You began your independent practice right after law school, at a time when structured platforms for women litigators, especially in criminal defense, were limited. What inspired you to take that bold step so early in your career?
While studying law I realised that in Mumbai there were few structured opportunities for young women who wanted to build a career in criminal defence. Starting my own practice straight after graduation was a risk, but I wanted to create the kind of ethical and professional environment I had hoped to find. With strong support from my family, particularly my father, I began with pro bono work and built it one brief at a time. Those early choices continue to define our commitment to transparency and high professional standards.
Having completed a decade in the profession, what initially motivated you to pursue law, and how did your experiences in law school deepen your understanding of the subject and shape your decision to take up litigation as a career?
In high school I was active in debate and attended a Youth Conference at the United Nations in New York. Those experiences sparked an interest in advocacy and public affairs. I once considered becoming a commercial pilot but soon realised I wanted a career that allowed me to think critically and work closely with people. By the time I completed my law degree, litigation felt like a natural fit.
Criminal defense, particularly white-collar crimes and complex litigation, is often regarded as one of the most demanding areas of practice. What drew you to this specialization, and how has your experience in this space evolved over time?
Litigation is demanding but deeply rewarding. In criminal defence, defending rights and ensuring due process is both challenging and meaningful. Some of the most intellectually engaging matters have involved clients who cannot pay, where the work is driven entirely by principle. The hours are long and the stakes are high, yet the practice remains fulfilling. Persistence is key to sustaining a career in this field.
You have handled high-profile and complex matters involving banking fraud, narcotics, and serious criminal charges. Could you share an experience that was especially challenging, and how you prepared yourself to handle it effectively?
Early in my career I learned that knowledge of the law is only one part of effective practice. Litigation is about people, strategy and navigating systemic realities. The unpredictable nature of the justice system taught me to create internal processes that bring order to a naturally chaotic environment. We built systems to manage complex briefs while staying client focused and transparent. These lessons continue to guide how our team approaches every case and every client. Because we are active litigators, we bring a trial-tested perspective to all our non-litigation work. Our courtroom experience sharpens the way we draft contracts and structure transactions, and our work in criminal defence makes us particularly attentive to compliance and risk. This combination of skills allows us to offer advice that is both practical and strategically sound.
As the founder and managing partner of Khemka & Associates, your practice has grown far beyond criminal defense into areas like consumer law, insolvency, family law, and cross-border matters. How do you manage these wide-ranging responsibilities while balancing your personal life?
Balancing a litigation practice with personal life is never simple. I have been fortunate to have the support of family and friends from the very beginning. A turning point came when my younger sister, who trained with us while still in law school, formally joined the practice. Her distinct skill set enabled us to expand confidently into areas such as arbitration, consumer law, insolvency and family matters. With a strong team culture and shared values we have been able to grow while staying true to our commitment to professionalism and client service.
You have also dealt with cases involving immigration law and cross-border issues. How have these experiences influenced your practice, and what unique challenges have you faced in handling such matters?
Cross-border matters require working across jurisdictions and cultures. My early international exposure helped me collaborate effectively with foreign lawyers, but the real challenge lies in understanding different legal systems, managing clients across time zones and coordinating procedures. These experiences have strengthened our ability to handle complex briefs and positioned us as a practice that combines local expertise with a global perspective.
Mentorship has been an important part of your journey, particularly in creating opportunities for young women lawyers. What values guide your approach to mentorship, and how do you envision the next generation of litigators evolving in India?
More young women are entering the legal profession, but those who stay the course in litigation, particularly in Mumbai, are still relatively few. Many leave for personal reasons or because of a lack of sustained professional support. At our firm we make mentorship a priority, passing on the values that define our practice: open communication, an insistence that no task is too small or too big, and a belief that consistent effort and hard work are irreplaceable. As technology transforms courts and practice management, it will be inspiring to see how the next generation of litigators shapes this changing landscape.
Having appeared before diverse forums ranging from trial courts to the Supreme Court and specialized tribunals, what key differences have you observed in the way proceedings are conducted in every forum, and how do you adapt your strategies to navigate these differences effectively?
Each forum has its own rhythm and expectations. Trial courts require agility and a deep command of procedure. Higher courts demand precision and a focus on legal principles. Specialised tribunals often call for technical expertise. Every judge manages their docket differently. Success, apart from the merits of the case, depends on quickly understanding these nuances and adapting advocacy accordingly. Clarity, professionalism and thorough preparation remain the constants across every forum.
Finally, after building an independent practice and establishing a recognized firm, what advice would you give to law students and young advocates who aspire to follow a similar path? What has been your source of motivation over the years, and how do you continue to stay inspired for the future of your practice?
Litigation has some significant barriers to entry and starting independently is not easy. Whether you begin on your own or under the guidance of a senior, the training demands focus, resilience and discipline. We are all human and we will make mistakes; the more you practise, the more you learn and the better you become. Patience is key. Over the years I have found motivation in building a practice that combines the rigour of an international firm with a commitment to accessibility. We take on matters across a wide spectrum, sometimes at reduced fees or even pro bono when circumstances require, while maintaining the highest ethical standards. This blend of professionalism and service continues to guide the future of our practice.
You have built a 14-year legal journey rooted in public service and constitutional values. What inspired you to pursue a career in law, especially as a first-generation advocate coming from a commerce background?
My foray into the legal profession was driven not by legacy, but by purpose. I come from a humble background, having topped my Commerce stream at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ghaziabad with 90% marks overall. I then pursued B.Com (Hons.) at a reputed college under Delhi University. While most of my classmates were preparing for Chartered Accountancy in what felt like a rat race, my journey took a sharp turn during my final year examination.
One particular incident changed my life. During the final B.Com (Hons.) exam, a mischievous student in our college was caught using unfair means. When the flying squad arrived, he threw the cheating material near an innocent girl student. The squad presumed her guilty and began disallowing her from writing the exam. I was a direct witness to the episode and immediately intervened, raising my voice against the injustice. I requested the squad to verify handwriting and narrated the true sequence of events. One of the senior officials sarcastically asked, ” Kya aap vakeel hain is ladki ke? ” That statement, although meant mockingly, ignited something deep within me.
From that day, my classmates teasingly began calling me “Abhishek Vakeel,” despite my not even holding a law degree. What was meant as a joke became a badge of honour. It planted the seed that an advocate is the one who defends the innocent when no one else does.
This awakening found further support in my elder brother, Vivek Choudhary—a Class I Central Government Officer and currently pursuing MBA from IIM Ahmedabad on Government sponsorship. He’s my role model. He took me to visit the Supreme Court, where I witnessed top lawyers arguing passionately, fearlessly answering judicial queries, and defending public causes with intellect and grace. That night, I couldn’t sleep. I dreamt of standing in those very courts, giving voice to those silenced by systemic oppression. My brother recognized this spark, and he invested his income and emotional support to help me pursue law. He is my hero, and I owe the advocate within me to his belief in my purpose.
Many of your Public Interest Litigations have addressed significant socio-economic challenges. In your view, what role do PILs play in strengthening democratic values and public accountability in India today?
Public Interest Litigations (PILs) are not merely judicial tools—they are the constitutional lifeline for the voiceless. They provide hope to the one standing last in the queue for justice. To many, courts are like the moon—visible but unreachable due to cost, complexity, and lack of legal awareness. But PILs create a bridge to that lunar surface.
A PIL is like Ganga Jal—pure and accessible. Like Bhagirath brought the Ganga down for mankind, a bonafide petitioner brings the concerns of the unheard to the court. PILs install fear in law-breakers and deter corporations and individuals with malicious intent. They make the powerful pause and re-evaluate when they see justice knocking at their door on behalf of the powerless.
The beauty of PILs lies in the fact that no locus standi is needed. Anyone with a genuine concern for public welfare can approach the court. It democratizes justice by empowering individuals to act as the conscience of society. For me, PILs are not cases—they are missions. Whether it’s securing food for paramilitary forces or demanding healthcare for the underserved, PILs are my way of translating constitutional values into real-world action.
Having had such immense experience over the years, could you share a particular case that was especially challenging for you personally and how you navigated it?
Every case has its own challenges, but the fight for Martyr Status for Paramilitary Forces stands out. Despite their sacrifices, paramilitary personnel were long denied the dignity of being recognized as martyrs. I had to battle bureaucratic indifference and convoluted policy frameworks. But more than that, I carried the emotional weight of families whose pain had long been ignored. That PIL wasn’t just a legal win—it was a tribute to sacrifice.
Over the years, I have filed over 36 successful PILs without charging a single rupee, with not one attracting adverse court remarks.
Another notable case was when Delhi Metro officials held a train hostage at Dwarka Metro Station over a dispute with CISF. Commuters, including students and senior citizens, were locked inside for 45 minutes. I filed a PIL the same day in the Delhi High Court. The result? 56 officials were suspended, and Delhi Metro was declared an Essential Public Service. That PIL sent a message: public inconvenience cannot be held hostage to internal disputes.
In another instance, I filed a PIL demanding identity protection for brave jawans whose families were endangered due to media interviews revealing names, schools, and addresses. I pleaded with the court to mandate blurring of faces and anonymizing sensitive details.
I have also sought a special law on road rage, after witnessing its terrifying consequences in Delhi, where innocent commuters are assaulted over minor incidents by muscle-wielding individuals.
These cases aren’t just files—they are lived experiences of pain, injustice, and eventual hope. And they reaffirm my belief: law can be a healing force.
In matters such as the Ola-Uber drivers’ strike and the regularization of DTC contractual workers, you have represented often-overlooked issues. What do you see as the key legal and structural challenges addressing issues relating to contractual workers under labour law?
The biggest issue lies in the legal ambiguity of contract-based employment, which often serves as a loophole for employers to bypass fair wages, job security, and benefits. In the DTC matter, drivers were being paid on a per-kilometer basis. To earn a livelihood, many drove buses for days without rest, leading to fatigue-induced accidents and loss of innocent lives. It was exploitation under the garb of employment.
Contractors earned crores by billing “minimum wages” under their name, while the actual drivers received only a fraction. There was no social security, no medical aid, and no dignity.
During the Ola-Uber drivers’ strike, I realized that app-based economies further compound this problem by designating workers as “partners,” removing all accountability for welfare.
We need enforceable parity, not just legal jargon. The system must acknowledge the humanity of the worker, not just their productivity.
You have described law as a responsibility toward humanity. What advice would you give to young lawyers aspiring to pursue pro bono or public interest litigation, and what values and skills should they instill in themselves for the next generation of legal professionals?
To young lawyers, I say: do not enter this profession only to earn, but also to serve. Cultivate empathy, resilience, and a deep understanding of constitutional values. Pro bono and PIL work may not always bring monetary returns, but they enrich your character and sharpen your advocacy skills in unmatched ways. Build your credibility through hard work and sincerity. Learn to listen. Be patient with the system, yet persistent with your purpose. The next generation of lawyers must embody not just knowledge but also compassion and courage.
In India, a single citizen is directly or indirectly touched by around 3,500 laws—yet ignorance of law is no excuse in our country. Even a rickshaw puller breaking a rule cannot claim he did not know the law; that is where the true responsibility of a lawyer begins: to serve those who do not have the privilege or resources to know the law. Law is like an ocean—vast and deep—and the lawyer must be the boatman for those who cannot swim through its complexities.
Being the voice of the voiceless is the highest calling—just as only a mother understands the silent cry of her child, a lawyer must develop the instinct to hear the unheard and stand as the voice of the powerless. Trees cannot come to court when they are cut illegally; the air of Delhi cannot file a petition when it is poisoned. It is we, lawyers with vision and a sense of ownership for our nation as our own home, who must stand up. If there is dust in our house, we do not wait for the neighbour to clean it—we clean it ourselves. Similarly, if you see injustice in society, do not wait for someone from America or London to come and fix it. Be the cure yourself.
Don’t be disheartened if you stand against a senior or well-known counsel. For your client, you are their Ram Jethmalani, because you are the only one they can afford. Treat each client—paid or pro bono—as your most important one. Remember: a single satisfied client becomes your unpaid ambassador to a hundred more.
As Swami Vivekananda rightly said, “All power is within you. You can do anything and everything. Believe in that.” These are the words I always speak to my juniors, associates, and interns—my office has produced many brilliant legal minds who now carry this spirit forward.
As a first-generation lawyer, what were some of the key challenges you faced early in your career and how did you overcome them while building a socially driven legal practice?
Lack of mentorship, limited networks, and financial uncertainty were significant hurdles. Unlike peers with established family chambers, I had to create my own space. After graduating from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, I initially prepared for the judicial services exams at Mukherjee Nagar. But while my heart was always with litigation, half-hearted preparation could not yield results. After an unsuccessful year, I enrolled for my LL.M. and decided to apply for law researcher positions before Hon’ble Judges of the Delhi High Court.
Each interview, however, started with the same question: “Who is an advocate in your family? Is there any judge?”—a question that always kept me outside the door. I faced rejection after rejection while seeing my juniors and batchmates being selected. I stopped applying altogether—until I heard that Hon’ble Justice Rajiv Shakdher, then of Delhi High Court and later Chief Justice of Himachal High Court, needed a Law Researcher. I applied again. There were 10-15 candidates that day, but Justice Shakdher asked me only questions related to my legal knowledge—and selected me on the spot. He never asked the question I dreaded.
My mentor, my Guru, saw not my background but my potential. Justice Shakdher brought out the best in me. During my training under him, I found my calling as a PIL activist. I still remember reading Ghalib’s poetry books from his chamber—a hobby I cherish to this day. I carry with me his wisdom: Abhishek, when your case is strong on merit, you need not argue loudly. But when it is weak, you cannot afford to stay quiet.” His guidance shaped my understanding of the law and the role of the press too “The role of the press is like a mirror—it tells the king when he is naked.”In this profession, a senior’s role is crucial. If your master is Krishna, you will surely become an Arjuna. My mentor was my Krishna—he picked a small-town boy with no connections and made him an advocate for the unheard voices of this nation.
As panel counsel to various government bodies and PSUs, including NDMC, what kinds of matters do you typically handle and what are some unique challenges that come with representing public authorities?
I handle a wide spectrum of matters—ranging from service disputes, contractual enforcement, regulatory compliance, to urban development and infrastructure litigation. Representing public authorities like NDMC or Indraprastha Gas Limited means you must defend government action with integrity while ensuring legality, fairness, and public interest remain paramount.
There is always public scrutiny, frequent bureaucratic hurdles, and complex policy frameworks to navigate. It demands a deep understanding of administrative law and an ability to harmonize governance with justice. I remember a unique matter while representing Indraprastha Gas Limited—where a pipeline connection for residents had to pass beneath the Chief Minister’s official residence in Civil Lines, Delhi. Security protocols disallowed digging there. But by taking the plea of larger public welfare, we convinced the Hon’ble Court to direct the CM’s Secretariat to allow the underground pipeline work so that adjoining residents could get gas connections. This demonstrated how, in matters of genuine public interest, even the Chief Minister’s house can be dug up—because the law always serves the people first.
You have received recognition for your contributions to socially impactful cases, including improving food quality for paramilitary forces and advocating for alternate employment for UPSC interview-qualified candidates. What motivates you to take up such causes?
