Super Lawyer

Author: SuperLawyerTeam

  • “Every hearing teaches something new; every case shapes a better advocate. In the dance of law, advocacy is my rhythm, and justice is my melody.” – Sonali Chopra, Partner at Arimus Law

    “Every hearing teaches something new; every case shapes a better advocate. In the dance of law, advocacy is my rhythm, and justice is my melody.” – Sonali Chopra, Partner at Arimus Law

    This interview has been published by Namrata Singh and The SuperLawyer Team

    Reflecting back on your college days, could you share your journey from how you thought of doing law to your college days, and how did you navigate the transition from college to the legal profession, especially as a first-generation lawyer? What were the challenges you encountered, and how did you overcome them to establish your career?

    I have always been my mother’s “brighter” child. When the time came for me to choose a career path, my mother casually suggested law. Being a first generation lawyer, I had no insights into the profession, its scope or its demands. In fact, I had absolutely no first-hand knowledge about the life of a lawyer, beyond what is depicted in television, movies and John Grisham novels. At that time, after I compared law to the other conventional career choices, being a lawyer excited me the most. As my curiosity drifted towards law, the decision was made. To be honest, when I look back, I think doing law was just a choice I made by chance. But almost 15 years later I can honestly say that it was one of the best choices I have made.

    I studied law at Dr. RML National Law University and I am who I am today because of what my time in law school taught me. The five years I spent in law school were very internship centric. After the internships I did in my first year of law school, I realised that they gave me the practical exposure that law school did not. From my second year in law school, I started interning, every chance I got. While not taking away from the importance of academics, I truly feel that internships gave me first-hand knowledge about the profession. They exposed me to the practicalities and realities of a lawyer’s life. 

    Owing to my internship experiences, by the end of my third year in law school, I was quite sure that I wanted to start my career as a litigation lawyer. 

    My transition from college to the legal profession was smoother than I had anticipated it to be. Before I finished my last semester, I had job offers from two litigations firms. One offer I got was on account of a long internship I did at the firm and the other one was on account of an interview I gave while I was in my last semester. 

    In 2013, Lawctopus and Legally India posted several job openings. I remember I applied for the opening of an Associate at Arimus Law. I got an interview call. The interview was assessment based and not just an interaction with the Partner, Mr. Arjun Singh Bawa. A day before the interview I was sent a fact sheet and was told to prepare arguments from both sides. The interview was like a moot court competition. I argued my case and I got the job! It was one of the most exciting interviews I ever gave. In fact, even now, 10 years later, we still follow this assessment interview model while hiring at Arimus Law.

    The only difficulty I faced during the transition was the choice I had to make between the two job offers. One was with a very reputed law firm and one was with a comparatively newer law firm. Not having a mentor in the profession to guide me in the right direction, this choice was a tough one to make. I weighed the pros and cons, as I knew them then, and took the decision to join the latter, Arimus Law. My decision was swayed by the fact that Arimus Law had more trial work. 

    During this roller coaster ride, the biggest challenge I encountered was not having a professional mentor who I could go to for advice and guidance. 

    You’ve worked with various renowned advocates and senior advocates. Can you share a memorable experience or lesson that significantly influenced your approach to legal practice?

    I have been very fortunate to have got the chance to work with several renowned advocates and senior advocates. Every interaction with another lawyer has taught me something but the key learnings I have got over the years that I still keep in mind today are:

    1. Put effort into your list of dates and synopsis. It might be the only thing a Judge reads before dealing with your case. 
    2. Pleadings can make or break a case. Draft crisply, there is no need for non-essential verbosity. 
    3. Master your brief. Don’t just read it, think about it, dream about it. Make the brief your story. 
    4. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. 

    You’ve had a diverse and impactful legal career, starting as an Associate at Arimus Law and now being a Partner in the same firm. Can you share a memorable experience or case that has significantly shaped your journey as a lawyer?

    While I was still in law school, my mother’s ancestral property in Delhi became the subject matter of litigation. I (and also my mother) strongly believe that this case has played a major role in making me the lawyer I am today. Being a property related dispute, it has a civil law angle, a testamentary law angle and also a criminal law angle. 

    When I was in law school my mother used to go and attend the hearings of this case before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. Before each hearing I would have long conversations with my mother about what the case was listed for, what the lawyer’s strategy was, what could be the possible outcomes of the hearing etc. Whenever I was in Delhi for an internship or a break, I used to accompany my mother for meetings with the lawyer and for the court hearings. 

    The fact that I became a litigant before a litigation lawyer changed the way I deal with my Clients today. I make an effort to be more compassionate, empathetic, honest and available to my Clients. 

    It is also this case that enabled me to, very early on in my career, familiarise myself with the dynamics of a courtroom. What I have learnt about courtroom dynamics from this case is something that I benefit from, till date. Effective advocacy is so much more than just knowing the law. During the initial years of my career, the exposure I got from this case helped me bridge the gap between the theoretical world of law and the real-world courtroom dynamics.

    This case is still pending adjudication and every hearing still teaches me something new. 

    You’ve been appointed as a Local Commissioner to record evidence in various Suits by the Ld. Judges of the District Courts of Delhi. Could you share some insights into this role and how it contributes to the legal process?

    I’d like to start by quoting from the judgment of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court passed in Pushpa Devi Vs. Bimla Devi & Ors. (AIR 2000 DELHI 141)  – 

    “…However sad as it may seem the reality today is that Suits do not reach hearing for a large number of years…Delay therefore defeats justice”

    This judgement was passed over 2 decades ago but the situation unfortunately is still the same. 

    In my active practice before the trial courts in Delhi and on the original side in the Delhi High Court I have witnessed cases languishing for years at the stage of evidence. This is solely because of the sheer burden there is on the Courts these days coupled with the lack of infrastructure. I truly believe that the process of appointing local commissioners to record evidence in suits has considerably cut short the time a suit takes to become ripe for arguments. 

    You transitioned from an independent practice to becoming a Partner at Arimus Law. What factors influenced your decision to join the firm, and how has this shift impacted your approach to legal work and professional growth?

    I started as an Associate in Arimus Law in 2013 and I worked there for almost 3 years. 

    During my time at Arimus Law, I got the chance to research, draft, participate in client meetings and appear before multiple courts in a day. Within the first 6 months at Arimus Law, Mr. Bawa gave me the opportunity to argue a matter that I had drafted and got filed before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. One evening before the matter was listed, Mr. Bawa made me practice my arguments before him and the next date he sat next to me and told me to take the lead. Every day after I came back from Court, I had so many questions, about the law, about the procedure or about an argument I heard another lawyer make in Court. Every evening somewhere between 7 PM to 8 PM, Mr. Arjun Singh Bawa, my then boss (and now Partner) used to wrap up his client meetings and take a coffee/snack break. It was during this time that I used to go into his cabin and bombard him with all my questions and doubts. I still remember how he used to patiently answer all my questions and clear all my doubts. Soon this became a ritual. My time as an Associate at Arimus Law was enriching and very rewarding. 

    After about 3 years, I started feeling complacent at work and that is when I decided to quit Arimus Law and look for other opportunities. Over the next 3 years I worked at various other chambers and gained more experience. 

    In 2018, when I had a few clients and enough money in my account to make rent for six months, I decided to take the plunge and set up my independent practice. To be honest, it was very daunting at the beginning. There were many unsettling moments of self-doubt, unsureness and fear. But with God’s grace, luck and a lot of hard work, I think I was able to establish a successful independent practice. I never gave myself enough credit but when I survived the COVID 19 pandemic without having to give up my office space, I realised I had done something right. 

    After I started working independently, I collaborated with Arimus Law for a few matters. In the end of 2022, when we had come out of the pandemic, I began wondering, “what next?”. To my surprise, serendipitously, in the beginning of 2023, Mr. Arjun Singh Bawa offered me partnership in the firm. 

    The 2 primary factors that influenced my decision to take up this offer were the experience I had working as Mr. Bawa’s associate in Arimus Law and the collaborative work environment that a firm set up can offer more easily as opposed to independent practice.

    The shift from being an independent (first generation) counsel to a Partner in a law firm has definitely made me more equipped. With the assistance of the exceptional team that we have built at Arimus Law, I am able to do more work without compromising on quality. 

    Could you share some insights into the challenges you faced in both roles? What were the unique challenges of working independently, and how have they evolved or changed since becoming a partner in a firm? How do you navigate these challenges while maintaining the high standards of legal practice?

    The biggest challenge I faced as an independent practitioner was to acquire new clients. When I started my independent practice in 2018 I had a handful of clients. I remember the time when I had court hearings only 2-3 times a week. This was a tough adjustment after being an associate in chambers where I’d get to appear in multiple Courts in a single day. However, I used that extra time I got out of Court to work more extensively on my briefs and find ways to get my Clients favourable results. Eventually, over the years I was able to do some good work for my initial clients who then graciously recommended me to their friends and family. 

    At Arimus Law I work with 3 other Partners. Mr. Arjun Singh Bawa who primarily handles commercial and contractual disputes, Mr. Arjun Dewan who primarily handles criminal and medical negligence disputes and Mr. Arjun Mukherjee who primarily handles IPR and criminal disputes. Over the last 6 months, we have built a team of young, dynamic and very talented lawyers. I must say that it has been my absolute pleasure to have a chance to work with all the members of our team. 

