Super Lawyer

Category: Law Firm Founders

  • “Transparency, direct counsel, and a relentless commitment to securing the best results for clients” – Embarking on a three-decade journey from litigation to global business leadership, Priti Suri, the Founder and Managing Partner of PSA, Legal Counsellors.

    “Transparency, direct counsel, and a relentless commitment to securing the best results for clients” – Embarking on a three-decade journey from litigation to global business leadership, Priti Suri, the Founder and Managing Partner of PSA, Legal Counsellors.

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

    Could you share a bit about your journey from starting as a litigator to becoming a business lawyer? How has your overseas experience shaped your approach as a business lawyer, and what valuable insights have you gained from working across diverse legal landscapes?

    When I joined the legal profession, it was the norm to work with a senior practitioner in the courts. My first job was with Mr. Pran Nath Talwar, a senior advocate at the Delhi High Court who was the Standing Counsel for DDA. I worked with him for two years, from July 1986 to July 1988. Mr. Talwar was a stellar lawyer with a razor-sharp mind. Every day he regaled me with stories about the law, about life and always insisted we read the jurisprudence deeply and fully and learn how to apply it. He underscored the devil is always in the detail and to ensure we know full facts before starting to think of the merits or demerits of a case. I was fortunate to get solid grounding with him. 

    Subsequently, I left for the US to study further and then had opportunities to work there. My work with the large US law firms exposed me to and gave me insights on the western large firm model functioning – a deeper and different kind of professional ethics, to structured processes and systems, to development of a profound sense of responsibility for the advice we give to clients on the basis of which corporations were going to take decisions, to concepts of negligence if our advice was incomplete or inaccurate. After I moved to Paris, initially for a year, in a pre-Google era, I confronted different challenges including juggling work in a country where the native language was not English and I did not speak a word of French. I had no option but to take up the challenge and do what I had to. I was thrown into the deep end of the pool and simply had to figure out how to swim if I did not want to drown. I did not get anything easy, and, in hindsight, I am glad it was that way. Eventually, my one year in Paris became five! 

    Since my formative professional years were spent overseas, my work experience in both the US and in Europe shaped me enormously and provided insights on how to work which now, over decades, are part of my DNA! My clients reinforced that transparency is key when advising and it is best to be direct, without providing circuitous or ambiguous counsel. Eventually, we must remember they act on our recommendations, relying on our expertise. Plus, there is always a human impact as eventually people implement. So, it is crucial to understand the ramifications of what we say, when we say, and how we say. The work environment coupled with the commitment and diligence towards the tiniest of matters made me realize that regardless of the country, some key fundamentals are global: work hard truly, honestly with the key objective of securing the best result for your client and it will not evade you. All my lessons, professional learnings and value systems garnered from my clients, peers and seniors from around the globe always pointed to one thing only – work hard and the results will come. I suppose it is the age-old wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita. I firmly subscribe to the view that there are no shortcuts to success. Let your work speak for you and do not look for excuses. 

    Congratulations on being named “Woman Lawyer of the Year – India & Middle East” and the recipient of the “Mayre Rasmussen Award” for promoting gender equality. How do these accolades impact your commitment to gender sensitization, women empowerment and equality within the legal profession? 

    Thank you very much. Of course, I am very grateful, but the accolades came much later. Legal awards are a relatively recent development, while I have been personally, deeply committed to the advancement and nurturing of women lawyers in India since I returned to set up the practice. As a first-generation woman lawyer, setting my own firm in the late 90s was a huge challenge in every aspect, be it law firm management, execution of work, finding and training teams. Slowly, but surely, I wanted to try to make a difference and help in gender sensitization, women empowerment and equality. The legal profession is changing so rapidly everywhere, Indian women need to be equipped to handle the change and how the future is likely to impact their practice, be it of solo practitioners in courts or within law firms or in-house positions. While the education system has undergone a change, and the information highway is at everyone’s fingertips, yet most prospective lawyers are unprepared for life with the law. This requires more practical courses and skillful use of interns. All of us who are experienced at the Bar need to contribute to bring about that transformation. There is a dire need to focus on professional development, which must be matched by a desire to grow as well by women protagonists. 

