Honey Dave promoted to partner to lead new desk targeting ultra-high net worth investors

Ms Dave joined the firm’s highly regarded real estate team as a senior associate in 2021. As head of the India Desk she will spearhead an offering focused on ultra-high net worth Indian nationals based in the UK, India or other jurisdictions who wish to make significant investments in UK commercial or residential property.

The India Desk will dovetail with Laytons ETL’s recently launched immigration practice, led by partner Victoria Welsh, and its well-established international employment and corporate and commercial practices, to provide a complete service for investors who wish to relocate or make business as well as property investments.

Born and brought up in India, Ms Dave is fluent in Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi, and also speaks some Punjabi and Arabic. Her experience includes the refinancing of multi-million-pound property portfolios, the sale of properties in high-end residential developments, and acting for various offshore clients and banks.

Ms Dave said, “Since joining Laytons ETL I have continued to expand my international practice, working with a closely knit yet globally focused group of colleagues. The time now feels right to build up and formalise this, with an offering that capitalises both on my heritage and expertise and the firm’s extensive capabilities.”

Laytons ETL is a longstanding member of international networks of lawyers and professionals, and also has “best friend” relationships with firms within and outside these networks, in a variety of different jurisdictions.

In 2021 the firm became part of the ETL Global network of professional services businesses. Headquartered in Essen, Germany, ETL has member firms in more than 50 different countries worldwide, employing 20,000 people.

The launch of the India Desk is the latest in a series of internationally focused developments at Laytons ETL, which in June launched an immigration offering targeted at inward investors, and in October bolstered its international dispute resolution practice with the appointment as partner of the multi-jurisdiction litigation specialist Jeremy Lederman.

In April 2023 the firm’s former managing partner John Abbott stepped back in favour of current incumbent Michael Kashis, and is now focused once again on building his international arbitration practice.

Mr Kashis said, “India has the world’s largest population and fifth largest economy – and it’s still growing. As an international law firm based in the heart of the City of London, it makes complete strategic sense to establish a desk targeted directly at this market.

“Since joining the firm in 2021 Honey has made a great impact on our real estate practice, and I can’t think of anybody better to head this exciting new practice. I look forward to seeing it grow and flourish under her leadership, as we continue to provide a level of international expertise that is unrivalled among firms of our size.”