Super Lawyer

Category: Interviews

  • In conversation with Mahafrin Sidhwa, an Advocate practicing in Media and Entertainment laws as a Senior Member of the Legal Team at Only Much Louder

    In conversation with Mahafrin Sidhwa, an Advocate practicing in Media and Entertainment laws as a Senior Member of the Legal Team at Only Much Louder

    Let’s start from the beginning, are you a first-generation lawyer? What gravitated you towards choosing law?

    I am a second-generation lawyer, my mother is a trademark attorney and many of my family members are advocates and Senior Counsels. 

    What truly gravitated me to do law, was my keen interest in the business law paper during my B.Com days. That’s when I got acquainted with what law truly was and that has been my first step towards an interest in this direction.

    I was almost certain I wanted to pursue post-graduation and a specialization in something. I was least inclined towards M.com as that was mainly pursued by persons wanting to be professors, MBA required a fair number of entrance exams and you have to be inclined towards business and administration or marketing and I had no such inclination. When it came to law, I had a fair number of examples around me of successful lawyers and hence I didn’t mind pursuing this line. Moreover, I am a very rights-based person, “no harm in knowing the laws of the land” is what I thought.

    Do you think Law as a profession gives hard time to young lawyers? How can one overcome the ‘unsatisfied feeling’ of self? 

    I think every career path has its own set of challenges and is ultimately the “survival of the fittest”. I also feel everyone’s path is different, some young lawyers, may face herculean challenges and other might strike success a lot easily. I do feel young lawyers with no Godfathers in the business might struggle to get their break, especially on merit and it may take years to find ones footing in the profession. 

    The key to overcoming any “dissatisfaction” in the legal path is to keep at it. and failure or criticism should not deter one from prodding on. 

    Even if someone throws you under the bus or puts you in a tough spot, know that this too shall pass. Keep going on till you see the light!

    How would you describe your shift from M&A to the M&E sector? How important is it to find your right calling?

    I would consider it most important to find the right calling, as whatever you do, you should be able to sustain in the long run, in fact till your death bed.  No knowledge will ever go to waste. 

    My shift from M&A to M&E was a turning point in my life. I had a very basic foundation of M&A and understand documents like a Share Purchase Agreement or Loan Agreement and have managed to work on those as well post specializing in M&E, but M&E is what I could never get tired of. The knowledge keeps evolving considering how new platforms and technology are developing.

    You have been a part of various distribution and acquisition deals all over the world from Russia to the USA to South Africa. How well did IN10 Media Private Limited push your growth curve? 

    IN10 Media is a company which runs EPIC Television channel famous and one of its kind for info-entertainment. When I joined the company, it was in the process of its own growth since the applications EPIC ON and Docubay (a documentary streaming application) were nascent, and wanted international presence with various application integration in devices,  payment facilities with telecom partners through direct carrier billing middle entities, payment gateway and discount vouchers, along with forming a channel of its own with other content partners like Amazon etc. The Docubay app would acquire content from content partners all over the world on a day in and day basis and it’s important to be careful to acquire as many rights as possible such that when content is distributed there are no fetter or special approvals required. The sure volume and variety of these agreements gave me a steep growth curve, and not to mention other responsibilities towards the production of web series and acquisition of content for its allied channels and legal day to day issues of its news handle, Latestly.

    What is the main role of any lawyer working in Media and Entertainment Law? Can you tell us something about your current role? How would you describe yourself as a senior member of the team at your current place? 

    The Role of a Media and Entertainment lawyer is very demanding and requires one to work at the spur of the moment. My current role is that of a senior member of the legal team at Only Much Louder. Here, I focus on representing various brands like Facebook, Tinder, Bumble, YouTube etc., as well as celebrities, influencers writers, and show-runners like Dolly Singh, Abish Mathew, Rahul Subramaniam, Sumukhi Suresh etc. 

    Here I am also involved in various Writers, Director and Actor Agreements as also Endorsement Agreements or appearances at events and even production agreements for literary works created by the talents of the organization. At times, I also distribute content on platforms or towards entertainment transport facilities towards a pre-recorded stand-up comedy show recorded by the talents of our organization. I do any other technical agreements relating to IT and other ancillary documentation or advice towards trademarking and any other intellectual property-related advice etc., from time to time.
    I am a lawyer, who believes in being fair and I do what’s best for the entity or person I represent and I aim to get the best bargain in any deal with a solution-oriented attitude. I also believe that I give gratitude and utmost respect to my seniors and subordinates.  Sometimes an artist or an influencer or even a business person may not understand legal terms and their repercussions, I take time to explain these legal terms in layman’s language. When it comes to subordinates, I am fairly patient with newcomers and learners and have shaped a fair number of young media and entertainment lawyers without being selfish with my knowledge.

    After moving to OML Entertainment, you represented several renowned social media platforms like Facebook, Tinder, Bumble, YouTube, etc., and on the artist management side, you represented a fair number of stand-up comedians, writers and directors. Do you believe hard work always pays off? Would you like to drop a hint about your next big step?

    For me Work is Worship, it’s about giving your 100% to what you do and enjoying what you do. Once you enjoy what you do work won’t be considered “hard” if you are acquainted with its nuances and are focusing on continuous evolution, work won’t seem that difficult and will become a way of life. Hard work does pay off definitely, Rome was not built in a day, the struggle is a part of life, but I don’t believe in overworking or burning the midnight oil or a “show/pretence of work or abilities”.  I believe in work-life balance and to keep evolving and learning aspects of law and serious observance of disputes and issues in the legal aspects of the media and entertainment industry. 

    My next big step, none that’s planned as of now on the professional front. I believe in taking small steps, “slow and steady wins the race”.

    How interesting is it to advise and contract vetting for Artists mainly comedians and their appearances and performance for shows? Would you like to share any story where you worked for your favorite Artist?

    As already mentioned, the key issue in dealing with an Artist is, that they may not understand legal terminologies and the repercussions of clauses in the agreement that don’t favour them, so you have to be patient in explaining the terms and conditions in simple words such that they can give instructions which can be incorporated in the agreement. Besides the current talent of influencers and comedians,  I have worked on contracts for a fair number of A-listers like Neha Sharma, Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Dia Mirza and the likes. I will be very honest, I am not technically “star-struck” as I have dealt with all sorts of talent – be it upcoming or famous and established personalities. 

    Also, they are all normal people like us and some of them are extremely humble and listen to what is told. I think for me its more about the kind of deal or structuring of a document that excites me the most. Gratefully, there were several of those recently relating to comedy related live sports content with HOTSTAR and in the past various deals for the HRX brand and their association with Curefit and Cult fit.

    Do you believe Bosses and work environment play a crucial role in polishing the skills of a good lawyer? Would you like to give any parting message to young lawyers?

    Yes a good Boss is like a God sent Guru, but a selfish, rude, difficult, insecure frustrated Boss is a living curse, it might kill your morale to pursue your goals. Moreover, toxic work cultures and over working might derail you.  My message to Young Lawyers is to first have a goal, next would be to work on gaining knowledge by themselves and next to have strong observation skills and lastly to continuously evolve and stay updated with developments in the line of law they wish to specialise in. 

    The media entertainment sector has so many areas from publishing of music to sports and event as also digital show and acquisition/ licensing of softwares, artist management, production and law focusing on television and news etc. You have to endure different aspects of the industry you chose and “Keep at it”, success does not come overnight.

    Connect with Mahafrin Sidhwa:

  • In conversation with Anirudh Suresh – Founder and Partner at Aristo Legal and featured in the list of “Top 50 Disputes lawyers in Asia” by Thomson Reuters

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

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am Anirudh Suresh, Founder of Aristo Legal, a full-service pan Indian corporate law firm. My success story as a first-generation lawyer was recently published by Brut as I was recognised among the Top 50 Disputes Lawyers in Asia (Litigation and Arbitration) by Thomson Reuters on the basis of my work, market feedback and client recommendations. My interest in law and legal enforcement goes back to my 10th grade. While I don’t exactly recall the genesis of this interest, I sure till date remember and feel its intensity.

    We get that being a first-generation lawyer, it is difficult to find one’s footing. You started off as a Litigating Lawyer and then you moved up to become a Corporate Lawyer. Can you share what all struggles did you face while being a Litigating Lawyer and then as a Corporate Lawyer? What all skills did you learn as a Litigating Lawyer which are now assisting you in your current role?

