Super Lawyer

Category: Partners, General Counsels and Senior Advocates

  • Sameer Tapia, Founder and Senior Partner, ALMT Legal, on starting his own law firm and a successful career in the field of law

    Sameer Tapia, Founder and Senior Partner, ALMT Legal, on starting his own law firm and a successful career in the field of law

    Sameer Tapia is a founding and senior partner of ALMT Legal, which was set up in London in 2000 and now has offices in Mumbai and Bangalore. He has expertise in corporate-commercial matters, dispute resolution with a strong focus on aviation, real estate, and private clients.

    Sameer graduated from Bombay University with a bachelor’s degree in Commerce. He read Law from the prestigious Government Law College, Mumbai.

    He regularly acts for various multinational clients in pursuing their contentious matters in India and has been retained by several corporates where he has advised them on commercial contracts, risk insurance, liability and regulatory matters.

    Sameer has represented clients before various foras including the Supreme Court of India. He has a strong commercial acumen in dealing with disputes in various arbitration proceedings as well. He has also advised clients in high profile family disputes and matrimonial matters and acted as an arbitrator/mediator in settling complex family disputes.

    He regularly speaks at international conferences and has submitted papers on Indian Laws. He is a regular invitee and guest speaker at law schools and other prestigious institutions in India. He has also written articles which have been published in the International Bar News, India Business Law Journal, and various other chamber publications.

    The Indian Lawyer 250, a guide to the leading business law firms of India, has featured Sameer amongst the top 40 individual leading lawyers, under the age of 45 years, in India.

     

     

    HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS? PLEASE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PRE-COLLEGE LIFE?

    Constructive Lawyer, Thinker, Traveler, Foodie, Passionate about Music Art and Culture.

    Pre College – Was an introvert and shy lad, quite an athlete in school, a sprinter!

     

    YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE ALUMNI FROM GOVERNMENT LAW COLLEGE, MUMBAI. WHAT ROLE HAS THE COLLEGE PLAYED IN SHAPING YOUR CAREER?

    A number of Legal luminaries have passed out of GLC which is notably one of the most prestigious and oldest institutions in India. The college had some very able professors and strong faculty during my time that helped me along with my theoretical experience with working as a lawyer.

     

    YOU ARE THE FOUNDING PARTNER OF ALMT LEGAL WHICH HAS GROWN TO BE ONE OF THE INTERNATIONAL BEST LAW FIRMS. PLEASE SHARE WITH OUR READERS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED INITIALLY AND WHAT IS YET TO BE ACHIEVED?

    It was difficult to set up a law firm, though I must say it was the most fulfilling experience I have had professionally the benefits of which I reap today.

    Every generation that goes by, I feel the competition and level of expertise only increase with time. The most challenging experience was to set up ALMT in the UK and then bring our footprints into India.

     

    HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALISATION? HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT ATTAINING EXPERTISE IN THEM?

    It all happened very naturally – Honestly, your first mentor should be the best one! It flows from there…

     

    WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE YOUNGSTERS IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO PLAN TO SET UP THEIR OWN LAW FIRM?

    It’s not easy to set up a firm as a young lawyer. You must work and train with a senior for at least 10 years before you decide to take the plunge!

    That will give you a good heads start along with experience for anyone to trust you and come to you for sound advise.

     

    WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR A LAW STUDENT TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP AT ALMT LEGAL? HOW DO YOU SUGGEST THE STUDENTS CONVERT THEIR INTERNSHIPS TO PPO?

    They must write to the Office Manager who is also in charge of HR of the firm.

     

    WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE EFFICACY OF INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE. DO YOU THINK IBC COULD HELP THE GOVERNMENT AND BANKS DEAL WITH NPA ISSUE?

    It clearly has helped as we read in the press and companies being taken to task on the basis of their non-performance.

     

    WHAT IS THAT ONE CASE THAT HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU?

    I cannot put a finger on one! There are so many…

     

    HOW DO YOU THINK WE COULD IMPROVE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS IN INDIA?

    To start with we need more Courts, Judges and an aggressive judicial system which needs to catch up with the backlog of pending suits – and not allow frivolous litigation in India.

     

    IN YOUR OPINION, HAS THE RERA ACT HAS SUCCEEDED IN PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED TRANSPARENCY IN REGULATING THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR?

    Terrifically, but it has its own problems enforcing the Act.

     

    WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WORD OF ADVICE TO YOUNG LAWYERS AND LAW STUDENTS?

    Good reading habit to start with, which most students lack these days, good vocabulary and English if you want to plead and draft documents. Articulate in being well balanced in theory and knowledge of the law.

    There is a right time for everything – Most students try and get into a firm and want to work and miss out on their theoretical experience in College which offers a lot to them by way of bonding studying, moot competition etc.

    They must do a five-year course and temp with firms whilst they study law and then be sure whether they want to pursue law as a counsel or solicitor ( in a law firm ) depending on the field of law they select whilst in college

     

     

  • Kailash Vasdev, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, shares his experience on the struggles, challenges of a career in litigation

    Kailash Vasdev, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, shares his experience on the struggles, challenges of a career in litigation

    Kailash Vasdev is a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India. He has worked with Senior Counsel Nonit Lal, then Justice BN Kirpal, former Chief Justice of India. He cleared the AOR exam in 1981. He became member executive of Supreme Court Bar Association in 1991 and was instrumental in creating 1st Advocates Welfare Fund in Supreme Court. He was designated as Senior Advocate in 2000. He has a huge number of cases to his name, including sensitive cases like that on the death penalty. He has more than 1400 reported judgements to his name.
    In this interview we talk to him about:
    • Designation of Senior Advocates
    • Qualities expected of a fresh entrant in litigation
    • Importance of mentors at the starting of one’s career.

     

    HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS? PLEASE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PRE-COLLEGE LIFE?

    I am a lawyer who respects the law and prefer to discharge my duties without fear. It is a lawyer’s obligation to discharge his professional obligations with promptitude, correctness, and expedition.

     

    COULD YOU TELL OUR READERS ABOUT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU APPEARED IN COURT?

    Within fifteen days of joining the profession in 1975, we were appointed as amicus to assist detenues under the Detention laws prevailing during the emergency. We were to assist the detenues in obtaining facilities in detention like medical care and other amenities. I knew nothing about detention. The Judge and the Additional Solicitor knew everything about this law. It was challenging for a fifteen days old lawyer to stand frightened in court with a single purpose of getting in client relief. Success came with learning.

     

    HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE MENTORS FOR A YOUNG LAWYER IN STARTING HIS CAREER IN LITIGATION?

    That can be controversial because in today’s professional ethics new entrants necessarily look at high incomes. Good mentors do not have high incomes because they follow ethics both in fees and practice. Youngsters do not accept this. It was after fifteen years that we felt that we had learned some law. Today the feelings are different because all learning comes from behind the screen. Therefore, mentor selection is a choice for young lawyers.

     

    WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO BECOME AN AOR?

    Drafting – learning to draft well because when you draft a petition you learn to be precise on facts and specific on the law. The absence of either kills a good case. Drafting is a learning experience.

     

    DID YOU REQUIRE ANY PREPARATION TO APPEAR FOR THE SUPREME COURT AOR EXAM?

    There is more to the AOR post exam. There is a prescribed syllabus. One needs to follow the syllabus and prepare themselves for the exam. But the real skills are developed post the exam.

     

    WHAT SKILL SET IS REQUIRED FOR A YOUNG LAWYER AIMING TO BE DESIGNATED SENIOR ADVOCATE IN THEIR CAREER?

    There are no more skills set – especially after 2017 judgement laying down guidelines for designation of a senior advocate. Eligibility set down by S.C. contractionary to Advocate Act where seniorship was a privilege by the court.

    After Supreme Court judgement and High Court Rules it requires eligibility and skills are no longer required.

     

    WHAT QUALITIES WILL YOU LOOK FOR HIRING A JUNIOR?

    A young entrant is to learn as he gets along. He must be dedicated. The only single requirement is dedication.

     

    PLEASE TELL OUR READERS OF SOME OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE CASES?

    1. Bhushan Singh v. the State of Punjab, 1983 judgment: Three people were sentenced to death; the Supreme Court acquitted one and reduced the sentence of two to life.
    2. R.C. Sood v. the State of Rajasthan: High Court had created false evidence and relied on non-existing persons.
    3. Detention Cases: On false implication, many people were taken into custody. The satisfaction of getting a detenue released on a false accusation is unparalleled.

     

     WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WORD OF ADVICE TO OUR READERS?

    Keep money as your last call. It comes with dedication. Most importantly dedicate your time reading, understanding and improving the judicially settled law because you can change the judicial pronouncements.

     

  • Anupam Tripathi, Managing Partner, The Practice, on starting independent practice and working as Senior Standing Counsel with IT Department

    Anupam Tripathi, Managing Partner, The Practice, on starting independent practice and working as Senior Standing Counsel with IT Department

    Anupam Tripathi graduated from ILS Law College, Pune, in 2004. After successful stints as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department, he founded his own firm, ‘The Practice’.  He is also the managing trustee of an NGO called ‘Fight For Animal Rights’.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Experience working as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department, Ministry Of Finance in Delhi High Court
    • Starting his own firm “The Practice”.
    • Current scenario of direct tax law as a career option in india

     

     

    HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS?