    I think it is essential to focus on the reasons why organizations should create sustainability for women in the legal profession. There should be strategies in place for nurturing our own careers and those of the women following us. I have looked at this issue often, both in India and overseas.  It is essential to address the issues from a positive perspective and focus on what women lawyers can and should do to participate in their own success and the success of those who follow them. Despite a lot of progress in the law firm world, we still have “miles to go.” I could articulate more, but I think these are enough for the moment. After over three and half decades in the law, I feel the legal world needs to be more open to change as we come together to share experiences and aid in finding solutions at a local, national and even transborder level. 

    You’ve authored books and contributed to various publications. How does thought leadership play a role in shaping discussions on legal issues, and what motivated you to share your insights through books?

    So, for me, as a first gen lawyer in an era where technology had not really evolved, I had to devise ways and means to showcase my capabilities while building a practice. Writing came naturally to me. Plus, while navigating through the labyrinth of varied laws, regulations, guidelines, I would often be flummoxed at the lack of clarity, even amongst those who implemented those laws. The challenge was always to find answers in simple words. As a result, I thought writing and publishing would be a tool to demonstrate subject matter knowledge plus say it in a manner which would be easy for the reader to understand.  I still feel the same. 

    As a Board member of the International Technology Law Association, how do you see the intersection of technology and law evolving, and what legal challenges and opportunities do you anticipate in this space?

    I firmly believe whether we like it or not, rapid developments in technology have changed and are continuing to change how people consume, interact, play and work. Like it or not, AI, Big Data, blockchain, cybersecurity, Fintech, IoT, privacy are here to stay and an integral part of daily lives. 

    While government policies will influence the direction of technological developments, laws and regulations will undoubtedly need to match and address the new reality. Some people fear developments in the foregoing areas will somehow replace human interactions and, eventually, make us shed our human persona. Others believe these innovations will benefit humanity and help solve many problems of today and potentially of the future. As companies navigate through these changes and await effective enforcement of new legislation, one key challenge is how to gear up for the future and the need to formulate internal rules that comply with strictest global standards in place in other parts of the world or wait to match with local requirements. Legislating and regulating developing technologies is complex, and it becomes way more complex when crossing borders. A balance between global and local rules with some degree of self-regulation will be the need of the hour. Another problem is legislation can take far too long. Look what happened to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and the number of years and iterations it has taken to pass this law. More than 4.5 months after the DPDP Act was passed, we still await the rules. In the tech world, this feels like eternity. Finally, I want to touch on cybercrime and data breaches which have grown exponentially even when compared with the start of the pandemic. A systemic threat of cybersecurity risks is the talk of most boardrooms. But while awareness is growing many directors simply are unsure if they have the information and tools to effectively handle today’s dangers. The massive digital transformation requires robust cybersecurity and privacy laws. The Indian government must put in place far more effective mechanisms to regulate cybersecurity and cybercrime effectively. 

    Can you share a particularly challenging or memorable deal you’ve worked on? How did you navigate complexities to ensure a successful outcome? 

    There are many that come to mind, but I will talk about one. I was in Europe for business and had to travel to the US for client meetings. Meanwhile, the Iraq war started which led to companies imposing travel embargoes. I had a tricky transaction that was to close later that week in Delhi. The business and legal team of the client wanted me to travel to India but I had commitments. I managed to convince them to let me stick to my travel schedule, and committed that I would be available to work with my team and the other side according to Indian time that week to ensure closing occurs timely. They agreed. As I was about to board the plane for New York, I got a call from my colleague in Delhi who said there was a problem, which was really an issue of the counterparty. They realized and announced at the last minute, but the effect was the deal could be in jeopardy. We needed to inform the client, and I had to board my transatlantic flight. Oh, and the colleague was to wrap up work on this file and then leave for her wedding, which was 2 weeks later. I felt the flight from London to New York was crawling and just felt helpless due to lack of knowledge. Eventually, I succumbed and asked for a satellite phone, rang my office in Delhi and got all the facts. I knew the client would be unhappy to hear of the developments. Upon landing in NY, I connected with the business and legal people at the client where one was ready to call off the whole thing, while the other wanted to proceed. 