    As a Litigating Lawyer for the first 5 years, I was working 8 AM to 8 PM, 365 days a year but I never complained about it as I was involved in my work deeply and enjoyed the learning experience step by step. It’s a matter of interest, at the end of the day. I used to appear before all courts in Bangalore for all sorts of matters and this helped me in developing a diverse and strong foundation, eventually allowing me to head the Delhi office of Bathiya Legal successfully as we had a range of matters under the Companies Act, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and Competition Act. I never felt any of these experiences to be a struggle as I enjoyed the work and liked what I was doing. In fact, it never felt like work either. So, the knowledge and court craft I had developed as a litigation lawyer enabled me to successfully implement it for the corporate litigations matters that I took. This journey has given me the confidence to handle any matter before any court.

    You’ve accomplished so much in your career in such a short time; what skills do you think a law student should develop in order to pursue a career in Corporate Law?

    Firstly, I feel like I still have a lot to achieve. I would recommend that law students read the entire commentary on a subject rather than reading only the textbook. This will mean that they would have read thousands of pages, and this reading habit will help improve their drafting skills and legal communication skills. And the hard work put by them in reading so many commentaries will bear fruits when they start practising. Further, they should meet lawyers in different practice areas and understand the practical aspects of those areas. For this, I would recommend students complete at least six months of internship under a corporate law firm or a corporate lawyer. 

    You have graduated with B.A.LL.B. from B.M.S. Law College, and then went on to pursue your PG Diploma and Masters from National Law School of India University and O.P. Jindal Global University. How important do you think it is for a law student to pursue Masters? Does it help one in his career trajectory?

    I often see law students rushing to get a master’s degree immediately after graduating from law. I would recommend that the students should start their practice in a particular area of law and get accustomed to a particular practice area as a working professional and then pursue Masters in that relevant practice area. This would make the master’s degree have value as your work experience and your interest would align with it. 

    You have also led the Delhi Office of Bathiya Legal for about 3.5 years. What exactly were your responsibilities while you were there? How would you describe your experience of working at such a reputed law firm? 

    My responsibility as the head of the Delhi Office was to handle all the corporate litigation matters in Delhi, Jaipur and Chandigarh and work closely on M&A and Private Equity transactions when the buy-side or the sell-side was based in Delhi. I regularly appeared before various forums such as Supreme Court, High Court, NCLAT, NCLT, DRT, Consumer forums, etc. And this journey helped me develop myself as an advocate and realise my potential. I will forever be grateful for the platform that Bathiya Legal gave me. The amount of confidence, trust, and faith that the Partners put in me, and I hope I have reciprocated the same by ensuring positive results with the best of my efforts. I was very much impressed with the values, ethical standards and calmness to approach of the Partners which I too hope to implement. I can go on writing volumes about the positive influence this firm has had on me.

    Your work as a corporate lawyer has earned you a well-deserved appreciation in the legal industry. What have been your key learnings to date? And what does it feel like to be recognized among the Top 50 Disputes Lawyers in Asia (Litigation and Arbitration) by Thomson Reuters?

    I would like to reiterate that I still have a long way to go as known is a drop and unknown is an ocean. My key learnings to date would be that Client satisfaction is key and this can be achieved with extensive research and ensuring timely deliverables. And I feel that my work in the past which involved getting successful reliefs for clients in high profile precedent-setting matters has been acknowledged by this recognition bestowed upon me by Thomson Reuters, Asian Legal Business. 

    It is now close to a decade that you’ve been in the legal profession. What do you think is the difference between the law profession right now and the profession a decade back? And, what all changes would you like to see in our Indian Law Profession?

    The legal profession has completely changed in the past decade. Both substantively and procedurally, one could probably call it one of the most dynamic and important decades. Many new age laws such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, Companies Act being overhauled, Data protection Law etc. have come up and they are constantly subject to change based on different interpretations given by the courts every other day or based on amendments passed by the government to keep pace with the rapidly growing economy. In terms of practice, the profession and the professionals have been highly digitalised, and it becomes vital for lawyers to be tech-savvy.  

    I would like to see more courts make way for hybrid hearings such as NCLT and NCLAT. The normalization of hybrid hearings would be a much welcome development towards implementation of the online dispute resolution. I would also like to see long term internships that range at least 6 months being made mandatory for law students during their final as it helps them to get a true picture of a particular practice area.

    What would be your parting advice to the budding lawyers? How would you like to inspire those who are unsure about their future in the profession?

    Read, read, read. One should find what motivates them to keep them going. A healthy relationship with colleagues, respect towards seniors and ensuring timely deliverables to clients should be a habit rather than a mode of precaution. Never look back and compare yourself with peers, just keep yourself occupied all the time and the work you do will automatically lead you to the path suitable to you. 

    Get in touch with Anirudh Suresh:

  • Ms. Aarushi Bhatnagar, Managing Attorney at PUNHANI LLC on LLM from NLU Jodhpur and NYU, cracking the NY state bar exam and practising immigration law in the United States

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

    If we start from the beginning, were you always academically diligent? Did you always want to pursue law? What other career would you have chosen if not law?

    I have always considered myself a sincere but average student. I was not excessively academically inclined during my school years. Instead, my interests were directed toward art-related extra-curricular activities. Accordingly, my slam-book career goal was to be a fashion designer. At the same time, I had a strong family background in law, with multiple family members being in judiciary and litigation. Being amidst frequent family discussions involving topical legal issues, I gained valuable insight into the legal world and its opportunities. Ultimately, my interest in engaging with current affairs and doing my part to help the people around me pushed me to pursue law as a career.

    You have completed your master’s from NLU Jodhpur. Would you like to share a few tips with the students who are preparing for CLAT? How different is the preparation of CLAT PG from that of UG?

    The best advice that I can give to students preparing for the CLAT is to do as many practice tests as possible. In my experience, that is the key to cracking any competitive exam. Of course, studying and knowing the basic material that will be tested in the exam is also essential.

    I found the CLAT PG preparation to be easier than the UG preparation. The subjects tested in the CLAT PG exam are part of the law school curriculum. If one has studied and built a strong foundation in the relevant law subjects during their undergraduate years, the CLAT PG exam preparation becomes a revision exercise. On the other hand, students preparing for the CLAT UG exam are right out of high school with no formal exposure to legal academia. In such a situation, enrolling in a good entrance prep course is worth considering.

    Despite having an LL.M. Degree from NLU Jodhpur, you decided to pursue another LL.M. degree from NYU and had the flexibility of designing your course structure (subjects) there. What major considerations should one take into account while designing their course? What extra efforts have you made being a foreigner?

    Many LL.M. programs provide the students with an opportunity to design their coursework. However, one must consider several factors while making this decision. First, the coursework should align with the candidate’s short-term and long-term career aspirations. A career in law is often path-dependent, and the first job often charts the path for future professional endeavours. Second, it is essential to choose an area that complements the candidate’s prior experience. Choosing a field that builds upon the existing credentials ensures that one can make the most out of a short and rigorous LL.M. program. On the other hand, LL.M. also provides a unique opportunity to diversify into new areas. It is essential to consider one’s areas of interest and the corresponding job opportunities while striking that balance.

    As a foreigner, one should put extra effort when making space in a completely alien environment. I actively participated in networking events (both within and outside the university) and pro-bono activities, which gave me the familiarity and visibility required to succeed in the US job market. At the same time, being flexible and open-minded facilitated my venture into immigration law, a field that I have since fallen in love with.

    Can you share in brief about your current role and responsibilities as a Managing Attorney at a boutique law firm in the NJ/NY area? How do you manage to maintain a work-life balance?

    As the Managing Attorney of a boutique law firm, I have a diverse and dynamic set of responsibilities. I am responsible for onboarding clients, managing the cases from inception to completion, and handling the firm’s day-to-day operations. I advise multinational corporations, business units, and individuals on employment-based and family-based immigrant and non-immigrant visa petitions and applications. My role also entails hiring and training junior staff, including attorneys, law clerks, and paralegals.

    Compartmentalizing my work and non-work activities helps me maintain a good work-life balance. While at work, I dedicate myself to planning and executing my tasks efficiently. Breaking complex cases and procedures into simple daily tasks helps me leave the office with a sense of completion and accomplishment. It also ensures that work anxiety and stress do not spill over to my personal life. During weekends, I like to travel and engage in cooking, arts, and crafts. Having an active lifestyle rejuvenates me and prepares me for the upcoming work week. However, there are certain times when maintaining a work-life balance is challenging. In those times, having a good support system at home helped me keep my spirits up.

    You used to work as an Assistant Professor at Banasthali University, Rajasthan and now you are working in a law firm. What all struggles did you face adjusting in Banasthali and then in a Law Firm? What all things and skills did you learn as an Assistant Professor which are now assisting you in your current role as a Managing Attorney in your Law Firm?