I am deeply motivated by the belief that law must uplift the vulnerable and forgotten. After graduating from Delhi University’s North Campus, I did my coaching for judiciary at Mukherjee Nagar, where many of my friends cracked the UPSC and now serve as IAS and IPS officers. Through them, I learned the harsh reality—sometimes, a candidate misses the final merit by just one mark and, out of despair, takes their own life. I have always felt that any candidate who reaches the UPSC interview stage—clearing the world’s toughest preliminary and main exams—has immense worth. Why should they not get an alternative government job from the pool of interview-qualified candidates?
Similarly, when I discovered that paramilitary officers and lower ranks were eating food of vastly different quality, I filed a PIL for uniform food standards—because the motherland does not feed one son better than the other. In a family, when a mother cooks food, it is served equally to the elder and the younger. The same must be true for our forces.
These cases chose me as much as I chose them. They remind me daily that justice delayed is justice denied. I am driven by conscience, not convenience. The path is long, but its impact brings dignity, hope, and change for countless lives.
Managing a demanding public interest and litigation practice can be intense. How do you maintain personal well-being and avoid burnout amidst such diverse responsibilities?
Balance is critical, though not always easy. I believe in compartmentalizing my work and carving out moments for reflection and rest. Staying connected with nature, spending time with family, and celebrating small victories keep me grounded. My hobbies—poetry writing, painting, cooking vegetarian food, listening to songs, and playing cricket—recharge me. I even captained my batch’s cricket team at Campus Law Centre.
Beyond courtrooms, I find purpose in acts of compassion. In Noida and Greater Noida, I noticed stray cows suffering in the scorching summer heat without water. I took the initiative to install water tubs for them and donated these to the Noida authorities. Today, thanks to this step, many cows are saved from thirst and heat waves every year. I have received awards and recognition from NGOs and news channels for this effort, and several housing societies have now adopted similar practices by installing water bowls for stray cattle and animals.
At the end of the day, when your work is rooted in service, it ceases to feel like a burden. But yes—rest, reflection, and self-care are vital. Only a healthy advocate can truly fight for justice.
Closing Note
Thank you, SuperLawyer and LawSikho, for this thoughtful opportunity. If my journey can inspire even one young lawyer to choose justice over convenience, I will consider it time well spent. Law is not just a profession—it is a mission. May we never forget that.
In the initial phase of your career, you worked with various lawyers and practiced in areas like MCOCA, PMLA, PITA, DV Act, PCA, etc. What has been one of the most endearing experiences from that time?
One of the most endearing experiences from the early phase of my career was witnessing the practical application of legal principles in complex cases like MCOCA, NDPS, PCA, PMLA, etc. where constitutional safeguards and procedural nuances played a crucial role. I distinctly recall filing and handling a writ petition for a minor girl, Sakshi challenging the denial of her admission to FYJC (First Year Junior College) under the HSC Board despite her selection on merit through the First Come-First-Served (FCFS) round of the online admission process for the academic year 2019–2020. Sakshi had been allotted a seat in the reputed institution of the city, Mithibai College, Mumbai, but was arbitrarily denied admission despite vacancies. After the Hon’ble Bombay High Court stepped in, Sakshi got admission in Mithibai College, Mumbai, based on her merit. The Court’s decision made sure that she received the education which she deserved and was treated fairly. This matter marked my first independent appearance, wherein I undertook the drafting of the petition, completed the filing process and conducted the arguments before the Court and ultimately secured a favourable order for the minor girl, ensuring justice was served. The learning process was challenging, but those early years built the foundation for my independent practice and taught me to appreciate both the complexity of law and its real impact on people’s lives.
Coming from a B.Sc. background, what made you choose law as a career? How has your B.Sc. degree helped you in the legal landscape?
Though I pursued B.Sc. out of academic interest, my growing curiosity about social systems, justice, and access to rights gradually pulled me toward the field of law. During my undergraduate years, I became aware of the lack of legal awareness in everyday life, especially among women and marginalized communities. Motivated by this, I had filed a few RTI applications seeking information on public issues for instance, the persistent problem of non-functional street lights around our girls’ hostel area, drainage issue, etc. and these small steps that gave me a sense of law’s power to create transparency and accountability. These experiences shaped my decision to take up law not just as a career, but as a means to contribute meaningfully to society. That is when it hit me that law could be a powerful tool for change. My science background has actually helped a lot. It trained me to think clearly, work methodically and solve problems step by step. This approach really comes in handy when dealing with complex legal issues, especially in white-collar crimes and statutory offences with precision, clarity, and a structured mindset.
What motivated you to establish your own practice after gaining significant experience with various lawyers? Were there any hurdles you faced, and how did you navigate them?
After a few years of working with experienced lawyers, I reached a point where I wanted to build a practice that reflected my personal values like empathy, integrity, and client-centric advocacy. The desire for doing something on my own and deeper involvement in each case naturally led me toward independent practice.
Being a first-generation lawyer, living in a city like Mumbai, away from home, the journey was not easy. Building client trust, managing court appearances alone, and handling all the administrative aspects of running a practice were significant challenges. Yet, with time, I started getting good at matters and the real reward was the satisfaction of helping someone get justice which made every effort worthwhile.
The biggest hurdle came during the Covid-19 pandemic. Just as I had started practicing independently, the nationwide lockdown brought everything to a halt, especially in Mumbai. It felt like starting all over again. But with patience, hard work, and the trust of my clients and family, I slowly rebuilt my practice from scratch. Consistency, strong networks, and a growing support system helped me bounce back. That phase tested my patience and resilience, but ultimately strengthened my commitment to the profession.
What has been one of the most interesting or challenging cases you’ve encountered so far, and how do you prepare for such a matter?
One of the most challenging cases I have handled was a bail application in a double murder case which I have argued before the Bombay High Court and secured bail (BA/2666/2021). The gravity of the offence under Section 302 IPC meant I had to be extremely thorough. I spent a lot of time going through the FIR, charge sheet, forensic reports and witness statements and every detail mattered.
In such sensitive or complex matters, I have learned that preparation is not just about reading the case file. It is about thinking a few steps ahead. I try to anticipate what the other side might argue, apply my mind to the facts and legal issues and dive into relevant laws and precedents that can support the case. I also spend time planning how I will present the matter in court, not just what to say, but how to say it clearly and confidently.
At the same time, I make it a point to understand the client’s background and the full story behind the case. Knowing their situation, emotions and what is at stake helps me build a stronger, more grounded argument. After all, law is not just about rules, it is about people. That human side really matters in how you approach a case.
While dealing with various Criminal Law, Constitutional Remedies, and White-Collar Crimes over the years, what are some of the common issues you frequently encounter in criminal law cases?
One of the most common issues I have come across, especially in criminal law, is procedural lapses. Whether it is a delay in filing the FIR, improper collection of evidence from the crime scene, recording statements of the witnesses, non-compliance with mandatory provisions like Section 41A of Cr.P.C., these lapses often become crucial in bail arguments and trial strategy.
Another recurring challenge is the lack of awareness, both among accused persons and complainants, about their rights, laws of the country and legal remedies. Many clients approach us after having already made statements without legal assistance, or worse, not understanding the implications of their actions.
In white-collar crime cases, what stands out is the volume and complexity of documentation. These matters require not just legal knowledge but a strong grip over financial data, transaction trails, statutory compliance and application of mind. Misunderstandings often arise due to overlaps between civil and criminal liability, and part of our job becomes explaining the legal position in simple terms, both to clients and, at times, even to investigating officers.
What really helps is a combination of legal preparation and practical insight, understanding the ground realities, staying updated with the law and evolving jurisprudence and maintaining clear, consistent communication with clients at every stage.
When handling highly sensitive matters, especially those involving social evils like atrocities against women, how do you manage both the procedural aspects and the emotional sensitivity of the case? How does this affect your personal stress and mental health?
Cases involving atrocities against women are some of the most emotionally intense and legally demanding matters I handle. On one hand, you have strict procedural timelines like filing complaints before appropriate authorities, ensuring protection, custody and maintenance
orders, gathering evidence and on the other hand, you are dealing with someone’s trauma, fear and often a complete breakdown of trust in the system.
What I have learned is that you have to create space for both. I approach the procedural side with precision, ensuring that no technical lapse weakens the case. At the same time, I spend time building a rapport with the client, making them feel heard and safe, explaining to them about their rights and legal remedies available to them. Sometimes that means just being present and not rushing the conversation. Trust plays a huge role in such matters.
Emotionally, these cases do take a toll. It is hard to stay completely detached when you are witnessing the real impact on someone’s life right in front of you. I have had moments of helplessness, especially when systemic delays frustrate the client. To manage the stress, I try to set boundaries after work hours, talk to family members and peers who understand the space and stay grounded in the thought that I am doing my best, I can within the framework of the law.
Over time, I have realized that empathy does not weaken your professional edge and rather it strengthens your advocacy, especially in cases where legal issues are closely connected to real-life experiences.
You played a pivotal role in a case where the Bombay High Court ordered a re-investigation into a fatal road accident after four years. What were the key legal and strategic challenges in convincing the Court to reopen the case, and how did this decision impact the victim’s family and the broader discourse on delayed justice?
Yes, this was a deeply emotional and legally challenging case for me. The biggest hurdle was that the case had already been closed with the deceased, my client’s son who was wrongly named as the sole accused in the FIR and chargesheet. It had been more than four years since the accident, and no steps were taken by the police to trace the actual offender viz. a 10-wheeler container truck driver that had caused the accident and fled the scene.
The turning point for me was gathering and presenting strong evidence, particularly CCTV footage of the accident spot from which the involvement and negligence of the truck driver could be established. Strategically, I had to convince the Court that the original investigation was not only flawed but had caused additional trauma to a grieving mother who was fighting to clear her deceased son’s name from the FIR and chargesheet.
The Hon’ble Bombay High Court ordered a fresh investigation which led to correction of procedural errors and ultimately, the withdrawal of all baseless allegations against the deceased. This decision brought long awaited closure and dignity to the victim’s family. More importantly, it reinforced the judiciary’s role in correcting institutional lapses and revived public confidence in the justice delivery system. It was not just a legal win but it was personal justice. More broadly, this case sends a strong message that even delayed justice is not denied justice.
What guidance would you offer to law students and aspiring litigators hoping to chart a path like yours? Is there a particular mindset, skill set, or approach you believe is essential in today’s dynamic legal environment?
The first thing I would say is, there is no fixed formula for success in litigation. My path will be different from yours, and that is completely normal. What really makes a difference is sticking with it, being patient, staying consistent, and showing up every day, even when it feels like nothing is happening. That is when growth is quietly taking place.
In today’s legal environment, being a litigator is not just about knowing the law but it is about being responsive, reading people, handling pressure and adapting quickly. So, while courtroom exposure is important, equally important is the ability to listen carefully, communicate clearly and write persuasively. Even a well-drafted writ petition can set you apart.
One thing I always recommend to students is, utilise your time by doing internships with diverse lawyers, trial court practitioners, senior counsels, NGOs. Observe how they work, not just what they say in court. These early learnings will shape how you think and practice later.
And finally, believe in the long game. Litigation takes time. You may have to wait to argue your first matter or sign your first client. But if you are honest with your work, keep learning and stay grounded, opportunities do come.
Balancing professional commitments with impactful social engagements is no small feat. As General Secretary (Co-incharge of Nashik Region & Women Advocates’ Cell) with the MPCC, while also actively delivering legal awareness sessions and mentoring young law students, how do you manage your time and maintain personal well being amidst such a dynamic schedule?
Honestly, it is a constant balancing act and I am still learning! What helps me the most is planning and setting clear priorities. I make sure to block time in my week for legal work, social initiatives, student mentoring etc.
But I have also learned that it is okay to say no sometimes. I used to feel guilty about turning down opportunities, but now, I remind myself that quality matters more than quantity, whether it is in court or during any activity.
To manage personal well-being, I try to find small moments in life like taking a walk, going for a trek, grabbing a cup of tea with colleagues, or just switching off from screens for a bit. It really helps. I also lean on my support system – my family, friends and even co-workers who keep me grounded and remind me to pause and recharge when things get hectic.
It is busy, yes, but when you truly care about both your profession and your interest, you somehow find the rhythm that works for you.
Sir we’ll start with a very prominent question of why and when you decided to do law after UPSC examinations, and what were the decisive moments that may have led you to choose law instead of what you were doing already. What ways do you think that all that experience that you garnered over the years influenced your approach towards the legal profession?
The reason for me, for doing law after I was not able to qualify for UPSC, the main motive for even preparation for the UPSC was to serve the nation or serve the people of the country, and law is another field where in other ways we are able to serve the society, serve the people, either appearing on behalf of the defense side or on behalf of the prosecution side.
Basically, we’re there to help the society. If any person is involved in any legal trouble, they approach the lawyer. In that way, we are helping the people. The purpose and the objective for doing law was only for to help the people at the grassroot level.
“Sir, how did you cope mentally when your UPSC plans didn’t work out, and what motivated you to continue serving society? Could you also share some key challenges and successes that made a real impact on both the people and your own life?”
I completed my law in the year 2011 and then thereafter from 2011 to 2021, I was mainly a defense counsel on the criminal side of the bar. I was defending the accused persons in cases of Delhi Police, CBI and ED. So, in that way while I was representing the people I also came to know the challenges that the prosecution faces, what type of legal requirements are there to even build up for fool proof cases is the first one.
So, in that context, the first thing that I came to understand that the nuances of the criminal practice are very demanding and it requires one to go into the nitty-gritties and to get into the details on each and every aspect of the case. The second thing that I have experienced so far is that people are going through so much pain, so what I was trying to do so far was to actually help those people in a proper manner to the best of my capability, and that’s how the journey started first.
Since 2011 to 2015, I was an associate with my Senior Rajesh Anand and I have learned lot from him about the nuances of the criminal law.
2015 onwards, I started as an independent practitioner and I will say my first big case as an independent lawyer was the Coal Scam case wherein, I represented one of the Sitting Director, Mines, Jharkhand Government. I was also one of the youngest lawyers amongst those who were representing the other co-accused in the same case and that case was the first in all of the coal scam cases that came to be registered so forth. So that’s how my journey as an independent lawyer started.
Prior to that as well when I was working with my Senior Rajesh Anand, I got the opportunity to work in some very good cases, one of those cases was the TWG scam, Commonwealth game scam. So that was my first case, I will say, where I got an opportunity to represent the accused in which the CBI was the prosecuting agency and I would say the bulkiest cases in terms of the volumes of the documents, in terms of the volumes of the accused and in terms of the magnitude of the case.
So that’s how my journey started, and even before that, with my Senior Rajesh Rana, I also got an opportunity to learn from him the nuances of the cross-examination, which I will say is the root thing or the most important thing for any criminal lawyer to understand. The problem is that sometimes there are people who don’t want to get the trial experience.
However, in my individual opinion, cross examination is the most important aspect for any criminal lawyer, and that is the evidence on which the superior courts whether it be magistrate trial, session court trial, the Honourable High court or the Honourable Supreme court finally decides at the stage of the appeal, either filed by the accused person by the state. Therefore, the most important thing for the purpose of any criminal trial is the recording of the evidence, either by the prosecution or the cross-examination. So, for a defense counsel to learn the art of the cross-examination is the most important thing, and for that, I give my all thanks my Senior Mr. Rajesh Anand.
There was a time when I was doing most of the MCOCA case for the defence side that being from 2015 to 2021.
