Category: Interviews

This interview has been published by Ayush Verma.

Please tell us about your journey towards the legal field. What inspired you to pursue law as a career? 

It was by a stroke of luck that I ended up opting for law as a career. I was a science student while in high school and was preparing to pursue a career in medicine. One of the reasons for this choice was that in those days engineering and medicine were the obvious career choices for anyone who scored above a certain percentage of marks in 10th standard. People opting for other streams, even if they were genuinely interested in those subjects, were painted with a broad brush as being uncommitted.

However, after studying science for two years in school along with preparation for the pre-medical test, I realized that medicine or any other field in science was not my calling. I knew I had to reassess my career options and that is when one of my relatives sent me a prospectus of a famous law school, which had a couple of pages on career opportunities for lawyers. I then started reading about the legal profession and developed an interest and eventually decided to pursue a career in law.

Even though I had opted for law as a career, I don’t regret my decision to study science in school as it did prepare me for some rigour and hard work which goes a long way in shaping a legal career.

What type of co-curricular activities did you participate in during your time at Amity Law School? In what ways have the experiences at your alma mater shaped your career?

In the legal profession, the floor is too low and the ceiling is too high. If you are not doing well, you may find it difficult to sustain with even basic living standards. On the other hand, if you are doing well, you may earn more than celebrities besides the fact that the career span of lawyers is way longer than that of celebrities. Therefore, coasting along is not an option in this profession. From the beginning of my law school, I knew that in order to be successful, I would have to work hard and continuously push my limits. During law school, studying and writing exams consumed only a small portion of my time and more time was spent on co-curricular activities such as moot court competitions, writing papers and articles, attending extra courses and undertaking internships.  

The biggest contribution that law school has in shaping my career was a good degree of flexibility which allowed me to participate in a number of moot court competitions, attend internships and undertake other co-curricular activities. Also, the encouragement and support that came from the faculty and the director of the law school was really helpful I believe this is one of the biggest reasons why Amity Law School, despite not bearing the NLU tag is still, churning out excellent lawyers, who you now see as partners in law firms, general counsels in companies and successful litigators in courts. Being located in Delhi NCR was also a big factor and allowed us access to courts and law firms.

What according to you is the relevance of internships in a law student’s career?

Law school curriculums have not kept pace with the developments in legal practice and there is a wide gap between the theoretical knowledge that students acquire in law schools and the practical implementation of that knowledge. Additionally, there is an unfortunate emphasis on rote learning and memorization in the Indian education system, due to which there are instances of fresh graduates lacking awareness and understanding of basic legal concepts.

Given the pace at which legal work is required to be done, the high pressure from the clients and the tight timelines, employers in the legal industry are often not inclined to train fresh law graduates from scratch. Therefore, there is an expectation from fresh law graduates to somewhat hit the ground running and demonstrate basic legal skills such as the ability to conduct legal research, use online research tools, understand basic legal principles and basic level English language legal drafting. In the absence of such a skill-set, it is often difficult for fresh law graduates to find placements and even if they do find jobs, it is difficult for them to acclimatize to the rigorous work environment.

Internships help bridge this gap as they not only provide the opportunity to experience the real work environment and learn the practical aspects of the legal practice, but they also push the interns to put in hard work which helps sharpen their skills. The mentoring and guidance that law students get during internships enables them to acquire the skill-set necessary for placement and further progress in their careers post law school. Internships also offer a platform to law students to demonstrate their skills and abilities and potentially score a pre-placement offer. This is especially important for students from non-national law schools which may not have robust placement mechanisms for their students.

Internships are great eye-openers and provide a massive opportunity to make course corrections for law students who have otherwise been coasting along in law school as they come to realise the huge gap that exists between what they learn in their law school and the skill-set they need to acquire in order to land up with a lucrative placement. Often the cut-throat competition amongst interns from different backgrounds becomes the driving force behind efforts that law students put during internships. 

How and when did you decide to pursue a career in commercial transactions?