    Teaching at a university and working in a law firm is different in certain aspects. As a teacher, I followed a well-structured curriculum and spent all my efforts ensuring that my students remained interested in the topic and benefited from the course. On the other hand, managing a law firm requires me to handle unanticipated challenges daily. However, I have enjoyed both these roles and did not face any issues in transitioning from the former to the latter. Instead, I found that the teaching skills I developed in Banasthali come in handy when I train new hires at the law firm.

    Would you like to share a bit about the field of immigration law? What is the future scope and struggles involved in the same?

    Immigration is a very dynamic field of law. It involves securing and defending the rights of immigrants from various countries and backgrounds. The legal landscape is constantly evolving, and the changes substantially impact many companies and individuals. The ongoing pandemic has amplified immigration-related issues by forcing many firms to downsize and leaving many immigrants jobless and without a livelihood. Given the ever-increasing importance of the field, it is (arguably) one of the most attractive and rewarding career paths for law students.

    You also cleared the NY state bar exam. How strenuous was the preparation? What are the eligibility criteria for the exam?

    Preparing for the NY State Bar Exam is like a full-time job. It was one of the most challenging tasks I have undertaken. Enrolling in a good bar prep course is extremely helpful.

    There are various qualifying methods to sit for the NY state bar exam. The most common criteria include graduating with a first law degree (J.D.) from an American Bar Association-approved law school. However, in the case of international students/foreign-educated lawyers, the eligibility criteria are pretty cumbersome. All foreign-educated lawyers must submit an online credential evaluation request along with the required documentation to the Board of Law Examiners. One should submit these documents even before the start of the LL.M. program because the evaluation process is time-consuming. LL.M. students must also fulfil the specified credits requirements via classroom courses in substantive and procedural law and professional skills. The official website of the New York State Board of Law Examiners provides the detailed eligibility criteria and application process.

    What will be your parting words for our readers? 

    Focus on having both career goals and life goals. Be ambitious and entrepreneurial but remember that professional success depends heavily on working smart (in addition to working hard). Reach out to people and take their guidance, rather than spending time reinventing the wheel. Be patient and diligent, and success will eventually come. Lastly, prioritize creating a wholesome life experience as it is the journey that counts.

    Get in touch with Aarushi Bhatnagar –

  • In conversation with Manasi Chaudhari, founder and CEO of Pink Legal

    In conversation with Manasi Chaudhari, founder and CEO of Pink Legal

    This interview has been published by Sonali Parashar. The Interview was taken by The SuperLawyer Team.

    Let us start from the beginning, what prompted you to pursue law? Is it true that you are a first-generation lawyer, or did someone from your family inspire you?

    I knew I wanted to be a lawyer since Class 8…don’t ask me why! It was just a gut feeling! Actually, I think it is in my genes. My grandfather was a judge in the Bombay High Court. I remember going to court with him once, when I was five, just to visit. But apart from that, I grew up in Hyderabad. Both my parents are from different professional fields, and I didn’t have any direct contact with the law. So, in a sense, you could say that I am a first-generation lawyer although I come from a family of law. 

    From practising commercial and real estate litigation for three years in the Hyderabad High Court to interning at the Supreme Court of India with Hon’ble Justice Chandrachud. Is there any particular incident that pushed you in the direction that you are in today?

    I had always admired Justice Chandrachud but I never imagined that I would get an opportunity to work under him. It had felt like a distant dream until it really happened. I was feeling saturated with the litigation practice and didn’t see myself deriving joy from my work. Therefore, I decided to try a new path and do something I have never tried earlier. I was passionate about women empowerment and gender equality even in law school. I knew that Justice Chandrachud was on the bench for the Section 377 and Sabarimala temple cases and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore my passion, under his tutelage. That’s how I took off for Delhi and found myself in the holy grail of law. 

    Manasi Chaudhari

    You are committed to improving women’s access to legal services and that is reflected in your initiative, Pink Legal. Can you tell us how things turned out when you decided to begin your own initiative? 

    I launched my initiative Pink Legal (an award-winning and India’s only platform to empower women legally) in March 2020. Nyay’ri is an extension of Pink Legal. When I started Pink Legal, I had no idea that it would grow the way it has. I just wanted to create a platform where women can understand their legal rights in an easy manner, and I hoped that at least some women would know that this platform exists! But I guess destiny had other plans and Pink Legal catapulted from a basic platform to an entire organisation for creating legal awareness and providing access to legal services for women. I was suddenly being called a ‘legal entrepreneur’ and had to learn the basics of running an organisation, while on the job, with no pre-requisite MBA! This journey has helped me grow, build a team of fabulous young people (called the Student Squad), and take one step closer to my dream of seeing a gender-equal world. 

    From litigation to establishing your law firm to launching Pink Legal and collaborating with Project Naveli, this has been your journey thus far  Was the goal of forming a team to empower women always in mind, or did it come as a surprise?

    The goal has always been to create a gender-equal world. The path to this dream, through Pink Legal and Nyay’ri, is something that I discovered along the way! I certainly believe that if we all join hands we can accelerate our goals much faster, through collaborations with like-minded people and organisations. Pink Legal already has a growing team of thirty spread all across the country. I would love to expand this further, even across the globe, and make it a movement!

    Would you like to tell us more about your law firm’s practice and what your firm’s main focus is now? 

    I started my law firm (Manasi Chaudhari & Associates) in 2020, the same year as Pink Legal. My firm focuses on business and transactional law work cutting across various sectors such as media and entertainment, intellectual property, information technology, and anything to do with transactions. We have had the good fortune of attracting clients like top movie-production houses in South India, leading national FMCG companies, upcoming start-ups, and business groups. I enjoy my professional practice of advising my clients, negotiating deals, and ensuring that their rights are secured. 

    Is it difficult to balance the demands of running your own law firm and the duties and responsibilities of the CEO of Pink Legal?

    It sure is challenging, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! One is my profession and the other is my passion, but both are equally demanding! There are days when I ace the balance and have a lot of free time on my hands. There are other days when work stretches into the night and my mind refuses to shut off. Sometimes, I feel like I am getting pulled in too many directions. However, I learned a very important lesson on time management from Justice Chandrachud. Despite being one of the most important people in the country, he would always make time for everything, including checking up on us if we weren’t feeling well. So anytime I start losing track, I always think “If Justice Chandrachud can make the time, then I most certainly can!” 

    You are going down in history! From being named as the ‘Legal Entrepreneur of the Year 2020’ by Business World to receiving the ‘Digital Women 2020 Award’ by SheThePeople and Google. Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years, given your affiliation with global players like Puma, Instagram, and Tinder? Are you planning on something big or staying low at the moment? 

    Thank you for your generous words! I am not much of a planner. I believe in the saying that ‘life happens to you when you are busy planning.’ Therefore, if you ask me even about the upcoming 1 year, I will not be able to tell you anything! I have goals and ambitions, but I don’t plan for them. I can probably visualise where I want to be, but how I’m going to get there is a puzzle that even I am looking forward to solving! Sometimes, we get carried away with our dreams and professional goals and mistake them for life. Life is much more than that, and I want to truly live each and every day of it!

    Do you have any advice for our readers who dream of bringing a change?

    Yes, I have a lot of preaching to do! (Just kidding) I would give two pieces of advice: First, identify your passion and work towards it. It doesn’t have to be big. Every step counts and every drop makes the ocean. Most people ‘feel’ they are passionate, but when it comes to actually doing something, they don’t want to put in any effort. They’d rather just reshare an Instagram post. It’s up to you to decide if you want to be a real warrior or a mere keyboard warrior!

    Second, never underestimate financial independence. It is easy to get swayed by clickbait articles claiming ‘XYZ left his corporate job to pursue his passion.’ Great for XYZ, but how will you focus on your passion if you have to worry about paying your bills or you don’t have the independence to decide how to spend your money? Follow your passion by all means but secure yourself first!

    Get in touch with Manasi Chaudhari:

  • In this interview, Bhavya Bhatt, a Business Development Consultant, freelance writer, blogger at “Legally Herself”, answers questions by describing her own path to online freelance writing and mental health advocacy.

    In this interview, Bhavya Bhatt, a Business Development Consultant, freelance writer, blogger at “Legally Herself”, answers questions by describing her own path to online freelance writing and mental health advocacy.

    This interview has been published by Sonali Parashar. The Interview was taken by The SuperLawyer Team.

    What is your current role? How exciting is it for you? How do you describe your legal career?  

    My current role is that of a freelancer, where I am freelancing with lawyers, law firms, and other non-law companies/start-ups. My work at this point revolves around content creation, brand building, strategy, and business development. I, in all honesty, did not anticipate indulging in all of this when I passed out of law school. 