Thereafter, I got an opportunity to represent the Delhi police in one of the case, State Vs. Sukesh Chadrashekhar, where the accused persons were booked under MCOCA and I was approached by the Delhi Police to represent them as a Special Public Prosecutor.
So that’s how my journey started, being a special public prosecutor to represent the Delhi Police. Thereafter, I represented Delhi Police in a number of cases as a special public prosecutor, the Parliament security breach case being another one. I am also representing the Delhi Police in Norco terrorism cases. Primarily I’m representing Delhi police in cases where MCOCA has been involved against a number of the organized crimes syndicate.
I’m also representing the Delhi Police in another peculiar case with the Khalistan front angle, where local terrorist and local gangster along with some of the gangsters sitting abroad who have formed a nexus and were indulged in terrorist activities within the territory of India.
So effectively I’m representing Delhi Police in multiple cases as a Special Public Prosecutor and I’m trying to give my level best.
Sir, given the intense nature of the cases you’ve handled, how have they impacted your understanding of human psychology, and how do you protect your own mental and moral well-being while staying professionally involved?
The problem with being an advocate is the work-life balance, and I totally agree with that. There is no hesitation in accepting that. I totally agree with the fact that we as lawyers are able to devote very less time to our family from what is required. Every profession has its own demands. Every profession has its own pros and cons, but once I chose this field, my priority has always been the work along with the life aspects.
And yes, at times one thing takes a toll on the another, but it shouldn’t be so on the cost of another thing. Secondly thing regarding maintaining, yes, we hardly get time to sleep. I will totally agree with that, but yes, we need to be physically and mentally fit. And the most important thing is the presence of mind, particularly in the court room, because sometimes a query comes from the honourable court on a specific aspect and if we are not able to keep ourself physically and mentally fit, there can be a situation where we will not be able to respond properly, and the ability to respond to such queries comes from the aspect that how much you are prepared with your file.
My understanding about the criminal law is that every time when you go through the file, you learn a new thing. Because see, there is always everything in the file. I will say that is, in my opinion, either you appear on behalf of the state or either you appear for the defense, file is everything, and reading the file is the most important thing.
The number of the times you read the file, your orientation or your perspective or you’re understanding about the file changes at instances because maybe there can be an occasion at times you miss certain very important things on the facts of the case. I was doing a drug-trap case, anti-corruption ban, Delhi police case and I was representing one of the accused who was caught red handed, there was also the recording of the entire trap, so for the first time when I read the file, I was unable to gather as to how or in what manner I’m going to represent the accused because being a criminal lawyer we also need to strategize our cases.
But yes, after going through the file again and again and again and again, finally I got some legal aspect on the ground of which finally I got the video of the trap inadmissible before the honourable court in terms of the evidence.
I will say my understanding about the reading of the file, my understanding about how to approach the case, and in my opinion, that’s how I tackle the file can be one, but I am also open to my associates because, I need to be receptive with their opinion as well because I am not the person who can say that knows everything.
Maybe my associate who is less experienced than me in terms of the years in practice, can also have a brilliant idea. He can have a different understanding about the same subject matter in a, which is more helpful to me. So, in that way, we basically go through the file, all the associates, to whom the specific files are marked are open to share their own opinions, ideas, or their understanding about the file. I am ready to share my opinion, ideas with them as well.
Thereafter, finally we come to the conclusion or strategize how to approach any of the cases. So that’s how I approach any of the case. The same approach is applicable even when I am appearing as a special public prosecutor in any of the cases.
Any case is dependent upon two things. The first thing is that the fact, facts cannot be changed. But the law is not dependent upon the fact, however the fact is dependent upon the law. Therefore, we have to approach or search for an appropriate law on that subject matter and as and when the situation arises.
In 2015, you represented an accused in a high-profile coal scam case as the youngest lawyer on record. How did you strategize to stand out among senior advocates, and what key lessons or experiences did you take away from securing your client’s acquittal?
In 2015, I was representing a client in the name of Vipin Bihari, who happened to be at that point of time, the sitting Director of mines and mineral department, government of Jharkhand, so in that case, I was one of the youngest lawyers of all the counsels who were representing the different accused, and that case was basically registered by the CBI.
So, for me, the best way to understand the case was from the perspective of the client and I would say that I was quite blessed that my client was also very, very keen to share the nuances of his case.
Since he was also a learned person. He has also worked in various departments on behalf of the government of Jharkhand and for the entire 2 years – 2015-2017, I worked almost on every Sunday also. I can say that, because my client used to come from Ranchi to Delhi, so he used to come on Saturday. Then on the entire Sunday, we used to basically discuss about the case and prepare about the strategies and I will also say that the co-operation from the honourable court was also immense. I’m very thankful to the honourable court and also to the presiding officer at that point of time for giving me the confidence to represent such type of case. And I’m quite thankful to you and my way to approach the case was, again, read the file repeatedly because everything is in the file, either for the prosecution side or from the defence side.
We need to have a command on our file. There is no other way to approaching any file, and if you have a command over your file, you are always one step ahead with your opposition. That is my way to approach the case.
Sir, it’s eye-opening to hear how deeply you engage with case files something many overlook today. You’ve handled landmark cases like the Unnao rape, Commonwealth scam, and the parliamentary breach. How did you manage such high-profile and sensitive matters simultaneously? Specifically, for the Unnao case, what key factors guided your approach? Could you share an example of a major challenge you faced while maintaining confidentiality and ensuring justice?
When I started appearing on the Unnao Case, the biggest challenge facing was the time management, first thing. The reason for that is that the Honourable Supreme Court had basically passed an order to complete the trial within a timebound manner. So what we were basically doing, when we were there in the court, cross-examining the witness at some time, even at 7 to 8:00 AM till the night also. That case started from September, 2019, and finally the judgment came in the month of March, 2020.
The Unno rape incident follows 5 cases. Just for your knowledge. One case is the rape case. One case is the death of the father of the prosecutrix. One case is where the police personnel were charge sheeted for falsely implicating the father of the prosecutrix. Another case is the gang rape case, which was the fourth case. And the fifth case was regarding one accident case, which basically triggered the transfer of all of the cases, bunch of the cases from the state of UP to the city of Delhi. So, I was representing in the murder of the father of the prosecutrix case.
And in that case, I was representing the Investigating Officer of that case who was basically charge sheeted by the CBI for falsely implicating the father of the prosecutor. I will say it was one of the most challenging cases of my career being a defence counsel, where on a daily basis. In the evening, at around 7 or 8:00 PM we would come to know that these are the two or three witnesses who were summoned for the next day. So again, from the Tis hazari court, we have to rush to our office. At that point of time, my office was in a defence colony, so we had to rush to my office and thereafter, again, entire midnight burning of the oil.
Because only in the late evening we would come to know that these are the three witnesses, who have been called for the next date for the purpose of the deposition of the witnesses. And within that period of time, we had to prepare. We had to go through the statements recorded under 161 CRPC or 164 CRPC, and further prepare for the purpose of the cross-examination.
But yes, that gave me a very good sense of the satisfaction, though there was a conviction against my client, I will also say that, but it was one of the most challenging and it also helped me to learn how to tackle the situation where there is extreme urgency, where there is extreme level of involvement required.
I can say I got a lot of help at that point of time, from all of my associates, from my family members also to that extent I’m thankful to all.
Sir, you mentioned how deeply these cases impact an attorney’s psyche. Your shift from defense to becoming a Special Public Prosecutor for Delhi Police was a major turning point. What inspired this transition, and how did you adapt to the change in role? How different was your approach when handling cases from the prosecution side? What was going through your mind during this shift, especially after years of defending clients?
I’ll say that was the biggest challenge for me when I moved from the defence side to the prosecution side, because all of a sudden, I was defending a client on a legal aspect. Thereafter I had to oppose the same purpose, but standing on a different side on the same legal aspect, so that was a very good challenge for me.
But what attracted me or what I will say pushed me that there is a, in my opinion, a very good sense of satisfaction. When you represent the state and the state is imposing a faith on you, and the duty and the responsibility on your shoulder is increased by many more, because you are there to basically represent a state in those cases where the government has imposed faith on you, despite being the availability of the regular prosecutor, so my job was to work much more harder and to go represent the state to the best of my capability.
Being a special public prosecutor, there is only a single person who represents the state, but in the same case, there are 10 accused, 11 accused, 5 accused, and for every accused, there are different counsels. So, I had to basically, legally counter all the multiple counsels for those accused persons just for example, there is a case, my first case of Sukesh Chandrashekhar, presently, in which there are 22 accused, so 22 accused are represented by the different counsels.
So, at the same time I have to, counter those 22 legal opinions or legal arguments, which are advanced by those people in the court. So that requires more preparation, more going into the depth of the issue.
Sir, you transitioned from conventional criminal cases to complex ones under UAPA and NDPS Acts. What drove this shift, and how did your thought process evolve with such uniquely challenging laws? These cases are quite different in structure and sensitivity how did you approach them? Could you share some of the specific challenges you faced? And how did you manage handling such high-stakes matters?
By representing the state as a special public prosecutor, it is my duty to help the state in the best of my capability, that’s the first thing. Whenever I get appointed, in any case, the first thing that I do is have a meeting with the investigating officer. Understand the case firstly from their perspective, thereafter understand the case from my perspective.
Thereafter we strategize as to how to represent that evidence before the honourable court
Due to this, at some point during the trial the defense council can take benefit of instances where the evidence was not placed properly before the court. So, the first step is to help the investigating officer prepare the case, to the best of their capability.
Every special act has a different procedures and requirement, for example, requirement under the MCOCA is different, requirement under the UAPA different and the requirement under the NDPS Act is also different.
So, the understanding of the subject matter of special cases in which I am doing, it’s my first duty to understand the subject matter.
Thereafter, I will only be in the position to help the state or to represent the state in the best of my capability. That is my way to approach any case to date.
So, sir throughout your career you have demonstrated a different kind of commitment towards justice. An impressive understanding of complexities is also involved in the kind of high-profile cases that you have gone through. After these many years of handling such intricate and emotionally challenging cases.How have you kept your motivation and passion for criminal law, not only alive, but moving forward as well?
First of all, I will say that the first day when I entered into this field, I’ll say that I was blessed that I joined that office where most of the cases were pertaining to the criminal law.
And since that day, I developed a keen interest in the criminal law. And till date, I have never felt as to why I am practicing the criminal law. In my opinion, criminal law is the most challenging, and there is always something more because understanding of the criminal law attracts me. To understand the nuances of the criminal law further motivates me. The best thing with criminal law is that there is no two cases are ever similar to each other. Every case has an independent, different fact, which not at all has any bearing on another case.
That is why in the beginning, I stated to first have command over the fact and thereafter upon the law. Legal aspects, judgements are going to help you, but if you don’t have control over the facts of the case, then the judgements are not going help you. So, understanding the facts of the case, understanding the subject matter is the most important thing for me.
There is an inquisitiveness which motivates me to read the file, to go through the judgment passed on a day-to-day basis by the Honourable Supreme Court and the Honourable High Courts and the same attracts me. It cannot be expressed in words, but yes, something’s there.
Sir, having seen both defense and prosecution sides, I’ve noticed how deeply criminal cases affect one’s psyche. With cases involving serious mens rea and disturbing circumstances, how do you mentally stay strong and not let fear or negativity from such cases affect your daily life? You play a key role in protecting society where does that inner grit come from? Also, with your experience in high-profile cases like Unnao and white-collar crimes, have you ever thought about writing a book exploring the psychology behind such crimes?
Book will come when it has to. But yes, something is definitely in the pipeline. The second thing, I only get attached to the file. I am least bothered about names of the people which are mentioned in the file, and that is the foremost thing I need to do because if I start getting affected by the names of the accused, either on the defence side, and specifically on the prosecution side, then I would not be representing the state or defending any accused. Because I am there to represent the state according to how case has been filed, I need to be totally disassociated and detached.
I am not even expected to know why they have committed crime. I believe that if the crime has been committed then, justice should be delivered to people. The thing is that my duty is to represent the state as per requirement of present legal system. For me, any accused is only X, Y, Z, nothing beyond that. So, this is how I get myself psychologically disassociated with any of the accused persons.
With a background in commerce, what inspired you to pursue a career in law? Were there any specific experiences that guided you in this direction? Additionally, what motivated you to pursue your Master’s from Indian Law Institute?
Background and inspiration:
The transition from commerce to law represents a strategic professional evolution where analytical skills, commercial awareness, and comprehensive understanding of business dynamics become powerful legal assets. Their background enables them to navigate complex legal landscapes with greater strategic insight, particularly in specialized domains like money laundering, corporate law, financial litigations, and business advisory services. The commerce background offers more holistic legal solutions that seamlessly integrate legal expertise with deep commercial understanding.
Specific experiences:
Being a commerce student, I also contested elections at the graduate level (Sh. Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi) and Law School (Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi). The said experience also enlightened me with the fact that polity and law goes hand in hand. I held various positions like: Cultural Secretary, Sports Secretary, Media President and Spokesperson of Delhi University Students Union. Consequently, I realised the value of possessing a quality legal acumen and the relevance of law in the times when the country ought to be ‘ruled’ by law.
Master’s from Indian Law Institute:
I always wanted to pursue master’s from a country’s top notch institution as it is said that “if you want to learn, learn from the best”. The Hon’ble Chief Justice of India is the ex officio president of the Indian Law Institute. Its exceptional library, international collaborations, and strategic positioning provide students with a transformative educational experience that bridges theoretical knowledge and practical legal expertise. I was a Member, Editorial Board, ILI Law Review. Consequently, I learned and acquired legal knowledge from the top notch faculty in the country.
Early in your career, you worked with several legal organizations. Could you share some of the most memorable or impactful experiences from this period, and how they contributed to your legal development and career path?
It is not possible to figure out any experience as the most memorable or impactful, for my whole journey of leaning was extremely memorable and impactful.
Though the first memory that shall never fade away relates to the times when first time post enrolment, as an Advocate, I started practising under the guidance, mentorship, supervision and association of Mr. Sanjay Mann, Advocate (former CBI Officer and currently empanelled Advocate for SEBI, Delhi & NHAI). Just two months after starting to practise, I encountered a situation at the courtroom wherein the Hon’ble court asked me to cross examine a primary/principal witness and I had no clue whatsoever relating to the methodology involved behind examining a witness as I was merely two months old at Bar. It was an intense moment as the Hon’ble Court grilled me to start the examination, but I could not do so. That was the day I came back to office, narrated the whole courtroom story, and requested my senior and first Guru in the legal profession Mr. Mann to teach me the art of cross examination. Merely having a few months experience at Bar, my senior taught me the methodology involved and the approach towards examining a witness in a particular case. When I became confident about the said art of examination, I started eagerly waiting for that case to come again for cross examination and used to think every time about the questions I am going to put to the witness. I did a rigorous cross examination of the said witness in the same case for the whole day and got the Dasti copy of the said examination on request from the Court. Lately, I was so amused to know that our office won that case based upon the cross examination of the said principal witness.
Apart from the aforesaid experience there are many more as I am learning something unique from every place I worked at like the office of Senior Advocates, law firms, trial Court Chambers etc. I believe, the holistic experience of working under seniors made me realise that this profession is so noble and powerful that possessing a deep/critical legal knowledge and putting in hard labour in the initial phase of the career could do wonders for the welfare of society.
After spending around five years working within the legal field, what drove you to start your own practice? What were the main challenges you faced when starting out, and how did you overcome them?