While I believe that every lawyer is a litigator at heart, there is a huge difference between how Harvey Spectre litigates in American courts in “Suits” and how litigation is conducted in  Indian courts. Jokes aside, the Indian judicial system still has a long way to go, to acquire the quality and sophistication that you see in the judicial systems of some western/developed countries. Court litigation in India is more than just knowing the facts, understanding the law and nicely articulating your case before the Court. This, in my view, takes away the fun and discourages many talented young lawyers from pursuing a career in litigation. I was no exception.

A law firm environment (especially a transactional practice) comes across as a far more lucrative option given the sophisticated work environment and meritocracy-driven culture. The trigger for me was an internship at a big law firm that exposed me to the transactional practice at a law firm and there was no looking back.

What led to you joining Phoenix Legal right after graduation? Did you consider any other options at the time?

When I started my internship at Phoenix Legal, the firm was only 2 years old and was widely known as one of the most promising start-ups in the legal industry. The founders were former equity partners of Trilegal and had left to establish Phoenix Legal. The environment at the firm was full of drive and energy and it was already evident that the firm will grow and take its place amongst the top law firms in India, which it eventually did. The culture of the firm was meritocratic and everyone was goal-oriented and willing to serve their clients to the best of their abilities. Also, given the lean team structures, there was close supervision of work by the partners and it was an excellent training ground for young graduates. To me, it was a no-brainer that this was the place to start a legal practice and once I was offered a position in the firm, I did not consider any other options.  

You have been associated with Phoenix Legal since the start of your career, for over a decade and got promoted to Partnership within six years of practice. How has your journey with the firm been, from starting out as a trainee to going on to become a Partner?

Phoenix Legal is one of the few law firms in India that is structured in a manner that is similar to how the international law firms are structured. It has an ownership model based on lockstep, which allows all partners to progress to the level of founders. The progression through the lockstep is purely merit-based and evaluation is based on several parameters which are transparent and well known to the partners. Similarly, decisions to hire new resources, internal promotions amongst the associates, and elevations to partnerships, are all purely based on merit and completely transparent.

The firm invests heavily in its human resource and works very hard to hire, train and retain the best of the lawyers. Our lawyers are closely monitored and work under the supervision and guidance of the partners. This is due to the firm’s partner-centric and partner-led service delivery model which requires a strong and committed partner involvement in all client work.  The lawyers at the firm including the partners work very hard to maintain a high level of responsiveness and availability and provide top-notch quality of service to their clients. 

Because of these factors, my journey at Phoenix Legal from being a trainee to becoming an equity partner has been somewhat challenging in terms of the time commitment and efforts required but at the same time has been very rewarding.

What are your day-to-day responsibilities in your current role as a Partner at Phoenix Legal’s Delhi office?

The primary responsibility of all partners is to service our clients. We work hard to ensure responsiveness, availability, and accuracy of our legal advice. Our partner-centric service delivery model means that all the partners irrespective of their seniority and experience are involved in work execution and take primary responsibility for service delivery to our clients. The other responsibilities as a partner include the building of teams, training junior resources, business development, and administrative matters.

As the Officer at the International Bar Association, what does your work entail?

I am currently the Treasurer of the Young Lawyers’ Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA). IBA is the most prestigious organisation of international legal practitioners and law societies formed in the year 1947. It has over 80,000 individual members who are international lawyers from leading law firms around the world and has over 190 bar associations and law societies from over 170 countries as members.  Our job as the Officers of the Young Lawyers’ Committee of the IBA is to encourage young lawyers from various jurisdictions to join and get engaged with various activities of the IBA. We serve as the ‘entrance door’ for young lawyers into the IBA and put them in contact with the rest of the divisions of the IBA to become further involved. We also actively identify, discuss and promote issues involving young lawyers at the IBA.

With your rich experience of 10+ years in transactional work as well as commercial arbitrations, would you like to tell us about the ways in which India has shifted or evolved in these areas over the last decade?

Legal practice, like all other businesses, is always evolving especially with the advent of high-speed internet, mobile communication, and other similar technologies. The legal practice also evolves with the evolution in the client’s businesses and consequent changes in the client’s expectations.  