    This role is daunting with it being exciting at the same time. The reason I say this is because freelancing comes with its pros and cons, that one does not know unless they experience it first-hand. It gets challenging and I’d have to say I am still a work-in-progress because I learn through my mistakes whether it’s with client on-boarding, drafting my agreements, strategizing Workplan, or reviewing my work. The exciting part of all of this is that I get paid for my efforts without being subjected to constant stress and anxiety. I work when I feel like it, I get to do my solo trips while I work. I love the flexibility that my role provides me with. 

    Coming to my legal career, I wanted to be a Cyber Lawyer, but the Pandemic opened new doors for me and there’s no looking back now. However, I would still like to believe that I am in the game as much as my counterparts are. The work that I do is very different from what is expected out of a law graduate, but that’s why I like it. I work alongside lawyers and law firms, network with a lot of legal professionals, hence I am still in touch with the legal side. Since my work also involves legal content writing, I update myself quite often with the amendments, laws, case laws, or just legal news in general. With the dynamic role that I have gotten myself into, a legal career is a part of who I am, and there’s more to it.

    Why did you choose law as your career? How has law benefitted you in shaping your path? If not the legal profession, what would be your go-to career plan?

    I was 14 years old when I decided I would do anything and everything to not study Math in the future (I was that petrified of it). What gave the 14-year-old a purpose was an incident when I stumbled upon a book on Torts and other law-related subjects at my friend’s house. It was her sister’s.  I gave it a read, and oh boy! My mind was blown by the language I read because I hardly understood anything. 

    It was only after reading a few pages of these law books that I started concentrating on Social Sciences in school. I wanted to be in a position to understand those books I had just read.  What confirmed my decision was when I got to know I could be very far away from Math if I became a Lawyer! I guess that was all the inspiration I needed to choose law as my career. 

    Today, I am very distant from the traditional legal practice that law graduates usually indulge in and it’s the chances that I took on myself that have helped me pave my path. However, all the credits for whom I have become today, go to choosing law as a career. Joining a law school has given me that confidence, I know I wouldn’t have gotten if I were somewhere else. Five years in law school is such a long time, that you do end up contemplating who you are, and where you want to go. Studying law has made me more intellectual, practical, and rational, and it’s these qualities that have helped build me as a person.

    Coming to the last part of this question, there’s no specific answer I can give to this. My career plan right from when I knew the meaning of ‘Career’ was to study Law and become a Lawyer. Now that I am it, I am also into Business Development (Outreach), Content strategizing, Writing and I did give recruitment a try as well. So, if not the legal profession, I’d be a writer, or a Business Development Professional (which I anyway am, so…), or maybe an Artist.  

    Bhavya Bhatt

    How hard is it to branch out from your chosen profession? Do you think being labelled under one profession is burdening?

    It is hard to branch out from the profession that I had initially chosen. You become a subject of mockery, discussion because who goes to a law school for five years only to quit two good jobs and pursue professions that are nowhere close to law? It also becomes a challenge because your whole world is new out there, with new people, different work cultures, and most importantly, no one to guide you. But in all honesty, I like it. 

    I get to work with people from multiple professions, different locations. My work doesn’t get monotonous because my clients are just not from Law, but also the Medical, IT, Architecture, Real estate, Economics, Life Sciences, Fashion, Food industries. Every project of mine is so different, that I don’t feel bad about not pursuing a legal job out therLabellingeling under one profession becomes burdening if you deem your job as a burden. Like, I know a lot of my friends out there, who are pretty happy with their litigation practice, corporate law jobs. As for me, I know I would have treated my legal job as a burden because that’s not only where I see myself. I like the dynamicity of my profile, so yeah! The burden is when and if you think it is. 

    You were also a “technical content writer”. Was that challenging for you being a law student?

    I did have a few clients for whom I indulged in technical content writing. Their requirements were very different from what I was initially doing because I started with only legal content writing. As a Law student, the maximum technicality I could get into was to analyze case laws, the rationale of the judgments! That transition was a learning period I’d say. I soon started with creating how-to manuals, project plans then took to a few tech-related projects where I had to very deeply study IT-related concepts. Technical content writing was not challenging. What was challenging for me was studying technical concepts and easing it out through my writing for my clients and also studying law since it was my main hustle back then. 

    How important is mental health for an individual? How did you venture into Mental Health Advocacy? Would you like to highlight a few dos and don’ts to be followed in professional life?

    Mental Health is very important for everyone. It’s a no-brainer! One can still manage to work with an injury in the hand or walk despite being sick, but when you’re mentally unwell, even waking up can seem the biggest challenge. I did not venture a lot into mental health advocacy until I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression. The way people were around me, the way I was made to feel about my anxiety and panic attacks was how I understood the importance of mental health and the need for awareness around this. That’s how I started the Mental Health Society in my law school, and actively started taking care of my mental health, alongside helping others in understanding its importance. 

    We are all human beings after all. We have wear and tear too, but how often do we look within ourselves and realize we need to take a break or stop for a bit? I realized this in my law school itself and knew that I had to keep my grounds clear on my priorities. The legal profession is very demanding in terms of our time and efforts, so we need to know how much our plates can accommodate. 

    One could easily work for over 16 hours a day and still not have a breakdown, while others wouldn’t go beyond 8 hours. The dos and Don’ts that I list here are personal, because we all have different thresholds to stress and anxiety, and have different priorities. What one can do is,

    • Organize and schedule work every day on a whiteboard, to avoid last-minute anxieties. 
    • Be vocal about one’s work ethic because your time and efforts are equally important like that of others’. 
    • Have a break every once and then. This is a monumental move for anyone to maintain sanity. I understand all do not have the luxury of taking a break, but it was never about luxury. It is a basic necessity, like water, oxygen, money, shelter, and clothes!
    • Pick up a hobby. It helps in breaking the monotony of a taxing job, and that’s why I still pick up my Ukulele once in a while or paint or travel or explore cafes. 

    What one shouldn’t do is, 

    • Take up tasks in bulk and later procrastinate about their completion. 
    • Shy away from opening on what could work better, or pitching a strategy that could be different from what was asked. Works well on mental health because you’re relieved you’ve spoken your mind. 
    • Working even when down with a sickness or a headache. Sick leaves exist for a reason, use them.
    • Agree with a senior when you’re certain they’re wrong. Mental Health can go downhill because you suppress those emotions. But there’s nothing to be afraid of, in a real sense. There’s a way and a time to talk. Do it! 

    I resorted to all this even when I was working full time in my two jobs, and now as a freelancer. A few of you might think I am very low on experiences and life for having listed these do’s and don’ts. But you don’t need to reach a certain age or have a certain number of experiences to start taking care of your mental health. It is now or never!

    Can you walk us through your blog, “Legally Herself”? What is the main idea behind it?

    I started “Legally Herself” because a lot of publishing houses, blogs (legal and non-legal) felt my writing was not meant for them or their audience. One blog said how my writing came out a bit too strong for their audience to handle.

    I wanted to publish my poems, my thoughts, also a research article of mine. I needed a platform, something I could call my own. I was tired of waiting for someone to realize my worth, so it was just out of the blue, I bought this domain name and created my website. 

    The main idea behind “Legally herself” is for no one else to tell me how I should be or what I should write. Why give someone so much power? I was well within the legal ambit to publish my works, hence the name. I try to stay regular with posting my poems, thoughts, travel stories so there’s some fun content out there. “Legally Herself” is a virtual replica of who I am, outside of the professional world! 

    How would you describe your career up till now? Where can we expect you in the upcoming years?

    My career up till now is a ferry wheel, which hasn’t even taken a full round yet! Call me confused or non-serious for having my hands in multiple professions, but this is where I am, constantly learning, failing, and trying to get up. I don’t know where you can expect to see me in the upcoming years, because I am unaware of it too! But I can assure you, it’s going to be big!

    How does proficiency in language help in writing? Would you like to give takeaways on ‘freelance writing’ to our readers?

    Practice is the key to proficiency in anything, not just writing. The more you practice, more the proficient you become. You revisit your older works and it becomes easier to spot errors and mistakes. It is after this you become aware of how to write better, and not commit the same mistakes again. It’s only about time you use your past experiences (good and bad) to write that amazing piece of content! 

    To the readers who think they want to try freelance writing, but are unable to because they don’t have the time, or do not know how to go about it, please do not think much. There are platforms like Fiverr and Upwork where you can start writing at the comfort of your home, and get paid for it. Then there’s LinkedIn, where you start by building your brand and once people have the faith in you and your work, they can get in touch with you for their projects. You can also apply for those content writing jobs on Angel.Co, Instahyre, LinkedIn if you feel strongly about your writing skills. Things do work out eventually! 

    If you’re someone who has no writing experience but wants to kickstart freelance content writing, then write every day, stay consistent and notice the clientele coming to you in a bit. Good things take time! 

