Dentons Link Legal has launched a presence in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), a tax-free zone for finance and technology companies located in Gandhinagar, as part of its expansion plans in India's fast-growing legal market.

The firm has appointed Manoj Panzade and Madhur Verma as partners to lead the new office that will advise international and domestic clients on corporate laws, litigation, intellectual property rights and finance transactions.

"GIFT City offers a regulatory environment conducive to facilitating substantial global deals," said Anand Srivastava, managing partner at Dentons Link Legal, in a statement. "Our firm is best placed to align with the complexities of these transactions due to our expertise both locally in India, and through our colleagues across more than 80 countries around the world."

The firm was formed last year after Indian law firm Link Legal combined with Dentons. It also has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai.

GIFT City, which opened in 2017 and is backed by the Indian government, aims to become a hub for global financial services and emerge as a competitor to Dubai and Singapore. Law firms that have offices there include Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Economic Laws Practice, IC Legal, Nishith Desai Associates, and Dhaval Vussonji & Associates.