The first-generation lawyer is like a Karna of Mahabharta who is not in conflict with Arjuna rather in conflict with first generational challenges. After going through an intense legal training under respected seniors, law offices like Zeus Law (where I particularly learned the art of drafting), I decided to start the most difficult phase of profession as early as possible so that the said tough patch may pass during young age and believe you me that starting ‘your own practice’ is a calling, not a conscious decision. Before going independent one must make sure that he/she has learned reasonably under the guidance of seniors so that you may do justice to any legal assignments (in the form of cases) that may come your way.
For any Advocate in initial years of practice there would be three main issues, and all are relating to expenses and income: residential accommodation expenses (if you are not from the place where you are practising although I did not face this issue as I am born and brought up in Delhi), office expenses and clients. So my challenges revolved around the said issues only but then gradually you become mentally tough enough to deal with them. The best way to overcome said challenges is to have a realistic approach (without paying much attention to the virtual world of deceptions), make sure that you are doing something and coming/going out of office in a disciplined manner, and being respectful to the senior members of the legal fraternity.
Working with prominent clients in the construction and engineering sectors, what according to you are the key legal challenges these organizations face in navigating regulatory norms in India? How do you address these challenges in your practice?
In India we have so many kinds of regulations and legislations relating to the concerned sectors and many times said regulations/legislations varies from state to state, so a business entity always has the fear of falling into a situation wherein a particular regulation/legislation might have got violated. For resolving the said issues, we do the legal research in the most diligent manner possible and navigate the norms on their behalf in order to provide them legal advice relating to legal compliances. Also, many times we represent and defend the construction/engineering sector companies/partnership firms in high stake arbitration proceedings with the state or central government bodies.
Considering your involvement in arbitration proceedings for various big clients, what have been some of the most challenging arbitration cases you’ve handled, and what steps did you take to navigate these challenges successfully? Additionally, how do you ensure the efficient resolution of disputes in international arbitration, particularly involving international clients?
The universal challenge in a high-stake arbitration matters, relating to gas, energy, oil, infrastructure, pharmaceutical etc. is to have a several conferences to understand the essence of factually technical processes relating to which a dispute had arisen because in such matter you could not apply the law unless you understood the technicalities of facts. Most of the times I have seen that the parties have been represented without understanding the factual technicalities. Consequently, the best way to resolve any arbitration dispute is to understand the factual technicalities first, focus on provisions of the Arbitration Act and its interpretation through landmark/recent case laws.
You’ve handled numerous high-profile bail cases. Could you describe your approach when dealing with complex criminal cases, such as the AIIMS Government Case or the Faridabad Liquor Scam? Additionally, what do you consider the most crucial aspect when arguing for bail in cases involving cybercrime and other serious offenses?
Yes, I was privileged to handle high profile bails considering the heinous offences attracted and we have an impeccable record of securing relief of bail almost every time we moved the bail application. It is said that the criminal practice is the game of two and a half legislations i.e., Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure code, 1973 and criminal side of Evidence Act, 1872. But I am telling you need to have an art of spontaneity in criminal practice if you want to do exceptionally well. I believe an Advocate should ‘only’ focus on the fundamentals of bail instead of discussing facts not relevant for the purpose of deciding the bail Application. I believe, arguments on bail applications in any high-profile matter should not take more than 15 to 30 minutes (on the higher side). Keeping the submissions confined to fundamentals like, prima facie case not made out, criminal antecedents, necessity of custody of Accused, balancing of accused’s right to personal liberty and I.O. ‘s right to interrogate etc.
In cyber-financial crimes, a vital point to analyse is the financial trails involved and connecting the dots between the accused persons involved with the victim.
Could you share your approach to handling Special Leave Petitions (S.L.P.) and civil appeals before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India? How do you prepare for presenting a case before the Supreme Court, and what resources or strategies do you use in your preparation?
The sole approach and strategy revolve around an art of navigating the essence of legal issues involved after diligently going through the facts considering records of trail courts and appellate courts/tribunals records. Thereafter, correlating the legal issues with the factual side and boiling down the said correlated issues into limited grounds of appeals considering the fundamental/constitutional rights along with other legislations, regulations etc.
What advice would you offer to young lawyers looking to build a successful career in law? Are there any particular resources, habits, or practices you recommend for staying current with legal developments and expanding their knowledge?
My advice, considering the altered issues in young lawyers due to changing societal thought processes, is firstly, practice discipline if you want to practice law, start from trial Courts, without falling for the glamours of appellate Courts in initial years of profession despite of the fact that someone in your known is doing appellate court practice, focus on law/interpretation of law during juniorship and be respectful to senior members of legal fraternity.
Running your own practice and managing your Chambers comes with substantial responsibilities. How do you balance these responsibilities, and what strategies do you use to manage stress and unwind after a demanding day?
I started my own practice with legal commentaries, a laptop and holy Gita in hand from a single cabin type room taken on rent. I believe, discipline, optimism, regular procurement of legal knowledge, putting in all your efforts to deal with all cases assigned without discriminating between high stake and low stake matters etc have balanced the responsibilities and managed the stressful profession for me.
Considering your background and early life experiences, how did those factors shape your understanding of the role of law in society and what made you eventually decide to pursue a career in law? Was there a specific event, experience, or person that influenced your decision to enter the legal profession?
I was the quintessential mischievous kid—the kind who was always on a teacher’s radar for all the wrong reasons. Academically, I was average, but I had a natural flair for connecting with people and forming relationships. I credit my family for seeing beyond the chaos and recognizing that my energy could be channelled into something meaningful and encouraged me to pursue law.
Coming from a business family with no legal background, I became a first-generation lawyer—a leap into the unknown. Stepping into the legal profession felt like finding the missing piece of a puzzle. The law, with its vast landscape and limitless opportunities for growth, resonated with me. It wasn’t just a career; it became a calling. Law, with its endless possibilities and avenues for growth, gave me hope that I could use my abilities to carve a small space for myself in this landscape.
During the initial phase of your career, you handled disputes for major corporate clients. Could you share some of the formative experiences that enhanced your understanding of the law and helped you to enhance your career trajectory?
I was fortunate enough to have worked with reputed litigation law firms throughout and have a diverse start in my career, experiencing the depths of civil, criminal, and commercial law. However, I sincerely believe that it was not just the big-ticket cases or influential clients that defined my journey—it was the groundwork, the nuts and bolts of practice and procedure, that shaped me.
I made it a point to immerse myself in the procedural workings of courts and tribunals—not just in Delhi but across other states too. This hands-on exposure is my strength, and has added layers to my understanding of legal practice.
A standout highlight of my journey has been regularly briefing some of the most prominent senior counsels across India on a variety of disputes. This experience led me to develop a deeper understanding of law, sharpened my skills and gave me the confidence to handle complex challenges with ease.
One of the greatest blessings in my journey was working under bosses who were absolute masters of their craft. They set the bar high and demanded nothing less than excellence. Their mentorship wasn’t just about honing my legal acumen—it was about instilling discipline and a drive for excellence. That rigorous training has been the cornerstone of the lawyer I am today.
After gaining valuable experience across different law firms and practice areas, what inspired you to take the leap and start your own law firm? What were some of the key challenges you encountered during the process of establishing your firm, and how did you overcome them?
I always knew I had the skills and drive to start and manage my own law firm. While my career trajectory was steady and promising in my previous roles, the entrepreneurial itch was impossible to ignore. It was not just about ambition—it was about carving out my own space and building something from the ground up. So, when the moment felt right, I took the leap of faith.
Starting out, the biggest challenge was managing expectations—both my own and those around me—and embracing the inherent uncertainty of going independent. The move from the steady comfort of a law firm job to the uncertainty of running my own practice was both challenging and exciting.
I knew the key to survival and growth lay in two things: generating work and delivering results. So, I channeled all my energies into building trust with clients in the smallest of assignments, ensuring every case I handled spoke for itself and turning every challenge into an opportunity to prove myself. As someone from outside Delhi with a non-legal background, establishing a full-service law firm here, has been a proud achievement for me. The desire to excel as an outsider fuels my determination even further.
You represent several prominent social media influencers, helping them navigate the legal complexities of the digital age. Could you share how the legal landscape for content creators has evolved, and how you support influencers in managing legal risks?
Social media influencers are the celebrities of the digital age, and the legal landscape around them is evolving rapidly—touching everything from IT and IP laws to even fundamental rights. With their massive follower base, influencers have a unique power to shape public opinion, making their actions resonate far beyond their screens.
My role is to help them navigate this complex terrain by ensuring they understand their rights, responsibilities and laws governing their space. The challenge lies in balancing freedom of speech with the legal and ethical boundaries of content creation. As online content becomes more unfiltered, conflicts are inevitable, and managing them goes beyond simply applying the law. I advise them on content and how to strike the right balance—protecting the integrity of their content while ensuring it doesn’t cross legal boundaries. In disputes, the focus shifts to safeguarding their fundamental right to free speech and the right of the public to have access to different perspectives.
One of your notable cases involved defending a prominent youtuber against Dabur India Limited’s allegations related to a video critiquing. Could you elaborate on the approach towards this case and how you balanced freedom of expression with addressing the company’s concerns?
This case highlighted the delicate balance between a content creator’s freedom of speech and the rights of others. For me, it was crucial to ensure that the YouTuber’s right to free expression wasn’t compromised. I was fortunate to work with a client who was not just willing but determined to fight for this right, recognizing its larger significance for creators and his audience.
At the same time, I understood the importance of avoiding unnecessary litigation that could drain resources and prolong conflict—something neither the YouTuber nor the company wanted. The natural and necessary path was to pursue an amicable resolution.
My focus was on preserving the educational value of the YouTuber’s video, which provided important insights on food and health to the public. After multiple rounds of rigorous negotiation from both sides, to achieve a settlement, we agreed to remove a few minor portions of the video that were the subject of the company’s IP disparagement claims, without prejudice to our client’s right to free speech. These changes did not affect the video’s core message or structure, allowing us to protect both the creator’s voice and the broader value of the content for society. This proposition was also acceptable to the Company, which led to a win-win situation for both sides.
You have advised and represented clients in high-profile criminal cases, such as the CBI chargesheet concerning a PSU tender scam. What are the critical factors you focus on when advising clients in such complex criminal matters, and how do you approach preparing for these high-stakes cases?
In criminal cases, even when companies stand accused, it’s the individuals who bear the weight, as the corporate veil often falls to reveal the human cost. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and this pressure is unlike anything else.
My first priority is to extract every minute detail from the client about the case—no matter how trivial it may seem. In criminal law, even the smallest piece of information could turn out to be a smoking gun or a declaration of innocence.
I also believe that it is equally important to manage expectations and give the client a realistic picture of the situation. Trust between client and counsel takes on a whole new level of significance in criminal matters. It’s not just about building a defense—it’s about standing calm and firm in the face of uncertainty, ensuring that every decision is informed and strategic.
A senior counsel once gave me advice I hold as gospel: to ensure the best defense, preparation must begin on day one. You should envision how the story ends for your client and craft the entire trial strategy around that vision.
What advice would you give to aspiring lawyers who wish to follow a career path like yours? Additionally, could you recommend any resources that help them stay informed about the latest developments and trends in the legal field?
Always see yourself as a student of law, not a master of law. The law evolves with society, and staying curious and adaptable is key. It’s just as crucial to understand your client’s needs as it is to understand the intricacies of a legal case. True innovation in legal practice comes when you bridge the gap between business realities and business laws. Equally, knowing how to connect with a judge’s perspective is vital. Sometimes, a case is not won by citing more precedents but by presenting solutions that create a win-win outcome.
Another important skill worth developing is the art of networking—it’s all about fostering meaningful relationships that can provide fresh perspectives and open doors to many opportunities.
For aspiring lawyers, staying updated and informed is easier than ever. Social media, news outlets and online legal platforms provide relevant updates on legal trends, making it simple to stay current. It is imperative to keep a close eye on these developments because a solid understanding of the world around you is essential—not just to stay updated but to offer sound advice to your clients.
With your career balancing both high-profile legal work and professional responsibilities, how do you manage your work-life balance? What strategies or practices help you maintain personal growth and stay motivated to excel in such a demanding and fast-paced field?
Speaking candidly, in our field—especially for independent practitioners—work-life balance often feels like a distant dream. However, with increasing awareness about its value, it’s worth making an effort to incorporate it, even in small ways. I personally am health conscious; I make it a point to monitor what I eat and stay consistent with my workouts to an extent, which keeps me disciplined and supports the demands of my rigorous professional life. During the court vacations, I like to travel. I also have a close-knit group of friends I regularly meet and spend time with.
You are an accomplished lawyer and you are practicing in both of the countries. How did you build this particular process for yourself, that you studied in India and then moved to Ontario, Canada and built a law practice over there?
I studied law from Panjab University, the five-year law department UILS, and once I finished, I moved to Delhi to study for competitive exams for some time. I stayed there in Delhi then after that I started practicing in Patiala district court in Punjab. I practiced there for more than a year and my parents live in Chandigarh. I am from Chandigarh, but I used to work in Patiala because I got an opportunity to work under a very good, very senior lawyer there. And I used to do civil litigation there in Patiala because my inclination was towards civil litigation.
Then one of my friends told me that there’s this program, you can go to Canada, you can become a permanent resident directly based on points, so I calculated my points. I was eligible and I applied for the permanent residency and I became a PR. I moved to Canada in 2019. And, after a few months, I was lucky enough to get a job in a criminal law firm in Canada. I started working there as a legal assistant and then slowly and steadily I cleared my NCA exam. For any person who wants to become a lawyer in Canada and who has not done law from Canada, the first step is to do the NCA exams. There are five, six exams. Basically, those are equivalency exams. Once you clear them and then you enroll yourself in the lawyer licensing process.
In the lawyer licensing process, you have to do three things. You have to clear the barrister exam, the solicitor exam, because in Canada, lawyers are called barristers and solicitors. We can practice as both barristers and solicitors the way we like and also complete a 10-month internship period with a lawyer, which is called an articling. So, I did all of that. Once I cleared my bar exams, I started working in the same firm as an articling student. And once I completed my articling, I was called to the bar in Ontario in February, 2022. the day I got called to the bar, the next day I opened my own practice, I started practicing on my own.
And I think I got called to the bar on February 26th, and I registered my firm on February 27th. And I used to do immigration law and criminal defense law in the beginning. I did immigration for a couple of months, but my focus, my interest, my inclination was towards criminal defense law, because I was lucky enough to get a mentor here in Canada as well. He’s a very senior criminal lawyer practicing for more than 40 years in Canada, only criminal law, and I got to learn the ropes of criminal law from him. My inclination was to practice criminal law in Canada. I stopped taking immigration files after a couple of months. After that, I’ve solely focused my practice on criminal defense law. And primarily I’m based in the GTA, which is the greater Toronto area, but I practice all over Ontario. I appear in all courts in Ontario and I deal with every kind of criminal case that exists in Canada.
How has your career in law or rather your decision to do law been instrumental in giving you this much confidence? You of course do a law degree to practice, but still confidence comes from many other sources as well. How have you done that for yourself?
I think mainly, especially in the legal field, your first mentor matters a lot. If you get a good mentor in the beginning, because invariably you become like them. When you start practicing, you pick up the traits of your first mentor you have. Your temperament becomes like them, you, your ethics, everything you copy from them, basically.