    Get in touch with Bhavya Bhatt:

  • In conversation with Srishti Chaturvedi – the choice between JAG and academics, and the road so far


    This interview has been published by Sonali Parashar. The Interview was taken by The SuperLawyer Team.

    What prompted you to choose Law? Did you always want to take Law as a career? 

    Law was not my first career choice. While in school, I maintained a persistent good grade and was expected to prepare for engineering entrance examinations while pursuing my 10+2. I had never really been only into academics from the early start and was therefore also pursuing vocal music, kathak and karate competitively during the time. A major reason why I started looking for options other than engineering has been NCC though. I had been in the Army wing of NCC in my VIII and IX std. when I participated in the Republic Day Parade in Delhi; after which, I participated in the Senior Wing of Air Wing in my XI and XII std. and received a ‘C’ certificate and was also chosen as the Main Flier for the MP&CG contingent in Vayu Sena Camp. All of this led me to consider Flying as an alternate career option. My parents were not particularly keen on this and as a result, this was deferred till my graduation. I had started exploring other options though. Some of my friends who were preparing for CLAT suggested that my aptitude is better suited for law and so I prepared for the CLAT entrance intensively for a month and got through NLIU, Bhopal.

    While pursuing LLM, you appeared for the JAG exam for the Navy and cleared all the stages. What special effort does the JAG exam require? How did you manage to make out time for both? Would you like to suggest a few tips for its preparation?

    The entrance examination for JAG was during the first month of the LL.M. course and GNLU was accommodating enough to give me academic leave for the 11 days that I stayed at the SSB centre. Since it was the start of the course, I did not have to juggle two things simultaneously. 

    I was recommended for JAG and cleared the medical tests in my first attempt. I liked the experience of the 5 day SSB exam process because, in my opinion, it is one of the few entrance tests that does not promote rote learning and tests the aptitude of the candidates. Some people prepare for it through coaching centres etc. but I don’t think it is necessary. It is adequate to have a thorough knowledge of the various tests and activities that are conducted in the 5 days. The preparation for written tests can be done through any basic book of preparation for SSB (I read Arihant) and the aspirant must have a minimum level of physical fitness to go through the physical tasks of the examination. Having a basic knowledge of the composition and working of the Defence forces is usually very helpful, and having certificates in NCC and sports competitions is an added advantage. Over-preparedness does not help as the tests are structured in a manner to test the aptitude of the aspirants. 

    Do you think TA-ship is important in the LLM programme? How was your TA-ship experience? What was that one learning experience in your TA-ship that you’d credit to have shaped your career and your current role? 

    Yes, I think TA-ship is extremely important in the LL.M. programme, especially for students who want to take up academics as a career. I did my TA-ship under Dr Jagadeesh Chandra, for Law of Evidence classes in GNLU and had a wonderful experience learning about various teaching pedagogies in theory and then seeing him use them in his lectures later. It was his style of interacting with students in an open, relaxed atmosphere and actively engaging in discussions with them, that made me understand the importance of having a mentor and not just a subject-teacher in the life of a student. I have tried adapting a similar role when I am assigned a class to teach or a group of students to interact with, in any other official capacity. 

    PhD is all about extensively researching in the chosen field and gaining an insight into the subject. What new things and skills did you develop while pursuing your PhD? How strenuous was clearing the PhD entrance exam of NLIU? 

    I slightly differ on the view that a PhD is all about researching and gaining insight into a particular topic. Of course, extensive research has to be done even before a topic can be finalized and by the time a thesis is submitted, you have considerable insight into the topic of your research. But there are a lot of other skills learnt. During the course work, we learn a lot about quantitative methods of research which is not covered adequately even during masters. We learn about various statistical, citation and referencing and content-correcter tools. Since every draft is revised and corrected several times before it is finalized, it results in not just better research skills but also far better legal writing and articulation skills than we started with. Most importantly, you learn to be patient with yourself and the people around you since everything cannot be controlled directly, and you learn to work with long-term goals. For a lot of us who had already started teaching for some time before starting our PhD, the coursework period especially presents an excellent opportunity to refresh what is it like being a student and knowing their expectations, learning obstacles and preferences, from a first person’s perspective.

    The exam is honestly not very difficult if you are in touch with the basics of law. When I gave the entrance exam for NLIU in 2018, there were 3 subjective papers for Research Methodology, Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence. Since I was also preparing for UGC-NET at the time, it was not very difficult to prepare for. This was followed by a small interview session where the panel asks questions to know the proposed area of research and how the applicant plans to go about it.  

    Srishti Chaturvedi

    You have observed students very closely and from different perspectives by the virtue of being in different roles. How would you describe the modern era student’s mindset? What improvements do they need in their day-to-day activities to help them succeed?

    I think students today are extremely smart and informed, they know a lot more than we did in our graduation days. However, I also think the competition of getting successful, more and faster, than their peers is making a huge dent in their emotional well being. To study law and build a career in the middle of a pandemic, only adds substantially to this pressure. I have worked with Jagran Lakecity University, NLIU Bhopal, DNLU Jabalpur and now at RNTU in 4 years and I have found one thing which is common in all the students irrespective of all the other differences, that they are under a lot of pressure and most of them are not coping well with it. I cannot emphasize enough how important mental and emotional well being is, to succeed not just in life generally, but also in one’s profession specifically; everyone should make this an utmost priority if they want any kind of success in life.

    I don’t think that the students require a lot of tips about succeeding academically, except that they should be open to all kinds of experiences that the course offers. They should take up extra courses, write research papers, moot, participate in MUNs, present papers, become part of various committees and clubs, and intern in different places till their third year at least. This will help them discover what they like and what they want to do after graduation. The efforts of the next 2-2.5 years can be streamlined accordingly.

    You also started working as one of the founding members of CAN Foundation’s blog ‘Vedanam’ and later, as an Executive committee member of the Foundation itself. Can you tell us a bit about your role at CAN? What all responsibilities did you have? 

    My role as an Executive Committee member is primarily to focus on the execution of the 2 flagship scholarship programs of CAN- ‘Eklavya’ and ‘Dhananjay’. I work with the student committee of CAN from the inception of the project. We set the minimum eligibility criteria to apply, invite applications from meritorious students, go through hundreds of applications and sort them meticulously while also verifying their documentation. Thereafter, we have multiple rounds of meetings with the scrutiny committee and selection committee to finalize the names of the scholarship awardees. The whole process takes a lot of time and organization and cannot be done without the hard work and consistent efforts of the student committee members of the Foundation and the able guidance of Mr Siddharth R. Gupta,(CEO, CAN Foundation). Going through various applications of students who are extremely meritorious even while facing all kinds of financial hardships, since the last 2 years, has further encouraged me to realize my privilege and set long-term goals through which I can contribute back to the community in any form.

    Can you tell us a bit about your current work and role? What do you plan to achieve next in your career trajectory?

    I am currently in the final stages of completing my PhD thesis, and will probably be submitting it this year. However, I kept thinking I wanted an opportunity to do something different and most importantly, I wanted to be back in a classroom. So, I have recently joined as an Assistant Professor of Law in RNTU, Bhopal. My job profile includes teaching UG and PG classes, working on administrative rebuilding and cohesion and working with the local community as the Legal Aid Cell in charge through various projects of the University. 

    My sole aim for my career this year is the successful submission of my PhD thesis. I have been wanting to be an ‘Author’ of a book for some time, but the plan keeps being postponed due to some reasons. So after my PhD, I plan to write a book sometime soon. Working at DNLU made me realize I like taking up administrative responsibilities as much as I like teaching since I was also the Warden, the Faculty in-charge of the Legal Aid Cell and some other committees as well; so I would like to take up roles where I can work more in administrative capacity along with working on my classroom teaching skills.

    What would be your parting message to our young readers?

    My message to the readers, especially students, is to not be too hard on yourself. Read as much as you can, and not just about law, watch good movies, participate in competitions, create a lot of good memories with your friends and take utmost advantage of the facilities and opportunities offered by the University. The time, resources and opportunities that are offered during the 5 years of law school will not come again and they should be experienced accordingly. Everyone succeeds at their own pace, and as redundant as it sounds, every person should only compete with themselves. Someone might get a PPO in 4th year while you may still be giving interviews post-graduation, but that is okay. Someone might select the field they want to work in the first go, while you may have switched 2 fields already and are still not sure about what you want to do, and that is okay. Keep learning, keep exploring, keep working and take adequate breaks to breathe between all of this. Things will start falling in place one after the other.

    Get in touch with Srishti Chaturvedi:

  • Kalpit Khandelwal, Principal Associate at Vaish Associates on venturing into law from a business background, the value of mentorship, and focusing on the present 

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

    Coming from a business background, how did you gravitate towards the law? What other career would you have chosen, if not law? 

