Veteran Banking and M&A Lawyer Srichand Mandhyan Joins Solicis Lex Advisory as Deputy Managing Partner

Solicis Lex Advisory, a Mumbai-based law firm, has announced the appointment of Srichand Mandhyan as its Deputy Managing Partner, bringing over four decades of cross-sector experience in banking, finance, business development, real estate, and mergers and acquisitions to the firm's leadership. Mandhyan will head the Finance and M&A practice and serve as a mentor to the real estate team.

Mandhyan holds an LL.B. from Government Law College, Mumbai, along with an M.Com., CAIIB, and a Diploma in Business Administration. He is enrolled with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa and listed as an Independent Director in the databank of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs. His appointment marks a strategic addition to Solicis Lex's corporate and real estate practices at a time when the Indian legal market is seeing heightened transactional activity.

A Career Built on High-Value Transactions

Before joining Solicis Lex Advisory, Mandhyan spent more than 19 years at Lodha Developers, one of India's leading real estate developers. During his tenure, he held leadership roles in finance, business development, fundraising, and mergers and acquisitions. According to the firm's announcement, Mandhyan was involved in raising over USD 3 billion through debt, equity, and structured finance transactions from public sector banks, private banks, foreign banks, NBFCs, and alternative investment funds. He was also a member of the company's core IPO team and later led the M&A function for the acquisition of land parcels. His work at Lodha Developers was closely linked to integrated township and luxury residential development projects.

Prior to Lodha, Mandhyan served as Group Finance Controller at the Mumbai-based Conwood DB Reality Group, which had diversified interests in dairy products, granite processing, hospitality, gems and jewellery, and real estate. In that role, he was involved in project financing for a dairy plant established with foreign equity participation and technical collaboration. He also handled matters relating to statutory approvals, foreign investment, technical collaborations, EPCG licences, and regulatory compliance.

Mandhyan began his professional career with a public sector bank, where he gained experience in credit appraisal across a range of industries and sectors. Over the course of his career, he has worked across lending, borrowing, and advisory functions. He has also been involved in negotiating financing arrangements, loan documentation, and security creation in connection with large-scale transactions.

Strategic Significance for Solicis Lex Advisory

The appointment of a seasoned professional like Mandhyan signals Solicis Lex Advisory's intent to strengthen its corporate advisory capabilities, particularly in the high-stakes areas of finance, M&A, and real estate. The firm is positioning itself to handle complex cross-border and domestic transactions, leveraging Mandhyan's deep relationships with banks, NBFCs, and alternative investment funds.

For legal professionals, Mandhyan's move highlights a growing trend of law firms recruiting non-traditional legal talent—professionals with extensive business and financial backgrounds—to lead practice groups. His experience on the client side as a finance and M&A executive gives him a unique perspective on negotiating and structuring deals, a skill set that is increasingly valued in transactional law.

Implications for the Legal Industry

Mandhyan's career trajectory reflects the convergence of law and business in modern corporate practice. His background in banking, credit appraisal, and fundraising complements his legal training, allowing him to offer comprehensive advice to clients on both the legal and commercial aspects of transactions. This blend of skills is especially relevant for law firms advising clients in real estate, infrastructure, and private equity.

Moreover, his appointment may encourage other law firms to consider lateral hires from the business side—professionals who understand the operational realities of corporate finance and can bridge the gap between legal strategy and business objectives. For young lawyers, it underscores the value of gaining cross-functional experience and developing expertise in areas beyond traditional litigation or advisory work.

Conclusion

Srichand Mandhyan's entry into Solicis Lex Advisory as Deputy Managing Partner brings a wealth of transactional and leadership experience to the firm's Finance and M&A practice. His proven track record at Lodha Developers and earlier roles positions him to mentor the real estate team and drive growth in the firm's corporate practice. As the legal market continues to evolve, appointments like this reflect the increasing demand for partners who combine deep legal knowledge with hands-on business experience, offering clients a more integrated approach to complex deals.