    I am a lawyer in the Supreme Court, a social worker and animal rights activist. I am the founder and the managing partner of an east Delhi based law firm called ‘The  Practice’. I am also the founder and managing trustee of an NGO called ‘Fight For Animal Rights’, India.

     

    WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCED YOU TO CHOOSE LAW AS A CAREER? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ILS LAW COLLEGE FOR PURSUING LAW?

    I look at law as a means to bring about a social change in the society and in the country. By change I mean progress. My grandfather was a very successful trial lawyer in post-independent India before he was elevated as Judge, Allahabad High Court in the mid 1960s. To a great extent, I was inspired by him and more so by his personality and larger than life character to take up law as a profession. Late Nani Palkhivala has been an inspiration too, along with contemporary greats like Harish Salve and Ram Jethmalani. From very early days, while I was still in school what stood out to me always was that most great men who had achieved some remarkable feats were practicing lawyers (Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, my maternal grandfather, Late Kedar Pandey who was two time Chief Minister of Bihar and Railway Minister of India in Indira Gandhi’s cabinet in mid 70s to the early 80s was also a lawyer by profession). All these great men were lawyers. Today, you can add the likes of Barack Obama, former President of USA and our own President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind are also lawyers by profession.

    I was very clear that I wanted to practice law, i.e., get into litigation and for this reason ILS Law stood out for me as even back in 1999, when I took admission into ILS Law College, it had a reputation and a track record for being a stand out performer in moot court competitions on the National stage and a college where moots were taken very seriously, add to that the August faculty we had at the time- this the choice was obvious. I was privileged and honoured to spend five wonderful years in ILS Law College which trained me to be the lawyer that I have become today. In 2004, when I graduated from ILS, my college was ranked the Number one Law College in the country ahead of National Law School of India University Bangalore that was our arch-rival. In that year (2003-2004), we had won eleven out of the thirteen National Moot Court competitions in the country standing true to the reputation of the ILS Law College. I was privileged to have contributed to these National Moots by winning the Stetson National Environmental Moot Court Competition at the time. I later represented India in the World event of this competition at Stetson Florida, USA, and won a scholarship in the process for an LLM and was later facilitated with a Gold medal by then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Late Sh. Vilas Rao Deshmukh at ILS, Law College and nominated for best student award for outstanding performance in Moot Courts.

     

    HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING AS SENIOR STANDING COUNSEL FOR THE INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF FINANCE IN DELHI HIGH COURT? CAN YOU SHARE ANY MEMORABLE OR INTERESTING EXPERIENCES IN YOUR STINT AS A SENIOR STANDING COUNSEL?

    I was privileged to be appointed as a senior standing counsel in the Delhi High Court on behalf of the Income Tax Department, Ministry of Finance, Government of India in the year 2010- 2013. At the time of my appointment which was after the assent and approval by the President of India in August 2010, I was only 29.5 years at the time (and subject to correction) I was supposedly the youngest senior standing counsel for the Central Government at the time in the country (I am told that the previous youngest senior standing counsel stood at 32.5 years). In my initial three months of appointment, I found myself to be struggling to cope up and match the requirements and rigours of the job and the pressures that you face being in that important position. Contesting, arguing with and facing in the court the likes of top tax moguls like Ajay Vohra, S. Ganesh, C.S. Aggarwal, H. Syali, Rakesh Gupta, K. Sampath, Mrs. Kapila Satyan Sethi, Rakesh Aggarwal was not easy to begin with. But I worked very very hard and in less than three months I had found my feet on the job and was now regularly matching these tax moguls argument by argument and submission by submission and having beaten all of them in several matters. I shared an excellent rapport with all my colleagues at Bar some of whom were 30 years my senior and I was also privileged to have developed an excellent standing before the Hon’ble High Court judges in the tax bench I was appealing before. Most these judges today are sitting judges of the Hon’ble Supreme Court today.

    My overall experience as a senior standing counsel was excellent having given me an opportunity to have made more than 1500 appearances in Delhi High Court at the time with more than 100 reported judgments to my name in a short span of three years. It was a great boost to my legal career.

     

    WHY DID YOU GO INDEPENDENT AFTER WORKING WITH BIG LAW FIRMS?

    I was very clear from early days at law school that after graduating, I wanted to train for not more than two years maximum before branching out my own private practice. I was fortunate to have reached this zone and space where I felt that I could venture into private practice within a year and few months of graduating law. Thus, after briefly working for law firms like AZB & Partners (my first employer) to Associate Law Advisors to later training with Mr. Vikram Kapoor Advocate, I founded ‘The Practice’ on August 5th, 2005 and have been practicing privately since.

     

    WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE WORK ENVIRONMENT AT BIG LAW FIRMS?

    It would be wrong of me to comment on the work environment in big firms that I have not personally worked with. I can only speak of my experience with the two big law firms I have worked with personally and would hence restrict my comments to my limited experience with them. At AZB & Partners, I was working on the corporate/ transactional side and found the atmosphere for a fresh graduate in law a to be very cold and unwelcoming. I also found that in a big firm like AZB & Partners, there were times when the right hand didn’t know what the left hand was doing. I also found an over emphasis on billing and bottom lines as opposed to winning cases and providing good representation and legal services to clients.

    To sum up, I would describe AZB & Partners at the time (2004) to be a great body, missing a heart & soul with its mind all over the place. But I must admit I have the highest regard for Ajay Bahl and Zia Modi both of whom are genius in their respective fields. Raman Sharma and Nanju Ganpathy are good and kind people too in their  setup. My experience at Associate Law Advisors was lovely. Working on the litigation side here was perhaps helpful as I was in my comfort zone here. Good people, great leadership and friendly colleagues of course helped. Mr OP Bharadwaj and Lira Goswami were wonderful bosses and people to work with and learn from.

     

    WHAT IS THE CURRENT SCENARIO OF STUDYING DIRECT TAX LAW AS A CAREER OPTION IN INDIA?

     

    I would advice law students to study direct taxes especially income tax law and think of it as a career option on the corporate/ transactional side where there is huge scope both with the big four accountancy firms as well as with corporate law firms all across India. However on the litigation side (bear in mind my specialty is tax litigation) there is narrower scope and a lot of competition you have to deal with. For example, in the Delhi High Court there is a handful of 8-12 tax lawyers who dominate and have all the cases with them. In the Supreme Court, there is again a handful of 5-8 senior advocates who specialise in tax litigation and dominate. Thus, be mindful of this competition and almost cartel/monopoly that exists which is not easy to breach, no matter how good your standing and ability in tax litigation may be.

     

    HOW DO YOU SAY ONE CAN GAIN EXPERTISE IN TAX LAW? WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A GOOD TAX LAWYER? IS THE WORK SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TRANSACTIONAL LAWYERS?

    Tax law is an extremely technical and specialised field. Simply putting, its tough unlike most of other legal practice areas. The thing about tax law is that either you get it or you won’t. Period!  Once you have got the hang of it, you would begin enjoying and improving at it every day. Being an extremely specialised field, you will also find that the work you do as a tax lawyer would neither be understood by 90% of your colleagues, even judges of High Court and Supreme Court in matters of taxation are few, who understand the field, specialise in it and have command over it. Like every other field, tax litigation too requires hard work and perseverance and a lot of reading and staying up to date with the latest case laws, etc. You can have all the flair as an arguing counsel, but if you are not technically sound with tax, you would struggle.

     

    YOU FOUNDED A LAW FIRM THAT IS DOING VERY WELL TODAY. WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU THINK SOMEONE WHO WISHES TO START A FIRM OR INDEPENDENT PRACTICE IS LIKELY TO FACE? WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE THEM TO DO TO MITIGATE SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES?

    When I started my firm, I had left a salaried job of an associate where I was earning 22,000 per month at that time. My first month turnover in August end of 2005 of my private practice was 3,500 Rupees odd. All my near and dear ones including my own family were doubting and wondering how will I survive and whether I would make it because I had started from scratch. My father was not a lawyer, I had not inherited anyone’s practice or clientele and hence my future seemed gloomy to them. Within a year of private practice, I was touching a turnover of six lakhs per annum i.e. 50,000 per month and from that modest beginning I have come a long way today where when it comes to Income tax litigation, Public Interest litigation, Consumer litigation and Divorce cases litigation – my name and the name of ‘The Practice’ stands out. The money has been good too, but I like to be modest about such things.

    To be brutally honest, I survived and succeeded because I had ability, perseverance and worked very hard. I would advice youngsters to get into private practice only if they are inheriting clientele and private practice of their father or they don’t just think but actually have the kind of ability, grit, determination and perseverance along with a well-worked out marketing and business plan to succeed, or else they will struggle or in fact fail. Youngsters should stick to jobs, unless they have the above, or at least wait for seven to ten years before setting up their private practice.

     

    WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THE ADEQUACY OF ANIMAL PROTECTION LAW IN INDIA?

    The animal protection laws in India are to a very long extent adequate; however their lack of implementation is a serious issue. India, in fact has one of the best animal laws in the World barring the exception of 50 Rupees fine for the first offence of killing a stray dog. Almost all animal laws in India are near perfect. It’s their implementation that’s missing and is key.

     

    HOW CAN A LAW STUDENT APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP AT YOUR FIRM? IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WANTS YOUR GUIDANCE, WHAT SHOULD HE/SHE DO?