    From my early days, I was intrigued by the corporate world and wanted to be a professional instead of continuing my family business. As part of career counselling, law was identified as one of the professions’ I had the skill set for, maybe, due to my problem solving and persuasion skills. My parents always encouraged me and gave me full freedom to pursue any career of my interest. They supported me in all ways when I decided to pursue law as my career. Since my childhood, I was inclined towards computer games and also had an imaginative mind. So, if not law, I would have enrolled myself in a game designing course.

    It is said that getting a mentor is the first step towards attaining success. How true do you think the saying is? Do you think a mentor plays a crucial role in the growth of a person? What type of mentor would you suggest for a law student?

    I completely concur with the above saying, indeed I was lucky enough to get mentors in my life who had seen more talent and ability in me than I myself would have seen and helped in bringing out the same. They gave me an opportunity to work and assist them on big-ticket and complex transactions at a very early stage. I was made part of each and every phase of the transaction from the very beginning of my career so that I could learn in its entirety. I truly believe a saying that mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen and a push in the right direction. In my view, every law student should have a mentor who is approachable, non-rigid, a good listener, non-judgemental, eager to invest in others, able to give honest and direct feedback. I am also fortunate enough to become a mentor for other law students now by becoming a mentor at Mentorology.     

    Litigation is notoriously time consuming and unpredictable. What changes according to you should the litigation sector imbibe to truly turn into the fundamental learning place for an advocate? Is struggling in the litigation sector worthy of effort? 

    In my view, one of the perennial reasons for excessive delay in delivering judgements is the ease of adjournments. Although Supreme Court had advised and Civil Procedure Code has enough provision for the imposition of realistic costs for every adjournment, costs are rarely imposed and therefore, litigants and their counsel think nothing before asking for an adjournment. Further, the registries of the courts are tasked with the judiciary’s administrative functions. Administrative support functions needed by the judiciary, identification of process-related inefficiencies and advisory on legal reforms, should be delegated to a specialised professional agency that has administrative expertise, specialisation, modern management practices and technologies. Also, a massive house-cleaning exercise in every single court to identify cases that are infructuous or not worth pursuing will surely reduce the pendency of legal cases. Indian legal system is also required to adopt technology and artificial intelligence in every phase of functioning. 

    Most of us struggle with pursuing different courses at a time but you pursued the Company Secretary course and Master in Business Laws while you were pursuing your law graduation. How did you manage to pull it off? Can you tell us a bit about your study pattern, and would you like to share a few tricks to ease the learning?

    The mantra I always used to sing while studying is to read as much as possible and re-read it at regular intervals. Always remember, play when you play and study when you study. Being focused in every moment is very important and challenging at the same time in today’s age of cell phones and tablets. Underlining keywords with different colours and complementing the study notes with mind maps will surely reduce the time in memorising the legal concepts. One should also inculcate a habit of reading bare acts, being the holy water of law, and judgements from college time itself. 

    You worked for almost 9 months as a Paralegal at ARA LAW, a boutique law firm and later you were handed a PPO. Can you share about your job responsibilities of both while you were a Paralegal and later on when you landed the job?

    I was never a morning person until I joined ARA LAW and used to reach the office an hour early. Every day before office hours began, I used to read the latest updates to existing laws, important judgements, legal news, etc. and used to discuss the same with my seniors, as keeping abreast with the rapidly changing corporate legal environment is essential for any lawyer. As a paralegal, I also used to research, attend and take notes of the calls/meetings, proofread agreements and make summaries of agreements/documents provided by the target entity for due diligence purposes. I have always believed in doing work diligently and sincerely without thinking much of the outcome. My work spoke for me and as a result, I was offered PPO by ARA LAW. As a lawyer, I used to assist my seniors in drafting and revising the transaction documents, preparing the due diligence reports, drafting legal opinions, etc.   

    Can you tell us a bit about your current job role and responsibilities? 

    As a transactional lawyer, I wear several hats in the process of working through a deal i.e. an advisor, mediator, negotiator and drafter. I provide advice on matters relating to M&A, strategic alliances, regulatory aspects, etc, prepare reports and opinions on diverse corporate matters relating to Companies Act, FEMA, SEBI regulations, stamp duty, etc., handle legal due diligence exercise, negotiate the transactional documents, drafting, vetting and execution of all the transactional documents. One of the biggest challenges and at the same time, most exciting aspect of M&A practice is that your schedule is exceptionally uncertain and highly variable in terms of intensity. I am fortunate enough to lead a team of associates who are extremely capable and flexible enough which makes my life easy when we are faced with an accelerated deadline. 

    You have led several acquisition deals like Patanjali’s acquisition of Ruchi Soya, acquisition of Innov8 by OYO, Lemon Tree’s acquisition of Keys Hotel and more. What were your key experiences/takeaways from these acquisitions?

    The sound understanding of commercial and business complexities besides the legal intricacies of a long-drawn M&A transaction and precisely communicating the same to the client as well as the other side while negotiating the deal is a bedrock skill that cannot be dispensed with. Further, a corporate lawyer is expected to think and reach with the same sense of adventure as that of his client as in the corporate world, there is no decision making without an element of risk. At times, in M&A transactions, you are faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles wherein you have to train yourself to not merely focus on the specific issue at hand but also you have to consider every possibility, never being dismissive of anything and think out of the box to steer your client through the M&A deal. Further, we need to be highly responsive to clients and comfortable with interweaving work and personal life because of the technology we have today.

    What will be your parting message to our young lawyers?

    I have heard several times from young lawyers that they ‘do not understand’ their seniors or ‘have no idea what is going on’. Bizarrely on the same knot, they also shared that they do not address their queries and issues with their seniors. Establishing an open channel of communication with seniors would certainly help you in setting the work environment straight. These seniors can also show you the ropes and take you under their wings. As young lawyers, we are often driven to learn as much as we can and as fast as we can. Blinded by the thirst to improve, often we find ourselves volunteering to take on voluminous tasks which we may not be able to execute effectively. In case you find yourself in such a position, speak to your superior in advance, instead of attempting to move mountains in a short span of time. At the same time, remember always that the grind in the early years will pay off in the long years ahead in your practice. Focus all your energy on working hard. Attention to detail is also indispensable for any corporate lawyer as small mistakes could significantly cost a lot to your clients (and your organisation) and therefore, it is an absolute must for you to work on this quality from the start. 

    Get in touch with Kalpit Khandelwal:

  • Habin George Sebastian – International Lawyer, Georgetown University Law Center (USA) alumnus: 2017, ILS (Pune) alumnus: 2016, NUJS Entrepreneurship Diploma Alumnus: 2013

    This interview has been published by Tanmaya Sharma. The Interview was taken by The SuperLawyer Team.

    HOW WOULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS?

    I am a self-motivated individual who tries to see positive things in all spheres of my life. “All is well, All is well” is my motto! (I presume you have seen the movie, 3 Idiots.)

    WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCED YOU TO PURSUE LAW. PLEASE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR COLLEGE LIFE.

    To be honest, like any high school student I was also in a dilemma whether to choose law or any other subject for a career path. However, I believed my instinct to choose law as my career. I was good at logical reasoning and analysis in every aspect of decision-making in my life and these qualities are required for a lawyer.

    I enjoyed being at ILS, Pune. I was fortunate enough to be taught by Professors such as Prof. Nilma Bhadbhade, Prof. Sonali Jadhav, Prof. Anagha Kadolkar, etc, and even got some wonderful friends for life.

    WHAT IS THE SECRET TO SUCH A SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC RECORD?

    I don’t have any secret for my academic excellence. However, like anyone else, I worked hard and achieved good grades. But I feel, it’s paramount for everyone to keep a positive attitude when preparing for their exams and never get into exam stress. Make a plan at least 2 months before the Semester exams and make sure that you stick to it.

    YOU HAVE DONE MANY INTERNSHIPS IN TOP-TIER LAW FIRMS DURING YOUR TIME AT LAW SCHOOL. HOW DID YOU BAG THEM? HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT AN INTERN CAN GENERATE A POSITIVE FEEDBACK IN THE LIMITED TIME THEY HAVE?

    I have done several internships with some of the largest law firms in India. I secured a few of them through their internship opportunity application in their career section and others through networking. To make a positive impact on your internships, it is essential to display that you are passionate about your work. Further, you should be willing to clearly listen to the instructions provided by the Associates and Partners and thereafter, provide them with the exact material they are looking for, which may help them during the corporate transactions. In case, if you didn’t comprehend the specific tasks given, then you may kindly let them know. They will surely simplify the tasks and they may explain the concepts to you. Besides, keep in mind that time is very important and you should submit the work within the given time frame. I also suggest you reach the office early and make yourself ready for the day.

