Rajiv K Luthra, founder and managing partner of Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India, passed away at the age of 67 on May 10. Luthra, who was an independent director on the board of Network18 Media & Investments Ltd., was being treated at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon for an unspecified ailment, according to reports.
Luthra started law studies at the age of 31 after qualifying as a chartered accountant and went on to establish his own law firm in 1989-90. He pursued courses at Harvard Law School over a seven-year period and became an expert in emerging areas of law.
Luthra specialised in project finance and public-private partnerships at his firm, which once had over 350 lawyers across offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
“He was not just the Founder and Managing Partner, but the voice of the Firm and inspiration to all members of the Firm. He will be remembered for his magnanimity, ethics, leadership and larger-than-life personality,” the firm said in a statement. “On behalf of all the members of the Firm, we extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Luthra’s family and stand by them in these difficult times.”
Described as a jovial figure and a mentor to countless lawyers, Luthra enjoyed playing golf. He had started an adventure travel company before setting up his law firm.
“A much loved, respected and admired leader of our times. He will be sadly missed by the profession,” said Cyril Shroff, managing partner of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, the law firm based in Mumbai.
“He was a gentle and amiable person whose words were filled with kindness. He also believed in taking life as it came without being emotionally disturbed by what life dealt to one,” said retired Supreme Court judge BN Srikrishna.
Many people took to Twitter to express their condolences, among them Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who tweeted:
Shocked to hear the sad news. Rajiv was such a warm and wonderful man. Om Shanthi https://t.co/YU5LvRxwFq— Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) May 11, 2023
Other prominent personalities included Suhel Seth, who posted:
Deeply saddened at the passing of Rajiv Luthra. Apart from being a brilliant lawyer, he was also a great human being. Outstanding mentor to many, he will be missed dearly. Deepest condolences to his wife and two daughters. May he travel well hereafter. And continue to spread…— SUHEL SETH (@Suhelseth) May 11, 2023
Senior advocate and politician Abhishek Manu Singhvi tweeted: "Rip #rajivluthra. Om Shanti. Lived life king size. He was gizmo savvy, I am merely gizmo crazy. Large hearted, lived in style. Last few years distressing 4him with litigation: I appeared & helped him get out of courts to arb. Full of anecdotes &luxury life accoutrements."
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told Moneycontrol: "Rajiv Luthra was a towering personality, a confident man, born leader, with all qualities of a successful corporate lawyer.”
Additional Solicitor General of India Balbir Singh said, “Rajiv Luthra was numero uno in many fields. He is one of the few lawyers who understood that foreign clients are required to grow their practice in India. He was a Chartered Accountant who became a lawyer a little later in life but understood the profession well. Mr Luthra was a generous man who lived a life large. He understood the role of a non-playing captain in the industry and led the firm with a vision.”
Senior advocate Amit Desai said, “Rajiv was an entrepreneur in the legal profession. He successfully started his law firm from scratch in a highly competitive Delhi market extending from litigation to transactional work in which Mumbai dominated. He created one of the largest law firms in Delhi and had excellent corporate clients – domestic and international. He was supportive of young lawyers. He has left behind a legacy for his firm to carry forward. His demise is premature. May he RIP."
Corporate lawyer and ex-cofounder of L&L Partners, Mohit Saraf said, "I am deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Mr. Rajiv Luthra, a renowned figure in the legal world and my former Partner. I had the opportunity of working with him for 25 years, and this is a personal loss to me. My sincerest condolences are with his wife Gayatri and daughters Sana and Arshia, as well as the entire family and friends."
Luthra is survived by his wife and two daughters.