Because that’s your starting point. Unless your father is a lawyer, you have a family of lawyers, then that’s different. But if you’re a first-generation lawyer, your mentor is everything for you, in the beginning. I was lucky enough to get a very good mentor in India as well, in Patiala. And then I was very lucky to have a mentor here in Canada.
Who treated me like his son. He was the managing partner of the firm. They have 12 offices in Ontario. It’s a very big criminal law firm. I used to be with him all the time. Before COVID, we used to go to all courts in Ontario in person, every day. We used to devise a route in such a way, if I give you an example, an Indian example, you’re practicing in Patiala and you have a few court appearances on Monday, then we will devise a route in such a way that we will do Patiala, we will do Ropar, we will do Ludhiana and we can go to Hisharpur next. So, in that way. One day we are going in the other direction towards Delhi, one day we are going in the other direction. So, we used to cover all of Ontario in one week before COVID. But after COVID, everything started happening virtually. Now we do court appearances virtually. We’re doing this interview virtually.
Everything is virtual now and which is convenient for us as well because today also, I have a court date in Brampton, and I have a court date in a city which is 100 kilometers away, I have a court date in a city which is 200 kilometers away in the other direction. So, just because of these virtual appearances and zoom and everything, I would say it’s better for the justice system because we’re able to defend clients, access to justice is readily available now. And it is less expensive for clients as well because traveling costs and everything used to add up. So, I would say, getting a good mentor is crucial. I think he trained me in a way that after about two years of working with him, I was confident enough that I can start my own practice and I can do criminal law.
As you were discussing how you transitioned from India to Canada, is there any checklist that you could share with us and our learners? How did you do it in a stepwise manner? If that’s possible.
I would say there is only one way and it is not easy. I mean, the legal field is already competitive. Whether it’s India, Canada, US or England, wherever, the legal field is a competitive field. And if you’re changing countries, you’ve done law from another country, and you’re going to practice in another country, you have to learn their system, learn law, learn the procedure, learn everything that is there to learn.
And people are new, they won’t give you a chance very easily because you’re not a lawyer who’s done law from their country, you’re a foreign trained lawyer. Initially it is not easy. You have to be mentally tough; I would say it was easier because of the support of my parents. I moved to Canada.
I’m the only son and they were very supportive of my move to Canada. And initially, I would just say, anybody who comes to Canada. I would like to talk about Canada because I’m here. I can’t say about other countries. Don’t go astray. Don’t go into other areas. Stick to the legal field. People start driving, for example, trucks, taxis, and work in restaurants. Anybody who is not able to make ends meet, that’s a different scenario for them. But if you can afford, stick to the legal field, clear your exams as soon as possible, and then try to find a good mentor and find a good job. Getting the first job in the legal area, in the legal field is, I would say, one of the toughest things.
Once you get your first job in Canada, then you start building experience, you start learning things, you get the required skills that you need for your second job or to further your career in law. I would say getting the first job is crucial, and getting it as soon as possible is even more crucial because if you don’t get the first job in time, a few months pass. It is very difficult to survive in Canada without a job or without a proper job. That is why people tend to go to other areas to just survive which is okay given everybody’s circumstances, but if you can stick to the legal field, clear your exams, get your first job and it is also important to get a job where the mentor is good. Because the first job is not about money, it is all about learning. So, if you can get a job, get in that door, work for six months, learn something out of it, then getting a second job would be very easy for you. People start expecting money in the beginning. If the minimum wage is this, I should be getting this but that’s, I would say, especially in the legal field That’s not how it works.
Not everybody wants to pay. Not everybody wants to pay you well. So, if you are very lucky if you find an employer who’s paying you well or who’s treating you well, to get a first job, doing volunteer work is the best way and quickest way to get your job. Don’t worry about money if you work for them for one or two months. They like you; they like your skills, they like the hard work you put in and your mentor is good. They will definitely start paying you. Nobody wants to have a person who’s a hard-working person and nobody wants to have them work for free. Once you show them that you were really worth something, money will follow.
As a criminal defense lawyer, what has been one of the most or some of the most challenging cases that you may have handled, if it is possible for you to share any particular case or the outcome of that particular case, which has actually significantly influenced your approach towards criminal law?
I have handled a variety of cases, but the difficulty I think is in the client. Law is the same. If there is a case which pertains to an area of criminal law, which I’m not very familiar with. I can read up, I have books, there are so many resources, judgments, everything.
You can learn those things. I think it depends on the client. Sometimes clients are difficult. For example, now primarily, most of my clients are immigrants. They come from South Asian backgrounds, Indians, Pakistanis, Afghanis, Iranian, Middle Eastern people, Southwest Asian people, Southeast Asian people, Filipinos, all of those. So mostly immigrants, plus local people. The majority of my practice consists of immigrants. Immigrants come from countries where there is corruption, where you know you can manage things in your own way. They come with this expectation to Canada that if they get charged with a criminal offense. They will hire a lawyer and the lawyer will do some magic and the lawyer can get them out of it. In some cases, it’s possible.
It’s not possible and the main difference between Indian and Canadian legal systems, especially in criminal law is we do plea bargaining a lot. In India there is provision in the CRPC for plea bargaining, but it’s not done very often In Canada, most cases resolve by getting a plea bargain. I would say 20, 25 percent cases go to trial. In Canada, if the evidence is against you, the crown, we call prosecutors crown attorneys here because Canada is a constitutional democracy. So the crown attorneys have enough evidence against you, they think they will be able to prove the case against you, then there is no other way out. You cannot bribe the crown attorney.
You cannot bribe the judge and neither the police. But I think people come with an expectation that our lawyer will manage everything. They will just get us out of everything. Unscratched. So, I think managing people’s expectations is most difficult. Because if you tell your client in the beginning just to get retained that, okay, your case is very easy.
I will do this and this, I will do wonders in your case. Then you’ve created such expectations that once you also know that those are not true because when the case ends, your client is bound to be dissatisfied with you. They are bound to be unhappy with you because you gave them expectations which are not real. So, managing the client’s expectations. It’s not true for immigrants only. It’s true for everyone, but I’ve seen a tendency of immigrants who think like this. They’re more in number. I would say that is the most difficult task. If you manage your client’s expectations appropriately, I think there’s nothing to worry about.
And now there comes this issue of credibility as well. As a new lawyer. If I start telling my clients, okay, these are the pros, these are the cons. This can be done. This cannot be done. They will most probably go to another lawyer who gives them better expectations or who promises better things.
In the beginning, it is very difficult to manage expectations and on the same hand get yourself retained. But as you, your practice grows older you get credibility. People start trusting you, they believe what you say and they trust you. Now it is easier for me at this stage. Whatever I tell my clients they trust me, they believe me. But in the beginning, it was very difficult. When you tell clients that this cannot be done, they will go to another person who promises better things. Now you have to promise also and you have to execute your plan and get what you promised.
As you were mentioning during your answer about the difference between the way we practice law in India and the way you practice law in Canada, you are a dual license lawyer, with your experiences in both of the countries. How have you seen the difference between the legal system and the kind of function it has in each country? Is there any particular reason for you to choose especially criminal law practice? And also, what are the particular differences between these two jurisdictions? As you mentioned, Canada is a constitutional law country.
I think I chose criminal law by chance, because in India I was practicing civil litigation. When I came to Canada, I got my first job in a criminal law firm. I learned criminal law. I got experience. I developed the skillset for a criminal defense lawyer. That is why I got into criminal law. I wouldn’t say it was planned. It was just by chance. But there are differences also in Indian and Canadian legal systems.
There are similarities as well. I would say, in India, we have a very good legal system as in Canada, but I think the difference is in the implementation. Police have all the powers, but police cannot implement their powers, execute their powers. due to various reasons. Similarly, when the case goes to the court, the prosecutors, judges have lots of powers, but the implementation, especially the delay. Justice delayed is always justice denied.
I would say the main problem in Indian courts is the delay. In Canada, there’s a Supreme Court judgment that you have to finish a criminal case in 18 months. If it’s not finished in 18 months and the delay is unreasonable, the court will withdraw your charges. They will throw the case out of the court and your charges will be stayed or withdrawn. So, this is how serious they are with regards to timelines. A criminal case gets finished in one and a half years to two years. That’s the maximum. On an average, a criminal case gets finished, I would say six, seven months, eight months. When you get justice in time, justice seems to have been done.
But when you don’t get justice for years, even if justice gets done in the end, I don’t think it’s of any use to the person who’s been fighting for justice for so many years. Second thing is I found a lot of difference in sentencing and how people are sentenced. For example, you are found guilty of any offense or you plead guilty to something and then a sentencing hearing is scheduled.
Before the sentencing hearing, we provide all the information about our client’s background to the judge, including any counseling that they’ve done, any background reference letters, any immigration consequences they may have, a lot of different things depending on the charges and the situation. And when the sentence hearing takes place, the prosecutor, the crown attorney, they tell the judge what sentence they are asking for and the reasons for the sentence. Then it’s our turn, we make our submissions, and when the judge sentences the person, they talk to the person, they tell them that we are imposing this sentence on you.
These were the aggravating factors that I considered. These were the mitigating factors that I considered. And this is the reason that I’m imposing this sentence on you, and this is what you have to do. They take their time, they take half an hour, one hour, two hours, to explain everything to the person so that that person knows why this sentence was imposed on me, what were the things that were against me, what were the things that were in my support. And the result is that the person is usually satisfied with the result, with the sentence and they have faith in the criminal justice system. They don’t think that the sentence is arbitrary or they don’t think that the judge was biased or they just imposed a sentence which was not appropriate in the circumstances. So this process taking time to explain things to the person I think has a great impact on that person and that person usually doesn’t come before the court again. They’re usually done because the main sentencing principle in Canada usually is rehabilitation.
You have to give a sentence in a way so that the sentence should not be too harsh, that the person goes to jail and becomes a criminal in jail. Otherwise, he’s not a criminal. And the sentence should not be too lenient so that the person thinks, okay, I can get away with everything. The sentence should be balanced enough to take care of all the sentencing principles. I would say sentencing in Canada is very thorough and is very important and everybody gives it importance.
You have also mentioned about your passion of spreading awareness related to law, especially not only criminal law, but obviously about these kinds of differences as well. What kind of advice would you like to give to the young and aspiring lawyers who are actually dreaming to become international practitioners like you?
I think the way to success in the legal profession is the same in every country. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Canada, India, US, wherever. Initially, you have to focus on learning. Don’t focus on money. Focus on developing your skill set for the initial four or five years or less or more depending on your circumstances.
Money will follow after that. If you start focusing on money, focusing on glamour, focusing on other things in the beginning, your practice may not go in the direction that you want it to go to. But if you focus on learning, getting a good mentor, I think nothing beats it. Nothing beats hard work. There is no shortcut to anything.
You have to be uncomfortable; you have to go out of your comfort zone. If you don’t become uncomfortable, if you don’t take risks, smaller risk or big, you don’t have to take a very big risk initially, it’s all about smaller risks that you take on a daily basis. Taking up a case, which you don’t know much about, then researching and finding out everything about it and going to court, speaking in a court which is packed with lawyers, people on Zoom, judges listening to you, your client is listening to you. The other party is listening to you. Sometimes you become weak in your legs, sometimes you start shaking, you are very nervous, but you cannot show that to the judge. You cannot show that to the crown.
You cannot show that to other lawyers, your client, anybody else. I think hard work, research, and preparation is the only, only, and only way to get success in the legal profession. Without preparation or hard work, if you don’t know your file, you’ll make a laughing stock of yourself in court. I would just say that.
When you started Jaslegals, which now operates across five office locations in the Greater Toronto area itself, can you tell us more about your vision for the firm and how you effectively manage the operations and maintain a consistent workflow across these multiple locations?
First of all, most things happen virtually. That helps. Because we’re able to do everything virtually sitting in one place because Ontario, I think it’s larger than Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan combined or even larger. It is impossible to go everywhere physically.
I have five different offices in different locations in the greater Toronto area. My main office is in Mississauga. I am based in Mississauga, but I go to my other offices by appointment. If somebody wants to meet me in Waterloo, Toronto, Scarborough, Hamilton, I go there by appointment. Now, I have a team working for me.
I have my office managers, legal assistants working for me. My wife is a big support. She’s been working with me since day one. She handles the firm’s marketing and social media aspect of the firm and every kind of marketing. She does everything. She’s made the logo. She’s made the website She’s made our flyers everything that she does.
I don’t know anything about those things so without her that site wouldn’t have been possible and yes, we have five locations and usually we do things virtually, but if somebody, if the client insists that I meet them in person in a different city, then I go wherever they need me to come.
But yes, we have a system. We have employees working for us. We have streamlined everything. And recently, I posted an ad for a lawyer. I wanted to hire a lawyer. I finalized somebody, our team is growing. And my vision is for the firm to practice criminal law across Canada, to open up offices in different provinces of Canada and just focus on criminal law and just focus on imparting knowledge about criminal law because like I told you mostly my clients are immigrants and immigrants do not know about criminal law. Everybody in Canada knows about real estate law or immigration law because they’ve been through that process. But criminal law impacts them on a daily basis and the consequences of getting into trouble with criminal law are deputation, jail term, getting a criminal record, which are very serious.
You lose your job, lose your family, lose the country. I thought when I started that it’s very important for people to know about criminal law so that they don’t get into trouble with criminal law unintentionally. So that is my goal and I’m very active on social media. I make videos in English and Punjabi, which is my mother tongue, so that people understand what criminal law is and how to stay out of trouble with criminal law.
We would love to understand how you balance between your personal and professional commitments as both of you are working professionals and also the kind of professional demands that you have because of the five locations. How soon do you see yourself being spread all over Canada?
I would say, first of all, I try to balance my personal and professional life. Spending time with my family is very important to me. We have a dog as well. We don’t have a child, but we have a dog which is like our child.
I make sure that I’m home from the office about four o’clock, which is my dog’s dog park time. He’s waiting for me to take him. Then we spend about two hours together, my wife and our dog, we go on hikes, we go to the dog park. I’m usually not available between four to six. So, my assistants or my associates, they answer my phone calls and everything. Then I resume work. Because I get phone calls a lot. I get phone calls 24×7. People get stuck. People keep getting arrested. People have troubles late at night. I’m always on the phone. I resume my work after that, but I make it a point to come home in time so that we’re able to spend our evenings together.
And my wife and I have no issues spending time together because we are always together. We go to the office together. We are at home together in the evening also. We try to cook and stay together. We like staying in. We don’t like going out that much because of your dog also. And because it’s just what we prefer. I think balancing is no problem. And I stress on it a lot because my parents, my mother especially used to emphasize the importance of balancing different things in life. She used to say, don’t do anything extreme, balance everything. If you balance everything, that’s better in the long run.
I would like to ask you about the kind of issues that are coming up with not only lawyers, but other professions also related to mental health. What are your views about that as you are so keen on spreading awareness about criminal law in immigrants. So how do you see that one can actually go ahead and try and help these kinds of issues or address these issues at least because these have become very evident right after COVID as well?
Absolutely, I would say the legal profession is a tough profession and especially criminal law because when a person gets charged with a criminal offense, they come to you with their problem. They are in trouble. They are panicking. If you are dedicated to your practice. Over time, you start thinking that your client’s problems are your problems.
