Super Lawyer

Category: AOR

  • “The importance of legal scholarship can be seen not only in academic growth but also through a positive change in law.” – Shivani Vij, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India.

    “The importance of legal scholarship can be seen not only in academic growth but also through a positive change in law.” – Shivani Vij, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    Your academic journey from graduating at the top of your class at NLIU Bhopal to completing the BCL at Oxford on a Chevening Scholarship has been exceptional. How have these contrasting academic environments shaped your legal reasoning and influenced your professional practice?

    My graduation at NLIU was an intense five-year trimester. NLIU was heavily student run, and this gave me the confidence to take charge. I was at the helm of co-curricular activities, in addition to academia. It also gave me space to grow as a young law student and have an opinion for the first time on anything contemporary or legal.

    NLIU will always feel like home, and I am proud of the strong foundation it gave me, but perhaps it faces the same challenge of the Indian legal education in its narrow/ low focus on independent research and writing. I strongly believe that a system that focuses on application of law and encourages research rather than exams may be better suited for litigation. Part of the problem is a dearth of practitioners as teachers in Indian law schools, unlike med schools. This is extremely relevant for procedural subjects.

    So, while I was at the top of my class in NLIU, I found myself at the bottom of my cohort in Oxford. BCL’s perspective on what a good essay should look like was very different from mine. Clarity of thought was given utmost priority. And though this sounds basic, I began viewing the ability to begin with a proposition of law, develop an argument and reason it out, a skill worth developing. Only later I realised this also reflected a good draft of a synopsis of a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court. Another area where the BCL broadened my perspective was comparative law. Many cases in the Supreme Court deal with constitutional challenges and look outside the Indian law, such as in anti-discrimination and administrative law. 

    The time spent by practitioners in teaching full time courses; for instance, Kings Counsels in the UK is also a big advantage. They regularly take out time for closed group discussions with two-three students and give individual attention to each essay. This interaction is truly phenomenal. 

    One last thing that I continue to reap the benefits of is the Oxford community. My friends at the programme are very dear to me and the university did everything to make this happen. Most of them, who went on to become barristers and solicitors, are still in touch with me and we often share our work experiences in the midst of remembering our time at the university. On the lighter side, the joy of studying in a Hogwarts styled city, with a library at every corner, and the beautifully designed lush green colleges, is simply unparallelled.

    Not many people start their litigation career with government practice. How was it working in the chamber of an Additional Standing Counsel at the Delhi High Court, very early in your career?

    I worked with Adv. Gautam Narayan (now a designated senior) for about two and a half years, when he was on the Delhi Govt panel. My experience in his chamber was very enriching, yet very demanding. The sheer volume of work one is expected to handle at a government chamber overwhelms you. And dealing with government departments for instructions each day can be very time consuming, with their usual red tape. Few other things that come handy with a government panel is to face constant flak from judges for the slow pace of work, not filing responses promptly etc.

    However, often less spoken about, is the ability to drive change and enable relief as a government counsel, which makes the job fulfilling. Not all cases are adversarial and many times the Court asks for assistance from government lawyers to reach authorities and implement orders. Cases on prison reform, bonded labour and environment protection are best examples of this. As part of the chamber, we were able to facilitate good green work in the Delhi Ridge and played a part in implementing the Delhi School Education Act.

    I consider myself extremely lucky to find a chamber like this and a boss like him, who taught me two simple yet difficult qualities of grit and discipline, that I carry with me till date. 

    Having worked with some of the most respected Senior Advocates and been involved in landmark cases, what have been your most formative learnings from chambers practice at the Supreme Court level?

    Today, the Supreme Court today is not just a constitutional Court but has taken the colour of a Court of Appeal with over twenty statutes with direct appeals from tribunals. To add to this, the bread and butter of a Supreme Court lawyer are special leave petitions which keep the Court fairly occupied. 

    I believe, to have a voice in such a busy appellate court, four things are important: 

    • A good draft is half the battle won.
    • A question of law gives you good ground to argue.
    • Pointed answers to queries makes the Court’s job easy.
    • Integrity goes a long way. Admitting the weakness in your case makes you more amenable to the Court.

    Though the Supreme Court largely remains a senior driven court, a young lawyer who can put her point across in a crisp manner, gauge the reaction of the bench and respond accordingly, can do very well.

    What motivated you to establish your own practice, and what initial hurdles did you face in doing so? What vision did you have for your independent practice from the outset?

    When I left Khaitan in 2018 and moved to litigation, my goal was to become an arguing counsel and have my own chamber someday. The power of a good counsel and her ability to move the bench attracted me. This came from my short stint at the Bombay High Court as part of the Khaitan IP team. 

    I started litigation in Delhi but struggled with its pace and uncertainty of work. The procedural paraphernalia to filing cases also irritated me as a junior. However, on most good days and some bad days, the goal remained firm. Once I stood at the podium and was able to have a conversation with the judge, I felt powerful. Even thought to myself, this is why I joined law school. I thoroughly enjoyed working in both my previous chambers, but I very much looked forward to arguing my own matters and the choice of going independent seemed inevitable. 

    In the last couple of years, I began taking up my own work. Initially, the work was sporadic and low paying, but slowly it’s picking up. A big decision was to decide the right time to take up an office space and keep a clerk. As significant recurrent costs for a young lawyer, this is an important decision to make.

    I must add that Gopal Sir & Haripriya Ma’am (senior advocates), who I worked with for over three years, have been instrumental in this journey. Not only did they help me with my initial cases, but also gave me opportunities to argue in the Supreme Court, even against senior advocates. Their trust and support in my moments of doubt continues to push me to do better. It also reminds me that someone with similar experiences and struggles came through with flying colours, and so can I. A good mentor is your best resource.

    At VIJ Law Offices, your matters span a wide legal spectrum from objecting to claim withdrawals in insolvency proceedings to criminal appeals from convictions and service matters. How do you manage such a diverse caseload, and which case has been the most intellectually or strategically demanding for you?

    As a (very) young chamber, I have tried to cultivate a practice with a wide range of civil and criminal cases. Partly, this stems from my exposure in my previous chambers to a comprehensive range of vires challenge, service law, company matters, land acquisition matters, arbitration, you name it. Soon enough, I gained the confidence to build arguments for any new point of law for any new case. Another factor which played a role is the stage of my career. Right now, I feel I should say ‘yes’ to each and every matter, without the worry of being branded a commercial or a criminal lawyer. A jack of all trades might not be a master of none for young lawyers.

    In my experience, criminal matters such as appeals from convictions, death sentence and bail, though not the most lucrative, require the most amount of work. Since they affect life and liberty of citizens, I find them the most laborious and emotionally challenging. The most intellectually demanding area, however, remains constitutional law. I have been fortunate to work on a spectrum of constitutional issues spanning from reservation law and parliamentary privileges to abrogation of Article 370. Though the interpretation of the Constitution is similar to a statute, but the basis of challenge of an amendment is entirely different and rests on the basic structure doctrine. The process of understanding the history of our Constitution, discerning the basic structure, and testing a constitutional amendment against it is both invigorating and challenging. Once you’ve done this, you may encounter an entirely different constitutional issue next time, such as the one concerning the CEC appointment – can the Courts fill a vacuum that arises due to inaction by the Parliament under the Constitution?  

    You’ve contributed actively through writings in The Hindu, Oxford blogs, and the NLUD Journal. What role do you believe legal scholarship plays in shaping both jurisprudence and public understanding/ change of the law?

    Immense importance. Writing is thinking, and I wish I had started before. As lawyers, we must acknowledge that articulation is our biggest asset. 

    As they say, laws are as good as the people implementing them, and lawyers have a big role to play here. With a firsthand experience of how matters are argued, how legislations work and courts interpret them, we can contribute to legal scholarship with our practical experience. Sr. Adv. Datar’s short articles on Article 14 are a great example of clarity and knowledge that comes with experience. 

    Writing also contributes greatly to drafting a good petition. Though journal publications are more valuable for their in-depth research, writing for newspapers has taught me the art of putting things simply. 

    The importance of legal scholarship can be seen not only in academic growth but also through a positive change in law. The Supreme Court in Navtej Singh (decriminalising homosexuality) and Lt. Col. Nishtha (permanent commission) was influenced by academic writings on indirect discrimination/ disparate impact and developed this as new dimensions of equality under Art. 14. Any new challenge on discrimination would now examine the disparate impact of a gender neutral provision on a particular group of the society.

    Clearing the Advocate-on-Record examination is a commendable feat. What responsibilities accompany this designation, and how has it influenced your litigation strategy and client engagement?

    Thank you. On a lighter note, I am very glad about my AOR results because the exam reminded me how difficult it is to sit down with a pen and paper for 3 hours, in the fear of time running out and the possibility of not making it through as a lawyer with 5-6 years of practice. The fear is real!!

    In my opinion, an Advocate-on-Record is very valuable, both for the client and the court. Right from the first client interaction, to drafting and filing the petition, reasoning with the registry (the most difficult part) and appearing and arguing in the court, an AOR can be a one stop shop to see a matter through in the Supreme Court. An AOR also holds good ground with the client to suggest which senior counsel should be engaged for which kind of matters. Being an AOR also comes with great responsibility. The court holds an AOR accountable for anything regarding the matter and the party, good or bad. When a senior counsel is unable to appear or reach for a matter, the AOR may be asked to address the Court. So, an AOR can easily be said to be the most important lawyer in the Supreme Court today. 

    I must add that historically the perception of an AOR was quite different. AORs often filed matters for other lawyers, without being involved in the process. Typically, lawyers who were solicitors and not attuned to arguing in the Court also chose to be AORs. Slowly and steadily this perception is changing.

    Being an AOR has certainly contributed to my practice. Clients and fellow lawyers, who may have seen me in Court with my previous bosses, feel confident to approach me directly for new cases. I believe clients also get a sense of satisfaction that ‘one lawyer’ would handle their case till the end.

    What advice would you offer to students and young lawyers, given your diverse and global perspective? What resources or habits would you recommend to help them stay sharp and build a well-rounded legal career?

    A simple advice would be – trust your gut to choose right and then trust the process. 

    Today, law has opened many doors for young graduates besides litigation and corporate. More young lawyers are choosing tech, policy, teaching or management roles where a law degree comes handy. One should be free to choose their own path without judgement. When I decided to pursue my LLM, I was told it was a waste of time for litigation and would in fact put me behind my peers. Many corporate firms would also say so and even discount your masters’ experience altogether. Keeping all aside, I decided to pursue the LLM/ BCL in a difficult covid year and would never discount that experience or trade it elsewhere.

    Besides, something that has helped me build a well-rounded career has been teaching. I understand it may not be enjoyable for everyone, but a fresh exchange of ideas to a deep dive into law, can open our horizons like no other. Teaching a course on bail this semester has made me realise some fallacies in our system, which I wasn’t privy to or hadn’t given much thought as a lawyer.

    Lastly, a piece of advice which is more suited to the legal profession than any other is – to persevere. Whichever path one may choose, the road to a successful lawyer is a long one. While I am still on this road, I’ve realized that I have been able to overcome the difficulties I faced in my career early on. For instance, understanding the court roster, procedure, complex matters, all seemed too alien when I started practicing in 2018. There was an urge to turn to more lucrative opportunities and turn down the sweat and blood of litigation. But perseverance kept me going and hopefully gets me through.

    Get in touch with Shivani Vij –

    LinkedIn

  • “Litigation is a marathon where the efforts that one puts in during the initial years yield results in the long run.” – Ramakrishnan S, Advocate on Record and Principal Attorney at Shiva & Co. Advocates.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    What initially inspired you to pursue a career in law? Was it a personal passion or did your father’s legacy in the legal field play a defining role in shaping your decision?

    Two reasons I suppose. The first being that my father was a lawyer as well. Though I didn’t know much in my younger years about the profession, just seeing him in the blazer and robe felt classy and had a certain aura. The second was that I didn’t quite like maths and science as subjects during my schooling days so much so that after Class 10 I immediately switched to Humanities for Class 11 and 12. On a lighter note, they say ‘karma is a boomerang’. I managed to avoid anything to do with Maths and Science for a good 7 years post Class 10 but both of them resurfaced once I stepped into my legal career and have been part of my journey since courtesy the matters that I handle. 

    You took over Shiva & Co. Advocates in 2008 at just 23. How did you adapt to the challenges of leading a full-fledged law firm so early in your career, and what were the key lessons from that transition?

    Circumstances forced me to take over the firm at the age of 23. I had just completed my LL.B from University Law College, Bengaluru in mid-2007 and was on track to do my Masters in Law having secured an offer both in London School of Economics and National University Singapore. Unfortunately, I lost my father in March 2008. Shiva & Co. Advocates was my father’s baby which he had started in the year 1988 and I did not want to see it shut down because he was no more, hence I immediately took over the reins of the firm. The challenges were aplenty since I was a complete rookie with an elementary knowledge of the law and no practical experience. My father, due to his sheer hardwork and dedication had become a successful and well-known lawyer and had built up a sizable practice and the nature of matters that he worked on towards his last few years involved high value and high stakes. My first few days after taking over the firm were spent in reaching out to Clients and asking them if they wanted to continue with the firm or wanted the briefs to be returned. The exercise rendered me almost briefless since Clients understandably did not want to entrust such high value and high stake matters to a rookie Counsel. My father’s junior colleagues at the chamber had moved on post his demise. The only staff I was left with was my father’s chauffeur, court clerk and stenographer. It took some time but slowly, brick by brick, with the able assistance of my support staff, we put things together. I was fortunate enough that in a couple of months, two clients of my father, one an individual and another a company in the travel sector gave me my first briefs, one being a landlord-tenant dispute and the other a consumer matter. The faith and encouragement that they reposed in me helped me find my footing and since then there has been no looking back. One thing that I never gave up on even during those early days when I was brief less, visiting Courts and reading up on the law. In terms of lessons or learnings, I would only say that what helped me during those early years were certain key aspects – mental fortitude to run the firm, come what may, a thirst to succeed in the profession, constant reading of the law and observing matters across various Courts. I always tell my junior colleagues that for a Lawyer, his/her eyes, ears and tongue are the most important sense organs. Eyes to observe, ears to hear and tongue to voice out an appropriate response after the brain has processed all the information and the right combination of this is what creates magic in Court. 

    Your firm handles a broad spectrum of work, from civil and criminal litigation to real estate and corporate matters. How do you manage and balance these diverse practice areas while maintaining quality and consistency across them?

    It comes down to putting in place an effective strategy. Over the years, I have had the assistance of my junior colleagues at the office who have ably assisted me in my matters. The majority of them joined right out of college and have left the firm after being part of it for a considerable amount of time and are doing well for themselves. They are spread across litigation, corporate, in-house and one of them is even a Judge in the Trial Court. The moment a brief is received, a short note is prepared on the facts of the case and the issues involved by my colleagues which is followed by a preliminary discussion post which tasks are assigned. My junior colleagues, over the years, have due to their efforts, handled various stages of a case on their own be it cross-examination, final arguments or arguments on interim reliefs and I am extremely happy to see their progress. As long as the work is process driven and each member of the firm recognises his/her roles and responsibilities, quality and consistency can be maintained effectively. 

    You completed the 40-hour Mediator Training Workshop jointly conducted by OCMC, NLSIU, and ICADR. How has this training influenced your approach to dispute resolution and client management in litigation and ADR matters?

    Honestly, I did the course only because Mediation was a buzzword then. We had a good set of trainers who invested time over two days to teach us all the ins and outs of Mediation. The workshop helped in understanding the essence and effectiveness of the process if done right away. In addition, a key takeaway for me personally was that it helped in shaking off some rusty bits in my approach towards client meetings and helped in having a more nuanced approach towards the same. Considering the explosion of litigation and pendency in the Courts, Mediation is certainly a viable tool that requires a bit more than a nudge in order to make it a preferred dispute resolution mechanism. The Mediation Act and the setting up of the Mediation Association of India are steps in the right direction.

    You have been actively involved in arbitration and other ADR mechanisms. How do you perceive the growing importance of ADR in India’s legal ecosystem, and what role does it play in your firm’s overall strategy?

    Arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism has evolved over the years. Despite periodic amendments to the law, there is still a substantial portion of the process and provisions in the Act where there is Court intervention. Some developments such as fixing a timeframe for disposal, restricting the scope for appeal etc. have helped in speeding the process to some extent, however India as a destination for Arbitration still has a long way to go. There is definitely hope though. I recently attended an Arbitration conference in Mumbai and was pleasantly surprised at the interest shown by arbitrators and academicians from outside India regarding developments related to Arbitration Law in India. Online Dispute Resolution has also taken off in a big way in India and we are seeing multiple ODR platforms opening up. The impetus for Arbitration can also be seen as recent as this month when the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has announced the setting up of an International Arbitration Center in Vishakapatnam. On the flipside, Arbitration is still considered as a closed door club where only the rich can have proper access to the process by engaging the top lawyers in the country. This is due to the fact that the costs involved are steep and out of reach for most small and medium businesses who as a result continue to prefer the traditional litigation route despite its anomalies. The MSME Act and the Commercial Courts Act have provided some succour to these small and medium businesses with regard to speedy disposal of disputes. ADR as mechanisms are definitely required considering the docket explosion in Courts however they do need refinement on some key aspects. 