    Email me at anupamtrip@gmail.com to apply for an internship at my firm or to work as a volunteer for my NGO i.e.Fight For Animal Rights, India after sending your application wait for a revert back from me. If you hear from me in upto two weeks or so, consider yourself selected. If you don’t hear from me, then move on. No amount of email reminders and telephone calls will help your prospect. My firm and NGO has one of the most popular and vibrant internship program not only in New Delhi but in India. I have trained and mentored more than 1000 law students in the last fourteen years and my firm provides internship opportunities to 100-150 interns every year from leading law schools all across the country, there is competition and vacancy issues, so one has to be mindful of this.

     

    WHEN YOU HIRE JUNIOR IN YOUR FIRM ‘THE PRACTICE’, WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU LOOK FOR?

    I look for six to seven traits in every junior or for that matter in any person who is or shall be ever associated with me in whatever capacity – 1.Ability, 2.Integrity, 3.Energy, 4.Great sense of timing with situational and personnel awareness, 5.Ability to make work fun as purchasable a commodity as sugar & coffee, 6.dependability and 7.Loyalty. Unless, you have these seven traits in you, you may be a genius and may become the future Prime Minister or President of the country but sorry you don’t have a future with me.

     

    WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WORD OF ADVICE TO LAW STUDENTS WHO ARE ASPIRING TO LITIGATE JUST AFTER GRADUATION?

    My answer is Legal advocacy or “Vakalat” is  about litigation, litigation and only litigation. A real lawyer is one who goes to court, argues his cases, fights for justice for his clients and for larger public good and wins. Everybody else is a law graduate with a Bar license or a corporate suit with a fat salary,  may be a fancy car on EMIs who can’t secure his own bail when in trouble. In other words, graduate and get into litigation, work very hard, and do well. I wish you my kind of struggle, success, satisfaction and happiness!

     

     

  • Philip Teoh, Partner, Azmi & Associates, shares his insight on International Arbitration and his twenty eight years of experience

    Philip Teoh, Partner, Azmi & Associates, shares his insight on International Arbitration and his twenty eight years of experience

    Philip Teoh graduated in law from National University of Singapore, Singapore in 1989. Currently, he is the Partner at Azmi & Associates. He is also Arbitrator with the Asian International Arbitration Centre [ formerly Kuala Lumpur Regional Center for Arbitration] and has conducted arbitrations in Malaysia, Singapore and internationally as Arbitrator and Counsel.

    In this interview, he talks to us about:

    • How to acquire skills to become a great lawyer.
    • His role in legal academia.
    • His experience on different cases

     

     

    HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS? PLEASE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PRE-COLLEGE LIFE?

    I am a practicing lawyer and arbitrator with 28 years of experience. I am from Penang, Malaysia and come from the same school as Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo the Director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre [formerly KLRCA] whom you previously interviewed. Both of us studied at the Penang Free School, probably the oldest English school in Southeast Asia founded in 1816. After Penang, I went to study A levels in Singapore under the ASEAN Scholarship in 1983 at Hwa Chong Junior College. Thereafter I studied law at the National University of Singapore and graduated in 1989. I enjoyed my school life, and made lifelong friends whom I am still in touch.

     

    HOW DID YOU GRAVITATE TOWARDS THE FIELD OF LAW?

    I have always been interested on how law regulates society and business. In many ways law shapes business and vice versa. I was particularly interested in international trade and shipping as the common driver.

     

    PLEASE GIVE US AN INSIGHT INTO YOUR ROLE IN ACADEMIA.

    My interest in writing and teaching was cultivated by writing assignments in law school and the positive feedback and reinforcement by my lecturers. I had the good fortune of being taught by excellent lecturers and tutors in the law school. The brilliant minds such as Professor Tan Yock Lin who made a subject such as conflict of laws become immediately relevant and useful . Till date, I find this to be my favourite subject and I use in my shipping and international cases often. My interest in this subject culminated in my writing Halsbury’s Laws of Malaysia on conflict of laws. I was also taught by the brilliant Professor Ellinger one of the sharpest legal minds, the great Professor FMB Reynolds, who came over from Oxford, who taught Shipping and Agency. I was impressed that Professor Reynolds and Professor Ellinger were writers of textbooks and they were also very good lecturers.

    We were also fortunate to have Professor Ho Peng Kee as a vice dean who went out of his way to help students. His words of encouragement helped me spur on and to eventually obtain a second class upper in my LLB.

    I have been speaking at industry conferences within and outside Malaysia for sometime. I have lectured at the University of Malaya Law Faculty Continuing Education Programmes and I am an Adjunct Lecturer at BAC, Malaysia’s largest law schools. I spoke in Pune last August in an International Arbitration Conference where I met many Indian Arbitration Practitioners. I look forward to further speaking engagements in India.

    More than fifteen years ago, I started the series of Practitioners Texts in Malaysia in shipping and related titles. These include the Annotated Merchant Shipping which covers the law regulating Merchant Shipping, Collision, Marine Pollution. Malaysian lawyers drafting Agreements use my precedents from the Forms and Precedents on Shipping. I also wrote the Halsbury’s key titles on Equity, Conflict of Laws, Shipping, Carriers [ Land Air and Sea]. Last year I wrote the Chapter on Carriage of Goods by Sea in the Malaysian Bullen & Leake Precedents of Pleadings. These books are used by Judges, Arbitrators and lawyers. I have seen some of the texts I have written cited in Reported Judgments.

    From time to time, I have been invited to contribute to Trade Publications on matters affecting industry.

     

    WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN INSTILLING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN LAWYERS?

    Lawyers must embrace change and adapt. For instance, when I started practice, lawyers did not use internet and hardly any one used email. And this was in Singapore which then was more advanced than many other Asian countries. Now email, internet, law firm websites, blogs, social media are ubiquitous. Lawyers who don’t keep up, will be lumbering dinosaurs, who eventually will be obsolete. I profile my practice and run a 20,000+ network on LinkedIn. I find this useful as a substantial part of my work is international.

    For court lawyers, practice makes perfect. Every trial, application and appeal is a challenge, we need to be able to understand and be confident on our own abilities. I was fortunate to work under Mr Harry Elias at the beginning of my law practice and I saw how he took on Queens Counsel and opponents in court. I was also fortunate to have a work attachment in a Penang law firm, which firm engaged the late Karpal Singh, easily Malaysia’s foremost Constitutional Lawyer and Politician. These were invaluable mentors and experiences which spurred me on to continue with contentious work and it has been 28 years since. From the very beginning I also consciously maintained a non-contentious aspect of my practice and I have drafted many agreements for various clients. When the Malaysian Shipping Line started its LNG Fleet, I was involved in the beginning. I was the local Counsel for the Syndication of Lenders in the Puteri LNG six new buildings in the Japanese Yards around 2002.

    So you can see law is very wide and the hard working lawyer can find learning opportunities in every case, transaction and agreement. I make the junior lawyers work hard but they learn.

    Innovation and creativity can only be spurred by attitude. If the junior lawyer takes the attitude that he / she knows everything, pretty soon he / she will know nothing.

     

    HOW DO YOU KEEP YOURSELF UPDATED WITH THE LATEST ARBITRATION ISSUES, NEWS AND CASES?

    Internet, journals and in Malaysia, the Asian International Arbitration Centre have good and relevant talks and conferences, some of which I participated as speaker. I am in touch with many practitioners worldwide and we exchange ideas.

     

    WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU THINK HAVE HELPED YOU ACHIEVE YOUR CURRENT POSITION AND STATURE?

    It all started when I entered NUS and being grateful and happy to study there. And to accept I have no ‘current position and stature’. That way I know that I have to continue to improve and to learn. Students must realise that university is only four years but a career is a lifetime. And I enjoy my work, I enjoy the challenge of difficult cases.

     

    AS A PARTNER AT AZMI & ASSOCIATE, WHAT DOES A TYPICAL WORKDAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

    If I have a trial, it will be straight to court and it will be the same for the whole duration of the trial. The whole day will be spent in court conducting the trial. As much as I prepare for the trial, I have long learned that it is important to adapt to what happens during the trial and be vigilant for opportunities. Some examples in the trials which I have conducted, eg. I cross examined the shipping agent who set out in his witness statement six bills of lading and asked him whether he had seen the documents he mentioned and explained in his statement, and was surprised he said no, not before trial. Another case, the chemist had detailed in four pages how carefully dangerous chemicals were packed, I asked him whether he was present during packing and he answered he could not remember. Apart from direct clients I also act for other law firms, so in these trials, I work with my instructing lawyers. I have written on the role of Counsel:

    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/litigating-malaysian-courts-use-counsel-philip-teoh/

    This Wednesday was particularly rewarding as I argued an Admiralty Appeal in the Court of Appeal. There were decisions of the High Court which set aside ship arrests on wrong principles and one of these was a ship arrest I undertook. I appealed against this decision and the appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal. I was successful in arguing the appeal and this case is important as the Court of Appeal judgment will be binding and will set guidelines for parties undertaking ship arrests in the future. For more details, you can go to my LinkedIn posts:

    https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6389686362479661056/&

    https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6390524570524319744/

    The profession in Singapore and Malaysia is a fused one, so I am both Advocate and Solicitor. I also handle corporate and advisory work. If I don’t go to court, I will prepare for submissions in the office or draft agreements. From time to time I am visited by foreign lawyers who come to Malaysia for business visits. Many of these lawyers are my LinkedIn connections. My work day could also be to attend meetings with clients whether in my office or theirs.