You treat their problems as your own because they tell you, their problems. They tell you everything about their life. You know, everything about their life, their challenges, if they have any money problems, if they have any family problems, partner problems, anything else. So eventually when people are telling you their problems, 24/7, you start thinking that their problems are your problems and you start taking the stress of their problems. It happened to me as well. I used to get stressed a lot. I used to get anxious sometimes in the mornings when I wake up.
But I identified this and I told myself that I will not let troubles of my clients take the better of me. It is okay till a point to understand their problems, but to take on their problems as your own is, I would say a negative thing, which I’ve learned very recently. I would say at the end. You’re just doing your job. You’re a professional. You’re being paid to do your job, do your job properly. If you’re not doing your job properly, sometimes then you get stressed because you’re not putting in the work in the file that the file demands. Sometimes you are not looking after your clients’ demands, but if you are doing your job properly, I think you should not be stressed about the outcome because you are not the judge, you are not God, you are not anybody else. You are just an advocate for your client. If you advocate for your client to the best of your ability, I think there’s nothing to worry about. Result doesn’t matter. Even if the result is not what you expected I think the client will be happy with you because you put in a lot of hard work and it will show to the client. I think balancing your life and separating your professional problems or professional demands from your personal life is very important, especially in criminal law.
I would say this kind of stress real estate lawyers do not experience, immigration lawyers do not experience, or may not experience to the level, because my client, if I don’t do a good job, that person can be in jail for years. That person will get a criminal record. That person will lose his job. And if that person is not a Canadian citizen, they will also be deported. Sometimes they have their family, their kids here. And if the husband gets deported or the wife gets deported, it can break up their family. I think it takes time to learn all those things. That doesn’t come on day one. But as you grow, as you get more experienced, you tend to learn how to separate these things.
Was pursuing law a deliberate choice for you, or did it evolve into your chosen career over time?
Pursuing law was the result of an evolving journey shaped by both destiny and conscious choice. Coming from a family of legal stalwarts, I grew up immersed in the world of law. Intense debates—ranging from courtroom strategies to ethical dilemmas—were a regular feature of our dinner-table conversations. While these discussions planted a seed of curiosity, I wasn’t immediately certain that law would be my path. My early years were marked by explorations in diverse fields, from economics to business, as I searched for a career that combined intellectual stimulation with a meaningful societal impact. It was during this exploration that I realized the unique power of the law. It offered not just a way to understand the complexities of human behavior and governance but also a means to address injustice and drive positive change.
Your career includes training under Mr. Harish Salve in 2012 and working with Sr. Adv. Shyam Divan from 2012-2015. How did these varied experiences shape your approach to legal strategy and advocacy? What key lessons from these roles have influenced your current practice?
Working with legal stalwarts like Mr. Harish Salve and Mr. Shyam Divan was akin to being immersed in a legal crucible—intense, demanding, and transformative. Under Mr. Salve’s mentorship, I had the privilege of witnessing some of the most intricate legal battles, including the Vodafone tax case. Watching him distill the complexities of international tax law into a compelling narrative taught me a foundational truth: advocacy is as much about storytelling as it is about precision. The ability to craft a persuasive argument lies in presenting the law as a relatable, logical story.
With Mr. Divan, the experience was equally inspiring but with a different focus. He emphasized the ethical dimensions of advocacy, championing causes like environmental protection and public interest. His approach reinforced the idea that law isn’t just about winning but about serving a larger purpose. These formative years grounded me in the importance of not just skillful argumentation but also principled advocacy.
In 2015, I joined Agarwal Law Associates and had the privilege of working in the High Court team under Mr. Rishi Aggarwal. This role gave me a hands-on understanding of the complete lifecycle of a case-from meticulous drafting to effective courtroom strategy. It was a masterclass in building cases from the ground up and developing the confidence to tackle complex legal issues.
My time as Additional Standing Counsel for Government of NCT which began in 2023 has been starkly different yet an equally enriching chapter. It requires navigating the delicate balance between policy-making and legal frameworks. This role has sharpened my sense of diplomacy and pragmatism, as it often involves reconciling competing interests while staying within the boundaries of law. It has also taught me the value of adaptability—essential for a litigator handling varied and dynamic challenges.
While litigation demands technical expertise, it also requires understanding the human element—the psychology of clients, the mood of the courtroom, and the pulse of a judge. Recognizing these subtleties has been crucial in my practice. In essence, these varied experiences have not only shaped my approach to legal strategy and advocacy but have also instilled in me the humility to learn, the courage to innovate, and the discipline to strive for excellence every single day.
Anyone starting off must get all different kinds of flavours before charting out their own journey either as corporate, litigating advocate or an In-house counsel. I guess it’s a matter of identifying your strengths and weaknesses and personality traits and chart upon your own journey – As they say one man’s vulgarity is another man’s lyric!!
As the Additional Advocate General for Karnataka, you represent the state in significant legal matters before the courts. Can you share some challenges you have faced in this capacity, and what your approach is in complex constitutional or administrative matters?
Representing a state is an overwhelming responsibility. It transcends the goal of securing legal victories and focuses on safeguarding the public interest while upholding the fundamental principles of the Constitution. Every case carries weight, but some test the limits of your expertise and commitment. Among the most challenging matters I’ve handled was an essential policy dispute that put the delicate balance between federalism and state autonomy to the test. The stakes were monumental, and the case required a comprehensive examination of constitutional provisions, a thorough study of historical jurisprudence, and an acute understanding of the potential societal and economic ripple effects our stance could create.
In tackling such high-stakes issues, my approach is deeply rooted in preparation and collaboration. It begins with an exhaustive analysis of the legal framework, ensuring that every aspect of the matter is understood in its entirety. I place great emphasis on engaging in intense, constructive discussions with my colleagues, leveraging their perspectives to build a stronger case. Anticipation is key—I work tirelessly to predict and prepare for potential questions or arguments that may arise, whether from opposing counsel or the judiciary.
The stakes in such state matters are undeniably high. Yet, the challenges come with an unparalleled sense of fulfillment. Contributing to the larger public good, shaping the course of policy, and upholding the ideals of justice are not just professional achievements—they are deeply personal rewards. This is what fuels my passion and dedication to the role, even in the face of its inherent complexities and pressures.
After gaining experience with prominent figures in the legal field, what motivated you to establish your own practice? What challenges did you face in the early stages of building your own practice?
Starting my own practice felt like jumping off a cliff with the hope of building wings on the way down. The motivation? A burning desire to step out of the shadows and craft my own identity in the legal world. I wanted the freedom to choose my battles, shape my approach to justice, and make a meaningful impact on both public and private interests. I’ve always relished diving deep into the complexities of law, even when it meant hitting roadblocks that tested my patience and resolve.
The early days were a whirlwind of excitement and uncertainty. Earning the trust of clients was daunting—people place their faith in your expertise, and you have to prove your worth every single day. Building a competent team was another challenge; finding individuals who shared my vision and drive took time. Then there was the steep learning curve of managing finances and the logistics of running a practice—it felt like constructing a skyscraper, laying one brick at a time with no blueprint in sight.
But every challenge taught me something invaluable. I learned resilience, adaptability, and the power of persistence. Those early struggles also revealed the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Gradually, what started as a daunting endeavor evolved into a fulfilling journey. My practice became more than just a professional commitment—it became a platform to explore complex legal issues, fight for justice, and pursue both commercial and public interest work.
In hindsight, those early challenges weren’t just obstacles; they were stepping stones. They shaped me into a more nuanced and versatile practitioner, giving me a deeper appreciation for the law and its potential to transform lives. Starting my own practice wasn’t just a career move—it was a leap of faith that helped me grow in ways I never imagined.
As an independent private practitioner, you specialize in a range of areas such as commercial disputes, company law, IP, and insolvency matters. How do you prioritize cases across such diverse fields, and how do you manage the intricacies of each area in your practice?
Managing a practice that spans diverse legal fields is like orchestrating a symphony—each area has its distinct tempo and complexity, but success lies in achieving harmony. Prioritizing cases depends on several factors: urgency, the potential impact on the client, and the complexity of the legal issues involved. For example, commercial disputes often require quick, strategic interventions to minimize business disruptions, whereas insolvency matters demand meticulous analysis of financial details and legal frameworks to ensure equitable outcomes.
My approach blends specialization with adaptability. Each area brings its own challenges—intellectual property law requires creativity and a nuanced understanding of innovation, while company law involves intricate knowledge of corporate governance and compliance. The key is to immerse myself fully in the specifics of each case, tailoring my strategy to the unique demands of the matter at hand.
To manage such a dynamic practice, I maintain a disciplined workflow. This includes leveraging the expertise of a talented team, continuously updating my knowledge of legal developments, and maintaining a client-focused approach. Staying informed about the latest rulings, legislative changes, and industry trends is non-negotiable—it allows me to provide solutions that are not just legally sound but also practically effective.
Ultimately, this multidisciplinary approach ensures that I can navigate the intricacies of each field while delivering cohesive, impactful results for my clients. It’s this balance between specialization and versatility that defines my practice and keeps me motivated to tackle challenges across the legal spectrum.
Your practice spans both private commercial litigation and government representation. How do you approach preparing and arguing cases for the government, especially in sensitive constitutional matters or PILs? Can you share a particularly challenging case with us?
Preparing for government cases requires carefully balancing social, legal, and policy considerations. Take, for instance, petitions involving land acquisition and compensation issues. The core challenge lies in reconciling public interest with the protection of individual rights. These cases demand not only a deep understanding of constitutional safeguards but also a keen awareness of the socio-economic implications of governmental policies.
In such matters, my strategy revolves around crafting nuanced arguments that respect individual rights while emphasizing the broader public good. This involves meticulously analyzing legal precedents, assessing the societal impact of proposed actions, and ensuring that the state’s position aligns with constitutional principles. These cases push you to think beyond the technicalities of law. They require engaging with the larger societal context, understanding the effects of policy decisions, and striving to find solutions that uphold justice for all stakeholders. It’s this interplay between law and societal concerns that makes such cases both challenging and profoundly fulfilling.
I have been privileged to contribute to causes that hold immense significance, including public health, environmental protection, and the prevention of animal cruelty. These endeavors have given me a deep sense of pride and fulfillment, allowing me to serve as a responsible and conscientious citizen of India.
That said, public interest litigation is a powerful tool but one that is often misused. It must be exercised sparingly and only in truly exceptional circumstances where the cause is both genuine and pursued with unwavering sincerity, passion, and integrity. PILs should always prioritize the ultimate beneficiary—public interest—and must never be driven by personal motives or frivolous intentions. When used responsibly, they can be a transformative force for justice and societal progress.
You’ve been involved in pro bono work, particularly in areas like animal welfare and environmental law. Can you discuss your motivation and how you balance such work with your high-profile commercial litigation practice?
Pro bono work is not just a professional obligation; it is a personal calling. Causes like animal welfare and environmental conservation resonate with my belief in the law as an instrument of social change. These cases often demand creativity and passion rather than resources, and the satisfaction they bring is unparalleled. Balancing this with commercial litigation is a matter of discipline and prioritization. I view pro bono work as an opportunity to give back to society, and it fuels my sense of purpose even amidst the rigors of high-stakes litigation.
Having worked on several high-profile cases involving major corporations, how do you approach the strategy for such complex matters, particularly those with significant commercial implications?
High-profile corporate cases are a testament to the art of legal strategy, demanding both precision and adaptability. Each case begins with a critical step: deconstructing intricate transactions and factual matrices into manageable and comprehensible components. The ability to simplify the seemingly convoluted comes with experience and continuous learning—a process I embrace daily. The sheer exposure these cases offer is a remarkable opportunity to deepen one’s understanding of the law and its real-world applications.
Once the foundation is clear, the focus shifts to identifying potential legal risks, predicting opposing arguments, and crafting a strategy that not only protects the client’s interests but also aligns seamlessly with their commercial objectives. This requires a deep dive into the nuances of the case, backed by meticulous research and a robust understanding of the relevant legal framework.
Collaboration is another cornerstone of my approach. High-profile matters often span multiple disciplines—finance, technology, regulatory compliance, and more. Partnering with domain experts ensures that every angle is considered, enabling the development of innovative legal solutions tailored to the client’s needs. For instance, in cases involving regulatory complexities, understanding the finer details of compliance is as crucial as interpreting the law itself. Equally important is clear communication. In high-stakes matters, ensuring that clients, stakeholders, and the legal team are aligned is paramount. Breaking down legal strategies into actionable insights allows clients to make informed decisions, fostering trust and confidence.
Above all, my approach is guided by an unwavering commitment to ethical standards. Protecting the client’s interests is always the priority, but it must never come at the expense of integrity or the larger principles of justice. The intersection of law and business in such cases is both challenging and rewarding, offering the opportunity to create meaningful and impactful outcomes.
Given the high demands of your legal career, how do you balance your professional responsibilities with personal obligations? What strategies do you use to recharge and stay motivated in your work?
The idea of a perfect work-life balance in the legal profession is, in many ways, a myth. As a litigator, the demands are relentless—requiring an unwavering commitment of passion, intellect, and hard work. There are times when family commitments inevitably take a back seat. Let’s be clear: the profession isn’t for the faint-hearted. It calls for sacrifice, and the stakes are high.
That said, it’s not all about unyielding work. I make a conscious effort to find pockets of time to recharge, especially during court recesses or when the case load allows for a break. These moments, though brief, are invaluable. I use them to reconnect with loved ones, dive into a good book, or engage in enriching conversations that allow me to step away from the legal grind and reset mentally.
The motivation to keep going despite the pressures lies in the profound impact of the work I do. There is an undeniable sense of fulfillment in knowing that my efforts contribute to justice, the rule of law, and societal progress. This sense of purpose is what fuels my passion and drives me forward, even when the demands are at their peak.
Ultimately, while work-life balance may be elusive, the positive influence of my work serves as the ultimate form of professional satisfaction, and that is what keeps me motivated and committed to my craft.
You have been involved in training sessions with Senior Advocates and Judges. How do you approach mentoring young lawyers, and what advice would you offer to aspiring lawyers who hope to achieve success in the legal profession?
Mentoring young lawyers is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. I view it as both a responsibility and a privilege. In my mentorship, I encourage young lawyers to embrace the challenges that the profession presents. Every case, every legal question, is an opportunity for growth. I stress the importance of developing strong critical thinking skills and cultivating a deep, insatiable curiosity for the law. It is this curiosity that drives innovation and fuels the passion necessary to succeed in such a demanding field.
For aspiring lawyers, my advice is straightforward but vital: never stop learning, stay persistent, and, above all, practice with humility and integrity. The road to success in law is rarely quick or easy. It is a journey that is built brick by brick, requiring dedication, resilience, and a constant commitment to justice. The legal profession rewards those who approach it with patience and diligence, knowing that each case and each experience contributes to a greater understanding of the law.
Looking ahead, I also believe that technology, particularly AI, will play an increasingly significant role in the legal field. Just as technology has already transformed legal research and case management, I’m confident that AI will continue to aid lawyers in refining their practice. Lawyers who embrace these advancements and use them effectively will not only enhance their own productivity but also improve the quality of service they provide to their clients. The key is adapting to these changes and harnessing the power of technology to make the most of your time and expertise.
Ultimately, mentoring is about instilling young lawyers and colleagues with the belief that success is not just about winning cases but about making a meaningful impact, continuously learning, and striving to elevate the practice of law to its highest ideals. We are constantly learning on a daily basis, knowledge must be imbued and absorbed with great hunger and passion.
