Super Lawyer

Tag: CS

  • “Each day brings forth a fresh set of challenges that demand not only legal acumen but also strategic commercial thinking and a nuanced understanding of business dynamics” – Nidhi Arora, Partner at EVA Law

    “Each day brings forth a fresh set of challenges that demand not only legal acumen but also strategic commercial thinking and a nuanced understanding of business dynamics” – Nidhi Arora, Partner at EVA Law

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

     What inspired you to pursue a career in law, and how did your education at ILS Law College and your qualification as a Company Secretary contribute to your professional development?

    I find the dynamic nature of legal work exciting. In the corporate world, the landscape is constantly shifting—new regulations emerge, industries evolve, and global markets interconnect in unprecedented ways. Each day brings forth a fresh set of challenges that demand not only legal acumen but also strategic commercial thinking and a nuanced understanding of business dynamics. Whether negotiating a complex merger, drafting a crucial contract, or navigating regulatory hurdles, I am driven by the impact my work can have in value creation for my clients and the broader business community.

    ILS Law College, with its strong alumni and emphasis judicial services focuses on jurisprudence-based teaching, which gave me a robust foundation of legal practice and legal perspective. Complementing this, my Company Secretary qualification offered a comprehensive grasp of corporate law procedures. I believe having dual degrees positively enhances my credibility, reinforcing my ability to deliver comprehensive legal counsel.

    With extensive experience in corporate transactions, what are some of the most challenging deals you have worked on, and what were the key factors that led to their successful closure?

    I recently concluded a brand acquisition which involved bifurcation of a long-standing family business. The transaction involved complex nuances of brand identification and family settlement. In such transactions, there are multiple layers of commercial and legal negotiations involved. Bringing all the elements together under one umbrella was a challenging task. The transaction’s success hinged on rigorous due diligence, effective communication among stakeholders, extensive negotiation rounds, and a comprehensive grasp of regulatory framework. Skillfully navigating these intricate challenges and anticipating potential hurdles was pivotal in achieving a seamless transaction. My team’s ability to navigate these complexities and foresee potential obstacles was critical in ensuring a smooth transaction.

    How do you approach mentoring junior lawyers at EVA LAW, and what qualities do you believe are essential for their growth and success in the legal field?

    At EVA Law, we’ve consciously moved away from the traditional hierarchical culture that is common in many law firms. Our approach to mentoring junior lawyers involves fostering an environment where designations and titles take a backseat in favour of hands-on experience, open dialogue, and regular feedback.

    We encourage junior lawyers to immerse themselves in real-world legal challenges from the outset. Practical experience is invaluable, and we ensure that they have opportunities to work directly on transactional documents and negotiations. This hands-on approach not only builds their confidence but also sharpens their analytical skills and deepens their understanding of legal complexities.

    We prioritise continuous learning and the importance of effective research, because a fail-safe differentiating factor that a young lawyer can have is ‘knowledge’. We encourage our lawyers to be approachable and reliable, qualities that build trust and enhance collaboration within the team.

    From your time as an Associate at Thakker & Thakker to your current role as a Partner at EVA LAW, what are some of the most significant lessons you have learned that you would like to share with young legal professionals?

    As an associate, I was often tasked with reviewing extensive documentation, which underscored the critical importance of attention to detail. Ensuring accuracy and thoroughness in these tasks established my reputation for reliability among peers and superiors. In my role as a Partner at EVA Law, I am required to think beyond the immediate legal issues and consider the broader business implications of my advice. One invaluable lesson which I would like to share is that as a lawyer one should constantly question the rationale behind our actions. This vision drives us to delve deeper into our work, gaining a thorough understanding of our decisions and ultimately enhancing our professional capabilities.

    Another significant lesson I learned early on was the importance of accountability and that one should not have an ‘employee mindset’. Even as a junior lawyer, I took a lot of pride in my profession and felt personally answerable and accountable to the client, before sending any draft to a senior.