    Clearing the Advocate-on-Record examination is a significant professional achievement. Could you share your preparation journey, the challenges faced, and how this qualification has impacted your practice at the Supreme Court?

    As is with a few events that have occurred in my life, taking up the AoR exam was on a whim since a friend of mine had also decided to take it up. Despite having a decent practice in Bangalore in all of those years, I had never set foot in the Supreme Court for any matter and it irked me to an extent. I blame myself partly for having become too comfortable with my work in Bangalore to think of expanding my horizons. The Covid-19 pandemic was the time that curiosity got the better of me and since there was not much else to do, I decided to take a crack at the exams. Considering the mandatory 1 year training had to be done during the time of the pandemic, it involved a lot of self-study and listening to lectures online. To an extent, the years of practise prior to taking up the exam also helped me greatly since I had the benefit of practical exposure in the Courts. The most important tip I would say is that one would necessarily have to practice writing regularly since each paper is 3 hours and the questions require you to write a fair bit depending on the marks allotted for each of them. Overall, if one has put in his/her time in keeping themselves updated on the law and has been observant in the Courts, it would go a long way in making the exam relatively easier. Clearing the exams certainly was a high point in my career and it opened the portals of the Supreme Court to me. I have been blessed that in a period of about 3 years of becoming an AoR, I have handled a handful of matters in the Supreme Court that I have argued myself. Having a taste of all three Courts that is Trial Court, High Court and Supreme Court has provided me with the opportunity to further sharpen my tools since each Court mandates a different manner and approach towards putting forth one’s case. 

    You have authored articles published in the Karnataka Law Journal and SCC. How do you view the importance of legal writing, publication, and thought leadership in shaping the career of a practicing advocate?

    I assume writing, teaching etc. are inevitable extensions for a lawyer. At some point, the thought of publishing one’s views on a legal issue arises. At the same time, writing heavily tests your skills in presenting your thoughts in a sublime yet easily comprehensible manner. It involves hard labour since once you’ve zeroed in on a topic, you need to sift through copious amounts of literature right from commentaries, articles, case laws, online lectures etc. and condense the same into as minimal words as possible, in simple english, without compromising on the essence of the topic. Every lawyer at some point ought to give writing a shot since it not only enhances knowledge on the subject but also provides fellow lawyers/readers with an opportunity to ponder upon and debate on the same.

    With extensive appearances before various courts, tribunals, and authorities in Bangalore, what has been one of the most challenging matters for you?

    It would be difficult to pick a single matter since each matter comes with its own set of challenges and nuances. I would admit though that once you handle a few matters on a specific area of law, the briefs that you receive thereafter become easier to handle. For any lawyer, the most challenging matter would be the first matter that he/she handles in each Court/Tribunal since each of them require different approaches right from drafting the petitions/responses to processes involved to the submissions that have to be made. The majority of the lawyers would find the first appearance/submission in Court nerve-wrecking even if it is as small as seeking an adjournment or a passover. Likewise the first full-fledged submission, be it arguments on an interim application or final arguments or the first cross-examination to be conducted would be equally challenging. 

    Having built a diverse and successful practice, what advice would you offer to young lawyers aiming to excel in litigation, real estate, or multidisciplinary legal practice while taking on leadership roles early in their careers?

    As cliché as it may sound, the profession extracts a lot out of you. It requires a lot of dedication and continuous upskilling of your craft. Litigation is a marathon where the efforts that one puts in during the initial years yield results in the long run. One must keep themselves appraised with the latest developments not only in law but events happening around the country and the world. I would recommend freshers to dabble in as many different kinds of matters that one can do in the first few years before attempting to set out on focussing on niche areas. Thousands of lawyers graduate every year hence it is necessary that you start identifying and fine-tuning your core competence and work on your shortcomings. The profession, though unforgiving, is equally rewarding over time when results will bring in the expected monetary dividends as well in addition to recognition. Occasional slip-ups are part and parcel however what matters is that you learn from them and don’t repeat it. As regards leadership roles, I would suggest that you find a good mentor/senior to guide you the first few years and then plunge into having your own practice. It is important to find a good footing before venturing on your own. While I did not have a particular person who I could call a mentor, I have vastly benefitted from observing and interacting with multiple seniors and juniors in the profession alike and this is also something that one must inculcate since healthy conversations provide you with new perspectives. 

    What is the guiding philosophy or motto that has consistently inspired you throughout your journey? How has it shaped your approach to the profession, and what vision do you hold for your future practice?

    For me Shiva & Co. Advocates is an homage to my family who have been there for me every step of the way and allows me to be focussed on my career. Having a spirit of never giving up builds that drive and focus that you need to get far in the profession. One should also have the hunger to succeed at all times and strive to be better every single day. Needless to say honesty, loyalty and integrity are a fundamental and integral part of the profession and helps you go a long way yielding long-term dividends. This profession is not a race but a marathon. These are some principles or philosophies that have helped me along the way. As for my vision for the future, I am a firm believer in taking things one day at a time and giving it my fullest, the results are a mere formality. 

    Get in touch with Ramakrishnan S –

  • “To handle a wide range of cases effectively, a litigator must develop a robust set of core skills that transcend subject matter.” – Nishank Tyagi, Advocate on Record at Supreme Court of India.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    Being an AOR today with nearly a decade of experience, what initially motivated you to pursue law as a career? Was there a defining factor that guided this decision?

    If I was to sum up my decision to opt for law, I would say that I was running away from engineering and landed up at law school. Law was not the obvious choice for me initially. I was a science student in school and my parents wanted me to prepare for competitive exams and pursue engineering as engineering was the obvious choice for all science students, however, very early on in 11th standard in school, I realized that it was not my cup of tea. I wanted more than just a simple 9 to 5 desk job. I wanted a career which would make me look forward to work everyday and also give me an opportunity to serve the society and that is how law, especially litigation became the obvious choice for me.

    In your early years, you worked with various lawyers and law firms. What were some of the experiences that laid the foundation for your practice, and how did you deepen your understanding of law during that period?

    I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked with some of the greatest minds in the field of litigation very early on in my career. After completing law, my focus was to learn the complexities of litigation and understand the world of Trial Courts. I had initially joined the chamber of Mr. Ratan. Kumar Singh, Senior Advocate where I learned about arbitration and commercial litigation which was an enriching experience. Later, I joined BAV Partners where I got to work with Mr. Vibhor Garg, whom I deeply regard as he gave me ample opportunities to appear before various courts in Delhi. Mr. Garg encouraged me to argue matters independently and to cross examine witnesses whenever required which honestly laid down the foundation of the litigator that I am today. I also worked at a prestigious law firm like Dentons Link Legal where I saw the more organized and structured side of litigation and arbitration and handled some high-stake matters under the guidance of Mr. Atul Sharma and Mr. Ravi Varma who are both luminaries of the legal fraternity. 

    What challenges did you face being a first-generation lawyer?

    Just like any other profession, litigation also has its share of challenges and being a first-generation lawyer sometimes puts that extra burden on your shoulders, however, I am a firm believer that first generation lawyers should stay away from these negative debates of “insider-outsider”. Thinking too much on these lines will put you in a negative loop and divert your focus from important things. Rather than focusing on other people’s plate, one should put their head down and focus on improving core skills that a litigator requires. At the end of the day consistency and hard work can beat any kind of legacy.

    After almost five years in the legal industry, you took the step of establishing your own practice with Adel Legal. What inspired this decision, and what initial hurdles did you face in setting up your firm?

    From day one of me joining litigation, I was absolutely clear that someday I will set up my independent practice/firm. Though it always confused me as to what should be the timing of going independent and how much experience would be enough to go independent. Later, I realised that there is no straight jacket formula to this and everyone has their own circumstances. I knew that as I progressed in the world of law firms, both remuneration and responsibilities would increase but my risk-taking capacity would decrease. Hence, I thought the sooner the better for me and decided to take this calculated risk of going independent with just 5 years of experience.

    Having represented a wide range of clients, including banks, government entities, and foreign corporations before diverse judicial forums, what do you consider the most critical skills a litigator must develop to handle such varied cases effectively?

    To handle a wide range of cases effectively, a litigator must develop a robust set of core skills that transcend subject matter. Analytical & Strategic Thinking, Oral & Written Advocacy, Interpersonal & Negotiation Skills are important to name a few. A litigator must have a good sense of judgment and he must know when to push aggressively versus when to negotiate or settle. Also, litigation is adversarial and often high-stress. The ability to maintain focus, motivation, and composure through long, contentious cases is essential.

    With your experience in arbitrations under international institutions such as ICC, SIAC, and LCIA, how do you see the role of international arbitration evolving for Indian practitioners and clients in the coming years?

    I am extremely positive about the role of international arbitration evolving for Indian practitioners and clients in the coming years. Practitioners need to stay abreast of legislative reforms, institutional rules changes, and emerging jurisprudence. Indian parties are very active users of foreign arbitration institutions for international contracts. At the same time, there is increased demand for India‑seated or Indian institutions to handle international arbitrations, which reflects growing trust in domestic institutions. The Supreme Court and High Courts have increasingly issued pro‑arbitration judgments, pushing back against unnecessary judicial interference in arbitral awards, enforcing foreign awards.

    Having represented the Government of Delhi before the Delhi High Court, what has been one of the most challenging cases in your practice, and how did you approach and handle it?

    Handling Government litigation often involves chasing various departments, officials and civil servants for the required instructions, which is an additional challenge. I had recently worked on a case where government land worth hundreds of crores right in the heart of south Delhi had been encroached upon and even sale deeds were executed which were used to claim title over the said land leading to loss of revenue for government authorities. However, with the correct strategy and timely instructions, we were successfully able to defend the possession of the government authorities over the said land. 

    How has been your experience of working as Jail Visiting Advocate with the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee?

    I got empanelled as a Jail Visiting Advocate with the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee in the year 2022. I visit various jails in Delhi every week and interact with prisoners to know their grievances and ensure that they get the required legal help and adequate representation before the High Court of Delhi and Supreme Court of India. I file bail applications for under trial prisoners and file appeals on behalf of inmates who have been convicted by trial courts. I have closely experienced the working of jails and have tried to contribute in making lives better for the prisoners. Overall, it has been one of the most satisfying experiences of my career.

    What resources or methods do you rely on to stay updated with the latest legal developments, and what advice would you give to students aspiring to enter litigation? What habits should they build early in their careers?

    One doesn’t need subscriptions of any legal database or fancy website to stay updated on legal issues. The website of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and various High Courts are good enough to keep you updated about the latest judgments and legal trends. But one must develop the habit of reading.

    I consider myself a student of law and still learn from my mistakes, so I am not sure what advice I can offer but I can list down couple of mistakes I made in my career and would request my young friends joining litigation to avoid the same if possible:

    • Not doing enough internships with litigators and Judges.
    • Not networking enough from the very beginning.

    I learnt it the hard way but the above mistakes can be avoided. Be Patient: Litigation takes time to pay off.

    Becoming an AOR is a significant achievement. Could you share your journey towards this milestone and the responsibilities it brings to your role?

    The Supreme Court of India conducts the AOR examination every year and the syllabus and study material can be found on the Supreme Court’s website. Preparation for the AOR exam was a learning curve, however, since I had been in practice for many years, that experience along with a solid strategy helped me sail through in my first attempt. Becoming an AOR and representing clients before the Supreme Court of India is a matter of great pride for me, but it does come with its share of responsibilities. The Supreme Court Rules and various landmark judgments of the Apex Court define the duties and responsibilities of an Advocate on Record. The Supreme Court only recognises AORs for the purposes of filing and an AOR can be held accountable for anything filed under his name and signature. But the biggest perk is that you get to file cases and represent clients from all parts of the country before the highest court of the land.

    Balancing multiple responsibilities as an AOR and as the founder of your own firm can be demanding. How do you manage to strike a balance between professional commitments and personal life?

    This is one challenge almost all litigators face in their lives, however, with effective time management one can easily wrap up work in reasonable working hours. I personally believe in putting in effective working hours and leaving office by 7pm and encourage associates at our firm to do the same. Unfortunately, at a lot of law firms working till late hours has become the new trend. I personally do not support or encourage that working style. Even in high-pressure environments, one should try to maintain core working hours and stick to them. Dinners with family, workouts, or personal hobbies should be treated as non-negotiable meetings.

    Get in touch with Nishank Tyagi –

  • “The responsibility of being an AOR is immense as you’re a bridge between the Registry and the Hon’ble Judges, not just in argument, but in procedure.” – Udian Sharma, Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    Coming from a background in Science from Hindu College, University of Delhi, what inspired you to pursue a career in law? How has your technical background  influenced your approach to complex commercial or infrastructure disputes? 

    As a first-generation lawyer, I often say that I did not choose law, law chose me. Growing  up, I was deeply influenced by my grandfather, who fought legal battles for decades to  protect our ancestral land. His relentless perseverance, even against an unresponsive  system, left a profound impact on me. By the time I graduated in Science from Hindu  College, I had already seen how the law could be both an obstacle and a tool for justice.  

    My scientific training gave me a structured way of thinking. In Science, you learn to  analyze problems by breaking them down into fundamentals. That has greatly helped me  in disputes involving infrastructure and complex commercial contracts, where one must go  through technical details like engineering reports, financial data, regulatory compliances,  and present them in a manner that is both legally persuasive and technically accurate. It  allows me to approach my cases not just as a lawyer, but as someone trained to understand  the “nuts and bolts” of technical issues. 

    It has been an interesting journey, from solving arithmetic problems and arriving at ‘LHS  = RHS’ to addressing complex questions of law and concluding with ‘Hence, this SLP’. 

    In the early stages of your career, you worked with various senior judges and  advocates. How did these experiences shape your approach, and which lessons from  that time have had a lasting impact on your professional philosophy? 

    I had the privilege of clerking with Justice A.K. Sikri at the Supreme Court and Justice Siddharth Mridul at the Delhi High Court. Observing them up close taught me two  invaluable lessons: the importance of clarity, and the importance of compassion. Justice  Sikri had an extraordinary ability to simplify the most complex constitutional questions,  and Justice Mridul always emphasized the human element in adjudication. 

    Later, when I began working with senior advocates and counsels at the Supreme Court, I saw how preparation and integrity defined good lawyering. One lasting lesson I carry is that courts are not swayed by theatrics- they are swayed by sincerity and substance. These  experiences shaped my professional philosophy, that law is not just about winning cases, but about ensuring justice is meaningfully served. 

    What motivated you to establish an independent practice, and what hurdles did  you face while launching your chambers during COVID? How did you overcome  them, and what was your vision for the practice? 

    The decision was born partly out of necessity and partly out of conviction. During COVID, the legal profession itself came to a halt. Many colleagues struggled, and I realized that if I wanted to carry forward my vision of a client-centric and socially conscious practice, I  had to build something of my own. 

    I started my chambers quite literally from one room in my home (with immense gratitude  to my parents who allowed me to turn it into an office) with files stacked in the boot of my car. The hurdles were immense, no physical hearings, clients uncertain about the future, and the financial strain of running an independent practice in such times. But adversity also  brought clarity. I invested in technology, conducted virtual hearings, and slowly built a  team that shared the same values of hard work and service. My vision was, and remains to create a Chambers that combines courtroom advocacy with policy thinking, and where  every matter, whether commercial or public interest, is handled with the same dedication. 

    You have handled complex commercial disputes and arbitration, including cross border infrastructure matters and international arbitration, across areas such as  employment law and customs law. Can you share some major challenges you faced in  a complex arbitration case and the unique difficulties it presented? 

    One of the most challenging arbitrations I handled involved a cross-border infrastructure project. The difficulty lay not just in the scale, but in the diversity of the issues, technical  construction delays, regulatory clearances, and overlapping jurisdictional laws. 

    The unique challenge was coordinating with multiple stakeholders, engineers, financial  experts, and foreign legal teams, while presenting a coherent case before an arbitral tribunal presided over by a retired Supreme Court judge. It taught me that arbitration advocacy  requires more than just legal arguments, it demands the ability to understand complex  technical data into a persuasive legal narrative. 

    You have demonstrated a commitment to advancing legal discourse and  contributing to scholarly debate. How do you balance active practice with legal  writing and academic contributions? 

