ‘Very knowledgeable and experienced‘ senior counsel Srijoy Das advises on emerging employment issues;  Disha Mohanty handles large-scale restructurings and retrenchments, policy drafting, and disability and minority rights; and Anup Kumar is the key contact for regulatory compliance issues, audits, and implementation; the three jointly head the practice from Dehli.

Drawing on the firm’s strength in corporate and commercial litigation, Hammurabi & Solomon Partners offers advice on employment-related transactional matters, industrial and employee disputes, and sexual harassment allegations. Founder and managing partner Manoj Kumar co-heads the team alongside seasoned litigator Shweta Bharti. Also in the core team are disputes-focused Shantanu Malik and Anil Tiwari, who advises on non-contentious matters. All are based in New Delhi.

Lumiere Law Partners’ labour and employment offering is adept at handling cross-border employee transfers, operations expansions, due diligence, and workforce reorganisations. Counting major international pharma and life sciences companies among its clients, the team also advises on regulatory compliance, policy matters, and trade union disputes.