You initially pursued a Bachelor’s in Business Management before shifting to law. What motivated you to transition from BBA to LLB, Can you share how your journey began, including any mentors or specific experiences during your education at College that significantly influenced your career path?
The transition was not voluntary and Hon’ble Supreme Court had a major role to play in it.
In 2003, between the choice of joining National University of Advanced Legal Studies, in Kerala, and ICFAI LAW School, although I hailed from Kerala, I choose to join ICFAI LAW School for B.B.M LL.B. (Hons) at it Hyderabad Campus. The primary reason for choosing to join ICFAI LAW School was being allured by the course content and teaching methodology, advertised in the brochure then, was very promising. The principle ‘Caveat Emptor’ was taught by life example by ICFAI then. Before completion of the 2nd year, in 2005, it was informed that the B.B.M and LL. B degree of the College which was affiliated under Chhattisgarh Private Sector University Act, 2002, was struck down as unconstitutional by Hon’ble Supreme Court and that the batch of ours could not be continued. It had come to almost an existential crisis that not only two years of college life is lost, probably a career in law was never going to be there.
It was after a lot of talks with the College Authorities, solutions emerged and it was offered that we complete the last year of Graduation at the Dehradun Campus of ICFAI University and will be conferred with B.B.A degree and thereafter whoever was interested to pursue M.B.A, would be given lateral admission to M.B.A degree to the ICFAI Colleges and whosoever was interested to pursue law could pursue law from Colleges of their Choice. Although distraught, accepting the offered solution, we went to Dehradun. Undeterred to the dream of being a lawyer, pursuant to final exam, I applied to ILS Law College, Pune and Campus Law Centre, Delhi. Until I secured admission, I moved to Delhi and started working with IBM and later at Convergys (BPO Sector). Working in the BPO sector, improved my communication skills and during the training period, befriended and met a lot of interesting individuals. Spending time with people and understanding their nature, especially from different parts of India, the discussions on various topics improved my perspective on how to narrate the facts and impress upon it. These discussions, had later, came to be of use while drafting Plaints and Petitions and while arguing cases.
I was able to secure my admission in ILS Law College, Pune (2006-09) for three-year course. I was staying in an apartment next to ILS Law College where the other roommates were from Symbiosis Law College including my dear friend Advocate Rony John. Most of my dear friends among the legal fraternity were formed here. The apartment used to house at time more than 30 college students. We had a library with the discarded books of the roommates who left for jobs after the final year college. The apartment was first choice among many students for preparing moot court memorials and research. More law was learnt during the discussions in the apartment with friends who were preparing for moot courts.
During my three-year law course, much to various other factors shaping my decision, I was lured to attempt the Civil Service Examination. After my final examinations in 2009, I shifted back to Delhi for preparing Civil Service Examination. Thrice I cleared preliminary examination, but could not clear Mains Examination. After 2012 Mains attempt which I wrote in Kerala, while waiting for the results, I applied with M/s Menon and Pai Advocates in Ernakulam for the post of Associate Lawyer. The aspirant in me knew there was no further aspiration to attempt once more if I don’t clear the Mains. It was time to adorn the black gown.
I had applied with M/s Menon and Pai Advocates around September, 2012 and my confirmation came in December, 2012. For around two months I was attached with Chambers of Advocate K.S Babu at Ernakulam. Adv K.S Babu Sir’s son, Advocate Babu Shankar, was a dear friend and being absolutely new to Court practices, I was introduced to trial court practice. Representing during roll call is an art in itself and I learnt how to submit during roll calls and obtain adjournments and even ensure adjournment requests by opposite side lawyers are not acceded by the presiding Judge stating the urgency in the case. In fact, the office Clerk Mr. Murali encouraged me to take representation chits from other offices too and make as much representations as possible so as to gain experience, acquaint with other fellow lawyers and be a known face in the Court.
Upon joining M/s Menon and Pai Advocates, I started initially with the High Court practice, primarily Writ Courts, then moving on to Labour Law practice. I had the opportunity to appear before Assistant and Regional Provident Fund Commissioners, Authorities under the ESI Act, EPF Appellate Tribunal Camp Sitting in Kozhikode, Labour Courts at Kollam, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur, Industrial Tribunals at Trivandrum, Kollam, Idukki, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Statutory Authorities under the Payment of Wages Act, Bonus Act, Minimum Wages Act and also under Industrial Disputes Act. Cross examination of Claimant and Claimant witness and cross examining the statutory officials, was enriching experience to prep myself for the in depth trial court practice on the Civil side in the years to come. Around 2015, at my instance, I shifted internally within the firm into Civil practice. It is during this tenure, I jumped into the deep waters of Civil law practice starting my tryst with Civil Procedure Code, 1908. I was also fortunate to associate myself on drafting Plaints and Written statements in Original suits; Writ Petitions and counter affidavits in Writ matter; First Appeals from Orders against Interlocutory orders in Original suits, Appeals from Final decrees, Second Appeals from First Appeal Orders; Claim petitions and Defence statements in Arbitration matters; Versions on behalf of Opposite party in Consumer matters. The Pleadings and nature and style of drafting each, are not only different and has to be structured differently according to each Court and sometimes according to the presiding judges. I was fortunate to have my drafts corrected by Senior Partners of Menon and Pai – Justice Jaishankar Nambiar Sir (High Court of Kerala), Justice Gopinath Menon Sir (High Court of Kerala), Senior Advocate E K Nandakumar, Advocate Gopikrishnan Nambiar Sir, Senior Advocate Benny P Thomas Sir (now Senior Partner with Thomas and Thomas Associates), Advocate John Mathai Sir, Advocate Joson Manavalan Sir. What has to be said, how it has to be said and where it should be said are the hallmarks in pleading. I learnt the same and even understood the nuances of how different the pleadings are in Original Suit vis- a-vis Writ Petition, between Claim Petition in an Arbitration and Original Suit for Specific Performance, between Appeal suits and Writ Appeals etc. during my practice at M/s Menon and Pai Advocates.
The journey took me from Kerala to Hyderabad to Dehradun to Delhi to Pune and then back to Delhi and later back to Kerala. The journey although was strewn with hardships, existential crisis at times including closing down of the College I had enrolled with; the people I met at the cross roads of the journey, the problems and how the solutions came across in life, looking aback, prepped me for the life ahead. The hardships were definitely rewarding and as its goes, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”, made me stronger to face the hardships the life of a Lawyer would bring upon.
Having represented clients in more than 400 litigations since 2017, can you discuss one particularly challenging case and the insights you gained from it?
Being a first generation lawyer, I could never conjure the courage to start my independent chamber practice. Dear friend of mine, Advocate Krishnamohan Menon, inspired me to take the first step. Even if abject poverty could become the outcome, the hunger to practice law with one’s own clientele, was alluring to start independent chamber practice. Another dear friend of mine, Advocate Unni Kappen, offered to share space in his Chamber and thus was born M/s Navodaya Law Solutions in March, 2017. My first work was to draft a Memorandum of Understanding for a purchase of a property. This drafting was done by me carefully wording the clauses. I was fortunate to have drafted and vetted several agreements on behalf of M/s BPCL and M/s Symega Food Ingredients Ltd among many other clients, that Contract drafting and its nuances was taught during my discussion with the senior officials of the respective companies. Mr. Venugopal (Retired Senior Legal Manager) of BPCL and Mr. Mathews Jacob (Retired -CFO- Symega Food Ingredients Ltd) have been instrumental in helping me understanding the nuances of the Contract drafting. These skills came to help in drafting the MOU, which when later had ended up as a land grabbing case by impersonating my client and executing the Sale Deed, I was fortunate to have the confidence of my Client who in spite of being advised to engage a Senior Counsel, entrusted the brief with me and I was able to get the land grabbing undone, the registered documents declared as forged and the revenue records rectified. An act of registration of sale deed by impersonation amounts to an act of fraud. I was able to advise my client, not to resort to the remedial course of Civil Court declaration and injunction simpliciter, but approach the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) for setting aside the document. The land grabbers had grabbed not only my Clients property but also adjoining properties of the relatives of my Clients. While they were suggested by their respective counsels to move the Civil Court and had instituted Original Suits after remitting hefty Court fees, I moved the IGR for cancellation of the deeds and also moved the High Court to direct the sub registrar to not permit any further conveyancing of the disputed property until IGR decided my application. High Court was pleased to issue the directions and also directed IGR to consider my application at the earliest. Finally, IGR was able to ascertain that the Sale deed was registered by an act of impersonation and the sale deeds were cancelled. The clauses of the Agreement were also tested by both Civil Court (in Suit for Specific Performance filed by Land grabbers) and High Court for whether the land grabbers had a charge on account of advance payment and were entitled for prayer of specific performance. I was able to convince the Court that charge was not possible as the clause was clearly worded that Advance payment was not refundable if the sale was not completed at the instance of the purchasers. As the purchasers, admittedly committed the act of land grabbing, there is not possibility of the proceeding with the sale, and therefore, the Advance amounts being not refundable, the charge on the property was not possible and the specific performance was not possible.
The challenge in the entire proceedings was that the land grabbers were politically connected and the police authorities were completely hesitant to act. The complaints before police authorities were on the garb of investigation moving at a snail’s pace, I had to think out of box and invoke the High Court’s writ jurisdiction to ensure that the further conveyancing of the property was not undertaken, albeit the same even if registered may have no validity in the eyes of the law, a further transaction would bring in more respondents to the proceedings and therefore further time spend on that. The lessons learnt from my Seniors and practice at M/s Menon and Pai Advocates, helped to me use statutory remedy for cancellation of sale deed than approaching a civil court for declaration and invoking High Court for interim remedy. This act and course of action, adopted, proved to be successful and the entire course of proceedings culminated in less than a year.
I was also fortunate to be the lead Petitioner Counsel in the issue of Director Disqualification wherein I had filed 100 plus writ petitions on behalf of 100 plus directors of various companies challenging the acti of disqualifying the Directors from acting as Directors of their Companies for five years and was also the lead Petitioner Counsel for candidates who failed in the Review Medical Examination in Combined Examination for Assam rifles and CAPFs. At both occasions, without engaging Senior Counsel, clients had entrusted the matters to me to argue before the High Court, in spite of the stakes involved. I have been also glad that I have always been approached by Lawyers to be handed briefs as I had varied experience in handling matters arising from Arbitration, Intellectual property Law, Labour, Electricity, Consumer, White Collar crime, Company and Insolvency, Securitisation etc. and roughly 40 percent of my cases are Lawyers briefs in my practice at Kerala. I will always recommend that if one can burn the midnight oil, and conduct your cases diligently, you will also be engaged by fellow lawyers to conduct their briefs and this will cement your belief, yes one is moving in the right direction. I would also say, do have the courage to refer mattes to fellow Advocates who have better experience in the subject area so that you do justice to your Client and learn in the process too.
Over the years, you’ve handled numerous arbitration cases, including high-stakes ones like the Tamil Nadu PWD appeal, which had a significant impact. Can you elaborate on how your approach to arbitration has evolved throughout your career? What specific strategies or methodologies have you developed, and how do you ensure you remain at the forefront of arbitration practices?
My tryst with Arbitration Laws started while assisting Advocate Joson Manavalan Sir in Arbitrations. Arbitration resolves disputes, primarily, based on what documented right or obligation has been vitiated and therefore the game is won based on documents. The art of pleading has to more to do with art of pleading the documents. If by documentary evidence, one can substantiate the award can be granted, then the Arbitration is won before it has been awarded. However, if the documents are not a clear winner, then it will all rest on the cross examination and arguments. The art of preparing the Defence Statement in Arbitration is another skill altogether. The difference between Defence statement in Arbitration and written statement in an original suit are two different pleading styles. While at first blush, one would think aint it all a game of denial, however, the art of denial is different in both. While Civil Procedure Code, 1908, clarifies the nature of denial in written statement, denial in defence statement are governed by terms of contract, procedure of the Arbitral Tribunal e.t.c. In arbitration, the Claimant and the Respondent being parties to most of the documents, the defence lawyer has relatively a tougher role to play pleading that the Claimants prayers are to be rejected inspite of admission of documents.
Time and ease of procedure is what attracts the litigants to Arbitration. My approach has been to advise the Client from the time of drafting the Arbitration Clause into the Agreement, including the number of arbitrators, timelines, interest payable, capping of Arbitrator fees etc, the issuance of section 21 notice and the disputes clearly stated in them, filing of Section 9 Application and Section 11 Application. Preferably, prepare the Claim Statement and Section 17 Applications, if any, and file it on the first sitting, thereby cutting timelines for a speedy culmination of proceedings, if appearing on behalf of the Respondent, file section 16 Application, study the documents threadbare, preparing for the cross examinations and be ready for the hearing without taking adjournments. I have not developed any methodologies separately for Arbitration, except the study of documents. Its interesting to see what a documents offers as aid when the documents are examined and re-examined multiple times.
The only way to ensure to remain at the forefront of Arbitration is to update on daily basis the interesting developments in the field of Arbitration law. High Courts are competitively coming out with judgements and interpretations in the field of Arbitration Law and there is never a dull day in the evolving of Arbitration law. Although judicial review has steadfastly attempted to apply the pigeon hole theory and thereby let the sanctity of the Award and the Arbitrators application of facts remain paramount, arbitration is evolving and has unfortunately evolved to absorb all lacunae’s of civil litigation. Throw in the whims and fancies of the Arbitrator, at times, Arbitration stands on the threshold of losing its importance to Mediation. The recent choice of Central Government not to have Arbitration for disputes above 10 crores and above is a clear sign of the weariness of the system of Arbitration has evolved into. If Central Government directs officials to resort to Mediation for disputes above 10 crores, then is time the stakeholders in Arbitration learns how to skim and streamline the present Arbitration process.
Right from appointment of Arbitration under Section 11, the Arbitral Tribunal, if consisting of three Arbitrators, convening and completing the proceedings therein, moving to Section 34 Challenge of Award and Section 37 Appeal results in years of time spend in Arbitration and Court proceedings. A contractor who has not been paid, invoked Arbitration and even after obtaining the Arbitration Award does not see the awarded amounts, will have no use when the money is ultimately paid after 7 to 8 years.
Arbitration Act ought to have a major overhaul to ensure Arbitration achieves what it promised to achieve i.e., speedy and less expensive dispute resolution process compared to Civil Courts, generally tedious and expensive dispute resolution process. However, with Commercial Courts functioning with strict timelines, summary judgement in commercial suits being pronounced much faster compared to the timeline an Arbitral tribunal culminates its proceedings by issuing the Award, it is time for stakeholders and Advocates ‘of’ Arbitration and ‘in’ Arbitration to introspect.
White-collar crime cases often involve intricate financial transactions, regulatory compliance issues, and complex legal frameworks. Could you elaborate on the unique challenges these cases present, and how your approach navigates these complexities to ensure effective representation for your clients?
White Collar crimes stands elusive as a niche area of practice as it involves intricate financial transactions, regulatory compliance issues, and complex legal frameworks. However, as its nothing complex compares to Rocket science, one will need ardent interest to learn the subject, patience to review the document multiple times, threadbare understanding of the technicalities with the help of the subject expert and ability to understand the loopholes. Every Criminal proceedings needs the Advocate to obtain first if possible anticipatory bail, otherwise, custodial bail, interim reliefs during the time at the jail, quash of the complaint or proceedings or FIR or chargesheet, conduct of trial and final hearing. A thorough understanding of the criminal procedure code and the statutory provisions relating to the offence, is key to undertaking the brief. There are certain provisions that without being aware if one undertakes a brief, and not taking recourse to the non compliance of the provision which necessitates grant of bail, are unpardonable mistakes being committed at the cost of the liberty and life of the Accused.