    For me, writing is not separate from practice, it is complementary. Courtroom advocacy is about the urgency of the present; academic writing is about reflecting on the future. Balancing both is difficult, but I make time because writing forces me to step back and  critically examine the jurisprudence I am part of. Recently, I have also begun teaching law  to students and interns- a pursuit I deeply enjoy, as it allows me to give back to the fraternity  while shaping the next generation of lawyers. 

    During the pandemic, for instance, I wrote extensively on the importance of impartiality in arbitrations and timelines in insolvency laws. These writings later informed some of the  arguments I made in court. In a way, legal writing sharpens my practice, and practice keeps  my writing, whether it’s articles, blogs, or pleadings, grounded in reality. 

    Clearing the Advocate-on-Record exam on the first attempt is a remarkable  achievement. What were your preparation strategies, and what primary  responsibilities come with being an AOR? 

    The AOR exam is as much about discipline as it is about knowledge. I prepared with the  belief that procedural law is the backbone of effective litigation. My strategy was simple:  treat every question as a live brief. I wrote my answers as if I were filing in court or briefing  a Senior Advocate. That practical approach helped me clear the exam on the first attempt. 

    The responsibility of being an AOR is immense. You are the face of your client before the Supreme Court and a bridge between the Registry and the Hon’ble Judges, not just in  argument, but in procedure. You are responsible for ensuring filings are correct, deadlines are met, pleadings are true and that clients receive the highest level of professional care.  It’s a trust that must never be broken. 

    How has the arbitration landscape in India evolved over the last decade? With the  advent of technology, what changes do you see in Supreme Court litigation strategies  post-COVID? 

    Over the last decade, arbitration in India has been projected as having matured from an  ‘alternative’ mechanism to the preferred mode for commercial disputes, with a legal framework aligning with international standards.  

    However, the ground reality is far more complex. Arbitration has, in practice, become less  formal, yet more vulnerable to judicial intervention at almost every stage. In one matter I argued before the Supreme Court, the Arbitral Tribunal, the Single and the Division Bench  of the High Court, each gave separate findings every time a cross appeal was filed by the  parties, resulting in six different outcomes before the case finally reached the Supreme  Court. This not only delays justice but also makes arbitration extremely costly and  cumbersome. Increasingly, I see my clients preferring to opt out of arbitration clauses  altogether, choosing and trusting Courts as their primary forum for dispute resolution,  driven largely due to the greater efficiency brought in through the Commercial Courts Act. 

    Post-COVID, technology has changed Supreme Court litigation in profound ways. Virtual hearings, digital filings, and e-briefs are now routine. This has enhanced accessibility and opened new opportunities. Lawyers today can complement their oral advocacy with strong  digital advocacy, while clients too can easily attend and witness hearings in real time from  anywhere in the world, ensuring greater transparency and participation. 

    What has been the most challenging matter you have handled, and how did you  navigate it? You have also worked extensively in animal welfare, environmental law,  and public interest litigation. What motivates you to take up these cases? 

    One of the most challenging yet fulfilling matters I handled was Jaggo v. Union of India, 2024 SCC OnLine SC 3826, which I argued before the Supreme Court on behalf of the  Appellant. The case involved a woman Safai-Karamchari, who had been working with the  Central Water Commission for over two decades, as a so-called part-timer. Despite her  long service performing essential duties, her plea for regularisation was rejected not only  by her employer but also by CAT and the Delhi High Court. To make matters worse, she  was illegally terminated, even though she was the sole breadwinner of her family, surviving  on a meagre salary of just ₹4,000 per month. 

    I decided to take up her case pro bono, moved by her plight and the larger issue of systemic exploitation of temporary workers. The challenge was immense, not only did I have to  defend her against three concurrent adverse findings, but I was also pitted against the office  of the Additional Solicitor General (ASG). But the Hon’ble Supreme Court heard me  patiently, and it was deeply encouraging to see the Court give weight to every argument  raised by me in Court. 

    Ultimately, the Supreme Court held that such long-standing service warranted regularisation rather than termination, and that arbitrary dismissals without cause, violated natural justice. Drawing from constitutional principles under Articles 14 and 16, as well as international labour standards and comparative jurisprudence, the Court delivered a  landmark judgment that has since been widely relied upon across the country to protect the  rights of temporary and contractual workers. 

    For me, this case reaffirmed why I chose litigation. It was an uphill battle against the odds,  but it showed me that with persistence, empathy, and conviction, the law can restore dignity  and transform lives. 

    I’ve also had the privilege of being appointed as amicus curiae by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court to represent victims/ prosecutrix in POCSO cases, an experience that has deepened  my commitment to matters of public interest and justice. 

    How do you balance your personal life with such demanding professional  responsibilities, and how do you manage stress and maintain personal well-being? 

    Honestly, balance is not always easy. The legal profession demands long hours and deep  emotional investment. What helps me is grounding myself in simple things, spending time  with family, unwinding with my office colleagues, catching up with my close circle of  friends, and taking out time to travel with them. These moments keep me centered amidst  the demands of practice.

    I’ve realised balance in this profession is a constant work in progress. The long hours and  high stakes can be demanding, so I make a conscious effort to attend therapy and stay  grounded, whether by taking out time for myself, slowing down when needed, or ensuring  I maintain a non-toxic and supportive environment around me. 

    I try different ways to manage the stress that inevitably comes with the job, but what keeps  me going is focusing on the parts I truly enjoy, being on my feet in Court. That’s where I  feel most alive. After all, we lawyers live to hear the three words, ‘Issue Notice. Stay’.

    Get in touch with Udian Sharma –

  • “One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is that you must never allow yourself to be caught off guard. Being fully prepared not only helps in presenting your arguments convincingly but also helps you gain the court’s confidence.” – Ramchandra Madan, Advocate on Record at the Supreme Court of India.

    “One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is that you must never allow yourself to be caught off guard. Being fully prepared not only helps in presenting your arguments convincingly but also helps you gain the court’s confidence.” – Ramchandra Madan, Advocate on Record at the Supreme Court of India.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    With such a diverse range of skills and experiences, when you reflect on your journey, what were the pivotal moments that led you to choose law as a career? How did your time at Symbiosis Law School, Pune shape your legal interests, and which areas of law caught your attention early on?

    Growing up in Shimla, a town known for its serene beauty and quality of life, I was fortunate to receive a good education. However, the opportunities for students to explore diverse interests and extracurricular activities were relatively limited. This changed when I moved to Delhi and joined Vasant Valley School, an institution renowned for its academic and extracurricular excellence. The shift broadened my perspective immensely.

    At Vasant Valley, I actively participated in theatre, debates and business competitions, which helped me develop critical thinking, public speaking and teamwork skills early on. At the time, my plan was firmly set on pursuing entrepreneurship, an idea that took shape after I won an international business competition alongside my team, earning me a prestigious scholarship However, on the advice of teachers, peers, and family, I decided to also appear for law entrance exams while awaiting results from some top business schools. This decision, made at the last minute, turned out to be pivotal for my career path.

    Joining Symbiosis Law School in Pune was a transformative experience. It was my first time living independently, away from the comfort of home and I found myself surrounded by incredibly intelligent peers. In Pune, I continued to explore my passions, albeit with some limitations. Theatre, which I had always loved, took a backseat, but I remained active in debating, public speaking and participating in moot court competitions. Representing Symbiosis at both national and international moot court competitions was a highlight of my time there, giving me invaluable practical experience and honing my legal acumen.

    Law school also instilled in me a strong sense of community. The alumni network, which remains robust and supportive, has been an anchor in my journey in litigation. I was also fortunate to intern with some of the most respectable legal professionals, including Mr. Neeraj Kishan Kaul, Mr. Prashant Mehndi Ratta, Ms. Nandita Rao, and Mr. Sameer Oberoi. These internships were a window into the world of litigation and I liked the view! My law school experiences helped me discover my passion for law and I haven’t looked back since.

    Having yourself pursued an LLM at the prestigious LSE, can you talk about your experiences studying there and also outline the advantages of getting a master’s degree? 

    The decision to pursue an LLM should not be made with the sole objective of securing a higher salary. An LLM is best pursued for the academic and holistic growth it offers. While it undoubtedly enhances one’s credentials, especially as an independent practitioner, it’s not a guaranteed pathway to higher financial rewards.

    Initially, I hadn’t planned on pursuing an LLM, having interned extensively with my senior, Mr. Neeraj Kishan Kaul during law school, I was eager to start my litigation practice under his tutelage. However, at the encouragement of close friends, I decided to try my luck and applied to a handful of prestigious schools. To my surprise and delight, I was accepted into the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), an institution renowned for its remarkable legacy and association with eminent academics, lawyers and thought leaders, including luminaries like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Additionally, the central location of London, a global cultural and academic hub, was a significant factor in my decision. 

    I was also accepted and awarded a partial scholarship for taking residence at The Goodenough College, a highly selective residential college for distinguished graduate students from around the world. This scholarship made my decision to join LSE even more compelling as it would have significantly reduced my financial burden.

    My experience at LSE was transformative. The faculty’s expertise and the rigorous academic environment pushed me to expand my intellectual boundaries. I delved deeply into subjects such as competition law, arbitration law, refugee law and international law, examining them through post-colonial and literary perspectives. These courses broadened my understanding of the law and shaped my approach to legal issues in a nuanced way. I was also fortunate to read under experts such as Dr. Chaloka Beyani, my supervisor, who is the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons. 

    Equally enriching was my time at the Goodenough College, where I had the privilege of living amongst some of the brightest minds across various fields. Even our regular, dinner table conversations were intellectually stimulating and inspiring. Beyond academics, living in London allowed me to experience its vibrant cultural scene—world-class theatre, opera, orchestral performances—and explore Europe on a shoestring budget, further enriching my worldview.

    The admissions process was rigorous but immensely rewarding. For aspiring students, my advice would be to focus on crafting a strong personal statement that highlights not just academic achievements but also a clear vision of how the LLM fits into your long-term goals. My journey to LSE taught me the value of taking unexpected opportunities and it’s a decision I’m deeply grateful for.

    Prior to going independent, you worked alongside Mr. Neeraj Kishan Kaul, Senior Advocate. How did this experience enhance your legal expertise, and what valuable lessons did you gain from working with such an esteemed mentor?

    When I first joined Mr. Kaul as an intern as early as 2012 I knew that I wanted to follow in his footsteps and be a litigator. I was in such awe of Mr. Kaul that I even kept the cause list from my internship days as souvenirs. Even when I chose to pursue my Masters in London, I knew I was never going to stay on and was going to come back to India to litigate. Which is why when I was invited to join Chambers with Mr. Kaul I was elated. 

    Working with Mr. Kaul was like a crash course in litigation and the art of advocacy- there are only a few, if any, who understand how to read the Court as well as him. Here, you can expect an extremely steep learning curve, where nothing short of perfection is expected from a Junior. We were always expected to add value to the brief by coming up with new arguments that even the solicitors missed out on. We were to pre-empt questions, whether direct or ancillary, that may fall from the Bench. 

    Equally important was the fact that Mr. Kaul‘s Chamber gave me invaluable colleagues who became my professional family, supporting me as I began my career and always a text message away whenever I needed to pick their brains or discuss strategy despite their own busy schedules. I will forever be grateful to Sir and my seniors and colleagues at the Chamber on who’s shoulders, today, I try to stand.

    You have successfully argued some important cases before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the NCLAT and the Delhi High Court. Could you walk us through the challenges you encountered while arguing and how you navigated them?

    Each case presents its own unique challenges, but for a first-generation lawyer, especially one considered young in the profession, the hurdles are particularly distinct. Ours is a profession built on trust—trust from clients, peers, and, most importantly, the Courts. This trust must be earned, and for a young lawyer who is an unfamiliar face, the road can be difficult. Courts often view you with a degree of skepticism, and there is a natural resistance to accepting your arguments until you establish your credibility. 

    Arguing cases before forums such as the Supreme Court, the NCLAT, and the Delhi High Court has taught me that preparation is the key to overcoming these challenges. The only way to level the playing field—especially when appearing against eminent senior counsels—is to be thoroughly prepared, often better prepared than your opponent. Creativity and hard work are what help young lawyers stand out. When you can bring to the table insights or arguments that others, even with years of experience, might overlook, you begin to gain recognition.

    Every appearance in court must be treated with the seriousness and dedication of a final hearing. There is no room for complacency. Judges often test the mettle of young lawyers by probing their understanding of the case and the law. If the court perceives even a hint of unpreparedness, it is likely to challenge you even more. Anticipating these challenges and preparing meticulously has been my strategy in navigating these situations.

    One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is that you must never allow yourself to be caught off guard. Being fully prepared not only helps in presenting your arguments convincingly but also helps you gain the court’s confidence. Over time, as you consistently demonstrate your competence and dedication, that initial resistance from the Court, gradually gives way to trust and acceptance.

    While the challenges are real and sometimes daunting, they are also what drive me to work harder, think deeper, and perform better with each case. The journey of a young, first-generation lawyer is not easy, but it is incredibly rewarding when you start seeing the trust you’ve earned reflected in the court’s acknowledgment of your efforts.

    You have been involved in a lot of pro bono work. What inspired you to dedicate time to legal aid, and how has this shaped your broader legal practice?

    Law is often referred to as a noble profession and as officers of the court, our primary duty is to the cause of justice. For me, this principle has always been at the heart of my practice. I find enormous satisfaction in being able to provide my services to those in need, and I strongly believe that no person should be denied justice due to their financial constraints.

    A significant portion of my practice has been dedicated to pro bono work. I was associated with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) on the Criminal Panel for three years. This experience was both a profound learning opportunity and a stark reality check, as it exposed me to the vast inequalities in access to justice. It brought into sharp focus the glaring class divide in our country.

    What struck me most during my time with the DSLSA was the reality that for the majority of Indians, litigation begins and ends at the trial courts. Even in a city like Delhi, where the High Court and Supreme Court are often less than 10 kilometres from any district court, access to justice remains out of reach for many. The economic and social barriers faced by individuals trying to navigate the legal system were a stark reminder of the responsibility we hold as lawyers.

    Today, my private practice serves as a means to support my pro bono initiatives, allowing me to contribute meaningfully to society. I believe that as lawyers, we must recognize our obligation toward the community. Rendering services to those who cannot afford them is not just an act of charity—it is our duty to uphold the ideals of justice. 

    You’ve represented social media influencers and journalists in defamation cases against corporations. Given the fast-evolving nature of digital media, how do you approach defamation law in this context?

    Freedom of speech and expression is one of the most vital facets of the fundamental rights enjoyed by individuals in India. Beyond being a constitutional guarantee, it is also recognized as a human right, forming the cornerstone of any democratic society. The right to express freely and without fear gives meaning to all other rights, making it essential to uphold. However, this right is not absolute and is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) of the Constitution.

    In my experience representing social media influencers and journalists in defamation cases, I have observed a worrying trend- powerful entities often misuse criminal and civil defamation proceedings to suppress fair and honest criticism. Freedom of speech in India, while constitutionally guaranteed, comes at a cost—it must be zealously protected from those who attempt to silence dissent or critique.

    The rise of digital media has democratized the exchange of ideas like never before. Today, with greater means available to everyone to voice and exchange opinions without the institutional barriers that once limited public discourse, people are more empowered to engage in critical dialogue, satire, and even humour- all of which are essential for a healthy democracy. One must be mindful, however, that this freedom cannot be used to justify the spread of hate speech and malicious falsehoods. 

    My approach to defamation law in the digital age emphasizes striking a delicate balance. On one hand, it is crucial to safeguard freedom of speech and resist any attempts to weaponize defamation laws to curb legitimate critique, satire, or dissent. On the other hand, the right to reputation and privacy, both of individuals and corporations, must also be protected from truly defamatory or intentionally harmful statements.

    Our society must develop a greater tolerance for humour, satire, and criticism while ensuring that boundaries are maintained to protect against harm caused by defamatory speech. In representing influencers and journalists, my goal is to advocate for the right to speak truth to power while promoting responsible discourse. The evolution of defamation law must adapt to this changing landscape, fostering an environment where free expression and accountability coexist.

    Throughout your career, you’ve been invited to judge competitions, participate in panels, and deliver lectures. What role has mentorship and legal education played in your own professional journey, and how do you view the future of legal practice for young lawyers in India?

    Mentorship and legal education have been integral to my professional journey, as they are for any lawyer striving to succeed in this noble profession. In law, one’s growth often relies on the guidance and wisdom of seniors, colleagues, and even opponents at the Bar.

     My own journey has been deeply rooted in the mentorship I have received from my seniors and peers, as discussed previously. I have been fortunate to experience the kindness and support of both the Bar and the Bench, which has enabled me to make small but meaningful strides in my career.