    Learning to balance responsibility, not only as a lawyer but in other roles is a challenge I have faced in my current role as a Partner but I am enthusiastically learning how to be a good lawyer, a mentor, a leader, and a good team player, all at the same time. 

    You’ve revised the 16th edition of the Pollock & Mulla – Specific Relief Act, 1963. What motivated you to take on this task, and how do you believe this contributes to the legal community and practitioners?

    I believe that the legal profession and academia are interlaced. I took up this task knowing that it will complement and enrich my legal practice by providing me with a platform to learn and grow.

    I don’t know about others, but even today, in the age of the internet, search engines and legal research tools, whenever I come across a provision of law with which I am not completely familiar, I look up a commentary to find the starting point of my research. I sincerely hope the revised edition of the Pollock & Mulla – Specific Relief Act, 1963 helps members of the legal community familiarize themselves with the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018. 

    Apart from your legal pursuits, you’ve trained in Bharatanatyam and performed several Bharatanatyam Recitals under the guidance of Padma Shree Geeta Chandran. Many individuals find it challenging to sustain their passion for the arts as they become busier with their professions or during higher studies. We’re curious to know about your journey with Bharatanatyam—how did your interest in this classical dance form grow alongside your legal career?

    I was blessed to have a structured upbringing with academics, dance, sports etc. I started to learn Bharatanatyam at the age of 6. At Natya Vriksha under the tutelage of Geeta Akka, dance was just one of the multitude things I learnt. Geeta Akka filled my young mind with art, music, culture, history, mythology as well as social values of justice, equity an inclusion. Natya Vriksha was my second home. I danced regularly from the age of 6 till I turned 18, when I left to study law at Dr. RML National Law University, Lucknow. 

    Over the years I developed a passion for Bharatanatyam and all its nuances. During and even after law school I tried very hard to multitask and continue my journey in Bharatnatyam while practicing law. But both Bharatantayam and practising law are hard task masters. The practise of law leaves little time for anything else. Amidst the demands of my career in law, I could not give Bharatanatyam the time and effort it required. 

    At the age of 24, I made the very tough decision of giving up my dream of becoming a Bharatanatyam dancer. However, thanks to my Guru, Padma Shri Geeta Chandran and the Natya Vriksha Dance Company, Bharatanatyam is still a part of my life. Both my Guru and her dance company perform regularly and I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to witness these magical performances. 

    There have been days where I feel that the law took away Bharatanatyam from me, but then, in all fairness, the law has given me back so much more!

    As a panel member in various debates aired on Times Now and Mirror Now, how do you see the role of legal professionals in shaping public discourse on legal issues?

    In today’s world, the media is playing an undeniably important role in creating and shaping public opinion. There are several instances where the general public is unaware of the correct position of law in respect of certain issues. It is in such situations that legal professionals should be made part of a public discourse in order to enable them to highlight the correct position of law. This in turn gives the public the complete information that they should have to make an opinion. 

    Internships play a crucial role in a law student’s journey. Can you share insights into the kind of internships you pursued during your college days and how those experiences influenced your career choices? Additionally, what advice would you give to law students when it comes to selecting internships, especially considering the trend where many aspire to intern at tier 1 law firms?

    My recollection of my journey and transition from law school to the legal profession is a first-hand example of the importance of internships in a law student’s journey. Being a first generation lawyer I had no insight into the realities of the legal profession. Like I said earlier, my exposure was restricted to only what was depicted in television, movies and books. 

    When I started law school, I was hopelessly home sick. To begin with, internships were an excuse to go back home to Delhi. In my first year I interned with two NGOs. I bagged these internships through family acquaintances. 

    In my second year I interned with Mr. Vikas Dhawan (who is now a designated senior). He was then an advocate practicing primarily on the Original Side in the Delhi High Court. He was our lawyer in my mother’s property matter so it was again an easy internship to get. It was my time in his office that got me really excited about litigation. However, I still wanted to intern in different fields of law before deciding which one I was most interested in. 

    The next few internships were hard to get. I did not know many people in the profession and all my e-mail applications (sent months in advance) remained unanswered. But I did not lose hope! 

    I remember, in 2011, I printed several copies of my then 1 page CV and roamed the streets of Defence Colony (the hub of lawyers’ offices in Delhi). I walked into so many offices and handed over my CV to anyone who would take it. I bagged my next few internships like this. This exercise got me the opportunity to intern with Mr. P.K. Dubey ( now a designated Senior), Zeus Law, Mr. A.S Chandhiok (Senior Advocate), Sikri & Company etc.  

    I also briefly interned in the Corporate Division of O.P. Khaitan & Co. After my previous internships in the field of litigation, my short stint here was enough for me to know that I was not meant to be a corporate lawyer. The stifling hustle-bustle inside and outside the courtrooms  excited me the most. 

    I personally did not intern in any tier 1 law firm. This was only because I never got the opportunity. During my law school years I did fret a lot about not having any tier 1 law firm names on my CV but then, there was honestly not much more I could do about it. 

    I chose to not give up or lose heart. I took up every opportunity I could lay my hands on. I made connections as I went. And, I worked hard, very hard. 

    Being a first generation lawyer I can be very blunt and say, the journey can be challenging. My only advice to law students and young lawyers is to be brave, be curious, chase experience and continue learning. Take up every opportunity you can lay your hands on, be it big or small. There is no better teacher than experience!

    Get in touch with Sonali Chopra –

  • “In the dynamic realm of corporate law, success is not just about transactions; it’s about teamwork, evolving strategies, and navigating complexities. Each challenge is an opportunity to craft a lasting impact.” – Payal Dayal, Partner – Corporate Head, AKS Partners (Advocates | Solicitors | Consultants)

    “In the dynamic realm of corporate law, success is not just about transactions; it’s about teamwork, evolving strategies, and navigating complexities. Each challenge is an opportunity to craft a lasting impact.” – Payal Dayal, Partner – Corporate Head, AKS Partners (Advocates | Solicitors | Consultants)

    This interview has been published by Namrata Singh and The SuperLawyer Team

    Reflecting on your journey, from pursuing law to your college days, could you share some key moments or experiences that influenced your decision to enter the legal profession? How did your time in law school shape your understanding of the legal landscape and contribute to the path you’ve taken in your career today?

    At the outset I must share that pursuing law just happened. I am a first-generation lawyer and hence the thought of doing law never came in discussions during my growing up years. But yes, one thing I knew, my grandfather wanted my father to be a lawyer so when I cleared my law entrance exam and finally got admitted to Amity Law School, I thought to myself how proud my grandfather would be, had he lived to see this day, as I get to fulfil his dreams. Other than that, it was sheer luck and destiny to do law from Amity in as much as I only gave the entrance exam for Amity Law School and cracked it!  

    Moving on to the first semester of law and the introduction to moot courts was all too overwhelming for me. I was always an active member of the moot court society and loved to participate in moot court competitions. I started admiring the dynamics of law as a field of study and enjoyed my college days to the fullest. A few subjects like International Law, Constitutional Law, Intellectual Property Law and Corporate Law were amongst my favourites. To top it all, I never missed a good internship opportunity which got me more in touch with the profession as it was practiced – being very different from our moot courts and theory we learn in college.

    After doing my final semester three-month internship with a top tier law firm in the corporate team, I decided to work in a law firm and in the corporate field rather than dawning the black robes.

    Your journey has been quite diverse, spanning from serving as an intern at organizations like Steel Authority of India Limited to your current role as Partner – Corporate Head at AKS Partners. How have these varied experiences shaped your perspective on corporate law, and what valuable lessons have you learned along the way?

    Each internship and each role in my previous law firms including the current one taught me a different lesson. As an intern at Steel Authority of India, I was involved with their ongoing arbitrations. As an intern at the International Labour Organisation, an agency of the United Nations, I gained knowledge of different aspects of labour disputes, and so on and so forth. My internship experience, irrespective of the organisation or a firm, have always been enriching ones. However, when one starts practicing, that becomes a different ball game altogether.

    What I am today in the professional field I owe to my mentor under whose mentorship I commenced my professional journey in the corporate field around 17 years back. It was truly there that my career shaped the way it has. I assisted and then independently undertook many transactions in diverse industry segments, opined on various industry specific issues, worked on FDI matters which fascinated me a lot at the time. These past learnings have eased my role and responsibility as a Partner-Corporate Head at AKS Partners. 

    The biggest learning that I take from the diverse experiences I have had is that teamwork always yields good results. You need to have trust in your team, at whatever position you are on the ladder. It plays a big role especially when you are mentoring juniors and delegating tasks to them. When I started out in the profession, my mentor always backed me. At times I would come up with ideas and solutions that my mentor had not thought of. That gave me a lot of confidence, and I have made it a point to imbibe the same confidence in my juniors. Another big learning is that clients often come to you with a ‘solution’ already in mind. Doing exactly as they say is often the easiest way but may not always be the best way. Therefore, you need to look at the problem objectively and guide them in the right direction.                            

    As a partner, you’ve represented clients before the Reserve Bank of India in compounding matters. How do you approach such regulatory challenges, and what strategies do you employ to navigate through the intricacies of regulatory compliance?