There have been dramatic changes over the last decade in how legal practice is conducted in both transactional and arbitration fields. For example, on the corporate transactions side, due to the advent of high-speed internet and various platforms to aid online meetings, etc., most activities (such as due diligence, negotiations) for which lawyers used to physically travel are now conducted online from within our offices.  Similarly, because of change in client’s expectations, the nature of work product has also evolved – for example, the clients now seldom expect their lawyers to prepare detailed findings based on due diligence reports (which was almost a norm in the earlier days) and want a significantly shorter list of only the red-flags or high-risk areas as an outcome of the legal diligence exercise.

Similarly, on the arbitrations side, Indian clients and arbitrators are now starting to adopt technologies like live and real-time transcription services which were earlier seen only in arbitrations outside India.  These have the ability to dramatically increase the speed and efficiency of the arbitration process. Indian arbitrators/clients also prefer to adopt more practical and simpler arbitration procedures in the procedural orders as against the earlier practice of taking cues from the Court procedures which were often pedantic and impractical. 

What is going to be the long-term impact of the ongoing pandemic on how cross-border transactions or international commercial arbitrations are carried out?

The pandemic has forced people to change the traditional ways of doing things and has somewhat fast-tracked the process of adoption of new technologies and innovative methods of undertaking the legal business. The virtual hearings in both Courts and arbitrations, I believe, are here to stay even post-pandemic. Similarly, virtual meetings and negotiations, instead of people traveling to conduct meetings and to negotiate deals or transactions, are unlikely to be discontinued post-pandemic. These new technologies and innovative methods have, in addition to allowing business continuity during the pandemic, improved both time and cost efficiency with which legal business is conducted.

What are some skills or characteristics that you look for while hiring juniors in your team?

The skill-set and characteristics depend on the level and seniority of the lawyer being considered for a position. A fresh law graduate is not expected to have the same skill-set as an experienced lawyer.  However, factors such as good communication and writing skills, research skills, and understanding of basic legal concepts/principles are a must. In addition, I would look at the softer factors such as willingness to put in the hard yards, enthusiasm to do good work, hunger for success, interest in law and legal practice, and certain other personality traits.

As a young Partner at one of India’s leading law firms, what are the core principles that got you here? Is there anything in your checklist yet to be achieved?

I attribute my success to the mentoring and the training I received from my seniors at Phoenix Legal during the initial years of my legal career. A good boss and a mentor can go a long way in shaping your legal career and I was fortunate to be trained by seniors who were not only excellent lawyers but also took great efforts in training and mentoring their juniors. Apart from the mentoring and training, the core principles for any lawyer’s success are consistent and long-term efforts and hard work, enthusiasm and interest in law and the legal practice, desire to do good work, and willingness to take up new challenges.

On the checklist, all I would say is that I haven’t started ticking the boxes yet. There is a long way to go and this is just the beginning. 

Any parting advice for young lawyers and law students looking to pursue a career in commercial transactions? What is the relevant skill-set they should inculcate during law school?

I don’t think there is one method to success. All successes in life are an outcome of a series of small positive actions that you take over a long period of time. Similarly, all failures in life are an outcome of small errors or omissions you make over a long period of time. The key principle, therefore, is a long-term consistent effort to do good work.  

Never say no to an opportunity because you think it’s beyond your capabilities or you are too busy with something else. Don’t shy away from hard work. Stay enthusiastic about the work that you do and always keep pushing your limits. In the long-term, after consistent effort, you will be surprised by the successes that will start coming your way.

This interview has been published by Ayush Verma.

How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

On the professional side, my introduction is that of a lawyer who focuses on mergers and acquisitions along with other forms of corporate transactions, and who is a part of one of India’s best and largest national law firms. On the personal front, I introduce myself as a woman who tries her best, every day, in all the roles she plays. I like to travel, spend time with my family and friends, enjoy watching movies and cooking. I think of myself as a representative of all those who have the will and determination to work hard and make a change. 

With over 20 years in this profession, how would you describe your journey so far?