    Here’s where an interesting titbit comes to mind. Historically, in England, a lawyer qualified as a barrister and was called to the bar only after attending a series of formal dinners. While this tradition may seem unusual, it symbolized an important truth: the essence of legal education lies in the exchange of ideas and the wisdom shared by those who have walked the path before us. This spirit of learning continues in courtrooms, where lawyers and judges alike contribute to the collective growth of the legal community.

    The law, being one of the oldest professions in the world, carries a rich tradition of passing the baton of knowledge from one generation to the next. For anyone who has attended court proceedings, it is evident that the legal fraternity operates as a community invested in nurturing young talent and preserving the integrity of the profession.

    I view mentorship not just as an opportunity, but as a duty. One of the primary responsibilities of a lawyer is to carry forward this noble tradition by supporting and guiding the next generation. Whether through judging competitions, participating in panels or delivering lectures, I see these opportunities as ways to contribute to the ongoing dialogue of legal education and to help young lawyers navigate the challenges of a demanding profession.

    As for the future of legal practice for young lawyers in India, it is both exciting and challenging. The landscape of law is rapidly evolving with technological advancements, the growth of niche areas like data privacy and fintech law, and increasing global interconnectivity. Young lawyers must adapt to these changes while staying rooted in the foundational values of the profession—integrity, diligence, and a commitment to justice.

    As an Advocate-on-Record with extensive experience, what advice would you offer to young lawyers just starting out, particularly those interested in specializing in areas such as arbitration, company law, and bankruptcy?

    I believe young lawyers embarking on their journey, particularly in specialized areas such as arbitration and bankruptcy, must approach their careers with a clear sense of purpose and dedication. Here’s my advice for those starting out:

    • Patience and Grit Are Essential: Success in the legal profession is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires unwavering patience and resilience. The journey can be slow, but perseverance and consistent hard work always pay off.
    • Prioritize Quality Work Over Monetary Gains: Early in your career, focus on gaining valuable experience and honing your craft. Money will follow as a byproduct of expertise and reputation. 
    • Volunteer and Be Available: Offer to assist seniors on briefs and be available whenever they need help. The willingness to learn and support seniors demonstrates your commitment and eagerness to grow, which will open doors for mentorship and challenging opportunities.
    • Always Be Prepared and Professional: Every appearance in court, every draft you submit, is an opportunity to make an impression. Your reputation is built over years of consistent effort but can be lost in an instant. Never take any task for granted and always strive to be at the top of your game.
    • Stay Up-to date with the law: Laws specially like the IBC and Arbitration in India are still evolving and have not yet fully settled. Whether it’s new judgments, legislative amendments, or emerging trends, constant learning and staying up to date is a non-negotiable part of a lawyer’s journey.
    • Read the Travaux Préparatoires: To understand new laws like bankruptcy, it is essential to study the Travaux Préparatoires—the preparatory documents and discussions that shaped the legislation. For instance, the Bankruptcy Law Reform Committee (BLRC) Report, along with various Law Committee reports, provides invaluable insights into the origins and objectives of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). By examining these foundational documents, one can better grasp the reasons behind the law’s enactment and its subsequent amendments, leading to a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the IBC.
    • Adopt a Holistic Perspective: No law operates in isolation. Having a broad-based understanding of other areas of law and industries will provide context and depth to your practice, making you a more versatile and effective lawyer.

    The legal profession is demanding, but it offers unparalleled opportunities for growth and impact. By focusing on continuous learning, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, and demonstrating a commitment to the law, lawyers can carve out successful and meaningful careers in arbitration, bankruptcy, or any other field.

    Given your demanding professional commitments, how do you manage to strike a balance between your career and personal life? Are there specific practices or strategies you use to maintain focus and well-being?

    “Law is a jealous mistress” is a saying often repeated for its undeniable truth. To pursue a career in law, especially in litigation, one must be deeply passionate about the profession, as it tends to permeate every aspect of a lawyer’s life. 

    While striking a good-balance is often very difficult when court is in session, litigators are fortunate to have court vacations scattered throughout the year, and I make the most of these breaks by traveling. I make the most of such breaks and ensure to plan at least one trek and one surfing trip each year to help me disconnect and recharge.

    On weekends, I enjoy attending plays and concerts in Delhi, which provides a creative and cultural outlet. Maintaining health is also a priority; I’ve recently started swimming 2–3 times a week, which helps me keep physically active.

    Ultimately, striking a balance is about finding activities that allow you to unwind and maintain focus. For me, travel, the arts and physical activity are key to sustaining my well-being alongside my professional commitments.

    Get in touch with Ramchandra Madan –

  • “The early stages of a lawyer’s career can be analogically likened to the early stages of development of a child. One needs to have an extremely inquisitive and childlike approach towards learning the law and the legal procedures in the early stage.” – Anuj Tyagi, Advocate-on-Record at Supreme Court of India.

    “The early stages of a lawyer’s career can be analogically likened to the early stages of development of a child. One needs to have an extremely inquisitive and childlike approach towards learning the law and the legal procedures in the early stage.” – Anuj Tyagi, Advocate-on-Record at Supreme Court of India.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    Given your extensive expertise and experience, was law always your first choice of career, or did your path evolve over time? Could you share some key moments from your academic journey at National Law Institute University, Bhopal?

    Law was never my first career choice. I even prepared and appeared for engineering entrance examinations, including IIT JEE.  Law happened completely by happenstance. My father heard his colleagues including a District Magistrate speaking to another colleague (in the context of his son’s higher education) about entrance examinations of National Law Universities which, in their words, were like the “IITs of Legal Education” and if one could get through such NLUs, they would have a very bright career. After enquiring further with the said District Magistrate about the NLUs and the entrance procedure, my father, in the evening broached the possibility of my appearance for law entrance examinations. In a way, law immediately sparked my interest, and I immediately went to the so-called ‘cyber-cafes’ of those days and researched further about the scope of the entrance examinations and how I could prepare for the entrance examination. I then came across Law School Tutorials (LST) and ordered their study material and started my preparation. I subsequently qualified the entrance examinations of Symbiosis Society Law School, Pune, Army Law School, Mohali, GGSPIU, NLIU (Bhopal) and several other entrance examinations and eventually joined NLIU, Bhopal, after briefly enrolling and studying at SSLS, Pune. So clearly, the road that led me to law evolved over time.

    After completing your law degree, what motivated you to pursue an LL.M. at Queen Mary University of London, and how did it enhance your previous education? Can you also share your experiences and the differences you observed in their teaching pedagogy?

    I was of the firm belief that at all times after you graduate, you must either be in the pursuit of earning or learning. I had been harbouring this desire to pursue an LL.M. right since I graduated.  When COVID-19 struck, I took this opportunity and enrolled myself for an LL.M. in International Dispute Resolution at QMUL, UK. It was very hard to keep up with the expectations of the teachers in terms of the pages to be read per day, despite the substantially reduced work pressure but I somehow managed to graduate with Merit. The biggest difference in the teaching pedagogy between the two great institutions was that at NLIU, at the undergraduate stage, the focus somehow remained more on foundational, theoretical, lecture-based learning while at QMUL, in the graduate programme, stress remained on in-depth analysis, critical thinking, and practical understanding of key concepts. There was no scope of securing good marks at QMUL, if one did not understand the intricacies of the key concepts concerned. Mostly the questions were in the form of real-life situations and one was supposed to write a suggestive note as to what one, as a Counsel, would have advised one’s client in the fact situation concerned. The other key difference was in the method of marking and evaluation at QMUL. Upon the end of the evaluation of the answer sheets, at QMUL, we would not only receive the marks but also detailed comments from the evaluating teachers which would further help us acquire an in-depth understanding of the concept and also help us understand where we lacked in the evaluation of the given factual situation. That was, in my view, a game-changing aspect. If one would not understand what one could have done better, one would commit the same mistakes again and achieve the same range of marks. However, a clear understanding of the areas where one could have done better in terms of expression or otherwise, would always promote a deeper learning of relevant concepts.

    In the early stages of your career, you must have encountered various learning experiences. Could you share some of these with aspiring lawyers? Additionally, what prompted you to start your own practice, and what were some of the initial challenges you faced in establishing it?

    I would like to first underscore the importance of the answer to this question for your readers. Please note that this is the most important and relevant part of this interview, from the perspective of an aspiring lawyer or a law graduate. I was indeed exposed to many learning experiences, especially in the early stages of my career. I would begin with saying that the early stages of a lawyer’s career can be analogically likened to the early stages of development of a child. One needs to have an extremely inquisitive and childlike approach towards learning the law and the legal procedures in the early stages of one’s career. The first year was mainly about familiarising myself with the procedures and practices at the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Hon’ble High Court, the District Court and the various buildings and rooms that formed a part thereof. I, fortunately, had a senior from my college who was working as an Associate at the first chamber I joined immediately after graduation. I used to pose at least 100 questions to him on a daily basis in the course of our daily trips to the court. He was very patient with me and answered all my questions with calmness and ease. Thanks to him, I quickly understood the basic legal procedures, including but not limited to the courtroom etiquette, which side of the dias to stand on when representing either side, how to give appearance slips to the court staff, how to hand over documents/judgments at the bar, the position of the various courts, the important offices of the officers of the registry, how to inspect the file etc. It is very important to have gone through the grind yourself at the initial stages because if you haven’t done something yourself once, you’ll never get to understand the procedure in detail and will encounter issues even while delegating it to your juniors/clerks in future.

    One of the early learning experiences taught me to show up at the courts at least 15 minutes before the designated court commencement timings to avoid missing your matters and eventual embarrassment, regardless of the position of your matter on the causelist. In my initial years, a matter was listed at item no. 42 in a cause list listing a total of 70 matters for consideration of the Hon’ble Court. Assuming that the matter would certainly not be called out in the first hour, I turned up at 11:30 am instead of 10:30 am when the court concerned would commence the hearing. Much to my surprise, the matter had already been called out and taken up. Upon enquiry with the court master, I learnt that between Item no. 1 and 42, there were two connected batches cumulatively concerning 35 matters and that the rest of the matters had been passed over and therefore the matter came up for consideration earlier than expected. I had to wait till the court had taken up all the other matters and was to rise when I mentioned my matter and got my presence recorded and thankfully prevented any harm to the client’s interests. 

    Through one of the other learning experiences, I learnt to not take pleadings casually and to be absolutely accurate with the words while drafting pleadings. In one of the cases being conducted by one of the Advocates I was associated with in my early years (who held the brief for the defendant), I observed that while denying the pleadings of the plaintiff in the written statement, instead of the word ‘plaintiff’, the word ‘defendant’ was wrongly used. The enormity of the consequence of this inadvertent error was such that a civil suit filed by the plaintiff was decreed, under Order XII Rule 6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, on the sole basis of this inadvertent ‘admission’. This caused immense loss to the client and massive embarrassment to the concerned Advocate. After learning this important lesson, I haven’t ever filed any pleading/statement in any case without reading it at least thrice and believe you me, I have found some mistakes even in the third reading. I feel there is no other way to ensure accuracy. I further think that as an Advocate, you shouldn’t be making careless mistakes. You are paid not to make mistakes by the client. As such, you must conduct your cases with a heightened sense of responsibility. 

    Another learning that I drew from the whole episode was that one should keep one’s eyes and ears open and learn from the mistakes committed by others, without waiting to commit a mistake oneself, at the expense of one’s client. 

    Lastly, through another experience that I had with a client, where the client abruptly denied a clear understanding which I had with a client, I learnt that an Advocate should record the understanding arrived at with the client in regard to any aspect of the matter being handled for the client. Before filing pleadings/statements on behalf of the client, one should always email it to the client and ask the client to read the same in great detail and then respond to that email with an instruction to file the same if the same is in order. In my experience, following this practice will certainly save a legal practitioner from many embarrassing situations on more than one occasion in future. Further, in answer to question at serial no. 8, I have enlisted many other useful lessons I have learnt in the last 15 years as an Advocate.

    In so far as the second part of your question is concerned, there comes a stage in every lawyer’s life when you feel that you’re ready to take the plunge. The stage is usually marked by reasonable confidence that the lawyer would be able to handle a given matter by himself/herself before the court and that he/she will be able to sustain his/her basic expenses without any external help. When I got reasonably sure in regard to both the aspects mentioned above, I took the plunge into private practice, in October of 2015 and god has been kind ever since. I always tell my associates that the biggest challenge in advocacy is not advocacy itself, but the art of dealing with the clients so as to ensure that the clients pay up your fee well in time and your relationship with your clients remains cordial and transparent, built on the edifice of trust. In this regard, please note that the issue of fee should be discussed and settled soon after the client has conveyed his decision to hire you, without any delay. There should be no hesitation in discussing and settling fee with the clients at the earliest opportunity. I realise that this is easier said than done and that it takes years to get good with this but this is one of the most important aspects of advocacy. That said, the other biggest challenge which you have to overcome in setting your own practice is to get enough clients to sustain your practice and to grow it sustainably. You may be an exceptional advocate, but you don’t get to display your skills unless you appear before Courts frequently and that doesn’t happen unless you hold enough briefs for your clients to make that happen. The initial challenges for me too, therefore primarily pertained to having a good number of clients, getting those clients to realise the value of my legal advice and getting them to pay up my fee on time.

    Having represented clients in both domestic and international commercial arbitration, could you describe one of the notable cases you’ve worked on, especially your experience in the ICC Arbitration in Zurich?

    The international arbitration matter between an Austrian Company which was represented by me and a government organisation functioning under the aegis and administrative control of the Government of India, deserves a special mention here. Brief redacted facts were that my client was an Austrian Company which, along with its Indian Collaborator, supplied a complex chemical plant to a government organisation. The contract subsequently ran into rough weather and our client issued a Request for Arbitration [RFA] to the said government organisation, in accordance with the terms of the contract and the ICC Arbitration Rules [ICC Rules]. The seat of arbitration was Zurich and the other side was represented by a well-known and established Indian law firm which was substantially bigger in size than our team. The valuation of the subject matter of this arbitration was in excess of Rs. 1000 crores. We first represented the client before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court and obtained a stay against encashment of the client’s bank guarantee. This reaffirmed the client’s faith in us and led us to represent the client in the entirety of arbitration proceedings. The arbitral tribunal comprised of 3 members, including a former Chief justice of India, and a German engineer as co-arbitrators and a lady from Beirut, Lebanon, as the chairperson of the tribunal. The arbitration was administered under the aegis of ICC and governed by the ICC Rules. We had the hearings of this arbitration at Zurich, Paris and London and eventually succeeded in the case. Our claim was largely allowed and the Respondent’s counterclaim was dismissed. The victory was significant and it sparked my interest in arbitration which would become a lifelong association in times to come.

    You have significant experience in sports-related litigation. Can you discuss some landmark cases you’ve handled involving National Sports Federations and the Indian Olympic Association?

    I was introduced to sports-related litigation by a dear friend of mine in the year 2020 and since then, it’s been a constant in my practice. I have represented/advised the Kho Kho Federation of India, the Handball Association India, the Rajasthan State Olympic Association, the UP Olympic Association, the Pondicherry Olympic Association, the Delhi State Kabaddi Association, and famous discus thrower in a wide array of legal proceedings, including proceedings before Hon’ble Courts/arbitration tribunals. One of the landmark cases that I’ve been a part of is the PIL bearing W.P(C) 195/2010, titled “Rahul Mehra vs. Union of India and Ors.”. In this matter, I represented KKFI, which was an impleadment applicant. By way of the judgment dated 16.08.2022, a division bench of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi held that the National Sports Code is applicable to the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federations along with their constituents. The Hon’ble Court further extensively dealt with and ruled on various aspects of the administration of the Indian Olympic Association and National Sports Federations including the validity of permanent posts like life president in IOA, differential voting rights to National Sports Federations and State Olympic Associations in IOA, the applicability of Model Election Guidelines, the applicability of age and tenure guidelines on members of the Executive Committee of NSFs and IOA, size of the Executive Committee, eligibility of a person against whom charges have been framed to contest the elections. Though the judgment is under challenge before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, it makes for an essential read for every sports lawyer in the country just for the ground it covers in the realm of sports regulation and administration.

    The said judgment was challenged by the Indian Olympic Association before the Hon’ble Supreme Court by way of SLP(C) 14533/2022. In the said matter, the Hon’ble Supreme Court initially appointed a one-man committee headed by a former judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court tasked with the mandate to suggest amendments to the constitution/Memorandum and Rules of the Indian Olympic Association. The said committee held public hearings at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which were attended by all stakeholders including the representatives of the National Sports Federations and State Olympic Associations. I represented the Kho Kho Federation of India, the Handball Association India and the Rajasthan State Olympic Association at the public hearing. The matter is still pending adjudication before the Hon’ble Apex Court and I am fortunate to be representing the Kho Kho Federation of India and the Handball Association India who are the impleadment applicants before the Hon’ble Apex Court in the said matter.