    YOU HAVE PURSUED A DIPLOMA IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS LAW FROM NUJS. PLEASE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THIS COURSE. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT TO LAW STUDENTS?

    I am happy to let you know that I was in the first batch of the NUJS diploma. This course helped me to know more about the basic practical insights of Entrepreneurship and Business Law. I recommend it to all law students. 

    My special thanks to Mr. Ramanuj Mukherjee who guided me throughout my career process.

    WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO GO FOR A MASTERS PROGRAMME? HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALISATION?

    I always wanted to pursue a Master’s from any of the elite institutions in the world. I used to read about top law schools and even dreamed about getting into one of them since my second year of law school. During my research at that time, I came to know about corporate law, and international arbitration, and its possibilities in the real world such as leading and managing mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, private equity, general corporate advisory works, etc, and the role of international arbitration in resolving disputes between an investor and the sovereign state. From that moment, I made up my mind to become an international lawyer and to pursue a specialization in international business law and international arbitration from one of the top three universities in international law in the United States. Fortunately, I got into the International Business and Economic Law program of Georgetown University Law Center with immense hard work and dedication.

    WHICH UNIVERSITIES DID YOU APPLY FOR LLM? HOW DID YOU CHOOSE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTRE?

    I have applied to some of the top law schools in the United States. Here, I chose Georgetown Law

    because of several reasons such as the following: 

    1. Location: Georgetown Law is situated in Washington D.C and D.C have enough opportunities for networking in international law-related careers considering most of the international agencies and big US law firms are located in Washington D.C.

    B) Externships: Another reason that I would like to mention here is their Externship programs. They have a lot of great externship programs that may allow you to work with international organizations and international law firms in D.C. 

    C) World-class international law library: Georgetown Law has a brand new world-class library specifically for International Law with the library of Congress nearby.

    D) Celebrity International Law Professors: The other most important factor for my consideration to apply to Georgetown Law is their International Law Professors. Georgetown Law has world-class celebrity international Law Professors to teach international law.

     E) Ranking with respect to International Law: Georgetown Law is always listed ahead of Harvard and Yale in the international law category and most of the time in the top three international law programs in the United States as per the widely recognized US News Ranking. 

    WHAT SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND WHILE WRITING SOP FOR LLM ABROAD?

    SOP: I must confess that the SOP writing part is the most difficult in the whole LL.M application process. I suggest you write your SOP at least a year before your application submission due date. The SOP must have a proper direction (means must look like a life story linked with real-life events ) where the admission committee can easily follow your genuine motivation towards your LL.M studies: (it is paramount to show your genuineness in your SOP) and what you aim to achieve after the graduation. (Always keep in mind that words should be used in minimal in number maybe 650 words or lesser)

    PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR TIME AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTRE? WHAT SHOULD A LAW STUDENT EXPECT WHEN GOING FOR AN LLM ABROAD?

    It was awesome! I got the opportunity to meet several brilliant minds from all over the world. Now, I can say I got friends from all over the world. 

    Be ready to work hard! Keep your expectation very high and this expectation will strive you to work hard to achieve your target.

    PLEASE TELL US ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AT JSA?

    The recruitment process in JSA is very transparent. You can apply through their career section on their website and wait for their response. 

    WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PARTING MESSAGE TO OUR READERS?

    Always be positive! You are gonna achieve your dreams. If you think you are an average or below-average student, don’t ever stick to that point. Get up and think, think, think! What should I do from now to change myself to my best? You should not compare yourself with others. Believe in yourself!

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  • Aditya Vaibhav Singh-Advocate on Record, Supreme Court of India| Head of Chambers, Chambers of Aditya Vaibhav

    Aditya Vaibhav Singh-Advocate on Record, Supreme Court of India| Head of Chambers, Chambers of Aditya Vaibhav

    This interview has been published by Tanmaya Sharma. The Interview was taken by The SuperLawyer Team.

    What is your current role? What was your journey like? 

    I am presently an Advocate on Record in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. I enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 2013 and have since been practising in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court, and various Courts and Tribunals in Delhi apart from the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. After completing my school at St. Joseph’s College, Allahabad in 2008, I graduated from Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University in 2013. After working with the law chambers of Mr Gaurav Bhatia, the then Additional Advocate General of UP in the Hon’ble Supreme Court,  I joined the office of Advocate Mr Avninder Singh who was then the Standing Counsel of the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee. 

    After completing around 1 year with Mr Singh, I joined the chambers of HMJ Mr Navin Chawla, who was then a practising Advocate-On-Record in the Hon’ble Supreme Court and specialised in Commercial, Telecom and Regulatory Litigation. Under his able guidance, I found the interface between technology and law quite interesting and made considerable progress in understanding the legal and procedural concepts involved. HMJ Mr Navin Chawla got elevated as a judge in the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in 2017 and around the same time, I decided to start my independent practice as well.

    In my journey, I have represented various multinational companies, domestic companies and leading industry associations, etc. I have also been appointed as an arbitrator by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. I am presently on the criminal law panel of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court Mid Income Group Legal Aid Society. I have also been appointed as amicus curiae by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. I have experience in regulatory litigation including telecom litigation, arbitration, commercial/civil litigation, land matters, criminal litigation, IPR, cyber law and service matters.

    Being a science student, why did you decide to choose law? Do you appreciate your decision?

    My journey as a lawyer has been both challenging and rewarding. To be honest, my decision to take CLAT was not a very well thought out decision. I was a science student and had secured a good score in my Board examinations and could have easily made it to the cut-off list of the leading universities. However, I decided to appear for the CLAT examination in 2008 because an integrated national level entrance test was being conducted for the first time and the theme of the test coincided with my general aptitude. 

    I was a little confused during the initial years of my journey as a law student. However, once I made a decision, I took every step to make that decision right. Fortunately for me, I started to enjoy reading and applying the law and am very happy and thankful today for deciding to become a lawyer.  However, one thing that I have always kept in mind is that we, as lawyers, are always students of law. Hence, approaching any problem with humility is something which I endeavour to practice in my professional as well as personal life. 

    I am always thankful to my parents who, despite not belonging to the legal fraternity,  have always been supportive of my decisions and my professional journey.

    How do you see the law as a profession? 

    Very early on, I had learnt that law is not a profession to only earn money. It’s a profession to learn, grow and apply. Throughout the journey, I have always been cognizant of the fact that Advocates have a greater responsibility as ‘Officers of the Court’ and hence have always made a sincere effort in discharging my duties effectively towards the Bench irrespective of the nature of the client I am representing or whether I am acting as the Amicus. 

    I do not say that earning fees is not important but we as Advocates need to understand that our clients come from different walks of life. Empathy is what helps Advocates understand their clients better and put their best case forward. 

    Seniors play a vital role in shaping one’s personality. Would you like to share your thoughts on the same?

    I firmly believe that bonhomie is an integral part of the legal profession. On weekends, I make it a point to pay my regards to the senior members of the Bar who have now retired or are not that active in Courts, as their love and affection has nurtured not only my legal career but also my personality as a lawyer. I have learnt more about law, over a cup of coffee, from the senior members of the Bar than reading any legal commentary on the subject. I believe, a word of encouragement goes a long way and I endeavour to pass on the care and affection that I received in my career to the younger members of the Bar and the interns whenever called upon. Mr M. R. Chawla who is a veteran of the Delhi Bar with over 55 years of experience, is one such person who deserves a special mention in my journey. My interactions with him have shaped who I am today, his wit and sharp sense of humour while sharing anecdotes about his long career spanning around 6 decades, have provided me perspective to move forward.

    Profile photo of Aditya Vaibhav Singh

    You had great mentors throughout. How do you carry the legacy to support the young lawyers?

    I am grateful to have received the guidance of so many excellent mentors throughout my journey and all of them are a constant source of inspiration. With the same view, ‘Chambers of Aditya Vaibhav’, believes in encouraging first-generation lawyers, to discover their niche in the legal profession. I would like to emphasize that the above statement does not mean that I hold back from extending support to worthy second or third generation lawyers. However, being a first-generation lawyer, there is a sense of empathy as usually there is a lack of guidance for them in the profession.

    Would you like to give some advice to the law students? How important are extracurricular activities with academics?