    I have appeared before the Reserve Bank of India (Mumbai) a couple of times but initially I appeared while I was still a Senior Associate. My mentor had utmost faith in me that I could handle the matter independently. Having said that, there is no shortcut to being thoroughly prepared particularly prior to appearing before the regulatory authorities. The regulatory authorities always appreciate lawyers who have systematically and carefully drafted their application and stated the reason behind a compoundable contravention. A methodically and logically drafted application taking care of all the nuances increases the chances of reaching the ears of the regulatory authorities. 

    Your horizontal practice areas include Commercial Contracts, Corporate compliance, Joint Venture/ Collaboration/ Acquisition, and more. Is there a specific area that you find particularly fascinating or challenging, and why?

    Acquisitions clubbed with market entry/ investment advisory, inter-alia, is my specialisation and what excites me the most is that each acquisition has a different strategy from the other and that there is no straitjacket formula that fits one and all. Particularly when there is a foreign company involved, FDI advisory clubbed with tax advise becomes very significant and the right structure and entry route is strategically quintessential. Very often, it is this first step which is challenging in addition to negotiating difficult aspects (usually the parked points) for which the principals are on loggerheads at the negotiating table. Having said that, taking the transaction to its righteous end, i.e., completion or closing as one may call it, excites me the most.   

    The Corporate Due Diligences you’ve undertaken covered a wide range of areas, including Labour and Industrial Laws, Environmental Laws, and Competition Law. How do you stay abreast of the ever-evolving legal landscape in these diverse fields, and how do you ensure your advice is both current and relevant?

    As a lawyer, it is one’s job to stay updated with the law at all times. I keep myself updated by reading the SCC every fortnightly and by frequenting regulator websites like RBI, SEBI, CCI, IBBI, MCA for latest notifications, master directions, press-notes, etc. on a daily basis before I begin my work for the day.

    To answer the second part of your question, before giving advise I always check the sectoral regulations and any updates on the point including in the form of apex court decisions.

    You’ve been involved in publications, including ‘The Drone Dichotomy – A Game Changer.’ What sparked your interest in this particular topic, and how do you see the legal landscape evolving with emerging technologies like drones?

    When I embarked writing on the topic, the regulations were yet to come out and the authorities were still grappling with the facts, i.e., the opportunities such a technology presented and challenges that it could pose as the idea of using “Drones” for various purposes was relatively new for the country. It immediately ignited my brainwaves to think of how this potential technology could be used and that too in a regulated way and even more towards the privacy concerns that were hovering in my mind for some time in case of absence of sufficient regulations on this aspect.

    Since then, the legal landscape has evolved substantially. The Ministry of Civil Aviation Government of India (MoCA) has framed comprehensive laws to ensure proper regulation of use of drones. The framework addresses concerns like safety standards, airspace management and privacy challenges. Of course there are several other aspects that are bound to crop up with more and more use of the technology and the regulator, i.e., MoCA, will have to come up with practical solutions whether it be on determination of liability in the event of an accident with various jurisdictions involved or accountability in case of remote controlled drones. International collaboration on regulating drone technology is no longer a far-flung concept.

    Your sector expertise ranges from Manufacturing to Renewable Energy. How do you keep yourself updated with the nuances of such varied industries, and what role does industry-specific knowledge play in your legal practice?

    I reiterate that one should keep reading and stay updated on the legal framework and nuances particularly in the sectors that one practices in. This can be done by reading the statutory framework along with the landmark judgments and articles on the point in the relevant sector.

    During your time at Amity Law School, you were an active member of the Amity Moot Court Society. Can you share your perspective on the significance of participating in moot court competitions for law students? How do you believe these experiences contribute to a student’s overall legal education and career development?

    I believe moot courts help the students in three ways. Firstly, it teaches the students to research, and not just in a bookish way but how one tackles situations in the profession. Second, it improves the drafting skills and to express oneself in an erudite manner. And most importantly, the arguing skills. Many students may not be natural speakers so it helps them to open up and become comfortable in facing the judges and making their point.

    Hence, I believe it is very important for students to participate in moot court competitions. Mere participation gives the students a lot of confidence, irrespective of winning or losing, and frankly, it teaches one how to accept defeat and prepares the students for the tough beginnings that await them.

    Internships play a crucial role in shaping a legal professional’s early career. What advice would you give to law students about choosing the right type of internship? For instance, do you recommend working under a senior advocate, in a law firm, or exploring other avenues, and why?

    I would recommend the law students to intern in every field and experience for themselves as to what appeals to them individualistically. All students cannot be pigeon-holed into any given category. Given the individualistic mindset, some may like arbitration and pursue a career accordingly, some may like litigation would accordingly prefer to pursue any further internships in the litigation wing of a firm or an individual practitioner and some would like the dynamics of the corporate set-up or some may even take to intellectual property law practice. My only advise for the students is that they should not miss any opportunity to intern and intern sincerely and explore for themselves as to what appeals to them the most.

    In addition to your professional achievements, we’d love to know more about your personal interests. What hobbies or activities do you engage in outside of the legal realm to unwind and recharge?

    The best way to unwind for me is to spend quality time with my daughter. Other than that, I like to paint and read fictional/ non-fictional books.

    Given your diverse experiences, both in law firms and as an independent legal practitioner, how would you compare the learning experiences in these different settings? What unique advantages or challenges do each offer, and how can young professionals leverage them to enhance their skills and knowledge

    My diverse experience made the difference between law firm practice and independent practice crystal clear to me. While in the latter, you are your own boss and command accordingly, in the former, depending on which rung of the ladder you are on, you mostly have a senior to poke you out of your slumber and weigh you down with lots of work irrespective of how much you already have on your plate. But then that’s what keeps you on your toes and it gives you utmost satisfaction at the end of the day to tick off things done from the to-do list one made in the morning. However, independent practice, while more lucrative, is not that easy, whether to establish or to command, as one has to be utmost sure of the advise one gives to the client as remember, you are your own boss and there is no cushion in the form of a senior. But this really enthrals you as you keep going and learn and master the art.  

    Get in touch with Payal Dayal-

  • “Since Insolvency Law is still at a fairly nascent stage, every case brings with it a new set of challenges giving you the opportunity of contributing towards the Insolvency Jurisprudence as a whole”- Himanshu Chaubey, Partner, Edictum Law & Co.

    “Since Insolvency Law is still at a fairly nascent stage, every case brings with it a new set of challenges giving you the opportunity of contributing towards the Insolvency Jurisprudence as a whole”- Himanshu Chaubey, Partner, Edictum Law & Co.

    This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team

    Can you share the journey that led you to pursue a career in law, starting from your education at Hidayatullah National Law University? What motivated you to choose law as a profession?

    Honestly speaking I stumbled upon law by chance. I was always interested in humanities and social sciences but took up a Science in my plus 2. But I soon realised  that I was not very good at it. A friend of mine then informed me that there are these institutions called the National Law Universities and people graduating for these institutions are getting well-paying jobs. It was the first time that CLAT was being conducted for admission to these colleges. I did some research and thought that it might suit my interest. So I must admit candidly that I chose law to avoid doing Engineering and was lured by the promise of a Fat Pay Cheque .  

    As an Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India, you’ve handled matters of constitutional and national importance. Could you discuss a specific case that stood out to you, and how it shaped your perspective on legal practice?

    Ans. As an AOR one matter which really stood out for me was a case wherein My Client, who is an RTI Activist, was not being allowed to reside within the confines of a District on the basis of false FIR’s registered against him. The FIR’s were registered by the same people against whom action was being taken on the basis of representations made by My Client. The Supreme Court while allowing the Appeal observed and reiterated that the fundamental right of Free Movement and Residence across the Country cannot be curtailed on flimsy grounds. 

    Your experience involves representing clients in various High Courts, dealing with matters related to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Can you share insights into the challenges and strategies you often encounter in this area of law?

    Ans. An Arbitration is nothing but a trial being conducted by a judge chosen by the parties and as per rules chosen by the parties. Therefore every Arbitration has to be approached in the same manner as one would approach a Trial before a Court of First Instance. As is the case with any Trial, even in Arbitration, it is of utmost importance that all the documents and facts, which are essential for establishing the claim, are brought on record. Even though it is said that one should not hide any facts from a doctor and a lawyer, however it is also a part of Human Nature to narrate only those facts which are beneficial to us. Therefore it is our job as lawyers to even extract those facts and documents, which are harmful to us so that we are not blindsided by them during the Arbitration. If you are thorough with your facts then all other challenges are manageable.  

    In your independent practice, you’ve represented clients before the National Company Law Tribunal and drafted appeals before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. How did this experience contribute to your understanding of corporate law and insolvency matters?

    As a firm our primary focus is towards commercial litigation and naturally that includes litigation before the NCLT and the NCLAT. Since Insolvency Law is still at a fairly nascent stage, every case brings with it a new set of challenges. That also gives you the opportunity of contributing towards the Insolvency Jurisprudence as a whole. One case that stand out for us, which also then became a landmark judgment with respect to powers of NCLT under the IBC, is the case of E.S. Krishnamurthy v. Bharath Hi-tech Builders Ltd.  We handled that case from the NCLT uptill the Supreme Court and therefore it is very close to our Hearts. 

    As an Associate at Gohil and Singh Law Chambers, you were involved in drafting and researching on petitions before the Supreme Court. Can you share a memorable case and the legal issues you tackled during that time?