    Another seminal sports-related litigation was a challenge to the elections of the then President, IOA by way of a civil suit for Declaration preferred by an eminent sportsperson whom I represented. The matter was hotly contested with several senior counsels representing either side. The matter went on for a couple of years and was ultimately rendered infructuous midway as the then President, IOA, voluntarily resigned from the said position before the end of his term and the matter was rendered infructuous as the desired objective was achieved before the conclusion of the trial.

    With your background in sports law and international arbitration, how do you foresee the future of sports law in India over the next 5-10 years?

    I foresee great developments for sports law showing up on the horizon. As of this day, the sports organisations, principally being the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federations are regulated by the government through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports [MYAS] by issuance of executive instructions, circulars and letters which are binding on the NSFs and IOA. A compilation of such executive orders, instructions, circulars, and notifications issued by the government over a period of time, created in the year 2011, came to be referred to as the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 [National Sports Code]. The National Sports Code has been holding the field to date. However, recently, the MYAS introduced the Draft National Sports Governance Bill, 2024, which was also put up for public consultation in the recent past. The bill proposes many reforms, making provisions for establishment of Sports Regulatory Board of India to regulate and supervise the National Sports Federations (NSFs); establishment of an internal grievance mechanism for athletes and coaches; establishment of an Appellate Sports Tribunal tasked specifically with the objective of adjudication of sports-related disputes, reservation for women and sportspersons of outstanding merit [SOM] in Executive Committee posts; establishment of Athlete’s Commission; relaxation of eligibility criteria for contesting of Executive Committee posts for wider representation.  Once the National Sports Governance Bill, 2024 is promulgated into law, it is going to revolutionise the administration and regulation of sports and herald a new era of sports development in India. 

    How do you manage the complexities of handling a wide array of civil and criminal matters at the Supreme Court of India? Can you share an example of a particularly interesting case and how you addressed the challenges it presented?

    My practice before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India is mostly confined to matters on the civil side. That said, one can manage the complexities of any case, one handles, with an in-depth knowledge of the factual and legal issues involved. The soundness of your research, the clarity of your expression, and the dint of your hard work would dispel the complexities with ease.

    One particularly interesting case that I can immediately remember was a bunch of 5 SLPs preferred by a group of Nursing Colleges situated in a particular state, inter-alia, against the Nurses Registration Council [NRC] of the said state. The Petitioners were represented by a number of AORs, Counsel and Senior Advocates and the NRC was singularly represented by me as its Standing Counsel. The matter came up before Court No. 2 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, headed by a division bench of 3 Hon’ble Judges of the Hon’ble Court, quite early in the morning and since the matters cumulatively comprised at least 2000 pages, I requested the Hon’ble Court to grant me some time for filing of proper counter-affidavits to the said SLPs. Considering the stress on the ‘urgency’ involved in the said matter and considering the ‘future of the students’ was said to be at stake in the said matters, the Hon’ble Court declined my request and asked me if I could prepare a summary and a chart to assist the Hon’ble Court by the following day. Daunted at the prospect of being able to comprehend and assist the court effectively with the matters in less than 24 hours, I requested the Hon’ble Court to grant me time till the day after. The Hon’ble Court, kindly agreed to my request and posted the matter for final hearing after two days. The task was daunting, still as these were the first 5 matters assigned to me by the MPNRC and I was at that point in time, not familiar with even the applicable statutory provisions, rules and regulations governing the subject matter of the said SLPs. Regardless,  I put everything else aside and started grasping the essence of each one of the said 5 SLPs. With great difficulty, after sleeping for less than 6 hours in the intervening 48 hours, I ended up making a note and table for the Hon’ble Court’s consideration. When the matter was taken up, I cumulatively argued for more than 30 minutes, without having to look at any of the case files. Several Advocates and Senior Advocates marshalled their arguments against the position taken by me. However, at the culmination of the hearing, the Hon’ble Court thankfully dismissed the entire batch of matters, on the strength of the arguments advanced by me and barred the Petitioners therein from approaching the Hon’ble Apex Court ever again on the said issue. The process that led to the culmination of the aforementioned matter not only enriched me immensely as an advocate but also reaffirmed my faith in my advocacy and on the principle that with hard work you can surmount insurmountable odds. Further, as is the case with the overcoming of any challenge, I felt victorious and encouraged to work harder and harder to sharpen the essential tools for my law practice.

    What advice would you offer to young lawyers who aspire to have a successful career like yours? Are there any resources or practices you recommend for staying updated with evolving legal trends?

    Some of the good habits I would encourage young lawyers to inculcate in the early years are:

    • Treat the matters of your senior as your own and handle them with the same level of ownership and responsibility. This will help you immensely later when you start your own practice.
    • Read your drafts at least thrice before filing the same. Every time you run through it, mark my words, you’ll find mistakes. Impeccable drafts create a great primary impression in the mind of the judge.
    • Never try taking shortcuts in the profession. They’re likely to do more harm than help you.
    • Read the whole judgment. Don’t just read the headnote to grasp the ratio. 
    • Never give in to the lure of unethical practices.
    • Always be loyal to your client but at the same time, remember that your ultimate loyalty lies with the court. 
    • Never mislead a judge and answer questions posed by the bench directly and promptly.
    • Have a sincere demeanour becoming an advocate while sitting inside the court. Don’t engage in fun or banter inside the court.
    • Communicate your fee structure to your client promptly, and without delay, and if possible, during the first meeting itself. 
    • Be thorough in your research and endeavour to know the jurisprudence regarding the legal proposition applicable to your case, in all its variations and limitations.
    • Lastly, remember that above-average intelligence, along with sincerity and hard work will do the trick for you in the profession.

    Further, it is substantially easier to stay abreast with the evolving legal trends than it was for the previous generation of lawyers. Earlier, to stay updated, lawyers had to rely majorly on law reports and journals. In contrast, today you have the advantage of a world connected with hi-speed internet which makes this job a whole lot easier. The other day, while I was patiently sitting and waiting for my matter to be taken up by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, a matter pertaining to legal ramifications arising from obscene comments made by a popular content creator was taken up by the Hon’ble Court. I was surprised to note that even before the matter got over, a popular online platform publishing legal news had already published a whole article on the issue. Today we live in a fast-paced world driven by technology where one has ready access to online law journals, online news portals, online legal research portals, video lectures on law by prominent jurists, and the latest addition to the list is AI driven legal research tools. With all this at one’s command, one can learn immensely and stay abreast with the latest legal trends at the same time, with ease.

    Managing a demanding legal career alongside a personal life can be difficult. How do you balance your professional commitments while maintaining a healthy work-life equilibrium?

    My senior once told me that if you’ll not strike a work-life balance, you will never find enough time to complete the endless work that will keep you drowning till neck deep in its vast expanse. He always told me to leave for home on time every day so that you make the most of your days with your family. Law, as they say, is a jealous mistress. It certainly demands a lot of time and dedication from you, if you aim to excel in the legal profession. However, I am a firm believer of the age-old adage which states in the relevant part, that “if health is gone, everything is gone”. I endeavour to go to the gym 3-4 times a week to ensure my physical and mental well-being and I try to leave the office by 7-7:30 pm every day so as to be with my family by 7:45-8:15. These two habits have helped me in maintaining a healthy work-life equilibrium.

    Get in touch with Anuj Tyagi –

  • “As a lawyer, I have the chance to advocate for people’s rights, help those who need it most, and work toward a fairer society.” – Sudipto Sircar, Advocate-on-Record at Supreme Court of India

    “As a lawyer, I have the chance to advocate for people’s rights, help those who need it most, and work toward a fairer society.” – Sudipto Sircar, Advocate-on-Record at Supreme Court of India

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    Your legal journey spans nearly a decade, during which you’ve handled a wide array of cases. Could you share what initially drew you to the field of law and if there were any particular experiences or influences that guided you toward this path?

    When I reflect on my journey into law, I can’t point to one single moment or experience that set me on this path. It was more like a gradual, almost magnetic pull. You could say it was a slow evolution, starting from my desire to pursue a career in journalism after my 10th class board exams. At one point, I was seriously thinking about a career in music – I’ve always loved playing the bass guitar, and during my final school years, I would practice for hours, often losing track of time and neglecting my studies and preparations for the law entrance exams. There were nights when I’d be lost in my music, while my textbooks sat untouched.

    But then came a pivotal moment. One evening, my father sat me down with a look of concern and said, “You need to make a decision. Choose a path.” And that was the wake-up call I needed. Sure, I still play the bass with as much passion as ever – it’s my way to unwind after a busy day in the courtroom. By day, I’m a lawyer, and by night, I’m a bassist. It’s quite the balance, one that keeps me grounded and inspired.

    What draws me to law is its ability to make a real difference. As a lawyer, I have the chance to advocate for people’s rights, help those who need it most, and work toward a fairer society. It’s not always glamorous, and it’s definitely not as simple and straightforward as it might seem from the outside—there are challenges, frustrations, and setbacks along the way. But despite all that, it’s about using the law to level the playing field, ensuring everyone is heard and treated fairly. At the end of the day, it’s about creating tangible change, and that’s something I find deeply fulfilling.

    In the early stages of your career, working as an associate must have been a valuable learning experience. Having worked with big names, could you highlight a few key lessons or insights that significantly shaped your understanding of the law and contributed to your professional growth?

    I say now in hindsight, particularly for pursuing a long-term career in litigation, but the hardest (and the most important) part of starting your journey in this profession is finding and joining a good Chamber. It can literally decide the course and quality of your career. Honestly, being a first-generation lawyer, I did not have this understanding at the time, but I am grateful as to how life has worked out. I have had the good fortune of working under Mr. A.D.N. Rao (he was an Advocate-on-Record during my days under him) and Mr. Shyam Divan, Senior Advocate, and it has been (and continues to be) an amazing journey.

    If I had to highlight the key lessons I’ve learned, it would be threefold. First, it all comes down to hard work. It’s not always easy, and yes, it means sacrificing weekends and putting in long hours. But the more you give, the faster you learn. It’s the foundation for everything that follows.

    Second, embrace the diversity of work, especially when you’re just starting out. The more varied your tasks, the broader your understanding of the field. It’s in the variety that you truly grow.

    And lastly, be ready to take responsibility for your mistakes, no matter how tough it is. Whether it’s a scolding from a senior over a drafting error or a misstep in court, don’t let it bruise your ego. Mistakes will happen—there’s no way around it. What matters is acknowledging them, learning from them, and using those lessons to become better. Every mistake is a step forward if you let it teach you.

    Having appeared before both the Supreme Court of India and several High Courts, you’ve dealt with a wide range of legal issues. How do you approach preparation for such high-stakes cases, especially those requiring in-depth legal analysis and argumentation? What’s one crucial skill you believe every legal professional should cultivate early in their career?

    When preparing for high-stakes cases, especially those requiring complex legal analysis, my approach is grounded in thoroughness and meticulous planning. First, I immerse myself in the facts of the case—ensuring that I fully understand every detail before moving to the legal aspects. I believe that every great argument begins with understanding the context. Once I have that, I turn to the law itself—scouring precedents, statutes, and legal commentary. I approach each piece of research with a critical eye, looking for nuances that might not be immediately obvious but could make or break an argument.

    Beyond the legal research, I focus on refining my arguments by simulating different scenarios and anticipating possible challenges. This helps me stay flexible and confident in court, ensuring that I can respond effectively to unexpected questions or shifts in direction. 

    As for one crucial skill, I would say it’s the ability to think critically and analytically. Developing the habit of breaking down problems into their core components and approaching them with a clear, logical mindset is essential. This skill doesn’t just help in court—it’s what will guide you through the toughest cases and the most complicated legal challenges. Cultivating this skill early in your career will set the foundation for everything else that follows.

    Your practice covers a wide spectrum of areas, including compliance, agreement drafting, IPR protection, and more. Looking back, what has been the most challenging case you’ve worked on, and what strategies did you employ to navigate the complexities of that matter?

    There have definitely been many challenging cases! And let’s be honest, the definition of a “challenge” evolves as you grow. When I first joined the Bar, even my first appearance before the Supreme Court (just a mentioning, mind you) felt like a monumental task. Now, after a few years, I’ve worked on plenty of complex matters, so the “challenge” isn’t necessarily in the complexity anymore—it’s more about maintaining the same level of attention and quality across every case. It’s like trying to keep your enthusiasm for a TV show after the 10th season… You just have to keep the energy up!

    But if I had to pick one instance that stands out, it would have to be the Ram Mandir dispute. It was my first day under Shyam Divan Sir, and he handed me the small task of diving straight into over 200 volumes of pleadings and evidence. And, mind you, this was pre-COVID days—so we’re talking about physical volumes here, the kind that could double as gym equipment. And later, it turned out that by the end of the week, I was required to prepare the first draft of the Written Submissions. 

    Needless to say, I ended up spending my nights in the office, burning the midnight oil every day from the very first week. And honestly, I loved every minute of it. I was grateful for the trust Shyam Sir had placed in me, and I was determined not to let him down. Looking back, I can confidently say that it was one of the most intense but fulfilling experiences of my career. If you ask me now, I wouldn’t trade that first week in his Chamber for anything!

    In your advisory role with various companies, especially in the telecom sector, you deal with a constantly changing regulatory landscape. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in this area, and how do you navigate the evolving regulations to ensure compliance?

    The biggest challenge is keeping up with the ever-changing regulatory landscape. It’s like trying to catch up with a moving train, except the train keeps changing direction and speed. The simple solution I’ve found is to read—constantly. I devour multiple newspapers and magazines (and thank goodness for Magzter, which has been a lifesaver for both domestic and international updates), and I make it a point to regularly check the websites of regulatory bodies. They’re the first to spill the tea, so I’ve got to be there.

    But beyond just staying updated, ensuring compliance is a constant back-and-forth with various departments. I’ll admit, it’s like trying to decode a puzzle at times, but the experience has generally been positive. Most bureaucrats, when approached with an issue, are surprisingly understanding and willing to help clarify things. They get that regulations can be tricky, and they’re usually happy to work towards a solution. I always tell my clients to steer clear of litigation unless absolutely necessary. With regulatory work, litigation should always be the last resort—sort of like trying to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It’s far more effective to talk it through first.

    Your work in environmental law, particularly as assisting the Amicus Curiae in major Supreme Court cases, speaks to your deep commitment to this field. What first sparked your interest in environmental litigation, and what drives you to keep contributing to this area? Furthermore, how do you assess the evolution of environmental jurisprudence in India, particularly in the context of judicial interpretations of laws like the Forest Conservation Act and the Environmental Protection Act?

    To be honest, I didn’t set out to specialize in environmental law or mining law when I first entered the profession—it just happened. It all started because Mr. A.D.N. Rao is the Amicus Curiae in several landmark environmental cases [T.N. Godavarman Case (Forest Conservation Case), M.C. Mehta (Taj Trapezium Case), Goa Foundation (Goa Mining Case), Common Cause (Orissa Mining) and Samaj Parivartana (Karnataka Mining Case)]. He was also very active before the National Green Tribunal. So naturally, I was more than happy to assist him in these high-profile cases. It was chaos, but it was one heck of a learning experience. Mr. Shyam Divan is also the Senior Amicus in Samaj Parivartana.

    Fast forward, when I joined Mr. Shyam Divan’s chamber, my work on Samaj Parivartana continued. In fact, some of my colleague’s joke that this case is what officially got me into the Chamber, since it’s how Shyam Sir got to know me—thanks to my constant presence at briefings with A.D.N. Sir. Alongside that, under Shyam Sir, I also became heavily involved in the Krishna and Cauvery River water disputes, which was a whole new world of learning.

    Through all of this, I can now confidently say I’ve by now internalized environmental law, mining law, and water disputes law. All the major judgments and orders from these cases are by now permanently etched in my brain.

    As for the evolution of environmental jurisprudence in India, I think we’re entering a new phase. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, right up until 2014-2015, the Supreme Court was basically the environmental superhero, swooping in with orders and directions that the government had to follow— It was practically the Court which was running the show.

    But now? Things are shifting. This new phase sees the Court stepping back a bit. Why? Well, for one, many of the major environmental issues the Court was grappling with have been resolved or are winding down. Secondly, we now have a dedicated Environmental Tribunal, which takes up a lot of the heavy lifting that the Supreme Court used to earlier. And, of course, the government is playing its part too, providing more clarity in compliance—though some might argue that this clarity is more developer-friendly than environment-friendly, but that’s a debate for another day.

    The bottom line is, the Court has moved from being the enforcer of environmental laws to more of a law interpreter, and I think it’s striking a balance between being pro-environment and pro-development. It’s no longer just the hammer; it’s more like the guide. And I think the Court is doing a good job of maintaining an equilibrium.

