As enforcement agencies step up scrutiny, companies are seeking legal advice before regulators come knocking. According to industry experts, companies are increasingly commissioning internal investigations, compliance reviews and forensic audits before receiving a summons or becoming the subject of a formal probe. This proactive approach is prompting law firms to expand specialist practices focused on financial crime, anti-money laundering, cybercrime, sanctions and internal investigations.
Top law firms are significantly expanding their white-collar capabilities to meet this growing demand. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has expanded its white-collar and investigations practice to six partners and around 40 lawyers, with the practice growing by nearly 30% over the past three years. As reported by the firm, this expansion reflects rising demand driven by increased cross-border activity, more active enforcement and regulatory investigations. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas has nearly doubled its white-collar practice of more than 40 lawyers, technical professionals and forensic experts over the past two years, with plans to continue hiring selectively over the next 12 months.
The shift comes as enforcement activity accelerates across multiple agencies. According to the ED's FY26 annual report, anti-money laundering enforcement gathered pace with searches nearly doubling to 2,892, Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) rising 39% to 1,080, and a record ₹81,423 crore worth of assets attached, up 171% from FY25. The Income Tax Department conducted search and seizure operations against 1,437 groups in FY25, detecting over ₹30,444 crore of undisclosed income. Meanwhile, Sebi initiated 159 investigations and completed 141 during FY25.
The work has become increasingly complex as investigations now often trigger parallel proceedings before multiple agencies. Lawyers report that the same allegations frequently draw scrutiny from the ED, Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Income Tax Department, Sebi and state Economic Offences Wings. This complexity is prompting firms to build integrated teams combining investigations, forensic reviews, cybercrime and cross-border disputes. International developments including the UK's Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA), US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and evolving global sanctions regimes are adding to the workload.
According to legal experts, investigations are no longer viewed as isolated legal disputes but enterprise-wide risks affecting governance, reputation and enterprise value. Dentons Link Legal's white-collar team has over 15 lawyers, including four partners, with the firm noting that companies are investing earlier in compliance, internal controls and independent investigations rather than waiting for regulatory action. This proactive approach reflects a fundamental shift in how companies approach legal and regulatory compliance in the current enforcement environment.
