Private practice has proved not to be Pramod Rao’s cup of tea. The former IndusLaw partner has resigned from the law firm after just over a year to move back to an in-house role.
In his new position as general counsel at Citibank, Rao will head a team of around 18 lawyers in Mumbai. Previously he had worked as general counsel of ICICI Bank. He had spent almost 14 years with the bank, of which he was general counsel for seven, before joining IndusLaw to set up the firm’s Mumbai office.
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Rao said that when he left ICICI, many law firms approached him, but “it was I who approached IndusLaw and wanted to be a part of [the firm]”. He said he enjoyed his rapport with other members of the firm. “I was delighted with the wonderful core team of partners,” he said. “I found them to be experienced, business focused and supportive. The establishment of the Mumbai office and the inclusion of Priyanka [Roy, formerly of Alliance Legal] as a partner … is testament to the vision of IndusLaw.”
Rao said his colleagues were supportive of his decision to move back in-house. “Personally the role of partner at a law firm in private practice is not what I am happy with. I am more comfortable in being an in-house counsel, and that is where my path lies,” he added.
Commenting on Rao’s departure, Kartik Ganapathy, a partner at IndusLaw, said: “It was wonderful when Pramod reached out and said he wanted to be a part of IndusLaw. We did realize that Pramod remained an in-house person at heart, but would try to make the transition. It has been great working with him, and we hope that this will continue.”
Rao replaces Sandeep Beri, the former general counsel for South Asia at Citibank. Beri joined Amarchand Mangaldas as a lateral partner in its New Delhi office.
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