    Enforcing occupational health and safety regulations in India, particularly with respect to the OSH&WC Code, 2020, presents several challenges. From your perspective, what are the key hurdles in ensuring effective enforcement of these regulations? Additionally, could you shed light on your role as a legal consultant in finalizing the standards under the OSH&WC Code, and how your involvement helped shape these regulations?

    The biggest hurdle in enforcing the OSH&WC Code? Well, it’s like trying to run a marathon with one shoe—it’s all about infrastructure and resources. On the bureaucratic side, there are still far too many vacancies in government departments, and that’s not changing anytime soon. On the industry side, especially in the MSME sector, it’s a whole other ballgame. Large corporations can foot the bill for compliance, but for micro and small enterprises? It’s like throwing another weight onto an already overloaded backpack. And let’s not forget, many of these enterprises operate in the informal sector, which only makes enforcement more challenging. This has been a long-standing issue, and there is no quick-fix magic wand in the Code or the regulations that will suddenly solve it overnight.

    As for my role as a legal consultant, I was brought in when the regulations were getting fine-tuned for submission to the Ministry. And let me tell you, it was a race against time. I practically set up camp at the Headquarters of the Director General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institute (DGFASLI) in Bombay for an entire week. It was me and a team of experts from across the country, working long hours, getting up at the crack of dawn and going till evening, vetting every line of the regulations. We worked even during the weekend. But the real fun for me began when the day’s work was over. I stayed up late into the night fixing all the errors and amendments we had discussed for the portion that was completed, so that the next day, there was an updated draft before the team to confirm and finalise.

    On the first night, the DGFASLI staff got a bit of a shock to find me still working past regular office hours into the night. The night guard practically kicked me out of the building so that he could lock up. So the next day, I spoke to the Director and got permission to keep a room in the main building open and running with the guard staying awake to lock up after me. I am pretty sure he was cursing his luck to be stuck with me at night, but hey, we got the job done!

    But in the end, it wasn’t just about hitting deadlines—it was about shaping regulations that could make a real difference and make life a little easier for everyone in the industry. Sure, there were some late nights and a few cups of coffee that felt more like lifelines, but the experience was fulfilling, and I’m proud to have played a part in it.

    With increasing focus on technology, sustainability, and corporate responsibility, how do you see the future of environmental law and occupational safety evolving in the next decade? What emerging trends do you think young lawyers should be preparing for? Also, what advice would you offer to young professionals aspiring to excel in law, particularly in fields you’re deeply engaged with?

    If you asked me what’s changed the most in environmental law, I’d say it’s paper. Pre-COVID, we were practically drowning in it, with piles of pleadings that could take over entire tables, with additional mini towers on the side. Big environmental litigations often run into thousands of pages. But with e-filing and PDFs taking over, paper use has drastically reduced. It’s still a bit of an adjustment for me. I still prefer scribbling down notes on paper with a pen during final arguments, but overall it’s better for the environment, and the back and arms, which were practically crying from the weight of all those files. 

    Looking ahead, I see compliance becoming even more central to environmental law and occupational safety. With technology, sustainability, and corporate responsibility gaining traction, the pressure to comply with environmental standards will only increase. Add to that the rise of AI, and we’re looking at a future where regulations and compliance will be handled more efficiently (but no less seriously) than ever before.

    For young lawyers entering this field, I think the biggest trend to prepare for is the shift towards smaller offices. Technology has already made it possible for lawyers to do what used to require an entire team of stenographers, typists, clerks, and assistants. When I started out, if you didn’t have a good stenographer, you were essentially behind the curve. Now, you can draft petitions on your laptop without needing anyone else to type them out. The upside? It means less overhead costs, making it easier for junior advocates to set up their own practice. The downside? Fewer jobs in law chambers, because there’s less need for large teams to manage all the paperwork.

    So, what does this mean for fresh law grads? It means adaptability will be your best friend. If you’re tech-savvy, you’ll have an edge. But, and this is important, you can’t just rely on the machines. AI might help with drafting and research, but nothing beats good old-fashioned brainpower and creativity when it comes to solving legal problems. Similarly, technology may assist with legal procedures, but it can’t replace the art of persuasion or the nuanced skill of court craft. Those come with experience—and time.

    So my advice to young professionals is two-fold: First, be a sponge—absorb as much knowledge as you can, and do it fast. The legal world is changing, and you need to keep pace. Second, as you adapt, don’t forget the fundamentals. Stay curious, stay sharp, and remember that no amount of technology can replace the value of your own thinking. And, of course, no matter how advanced AI gets, it will never be able to match your charm in the courtroom. That’s the stuff that wins cases.

    As both a legal consultant and advocate-on-record, you manage a broad range of responsibilities. How do you maintain a work-life balance in such a demanding profession? Are there particular habits or practices you’ve adopted to stay focused and energized in this high-pressure field?

    It’s tricky, for sure. But I didn’t enter this field by accident—so I’m not about to complain. The reality is, work-life balance in law is more of an ideal than a constant state. It’s hard to achieve it when your schedule is always in flux, whether you’re waiting in court or running to brief a Senior Advocate. There’s also the drafting, vetting, and admin work that’s part of the daily grind.

    But here’s the thing—there will never be enough hours in the day to do everything. So instead of stressing over the balance, I focus on making time for what truly matters. I make sure to spend time with my wife and family, because that’s the best way I know to recharge. I’m also a philatelist, and I try to dedicate at least a little time each week to that hobby, even if it’s just 30 minutes.

    Beyond that, I walk and meditate when I can. Some days I miss them, and that’s okay. But I also use my car rides—whether I’m heading to the office or coming home—as a chance to think through the day ahead or unwind after a busy one.

    So no, I don’t have a perfect “work-life balance” in the typical sense. But I do make time for the things that keep me focused and energized in a profession that demands a lot.

    Get in touch with Sudipto Sircar –

  • The Endless Journey of Learning and Growth: Why a Career in Law Keeps You Forever Young –  Mayuri Raghuvanshi, Advocate on Record (AOR) at the Supreme Court of India.

    The Endless Journey of Learning and Growth: Why a Career in Law Keeps You Forever Young –  Mayuri Raghuvanshi, Advocate on Record (AOR) at the Supreme Court of India.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team


    Having such immense experience in diverse fields, can you share the story behind your choosing law as a career and what kind of moments or experiences have motivated you to continue for almost two decades now?

    Well, I think simply because one life is not enough for law. Every day passes by, and you know you have learned something new. There will not be a single day in this profession where you will not go to bed with a feeling that you have learned something new today. And yet when you try to ask yourself, do I really know the subject, the answer will definitely be no, because it’s vast, it’s huge, and it is dynamic.

    For example, several of the subjects we practice today, we have not studied in law college. They are new to us, and we learn every day. And the profession, I mean, now, of course, there are various aspects. Once you have your law degree, there are various ways in which you can put your legal education to use. But even if we are just talking about litigation alone, every day you will learn something new. I have been doing this for almost two decades, as you rightly pointed out, but there are still so many areas of law that are new to me, and I’m still looking for an opportunity to learn and grab that.

    So I think that’s the romance of law. That’s the whole idea and the fun of being a lawyer: you learn every day. I mean, look at it like this — suppose I were in a different profession, you would have called me a middle-aged woman, but I’m a toddler in the profession still. We have a very long professional life that keeps us young and alive, and that’s the beauty of the profession. That’s why it’s all worth it.
    When we were in school, the usual thing was that if you’re a good student, you would study science. So, I also wanted to believe that I was a good student. I took maths with biology as a subject in class 12, which clearly shows that I was confused and not very clear about what I wanted to do. But yes, everybody said, we have to now sit for the competitive exam. I had though had one advantage, my parents had studied law. And I think by far, I have, in that sense, inherited my father’s passion for law, for the subject. So, I remember my evenings were earmarked for me with my father. And once, where I think what sparked the interest was when I was in class 7th or 6th, my father was reading Lord Denning’s closing chapter. And he would come back, and, you know, I still have a very vivid memory of the time he would spend with me asking me what I was doing. He would sit on the corner of a sofa and just sit with a book, and perhaps he was so engrossed in reading it.

    I thought, who is this bald man who has eaten up all my time? I wanted to know who this bald man was, not knowing that who actually Lord Denning was. And that’s where I started actually going through his books and all. So, very often it happens that we are interested in, or we choose a field because we have a role model, and we want to become something, we want to become a lawyer. So, we want to study law. In my case, it was the other way around. I was so confused about what I wanted to study and what I really enjoyed reading. Today, I am able to articulate it, but when I was a young girl, I had difficulty in articulating or understanding my own interest.

    So, while I was interested in stories, history, and all sorts of books around me, when I looked at even science subjects like Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, the ones I was reading to score marks, it was more out of a curious interest. My hobby or the time when I had to recreate or my leisure was all filled with all kinds of books. My father once pointed out to me that, “Look here, this is your bent of mind. This is what you should look at making your profession.” So I would write poems, I would read poems, I would do things, but I was really never able to understand it. And as I was telling you, I did clear an engineering entrance exam.

    And a day before I cleared, and interestingly, when we were in school, the whole quest about getting into a law college — there weren’t so many law colleges then — and my father is the old-world person in that sense of the term, believing that if you want to study law, you should have certain maturity. He says, “You can’t teach fundamental rights to a 17-year-old boy.” That’s how he looked at it. So, when I first started expressing myself that I wanted to study law, my father was of the view that I should do a graduation program in any subject I wanted and then take up a three-year law course. Because, as he still believed, how could a 16-year-old person understand jurisprudence or what is a fundamental right? And he would always tell me, “To understand the right to life, you have to live a life.”

    There were some five-year law colleges that had come up. So, I finally managed to convince my father to let me sit for an entrance exam. Or, if I can recollect correctly, there was National Law School, Bangalore, which I could not appear for because by the time I convinced my father, the dates had closed. So, the only entrance exam I took was for Symbiosis. In those days, there was only one Symbiosis, which was in Pune and affiliated with Pune University. It wasn’t even a deemed university then. I remember I had my entrance exam at Teen Murti Bhavan, and I enjoyed the entrance exam like anything. I knew the answers at the back of my hand.

    See, Maths, Physics, those legal deductions, when you were studying Math in class 12, were like baby steps. It wasn’t difficult at all. General knowledge — I realized that’s where I really understood that I knew almost everything. For example, there was this question, “What does Parliament consist of?” I knew that it was Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the president. There were questions on legal news and current affairs, and I knew all of that. I remember when my name came up, I was at serial number eight on the list.

    So, when I went to my father and said, “Let’s go for this,” and that’s where my mentor, Dr. Akilen Pandey, played a very important role in my final decision. Because, all said and done, even in those days, someone would call you a fool for giving up engineering and studying law. But I was glad I was surrounded by people passionate about law, who were able to guide me and show me how beautiful the subject was. And once I was in college, I remember after the first class, I called up my father and said, “I finally know what I’m going to study for the rest of my life.” My soul had found its place. So, for me, it was more about the passion for law. Even today, you know, while I am a lawyer, I practice law in court, it’s not about what I want to become; it’s always the subject that is the core of everything I do. It’s the love for the subject that takes precedence over everything else.

    I enjoyed it, actually. You know, there are two exams that I enjoyed thoroughly. One was my law entrance and the other was my advocate-on-record exam. Even if a bomb would have dropped outside, I would have cared less. I would have perhaps continued participating in the process.


     Ma’am, at the very start of your career, you had the option of joining esteemed advocates like Advocate Gopal Subramanium. How did that experience shape your approach towards law, your research, and the way you work today?

    You know, the most important thing in a lawyer’s life is the chamber they start from. I had been exceptionally blessed because of the people I worked with, particularly in the initial years. In our profession, we say that the horse is from which stable—that’s your genealogy, your pedigree. And I am very lucky in that way because that’s what shapes you. On the face of it, it may look like we were just assisting them, but the relationship between a senior and junior is very much like a parent and child.

    When you are a baby, you hate everything that your parents say. You disagree with them. You don’t understand why they’re doing something. Sometimes, you find them irrational. But as you grow up, you begin to realize why they behave the way they do. And to your nightmare, you’ll realize that you’ve also turned into them.

    So, in a way, there are things, like for example, Mr. Subramanium’s chamber — I can bet you, you go to any junior who has come from that office, you will see we all have a style of preparing a note that we take to court. This is the note we used to prepare for sir. I still don’t know how to read a file or go to court without a note in my hand. Now, of course, my notes have shifted to electronic notes, but even today, while I use LiquidText and its features, I still make my note. All my files have a note. It’s a very typical thing, and I can bet any junior today from Mr. Subramanium’s chamber would not have a note in their file. We don’t know how to read our files without the note.

    So, it’s like I just said, this is one thing we’ve all imbibed. We’ve all imbibed certain traits, the way we work, the way we think. For example, Mr. Subramanium was an early riser. He would start early in the morning. Now, most offices work late into the night. I have, by default, become an early morning person. I can start early because he worked that way. So we got acclimatized to the way he worked.

    Those things you may not realize like I didn’t realize it for a very long time, but now, when I sit back and reflect, I think I’m always more comfortable starting early rather than doing something late at night. I like to read my files, revise them early in the morning, or have a meeting with clients in the morning rather than late at night.

    So, it defines almost everything. And it’s not just the people you work with — we also have the benefit of working with some of the stalwarts in the profession, assisting them. Every time we assist them, there’s something you learn from them. By just observing them, watching them. If you ask me, the person who actually teaches you the law is the judge sitting on the other side. That person, and if you want to learn the procedure, the person sitting in the registry will teach you the procedure. So, these two people are actually our gurus in that sense, because we learn while interacting with them. They are the best teachers, actually. The judges are the best teachers in that sense.

     Ma’am, you practically take out all that guru factor from everywhere you go—from the registry to judges, to even your juniors, and seniors. Obviously, everyone has their own style. How did you choose your style, and when did you decide to start your own practice? What kind of motivation was behind all of it? Because it’s not always easy, I would say, to make the decision to go independent and start a whole firm for yourself. When and how did you decide to take that step?

    So, there wasn’t a particular moment when I decided. I started working at my first chamber, which was an advocate-on-record’s chamber. I had the advantage of being clear in my head that if I wanted to practice in the Supreme Court, I needed to become an advocate-on-record (AOR).

    I knew it would take me five years, but effectively six, because our results in Pune University were declared in June, so by the time we got our certificates and enrolled, it was July. The AOR rule requires you to complete one year of training after four years of enrollment before taking the AOR exam. For us, post-April enrollments meant an additional year, so it became a six-year process for me. I started preparing for the AOR exam during this time.

    My journey began in the chamber of an advocate-on-record. After that, I got an opportunity to work with Mr. Subramanium. Back then, he was Solicitor General, and his practice was focused entirely on Supreme Court work. I worked with him for a while, but the exposure I gained was mainly in the Supreme Court.

    By 2009, after three years of practice, I realized I had zero experience in original side work, trial courts, or High Courts. The only forum I’d worked in was the Supreme Court. However, being based in Delhi, I had the advantage of having access to various courts and tribunals, and I was eager to learn. I started taking up work from different people and assisting whenever I could in trial courts, learning things I hadn’t done before, like drafting plaints.

    Then, Mr. Sanjay Ghosh came into the picture, and his practice in the High Court gave me my first exposure to original side work. I also started volunteering for arbitration proceedings, marking them on my calendar and following them as if they were my own cases, even though I had no client or fee.

    By the time I became an AOR, I had some matters here and there. But once I passed the exam, my practice truly began to take off. One major benefit of being an AOR is the liberty it offers—you can take on a case pro bono and still handle everything, from drafting to arguing, without needing to depend on anyone else. This flexibility allowed me to build a practice independently and create opportunities for myself.

    Ma’am, there are times when people question this aspect as well that if you keep doing things for free, when will you start charging? I’m just stating what has often been said. How have you navigated such challenges and strategized your practice? What suggestions would you have for newcomers or people who want to create their own path? You’ve worked in such diverse areas like service laws, company laws, taxation, civil, constitutional law, etc. How have you managed all of that?

    One of the best strategies is not to let an opportunity slip by, even if it seems like something that cannot be monetized immediately. Sometimes, what appears to be free work today can translate into valuable opportunities later.

    For example, when the Sexual Harassment Act was passed in 2013, many organizations struggled to set up their sexual harassment committees. Some of my clients from PSUs reached out to me for advice, and though I didn’t charge for it initially, I helped them understand the new rules and how to form committees. It seemed like free work at the time, but it eventually led to more billable work, and what started as a small thing turned into a significant opportunity.

    It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean you should work for free indefinitely. In fact, it’s essential to know your worth and charge for your time when it’s appropriate. But early in your career, you must recognize that sometimes giving away a bit of your expertise for free can build trust and open doors.

    For instance, my pro bono work with the All India Judges Association started in 2014. Although I wasn’t paid, that work led to other opportunities. Similarly, the work I did for free or at a minimal rate built a foundation for my practice to grow.