    I try to make time to interact with the junior lawyers and interns who work and assist me. I have written on the role of the Senior lawyer as Mentor:

    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/learning-law-mentors-perspective-philip-teoh/

     

    WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG LAW STUDENTS AND LAWYERS AIMING TO BECOME ARBITRATORS IN FUTURE?

    Don’t waste the university years. What you study in university is crucially relevant even if it is not immediately obvious. Cultivate interest in subjects especially subjects Contract, Tort, Evidence. Be willing to learn everything.

    Interestingly many students approached me after my talk in Pune last August and asked how they can become arbitrators. I was taken aback as they wanted to become arbitrators without thinking of embarking into litigation.

    Arbitration like litigation is contentious / dispute resolution. Lawyers only become arbitrators if they can bring value or experience to the Dispute Resolution Process. This may take years before the lawyer can establish his reputation in court, be recognised and respected as court / Arbitration Counsel and only then can he become an arbitrator and obtain appointments.

    So I will tell the students, aim to be a great lawyer, become great advocates. The court skills are important to arbitration. Only then you can become a respected and popular litigators earning the respect of your opponents and eventually you will acquire a solid track record and reputation. Only then you will be ready to become an arbitrator; this may take decades but the diligent will achieve this.The arbitrator who does not go through this crucible will not be effective and will forever chase appointments.

     

    Link to some of his works are below:

    • Presenting your case in International Arbitration:

    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/presenting-your-case-evidence-international-arbitration-philip-teoh/

    • Strategies on Managing Choice of Law along One Belt One Road:

    https://www.brinknews.com/asia/chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-managing-risks-and-disputes/

    • Speaking at AIAC Arbitration Conference

    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/resolving-disputes-along-one-belt-road-philip-teoh/

    • Speaking in Pune last August

    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/contemporary-issues-international-arbitration-philip-teoh/

    Philip Teoh’s LinkedIn profile :

    LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipteoh

     

     

  • Ngangom Junior Luwang, Senior Partner, Kochhar & Co., on law school experience, choosing specialisation and work life balance

    Ngangom Junior Luwang, Senior Partner, Kochhar & Co., on law school experience, choosing specialisation and work life balance

    Ngangom Junior Luwang completed his graduation from ILS Law College, Pune. He is currently co-head of the Infrastructure Law practice of the Firm. He has over twenty years of professional experience and has been practicing Corporate, Commercial & Dispute Resolution matters, his sector specialisation being Oil & Gas and Infrastructure. Luwang has represented issues of corporate law in various International Conferences and has also been a speaker in many conferences organised by the Hong Kong University, Law Asia etc. Luwang also has extensive court room experience, mostly in the Supreme Court of India.

    In this interview, we speak to him about:

    • Choosing law as career and his experience in law school
    • Choosing his specialisation
    • Internships every law student should undertake
    • Maintaining a work life balance being Senior Partner

     

    HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF? PLEASE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PRE-COLLEGE LIFE?

    Enrolled in 1995, I am a lawyer with extensive experience in dispute-resolution as well as non-dispute-resolution verticals across diverse facets – handling high-stake Supreme Court & Arbitration matters, contract drafting & negotiation, statute drafting, general legal consultancy apart.

    I grew up at Imphal, Manipur till my 12th standard. I did my primary schooling at the First Battalion Manipuri Rifles High School, Imphal and MBC English School, Imphal till 10th standard and my 11th and 12th at the DM College of Arts, Imphal.

     

    WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCED YOU TO CHOOSE LAW AS A CAREER? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ILS LAW COLLEGE FOR PURSUING LLB?

    To be honest, law was my father’s career choice for me and I reluctantly followed my father’s advice. I had always wanted to become a civil servant or a doctor but I have no regrets for, inter alia, the following reasons:

    1. Just as our body is an integral part of our existence, law is as much an integral part since almost every aspect of our existence is governed by some law or the other.
    2. Law is ever-evolving and a lawyer’s adaptation to the same makes a lawyer fully updated and current for sound opinions on different aspects of life and law.
    3. Diversity in laws makes a lawyer’s life as much diverse and professionally challenging, enough to make him/her “Jack of all trades, Master of as much.”
    4. A Law degree also opens up a law student or a lawyer to a number of other possible sub-careers – in-house counsel, hardcore litigator, full-time corporate lawyer with specific specialisation options, academician, LPO professional, Law Firm management professional etc.

    I chose ILS Law College, Pune for, inter alia, the following reasons:

    1. ILS’s heritage as a cradle of legal education for nearly a century then
    2. Credible academic staff
    3. ILS was the best amongst the few law colleges with the five year integrated course in 1989 when I joined ILS.
    4. ILS’s incredible infrastructure, more specifically its library facilities with its unique collection of books
    5. Pune’s academic atmosphere and of course, its unmatched weather.

     

    WHAT ALL ACTIVITIES DID YOU TAKE PART IN DURING YOUR TIME AT LAW SCHOOL? HOW IMPORTANT IS MOOTING FOR A LAW STUDENT?

    I remember my participation in moot court competitions, mock trials and declamation competitions. Of course, I did some bit of lawn tennis and swimming since ILS campus had the said facilities.

    Since I strongly believe that every lawyer should spend at least the initial first three years of his/her career in Courts of Law/quasi-judicial fora (before exploring other options), mooting is and should be made compulsory for every law student. My specific reasons are as under:

    1. Mooting presents a fantastic platform for problem-solving skills for budding lawyers, something a lawyer is expected to do life-long.
    2. A must for focused drafting skills and oral court submissions.
    3. Mooting certainly exposes a law student to the practical side of law in terms of legal research, strategic thought process, creative interpretation of laws etc.
    4. Mooting is certainly a break from the mostly theoretical approach of classroom lectures.

     

     HOW DID YOU KICK START YOUR CAREER POST YOUR GRADUATION? WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED AS A FRESHER?

    I kick-started my career from a chamber in the Supreme Court of India, but handling matters not only in the Supreme Court but also in Delhi High Court, DRT, Consumer Commissions and lower courts. The following were the main challenges:

    1. Identification of a good lawyer/chamber with drafting opportunities for diverse legal/quasi judicial proceedings.
    2. Understanding the different stages of legal/quasi-legal proceedings
    3. Low stipend was indeed an issue for a fresher like me with a rented accommodation.
    4. Lack of opportunities for placement in big law firms then.

     

    WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE HIGHER STUDIES?

    I joined an LL.M course since I genuinely believed that an LL.M course would add up to my knowledge of law, but now, on hindsight, I am of the opinion that exposure to courts of law or being in a Law Firm for the same time period would have taught you more lesions on law and practical sides thereof. A full-time LL.M course could possibly be helpful for students who plan to be in academia.

     

    HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALISATION? WHAT SHOULD A LAW STUDENT KEEP IN MIND WHILE CHOOSING A PARTICULAR DOMAIN OF LAW TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE SAME?

    I started my practice without any specific specialisation in my mind, but Clients ultimately chose my specialisation! One cannot choose a specialisation unless one is really interested in it and good at it and ultimately, most clients choose you for that specialised area of law you are interested in and equally good at. I believe that a law student should have an open mind and should choose specific domain or specialisation after having a feel of every aspect of law at least in the first three-five years of his or her practice. This having said, the following should be kept in mind, while choosing an area of specialisation or practice domain:

    1. Strong interest in the chosen stream(s) of law.
    2. One’s comfort and professional confidence in executing work of the chosen specialization or domain.
    3.  Client/Senior feedback on works executed qua the chosen stream(s).

     

    WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON GRADES AT LAW SCHOOL? MANY LAW FIRMS AND ORGANISATIONS USE GRADES AS YARDSTICK FOR SHORT LISTING PEOPLE FOR THE JOB. DO YOU THINK THE SYSTEM IS FLAWED?

    A more pertinent question will be whether our law schools have the right benchmarks for grading law students. My observations on this issue are:

    1. More focus should be on practical aspects of law. For example, most questions can be on specific facts involving questions of law and students can be asked to apply law accordingly and solve the issues presented.
    2. More emphasis can be on mock-trials and moot courts.

    I think most law firms extensively bank on academic performance of students for campus recruitment since presumably there is no other better way. No system is fully fool-proof and so is this system. Since legal acumen is not all about exam marks, Law Firms may consider having its own independent way of conducing specific test(s) for such recruitment, independent of academic grades.

     

     WHAT ALL INTERNSHIPS DO YOU THINK A LAW STUDENT MUST UNDERTAKE DURING THEIR TIME AT LAW SCHOOL AS A STUDENT?

    The following internships are recommended:

    1. Internship with a trial lawyer with substantial drafting assignments at a lower court in a small district or town in India, covering both civil and criminal matters.
    2. Internship with a lawyer with substantial drafting work in a High court
    3. Internship with a public sector corporation
    4. Internship with a private commercial entity
    5. Internship with a litigation/arbitration team of a law firm
    6. Internships with different corporate practice teams of law firms
    7. Internship with an arguing Senior Counsel
    8. Judicial Clerkship with a judge of a High Court/Supreme Court.

     

    WHAT IS THAT ONE ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE THAT YOU ARE PROUD OF?

    Rendering both litigation and non-litigation legal services to ONGC Videsh Limited and Oil India Limited in the USD 2.475 billion acquisition of a hydrocarbon block in Mozambique in 2014.