    Mr. Pradhuman Gohil, has played a big role in my development as a lawyer. I worked with him for four years and extensively worked on matters before the Supreme Court. There were several cases which helped me to hone my skills as a lawyer. However one case which stands out was a Criminal Appeal in which we were defending a person convicted for murder. The case was based purely on Circumstantial Evidence and primarily based on statements of witnesses. We prepared for that matter for over six months and the hearing went on for 3 weeks. That case had all the issues can can think of a in a Criminal Case, ranging from importance of a Statement under Section 313 CrPC, Completion of Chain in a case of Circumstantial Evidence, Veracity of the testimony of a Hostile Witness, etc. 

    During your association with the office of Mr. Ajit Kumar Sinha, Senior Advocate, you were involved in researching matters before the Supreme Court and High Courts. Can you elaborate on the types of cases you worked on and the legal principles you engaged with?

    Mr. Ajit Kumar Sinha is my mentor in the profession. I did majority of my internships under him and eventually started my career with him. I worked under his guidance for 2 and a half year. During my time with Mr. Sinha, I had the opportunity to work on matters pertaining to mining laws, service laws, Land Laws, Tender Matters etc. I also had the opportunity to assist him in the Coal Scam Matter and the NJAC matter. 

    Given your diverse legal background, from constitutional matters to criminal law and commercial transactions, what advice would you offer to recent law graduates aspiring to build a versatile legal career and those interested in practicing law at a high level and dealing with matters of constitutional significance?

    My Advice to recent law graduates to not restrict themselves to practising only in one area of Law. The Beauty of the profession lies in its diversity and therefore one must try and grab onto all the work that comes their way. One must be a jack of all trades, because that goes a long way at retaining clients. The aim has to be that for your Client you should be the one stop shop. 

    Every person has a different journey and one advice that a friend of mine once gave me is to not compare my journey with that of others. Law, and especially litigation, demands perseverance. You just need to stick around and give your hundred percent, and at the cost of sounding preachy, I must say that there are no short cuts.

    Get in touch with Himanshu Chaubey-

  • “Advocacy is a blend of dedication, strategy, and continuous learning, and I believe in mastering every facet of this noble profession.” – Vikas Verma, Advocate-on-Record at Supreme court of India & founder of KMS Law Firm

    “Advocacy is a blend of dedication, strategy, and continuous learning, and I believe in mastering every facet of this noble profession.” – Vikas Verma, Advocate-on-Record at Supreme court of India & founder of KMS Law Firm

    This interview has been published by Namrata Singh and The SuperLawyer Team

    What initially sparked your interest in pursuing a career in law, and could you share the motivation or experiences that led you to take the Advocate-on-Record (AOR) exam after already having an extensive 15-year career in the legal field?

    From the initial stage of my career, legal profession was passion for me, after passing my LLM, I was involved in Judiciary Coaching, then after that I was appointed as Assistant Advocate General by the Government of Haryana from 2011 to 2014, but I feel that Advocate-on-record is a prestigious position in the Supreme Court and has its own charm.

    Establishing and leading KMS Law Firm is a significant accomplishment. Could you share some insights into the challenges you faced during the initial stages of starting the firm and what motivated you to embark on this entrepreneurial journey in the field of law?

    At KMS Law Firm we have a research-oriented approach and highly experienced team which ensures a quality assistance with an assortment of legal business solutions, ranging from complex transactions. I started my journey with dedication & Hard work. 

    As the Co-Chairman of the All India Lawyers Forum, you likely engage with a diverse legal community. What initiatives or activities do you find most rewarding in fostering connections among the legal professionals across the country?

    As Co-Chairman of AILF, I have organised about 40 webinars during lockdown on different topics of law which were most significant for legal fraternity with sitting and former judges of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. I learnt a lot from the experiences from different speakers/guests who gave valuable insights on legal topics. 

    In your role as Emeritus Assistant Advocate General for the Government of Haryana, what are some of the legal and constitutional issues you advised on, and how did they contribute to the governance of the state?

    As the Assistant Advocate General of Government of Haryana, I was a younger officer of the court in the State of Haryana. I attended and presented before the constitutional court and divisional benches and dealt with different types of cases of Government during the tenure. I took an active part in proceedings of court in state matters.

    As the Managing Partner of KMS Law Firm, you’ve been involved in a diverse range of legal areas, from criminal law to constitutional Law. Can you share a case or experience that stands out to you, something that was particularly challenging or rewarding in your career?

    It was a great experience when I dealt with the most difficult cases of NDPS and argued before the Supreme Court and Justice Indira Banerjee gave good judgement on reducing the sentence and even waived off the fines also. 

    As a firm has a Research-Oriented Approach, could you elaborate on how this approach translates into delivery quality legal assistance to clients? How does the firm ensure its team stays well-informed and updated on legal developments?

    The firm boasts of a Highly Qualified Team to assist the clients with the legal and regulatory framework. The mindset of our team is a special mix of integrity, intelligence, energy, and strategy which is the backbone of our firm. It is this conspicuous character that makes our associates different from others. It is what enables us to be the best for our clients, – their guiding star, and their trusted legal advisor.

    In your extensive experience navigating litigations across various high-profile forums, including the Supreme Court of India and the High Courts, can you share a situation where the courtroom dynamics were particularly challenging, and how did you navigate through it to secure a positive outcome for your client?

    When I dealt with a civil case regarding a land dispute before the court of Hon’ble The Chief Justice of India and the court had made up its mind to deliver the verdict that the land could be divided amongst the parties to the suit. Even our case was on strong footing as the order of the lower court was in the favour of my client, but I tried to give my best before the court and the court finally passed an order in favour of my client.

    For law students aspiring to intern in the legal field, what suggestions would you give them to make the most out of their internship experiences? Additionally. Could you share insights into the types of internship your firm, KMS Law Firm, typically offers and skills you look for in potential interns?

    During the internship experiences, students should do research work and discuss the file, read the bare acts with interpretation and should attend court proceedings so as to know the practical nuances of law. Good communication and drafting skills is what we seek in our prospective interns.

    Balancing a career in law can be demanding. How do you unwind or pursue personal interests outside of your legal commitments? Any hobbies or activities that you particularly enjoy?

    Social Engineering is the best theory in the legal field. I am involved in yoga & Meditation which I enjoy after work. Generally, I like to visit new places for holiday breaks.

    Considering your extensive experience in the legal field and as a mentor to aspiring lawyers, what advice or suggestions would you offer to the coming generation of legal professionals? In your opinion, what can they do differently or better to thrive in the dynamic legal landscape and contribute meaningfully to the field?

    Seven lamps of advocacy are the most significant for every lawyer i.e., honesty, courage, wit, industry, eloquence, legal judgement and fellowship. One should always try to master these all. Also, with the advancement in technology in research work and filing it is necessary to be conversant with the developments in them and use them for one’s progress. Also reading judgment and discussing with seniors gives immense jurisprudential understanding of law. 

    Get in touch with Vikas Verma-

  • “While specialization is necessary, I strongly believe this approach is prejudicial to the interest of fresh graduates or ones with a couple of years of experience”- Anuj Bhandari, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India

    “While specialization is necessary, I strongly believe this approach is prejudicial to the interest of fresh graduates or ones with a couple of years of experience”- Anuj Bhandari, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India

    This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team

    Could you please share with our listeners how your journey in law began? What inspired you to pursue B.Sc. LL.B. (Corporate Law Hons.) from the National Law University, Jodhpur?

    It’s a fairly interesting story. To be true, being from a family of lawyers and judges, my father never wanted me to be a lawyer. For the final two years of my schooling I was preparing for engineering and did not even fill the forms for law entrance examinations. After clearing the entrance test for Engineering, while depositing the fee in an engineering college in Bangalore, I felt that I don’t want to be an Engineer and rather, want to become a lawyer. Hence, I requested my father to not deposit the fee and expressed my willingness to prepare for the law entrance examination. Being from Rajasthan, NLU Jodhpur was my first preference and luckily, I cleared the entrance next year. 

    Your experience spans both litigation and corporate law. What led you to choose a career path that includes extensive practice in the Supreme Court and various other courts and tribunals?

    After my graduation from NLUJ, I was fortunate to get placed with Amarchand Mangaldas, Mumbai. I was part of the Funds Team and was involved in structuring venture capital funds. One year in Amarchand gave me hands-on experience and confidence to take up corporate work which would benefit me later in my career. However, I couldn’t see myself doing only corporate work for the rest of my life and shifting to litigation was better sooner than later. I therefore shifted to Delhi and started with a litigation journey. 

    Beauty about having an independent practice is that one is not confined to a particular forum or field of law and can push boundaries. Delhi being hub of litigation work, there are ample of opportunities in various courts and tribunals. One has to rather restrict himself from taking up work in multiple forums. I try to confine myself to the Supreme Court, but work naturally spills over to the High Court and various Appellate Tribunals. 

    You’ve worked in diverse areas such as banking, arbitration, constitution, consumer, debt recovery, and more. Could you elaborate on how you found your niche within the legal profession and the areas that resonate with you the most?