    The key here is not to have a myopic view of your career. Understand that, as a lawyer, you are not an employee. You are an entrepreneur. It’s different from a regular job where you can clock in and clock out. As a lawyer, particularly if you’re aiming to be an arguing counsel, you need to realize that you’re in charge of your own success.

    Once you understand this, everything becomes easier. You won’t get caught up in the conventional expectations of time sheets or packages. You’ll embrace the ups and downs of the profession because you’re building your own practice, and that mindset will ultimately make the journey smoother.

    Ma’am, you have also been involved in a lot of gender awareness initiatives, especially your role in the internal complaint committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act and your position as an external member for organizations such as Rashtrapati Bhavan. What kind of challenges do you face when addressing gender sensitization issues, particularly concerning sexual harassment prevention? How do you assist or advocate for individuals in overcoming these issues, especially with more women entering the workforce in various environments? How have you addressed these challenges under your supervision?

    There are two main aspects to the work I’ve done. First, gender sensitization is a subject I’m deeply passionate about. In fact, I’m currently pursuing a PhD in feminist jurisprudence, an area of growing interest for me as I continue working on these issues. I’ve had the opportunity to engage with this law in three capacities: as a lawyer, where I represent clients in court; as a member of an internal committee, adjudicating complaints under the law; and through conducting awareness workshops, which I love doing. These workshops have been conducted in various institutions, each with its own unique challenges.

    One of the biggest challenges is that, as a country, we’re still not entirely clear on what constitutes sexual harassment from a legal standpoint. For example, the Vishakha guidelines were established in 1997, and although the 2013 Act is essentially a continuation of those principles, the law remains quite skeletal. It states that sexual harassment includes any unwelcome advance, but what qualifies as an advance is not clearly defined. In the virtual world, what might be considered a form of sexual harassment could be something as simple as sending a WhatsApp message or insisting on a cup of tea when someone is uncomfortable. It’s unclear how these actions should be categorized.

    Another issue is the diversity of workplaces – the law applies to a law firm, a school, a multinational company, and even Anganwadi workers, each with distinct sensitivities. For example, in multinational companies, a simple gesture like a peck on the cheek may not be seen as problematic, but in other workplaces, it may be inappropriate. So, determining where the line is between workplace conflict and sexual harassment is often not easy. The definition of sexual harassment is still a point of confusion, even within legal circles.

    I’ll give you an example. In 2015, the Ministry of Women and Child Development came out with a handbook categorizing various incidents as “sexual harassment,” “may or may not be,” or “definitely not.” However, this handbook is just a guide and not legally binding. So, even though it can help, it still leaves room for confusion in how to conduct inquiries and address harassment cases.

    A particularly common mistake is when people try to substitute their own sensibilities for the person making the complaint. For example, if a woman reports that a man tried to touch her, a person might dismiss it as just a handshake. But we need to understand whether the person making the complaint is genuinely uncomfortable with it. This has been a difficult concept for many, including judges, to grasp. The challenge is to put aside your own sensibilities and view the case from the perspective of the individual making the complaint. We need to ensure we’re not dismissing their feelings just because we would have acted differently. It’s essential to have training that allows us to understand these issues in layman’s terms so that people can really apply these systems with clarity.

     Ma’am, you’ve stated that you’ve gone paperless and, in your words, you’ve become a semi-technology-equipped lawyer. With more of our lives going online, such as court appearances and meetings, do you think we’re addressing online harassment in the same way we’re addressing physical harassment? In particular, the psychological impact of online harassment, which can be unforeseen, and what steps are being taken to address that?

    That’s a great question. In fact, Rajasthan High Court recently ruled that the concept of “workplace” under the Sexual Harassment Act should also apply to virtual spaces. This means that online meetings and virtual workplaces are covered under the Act, which is a step in the right direction. The issue is now clear: even online harassment is covered. There’s also international precedent, with countries like Australia issuing similar guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many organizations have updated their sexual harassment policies to ensure that online platforms, emails, and WhatsApp groups are covered.

    The challenge is that people often still don’t recognize that online harassment exists. It’s difficult for many to comprehend that harassment can happen without any physical contact. Even in situations where we’re having a conversation online, harassment can occur. That’s why sensitization is so important. People need to understand that harassment isn’t just about physical actions—it’s about respecting another person’s comfort level.

    It’s also crucial to recognize that sexual harassment doesn’t always involve a clear sexual offense. Many people confuse harassment with sexual offenses, simply because the word “sexual” is involved. Some individuals believe that their actions, such as making a comment or joking, are harmless because they don’t intend to cause harm. But it’s not about intentions; it’s about whether the other person feels uncomfortable. Understanding each other’s sensibilities is key to creating a respectful environment, whether online or offline.

    Ma’am, balancing your roles as an advocate, faculty member, and the head of your law firm is incredibly demanding. There’s also the aspect of mental health in this profession, something that isn’t often discussed. How do you manage to balance all of these responsibilities? What advice would you give to young professionals entering this field, which is both demanding and stressful?

    You’ve raised an important issue. The most important thing for a successful lawyer is good mental health, but we don’t talk about it enough. As lawyers, people come to us with problems—emotional, financial, personal—and we bear that burden too. Balancing all the different roles you mentioned requires resilience. For me, it’s essential to find time to laugh, stay positive, and not get overwhelmed. Burnout is a real issue, especially with the long hours we often work. Many of my students, after about 10 years in practice, experience this burnout.

    The first thing I would advise young professionals is to pay attention to your health—both mental and physical. Don’t skip meals, don’t compromise on sleep, and make sure you’re doing something that rejuvenates you, whether it’s exercise, reading, or even just watching a movie. I often ask my interns when the last time was that they went out for dinner or watched a movie. Many of them are so stressed out they don’t even want to talk about it. It’s important to take a step back and realize that life isn’t just about work.

    As women in this profession, there’s also the issue of “pipeline leakage,” where many women drop out between the ages of 30 and 45, especially when they’re balancing career and family life. It’s a challenging time, and the profession doesn’t always make it easy. But for me, having a supportive environment at home has been a huge privilege. I live with people who are gender-neutral and more progressive than I could ever claim to be, which makes a huge difference.

    I always tell young lawyers that there’s no rush. The profession is long, and you don’t need to achieve everything by the age of 30 or 35. Take care of your mental and physical health, and enjoy what you do. If you enjoy your work, it won’t feel like a burden.

    Ultimately, work-life balance is individual. Everyone has their own version of balance, and you have to find what works for you. For me, teaching gives me a different perspective and rejuvenates me to come back to my litigation work. So, I stay busy, but I enjoy everything I do. And that’s the key: to find joy in your work and make time for fun along the way.

    Get in touch with Mayuri Raghuvanshi –

  • “I believe an inherent interest and love for the Law, coupled with deep reserves of patience is an absolute essential if choosing to pursue litigation.” – Aditi Tripathi, Advocate-on-Record at Supreme Court of India.

    “I believe an inherent interest and love for the Law, coupled with deep reserves of patience is an absolute essential if choosing to pursue litigation.” – Aditi Tripathi, Advocate-on-Record at Supreme Court of India.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    With over a decade of experience now, what initially sparked your interest in pursuing a career in law? Was it a deliberate decision to enter the legal profession, or was there a specific event or experience that inspired you to take this path?

    I never had to look for inspiration beyond home. My father, Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi, was a first generation lawyer, who in turn was encouraged to pursue law by Prof. N. Madhava Menon, the architect of modern legal education in India. Watching my father burning the midnight oil in preparation for matters, and listening to his stories about particularly challenging days in court was always fascinating. Even as a child I could glean that here was a career that encouraged inculcating intelligence, quick thinking, and an ongoing quest for knowledge coupled with an element of public service. 

    By the time I was at the cusp of entering college, my father was elevated to the bench, which gave me fresh and unprecedented insight into the gruelling demands of the profession, not only as part of the Bar, but even on the Bench. Having an innate inclination towards humanities over the sciences, I loved studying history and political science and ultimately, decided to appear for the law school entrance exams.

    During my time at NUJS, Kolkata I endeavoured to gain a broad spectrum including during internships. In my penultimate year of law school my elder sister, also a lawyer, advised that I apply for an internship with Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co., New Delhi (now Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas/SAM). I interned with the Litigation and Disputes Resolution practice area at AMSS. I assisted the associates in active matters with research and drafting. It was exciting and challenging, and led me to realise that litigation was my true calling. Having liked my work, AMSS recruited me while I was still in my 5th year.

    Having worked with several distinguished legal chambers and law firms, how did these early experiences shape your approach to legal practice? Are there any key lessons or insights that you gained from these experiences that continue to inform your work today?

    My litigation journey started with the Litigation and Disputes Resolution Team at AMSS. AMSS is one of India’s top-tier law firms, while you feel fortunate to be a part of the organization, life at a law firm is gruelling. The long hours, in a high pressure environment is ‘baptism by fire.’ However, working at one of the leading law firms of the country, I learnt to emulate the industry’s best. Law firms give you great exposure, both at a professional and personal level. Handling high stakes matters, I inculcated critical thinking, which makes for a good lawyer, and as a solicitor, I also mastered skills like time and client management. The most important skill I imbibed at AMSS was attention to detail. Another learning from Mrs. Pallavi S. Shroff, the Managing Partner was to always be prepared with the brief, even if you are the junior-most lawyer on the matter. She guided young lawyers to learn every aspect of the matter, including the most fundamental things like ensuring no typographical errors, correct pagination of briefs, preparing proper case compilations, and brief management. Even now in the era of digitisation, these skills continue to serve me well and have set high standards for my final work product.

    Wanting to be in courts more regularly, I joined the Chambers of Mr. Paras Kuhad, Senior Advocate and Former Additional Solicitor General of India. The experience at a senior’s chamber after a law firm was equally if not more challenging and demanding. The most important insight Mr. Kuhad provided was that as a litigator one has to marshall the facts of a brief. Arguments may be subjective, depending on the side you are defending, but not the facts. In court, I frequently see Judges calling upon young counsels to apprise them on the facts of a petition. Judges are always encouraging of juniors who are well prepared. As a young counsel, to receive a compliment from the court is an unparalleled feeling, and goes a long way in building your confidence. This also instils a sense of ownership towards the brief.

    I also had the privilege of being a part of Mr. P.S. Narasimha, Senior Advocate’s chamber (as he then was). While the volume of work made it a high pressure work environment, it was also the most ideal office, with an exceptionally congenial atmosphere. The biggest insight I garnered during my time there was that – with the right attitude and guidance, people thrive and are encouraged to show up and give their 100% every day. As a part of Mr. Narasimha’s office, I worked on matters, which engaged the attention of the nation. Observing Mr. Narasimha, I learnt that keeping your composure, no matter the complexity of the brief, is the touchstone of a good lawyer, and also of a good human being.

    Undoubtedly, the common thread running through all the offices I have been a part of is that there is no substitute for hard work in our profession. 

    After gaining experience with various legal entities, you chose to establish your own practice. What motivated this decision, and what challenges did you face in the early stages of building your independent practice?

    While mentorship under a Senior Advocate helps lay the foundation to your foray into the practise, it is still a bubble. I had already received a taste of solicitor practise, and realised I enjoyed being a litigator more. Therefore, instead of going back to a law firm, I dove into the deep end.

    I decided to go independent while the world was still overcoming the rigours of the pandemic. It was daunting, and there were difficult days. Work was slow and sporadic. After being accustomed to working at a 100 miles an hour, 7 days a week, for close to a decade, this was a new normal. I had to make peace with a different pace. As a silver lining, I got time to prepare for the Advocates-on-Record Exam, which I cleared in 2022.

    The idea is not to get disheartened. Litigation is a patience game, and the patient are surely rewarded. 4 years later, slowly yet steadily, work and clientele has grown, and life has come a full circle. The familiar hectic nature of the practise, 7 days a week is back. I have come to relish it as I now get to work on my own terms. 

    Being an Advocate on Record, what are some of the most challenging legal issues you have encountered? How do you approach representing the Government in the Supreme Court, and can you share an example of a significant matter you handled for the Union?

    The Advocate-on-Record is a bridge between the clients and the court, ensuring compliance with legal formalities and maintaining the integrity of the judicial process. Managing client expectations along with the strict scrutiny from the Court is a fine balance to be struck on a daily basis.

    As Panel Counsel for Union of India, the challenge arises from the multifaceted nature of litigation involving the Government of India. Representing the government requires a nuanced understanding of both legal and administrative issues, with the added pressure of ensuring that the legal positions are consistent with existing policy and legislative frameworks. In cases involving matters of national significance — such as land acquisition, criminal laws, or fiscal regulations — the government’s stance must be defended without compromising on constitutional principles. One dons two hats in such cases, i.e., that of a counsel and also an officer of the court. The responsibility and care when drafting on behalf of the government is also greater. This demands an in-depth grasp of public law, detailed preparation, and an ability to respond swiftly to dynamic legal developments in a high-pressure and high-stakes environment.

    My approach to high-stakes matters involves meticulous preparation and intelligent strategizing. One has to be ready for all possible questions that fall from the Bench. By being proactive, I work towards achieving favourable outcomes even in the most complex issues and questions of law.

    You represent a variety of public-sector organizations. How do the legal challenges differ when representing government-owned entities compared to private clients? What strategies do you employ to address complex issues, particularly when public interest is at stake?

    The most significant challenge is striking a balance between the rights of individuals, the existing policy framework and the larger public interest, especially in cases that involve public welfare or environmental protection. In such cases, stakes are often high, and the outcome can have far-reaching consequences. Additionally, interpretation of laws, particularly in unchartered questions of law and in evolving social and political landscapes, add a layer of complexity that requires constant adaptability and precision.

    You have represented clients in arbitration cases involving significant monetary stakes. Can you elaborate on your approach to high-stakes arbitration and the strategies you employ to achieve favourable outcomes? Additionally, how do you navigate the complexities of cross-border disputes, especially those involving international arbitration bodies?

    In high-stakes arbitration, my approach centres on a deep understanding of the legal nuances, the facts of the case, and the business interests of my clients. With significant monetary stakes involved, my priority is to build a strategy that is both legally sound and strategically astute.

    First, I focus on thorough case preparation. This means not only understanding the applicable law in-depth but also conducting a meticulous review of the evidence, the contract terms, and any prior communications that could impact the dispute. I always anticipate potential challenges and prepare pre-emptive responses. At the same time, I try to understand my client’s broader goals—what outcome they are hoping for beyond just the legal victory—and this informs how I present the case.

    A key part of my strategy is identifying and leveraging early opportunities for settlement or negotiation. Arbitration, while a powerful tool, can be a time-consuming and costly process. If we can settle on favourable terms, I pursue that route, ensuring my client secures a win without unnecessary delays. I assisted Mr. Narasimha in drafting the Mediation Bill under the aegis of the Supreme Court Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee. In the course of the same, I realised the merits of Mediation in assisting clients finding speedy resolutions to their disputes, while the courts grapple with pendency. However, when arbitration is the only viable option, I embrace it fully and leave no stone unturned in presenting the case at its strongest.

    In terms of navigating the complexities of cross-border disputes, especially involving international arbitration bodies, I recognize that each jurisdiction has its own unique set of rules and procedural nuances. My approach to cross-border disputes is based on a clear understanding of both the international arbitration framework and the local legal systems at play. This includes knowing the procedural rules of the institution governing the arbitration, anticipating enforcement challenges, and managing any potential jurisdictional issues that arise.

    International arbitration requires a blend of legal expertise and global perspective. I pay careful attention to jurisdictional choices, as these can have a profound impact on the outcome. A robust understanding of public international law, private international law, and the evolving trends in international dispute resolution ensures that I can effectively navigate the complexities of cross-border disputes and craft arguments that resonate with international tribunals.

    Finally, I focus on maintaining effective communication with all stakeholders involved, including clients, opposing counsel, and arbitrators. Building trust and confidence in my representation is critical, especially in high-stakes matters where the pressure is intense.

    Looking back, what has been one of the most interesting or difficult cases you have handled? How did you approach and navigate the complexities of that particular matter?

    While every case presents its own complexity, in the past couple of years, I have had the privilege of being part of legal teams appearing before Constitution Benches of the Supreme Court. It is incredible. The matters that stood out for me are – the Ayodhya Ramjanmabhoomi Dispute, In Re: Article 370 (the abrogation of Article 370), and the Aligarh Muslim University Minority Status dispute. Apart from being some of the leading cases of their time, these matters also provided the unique opportunity to assist and learn from some of the finest legal minds of our time.

