Baker McKenzie Appoints Mini Menon vandePol As Chair Of Global India Practice
Mini Menon vandePol succeeds Ashok Lalwani, who will relocate to the US to take a new assignment in the firm
(The Corner Office Journal) -- International law firm Baker McKenzie appointed Mini Menon vandePol as the new chair of the firm’s Global India Practice.
She succeeds Singapore-based principal Ashok Lalwani, who served in the role for 12 years and will relocate to the US to take a new assignment in the firm, Baker McKenzie said in a statement.
vandePol is the Asia Pacific head of Baker McKenzie's Investigations, Compliance & Ethics Group and has served on the firm’s India Practice Group Steering Committee since 2018, it added.
India Connection
Born in India and raised in Australia, vandePol joined Baker McKenzie’s Melbourne office in 1998 and relocated to the Hong Kong office in 2014, according to the statement.
She has played a key role in driving the India strategy, advising both multinational and Indian clients on their inbound and outbound expansion activities, it said.
Baker McKenzie said vandePol, who has three decades’ experience, will continue to drive this work as chair while spearheading the firm’s efforts to prepare for the liberalization of India’s legal market.
Perfect Fit
“She is the perfect fit to continue to drive our India practice forward, alongside our Steering Committee members and India-focused lawyers, as we prepare to open an office in India as soon as we are permitted to,” said Peerapan Tungsuwan, Global Executive Committee Member with responsibility for India.
vandePol said India’s fast-growing economy, expansive and young workforce, aspirational consumer base, and increasing relevance in global supply chains have accelerated the country’s economic development and foreign direct investment.
“Bringing global best practices and experience will be integral in supporting our international and domestic clients to leverage these trends and grow their businesses,” she added.
Lalwani’s New Innings
Baker McKenzie said Lalwani, who will remain a member of the India practice’s Steering Committee, would relocate to the firm’s Dallas office in the US next year.
In his new role, he will focus on supporting the firm’s clients with their US-India opportunities and building out the US-India practice, it added.
Baker McKenzie has one of the largest India practice among international law firms, with more than 300 lawyers across over 70 offices actively working on India-related matters, according to the statement.
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