    To young legal professionals, I would advise that while legal knowledge is fundamental, the ability to connect with clients and colleagues is equally essential. Strive to be reliable and approachable, and always be prepared to go the extra mile to deepen your understanding of the law and its application.

    As a prominent female leader in the legal field, what challenges have you faced, and what advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter and excel in this profession?

    I feel fortunate to have had incredibly supportive mentors who have treated me as an equal and provided me with the flexibility to manage both my professional and personal responsibilities effectively. Building rapport and trust with colleagues and mentors, irrespective of gender, is crucial. My mentors could always rely on me to balance my professional engagements while having a fulfilling personal life.

    For young women aspiring to enter and excel in the legal profession, my advice is to remain confident in their abilities and seek out supportive mentors who can guide and advocate for them. It is equally important to advocate for oneself, assert your value, and consistently strive for excellence in all aspects of your work.

    Have you been involved in any pro bono work or initiatives? How do you believe legal professionals can contribute to social justice and community service?

    Pro bono work represents a crucial avenue for legal professionals to contribute to social justice and community service. Legal professionals can contribute to social justice through pro bono work by advocating for marginalized communities, supporting nonprofit organizations, and assisting individuals facing legal challenges.

    What is your vision for the future of EVA LAW, and how do you plan to contribute to its growth and success in the coming years?

    Given our strong foundation and the significant strides we have made in just under a year, my vision for EVA Law is to continue focusing on its expertise, client-centric approach, and innovative solutions in the legal landscape. Client relationships will always be at the core of EVA Law’s success

    What motivated you to pursue the Company Secretary (CS) qualification alongside your LLB, and how has this dual qualification benefited your legal career and the clients you advise?

    The motivation to pursue the CS qualification alongside my LLB stemmed from a desire to deepen my understanding of corporate governance and regulatory compliance. This dual qualification has enabled me to provide holistic legal advice that encompasses both legal and corporate governance perspectives, thereby adding significant value to the clients I advise.

    Outside of your legal career, what personal hobbies or interests do you pursue, and how do they contribute to your overall well-being and professional performance?

    Beyond work, spending quality time with my family is a top priority. After work hours, I look forward to going home to my daughter, who eagerly waits to share every little detail about her day. This time together is incredibly precious, and it helps me unwind and recharge. Being involved in her life while being able to effectively contribute and enjoy my work brings a sense of fulfilment and joy that balances the demands of my professional life. In addition to family time, I have found yoga and meditation to be immensely beneficial for my overall well-being. Practicing yoga and meditation provides a much-needed mental respite from the pressures of work.

    Get in touch with Nidhi Arora (Gulati)-

  • “My advice to young professionals is to be yourself. Embrace your originality and avoid copying others. You are unique and have your own personality. Strive to discover and develop your true self to the fullest.” – Sameet Gambhir, Sr. Vice President & Group head, UFLEX Limited

    “My advice to young professionals is to be yourself. Embrace your originality and avoid copying others. You are unique and have your own personality. Strive to discover and develop your true self to the fullest.” – Sameet Gambhir, Sr. Vice President & Group head, UFLEX Limited

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

    Can you share with us how you began your career in law and company secretarial work? What inspired you to enter this field, and how did you progress to your current position?  

    Interestingly, my journey towards becoming a legal counsel and law professional started accidentally. When I was in college pursuing my B.Com, I aspired to become a Chartered Accountant. To gain some working experience before enrolling in CA, I joined an organization to work in the accounts function after completing my B.Com. There, I met the Company Secretary and Legal Counsel, and I was impressed by their role, interacting with top management, handling significant matters, and sitting in board meetings. I was fascinated by that role and, instead of CA, I joined the CS course.

    However, as fate would have it (and I believe that destiny plays a very important role in our lives), after becoming a Company Secretary and joining an organization as CS back in the early 90s, I was given the charge of the legal function as well. Since CS work also involves a lot of legal and compliance responsibilities, I was happy to take on this additional role. That’s where my journey as a legal counsel began, and I later completed my graduation in Law as well.

