BTG Legal and Advaya Legal Unite Under Strong Leadership as BTG Advaya

BTG Legal and Advaya Legal Unite Under Strong Leadership as BTG Advaya

Mumbai-based law firms BTG Legal and Advaya Legal have merged to create BTG Advaya, an 11-partner firm with offices in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi.

The newly established firm, BTG Advaya, will have joint leadership, with Ramesh Vaidyanathan and Prashant Mara serving as co-leaders. They previously held the position of managing partners at Advaya Legal and BTG Legal, respectively.

“Consistent with the ethos of strategic, partner-led advice, the firm will maintain a partner-to-associate ratio of 1:4,” BTG Advaya said in a statement.

Prashant Mara stated that the merger would enhance the client base and introduce new partners to the firms. He emphasised that although many mergers focus on quantitative aspects, their firm's core belief is centred on professionals uniting rather than businesses merging. Consequently, the paramount objective is to maintain the highest quality of legal counsel, a goal he expressed confidence in achieving, citing Ramesh Vaidyanathan and his team as some of the finest lawyers known to him.

Vaidyanathan and Mara have a strong personal and professional connection, which played a significant role in the merger. Mara explained that the merger would allow him to collaborate closely with Ramesh, a highly accomplished and renowned attorney who has been a close friend for over 15 years.

“I knew Prashant as an excellent lawyer for several years before our professional relationship grew into a deep and lasting friendship,” Vaidyanathan added.

Prashant Mara established BTG Legal in 2014 after working as a partner at the international law firm Osborne Clarke in its London and Cologne offices. On the other hand, Ramesh Vaidyanathan founded Advaya Legal in 2010, having previously served as the general counsel for various portfolio businesses of the Indian infrastructure conglomerate GVK.