Another in-house lawyer has returned to law firm practice in Bengaluru this week, with J. Sagar Associates welcoming back Rakesh Warrier as a partner from manufacturing services provider Zetwerk, where he was associate director for compliance.

Economic Laws Practice also brought in Ola Electric general counsel Sanjit Nagarkatti as a partner in India’s tech capital earlier this week.

The Bengaluru market has turned red hot in the past few months. Inttl Advocare, PLA Advocates, Emerald Law, Stratage Law Partners and Wadia Ghandy & Co have launched Bengaluru outposts in recent times, while AZB & Partners, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Khaitan & Co have expanded their presence in the city.

Warrier, who joins partner Tony Verghese’s Bengaluru-based corporate vertical, has previously spent nine years at JSA, including two as partner, before moving to his in-house role at Zetwerk.

He specialises in regulatory advisory in the telecom, IT/ITES, life sciences and e-commerce sectors. He also has experience advising on private equity and venture capital deals.

JSA has invested heavily in Bengaluru, with Warrier becoming the firm’s 19th partner in the city, including joint managing partner Vivek Chandy.

“With Rakesh Warrier's return, JSA reaffirms its commitment to providing exceptional legal services to its clients in Bengaluru while continuously enhancing its capabilities to meet their evolving needs,” the firm said in a statement.