JSA hires Siddharth Manchanda, Rashi Saraf, Minhaz Lokhandwala from CMS IndusLaw

New Delhi, April 6, 2026: In a significant lateral hiring move reflecting the evolving dynamics of India’s legal services market, JSA Advocates & Solicitors (JSA) has announced the onboarding of senior legal professionals Siddharth Manchanda, Rashi Saraf and Minhaz Lokhandwala, along with their team from CMS IndusLaw. The incoming group comprises 18 associates and one retained partner, Vinit Patwari, further strengthening JSA’s corporate practice capabilities across key markets.

As per the firm’s announcement, Siddharth Manchanda and Minhaz Lokhandwala will join the Mumbai office, while Rashi Saraf will operate from the Bengaluru office, indicating a calibrated expansion across two of India’s most significant commercial hubs. The move aligns with JSA’s broader strategy of deepening its presence in high-value transactional work and enhancing sectoral expertise.

Commenting on the development, Vivek K. Chandy and Amar Gupta, Joint Managing Partners at JSA Advocates & Solicitors, expressed confidence that the addition of Siddharth, Rashi and Minhaz would complement the firm’s already robust corporate practice. They noted that the incoming professionals bring strong client relationships, specialised capabilities and a track record of handling complex mandates, which would provide an added advantage to JSA’s clientele. The leadership also reiterated that the firm continues to pursue a balanced growth model, combining strategic lateral hiring with internal talent development, as evidenced by the recent elevation of seven partners to equity partnership and twenty attorneys to retained partner roles.

Siddharth Manchanda brings over 17 years of experience in venture capital and private equity investments, corporate mergers and acquisitions, corporate debt financing and general corporate advisory. His practice spans both domestic and cross-border mandates across sectors such as e-commerce, telecom, education, banking, events and exhibitions, pharmaceuticals, insurance, services, power, logistics and financial services. Over the years, he has received multiple recognitions, including being named a recommended lawyer by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 for Corporate and M&A, being recognised as a ‘Notable Practitioner’ by IFLR1000 for 2024–2025, and featuring in the Legal500 GC Powerlist for 2022 and 2023. He has also been acknowledged in the RSG Report 2015 and Legally India Rankings 2019.

Rashi Saraf also brings over 17 years of experience and specialises in mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions. Her advisory work includes structuring and regulatory aspects of both cross-border and domestic deals across a wide spectrum of industries, including healthcare, education, ed-tech, real estate, consumer goods, e-commerce, logistics, manufacturing and information technology. Her clientele ranges from startups and promoters to family offices and private equity funds. She has been recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ by Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025 for Private Equity and Investment Funds and was named among India’s Future Legal Leaders for 2025 by India Business Law Journal. She has also been listed as a ‘Rising Star’ in Corporate and M&A by Asian Legal Business India Rising Star 2023.

Minhaz Lokhandwala, with more than 16 years of experience, has extensive expertise in advising on venture capital and private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and joint venture structuring. He has consistently been recognised by leading legal directories such as Legal 500, IFLR1000, ALB India and AsiaLaw. He has been featured among the Top 50 private equity lawyers in India by RSGI (RISE) and was shortlisted as Dealmaker of the Year at the ALB India Law Awards 2025. His practice includes advising on investment structuring, exits, share acquisitions and business transfers across multiple sectors and jurisdictions, with particular strength in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, along with experience in D2C, e-commerce, IT, logistics and manufacturing.

Established in 1991 at the onset of India’s economic liberalisation, JSA Advocates & Solicitors has built a strong reputation as a full-service law firm handling complex and high-stakes legal and commercial matters. The firm operates through specialised practice areas and industry-focused teams and works closely with Indian corporates, Fortune 500 companies, global financial institutions, and government and statutory bodies. With a team of over 700 legal professionals, including more than 180 partners, JSA has a presence across ten offices in seven cities, namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

The latest hiring underscores a broader trend in India’s legal market, where leading firms are investing in talent acquisition to strengthen their corporate and private equity practices amid increasing deal activity and cross-border investments. For JSA, the integration of experienced professionals alongside its meritocratic and transparent work culture is expected to reinforce its position as a top-tier legal services provider in the country.