     

    WHAT IS THE AVERAGE WORKDAY EXPERIENCE OF A SENIOR PARTNER AT A LAW FIRM LIKE? HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A WORK-LIFE BALANCE?

    Every day is a hectic day with deadlines and meetings lined up. Everyday is indeed a lesion on some legal issue or the other. To be frank, it is very difficult to have such a balance. However, I do try to give enough time to my family and of course, I play and run for at least one hour a day.

     

    WHAT QUALITIES HAVE HELPED YOU ACHIEVE YOUR CURRENT POSITION AND STATURE?

    It is hard work, hard work and hard work.

     

    HOW DO YOU STAY UP TO DATE ABOUT THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ALL THE AREAS WHERE YOU WORK AND HAVE AN INTEREST?

    The different assignments coming to me usually keep me informed and updated. For the rest, social media and internet are good information tools.

     

    WHAT ADVICE OR SUGGESTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE TO OUR READERS, WHO ARE PREDOMINANTLY LAW STUDENTS AND YOUNG LAWYERS?

    1. Academic courses are different from actual legal practice.
    2. If one is not ready for hard work in terms of giving at least twelve hours of effective professional engagement daily, one may explore other options (academia, LPO etc.).
    3. At least for the initial three years of one’s career, one should be in litigation practice before various courts/quasi-judicial fora.
    4. Drafting skill should be developed for all types of legal proceedings for as many different courts and legal fora.
    5. A time-line based systematic roadmap on approaching or dealing with each specific legal issue/proceeding should be learnt/developed and followed steadfastly.
    6. Hard work is the key, coupled with due application of mind.

     

  • Archana Tewary, Partner, J. Sagar Associates, Bangalore on managing time between work and motherhood

    Archana Tewary, Partner, J. Sagar Associates, Bangalore on managing time between work and motherhood

    Archana Tewary graduated from University Law College, Bangalore University in 2008. Being a very vocal, communicative person with a strong sense of fairness, Archana always knew law was her true calling in life. Back in college she had a great fascination for company law which led her to become a corporate lawyer.

    She worked at Crawford Bayley & Co. with Mr. Sanjay Asher for the first few years of her career and then joined JSA after moving to Bangalore post her marriage. Currently, she is a Partner at the firm and works in private equity, mergers, acquisitions and general corporate work.

    In this Interview, Archana shares her insights with Rounak Biswas of SLS, Pune on the topics raised by Shafina Salahuddin.

    • Her role and responsibility as a Partner at J. Sagar Associates
    • The importance of internships during law school
    • Maintaining work life balance

     

    HOW WOULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS?

    I am a corporate Lawyer and a partner with JSA, Bangalore. I would also describe myself (in no particular order) as a mother, bookworm, feminist, homemaker and foodie among other things.

    Born and brought up in Bangalore, I have lived here for most of my life. My childhood was very happy and typical to someone born in the 1980s. It was filled with books, words, and the freedom and time to pursue my fancies. There was a strong emphasis in my family, on education – not just earning good grades, but learning the skill sets I would need to be a strong, independent person. My family (including my extended family) has great role models across generations, and this has greatly influenced the person I am.

     

    HOW DID YOU COME TO TAKE UP LAW AS A PROFESSION?

    I have always been a very vocal, communicative person with a strong sense of fairness and that has led me to law, and where I am today.

    In my pre-university education I was a science student, and the training and courses were aimed at taking up engineering or medicine as a profession. However, I knew I would not be happy in either of those professions, and thought I might enjoy practicing law. Although in hindsight I realise that when I took the decision to study law, I did not know what the profession would actually involve, I am grateful that my decision was right nonetheless.

    I studied law at University Law College, Bangalore University. The course structure allowed me to do internships and moot courts. This led me to interact with a lot of practicing advocates and professionals, which was very important as it helped me make conscious decisions regarding my career.

    I have greatly enjoyed studying law and being a corporate law professional. As a student, for instance, studying Constitutional Law and some of the case laws led me to think about human values, life and dignity. I was very happy to be studying subjects which could do that. As a corporate lawyer, I found myself seeing concepts I had studied in hypotheticals in college, being applied in real life. If I had found reading company law a bit dry when I was a student, I found it immensely interesting when working, because of the details.

     

    DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CURRENTLY THERE IS A BIAS OF THE REPUTED LAW FIRMS IN INDIA TOWARDS THE NLU STUDENTS?

    I have not, personally, seen such a bias within JSA. I believe the college / university does not matter, if one has strong fundamentals and the ability to learn quickly.

    Not in my experience, but there are some aspects which could be improved upon in “non-NLU” colleges. Speaking from personal experience:

    • There was a great deal of focus on litigation in college, and hardly any emphasis was given to corporate law. This would probably be very unfair to students, who would need to take the initiative to find out about corporate law and practice by themselves. Equal emphasis should be given to all professional options.
    • The absence of a strong alumni association did feel like a disadvantage, though it must be said that the seniors in college and the alumni I interacted with as a student were very encouraging and helpful. A strong and formal association which would help with internships, placements, job opportunities, etc., would have been very good.
    • When I started working, I realised that a number of the concepts and subjects which were vital to working in corporate law firms were almost ignored in colleges. The teaching needs to be made more practical and oriented to what a law student would need to know, when she starts working.

     

    WHAT IMPORTANCE WOULD YOU ASSIGN TO INTERNSHIPS?

    In my student years I choose consciously, to intern with a human rights organisation, a civil court lawyer, a high court lawyer / senior counsel, an in house team and a corporate law firm. This gave me some amount of insight into how each of these organisations functioned, and helped me in making my decision to work in corporate law firms.

    WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU BELIEVE HELP LAW STUDENTS GET A JOB?

    Confidence, diligence, common sense and the willingness to work hard. You also need to be ethical and sincere right from the beginning, because these will define the decisions you make.

     

    TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK IN CRAWFORD BAYLEY & CO.

    I worked at Crawford Bayley & Co. with Mr. Sanjay Asher for the first few years of my career, after I interviewed with him for an associate’s position. It was an opportunity to learn on the job and grow as fast as you can. I learned to think on my feet, find practical solutions to issues but also, to work hard. Working in capital markets made me detail oriented and capable of multitasking.

     

    WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO MOVE TO JSA?

    I had interned in JSA and knew it would be a great place to work. After marriage I moved to Bangalore and was lucky to be offered an opportunity to work at JSA, with Mr. Vivek Chandy as my mentoring partner. My experience at the firm has been rewarding and my everyday interaction with my colleagues has made me a better person, which I think is a truly remarkable thing. I have been fortunate to work in a firm where I have not faced discrimination due to my gender or any other factor, and hard work has been recognised without bias.

     

    WHAT ARE YOUR PRACTICE AREAS?

    I started my career working in capital markets. When I moved to Bangalore, I got more exposure in the practice areas of private equity, mergers and acquisitions. Due to my interest in corporate law, I also enjoy working in general corporate matters. In terms of sectors, a lot of my work has been in real estate and e-commerce. The practical nature of private equity work appeals to me, and the manner in which every party to a deal have to balance their own interest with that of the others makes the work interesting. Every transaction has its interesting moments.

     

    AS A PARTNER OF JSA, BENGALURU HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE?

    This is a skill I am still learning, and the most important lesson I have learnt is to not be rigid and allocate time, depending on what is a priority. Especially as a woman and a young mother, I am constantly trying to balance the various matters which require my attention and involvement, and the only way I am able to get by is to focus on what is important and urgent, and to rely on my colleagues at work and my family at home.

     

    WHAT IMPORTANCE WOULD YOU ASSIGN TO MENTORSHIP IN ONE’S CAREER?

    I have learnt from my partners and colleagues at all stages of my career, particularly from the partners who have trained me. In my work, I can easily recognise the manner in which they have influenced my approach and thinking. However, instead of looking for a mentor, it would be better to keep an open mind and absorb learnings from everyone around you.

     

    WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE OUR READERS?

    Please choose the path you want your career to take carefully. If you are going to spend half your life doing something, let it be something you will love doing on a daily basis. Please be grateful for the opportunities you have and take pride in what you are doing. This will show in the quality of your work. Wherever life may take you, please try to be humble.

     

  • Rai Mittal, Partner, Titus & Co, New Delhi shares his diverse experience of 25 years in the legal profession

    Rai Mittal, Partner, Titus & Co, New Delhi shares his diverse experience of 25 years in the legal profession

    Rai Mittal graduted in Law from CCS University, Meerut in the year 1992. Originally being a B.Com student, reading a murder case in one of the law journals at his father’s office made him realize his that Law was his true calling. Back in the early 1990’s Law when Law was not as promising as it is now, Rai started his practice at Muzaffarnagar- his hometown. Later he joined Singhania & Co. Advocates as an associate.

    Currently, he is a Partner at Titus & Co, New Delhi where his work includes- advising clients, working on opinions, formulation of strategies, drafting, legal analysis, court and arbitration appearances and guiding and supervising associates and senior associates.

    In this Interview Rai shares his insights with Rounak Biswas of SLS, Pune on the topics raised by Mihika Gupta of NLU Jodhpur.

     

    How would you describe your journey as a lawyer?