    Since then, I have always worked as a legal counsel or legal head, mostly in-house. It’s been around 30 years since I took on these roles, working with different Indian and multinational organizations. From the moment I was first given charge of the legal function, I realized that this was what I always wanted to do. Initially, I gained exposure in litigation, then contracting, followed by IPRs, brand protection, and all other related fields, including compliance and risk management. Of course, I have continued my role as a Company Secretary and take pride in that.

    The past three decades have flown by like it was yesterday. Presently, I am the Sr. Vice President and Head of Legal at UFlex Ltd., a multibillion-dollar organization and India’s largest multinational flexible packaging and solutions company. UFlex manufactures a wide variety of flexible packaging films for various industry sectors across the world. With headquarters in Noida (National Capital Region), the company has packaging films manufacturing facilities in India and overseas under the global subsidiary packaging films brand ‘Flex Films’ in UAE, Mexico, Poland, Egypt, Russia, USA, Hungary, and Nigeria, with a cumulative capacity of over 609,000 TPA.

    Can you share some of the most challenging legal cases or compliance issues you have faced and what you learned from those experiences? Additionally, what are some emerging trends in the legal field that you believe will shape the future of corporate law and compliance?  

    Data privacy is an important legislation that has a significant impact on all organizations. Cyber risk is another area that requires serious monitoring, review, and an effective framework. Additionally, SEBI’s existing and upcoming regulations and compliance on Responsible Business and Sustainability have brought ESG and sustainability to the forefront of all organizations. This is beneficial not only for the organizations but also for the nation and the world as a whole.

    During your tenure at DCM Shriram Ltd., you held the position of VP (Corp. Law) & Company Secretary for almost a decade. What were some of the key achievements and challenges during this time?  

     In the last ten years, particularly after the new Companies Act and new SEBI regulations, the role of in-house counsel and company secretaries has significantly increased and become very challenging. Compliance with SEBI Listing regulations, SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, FEMA compliance, Companies Act, and other corporate compliances require constant attention and a high level of proactiveness. Shareholder governance has also become a new challenge, with shareholder activism on the rise in India. This is beneficial for both the company and the shareholders. Therefore, providing appropriate and accurate disclosures with all relevant information to shareholders and the public has become a priority in governance today.

    Compliance and governance of insider trading and SEBI regulations are complex and challenging roles that require a proactive approach, including regular awareness sessions and training for employees and other connected persons. As we operate multiple businesses, each with its own dynamics, this is crucial.

    Outside of your professional life, do you have any hobbies or interests that you are passionate about? How do they help you maintain a work-life balance?  

    I am very passionate about golf. Every weekend starts with a round with friends. I am truly in love with this game and can’t imagine myself without it. Golf is purely a mind game and teaches you a lot of life lessons. Playing twice or thrice a week is a must for me. If I don’t play in any given week, it feels incomplete. This game not only relaxes and recharges me but also reveals one’s true character on the course. Golf is the best thing that has happened to me, and I could talk about it for pages.

    As a visiting faculty and guest lecturer, what topics do you find most crucial to impart to your students? How do you ensure they are prepared for the evolving legal landscape?  

    I usually teach corporate laws, IPRs, labor laws, and data protection. However, today’s generation needs to be fully geared up with technology in legal, what we call Techlegal. This is the time of AI, ML, and GenAI, and routine tasks will increasingly be handled by technology. To excel in the field, students need to be proficient with technology and demonstrate creativity and new ways of working.

    For students and young legal professionals trying to decide between pursuing a career in litigation or as an in-house counsel, what advice would you give to help them understand which area might be the best fit for them? 