I’ve had the most wonderful experience professionally and I’m thankful to all the people who have been a part of my journey. Every journey has its unique challenging moments, and it is important to recognise the contribution of the people who form part of our support system and make it happen for us; family, friends, mentors, team members, and those who work for us relentlessly in the background such as our helpers and assistants at home and office.  I feel overwhelmed that time has passed so soon and how much I have learned from all the experiences, especially the tough times. Every struggle and failure has made me a better lawyer and person. I was very lucky to have some fantastic mentors who have guided me and showed me the path to where I am today. One has to have a plan and a vision of what they want out of themselves and if they work hard with integrity, determination, and focus on higher standards of quality and professionalism, the road will eventually lead to a good and happy place.  

At what point did you decide to read the law? Coming from a family of lawyers, did you ever feel the pressure to pursue a career in the legal field? 

When you are brought up in an environment that has a rich mix of cultural vibrancy with emphasis on education and professional excellence; with more than 80% of the close family members being lawyers or connected to the legal profession in some way, there is a general expectation that you would choose a path that follows the tradition. My calling towards law was neither certain nor forced. It must have been working somewhere in the background in deep routed subconscious levels but overtly. I was at one time quite sure that I wanted to become a professor of literature. I had completed my graduation with a major in English literature and was in fact planning to pursue higher studies towards becoming a professor. My father, who is an ardent reader of literature and philosophy, supported me immensely and in fact guided me through the course. The turning moment was when I accompanied my father to the Bombay High Court during the summer break, after my final exams in the penultimate graduation year, and witnessed him argue a case. I still remember, it was before Hon’ble Justice R.M. Lodha, and I was spellbound seeing my father argue. Observing the proceedings, I found myself being naturally drawn towards the profession. I took admission in the Government Law College after graduation and during my time at law school, I continued to work with my father as an apprentice and attended office and court every day for the three years that I studied law. Ultimately, looking back at these 20 years, I feel it was the right choice for me. In the legal profession, one has the advantage of pursuing their passion for law and also playing the role of a teacher/mentor. I enjoy making presentations, conducting training sessions and masterclasses, and speaking at conferences on various topics of law. In a way, my desire to become a teacher has also been fulfilled.

You decided to venture into corporate law when it was fairly unheard of, how did you make that choice?

Deciding to take up a certain type of practice area requires a lot of thinking and analysis of one’s own interest and capabilities along with the right guidance. Some people are very good with negotiations, some are good with their ability to argue matters, and some people are great at research and drafting. To choose a practice area as their main focus, one has to have the opportunity to experience these different areas before deciding to focus on one. Although I started as a litigator with my father, he wanted me to gain experience in other practice areas. I went to work with a senior corporate lawyer for a year who encouraged me to give a serious thought about taking up M&A, after some of the clients had given positive feedback about my ability to bring commercial and business sense to transactions. I then joined Nishith Desai Associates, where I got the opportunity to work on corporate transactions and helped in setting up foundations for what are today some of the big practice areas of the firm. I am grateful that I have had the experience of both litigation and corporate practice. This combination helps me in seeing pitfalls in transactions and rectifying those issues at an early stage before matters end up in court. 

What does an average day look like for you as a Partner in one of India’s biggest law firms?

I believe that in any organization, each person in the system, regardless of level and position, has to work hard and be passionate to ensure that the quality of work and responsiveness to clients is exceptional.  People often joke that lawyers are not humans because of our tight schedules and the absolute obsession with quality. I was once asked at a public forum if corporate lawyers indeed do not sleep or eat. Well, on a lighter note, to clarify all doubts, corporate lawyers are humans and we do eat and sleep. As is the case in any job or profession where timelines matter, we often end up doing long hours to cater to our clients’ needs. Personally, I have learned that the only way to get the best out of oneself is to prioritize. My day starts with catching up on important updates in my field, followed by responding to critical emails, calls with colleagues, and then moving on to transactional work like reviews, drafting, brainstorming sessions, and calls with clients and counterparties. Since we cater to both domestic and international clients, our schedule is largely driven by the needs of our clients based in different time zones, and therefore, on many occasions, we end up pushing ourselves late in the night or early in the morning, to accomplish important tasks within the deadlines. 

