Some stories begin with a handshake; ours began with an abstract conversation of sorts. Akshay and I have known each other for a while. We occupied similar orbits in the legal universe, often crossing paths, but had different journeys to where we have arrived.
Akshay spent two decades at Amarchand Mangaldas, which later evolved into Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM). It was, and still is, a powerhouse, and he grew with it, navigating the upper echelons of corporate law in India with precision and grit.
My own journey took a more circuitous route. From Nishith Desai Associates, to Khaitan & Co., to my time at Rajaram Legal (now River Law), and eventually to the client side as Head of Legal at Matrix Partners India (now Z47), I sampled the full spectrum – from Tier 1 law firms to boutique agility and in-house strategy. Each stint left an imprint, but also left me with the feeling that there was more to be done… and perhaps, a better way to do it.
As I was stepping away from the in-house role, the question loomed: what next? I knew I didn’t want to do more of the same. I had seen excellence, but I had also seen the constraints—of legacy, of rigidity, of cultures that didn’t always align with the values I deeply cared about. I wanted to build something that was fundamentally different: a firm that truly reflected the ideals I had long held but never had the canvas to bring to life.
When Akshay and I reconnected, it was a meeting of minds that had spent years gathering insights from different vantage points. We realized we had a shared ambition: to create a firm with no baggage, built from the ground up on values that matter, with culture as its cornerstone. That firm is First Principles Law.
This is not just about legal craftsmanship, though that is non-negotiable. It’s about creating an ecosystem where great work happens because the environment is designed for it. A place where people are respected, supported, and expected to do their best. Where clients get thoughtful, solution-oriented advice that is rooted in real-world context, not just precedent.
At the heart of First Principles Law are, well, first principles. After much thought, we distilled our core values to a handful that we believe are foundational:
Fairness — Do right by people. Internally, externally, always.
Quality — If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Excellence isn’t optional.
Flexibility — Lack of rigidity. Adapt, evolve, respond.
Humility — The branch that bears the most fruit bows the lowest.
Inclusiveness — In action, not just in sentiment.
Empathy — With each other and with clients. Understanding is power.
Fun (not flippant) — We take our work seriously, not ourselves.
This is just the beginning. We know that building a firm with intent and integrity is not a one-time act; it’s a journey. One that demands constant reflection, consistent action, and the humility to course-correct when needed. But this first step—this act of creation—is one we take with clarity, conviction, and a bit of excitement.
Welcome to First Principles Law.