    Trend lately has been on super specialization in law. The law firms have dedicated teams to handle one subject or even one area of the subject. This trend is seen more in Tier-1 and Tier 2 law firms.  While specialization is necessary, I strongly believe this approach is prejudicial to the interest of fresh graduates or ones with a couple of years of experience.  In my view, any young lawyer should not specialise at an early stage of his career, rather a lawyer should have an experience to deal with as many subjects, fields and branches of law as possible. It not only gives an overall better understanding of law but also gives the ability to apply principles, precedents, and concepts from one field to another. Interplay of various subjects of law is an important tool which needs to be understood and applied both in courts and while undertaking advisory work. 

    I encourage my juniors to take up matters across various forums and subjects and not confine themselves to any particular field. While allocating work as well, I  ensure that my team gets to work on different subjects. I believe it not only helps them to have confidence in undertaking new assignments but will also aid them later on in their career.

    From being an associate at Amarchand Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co. to becoming a partner at Pricus Legal LLP, can you discuss the pivotal moments and experiences that shaped your career trajectory?

    Getting through Amarchand in college placement was one of the most memorable moments of my life. It was nothing short of a dream coming true, and of course it was financially highly rewarding. I was awed by the corporate culture, high profile clients and of course the stakes involved. However, having worked there for a year, I couldn’t find my calling in corporate work. As a result, I took the difficult decision of resigning from the firm and shifting to Delhi.

    I was fortunate to get a chance to work in the chamber of Mr Parag Tripathi, Senior Advocate, who was also Additional Solicitor General of India at the time. He is one of the finest orators and sharpest minds in the legal fraternity. I am proud to be part of his chamber and couldn’t have prayed for a better ‘Guru’. Working in his chamber gave me a chance of working on thousands of cases. Every day over 20 matters were listed which were split amongst 4–5 juniors. On an average each junior had to brief sir in 4 to 5 cases everyday. Every briefing used to be like a short moot court for us where we had to be ultra precise and to the point in our briefing yet making sure we don’t miss out anything relevant and at the same time answer a volley of questions. Doing this for nearly 4 years prepared us well for anything the future had to offer. 

    I took yet another difficult decision to leave the chambers of Mr. Parag Tripathi and started my practice in the later part of 2012. Subsequently,  I also cleared the Advocate-On-Record exam in 2015. 

    Having handled litigation both for individuals as well as companies, over the years, I started getting corporate advisory work as well. As we were getting corporate advisory and transactional work alongside litigation, we decided to formally incorporate Pricus Legal LLP to better manage and handle corporate work.

    Being from a litigation background, I find that the way a litigating lawyer perceives things even in any corporate transaction or documentation is very different from a corporate lawyer. Experience in litigation comes in handy to foresee possible disputes and loopholes. Therefore, as a matter of practice in our firm all corporate advisory/transaction has to go through the litigation team as well.

    As a registered Advocate-on-Record in the Supreme Court of India, you have been involved in several landmark judgments. Could you share one or two cases that you found particularly challenging or significant in your career?

    An interesting case which comes to mind is that of Bhagwan Singh v. Dilip Kumar where son of sitting MLA was involved in gang rape of a minor and was granted bail by the High Court on the ground that FIR was lodged nearly over a year after the incidence and there was no direct evidence to connect the accused with commission of alleged crime. I was representing the minor victim who approached the Supreme Court against grant of bail by the High Court. We were able to persuade Hon’ble Supreme Court to set aside the bail on the ground that High Court can’t look into the evidence at the stage of bail and should confine itself to criteria like seriousness of offence, statement of prosecutrix, likelihood of influencing the trial et cetera while deciding the bail. Judgement makes an interesting read.

    Another decision which I recollect is that of Ravi Khandelwal versus Taluka Store in which we challenged an order passed by the Larger Bench of the High Court in a reference involving question of interpreting Section 14(3) of Rajasthan Rent Control Act which provided a protection to the tenant against any suit for eviction for the first five years of tenancy. The Supreme Court overturned the conclusion of Larger Bench of High Court holding that even if a suit is filed within five years of commencement of tenancy, but during the pendency of suit five years lapse, the defect in the suit stands cured and the protection granted is achieved. However, what was more interesting was that the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed eviction of premises directly even when the appeal of the tenant was pending before the Single Judge of the High Court. Direction of eviction directly by the Supreme Court even while appeal on merits was pending before the High Court to my mind is unprecedented.

    You’ve been a panel lawyer for various esteemed organizations. How did these associations come about, and how does being a panel lawyer for such entities impact your legal practice?

    Getting any panel is fairly difficult, particularly in initial years of practice. Working in the office of ASG, all of us were empanelled with the Union of India which opened the doors for panels of other PSUs. One panel thereafter led to another over the years. Even though these panels are not usually financially very rewarding, they give an opportunity to appear and argue before the court and provide a constant source of work. In initial stages when individual clients are scarce, panel work comes in handy and ensures regular appearances before the court. 

    With your extensive experience in various legal domains, including banking, insurance, constitutional law, and more, how do you balance staying versatile with the need for deep specialization?

    There is a saying that clients choose lawyers specialization. As I mentioned earlier, I strongly believe that lawyers, particularly in litigation, should not get specialised early in their career. It is only after a few decades of practice and incidentally handling a particular kind of cases more than others, that lawyers would get specialised on their own in a particular field. Personally, I would any day choose to do a variety and different kind of work every day rather than get super specialised in any particular field. One of the reasons why I shifted from corporate to litigation was to do a variety of work, but I think that’s a very personal choice.

    Lastly, considering your journey and achievements, what advice would you like to give to fresh law graduates who are about to embark on their legal careers? What are the key lessons you’ve learned that you would like to share with them?

    I would strongly advise young lawyers to explore different fields of law for the first few years of their career before choosing and settling into one which matches their aptitude and liking. Fresh graduates should not be reluctant to change their field, particularly in the first few years of their career and do something which they can call their calling. As one progresses into his career it becomes exponentially difficult to venture into these experiments.

    I also highly recommend that every fresh graduate should start his career with litigation and rough it out in courts at least for sometime. It is only then one understands actual application of law and gives a perspective completely different from mere theoretical understanding. Even if eventually, they decide to move into a corporate setup, the experience in litigation will give them immense confidence. Getting into a super specialized team right out of college is not something I would recommend. Legal Profession is not a 5 year long but a 50 years long career and the initial few years should be an investment on oneself.

    Get in touch with Anuj Bhandari-

  • “Every client, every cross examination, every meeting, every briefing in itself presents a new experience and contributes to one’s growth”- Priyanka Sethia, Founder of the Chambers of Priyanka Sethia

    “Every client, every cross examination, every meeting, every briefing in itself presents a new experience and contributes to one’s growth”- Priyanka Sethia, Founder of the Chambers of Priyanka Sethia

    This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team

    Ma’am, can you please provide a brief introduction about yourself and your journey into the field of law?

    Hi. I am Priyanka Sethia and I have been practicing at various Courts and Tribunals across India, as an advocate for over 10 years. 

    I graduated in the field of law in 2013 and got an LL.M. in Corporate and Financial laws in 2021, while being in the profession and gained further certifications as opportunities presented themself.

    I am a certified negotiator accredited by London School of Economics & Political Sciences [2022] and a certified POSH (Diversity & Inclusion) Trainer [2023].

    I started my own law chamber – Chambers of Priyanka Sethia, in 2021 and we take up civil and commercial matters for various individual and corporate clients as well as deal in corporate practice.

    With over 10 years of experience, you have established yourself as a prominent figure in the legal fraternity. What inspired you to pursue a career in law and eventually become an advocate?

    I have shared this before, but this story never gets old for me. So, my career in law wasn’t really a given from the very beginning and I am a first generation lawyer. My roots find themselves etched in a very traditional business family. It so happened that one day, I was late to school by a few minutes and the Head of Department, Accounts who was in charge of the School Assembly that day, asked me to go back home as I was late!

    It was however only my first late show and I was aware of the finely printed school rules and regulations, set out in our Daily Academic Planner that permitted a student three late shows before being sent back for the day. With great respect, I politely took out the Academic Planner from my bag, opened the rules section and read it out to the said school teacher which stated that I had to be given three opportunities/warnings, before I could be sent back home for being late. I certainly could attend school that day but only saw disdain in that teacher’s eyes for me, on all days thereafter. Thankfully it was my last year in school and I then realized the power of Laws and Rules framed thereunder and the joy of knowing and abiding by it and of course realized my interest in reading the fine print.

    Decision to pursue law came organically to me but the decision to choose between Litigation vs Corporate Law never comes easy for anybody. While the heart wants to be in the courts and explore the passion of arguing vociferously for the clients and their cause, the mind seeks to showcase the drafting skills. So now, my Chamber is trying to strengthen both its litigation team and its corporate practice team, by continuously levelling up with diverse certifications, hiring new talent and continuous practice. At the moment, I head both the verticals and with a recent certification in POSH (Diversity & Inclusion) Training, I hope to offer various training to Corporates, in this arena.

    You founded the Chambers of Priyanka Sethia in 2021. Could you share the motivations behind starting your own law chambers and the vision you have for it?

    I have worked with some of the most incredible seniors in Profession who have mentored me throughout and continue to handhold me through difficult situations. After assisting them for about 8 years, I realized that I was ready to explore legal practice from my own perspective. 

    And so, post the Covid scenario, with experience that I had gathered from my seniors and mentors, and a postgraduate degree in my choice of practice area, I delved into independent practice and started Chambers of Priyanka Sethia in November, 2021.

