Baker McKenzie announces the appointment of Mini Menon vandePol as the new Chair of the Firm’s Global India Practice. She is succeeding Singapore-based principal Ashok Lalwani, who served in the role for 12 years and will continue to serve as a member of the India practice’s Steering Committee.
Ashok will be relocating to the firm’s Dallas office in the US next year, where he will be focused on supporting the firm’s clients with their US-India opportunities and building out the US-India practice.
Born in India and raised in Australia, Mini had originally joined Baker McKenzie’s Melbourne office in 1998 and relocated to the Hong Kong office in 2014. Mini 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. Mini has played a key role in driving the strategy in India, advising both multinational and Indian clients on their inbound and outbound expansion activities. And as Chair, she will continue to drive this work while spearheading the firm’s efforts to prepare for the liberalization of India’s legal market. Mini is recognized as a leading investigations lawyer with a career that spans 30 years.
Following the leadership transition, the members of Baker McKenzie’s Global India Practice Steering Committee are:
1.) Mini vandePol (Chair), Ashish Chugh, Emmanuel Hadjidakis, Ashok Lalwani and Peerapan Tungsuwan in Asia Pacific
2.) Samantha Mobley, Hani Naja, Philippe Reich, Virusha Subban, and Ash Tiwari in Europe, Middle East, and Africa
3.) Adolfo Duranona and Teresa Tovar in Latin America
4.) Aarthi Belani and Joy K. Gallup in North America
Headed by the firm’s Global India Practice Steering Committee, 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.
KEY QUOTES:
“Baker McKenzie has a long history of working on India-related matters, and Mini has been at the forefront of helping our global clients achieve their strategic objectives. 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. Huge congratulations to Mini on this very well-deserved appointment. I would also like to thank Ashok for his terrific leadership of this group over the years and ongoing commitment to the practice.”
– Peerapan Tungsuwan, Global Executive Committee Member with responsibility for India
“I am very excited to take on the leadership of our Global India Practice and feel privileged to contribute to India’s dynamic and exciting economic vision. India’s fast-growing economy, expansive and young workforce, aspirational consumer base, and increasing relevance in global supply chains have accelerated India’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.”
– Mini Menon vandePol
“It has been a huge honor to lead our Global India Practice over the past 12 years. I’m now excited to further develop my India practice in the US and to capitalize on the US-India corridor, which presents a great opportunity for our clients and our Firm. Mini is a highly regarded lawyer, colleague and friend and will do an excellent job as the next Chair of our India practice.”
– Ashok Lalwani