Due to the unprecedented situation created by the pandemic, it has become extremely important to stay connected with colleagues and clients, and the timelines are now blurred because of the need to be available to everyone at all times. Prioritizing in these circumstances has become more important than ever before. I have two kids and one is barely 2 years old. I ensure that I give adequate time to the family and check with the elders and those in need of attention a few times during the day. We have to be cognizant of the fact that apart from our work, we have other responsibilities and interests, and this fact must always be kept at the heart of things. Any successful person will tell you that the right balance will get you to a point of satisfaction and contentment in both your personal and professional life.  

You are one the most celebrated names in M&A. In your experience, how is the niche misrepresented in its portrayal that impacts the perspective of the younger generation of lawyers?

In my interactions with younger lawyers, I note that they are extremely smart, efficient, competitive, and hard-working. What many of them seem to lack, however, is patience and perseverance. Several of them are drawn to the glamourous depiction of corporate lawyers in the media. While it is quite appealing on the screen, it is, on many occasions far from reality. In this situation, the lawyers who choose this practice area or any practice area for that matter may find it difficult to accept the hard realities of the profession. The burn-out rate is high in the younger generation of lawyers because of the stress that arises out of expectations, coupled with the immense hard work that goes into the practice of law. What is not mentioned on the silver screen is that with patience,  a long-term vision of growth with a charted course of action in place, one can achieve one’s goals and have fun too along the way.  

How can law students grow in the niche of M&A and mark their presence?

If you put yourself in the shoes of the client and their legal team, you will realise that what they are looking for is a trusted advisor; someone who obviously knows the law and can also understand their business and expectations. Experienced transactional and commercial lawyers will tell you how it takes years to build this trust and how knowing the client’s business is critical to becoming a  trusted advisor. The only way to become a good M&A lawyer is by understanding the commercial and business needs of every client, the objectives of a transaction, working with your and the client’s team, effective communication and most importantly knowing the law. Good drafting and research capabilities are the other critical skills that have to be developed. Clarity of thought and articulation is the key to successful documentation and negotiations. Clients want a lawyer who recognizes the issues and provides productive legal solutions. M&A lawyers tackle complex regulatory and commercial issues and are required to think “on their feet” and therefore, it is very important to be solution-oriented.  Since it takes years to build these skill sets, students should spend time in good internships and gain as much experience as they can before they join the profession. They can also prepare themselves by reading transactional documents during their internships, writing research papers, and practicing drafting.  

We have witnessed that there is a huge section of students and professionals who believe that studying in a foreign university will give them an edge over other candidates; have you noticed this bias?

I agree that at one time there was some preference given to candidates with degrees from foreign universities, but over the years this approach has changed significantly. The quality of education in India is top-notch; and while foreign education provides fantastic exposure and opens one’s mind to different ideas and perspectives, what matters ultimately is performance and caliber.  The fact that many of my friends and colleagues who are successful lawyers, and many of whom are partners in law firms, have all completed their education entirely in India just like me, proves the point. The edge that younger lawyers should try to develop are qualities that will help them in becoming great lawyers in the long run, as discussed earlier. 

How would you like to address the requirement of career breaks for women lawyers?

I believe that no man or woman should suffer in any way for prioritizing their families. In this day and age, with discussions on diversity and inclusion even in the legal profession, it is quite unfortunate that one still hears of instances of bias and differential treatment. One should not shy away from a career break if it is important to take one at the relevant time. What is important from a career perspective is that one should be able to give a sense of confidence to the organisation, that you are willing to work hard, and you will demonstrate that the break has not reduced your ability or capacity to perform. As I said before, one must make efforts to draw opportunities towards oneself and the only way to ensure that you make the most from an opportunity is to be dedicated, focused, and stay updated. One of the positive outcomes of the current set-up has shown that working from home does not mean that one cannot perform well and perhaps the pandemic situation has presented workplaces with an opportunity to create more options for its employees to be with their families in times of need and yet be able to sustain their jobs.  

How has the pandemic that entailed the lockdown been for you personally and professionally?

