Shaneen Parikh has joined Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (SAM) as a partner in its dispute resolution practice in Mumbai, specialising in international arbitration.
Previously a partrner and head of international arbitration at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM), Parikh brings more than three decades of experience in complex disputes, frequently involving cross-border and multi-jurisdictional issues.
Parikh told India Business Law Journal,, “I’m quite passionate about what I do, and I realised that I was not ready to go fully independent as an arbitrator and give up the counsel work. With that realisation, a move to SAM was quite logical. SAM has built up a tremendous disputes practice and is well equipped to leverage its expertise in international arbitration.
“I have worked with Pallavi Shroff in the past and have a lot of respect for her – I think we will make a great team along with the other partners, and that itself is inspiration for me.”
On her vision for the role, Parikh added, “SAM has several international clients with investments in India, which may need to be handled on various fronts, and as more of our Indian companies look at offshore transactions and investments, we at SAM are perfectly placed to tread that path with them.”
While “challenges come whether you stay or you move”, said Parikh, “This is a new chapter, and yet not an unfamiliar one; it’s a place I know well and have known for a long time. Whatever lies ahead, I look forward to meeting it with excitement rather than trepidation.”
Interestingly Parikh described herself as an “accidental lawyer”. She entered law school while considering a career in professional dance, before beginning her legal career at Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe, and subsequently joining Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co in 1995.
She added, “The professional dancer did not eventually materialise, but it continues in my heart.”
Parikh is dual-qualified as an advocate and solicitor, and is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, an advocate-on-record before the Supreme Court of India, and a registered foreign lawyer with the Singapore International Commercial Court. She is also registered with the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Centre.