    The learning curve in such cases is undoubtedly steep. In such matters, I learnt that one has to navigate two aspects of the matter – One is the preparatory aspect. Each of these matters were highly contentious, with voluminous pleadings, running into thousands of pages. The facts as well as the dispute itself, in each of these cases also presented the unique challenge of spanning decades. There was also the challenge of tight timelines. While the sheer size of the pleadings can initially feel very daunting, it is important to understand that to be able to effectively assist a Senior Counsel in trimming down all the weight to come up with the best arguments, one’s role as a briefing counsel assumes great significance. The briefing counsel has the task of setting up the foundation for the arguments to be put forth by the Senior Counsel. Here, one gets the opportunity to be creative and come up with novel arguments in support of the brief. For this, one has to be well-versed with the matter including facts, arguments, documents and pleadings – both in support of and against one’s case. 

    It may seem like an oversimplification but in my experience, the only way to do that is to take it head on and get into the depth of the brief. The devil is in the details. The preparatory part of the matter can be gruelling with long hours of research, reading, refining and reshaping of arguments. Of course, it helps that the courts have become committed to going paperless and that makes handling the records in such cases much easier.

    The second aspect is the hearings. Constitution Bench matters pose the challenge of being time-bound, which means the matters may be heard on a day-to-day basis, often spanning many days, from morning to evening. As a briefing counsel, one not only has to keep up with the arguments of the day, note the questions and observations falling from the Bench, but also prepare for the next day, alongside assisting the senior in refining arguments as the matter progresses. Cases of such magnitude and public importance, help develop promptness, lateral thinking and the ability to handle pressures.

    Having worked in both private practice and public sector legal roles, how do you view the evolving landscape of Indian legal practice, particularly in fields such as arbitration and regulatory disputes? How do you see the role of legal practitioners evolving with the advent of technology into the sector?

    The most striking facet of the Indian legal landscape is its dynamism and constant evolution. The ease with which we have been able to navigate hearings before Constitutional Benches of the Supreme Court, such as the ones I mentioned before, is evidence of our profession’s adaptability and the efficacy of going paperless.

    The Indian legal sector is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven by both domestic shifts and global developments, and I see this as a golden opportunity for young practitioners like myself.

    In arbitration, India has become an increasingly attractive hub for both domestic and international arbitration, with courts taking steps to reduce delays and create a more favourable environment for dispute resolution. Government of India’s focus on strengthening arbitration laws through reforms, has been vital in this evolution. I also believe that the growing emphasis on institutional arbitration, alongside India’s position within global arbitration networks, will elevate the country’s standing as a leading arbitration venue.

    Regarding regulatory disputes, India’s economic growth and regulatory framework are becoming more complex. Areas like competition law, antitrust, and environmental regulations are seeing increasing levels of scrutiny. Government initiatives to streamline regulations through digital platforms, like the Ease of Doing Business reforms, have also led to a surge in litigation, especially involving corporate governance, compliance, and tax matters. These regulatory shifts require legal professionals to stay ahead of developments and offer creative, proactive solutions to clients who are navigating these dynamic environments.

    In my view, the role of legal practitioners in India is evolving in exciting ways due to the integration of technology. Legal tech tools, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics are already reshaping how we research, draft, and even negotiate. The use of AI for contract analysis, predictive legal outcomes, and managing case precedents is quickly becoming standard practice. For young lawyers, this means we need to become proficient with emerging technologies to stay competitive. 

    At the same time, technology provides opportunities to streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve the efficiency of legal services, which can be particularly valuable in high-stakes disputes and regulatory matters where timelines and costs are often significant concerns.

    Furthermore, technology is also facilitating greater access to justice, especially through platforms that enable online dispute resolution (ODR). This is a significant shift in the way legal services are being delivered, and I think it will greatly benefit sectors such as arbitration, where parties can engage in virtual hearings, consultations, and settlements. From a strategic perspective, these technological advancements allow legal practitioners to work more effectively, handle higher volumes of work, and cater to a more global client base.

    While technology will drive efficiency, I firmly believe that the need for human judgment, creativity, and expertise will always be central to legal practice. The ability to navigate complex regulatory environments, understand nuanced legal principles, and build persuasive arguments for arbitration cases or regulatory disputes cannot be replaced by technology. As such, the evolving role of lawyers will likely involve leveraging these technological tools to enhance their practice while continuing to hone traditional legal skills.

    What advice would you give to aspiring legal professionals looking to build a career similar to yours, particularly those interested in litigation, arbitration, and constitutional law? Are there specific areas of law or skills they should focus on to thrive in today’s legal environment? Additionally, could you recommend resources to help them stay informed about the latest legal developments?

    It’s heartening to see the competitiveness and acceptability Law as a profession has achieved. It is also wonderful to see the diverse avenues available to law graduates these days, as compared to the time when I went to law school. But I believe with respect to some aspects of the profession, the more things change, the more they remain the same. This is especially true for litigation as a preferred choice of career for young legal professionals. I believe an inherent interest and love for the Law, coupled with deep reserves of patience is an absolute essential if choosing to pursue litigation. 

    A career in litigation is like a 5-set tennis match. It is important to remember that it is a marathon and not a sprint. To win, one needs to invest time and hard work, while keeping in sight the larger picture. While you may win or lose a particular point, you have to move on and continue to play the next point to win the game, the set and the championship. Similarly, each brief that a client comes to you with, each order, favourable or adverse is a lesson and the building block for sharpening your skills and honing  your court craft. The learning never stops. Recently, Mr. Sidharth Luthra, Senior Advocate, happened to see me during arguments. He met me after and gave me very sound advice – the outcome of a matter is a combination of many factors, and it does not matter whether you win or lose. The important thing is to be on top of the matter and give your best. Hence, one must remain committed to putting in the hard yards and give your best shot at every juncture. 

    Another advice I would like to give to aspiring legal professionals is to initially try and gather as much varied experience as possible. In the initial years it is better to be a jack of all trades. Many young law graduates these days on being asked what their preferred career trajectory is, tend to answer that they would like to pursue a full-time career in one field of law such as arbitration, intellectual property, technology law, etc. While an interest in a specific field of law and clarity in the early years is great, however, the legal arena is ever-expanding. For a well-rounded development as a good litigator, it is advisable to have a general approach so as to learn as much as possible. 

    As for keeping oneself informed, about the latest legal developments, there is no dearth of information, especially in the era of social media and dedicated portals that update latest legal pronouncements and developments in real time. That being said, one must guard against falling prey to the tendency of the “3-second attention span” and scrolling culture. The idea is not only to be aware but well-informed. Therefore, it is important to read, not just the news flashes but the very judgments and reflect on the same. I am somewhat old school that way and have found in my experience that books and commentaries are great allies when wanting to understand the evolution of the law, and achieve greater clarity on principles of law.

    With your career balancing both high-profile legal work and professional responsibilities, how do you manage your work-life balance? What strategies or practices help you maintain personal growth and stay motivated to excel in such a demanding and fast-paced field?

    Managing work-life balance in a demanding career requires a combination of personal discipline and regular self-reflection. The hard truth is, the practise of law is not for the faint-hearted. Personally, the concept of work-life balance has eluded me throughout the better part of my career. That being said, court vacations provide a welcome opportunity for respite, offering precious time to reconnect with family and loved ones. Beyond these breaks, I believe it is essential to cultivate at least one hobby or interest outside of work. My mother encouraged me to take up gardening. Spending time in my garden is my favourite way to destress. I also find travel rejuvenating. It helps to reset perspectives and makes returning to the demands of the daily rigmarole more manageable. I also try to catch up on reading. Not just the law books, but good old literature. Sports is also a great way to get centered. I love to swim, play tennis and practice yoga. I try to be regular, even on working days. I recently picked up ballroom dancing. While one’s career is undeniably important, it is only with a healthy body and a healthy mind that one can give their best.

    Get in touch with Aditi Tripathi –

  • “What keeps me drawn to the profession of Law is how justice is truly poetic, not just in its finality but also in the journey that it takes to get there.” – Dr. Divyadeep Chaturvedi, Advocate on Record at Supreme Court of India.

    “What keeps me drawn to the profession of Law is how justice is truly poetic, not just in its finality but also in the journey that it takes to get there.” – Dr. Divyadeep Chaturvedi, Advocate on Record at Supreme Court of India.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    With your broad experience as an AOR in the legal field, what first inspired you to pursue a career in law, and what continues to ignite your passion for it today?

    The law was not my first love, but like all great romances, it found me when I least expected it. Growing up in a small town, I saw justice as a distant grand ideal, often out of reach for those who needed it the most. At a very young age, I was able to observe and acknowledge the invisible establishments that do not allow equality to breed in society. What keeps me drawn to this profession is how justice is truly poetic, not just in its finality but also in the journey that it takes to get there. Justice, like a perfect poem, is not merely written but felt, its weight resting in the space between reason and longing. I grew into the law much like one grows into the rhythm of an unfamiliar but haunting melody. It wasn’t love at first sight, but somewhere between its Shakespearean tragedies and Wildean wit, I found my art, one that demands precision, patience and the perfect closing. 

    After completing your law degree, you went on to pursue a Master of Laws in Advanced Studies in Public International Law, specializing in International Criminal Law, at Leiden University. What led you to choose this specific university and specialization? Could you share some highlights from that experience with our readers?

    Leiden University has a rich history in international law, and its faculty includes some of the most distinguished names in the field. My decision to specialize in International Criminal Law stemmed from my deep interest in justice beyond national borders. I developed a keen interest in the evolution of this specialised field of law that addresses mass atrocities, often referred to as “crimes of crimes”. Leiden University was therefore, the only University where I had applied for my Masters as it also offers an insight into the practical aspects of international criminal law in action aided by its proximity to most of the international criminal tribunals. One of the highlights of my time there was studying under Prof. William Schabas and Prof. Carsten Stahn who was also my thesis supervisor. The experience not only deepened my understanding of legal principles but also broadened my world view on justice and accountability.

    Early in your career, you had the opportunity to intern in various insightful environments, domestic and international. Could you reflect on some of the most memorable experiences from these internships and jobs that helped shape your understanding of the law? Are there any key lessons from that time that have stayed with you?

    Early in my career, I was fortunate to intern in diverse and intellectually stimulating environments, both in India and internationally, each shaping my understanding of the law in unique ways. Working with Mr. J.N. Mathur, Senior Advocate and then Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh, exposed me to the complexities of constitutional and administrative law, while my time with Ms. Indu Malhotra, Senior Advocate at the time and who later became a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, deepened my grasp of arbitration and commercial litigation. Under the guidance of Late Mr. Pawan Sharma, erstwhile Standing Counsel (Criminal) for the State of NCT, Delhi, as well as under the guidance of Ms. Manisha Bhandari, I developed an understanding of criminal law, both at the trial and appellate stages. Beyond the courtroom experiences, I had the rare privilege of being awarded the Spic Macay Scholarship that led me to working with the Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamshala, where I engaged with human rights and international law issues and had the profound honor of meeting His Holiness The Dalai Lama. This was also a unique and humbling experience as I stayed with the monks in H.H. The Dalai Lama’s monastery in Dharamshala during my tenure there. 

    Perhaps one of the most defining experiences of my early career was my time at the Office of the Prosecutor at the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon, where I had the invaluable opportunity to contribute during a pivotal moment – the commencement of the Ayyash Trial. Being witness to the transition from the pre-trial stage to the trial stage and participating in the first day of the trial was an extraordinary learning experience, offering firsthand exposure to international criminal proceedings. These experiences collectively shaped my legal perspective, reinforcing the importance of meticulous preparation, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to justice.

    Over the years, you’ve represented clients in landmark cases like the Nithari Killings and the IPL spot-fixing case. What were some of the distinct challenges these cases presented, and how did you approach them from a legal perspective?

    Working on cases like the Nithari Killings case and the IPL spot-fixing case reinforced a fundamental truth for me – that there are no shortcuts to thorough preparation. I first worked on the Nithari Killings case as an intern at the office of Ms. Manisha Bhandari, who was representing Mr. Moninder Singh Pandher, and over the years, I progressed from being an intern on his case to representing Mr. Pandher as an Advocate on Record in the Supreme Court of India. This case has been a continuous source of learning, and I was fortunate to be led and guided by Mr. R.S. Sodhi, Senior Advocate, Ms. Manisha Bhandari, and Mr. Omkar Shrivastava, who not only allowed me to be part of their defense team but also taught me how to navigate a high-intensity, high-stakes matter. One of the greatest challenges in this case was the media and public’s tendency to arrive at unfounded conclusions long before the courts rendered their verdicts. Managing the crumbling spirits of a client who had spent years in jail, awaiting justice, was another formidable challenge. Jail visits during such a prolonged litigation are emotionally taxing, as one cannot help but feel for the client who loses hope with each passing day. The slow churn of justice, especially in death sentence cases, is a heavy burden. Each passing year is not just time lost but a test of endurance, where hope flickers like a candle in the wind, struggling to stay alight.

    You’ve been deeply committed to pro bono work, advocating for marginalized communities. What motivates you to focus on these vulnerable groups, and how do you manage balancing this crucial work with high-profile criminal cases?

    Justice, to me, is not just about legal arguments or courtroom victories. It is about who gets to be heard. Too often, the most vulnerable are the least represented. Their stories are lost in a system that moves too fast for those without power. My pro bono work is driven by a simple belief that access to justice should not depend on privilege. Balancing this with high-profile cases is not a challenge but a responsibility. The law is at its best when it serves everyone, not just those who can afford it. And if I have the skills and opportunity to make that balance possible, then that is exactly what I must do. 

    Criminal law is a constantly shifting field. How do you stay updated on recent developments and emerging trends, particularly in cases related to white-collar crimes or cybercrimes?

    The law is a living, breathing entity, constantly evolving to meet the demands of an ever-changing world, and to stay ahead in the dynamic realm of criminal law, especially in areas like white-collar crimes and cybercrimes, one must embrace learning not just as a practice but as a discipline of vigilance. It is not enough to master how the law may be used. One must also understand how it is misused, manipulated, and twisted to serve those who seek to undermine justice. For instance, in cases involving unscrupulous elements, such as the land mafia, the challenge is not merely legal but systemic, as the police machinery is too often found to be not just complicit but, at times, an extension of the very forces the law is meant to curb. To be effective, one must stay immersed in legislative developments, judicial pronouncements, and global trends, ensuring that the law is wielded as a scalpel against injustice rather than a shield for those who corrupt it.

    Passing the Advocate-on-Record (AOR) exam is no small feat. What aspects of the exam did you find the most challenging, and what strategies or preparations helped you succeed in this prestigious exam?

    The AOR exam is an arduous test, demanding not only a deep reservoir of legal knowledge but also the ability to think critically and apply the law with precision. Its true challenge lies in the depth of one’s understanding of the principles laid down by the Supreme Court. There is no room for superficiality. My approach was rooted in disciplined reading, where I meticulously analyzed leading judgments, unraveling their nuances to grasp the core principles. Drafting, however, is a skill honed over time and refined through constant practice. Some of the most valuable lessons in Supreme Court drafting come not just from the theoretical understanding of the structure of a draft, but from the process of eliminating and curing defects, ensuring that files are cleared for listing by the registry. Ultimately, success in this exam is not just about intellect, but about practice, perseverance, and the invaluable experience gained along the way.

    Outside of law, you’re passionate about poetry, music, and surfing. How do these creative pursuits influence your personal development and help you maintain a balance in managing the demanding nature of your legal profession?

    Poetry, for me, is a way of making sense of the world. It is where I find my voice beyond the courtroom, where I explore life not through statutes but through metaphor and rhythm. Law, much like poetry, allows for interpretation in the face of ambiguity.

    Music is another language by itself. As a DJ, I know that a well-placed beat can shift an entire room’s energy, just as the right argument, delivered at the right moment, can turn the tide of a case. Mixing music is an art of timing, of intuition, of knowing when to hold back and when to let go. It is a lesson that applies just as much to advocacy.

    And then there’s surfing. The ocean is the greatest teacher of all. It humbles you. No matter how skilled you are, the waves have the final say. It teaches patience, resilience, and the art of surrender. You can’t fight the sea. You learn to move with it and to respect its rhythm. In many ways, law is the same. You don’t control justice, but you learn to navigate its currents, to read its shifting tides, to time your movements with precision. Each of these pursuits ground me and add balance to what happens to be a highly stressful profession. 

    What advice would you offer to young law students or aspiring lawyers, particularly those interested in criminal litigation, who are hoping to follow a path similar to yours?

    Be relentless in your pursuit of knowledge, but never lose sight of the people behind the cases. Litigation is not just about statutes and precedents, it is also about understanding human behavior, motivations and social realities. Read voraciously, observe experienced lawyers in court, and take on challenging cases even when they seem daunting. Most importantly, swear by the thumb rule – “when in doubt, ask.” One must not hesitate to seek guidance when in need of it. 

    Get in touch with Dr. Divyadeep Chaturvedi –