    My advice to law students would be to get their foundation right. During my 5 years in law school, I paid special attention to 6 subjects which are Constitutional Law, Contracts Law, Administrative Law, Interpretation of Statutes, Property Law and Criminal Law. These subjects will help you get your basics clear about substantive rights and to understand how to read law. As far as procedural laws are concerned, I believe they can only be imbibed well once you start practising them on a daily basis. Other than academics, participating in extra-curricular activities is important as well. I understand that managing moots, publications, examinations, internships etc. can get a little overwhelming for a law student. However, my advice would be to not get discouraged. One can easily manage these activities with a little bit of planning and strategy. Do not take up more than one moot in a semester and only intern during your vacations. The idea behind all these activities is to keep you occupied and to keep exploring. These activities also teach you teamwork and co-operation which are some of the most important traits you should have once you join the legal profession. To students who are just entering into this vast ocean of law, I would like to say that with humility, sincerity and a little bit of faith, one can achieve anything that their hearts desire.

    Most Advocates wish for their independent practice of law. What one must focus on in independent practice?

    My advice to Advocates who are thinking of going independent would be to be sure of their skills before taking the leap of faith. Clients don’t look for a fancy office or an entourage of associates. They do look forward to the assurance that their matters would be handled diligently coupled with the greatest sense of sincerity. Living up to that faith is what matters. Everything else falls into place once you have built that foundation of trust. It is your word that has value, everything else is transient.  

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  • Devashish Poddar- Senior Associate at Price Waterhouse & Co LLP working in the field of ‘Direct Taxation and other allied laws’

    This interview has been published by Tanmaya Sharma. The Interview was taken by The SuperLawyer Team.

    Working globally can prove to be challenging. Have you ever worked on a case that kept you in office long after the “office hours”? How did you handle the situation?

    Indeed, working globally proves to be challenging. But it comes with its pros and cons. As Lord Robertson once quoted, Globalisation will make our societies more creative and prosperous, but also more vulnerable. Working globally opens doors to a larger set of stakeholders which at times can become overwhelming.

    Yes, due to confidentiality requirements, there are times when we have to spend time beyond our office hours. The entire scenario becomes challenging and complex. However, finding a passion and zeal for the work helps me stay motivated and onboard. I realize that the moment I start spending more time with my work, I find creative and innovative ways to handle a particular situation. In turn, I begin to enjoy my work.

    You have crafted a niche for yourself in your area of expertise, i.e. Corporate and International taxation and regulatory services. At what point in your education curve did you realize you want to devote your career to this particular field? Besides your current speciality in law, what other specialities pique your interest? Do you have experience in those areas?

    I belong to a family of diversity. My grand-uncle is an economist and a tax professional. My father completed his LL.B. but was unable to pursue his career in law. My siblings, being chartered accountants/advocates, have been engaged in the field of tax for over a decade now. Being brought up in such an atmosphere always prompted me to take up ‘tax’ as my career. So to answer your question, it was during my preparations for final exams, I ensconced my thoughts to take up tax as a path ahead.

    Since many facets of tax are dependent on civil/criminal laws, others related to corporate laws and the Constitution of India, reading the same, intrigues my thoughts to come up with better, innovative and lawful solutions for my clients. Besides the same, in recent times, I have developed some interest in the field of Environmental, Social, and corporate Governance (ESG). The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP26 held in Glasgow attended by the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi enticed my interests in this area wherein the stakeholders are re-aligning their business strategy with environmental concerns to achieve sustainable development. Also, tax technology is another area of my interest.

    I was a part of the team which tested a newly-developed tax litigation tool in one of my previous organizations. In addition to the aforesaid, since every provision of law should sync with the intent of the Constitution of India, I have been a part of some assignments wherein I had multiple opportunities to explore the provisions of the Constitution of India related to the taxation statutes.

    You’ve previously worked in one of India’s leading law firms. What do you think is the main difference in work culture between L&L Partners, New Delhi (Luthra & Luthra Law Offices) and PWC?

    I believe most organizations turn out to be similar, only if a professional wants to work, learn, earn and grow. The same analogy applies to an Indian law firm and a global accounting firm. Indian law firms may not function under a global mandate, however, the trend of following ‘global best practices’ and developing a pool of stakeholders from different countries have made the law firms function in a manner that is not much different from a multinational enterprise. The work is similar, the clientele is similar, and again even the stakeholders and management function in a similar manner.

    However, the only difference is that while working with a multinational professional services network of firms, a person gets more opportunities to interact with peers and connections within the firm (both in India as well globally). A person can leverage the worldwide network of a global accounting firm to find more lucrative opportunities. Although the Indian law firms establish relationships with international law firms, the aforesaid difference is also fading away. On the other hand, Indian law firms provide you with ample opportunities to interact and communicate with some of the country’s top practitioners.

    Can you tell us briefly about the various global groups that you’ve assisted to set up their offices in India? What kind of work goes into setting up an office in a different country? 

    I have been a part of a team that assisted a global railway company set up its office in India. In addition, I had opportunities to assist-

    • British multinational telecommunications company
    • American multinational conglomerate company (world’s largest telecommunications company)
    • Canadian telecommunications and data networking equipment manufacturer
    • German automotive Manufacturing Corporation
    • Malaysian Oil and Gas Company
    • Private equity firms
    • International investment management firms
    • Massachusetts-based life insurance Company
    • And a few others.

    To set up an office (especially in India), the group should first decide about the form and structure of the entity. Since the efficiency of the presence in a country and the applicable laws flow from the type of entity being set up. Thereafter, if it is a company, then corporate laws applicable for registration and set-up are required to be adhered to. Similarly, if applicable, the entity in India is required to comply with RBI and SEBI laws. In addition, tax registrations (PAN, TAN, GSTIN, IEC, etc.) may also be required. If the entity decides to onboard employees, then employment laws and registration requirements may also warrant attention.

    You are a corporate tax lawyer, usually dealing with transactions, compliance and advisory, but you have hands-on experience in litigation and have dealt with some high-profile cases as well. Can you please share with our audience which part of your legal journey you enjoyed the most? 

    Being a CA as well as a lawyer, helped me experience the best of both worlds. While advisory and compliances have their own set of perks, litigation is an area wherein my mind becomes more creative. I believe I can enjoy and learn more while being engaged in a litigation project. The time spent on articulating thoughts and drafting a document to present one’s case in a simple, precise and crisp manner is satisfying. Representing a client before the court of law and achieving success is bliss.

    Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha recently, which seeks to withdraw tax demands made on indirect transfer of Indian assets before May 28, 2012, what major changes (if any) will be seen because of this? 

    The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 (TLA) amended the Finance Act, 2012. Earlier, due to the retrospective amendments vide the Finance Act, 2012, tax implications arose on a few of the largest Indian companies. Thereafter, there was decade-long litigation between the companies and the Government of India. Numerous international courts/arbitration forums were explored and approached by the companies aggrieved by the provisions of the Finance Act 2012. Therefore, to avoid such protracted litigation and dispute, the Government of India decided to settle the issue by giving a limited window to such aggrieved companies for settling the disputes forever.

    Such a move by the Government of India and the legislatures is a welcome move. The aforesaid would aid the companies to buy peace and seek the refund of taxes already deposited by them under protest. By introducing TLA, India is on its path to attracting foreign investments for the ‘Make in India’ campaign and in return fulfilling its objective of atma nirbhar Bharat, i.e. self-reliant India. The introduction of TLA has reposed the faith of big corporate houses in the Government of India. Multinational enterprises are now aware that the Indian Government and legislatures are well cognizant of the issues around the country and prompt laws are made to fulfil the objective of India as a welfare state.

    How do you see the Indian tax laws in the future?

    Laws are efficient only if they curb the menace. A complex and ambiguous set of provisions often defeat the legislative intent. India has tried to simplify the indirect tax regime by introducing the GST laws which have replaced numerous other statutes to form a single consolidated law for various indirect taxes in India. Similarly, I believe India may witness a change in its direct tax laws as well, wherein various deductions and exemptions can be done away with and a lower rate of taxation may be introduced to benefit the companies as well as individuals. Various ‘conditional’ deductions and exemptions provided in the direct tax laws may prove to be beneficial for professionals who are aware of the benefits provided by the law, but at the same time makes it difficult for the public in general to interpret the same. Due to the aforesaid, the legislature and the Government of India have already introduced a few provisions which provide for a low rate of tax while disallowing most of the deductions and exemptions. We may witness such similar changes in the future as well.

    What suggestions would you like to offer to our young lawyers, law students and law graduates? 

    I always resonate with the quote, “There is no shortcut to success”. Hard work has no replacement, especially in our country and in the field of law. However, we must all realise that the era demands not just hard work but smart work as well. We do not live long enough to spend a substantial portion of our life in the office or at work. We all need a work-life balance. And, there comes the smart work. A professional who works hard and at the same time smartly saves time, achieves desired results, adds value to the clients and also invests time in personal life and well-being. Even luck favours those who work hard and smartly at the same time.

    To sum up, I would quote the former president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson

    “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”

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