    My vision for the chamber is to render exceptional legal services to our clients while being on an upward trend in the number of fresher hirings. I take pride in the fact that I welcome freshers with 0-6m experience and it’s lovely to draw inspiration from their passion and exuberance. On the work front, the chamber is striving to strengthen both its Litigation Practice and Corporate Practice. 

    You are a certified negotiator accredited by the London School of Economics & Political Sciences. How has this certification influenced your approach to negotiations, and what role does negotiation play in your legal practice?

    While engaging in Corporate Practice, often we find ourselves negotiating terms of the contract on behalf of our clients. Many-a-times, the other party is situated outside India and has a completely different approach towards the drafts/agreements compared to the Indian scenario. Being sensitive to their background, ethos, laws and culture is the key. My certification in negotiations has helped me in bridging that gap and comes in handy especially while dealing with International Corporates and has added an edge in fostering new relationships, executing contracts, and arriving at settlements. 

    Your experience covers a wide range of legal areas, including corporate practice, commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and more. Can you highlight some key experiences that have significantly contributed to your growth as an advocate?

    Every case is a new learning. One cannot limit their learnings to the law. I strongly believe every person we meet is a new experience, we become wiser with each interaction. Every client, every cross examination, every meeting, every briefing in itself presents a new experience and contributes to one’s growth.

    Your expertise extends to regulatory compliance and privacy laws. How do you approach these complex areas, and what challenges do you typically encounter in ensuring compliance for your clients?

    To cite one instance, often we find that the law enforcement agencies are not well trained to understand and implement the law at the grassroot level. Recently, while dealing in a legal metrology matter, we observed that the department officer had no exposure to a couple of years old amendment in the law and required sensitization. Routinely issuing notices just to meet targets is a norm and needs to change. 

    You champion the cause of women emancipation. How do you integrate this advocacy into your legal practice, and what initiatives have you undertaken to contribute to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession?

    I believe having freshers on board or having non NLU advocates in the team is the biggest inclusion point in our profession. I am open to having good talent on board without any preconceived notions or unconscious biases.

    Besides, I take up matrimonial matters for marginalized women pro bono and ensure that they are taken to a logical conclusion.

    Considering your successful journey in law, what advice would you give to fresh graduates aspiring to pursue a career in law and make a mark in the legal profession?

    Success is a subjective term. On the work front, my request to fresh graduates aspiring to pursue a career in law is to be consistent. Do not give up without giving it a fair shot and some time.  Also, there is a great demand for lawyers with expertise in niche areas. One could also choose their practice area earlier on in their career and proceed further in that direction. 

    And, Pursue a hobby alongside the profession. This helps in keeping sane as well as sticking through. 

    Get in touch with Priyanka Sethia-

  • “Travelling to various Courts per-se add a great value, however, arguing a matter before another Court apart from your regular Court adds more experience and sharpens the argumentative skills”- Devmani Basal, Associate Partner at SNG Partners

    “Travelling to various Courts per-se add a great value, however, arguing a matter before another Court apart from your regular Court adds more experience and sharpens the argumentative skills”- Devmani Basal, Associate Partner at SNG Partners

    This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team

    Sir, could you please share the story of how you initially decided to pursue a career in law? Were there specific experiences or influences that led you to choose this path? 

    First of all, I am a second generation lawyer. I was motivated to pursue law from the beginning as Law is a noble profession and contributes a lot to society. Since my childhood, I have seen my Father’s contribution towards society as his core practice area was Criminal Law. However, during my college days, I was much inclined to pursue my career in the stock market being financially connected which goes to my core passion. Simultaneously, I was pursuing Law and finally, I decided to shift myself to Law especially in Commercial matters, which is a mixed bag of finance and commerce. I, then, shifted to Delhi.

    With almost 12 years of experience across litigation, commercial arbitration, and consumer and company litigation, what motivated you to specialize in these specific areas within the legal field? 

    I am passionate to read and learn more and more deep into financial activities related to business and commerce. This interest connects me with the litigation and enlightens me to understand the problem of a businessman in a much better way, which ultimately led to making a business decision. Law can be practiced by anyone but having basic knowledge over the general subject of the case either commercial, arbitration or consumer or company makes things easier to resolve the query in an effective way. Like an Advocate having understanding of stock market would be able to pursue a case related to stock market than a novice. Since I have interest in reading these topics, I was more inclined to specialise in the above specific areas in the legal field, so that I can deliver better than ordinary. 

    Your career includes appearances before various High Courts, the Supreme Court of India, and various tribunals. Can you highlight a particularly challenging case you’ve worked on and discuss the strategies you employed to navigate through it successfully? 

    It was in Sep’ 2014, when I caught up in a matter before Hon’ble Supreme Court. I briefed a Senior Advocate, however, he was stuck in a traffic jam and could not make it on time. I was called upon by the Bench to argue. With hesitation, I began and strenuously argued the matter. When I finished my arguments, my Senior reached the Court. However, by that time, the Hon’ble Court reserved the matter for order. The judgement was delivered in the month of March’ 2015 and finally, we succeeded. This case taught me to always be ready with the brief irrespective of engaging a Senior Advocate. I have fearlessly appeared before almost 11 High Courts of the country and numerous District Courts and Tribunals across the country and independently argue the matters. This rich experience and exposure are completely devoted to my Senior Colleague Mr. Ajay Abhay Monga Advocate, who always reposed faith on my skills and offered opportunity as and when it appeared.  

    Given your expertise in Consumer Laws, Commercial Law, and other areas, how do you stay abreast of the ever-evolving legal landscape, especially with regards to amendments and changes in laws and regulations? 

    In the current scenario, especially the deep presence of online updates and platforms, it becomes easy to keep updated. However, specific laws get evolved as and when I work upon a case file. I must state that sitting in Court, in idle time, is indeed a good way of learning and keeping updated, apart from learning argumentative skills and to have a broad idea about the temperament of a Judge.

    You’ve been associated with significant reported judgments, such as Millennium Wires vs. The State Trading Corporation of India. Can you share the role you played in these cases and the impact they had on your legal career? 

    As explained to you above, the case you highlighted was a game changer for me as it was an opportunity to independently argue a case before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in addition to the fact that many stakes were involved. I was quite nervous in the beginning, however, after the hearing concluded, I felt immensely satisfied with my performance and it boosted my confidence to argue a case before any Court. I was involved in the above case since it was before the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, therefore, I had good command over the facts and coupled with the fact that I briefed the Senior Advocate for hearing, so I was quite prepared with the case. The preparation, briefing and discussion with Senior and deep involvement in the case since inception, in fact, gave power and confidence to present the case independently.

    Having worked on matters related to FEMA, PMLA, and other financial regulations, how do you approach advising senior management on the legal implications of business decisions, particularly in the context of financial laws? 

    Advising on the legal implications of financial laws certainly depends upon the kind of business my client is involved in coupled with their requirements. Those days are gone by, where businesses can flourish without legal support. Presently, the laws are quite stringent, which require legal advice at every stage of business decisions. Therefore, after understanding the business model and the requirements of a particular trade, I would advise my Client in making its business decisions in line with the financial laws.

    From being an Associate to now being an Associate Partner at SNG & Partners, can you discuss the key milestones and challenges you faced in your career progression? 

    I belong to Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and shifted myself to Delhi in Sep’ 2011 to pursue my career in law. Since, I was not much active during my college days, therefore, I was completely raw, when in fact, I entered the profession. I initially practiced with some Advocate for a period of 4 months and thereafter, I began my career with SNG & Partners in March’ 2012. Our Managing Partner, Mr. Sanjay Gupta is a kind-hearted and a great mentor, who always encourages the juniors. In the beginning, rushing from one Court to another gave me an exposure to a variety of laws. I was working under Mr. Ajay Abhay Monga, Senior Partner, who gave me ample opportunities to argue the matter independently. Later on, he handed over the outstation cases portfolio to me, which added more exposure in my experience. Travelling to various Courts is per-se add a great value, however, arguing a matter before another Court, apart from your regular Court, adds more experience and sharpens the argumentative skills. Travelling to different Courts gives independence as well as enhances decision making without the support of your colleagues. It also helps you to understand the local practices of various Courts. I must add that there are no free lunches anywhere and the same goes with different Courts in different states. You will face challenges like language barriers as all the Courts in this country are not following English as their base language but these exposures not only add experience but also shape an Advocate to argue a matter in challenging circumstances as well. My journey with SNG is full of challenges in each case, however these challenges make an Advocate. I am always thankful to my Seniors for always appreciating my work and finding me suitable for new challenges. A special regard to Mr. Monga, who has been a great mentor for me and guided me in my hard times and always motivated me.

    As someone with a rich and varied legal career, what advice would you give to fresh law graduates who are just entering the legal profession? What key lessons have you learned along the way that you would like to share with them? 

    A law graduate must understand that law is a learning process, which would never end. Therefore, reading and understanding the law and its implications are essential. Like practice makes a man perfect, similarly, the more you read, the more you gain. Law graduates, during the initial days, must visit Court everyday and observe the Advocates arguing their cases and the kind of questions raised by the Benches. This will make them understand how the case is presented. You can make notes and read the file thoroughly, however, there are certain spontaneous questions, which would arise and those questions can be answered, only with your general acumen. A law graduate must not refrain from reading the topics, which are not necessary for the kind of legal practice he/she is involved in. He/She must understand that presenting a case before the Court is an art crafted by an Advocate. Thus, every advocate has a different way of presenting the case. Thus, the argumentative skills can only be learnt, when you hear and listen in a Courtroom. I wish All the Best to all the Law graduates.  