    The problem was that we needed regulatory intervention, and it is always tough to predict the duration a government agency may take. So, there were several moving pieces, and we had no idea how long the closing could take. I told the client if they wanted to proceed, I would find a solution. I canceled my meetings in the US for the next few days, went to a travel agent and bought a ticket to fly to India. I must have been in the US for 5 hours from landing to heading again to the airport. I returned to Delhi as fast as I could, went directly to the office and stayed there for a week. We delayed the closing by a few days, drafted additional contracts to address the new developments which were negotiated each night between 10 PM to 2 AM and, finally, managed to get to the finishing line a week after the original scheduled date. It was tough both physically and mentally as I did not sleep for 3 or 4 days at all but worked non-stop. The satisfaction of a successful outcome with all sides happy was the adrenalin rush that kept us all going!   

    Juggling a dynamic legal career and contributing to various committees and associations can be challenging. How do you maintain balance in your professional and personal life? Any hobbies or activities that you turn to for relaxation?

    Balance does not come easy for anyone, and it needs both method and time and for long-term gains, it is important to cultivate resilience. I meditate regularly, read, take time out for fitness, and find periods of silence, all of which is therapeutic. Then, my closest childhood friends are my rocks and always there for me, when I need to talk. I also think it is essential to create boundaries, personal and professional. I never did that for the longest time when I was building the firm, but I encourage all my colleagues to do so and do so myself as well now. 

    Looking ahead, how do you perceive the future of legal practice, especially considering the evolving dynamics of international business and technological advancements? What advice would you give to the coming generation of lawyers? 

    The legal landscape is at a very interesting phase undergoing rapid and radical change.  Boundaries have blurred with digital and technology transformation. Then, competition has increased exponentially, putting pressure on firms and lawyers to be increasingly open to innovation. While the legal industry is known for sticking to tradition but for practices to thrive, lawyers must be aligned with developments in technology and emerging areas of practice, focus on building skills and learn effective, consistent communication, both internal and external. Never forget clients demand efficiency, transparency, personalized service. I firmly believe lawyers have the potential to seize challenges and convert them to opportunities.

    Get in touch with Priti Suri-

  • From a small team to a nationwide presence, discover the unwavering dedication that fueled RKP’s growth. Explore the challenges, cultural nuances, and business acumen required to seamlessly balance legal prowess with board advisory responsibilities for global entities – Ranjan Kumar Pandey, Managing Partner, RKP & Associates

    From a small team to a nationwide presence, discover the unwavering dedication that fueled RKP’s growth. Explore the challenges, cultural nuances, and business acumen required to seamlessly balance legal prowess with board advisory responsibilities for global entities – Ranjan Kumar Pandey, Managing Partner, RKP & Associates

    This interview has been published by  Priyanka Karwa and The SuperLawyer Team

    Managing Partner of RKP & Associates since 2000! What inspired you to establish your own firm, and how has the journey been so far? Any memorable milestones you’d like to share?  

    The journey of my legal career started way back in 1997. Fortunately, I was exposed to the intricacies of legal practice and court craftsmanship at a very early stage, and this generated the confidence in me to go all out by 2000. Being an astute observer, I had realised during my initial days of lawyership that this field offers limitless opportunities if you are ready to dedicate yourself. The thought of establishing RKP emanated from my passion towards law and the drive to serve the clients in a more comfortable environment. To be very honest, the initial days of RKP were quite a challenge – tougher than I had envisaged, but like I said your dedication and hard work will always be rewarded. I had started with a very small team, and have gradually expanded not only in my core area of practice, but also in the corporate and M&A arena. It is also heartening to see that my clients have reposed a great extent of faith in me  all these years which keep me motivated to harness myself even at this stage.  One of the prominent milestones for RKP, I would say, was making our presence in important cities of the country through associate offices. We are looking forward to having our physical offices in all the metro cities and that would be our next milestone.

    Apart from the courtroom, you are associated with the Board Advisory Panel of Cerracap Ventures, USA, and A&S Pharma, UK. How do you balance your legal practice with advisory roles for international companies, and what unique challenges does this bring? 

    It is true that advisory roles are quite challenging because the stakes involved in such roles are quite high. At the same time, not only your legal acumen but business acumen are also tested. Having seen the commercial disputes of corporate houses for a long period of time, I have developed an understanding of the issues these corporate houses face. I use this understanding to mark my contribution in the advisory roles. Another interesting aspect of the advisory role is the difference in culture and working style of the corporates vis-à-vis the workings of litigators. While as a litigator, you have to take quite a stringent approach, this approach has to be adjusted and become more pragmatic when it comes to advisory. Nevertheless, international exposure has given me a broader perspective to understand things and work towards them from a higher horizon.