    I think both have their taste. It depends on what is of your interest. However, in both situations, my advice to youngsters is – Be yourself – You are what you are – be original and don’t copy anyone. You are unique and have your personality. Find yourself to the optimum. Of course, there are many things one should learn from the seniors and other leaders that should be part of your development and increase your skillsets but don’t lose your originality, no one can replace you. Further as a career advice, since we are today living in a dynamic time and things are changing so fast that by the time you get to the details of a thing the new version or new avatar is already there. Therefore one needs to get to speed with this. Technical competency is mandatory but being proficient in technology is the need of the time as we are already in the era of AI, M, and Metaverse and it’s a reality. Keeping yourself updated with the time is crucial for the counsels to be successful. The other two most important things – one they should understand the business first before they advise and the second is the quick responsiveness and proper research.

    Get in touch with Sameet Gambhir-

  • “The intersection of law and company secretaryship provides a comprehensive perspective for addressing legal intricacies within a corporate environment.”- Varun Prabhakar, Legal Head at Devyani International Limited

    “The intersection of law and company secretaryship provides a comprehensive perspective for addressing legal intricacies within a corporate environment.”- Varun Prabhakar, Legal Head at Devyani International Limited

    This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team

    Sir, could you please  share your journey and the pivotal moments that led you to pursue a career in law, eventually becoming the Legal Head at Devyani International Limited?

    During my school days, I frequented Tiz Hazari District Courts in New Delhi due to my grandfather’s profession as a lawyer. His encouragement fueled my interest in attending court sessions whenever possible, marking the inception of my journey into law. This passion was further nurtured during my academic years, especially under the guidance of Rahul Sir from the Rahul IAS institute. His notes continue to be a valuable resource, serving as a foundation for resolving intricate legal issues.

    As my career progressed, I recognized the importance of a well-rounded skill set. This realization led me to pursue Company Secretaryship alongside law. This dual expertise eventually culminated in my role as the Legal Head at Devyani International Limited. In this capacity, I oversee legal strategies, compliance, and contribute to the success of the company in the dynamic Food and Beverage Industry.

    With a background in both law and company secretaryship, how do you find these two roles intersecting, and how has this unique combination of skills shaped your approach to legal matters within a corporate setting?

    The intersection of law and company secretaryship provides a comprehensive perspective for addressing legal intricacies within a corporate environment. The legal background ensures a profound understanding of legal frameworks, while company secretaryship fosters a practical approach to corporate governance, compliance, and administration, particularly for listed companies.

    This unique combination empowers me to align legal strategies with the organization’s overarching objectives. It facilitates a cohesive approach to navigating legal matters within a corporate setting, seamlessly integrating legal compliance into the fabric of the company’s operations. 

    In your current role, you’ve been involved in a variety of agreements and legal due diligence. Can you elaborate on a specific challenging scenario you encountered and how you navigated through it successfully?

    Expanding into new markets is a challenge for almost all the industries. Thorough legal due diligence revealed discrepancies in local regulations that could potentially impede the business activities. To navigate this, we engage the regional legal experts, conduct exhaustive consultations with regulatory bodies, and meticulously tailored our agreements to comply with nuanced legal requirements. This proactive approach, coupled with collaborative efforts between legal and operational teams, allowed us to successfully navigate the complexities.  

    As an In-house Counsel, you’ve been responsible for ensuring compliance with various regulations. How do you stay abreast of the evolving legal landscape, and how do you ensure that your organization remains compliant with the relevant laws? 

    Being an in-house counsel exposes you to a myriad of scenarios. Analytical and problem-solving skills are essential to skim through each case. Given that law demands constant courtship, possessing knowledge not only about the law but also about the organization’s operations is vital. This necessitates a quest for understanding the company’s role to prevent mismanagement in the long run.

    Developing these skills involves attending workshops, seminars, conferences, and engaging with professionals in the sector. This keeps you updated with current developments and exposes you to diverse opinions, fostering out-of-the-box thinking. Lastly, cultivating a habit of reading is crucial for professional growth, challenging preconceptions, analyzing the status quo, and confronting ideas outside one’s comfort zone.