We are facing a very unfortunate and unprecedented situation due to the pandemic. The multiple lockdowns and fear of the virus have taken a toll on all our lives, businesses, and livelihoods. The situation has affected us emotionally and professionally with many of us losing some close family, friends, and neighbors to the virus. While we all are dealing with it in some way, in my opinion, the children and elders have suffered the most. It was difficult to restrict kids within the four walls of the house and dealing with online schooling and work at the same time. My husband is a counsel and had to attend virtual hearings, I was working on transactions and my kids were attending school virtually, all at the same time in different parts of the house. It was difficult and hectic at the start but slowly we settled into a routine. The biggest lesson I learned was from my kids, who showed so much resilience and adaptability, that  I was inspired to adapt and continue my work. We are very fortunate that JSA did well despite the challenges with the strong support of our clients. It is true, however, that business, both domestic and global, was affected adversely. Clients had new issues to deal with such as the effect of the pandemic on their businesses and organizations and force majeure provisions were being discussed. While we have all studied these topics academically, we did not imagine the scenarios playing out in our lifetime.  By and large, we all agree that the first two quarters of 2020 were difficult for everyone. We all slowly adapted to this new normal of online communication and work from home. With the tremendous support and understanding from clients, the firm, colleagues, family, and my helpers at home, I have been able to work from home effectively and efficiently.

As a law firm partner, you shoulder many responsibilities. How do you stay detached from negative outcomes or setbacks?

Every one of us has suffered from negativity and setbacks and it is only human to feel these emotions. The role becomes more demanding as you progress and grow. It transforms from doing purely execution work to that of a leader, a mentor, and an entrepreneur. I personally have learned the most valuable lessons from setbacks and perhaps those experiences have helped me in dealing with difficult situations today in a constructive manner. I try to break down the problem or set- back into parts and after understanding what could have been done better or differently, I dust off the remains and move on to constructive thoughts and objectives while dealing with one issue at a time. This trick works for both personal and professional matters and I highly recommend this approach. With experience and practice, one learns to deal with such downfalls and it is also important not to dwell on negativity and setbacks for too long. I try to do something that detaches me from negativity such as spending time with my family, having a good laugh, going for a drive or just cooking my favorite meal. I have had the benefit of mentors who have provided their support and splendid advice, so reaching out for help and guidance is also recommended. Keeping a clear head and avoiding overthinking and speculation also helps in the long run if one has to survive in this profession. 

If you could go back in time and do something differently on the professional front, what would that be?

I would change absolutely nothing. Each and every day of my career has been fantastic and made me a better lawyer and a better person. I cannot be more grateful for these 20 years of great memories and opportunities. I suppose the only thing I should have done additionally, and not differently, would have been to learn German. I have spent a lot of time in Germany for work while representing many German clients and I have always been so fascinated by the language. It is still on my ‘to do’ list and I hope to learn the language before I hit another 20 years in the profession.

What would be your advice to upcoming lawyers, especially women who look up to you?

The advice is clear and straightforward: chalk out a clear path for yourself first and set goals. Work hard towards your goals with integrity, patience, and perseverance. Develop your skill sets, keep reading and be up-to-date with whichever area of law you choose. Try and get as much experience as you can, research, write, build good contacts and people skills. Soft skills are as important as technical skills. Do not be afraid to fail or take a step back. Be determined, adaptable, move forward, and build a good support system. Most importantly, stay grounded and humble.

This interview has been published by Ayush Verma.

Please tell us about your journey towards the legal field. What inspired you to read the law?

I was never fixated on the idea of being a lawyer but I always had an inclination towards politics and governance which ignited my interest in learning the law. After finishing my schooling at DPS RK Puram, I came to know about the integrated law courses offered by premier law universities such as NLSIU, NALSAR, and NUJS. This was the pre-CLAT era where I had taken admission tests for all three NLUs. I ranked well and took admission in NALSAR which prompted me to spend half of a decade in the city of Hyderabad. I had no family associations in the legal field, therefore, joining a law school was completely my decision and my family supported me in venturing into this profession.

What are the reforms that you believe the legal education sector needs in India?

One aspect that I regret from my law school days is that we used to fret over things that do not matter in the long run, such as grades. Moreover, understanding the correct sources of law for a matter is a critical skill for a lawyer which one needs to learn but is not taught in the curriculum of a law school. Furthermore, learning drafting and other practical aspects of the legal profession is an opportunity that lawyers often only get post law school, in a senior’s chamber. These are some reforms in the legal education sector that are needed. 