    You’ve been a part of various legal forums, including the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and National Company Law Tribunal. Can you share a courtroom story or an incident that left a lasting impression on you?          

    The courtroom experiences have been quite important to understand the intricacies of litigation practice. Court craft is something which can be learnt only by making appearances before the Courts. I will narrate a story which will give you an insight as to how the Bench needs to be convinced persistently with your arguments. During my initial days of career, I was representing a person who had filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Supreme Court. The Bench was of the clear view that the petition was more for a publicity stunt rather than for a cause. Even before I could present my case, I I was stormed with questions by the Bench. At that moment I realised that it is not only the legal grounds on which you present your case, are important but also as to how you present these grounds before the Courts. Over the period of time I have realised that it is equally important to strategize as to where you start your case from so as to make that first impact. Once the Bench starts hearing you and opens the case file, you get that extra moment to make the next strongest point of your case and that’s how you take the Bench to the relevant page of your case and draw a full audience from the Bench.  

    As an advocate-on-record, you’ve seen the legal landscape evolve. What changes in the legal field do you find most interesting or challenging today? 

    Well the most interesting development in the legal system is the collegium system. Without commenting on it against the collegium system, the challenging aspect is time constraints with the court and high volume of cases. So when the case is taken up, the lawyers have to make that impact in the few seconds that they get. Also, the virtual courtroom system has also eased off the travelling pressure for the lawyers, especially the lawyers who have multi-forum practice.

    Lawyers often have interesting stories about what happens behind the scenes. Can you share a humorous or unexpected moment from your experience in the legal realm that still brings a smile to your face?    

    This is not my story but I was present in the courtroom when it happened. A junior lawyer was probably making his first appearance. While starting his case he confidently submitted to the judge that he was appearing for the petitioner while in fact he was representing the respondent. In this confusion he started arguing against his own case – after a short while when he realised that he has messed up, he simply concluded his remarks by arguing that all the grounds he just made are the grounds which may be taken by the other side, and now he would rebut all these arguments one by one. It was quite hilarious but at the same time, he ought to have been given the credit for flipping his side in no time with his witty conclusion.

    We’ve heard you’re quite the reader. If you were to recommend a book that isn’t related to law but impacted your perspective, what would it be, and why?

    Well, being an advocate, reading becomes a compulsion initially which subsequently graduates into a habit. This habit allows you to take inspiration from different parts of the world through books. I personally believe that good books can shape up your life. One book that I always recommend to young professionals is “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” authored by “Héctor García and Francesc Miralles”. This book motivates you to put yourself into work to lead a happy and healthy life. I see these days that young professionals do not indulge in reading books, rather they rely much more on social media content. My take on this is that nothing could replace books.

    When you’re not immersed in legal matters, how do you unwind? Any hobbies or activities you turn to for relaxation? 

    Being the senior lawyer in the Firm, I hardly get time to unwind myself. But whenever I can spare some time, I love to travel. I have travelled to different parts of the world in the last decade. It opens up your mind and gives you a broader horizon to understand people and their culture. 

    Your expertise extends to providing legal advisory on Mergers & Acquisitions and foreign direct investment. If you could give one piece of advice to young lawyers entering this field, what would it be?

    Laws around M&A and FDI are quite complex and dynamic which keep evolving as per the industry requirements. Any young lawyer intending to take up these practices must be thorough not only with the legal provisions but also with the market development. M&A requires a lot of understanding of the business of companies and the idea behind the transactions. Lot depends upon what kind of exposure you have got because every transaction has unique requirements and understanding those requirements enable you to deep dive into the detailing around it.  Having said that, M&A is one of the most interesting and universal practices. People who have keenness of indulging in comprehensive legal documentation and finding innovative legal solutions must try their hand in this practice.

