Khambata at Tata

Senior advocate, former advocate general of Maharashtra and erstwhile additional solicitor general of India Darius Khambata has returned as a trustee at the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust after a gap of almost seven years, according to news reports "quoting two people familiar with the development.” The Trusts own about 66% of Tata Group holding company Tata Sons.

In late 2016, Khambata quit the Trusts citing professional commitments as the reason, prior to the dispute between the Trusts and the Shapoorji Pallonji Group on the ouster of erstwhile chairman Cyrus Mistry. Seen as a key advisor to Tata Trusts on its corporate governance exercise, the jurist is believed to be a close confidant of Ratan Tata, chairman of the Trusts. Khambata confirmed the development to The Economic Times (ET) of November 20, and his name appears on the Trusts’ website. Khambata did not offer a comment to Parsiana on the appointment when requested for one.

Darius Khambata

"He will be a wonderful addition as a trustee of these important trusts,” said Zia Mody, co-founder and managing partner of legal firm AZB & Partners to ET. "He will bring to bear his unquestioned integrity and intelligence to further benefit the unparalleled charity that the Tata Trusts do for the nation.”

Previously, ET of September 8, 2022 claimed Khambata had been "roped in” by the Trusts to provide "advice on corporate governance and succession planning.” Khambata had told Parsiana that "I’m not aware of any ‘succession planning’ in the Tata Trusts nor have they asked for any advice regarding ‘succession planning,’” (see "Khambata clarifies,” Business, Parsiana, October 7-20, 2022).

The jurist was called to the Bar in India in 1984 and designated as senior counsel in 2005. He practices before the Supreme Court and other courts and tribunals in India.