    I am currently associated with Titus & Co. as Partner. Titus & Co. was set up in the year 1997 and I have been associated with the firm since the very beginning. Prior to that, I spent one year in district court litigation practice on civil, criminal, revenue and labour law sides and thereafter about three years with Singhania & Co. Advocates and with IP firm Lall Lahiri & Salhotra.

    Over the last 25 years, I have been involved in diverse assignments and areas of  practice including commercial and corporate litigation and arbitration, intellectual property matters, general commercial and corporate work, contracts, industry specific advisory work, mergers and acquisitions, legal due diligence matters, franchise and licensing, technology transfers, FDI, regulatory work, investigations and white collar crimes, tax disputes, banking and finance, infrastructure work and employment laws.

    I have had a keen interest particularly in commercial and corporate advisory work, dispute resolution, strategically advice on legal-commercial matters and intellectual property laws.

    I like to work with a problem solving approach, endeavouring to advise clients from a commercial and practical standpoint. Having worked on a wide variety of assignments over two and a half decades, I believe that I am able to review issues as well as uncover issues from different perspectives. It’s, perhaps, like playing the role of a General Counsel while also acting as a specialist lawyer.

     

    What motivated you to pursue Law?

    It was while reading a reported murder case in a law journal (to which I got access in my advocate father’s library) that I realized that Law as a subject fascinated me. I was pursuing my final year of Bachelor of Commerce degree at that time. I had also become conscious of the fact that I enjoyed working on and solving problems, rather than doing something more of a procedural nature. I also realized that I should pursue a profession where quality matters more than quantity.

    This made me give up the idea of pursuing chartered accountancy course which I had aimed to pursue after graduation. We of course know that the role of a chartered accountant at that time was very different from what it is today.

     

    Was Law a rewarding profession when you got into it?

    In the late 1980s/early 1990s, Law as a career was not rewarding and prestigious as it is today. Very few Lawyers earned handsomely. Particularly in small cities and towns, earnings were extremely limited and working conditions of Lawyers were poor. It is really good to see how things have improved over the last couple of decades.

     

    What were your parents’ reactions to your decision to get into legal profession?

    My father, though he a successful and respected Lawyer, was fond of journalism and social work, and he could never adore the profession more. However, I was perhaps destined to become a Lawyer, true to my interest and liking. My parents, though apprehensive, were supportive throughout.

     

    How was your experience at Law school?

    I was lucky to be taught by many practicing Lawyers and scholars, even though legal education those days certainly was not in good shape. It was a lot of fun cycling to Law school and engaging in discussions on legal topics with professors and other Law students.

    Most Law schools during those days were far below today’s general standards. Only a few students seriously pursued Law as a career. Attendance in Law schools was usually low and classes were held infrequently. There were no debates, no moots, no seminars, no training and no internships. However, despite all shortcomings, there was no dearth of good Lawyers. They were probably as good and knowledgeable as one can be today.

     

    Describe your early years in the profession.

    I started practising in my home town Muzaffarnagar, U.P. The first year was amazing when I got an opportunity to work on different kinds of legal matters – which included revenue and land matters, labour Law cases, civil, criminal and consumer disputes. I practiced on the original side and in revisions and appeals at different levels with a lot of free hand. Those were the days when I learnt to implement theory in practice. I used to enjoy, which I still do, surprising the other side with a novel argument.

    As cases of substance and importance fascinated me, I moved to Delhi with the urge to practise in the Supreme Court but landed a job as an associate in Singhania & Co. Advocates. The two years of my association with Singhania was extremely useful as I was frequently worked on different tasks, right from IP to Corporate to Dispute Resolution to Firm Management. Singhania was my first experience of practising in international scenario and it was just the beginning.

     

    What are your views on the importance of higher education?

    Pursuing higher education leads to better prospects. It enhances knowledge and skills enabling a person to analyse things deeply and view a situation from different perspectives. It aids in providing a competitive edge in the career market, higher pay opportunity and better communication skills and makes a person more focused, disciplined and responsible. As LL.M is now a one-year course in most Universities in India and abroad, it makes sense to go for it.

     

    Describe your work profile at Titus & Co.

    I usually start my day in the office early. Every day is challenging as it brings up new issues of diverse nature. Meetings with clients, working on opinions, formulation of strategies, drafting, legal analysis, court and arbitration appearances and guiding and supervising associates and senior associates takes the entire day.

     

    Can you recall the first time you appeared in a significant matter in court?

    I prepared for my first few cases by organising and reading files, doing Law research, preparing notes, discussions with seniors, getting tips from colleagues and inquiring about the general attitude and nature of the concerned Judge.

    These days most of the Judges are welcoming and supporting young Lawyers. They encourage young Lawyers to come forward and plead their cases without any fear.

     

    Which are the good areas for the practice of Law?

    Any and all areas are good. It depends on your personal liking. I would suggest that one should be open to do all kinds of different assignments during the initial few years of Law practise and then choose what fits him or her the most.

     

    How do you see the future of young law professionals?

    The future of the profession looks quite promising. Opportunities in the profession are immense. With Law getting more and more complicated and of specialized nature, sincere and smart Lawyers would continue to do extremely well in the profession.

     

    What are the skills one needs to develop to succeed in the legal profession?

    To succeed in legal profession, one should have good communication, analytical and research skills and creativity and ability to persist and convince. One should be focused and have a practical approach.

    Students and young Lawyers can develop requisite skills by regular reading on Law topics, participation in debates, interacting with people in the profession and watching court proceedings. One should focus not only on curriculum, which comprises of studies, mooting, debating, etc., but also learn time management techniques, be positive and always keep looking for new learning opportunities which will help one to broaden horizon and thus help in facing new challenges that come one’s way.

    Most importantly, learn to enjoy the profession!

  • Pinky Anand, Additional Solicitor General of India, on studying at Delhi University and at Harvard, and on the formative years of her career

    Pinky Anand, Additional Solicitor General of India, on studying at Delhi University and at Harvard, and on the formative years of her career

    Dr. Pinky Anand is considered one of India’s top lawyers. She is the current Additional Solicitor General of India and a Senior Advocate. An alumna of the Campus Law Centre at Delhi University, she went on to pursue her LL.M from the prestigious Harvard University on an Inlaks scholarship in 1980. She recently came out with the much acclaimed book, Trials of Truth which is available on Amazon. In conversation with Manushi Desai, she shares her experience as a lawyer and the formative years.

     

    How were the formative years which resulted in such a strong yet warm personality?

    My parents were married very young. My mother’s sensible nature has rubbed on me and so has my joint family’s sharing and caring nature. I have grown up in the streets of Old Delhi and have fond memories of sharing everything with my family which is my support system and I greatly believe in the idea of balance which my family taught me. I further studied in a convent school and the values of discipline and good virtues were inculcated very firmly in my outlook. I endeavoured to participate in all extra curriculars, especially during the law faculty days where I was the student leader within BJP as well.

     

    How was your Harvard experience?

    It was an ambition to go to Harvard and I achieved it by providing a systematic approach. I was inspired by the movie Paper Chase based on Harvard. I applied for Rhodes actually, I did not get the Rhodes, however, the Rhodes committee recommended me to the Inlaks foundation and that’s how I got into Harvard. Years later, I was called back to Harvard to give a lecture which is when I stumbled across my thesis in the Harvard library archives which is a must read even now to know more about the concept of public policy in arbitration.

     

    How were the initial years as a lawyer?

    I am a first generation lawyer. After marriage, circumstances were different since my husband is a lawyer, my father in law is a lawyer, but the intial years were not the same. I did not have any benevolent hand in that sense which is quite a necessary part. However, I did not have as bad a struggle as I should have is because my friend Geeta Luthra, who is a senior advocate now and I started practice together. It was very unknown of women partnering with each other in the profession.

     

    How did you join politics?

    My tryst with politics started when I joined ABVP as a law student and contested the prestigious Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections. However, when I went to Harvard and later partnered with Ms. Geeta Luthra, politics took a back seat. This changed later when I headed the BJP National Legal Cell as the first woman convenor which gave me a chance to change people at a grassroot level.

     

    You have risen high in your domain and have even been named as India’s top influential women in a book. How was the struggle been?

    The principle struggle is not being a part of the old Boy’s club. There is also a prejudice against engaging women counsels. However, beyond a point when you prove yourself, you actually were acknowledged. You have to continue to be twice a man. So the demonstration effect and the visibility or your proving your mettle is something which has to be done at the first degree level. Having done that, you need to have people who kind of support you. My family is a very big support, my in-laws are very supportive and I think that’s a very important feature too, because professional life is a tough one.

     

    What was the tipping point in your career?

    I fondly state my tipping point to be the retainership we had from a Marwadi business group through which I got exposure to various kinds of cases. It proved that you learn far more on your feet than you learn from any text book. We got a wide exposure to wide variety of cases from that group not only in Delhi, but in various parts of Delhi. We used to go to various even district courts and in fact I think even trial courts.

     

    Why practice in trial courts when you could, as a Harvard graduate, have easily started in the Delhi High Court or Supreme Court?

    Trial courts are great fun! I think you learn the most there and you have to understand the set up of what law is about and how law is made. For young lawyers, you are trusted far more with the trial court cases than you are with Higher Court cases- so it was a relation you build- you go up the ladder. The ladder is a very slow one, like snakes and ladders – you go up and then you sometimes come down.

     

    What is the secret sauce to your success?