    Get in touch with Ranjan Kumar Pandey-

  • In Conversation With: Anshul Gupta- Founder at ANG Partners- Advocates and Solicitors, having expertise of practice in Real Estate Laws

    In Conversation With: Anshul Gupta- Founder at ANG Partners- Advocates and Solicitors, having expertise of practice in Real Estate Laws

    This interview has been published by Sonali Parashar, Ojuswi Sahay, and the SuperLawyer Team

    To start at the beginning, how did you decide upon pursuing law? How would you describe your career up to this point with an adjective? 

    I belong to a small town, Agra in Uttar Pradesh, where we had limited options post matriculation. I wasn’t too sure of how to go about choosing a field for myself. I would often speak with a lot of people to understand the prospects that I have which can be explored. Coming from a city, where in the name of law chambers, lawyers sat on a single desk under an umbrella, Law seemed like an extremely challenging and far-fetched option for me. However, I was fortunate enough to have somebody in my family pursuing Law at that moment.

    My elder brother who is also a lawyer practising in Delhi made me realise the potential of the profession and encouraged me to enlarge my ambit and understand that this profession is far greater than what we saw growing up in our city. This marked the beginning of my journey with law. I spoke with some Senior Advocates who apprised me about national law universities and how I can prepare myself for the Common Law  Entrance Test. I, fortunately, got through one of the National Law Colleges and as one says  “Rest is History”!  

    If I choose one word to describe my career till now it will be ‘ENRICHING’. 

    You pursued your LLM and Master’s degree from French Universities. How has your career as a litigant benefitted from the degrees? What would your advice be for law graduates aiming at pursuing an LLM abroad? 

    Pursuing a master’s from a foreign university has several benefits attached to it. It makes you a very fine writer (thanks to the innumerable assignments!). However, on a serious note,  the education system in foreign universities in most nations is such that they teach you the law not just theoretically but also practically. I feel you catch the real essence of law when you start living it. My Professors there were also practitioners of law( like of-counsel of a  firm or an international organisation) and that made a lot of difference for there was a constant exchange of ideas.

    There are other benefits too like, one gets to learn different languages (I learnt French and German), you make friends with people of various nationalities and the most important it makes you self aware when you start managing yourself and there is nobody to help you with any household chores. Foreign universities have a very different process of teaching which is nurturing for the students. This helped me secure jobs right after college in foreign firms in Germany and China. Even though my area of practice is very different from the subject I pursued in my master’s, the main aim of a foreign LLM and masters is to open yourself to the world. 

    I would highly recommend law graduates to pursue LLM from abroad. Some advice I  would like to give the aspirants. Aspirants should fill up applications way before February for September intake. Other advice will be to choose a university which is the top most in the subject you are choosing. Do not limit yourself to making 4 -5 applications, I personally made 12 applications, got selected in 9 of them and took the best available option.

    Choose a university that should not burn a hole in your parent’s pocket or burden yourself with excessive student loans. The most important advice is that do not forget to be kind and cordial to other people, bear in mind that you are representative of India and our country’s reputation lies on your shoulder, and assume that responsibility when you speak with other foreign nationals. Lastly, do not forget to interact with your professors and take their help in securing internships and recommendations.  

    As a litigant, how was your journey in establishing your practice? What advice can you give to budding lawyers in terms of choosing specialisation and internships for them to help their litigation career ahead? 

    Establishing a litigation practice for a first-generation lawyer is extremely tough and a lot of resilience is required. When I look back on my journey from working as an Associate for a salary of Rs. 10,000/- per month only and to now have a team of more than 10 people with a minimum pay scale of Rs. 25,000/-. I always think and look back at that young fresher who had only aspired but never imagined that a day would come like this so soon. 

    As it said, Rome was not built in a day. This journey of 8 years has been no less than a  roller coaster with many ups & downs, there have been several instances when I was left feeling demotivated but I never stopped putting in my 100%. The trick is to never look back and learn from your mistakes, do not let them hold you back. There is no shortcut to success and I still have a long way to go but today I am filled with gratitude for all that  I have received.  

    For young students wanting to litigate in future, I urge them to read the Bare Acts of the subjects thoroughly, also they should intern with a litigating firm or a trial lawyer to get hold of the procedures. It is that simple, you have to fall in love with law and profession, and breathe it with every single breath of yours. For young professionals my advice will be to not leave the firm they are working for a minimum of 5 years even if the salary is marginal, the idea is to learn and gain experience. The sole of this profession is experience and I do not think  I can stress that anymore. Lastly, be obedient to the Court and maintain professional ethics. 