What were your reasons for choosing a career in litigation? Were there moments during law school that nudged you towards litigation?

I come from a family which is well-to-do and while choosing my career path, money was not a relevant factor. My interest in politics and governance subsisted after my law school journey and I felt that I can contribute towards developing law and policy in the best manner by pursuing a litigation practice and humbly contributing to policy-making alongside. Furthermore, I was born and brought up in Delhi which helped because I was in familiar surroundings.

Would you like to share some insights from the first law office you joined after graduating?

I joined Karanjawala & Co. and was in Advocate Meghna Mishra’s team for over two years. We primarily handled Delhi High Court matters, including matrimonial, commercial, and property disputes, and work related to commercial transactions. It was a very enriching experience which not only enabled me to learn the law but also understanding and catering to the needs of the client which is one of the most important skills for a lawyer. 

You have been actively involved in filing and arguing PILs on various constitutionally significant matters such as the constitutional validity of the marital rape exception and the legal recognition of same-sex marriages. Could you tell our readers about the reasons that prompted you to undertake such social causes?

The social causes such as the PIL for criminalizing marital rape, or the PIL for recognition of homosexual marriages and other matters which I have filed and argued in the Hon’ble Court have been in the position of a lawyer. A lawyer should argue and represent his client while keeping his personal beliefs and biases aside. Accordingly, I am arguing these matters to the best of my abilities and I do agree with the importance of gender justice in society.

You have also been actively involved in political debates and discussions on various news channels. What was the path you took to join politics?  

I was in college when 26/11 happened. That incident had a profound change in my perspective towards the politics of the country and especially on the constitutional concept of secularism. In 2009, I joined RSS when it did not wield the power it wields today and I tried my best to represent its views to the general public through debates and discussions in the national media. Furthermore, I continue to contribute towards the Sangh and the country in any form I am deemed fit to.

What are some skills that are vital for establishing a successful practice as a young lawyer?

For a First-Generation lawyer with no familial contacts in the profession, it is very important to increase your network and hone your networking skills as much as possible. There is no secret formula for networking, except you have to make sure that you connect with a new person each day. This aspect should be given as much importance as learning the law because a lawyer’s job is not only to argue the legal points but to cater to the needs of the client which can have out-of-the-court solutions. The other skill is cultivating the virtue of humility which is almost indispensable for learning and the process of learning is something that expands from the inception to the end of your journey as a lawyer. Lastly, a lawyer has to learn the art of delegating his work and trusting his juniors in helping his legal practice. This comes over time and is imperative for growth.

Considering the determination and hard work required in litigation, did you ever consider quitting the profession? What inspired you to persist?

Quitting is easy. There were times when I did not have any matters for months. However, it was the financial support of my parents and the persistence that kept me going. Persistence is very important in this profession; there can be weeks, months, and even a year when a young lawyer can have no cases to argue. Persistence is what keeps you going during those tough times.

Where do you envisage yourself in a decade?

I would have never thought that I would be doing what I am doing today, way back in 2011. However, I would keep applying the same principles which I have applied in the previous decade and hope that I make a broader impact on societal betterment. This could mean contributing towards the practice of law and the Party equally. However, I shall always remain a student of law and politics as I was in the previous decade.

This interview has been published by Ayush Verma.

What inspired you to choose law after graduation?

I was very good in studies and wanted a professional degree in Accountancy being an alumnus of Sydenham College. But my Dad, a veteran of the Indian air-force, wanted me to pursue law based on  my academics, writing skills along with my personality and nature. His guidance helped me choose this noble profession. 

How was your journey as a law student; did you participate in moot court competitions and other extracurricular activities?

It was a great journey indeed. It significantly changed my attitude and my perception towards problems or issues of any kind. I even started noticing legal violations and their ill-effects on the society in general. I have been a part of group debates; we spent hours, and sometimes days, discussing the changing environment in the society and the role of both lawmakers as well as lawyers. In fact each and every headline of the newspaper in those days was critically discussed, whether it was the notorious marine drive assault case or the serial bomb blast in a domestic train.  

What are your roles and responsibilities in your current position as an Associate Partner?