    I believe in confidence and determination apart from the support of your loved ones. There is constant juggling of the work life balance but it is important to set goals and challenges and strive to achieve them as well.

     

     

    This interview was taken by Manushi Satyajeet Desai. Do read her blog at desaimanushi.blogspot.in and follow her on @manushidesai on twitter and instagram.

  • Harish Nambiar, Vice President-Legal, Syntel, on working in the Information Technology and Services Industry

    Harish Nambiar, Vice President-Legal, Syntel, on working in the Information Technology and Services Industry

    Harish Nambiar graduated in Law from JSS Law College, Mysore in 1997. Harish has been exposed to seventeen years of comprehensive experience in the areas of: Legal Strategic Planning, Management, Consulting Compliance, Drafting & Vetting, Litigation, etc. He joined Syntel as General Manager – Legal and was promoted to Vice President in 2014. His role also includes managing the ethics and whistle-blower policies of Syntel.

    Harish likes to be a practical and proactive lawyer with an inclination towards understanding relevant laws and underlying jurisprudence.

    In this interview, he gives us his insights to:

    • Being a first generation lawyer.
    • Constructively utilizing time at law school.
    • His areas of expertise and how did he go about developing them?
    • His important message to young law graduates.

     

    How would you like introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am Vice President – Legal at Syntel, a global IT multinational corporation. As a lawyer, I have always been an in-house counsel, starting from my first corporate assignment with a large IT company in 2000. I have worked in IT companies and insurance companies. Of my total seventeen to eighteen years in corporate assignments, I have been in senior leadership position (AVP and above) for about twelve years. I am interested in Law related to contracts, property, employment, crimes, IPR, and anti-harassment. However, as an in-house counsel, there is really no limitation on what kind of matters may come up and what range of Laws will have to be applied. On personal side, I am very passionate about environment protection and planting trees. I like driving and comedy movies. I am an avid reader and like reading anything that is available on Indian history – I have a collection of books. I also like to be associated with causes that support destitute children and underprivileged women.

     

    Tell our readers a bit about your childhood and pre-college life as well as educational background.

    Most of my childhood was spent in Mysuru, then known as Mysore. It is a beautiful place. I went to the St. Joseph’s School at Jayalakshmipuram in Mysore, Junior college was done in SBRR Mahajana Junior College, and I completed B.A, LL.B from JSS Law College (which was at that time affiliated to the University of Mysore). Overall, I used to do well in studies. Law school was particularly good. JSS Law College was one of the best things that happened in my life. I had very good teachers and I am in touch with all of them, even today.

    Childhood memories revolve around railway equipment and associated stuff as my father was an officer in the Indian Railways and we used to stay in residential quarters within the railway housing colonies. I am a first generation lawyer and there were no lawyers before me in the family.

     

    What inclined you towards the field of legal education?

    I decided to pursue law a career probably when I was in the seventh or eighth standard of school and the trigger was Mr. Shatrughan Sinha. While watching him play a powerful lawyer in one of his movies, something clicked within me saying “I too need to become that.” While that may seem like a melodramatic reason, I think it also had to do with something in me that made me like complicated sentences, legal references and the like from a very young age – like fourteen or fifteen years. Since there was no family precedent, I had to convince my parents to let me do this, and they agreed, and that was the beginning. It was all set and sealed by the time I was entering my tenth standard of school.

    I started reading law books right from those days, and I completed reading treatises on the Indian Penal Code and Central Motor Vehicles Act when I was in 12th, and I was probably the only one who had ever touched these books before entering the law school.

    At law school, I always tried to do more than was required. I would keep Cox or Modi on Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology open for reference while reading Ratanlal & Dhirajlal on IPC or Indian Evidence Act. I had Gaur’s Firearms and Forensic Ballistics while learning about the Indian Arms Act and Indian Evidence Act. This approach helped me understand the topics better. I had a very good academic record at law school.

     

    You’ve been a professional lawyer with more than seventeen years of extensive experience. How did you go about developing your expertise?

    Some of these items cannot be ‘taught’ in the classical sense. It needs to be picked up along the way. My formula was to overlay the theoretical and technical knowledge imparted during law school into the manner and methods which my seniors in the office were employing to handle a situation. Then, I would top it with my own common sense and arrive at a solution.

    One of the most important things that I used to do was ask questions to my seniors and air my opinions freely, so that each time, I was taking one step towards perfecting the solution I had arrived at. I also had the ability to say ‘no’ to something that I believed was not possible to do.

    I strongly believe that a lawyer with a sound and strong knowledge of the technical aspect of law and the jurisprudence can provide a solution to most issues. The fact that I was on the right track manifested itself when I started the heading the Legal Department at a major insurance company with between five and six years of professional experience. I was able to replicate this at another insurance company with eight years under my belt.

    It is all about knowing how much you actually know, bridging the gap, using common sense, asking questions and being bold enough to take the plunge. Most importantly, while taking the plunge, be mindful of the fact that you can fail too – but that failure should not be taken negatively and should be used as tool to avoid repeating the same mistake.

     

    What is a day at work like? What is the most challenging or stressful part?

    I enjoy what I do, so no workday is more stressful or difficult than any other day. I don’t say that every day is a cakewalk, but since I enjoy what I do, it is quite pleasant most of the time. I start early and segment the day into various buckets, which helps me manage my time better. I haven’t really faced any work life balance issues as such, as I am able to manage the time properly. Syntel, in particular is a great place to work and quite understands on the work life balance part – I have been here for more than seven years and it has never happened that my personal life was compromised because of my professional life. On home front, my family understands the several demands that apply on my time. My wife Rashmi and my ten years old daughter Nandana are very supportive of my professional commitments and leave me to my own devices on work related matters. They are a great source of strength and inspiration. Unless there is an absolute emergency, or I am travelling, weekends are always reserved for the family. On a daily basis, I keep an hour for myself which is the time that I use to recharge myself. That hour could be spent doing nothing, or it could be used for reading, or tending to the plants at home. I also spend part of my weekend with my parents generally discussing on any topic that we find amusing or interesting.

     

    You joined Syntel as GM in 2010 and were later promoted to VP. Please walk us through your work profile.

    Broadly, my work profile is to manage all legal affairs of the company, wherever we operate. This includes contracts, litigation, compliance, corporate law matters, employee conduct etc. Additionally, most organisations bundle the whistle-blower policy and related matters like employee conduct into the Legal Department. While these are strictly not ‘legal matters’, at senior levels within the Legal Departments, these matters also come your way. I have been handling such things for more than twelve or thirteen years now.

     

    What was role did you play at your first corporate assignment?

    My role at my first corporate assignment was largely on contracts – both buy-side as well as sell-side. Certain items of compliance and IPR were included, as well as part of one M&A. But those few years taught me a lot, because at that time, it was a small team and I had to adapt fast and become independent.

     

     How do you manage your diverse range?

    (Harish handles statutory compliances and other works like drafting and vetting of contracts and liaison with external agencies on legal issues.)

    As I said earlier, it is the willingness and eagerness to learn that will help one gain the ability to master a wide range of duties. I am a perpetual learner and seek out new challenges. Once you make learning a habit, range is not an issue.

    As a concluding message, what would be your suggestions to law students/young lawyers?

    Stay focussed on the goals you have set for yourself. Most law students that I have met believe that they are already lawyers within their first year of law school, and tend to fall into the trap of unwanted distractions that comes with it. Avoid that trap at all costs – you are a formal student till you graduate, so use that time to study. The fundamental job of a student is to study and acquire knowledge. Bear in mind that you can ask any question till you graduate, but the ability to ask certain questions is reduced after graduation, and that reduction keeps increasing with each passing year since graduation. No client is going to be impressed if you must research a basic legal question.

    Once you graduate, use the first five to six years of your career to gather as much knowledge as possible on practical aspects, without losing the technical side of the matter. Unlearn and relearn if need be. At the end of this period, assess yourself and determine if you have become a better lawyer — one that can recite the law, propose a solution to a problem, and have the wisdom to realize when no legal solution exists. Never compromise on the technical knowledge and keep the basics strong. Always remember that the most complicated techno-legal agreement on space technology collaboration also needs to pass the basic test of ‘consideration’ or ‘capacity of parties’ to be held enforceable as a contract under law, as much as the agreement on buying sugar from a neighbourhood grocer also need to pass the same test to be held enforceable under Law. Basic principles are divine – they cannot be forgotten or violated at any stage.

    Simply put, never compromise your professional integrity. Don’t manipulate the Law or your clients, base the legal opinion of the principles of Law, don’t use your knowledge of Law to gain an unfair advantage over your clients, and most importantly, have the courage to say ‘no’ when something is not legally possible to do.

    A combination of professional integrity, technical knowledge, common sense and the ability to propose solutions to your client’s problems is what will set you apart from others.

  • Chakradhar Varadarajan, Head-Corporate Legal in Godrej, roles and responsibilities as In-house Counsel

    Chakradhar Varadarajan, Head-Corporate Legal in Godrej, roles and responsibilities as In-house Counsel

    Chakradhar Varadarajan holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the first batch of five-year law course (1983-’88) from the Government Law College affiliated to Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. He is the Head-Corporate Legal in Godrej Industries Limited (GIL). He is also the authorised signatory for Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) and Nature’s Basket Limited (NBL).