    As a first-generation lawyer, you have not just extensively practised law, but have also successfully established your firm, ANG Partners- Advocates and Solicitors. What factors and skills do you believe helped you establish your own practice? 

    I feel that a person should possess certain qualities of being a leader. There are various factors that have contributed to my journey of becoming who I am today. First, my parents encouraged me to start my own firm. I had unhinged support from my family. I  still remember when I first started my office, I was the only one who was there. I was the office boy, I was the Clerk, I was the Associate, I was the Lawyer, and I was my Firm.

    That undying spirit to achieve something made me go. I didn’t have money to pay my first office boy. I worked hard just to pay his salary. So I had to put other people’s needs in front of mine. This was the driving factor, my fire to fulfil the needs of the people working for me who are dependent upon me.

    Today there are more than 10 people whose homes are totally dependent upon me. The most notable attribute a person should have is that of a  team player. I believe in taking the whole team forward rather than acclaiming all the success individually. I feel that I have been very lucky to have a team of such hard-working lawyers,  who are at par with my pace and they keep motivating and supporting me to achieve better in my profession.  

    You hold the expertise of practice in Real Estate Laws and have particularly worked for the  Homebuyers in helping them overcome the harassment faced by the builders and the banks.  Please tell us more about this. 

    We are one of the top law firms in India in the Real Estate Sector, handling homebuyers’ disputes. We have been regularly appearing in Supreme Court, High Courts, Appellate  Tribunals, Real Estate Authorities, and Consumer Forums to safeguard the rights of the beleaguered home buyers. We are constantly being appreciated in news and print media for the work we do for estranged homebuyers. We have managed to secure several judgments and orders of the Court in our favour and have always come forward to help and protect the interest of the homebuyers.

    We are well appreciated by the community for the work we have done for the welfare of distressed homebuyers. We have helped Senior Citizens, and Army Personnel, who have put in their life savings to own a home. We have saved the homebuyers who have fallen into the loan trap laid by the Banks in collusion with the Builders. We have helped many homebuyers from criminal and debt recovery proceedings initiated by the Banks by giving false assurances and making illegal loan agreements. We have also delivered several lectures and webinars on these issues in order to help and make aware of the common man. 

    In practising at various Tribunals, Forums and Courts, including the Supreme Court of  India, how did you develop court mannerisms and practice etiquettes? Do you believe  Mock Trials and Moot Courts help in this regard? 

    Definitely yes! Moot Courts/ Trials are the first steps in your litigation career. However,  the court mannerism and etiquettes are also learnt by observing Senior Counsels in court.  You can read books but having keen observation skills and being inside the courtroom will work the best for you. So much so that there is a separate examination on Ethics in  AOR Examination and if one wishes to read and learn about ethics there is a special note prepared by Ld. ASG Mr R. Venkataramani on the Supreme Court’s Website. 

    How did working as a trainee associate in Germany and later in Shanghai, China, help you in your career forward? Should aspiring lawyers gain experience in practising in foreign jurisdictions? 

    Working as a trainee in Lupp and Partners, Germany in their Mergers and Acquisitions team was an enriching experience for me. I was amazed to see their work culture. I saw how people work with so much compassion and the method of work is stupendous, even the minutest details like commas and full stops were checked about 7 times before finalising a  draft. The work culture is stress-free, once I was scolded by my top boss for being in the office till 5:00 PM on a Friday! The learning I took from there is to take care of the colleagues who are working for you and they will take care of you.  

    When I was working in China I was working with the top arbitrator of China, Mr Tony  Zhang. The knowledge I gained from there was very useful for my Alternate Dispute  Resolution cases in India as our country is majorly a litigating nation. I always advise my client to go for alternate dispute resolution methods for fast redressal for I realised the importance of it.  

    You have also won the BW Legal World 30 under 30 Lawyers of India. Achieving such heights so early in your career, what is next in store for you?  

    I believe this is just the beginning and the good thing about this profession is that there is no finishing line/end. I will keep trying to grow bigger and achieve more in this profession.  Although, I do have my eyes on the Forbes top 100 Litigators of India for now! 

    Get in touch with Anshul Gupta –