Allen & Overy (A&O) is set to strengthen its relationship with India's Trilegal as the referral firm takes on a partner from the magic circle firm.

Capital markets partner Srinivas Parthasarathy is to leave A&O's Singapore office to take up a new position as a partner in Trilegal's Mumbai office at the start of October. He will head the capital markets group at the Indian firm.

In addition to his responsibility for developing Trilegal's capital markets team he will also play a role in increasing co-operation between the two firms on banking, private equity and capital markets work.

A&O's India group chairman Jonathan Brayne said: "This is a very positive move for the A&O/Trilegal relationship. Since announcing our affiliation in January 2008, our two firms have been working increasingly closely together and have made great strides on India-related work. Partha has been a key member of our India group and his move will substantially enhance the collaboration between A&O and Trilegal."

Trilegal founding partner Anand Prasad added: "We are thrilled to have a lawyer of Partha's quality and reputation to spearhead our capital markets practice – his long experience in the Indian capital markets and with A&O will give the practice strong leadership."

A&O and Trilegal entered its non-exclusive formal referral arrangement at the beginning of last year. Brayne, a London-based projects partner, and Hong Kong-based capital markets partner Andrew Harrow took on the leadership of the magic circle firm's India group in January this year, following the retirement of former India group head Alex Pease.

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