    Chakradhar’s current role is to add value to the businesses as a trusted advisor, shape up and maintain a client-focused in-house legal team. His work areas engage him to manage and advice on risk analysis and mitigation including M&A, indirect taxation, brand protection enforcement, business advisory, compliance and regulatory aspects.

    In this interview, he speaks to us about:

    • His decision to choose a five-year law course at a very nascent stage of Indian legal education
    • The culture back in his college days.
    • His role and responsibilities as Head-Corporate Legal in Godrej Industries Limited (GIL).
    • The reason behind giving up litigation practice and accepting an in-house legal counsel role.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a student. I continue to learn every day.

     

    What prompted you to choose a five-year law course?

    (The five-year law course was newly introduced at that time.)

    Most of my junior college buddies were focussed on graduating as either engineers or as doctors. A new engineering college was set up in our town back then and also a renowned Government medical college. Probably this contributed to many of them opting to becoming engineers or doctors.

    My upbringing in a middle class family of a State Government employee (my father) and the situation of two of my elder siblings already aiming then to become doctors made me think differently.

    Living in Kurnool town surrounded by an agrarian economy in a drought-prone region of the undivided Andhra Pradesh, I was more influenced by the agenda and focus set for social and industrial development by Telugu Desam, CPI & CPM.  I was keen to talk about the growth of industry & commerce in the region. Kurnool, Anantapur, Nandyal, Tirupati in particular started looking out for industrial and educational renaissance.

    Rayalaseema Paper Mills had just started production in those days, granite export industry was slowly picking up, Tungabhadra Industries Limited was producing vegetable oil products including Vanaspati locally and APIIDC was taking steps to create industrial parks.  Amidst such socio-political-industrial climate, the travel of my thoughts took direction of further studies in commerce and law.

    Had it not been for Justice Chandrachud (Retd) starting a five-year law course in the 4 law colleges of Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Trichy, Madurai & Coimbatore) during mid-1983, preceded by a newspaper advertisement issued by the Directorate of Legal Education, Tamil Nadu, I probably would have turned a commerce graduate in Venkateshwara University and opt for a 3 year law degree in Anantapur or Hyderabad.

     

    How was the culture back in your college days (1983-’88)?

    I joined five-year law in Coimbatore, a city that was fairly well industrialised in 1983 with many textile machinery manufacturing units & spinning mills (serving as the back office for the Mumbai mills).

    No other State (including Andhra Pradesh) started any such course in law by then and National Law Schools were not even established. The experience of being soaked in a completely different and industrially vibrant atmosphere as well as being in an educational hub of Tamil Nadu planted bigger dream of managing and leading legal services for companies, early in life.

    Our college being a Government Law College, resources for us were limited so, the students of 3 year law batch & five-year law batch both used to attend college in the same premises in morning and afternoon sessions respectively.

    India’s gender diversity efforts & girl child education were getting evident in the early ‘80s itself basis the statistics that in our own law class.  We were a total of 78 students of which 18 were girls.  Some of them are doing well now in the profession and practising law in courts today.

    Our five-year law curriculum being new, some of the books prescribed for study were not available in stores or our own college library, so we undertook visits to State and/or District libraries in different cities to gather material to study and used to share notes with other classmates.

    With no internet and Google, no online research tools, preparing for inter-collegiate debates, competitions or moots was a group activity with a lot of excitement peppered with visits to other educational institutions as well as local courts in search of willing seniors who could guide us regarding various topics.

    Our professors treated us more lovingly as we were seen as fresh and young buds who were enthusiastic to listen, be more regular to attend lectures and moots.

    Our initial law college studies also involved the experience of receiving guest lectures from professors of other colleges teaching liberal arts (Political Science, Sociology & Economics, History of India & developments leading to Constitution) as our 1st 2 years curriculum was mostly related to these subjects, apart from English, Logic & Reasoning, and Legal Writing in Tamil.

     

    How did you overcome your initial jitters in a courtroom full of experienced lawyers and judges?

    (He holds the distinction of being the first ever five-year law graduate to be enrolled as an Advocate in 1988 with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad.)

    Preparing for the day of enrolment, wearing that black coat, tying up the white bands around neck and entering the High Court of A.P in Hyderabad with a gown on the shoulders had been a ‘dream come true’ (which actually was not so financially, as I experienced later in courts for about two and a half years but I had to go through that phase as part of the process).

    Joining a chosen senior’s office (after closely following up as to whom to join) and then getting paid Rs.750/-, a princely sum back then at the end of the first month (when no other senior counsel generally paid money to any junior) is a cherished high. A High Court judge and a District Court judge encouraging me to argue the senior’s brief and guiding me while I put across a defence. Such experiences probably are rare now due to paucity of time in courts today. The attention and time the judges gave for testing the skills of juniors like me, to observe and correct the preparedness was also a blessed high. When a District Judge advised me stoutly across the bench in an open court stating professional ethics demand that an Advocate should not visit a complainant’s home and talk of settlement on behalf of the client who engaged him was a low and as well as a learning moment.

     

    What lead you to give up litigation practice for accepting in-house legal counsel role?

    Prior to fully involving in active court practice, I attended a corporate internship in Hyderabad, a first for me in a reputed corporate group in Hyderabad. Almost 2 years later, I was blessed with an enquiry from them as to my interest in a vacant position of ‘Law Officer’. Based on the evaluation of my socio-economic background coupled with my own need for a stable income and a big dream of going in-house, I said yes to such an opportunity.  I consider myself lucky too that my joining as in-house counsel coincided with onset of liberalisation in 1991.  On personal front, the contributing factor to be unwavering in continuing to being in-house counsel was the loss of my mother a year later and then marital responsibility. There was no looking back after I joined in-house, though I did have a fair share of mirage of reflections to see myself as a practising Advocate to which I did not yield to!

     

    How are internships helpful for a law student? How was the scenario back in your days?

    Internship in an Advocate’s office and attending the courts were part of planned curriculum for our five-year law study.

    Our internship was for the entire five years of study. We would start by 8.30am in the morning in our assigned law office, work there first and move into Court and be present there until 1.00pm and later on, reach our Advocate’s office again by 5.00pm and remain there until 8.30pm. Such hours of internships for learning were possible since our classroom lectures were between 1.30pm to 5.30pm.

    The curriculum made it mandatory for us to attend a senior Advocate’s office, learn drafting,  observe client guidance by the senior as well as work of the court clerks, do case law research, know professional etiquette and ethics, observe and learn court decorum.  At the end of the year, we had to submit a project paper over the aspects learnt in our internship.  All our learning during such internship was assessed for marks as our internals by our college.

    I am happy that now, apart from internships in law firms, students of law also have the benefit of focussing on gaining knowledge through internships in corporates. Such internships are no doubt preparing the law students to be much more agile, employable and professional and learn a lot about crucial transactional non-litigation work which is a large share of corporate in-house roles.

     

    Currently, you are the Head-Corporate Legal in Godrej Industries Limited (GIL). What are your roles and responsibilities?

    Our team in Godrej Corporate Legal has about 11 in-house counsel and 2 paralegals. The team has 4 sub-function group heads. Sub-function head managers are there for (i) Contracts, M&A and business/category advisory; (ii) Brand Protection/IPR, category advisory & International business; (iii) Indirect taxes management and (iv) Litigation management.

    My role as strategic function business partner is to provide in-house legal services for the Consumer Goods, Chemicals, Retailing and Corporate HO. The role also partners with Godrej’s M&A team initiatives for inorganic growth of the consumer goods business in Indonesia, in Africa for about 14 countries, the USA, Chile & Argentina.

    An average work-day in Godrej is ‘a day to look forward to’ since the consumer goods, the most dynamic amongst all, sets up an agenda of good amount of in-house legal service activity both for India as well as overseas. At the same time, the work-life balance afforded to the employees by Godrej are of world-class standards offering us flexible working hours (core hours being defined as 10.30am to 5.00pm), well laid out policy on gender diversity and inclusion, a ‘work from home’ facility when required and approval for sick leave without a limit when such a situation arises.

    Godrej’s philosophy of human resource assessment relies on 3 key pillars (Leading Self, Leading Others, and Leading Business).Further, ‘the Godrej way’ makes it important to constantly remind myself about ‘Godrej way and the Purpose/Objective’, the importance of ‘Trust’, the characteristic to ‘Be Bold’, to undertake the best effort and ‘Create Delight’ for your customers and therefore ‘Own it’ to deliver, and simultaneously ‘Be Humble’ and ‘Show Respect’ to people as much as you expect from them.

     

    What are the qualities which Godrej looks for in one’s CV while applying for internship?

    GIL offers law students internships and the intake is limited to 2 students per annum at present.  The applications for such internships are received processed by our Corporate HR based on prior assessment and notification of such intern needs by the heads of the sub-function groups.

    Criteria in Godrej for assessment of any candidate’s CV are (i) individual’s Initiative, (ii) hunger to learn & improve, (iii) emotional and social awareness and (iv)positive mind-set for collaboration’.

     

    You were bestowed with “India’s finest in-house counsel” in 2016 .What is the success mantra?

    (This recognition is given by the Indian Corporate Counsel Association & the Ministry of Commerce.)

    Any bright young lawyer who is able to practise the following principles will definitely taste success and will himself amongst ‘successful in-house counsel in India’ :

    1) Believe in yourself; 2) Be humble to learn every day; 3) Be respectful of others; 4) Have patience to practise and persevere and (5) Accept to kiss & hug any change.