    Get in touch with Devmani Bansal-

  • “I feel each role contributes to your overall growth and helps in your evolution, if performed with full dedication”- Anjali Jain, Partner & Head – Insolvency & Restructuring Practice at Areness

    “I feel each role contributes to your overall growth and helps in your evolution, if performed with full dedication”- Anjali Jain, Partner & Head – Insolvency & Restructuring Practice at Areness

    This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team

    Can you please share the journey of how you ended up specializing in Insolvency and Restructuring practice, considering your educational background in Constitutional and Criminal Law?

    I always had a keen interest in Business, Economics, Finance and Commerce. I started my education with a B.Com (H) from Lady Shriram College, Delhi University and followed it up with LLB from Delhi University itself. While I had delved into Constitutional and Criminal Law for my Masters, my interest continued towards how law affects the economics of businesses and country as a whole, my post-graduation further strengthened my research and interpretation skills. The Insolvency Law in India has taken a rebirth in the year 2016 and post completion of my Masters, the newly enacted Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 proved just to be the perfect practice area for me. IBC is one of its kind laws in India, more of a revolution. As I had already groomed myself on how to focus on a specific domain of law, specialising in Insolvency was only a path to be chosen. What really intrigued me about the Code, was how the law was laid from scratch with no baggage or burden of its previous laws and limited subject jurisprudence as well, I had the freedom to explore the various facets of law in light of statutory interpretation, legislative intent and judicial outlook. Also, lastly, I feel that building a practice in such a new law with hardly any precedents, skills developed in my Masters in Law from NLU – Delhi did help a lot. 

    What would you say has been the most challenging case you’ve encountered, and how did you navigate through it?

    Perhaps, every case brings with its own challenges, expectations, anticipations, and anxiety. To be honest, I am not a litigation practitioner, however, as a subject matter expert, we do participate in devising legal strategies. Sometimes the matters are at a very nascent stage where we get ample time for a 360-degree evaluation and then there are those cases where you have to prepare your front-facing team members for split second decisions. Each case brings with it its own experiences and learnings. If you have to ask me the most challenging case, mentioning one would be too unjust for the others, for reasons unknown to me so far, we are more often than not engaged in very typical particular matters only!

    As a member of INSOL International, you’ve been part of various national and international forums. Could you tell us about a specific instance where you felt your participation made a significant impact or contribution to the discussions on Insolvency, Banking, and Corporate Affairs?

    I have been very privileged to have been a part of discussions on law. What started as a resource person for law colleges, went onto being called for forums of policy discussions. Initially, it was more of an academic role with me professing how IBC works to law students. I also am actively involved as an industry resource for the Graduate Insolvency Programme at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs. Some time back, I was invited by State Bank of India as a part of a training session of its Law Officers on IBC and its inter-relations with the Banking sector. In one of my most memorable discussions, a global conference held on Insolvency in December 2020 where I discussed the future of IBC, especially in the post CoVid era. Lately, I have been involved in policy discussions at ASSOCHAM.

    Your professional journey involves managing a team, devising legal strategies, and handling financial planning. How do you balance the legal and managerial aspects of your role, and what advice do you have for aspiring legal professionals aiming to take on leadership positions?

    When you transition from a technical or a professional role to a management role, there is a high probability of dilution of your technical skills. For me, it came as a matter of no choice to be honest to you. If I look back, I feel it was also my interest which motivated me to assume responsibilities of Management. As I mentioned earlier, I am really passionate about the Insolvency Law and the Management responsibilities are an additional charge for me. Luckily, I am able to devote time on Practice as well besides the Management, I feel it helps me in my continuous growth and evolution. What has helped me throughout has been a very supportive team. I have also learnt a lot from attending short term Management courses as well as reading Management books. 

    My advice for aspiring legal professionals is to actively participate in various functions at their organisations such as client interviews, research, events, team management, etc. A sense of belonging towards your organisation, zeal to constantly learn and grow, participation in team meetings, events, etc., the leadership journey requires perseverance and persistence and there are countless minor unnoticeable steps which you have to climb to reach that leadership level. But not to miss out, invariable, leadership is a crown of thorns.

    Given your involvement in numerous workshops for legal officials of PSBs, including SBI, what key insights or lessons have you gained from these sessions that you think are crucial for professionals in the field of Insolvency and Banking?

    What I feel today’s times call for super-specialisation in any domain. In our interactions with officials of PSBs, what I have felt is lacking is perhaps being too overburdened with Managerial roles that professionals with such roles fall short of time for upscaling themselves on the subject. A law such as Insolvency is a very fast paced one. Not just the process, but the judicial pronouncements, policies, regulations and rules are almost updated every few days. I feel adequate time has to be devoted by every professional towards keeping himself/ herself updated on the latest developments of law.  

    You’ve been recognized as a Rising Star in 2021 by Legal Era. What do you believe are the key attributes that contributed to this recognition, and how do you continue to stay at the forefront of your field?

    I am not sure I can ever have an answer for that. I believe in simply delivering my responsibilities towards the best of my abilities regularly. However, if I have to answer that, I can only repeat that I push to keep myself updated on the law and the industry. What may have also worked for me is a complete client – centric approach which helps me start with the end in mind when I am assigned with any case, opinion or draft by our clients.

    In addition to your legal practice, you’ve authored several publications and columns. How do you manage to balance your role as a practicing advocate with your commitments as a columnist and resource person for various platforms?

    Balance is my life’s driving motto. I feel each role contributes to your overall growth and helps in your evolution, if performed with full dedication. I will give you an example here. For me, every column and publication gives me an opportunity to read in-depth on a particular proposition which I may not have in our daily professional commercially driven responsibilities. Likewise, every event where I participate as a speaker or a Resource Person, I read through comprehensively to ensure consistency and correctness. In a lot of our research reports, I get an opportunity to gain knowledge from a vantage point. So, you can say, every event, every publication or column also betters me and assists me in delivering my responsibilities as a practising advocate better. Also, it keeps the monotony at bay!!!!

    As someone who has been actively involved in legal education, what advice would you give to fresh law graduates entering the field today, particularly those interested in Insolvency and Restructuring?

    Though I feel it is still early days for me in this profession, still if I have to advise, I will only recommend law graduates to read a lot. As they say, there is no shortcut to success, likewise as much I promote advancement in technology and its use in the field of law as well, however, for a professional, responsibility is magnanimous. In the legal profession, we use our knowledge and skills for our clients at times, as officers of courts at others and for the public as a whole as well. Every judgment I have read through as a whole has helped me learn a lot more than giving me a solution for the matter at hand. Barring those who perhaps prepare for judiciary services, I find few actually even going through the entire statutes. Blogs and tools like ChatGPT can offer quick solutions when there is dearth of time, however, in early years, I would just advise young law graduates to read as much as they can. Lastly, I would say that in the initial years of your career, try to gain as much knowledge as possible and try to strengthen an overall understanding of how law works and over the years, choose a specific domain of law and build expertise in it.

    Get in touch with Anjali Jain-

  • “Law graduates should recognize that what they learn in law school is not enough for legal practice”- Anjan Neupane, Partner at Neupane Law Associates

    “Law graduates should recognize that what they learn in law school is not enough for legal practice”- Anjan Neupane, Partner at Neupane Law Associates

    This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team

    Sir, could you please share your journey of becoming a legal practitioner, from your education at the University of Aberdeen to your current position as a partner at Neupane Law Associates?

    Like every other lawyer, my journey of becoming a legal practitioner began during my law school. The most helpful experience I had was volunteering as an advisor at the Citizens Advice Scotland. We advised mostly low-income clientele legal matters relating to debt, bankruptcy, consumer, landlord, family problems, etc. Clients in difficult situations needed quick and effective legal help. There I learnt you had to focus on reaching an effective solution for the clients quickly. This learning has stayed with me until now. 

    At law school, my interest was in commercial law and I enjoyed my elective courses in corporate finance law, corporate insolvency law, and tax law very much.

    After graduating, I worked for around 2 years with a renowned senior advocate with extensive tax and commercial practice in Kathmandu. There I gained first-hand experience of Nepali contract, tax, and company laws. I also gained exposure to construction law and arbitration matters.

    There were not many lawyers with good international exposure and English language skills in Nepal at the time. Commercial law practice was very small and focused mostly on compliance. Nepal was also recovering from a decade long insurgency and foreign investors were slowly returning back. Due to the market scenario at the time, I started getting contract drafting and foreign investment related matters through my personal contacts and references from other lawyers. Thereafter, I started with my current firm Neupane Law Associates serving my own clients. Currently, we are established as a go-to law firm for corporate and commercial matters in Nepal. Our firm’s practice is ranked Band-1 by Chambers and Tier-1 by Legal 500 in Nepal for a number of years now. 

    As a leading legal practitioner in Nepal, specializing in corporate, finance, cross-border transactions, and dispute resolution, could you highlight a particularly challenging case or project you’ve worked on recently and share the key strategies you employed?