I am a part of the team that looks after the firm’s arbitration practice which includes domestic as well as international arbitration. I head the team of associates which is responsible for drafting, researching, discussing substantial issues of the matter with the clients, and finalising all kinds of statements of claim/ defence, evidence etc. I believe research is the backbone of any matter and my team handles some very critical work.

You are a qualified Independent Director (certified by IICA of MCA, Govt. of India) and you were also recently appointed on the board of a listed company as the female Independent Director. Kindly tell us something about breaking that glass ceiling.

I don’t believe in any unnecessary debates of supremacy amongst men and women. I feel it is talent, one’s problem-solving attitude and experience which matters the most at the end of the day. Though laws of the land make it compulsory to appoint women directors, it would be wrong to say that they are on board just because of such laws. In my short stint as an Independent Director, I got plenty of time to express myself for the betterment of the company; and  my ideas have not only been appreciated by the other board members but were also implemented frequently.

How did you develop an interest in Maritime law and Arbitration?

Before joining Singhania, I practiced as an arbitration lawyer and attended many arbitration matters for National Stock Exchange and other clients. It was sheer chance and good fortune which pushed me into maritime law. It happened during the  summer of 2013, when the Mumbai High Court was on vacation, and as usual most of our colleagues who were in maritime practice were on vacation as well. Consequently, there were plenty of disputes which needed urgent attention and my firm asked me whether I would be interested in taking up these matters and the rest is history.  

Looking back at your career that spans over a decade, what would you have done differently if you had the chance of starting over today?

That’s a tough question to answer. Practice of law is nothing but researching, drafting, and convincing (by arguments). I think neither my predecessors nor my successors would be able to change these aspects of law practice. Further, it would be a challenge for any newcomer (as it had been for me) to start and successfully establish a growing practice now due to the distractions created by social media and tougher competition, as the legal practice is more crowded than the time when I had started my practice. Yes, electronic media has made lawyers’ jobs easier in terms of research, accessing resources, and reaching clients but the biggest challenge is to avoid consequential distraction created by these same electronic resources and social media.    

Can you share your experience of working with different boards of arbitration? What has been your observation regarding the difference of approach in India as compared to other nations?

I am the co-author of an article “Mr. Arbitrator! When you will change?”. It contains a comparative study of arbitration practice in India and abroad. In International Arbitration, we don’t meet an arbitral tribunal before evidence or even prior to final hearing, and we complete all the proceedings through electronic media which saves a lot of time and resources of the client as well as attorneys. Same practice could also be adopted by the tribunals in India. 

In February 2021, you have appeared in two days evidentiary hearing before the Swiss court (under Swiss rules, with the lead counsel Mr. Pradeep Kumar Jain, Partner) wherein the witnesses from Geneva, Dubai, and Iran were cross-examined (virtually) by the parties; how was that experience?

It was a great experience. In all of my other international arbitrations before the pandemic, all parties used to assemble at one place but it was the first time when people from different time zones were appearing for evidence. Some of them even used translators. Though all individuals were sitting at different locations across the world, the intensity and rigour was not less than that of a physical hearing.    

How has the Pandemic been a period of transition for you personally and professionally?

The ongoing Pandemic has taught me some rather valuable lessons, such as the importance of taking care of one’s own health, the health of the “mother nature” and the value of family. It also taught me that all of our old traditions are not obsolete and we don’t have to disregard them  altogether. 

How have you coped with the lockdown blues, in terms of mental health and other challenges?

First month of the lockdown was exceptionally tough, but it would have been tougher had I not had any work. In fact, I have worked more than usual during the lockdown. 

As far as work from home is concerned, it’s good but it can’t replace your office. In the legal profession, apart from books and libraries, you learn a lot of things from discussions with your peers and seniors.

What would be your advice to law students and upcoming lawyers?

This is a great profession for those who want to read, research, and read some more! Students and young lawyers need to understand that their performance depends upon their knowledge of various laws and they should not be too picky while reading the law and interning with their seniors. In the words of one of my seniors, “A good lawyer invests a few months in his career while great lawyers invest years”. Therefore, it is necessary to work with someone who can give you meaningful practical knowledge and impart the right skill-set.