As I said, this field of Law only needs us to be thorough on facts and law in relation to the brief. It wouldn’t take aeons to achieve this optimality to undertake the brief, but anything less would ensure the Accused would spend donkey years in prison.
I have been fortunate to have been guided in defending my Clients under the tutelage of Senior Advocate Raman Pillai, from whom I learnt how to traverse the complex technicalities. I was initially not well versed with the complexity in white collar crime. It took dedicated reading and was able to defend and also presently defending my clients alleged scams over several hundred crores. The proceedings being sub-judice, it will be best I leave the facts arising out of it from my answer herein.
What I have learnt is again threadbare reading of the documents filed by the Police. The eye has to be trained to see the chinks in the FIR, Charge sheet, mahazaar, arrest memo etc. There are mistakes committed by Magistrate Courts too while issuing directions to register FIR. Once these are identified, then ‘go for the kill’ is the best expression I could say. But knowing what it is, is the key. Its need several years of practice and attending Court proceedings on a regular basis.
How do you manage to balance your extensive litigation work across various courts and tribunals in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu?
Over the period of years, I was concentrating my practice around commercial law. Due to various factors including geo-political handicaps, the nature, complexity and variety of Commercial litigations that I could undertake were limited in Kerala. I felt, the my knowledge and depth in practice was getting stagnated and not feeling challenged about the litigations I was being handedover. The neighbouring state, Tamil Nadu, in my observation was having the Appellate Tribunals NCLAT and DRAT; National Green Tribunal for South India. The Principal Bench of High Court at Madras had Original side jurisdiction and that attracted me further to watch the proceedings online during Covid lockdown.
While I did not want to go back to Delhi to further enhance my practice areas, I thought it is best to take a risk to move to Chennai and see if I can make it work. Strong personal reasons too conspired the decision, and I was fortunate to connect with Advocate Thomas T Jacob of M/s Thomas And Associates, Anna Nagar, Chennai through my dear friend Advocate Krishmohan Menon, and was offered to be the Partner, Practice Head-Litigation. It was interesting to learn Letters Patent Act, 1970 and Original Side Rules, 1994 among others to learn about Madras High Court. Although the risk was high in losing out practice in Kerala by moving to Chennai, I was sure of myself that I will be able to make it. I was given several examples of people who attempted this and had to go back. It gave me all the more reasons to go all guns ablaze. In the very first year, I was able to appear before NCLT Chennai, NCLAT, DRT Chennai and DRAT, NGT, High Court, Subordinate Courts initially through matters of M/s Thomas And Associates and slowly briefs were entrusted to me from the brother lawyers. I had quit M/s Thomas And Associates in the month December, 2023 and was Independently practicing.
I was fortunate to meet Advocate Jacob Kurian, Senior Partner, KRIA Law, through a business platform, and an expression of interest to join KRIA LAW was offered to me. After discussions with Advocate M.S. Bharath, Founder and Senior Partner, KRIA Law, and Advocate Jacob Kurian, in the month of April, 2024, I joined M/s KRIA LAW as its Partner (Litigation) and merged my practice with KRIA Law.
I manage both the works at Kerala and Tamil Nadu through KRIA Law. KRIA Law has a very structured litigation handling process put in by Advocate M.S. Bharath and the young lot at the firm are very enthusiastic and its through them I now handle the litigations and Clients of Kerala. The video conferencing and option to reach Kerala by air travel within hours makes it easy to handle the work and Clientele.
As a lawyer, my experiences till date, since moving to Chennai in 2022 has been enriching, daunting and was naturally filled with struggles. I believe, struggles are a constant part of life. Either you create struggles in your life or life will create struggles for you. When you choose your struggles, you have an option to traverse it at your wish and will. Growth follows struggle. Hence, Iam of the opinion, choose your struggles, before life chooses one for you.
Outside of your legal practice, do you have any hobbies or interests that help you maintain a work-life balance?
I have a very rewarding sedentary life which gives me ample time to do more work. I am made to understand that will not fly for long. Hence, apart from my only interest of reading books, I have started on certain other interests. But it’s too early to say, where that road leads.
It’s necessary to have work-life balance. The latest trend being work life integration. I am working towards it. I try to engage myself and spend more time at home on Saturdays and Sundays, and I would not want to be preaching when I have not practiced it, but can definitely say, if the balance/integration is not stable, the repercussions arising out of it makes the heavy work life not worth it. Hence, I would offer as my suggestion, work optimally but live fuller.
What advice would you give to young lawyers who aspire to have a diverse and impactful career like yours?
Diverse Yes, but ‘Impactful career like mine’ is far-fetched, I have just scratched the surface. Dedication and loyalty to the brief, if not to your office; determination and mind set to Grit to traverse through office politics, complaining seniors and irritated judges and sly opposite side lawyers. One of the best quote to know is “your client is your first enemy”. A wrong order will make the Client to go bonkers on you. Hence loyalty to the Client, I would advise is not the right option, loyalty to the brief is what I suggest. Even if the Client irritates you, ignore it, concentrate on the brief. The brief has found its way into your hands, therefore treat it and take care of it with all your wits and determination. Think out of the box and don’t rely on judgements. Have original thoughts and read statutes on the issue of law than trying to find answers to issues of law through judgements. Calm your nerves when Judges are not ready to hear you, understand that they might be having a reason to react. Find that out and resolve it rather than simmering over why you were treated that way.
Invest in Books, invest in yourself. Travel destinations, expensive wines and watches will always be there. Work hard and it will find its way to you than you finding your ways to it.
You’ve represented high-profile clients like SONY and Makemytrip in consumer forums. What strategies did you employ to ensure the best outcome for your client, and what lessons did you learn from the experience that have influenced your approach in subsequent consumer protection cases?
SONY was not a direct client and I was handed the work by Advocate Rajat from Delhi. Consumer cases are mostly skewed in favour of Complainant. Opposite party should be ready to take the beating. Its by raising technical issues, you win consumer litigations in favour of opposite party. Makemytrip matter was also engaged by a counsel Advocate Afif. In that matter, I had cross examined the Complaint on the issue of maintainability as the Complaint was filed in Ernakulam CDRF and the territorial jurisdiction, according to me ought to be in Thrissur CRDF. It was admitted by the Complaint that the booking was made by the Complainant while he was in Thrissur and therefore no cause of action arose in Ernkualam to institute the Complaint. I had to cross examine and bring out the fact that by making the witness affirm the time he took for driving from Ernakulam to Wayanad and the booking time shown in the map would place him further from Ernakulam and more in or around Thrissur, calculating the time he reached the hotel where the deficiency of service was alleged. The questions on time forced the answer.
While at M/s Menon and Pai Advocates, I was representing Corporate Entities mostly Builders, FMCG companies etc. The cases are defended mostly on technical grounds and if the deficiencies are quite evident, reliance on the documents was paramount. It was after starting Independent practice, I was filing complaints for consumers. The learning curve was good as after having defended Corporate entities, I was mostly aware of the grounds that will be taken and while drafting the Complaint I didnt leave any chance for that to be taken as a ground to reject the Complaint.
In Consumer matters and even in any other matter, the search for details among the documents and the relief prayed are important to assess the course of the litigation. If the documents do not clear the path to favourable judgement, then cross examination of the witness is the key. Understanding the witness and knowing when to crack the witness are key traits one picks by diligently assisting Seniors and watching cross examination of good lawyers.
Strategies always depends from case to case. I try not to leave the outcome of the litigation to luck. If I lose a matter, I should be able to say I did my best and no other lawyer could have done any better. Otherwise, the Client would have been wrong in choosing you. That fear drives me to work diligently on the file. There are certain approaches I do employ on being presented with a brief. But its mostly case to case. One should know whether being offensive or defensive and when to be evasive. These nuances, form as though process by working on briefs under guidance of seniors and later on ones on briefs not for the financial benefits but for the value the profession wishes to render to the society. As lawyer, especially trial lawyers, we forge history in the courtrooms and the black gown gives us that power. When you have a stake in creating history, better be prepared to adorn that black gown with dignity.
What skills does your firm look for when selecting interns, and how did your own internship experience shape your professional development?
I had done a two month’s internship in the year 2005, with the Chambers of Advocate Challa Kodanda Ram (who was later designated as Senior Advocate and then elevated as High Court Justice). I was sole intern to nearly twelve plus lawyers, where I was assigned research works, drafting work, make notes of cases in which Challa Kodanda Ram Sir had appeared and was reported in the Law journals. The notes of the cases were completely handwritten and went in two volumes. The arduous task multi-tasking between the research and drafting for all the lawyers single handedly, not having a laptop then, and not being in a position to carry office files to hostel, leading to me taking permission and staying late in the office, resulting me in sleeping in the office and waking early to go to hostel and reach office to brief Advocates of the research done and the drafts corrected. I ended up also drafting a Writ Petition in its entirety under the guidance of Challa Kodanda Ram Sir. Presently Senior Advocate, Mr Vikram Posserla, who was then attached to the office then, was the main Advocate I was reporting to. I learnt a lot of Vikram Sir, who had openly told me that he will make the internship hard enough for me and told me to be ready to go through it. True to his words, Vikram Sir used to ensure that Iam given work load of two days to be completed in a day and ensured that before leaving, ask me the status. It was then when after struggling and coping with the pressure, Vikram Sir had ensured that I was ready to be a Litigating Lawyer. The Chambers of Challa Kodanda Ram Sir was practicing in almost every area of law possible and therefore I was introduced to almost every area of law including the Subordinate Courts functioning and High Court. I stand heavily indebted to Challa Kodanda Ram Sir, Vikram Sir and the lawyers present there then in introducing me to the world of Litigation and giving first-hand experience.
The only skill I look for an intern is the mindset to take the tasks head on and work on it. Figure things out and reach out when they hit the wall. Interns should realise that whatever work given will always be beyond them, but as per the lawyer what they should be ready to explore. Attempt it with full heart and the intern will see how enriching and rewarding will be their efforts. There are time Interns stumble upon certain judgements for a hearing and it becomes useful for the Lawyer. Sometime a third perspective comes from the intern in the issue of law being researched upon. Enjoy and value your Internship time is what I would advise Interns. Keep your statues closely, read them and acquaint yourself with law. You will see its benefits later.
Can you please share your childhood memories, what were some key experiences or influences that led you to choose a career in law? Was there anyone who particularly inspired or motivated you to pursue this path?
I was raised in a middle-class household in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, where I was born in 1991. My family moved to Delhi in 1995, and I have lived there ever since. My education consisted of eight classes at Sant Vivekanand Public School, followed by classes nine and ten at Hindon Public School, and classes eleven and 12 at Mukherjee Memorial School. I then completed my B.Sc. (Physics) at the University of Delhi’s Ramjas College. I have no legal family background as such I had no interest in law until my first year of graduation, and I never thought to become a lawyer in the Future. However, as I started my second year of graduating, I learned about the numerous well-known characteristics of the Campus Law Center and its graduates.
Can you share some of the challenges you faced during the initial days of your legal career, and what motivated you to take the Advocate on Record (AOR) exam?
During my time in law school, I decided to pursue a career as an Advocate-on-Record (AOR) in the future. To qualify for the AOR examination, I needed four years of practice as an advocate and one year of training with an existing AOR. Therefore, I decided to start from scratch and join the chamber of Sh. Rajesh Mahindra, a well-known civil advocate at Tis Hazari Court. Under his mentorship, I learned the fundamentals of civil law, drafting, arguments, and procedural aspects.
In 2017, I took a significant step in my career by joining Intelia Law Offices as a Senior Associate, where I worked until 2018. Following this, I embarked on my independent practice at Tis Hazari Court. My dedication and hard work led to my appointment as a panel counsel for the Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA). Since then, I have been serving as a panel counsel on the civil panel in the North East and West districts of DLSA, continuing to hone my skills and contribute to the legal community.
How do you manage your multiple roles, including being a legal aid counsel, a media panelist, and an advocate, without compromising on any of them? How do you balance your legal practice with media engagements, and what value do you see in this role?
Balancing multiple roles is challenging but achievable with disciplined time, management, and effective delegation. Media engagements complement my legal practice by enhancing public awareness and professional visibility, ultimately contributing to my growth as an advocate and public servant.
As an Advocate on Record, what are some of the most challenging cases you’ve handled at the Supreme Court, and how did you approach them? Please share your first experience appearing in court? What were the emotions and challenges you faced, and how did that experience shape your perspective on advocacy?
I became an Advocate-On-Record last December only as such I do not have too much experience as an Advocate-On-Record but I have been practicing in the Supreme Court for four years and appeared in hundreds of matters and gained a lot of experience. You can approach the client by your hard work which must be reflected in your case.
How does your work with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority impact the community, and what motivates you to continue providing legal aid?
I have been working with the Delhi State Legal Service Authority since 2017 appeared in more than hundreds of cases and finally left after becoming Advocate-On-Record. Working with DLSA is a different type of experience where you are blessed to help needy people who do not have money to fight for their legal rights. Being a Legal Aid Counsel, you have an opportunity to meet the persons who are needy and don’t have any knowledge, source of income to get justice.
You’ve published many articles and received recognition in various media outlets. How important is it for legal professionals to engage in public discourse and share their knowledge?
Engaging in public discourse and sharing knowledge is increasingly important for legal professionals for several reasons: 1. Public Education and Awareness 2. Professional Credibility and Influence 3. Shaping Legal and Policy Debates 4. Legal professionals can use their platform to advocate for social justice and reforms. 5. Professional Development and Building Public Trust in the Legal System
Overall, legal professionals who engage in public discourse not only benefit their careers but also contribute significantly to society by promoting legal literacy, influencing policy, and advocating for justice.
You attended an advocacy workshop organized by George Washington University Law School. What insights did you gain from this experience, and do you recommend similar workshops for new entrants in the legal field?
By attending a workshop, especially new entrants in the legal field may enhance their communication skills, strategic thinking, practical experience and confidence in the legal Field. I highly recommend similar workshops for new entrants in the legal field. They offer a comprehensive introduction to the practical aspects of legal advocacy and provide foundational skills that are essential for a successful legal career.
Outside of your legal career, what are some of your personal hobbies or interests that help you maintain a work-life balance?
I like playing cricket, archery, and writing poems. It is very difficult to maintain a work-life balance along with Advocacy but when you love your profession everything is possible.
What advice would you give to young lawyers who aspire to practice at the Supreme Court or start their chambers?
I would like to advise young lawyers that they should start their practice from the trial court and read at least one judgment daily on any topic that they like. I do not suggest any young lawyer to start your practice just after passing the LLB. He should work with a senior Advocate for at least three years to explore the practical knowledge of this profession.
What prompted you to establish the Law Chamber of Manish Kumar, and what vision do you have for its future? What are your future goals in the legal profession, and what new dimensions do you hope to explore in your career?
My wife who is also an Advocate encouraged me to start my law office i.e. Law Chamber of Manish Kumar. I do not want to share my future dream but you will have come to know my future goals in future.