    Nepal is a challenging jurisdiction to work in due to vaguely drafted laws and bureaucratic unpredictability. Our approach is to strictly follow the law, while not being afraid to create new market practices. A rewarding experience for me early on in my career was to advise a consortium of foreign and local lenders as local counsel in the first international project finance transaction in over 20 years for Lower Solu Hydropower Project. Bridging the gap between best international practices and Nepali law was challenging. It created a market precedent that set a practice in other similar transactions. Another highlight of my career has been working as a tax and corporate law expert appointed by the Government of Nepal in the ICSID arbitration filed by Axiata. It was the largest legal dispute in Nepal’s history. It was also a learning experience to see leading international lawyers in action. 

    Our team has been working in various shareholder and construction disputes currently. They are naturally challenging and complex. In my view, a good lawyer should have the ability to simplify even the most complex issues. Being solution oriented and getting in-depth into the facts of the case are key strategies we employ.

    Your expertise spans a wide range of areas such as arbitration, litigation, banking, finance, and M&A. How do you stay updated on the evolving legal landscape in Nepal, especially considering the complexities of cross-border transactions?

    Being a transaction and disputes lawyer at the same time is very challenging from a time and knowledge management practice. However, I have found that these practice areas complement each other. I have found that the knowledge and experience gained in transactions can be used during litigation and vice versa. Being a small jurisdiction, many aspects of Nepalese commercial law jurisprudence are still unsettled. Therefore, taking inspiration from what is happening in other jurisdictions is important. Reading good international books and participating in international conferences and seminars has been very helpful in staying updated. 

    Given your involvement in advising world-renowned companies, including Texmaco, IFC, and Alibaba Group, can you share any unique challenges you’ve encountered while facilitating cross-border transactions between Indian companies and Nepal?

    The challenge in Nepal is vaguely drafted laws, unpredictability of government agencies, and lack of established market practice for new and complex transactions. Oftentimes the Nepalese counterparts are also not assisted by an experienced commercial lawyer. Some international clients do not engage a Nepali lawyer at an early stage of the transactions but only do so later. When the client has not taken advice at an early stage, the transaction structure may have to be changed at the documentation stage which becomes a problem and causes delay. Enforceability of Indian seated arbitral awards in Nepal and vice versa has also come up recently as a new challenge due to a recent Supreme Court ruling in the Sangi Brothers case.

    You’ve been recognized for your excellent knowledge of Nepali commercial and contractual law. How do you balance staying rooted in local legal nuances while also navigating the complexities of international law, especially in the context of your cross-border transactions?

    As a lawyer advising in international matters, I find that you are required to have a good command in both Nepali law and law practices internationally. In-depth recognition of the similarities and differences in the laws of Nepal and of other jurisdictions is key to our legal practice. Like I mentioned earlier, I read good international books and exchange views with lawyers in other jurisdictions to balance these aspects. 

    Your recent work includes advising on equity investments in hydropower projects and various financings. What trends do you observe in the current landscape of foreign investments in Nepal, particularly in the energy sector?

    Equity investments and financings in the hydropower sector for foreign clients have recently been challenging as Nepal has not signed power purchase agreements in US dollars and there is a lot of uncertainty about how to hedge currency risk. The Government of Nepal has come up with various hedging guidelines and regulations, however, foreign investors are yet to be convinced. Also, getting a bankable risk allocation in power purchase agreements and concession agreements has been difficult. Nevertheless, the governments of Nepal and India have entered into an agreement for Nepal to export 10,000 MWs of power to India over the next 10 years. This will open the door for Indian sponsors to sell power from Nepal to India and obtain financing from Indian banks.

    Could you shed light on your role in defending lawsuits filed against Nissan Motors by distributors? How do you approach representing clients in the automotive sector, and what unique legal challenges arise in such cases?

    We have been recently involved in a couple of cases of similar nature involving Nissan Motors, Royal Enfield, Preet Tractors and others. In my view, the key to avoiding disputes or having an upper hand when there is one is to have a well drafted distribution agreement and fully complying with the contract provisions and laws during termination. Nepalese courts can grant stay orders if contract terms are ambiguous and if the termination can be seen as unlawful due to non-compliance with contract provisions. This can be very risky and is best avoided. 

    Lastly, what advice would you give to law graduates aspiring to make a mark in corporate law, especially those interested in practicing in Nepal or dealing with cross-border transactions?

    Law graduates should recognize that what they learn in law school is not enough for legal practice. They should extensively read judicial precedents in the practice areas of their interest and international books to stay updated. They should also recognize that the law in theory and the law applied in practice might differ. They should become more commercially aware and solution oriented.

    Get in touch with Anjan Neupane-

  • “Adaptability is key in the legal profession. From District Courts to the Supreme Court, preparation and versatility are crucial for success.” – Prabhat Kaushik, Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India

    “Adaptability is key in the legal profession. From District Courts to the Supreme Court, preparation and versatility are crucial for success.” – Prabhat Kaushik, Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India

    This interview has been published by Namrata Singh and The SuperLawyer Team

    Could you take us through your journey from your college days to becoming an Advocate on Record at the Supreme Court? What inspired you to pursue law as a career?

    During my college days, I used to study and make friends who were like-minded and interested in studying and understanding law. I used to make friends whom you could find in the library only or after professors asked questions. Most of our freedom fighters were Lawyers of course that motivates me and of course, the respect a lawyer gets in Society.

    Being the AOR for the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim is a distinctive role. How did this association come about, and what are some of the challenges and rewards of representing such a high-profile client in the Supreme Court?

    I got the chance to represent the Hon’ble chief minister of Sikkim before the honourable Supreme Court through the Standing Counsel for the state of Sikkim in the Supreme Court who had previously engaged me in many of his cases and therefore gave me a chance. the rewards are always high but the expectations are also high.

    In your extensive career, you’ve handled cases related to Builder-Buyer disputes, Recovery of Refunds by RERA, Criminal Cases, and more. What motivates you to take on such diverse cases, and how do you stay well-versed in multiple areas of law?

    From the beginning of my law career, I, used to handle builder buyer cases as many of my close friends and relatives were cheated by builders and providing them good results brought me many cases. I have offices and associations in Delhi NCR and many of my associates, friends and lawyers keep me engaged in their cases and that keeps me updated with all kinds of cases.

    As someone who has dealt with international companies and MNCs, what nuances or differences do you find in representing their cases compared to domestic ones?

    Cases of MNCs and international companies are not of a very different sort but their challenges are also as same as those of a domestic company for example for a Japanese company I got an FIR registered against the top brass of management in Gurugram a complaint filed by their Parent Company and a Ukrainian company was cheated by Transport vessel company and for other Dubai and Japanese companies facing trouble because of Labour, Employees, Tax and POSH cases.

    Your practice spans different courts and forums. How do you adapt your approach when dealing with cases in various jurisdictions, from District and Session Courts to the Supreme Court?

    The only thing I keep in my mind while approaching any Courts from Distt. to Supreme Court is that I should be well-versed and well-prepared with my case.

    Becoming an Advocate on Record involves a rigorous examination process at the Supreme Court. Can you share your experience preparing for and clearing the AOR exam? What advice do you have for aspiring lawyers who aim to achieve this milestone in their careers?

    I really put all my efforts into clearing the same and was a herculean task. the only mantra is hard work and study plus one should join lectures delivered by examiners THEMSELVES conducted at ILI.

    Your chamber plays a crucial role in shaping the professional journey of budding lawyers. Can you tell us about the work culture and environment in your chamber? Additionally, how do you approach mentoring and guiding interns who join your team?

    Yes, it plays a very important role but I like my colleagues to enjoy work within spheres of discipline in my chamber. I don’t like the late-night work culture. Law interns, they really enjoy a lot because We expose them to every court and forum of Delhi-NCR which enhances their knowledge in unravelling intricacies of Law.

    Having seen the evolution of legal education and the influx of interns and upcoming lawyers, what differences or challenges do you observe in the skill set or approach of students today compared to when you were starting your career? Are there specific areas where you think interns or young lawyers might need additional focus or development?

    Yes, nowadays the legal profession is in vogue. It’s very difficult for a beginner to earn bread and butter in this profession in their initial days. There is a misconception floating around about a lot of money in this profession and therefore the students are choosing this profession but no one tells about the struggle which breaks them. The legal profession is a very noble profession. But not an easy money-making profession. In our days we knew what we were doing and how we would do it and were prepared to face struggles mentally and physically. I used to attend courts by using Public Buses and Trains, which for a modern new Lawyer is not possible if he/she belongs to a humble family and puts a financial burden on their parents.

    Beyond your demanding legal career, everyone needs some downtime. Could you share with us what passions or activities you pursue in your free time? What brings you joy and relaxation outside the courtroom?

    I really enjoy gossiping with friends and of course travelling to the hills.

    Having pursued an LL.M., yourself, could you share your perspective on how further academic specialization contributes to a legal career? What advice would you offer to young lawyers considering pursuing an LL.M. and how can they maximize its benefits for a successful legal career?

    Well, higher studies always help boost your confidence and add a new chapter to your success story. For young lawyers I advise them to pursue all sorts of courses available to help boost their knowledge and enhance confidence, there are so many diploma courses and LL.M helps new lawyers to shape their career by specialising in some chosen field. 

    Get in touch with Prabhat Kaushik-