Trilegal : the Making of a Modern Indian Law Firm

From its beginnings in basements and living rooms 25 years ago to nearly 150 partners and over 1,200 lawyers today, Trilegal’s ascent to the top tier of Indian corporate law makes for a remarkable story.In 2025, it is not just one of India’s largest and most prestigious law firms but also arguably its most meritocratic. Conceived on a radical partnership model in which all partners own equity in the firm, Trilegal is also the only major Indian law firm operating on this sharing model – a decision that defines its culture and fuels its success. One of the founders, Akshay Jaitly, tells the tale of Trilegal – the founding story, the startup days, the challenges of growth, the evolution of their groundbreaking ownership structure and why it lies at the heart of their success. Thoughtful, frank and richly detailed, Jaitly provides insights and data about the business of law rarely shared by firms. Trilegal offers one of the few comprehensive accounts of a major Indian law firm, one that also draws an insightful picture of a little understood dimension of the country’s legal landscape.