    In your experience, you’ve handled pre-litigation and post-litigation matters, including drafting legal notices and representing the company in court. Can you share a particularly complex or high-stakes litigation case you’ve dealt with and the strategies you employed to achieve a favorable outcome?

    Handling pre-litigation and post-litigation matters, one complex case involved a landlord refusing to take over the property. To navigate this, a comprehensive legal strategy was devised, emphasizing thorough case analysis, diligent research, and timely collaboration with the external legal counsel. Open communication with all stakeholders, including senior management, allowed for a holistic understanding of the case’s intricacies. A strategic negotiation approach was adopted to explore settlement options, mitigating potential risks. Ultimately, a favourable outcome was achieved through a combination of legal expertise, strategic foresight, and effective communication.

    You have been recognized for your leadership skills and contributions to the business expansion, having successfully closed over 400 property agreements in a short span of 4 years, as acknowledged by the Chief Legal Officer of KFC Global/Pizza Hut. Could you please share some insights into the challenges and key strategies you employed during this expansion process?

    During an expansion process, challenges often arise, ranging from regulatory hurdles to cultural integration. Key strategies involve meticulous due diligence, identifying and mitigating potential risks, and fostering effective communication between all involved parties. Transparent communication with the existing workforce helps manage concerns and ensures a smoother transition. Flexibility in adapting strategies based on the unique aspects of each acquisition is crucial. Leadership in this context requires a holistic understanding of legal, financial, and operational facets, aligning them with the overarching business objectives. 

    Having worked on issues related to intellectual property rights and trademarks, what advice would you give to businesses, especially in the food and beverage industry, regarding protecting their intellectual property in a competitive market? 

    Intellectual property protection is crucial in the competitive food and beverage industry. Businesses should proactively register trademarks to safeguard their unique assets. Regular monitoring of the market for potential infringements is essential. Developing a comprehensive intellectual property strategy involves legal counsel to identify and address potential risks. Collaboration with regulatory bodies and industry associations provides additional layers of protection. Educating employees about intellectual property rights and implementing strict confidentiality measures internally is equally vital. In essence, a proactive and multi-layered approach is key to preserving intellectual property in a fiercely competitive market

    Given your diverse experience, what advice would you offer to fresh law graduates aspiring to build a successful career in corporate law and company secretarial roles?

    For fresh law graduates aspiring to excel in corporate law and company secretarial roles, I would offer the following advice:

    Continuous Learning: Stay updated with legal developments, industry trends, and business dynamics. Invest time in ongoing legal education to enhance your skills and adapt to changes. 

    Networking: Build a strong professional network within the legal community and the industries you serve. Networking provides valuable insights, mentorship opportunities, and career advancement.

    Communication Skills: Develop effective communication skills, both written and verbal. Clear and concise communication is crucial in legal roles, especially when conveying complex information to diverse stakeholders.

    Adaptability: The legal landscape evolves, and corporate environments can be dynamic. Be adaptable and embrace change, leveraging it as an opportunity for growth.

    Ethical Practice: Uphold the highest ethical standards. Integrity is foundational in the legal profession, and maintaining a reputation for ethical practice is essential for a successful career. 

    Team Collaboration: In corporate settings, legal professionals often work collaboratively with various departments. Foster strong teamwork and collaboration skills to contribute effectively to overall business objectives.

    Incorporating these principles into your professional journey can help build a solid foundation for a successful and fulfilling career in corporate.

    Get in touch with Varun Prabhakar-

  • Fostering a collaborative and productive work environment is important for keeping the teams motivated, interested and invested in their work, take ownership of the work and contribute positively to the firm- Akshat Pande, Partner and Head-Corporate Practice at Fox & Mandal Solicitors and Advocates

    Fostering a collaborative and productive work environment is important for keeping the teams motivated, interested and invested in their work, take ownership of the work and contribute positively to the firm- Akshat Pande, Partner and Head-Corporate Practice at Fox & Mandal Solicitors and Advocates

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

    Can you share with us your journey and how you ended up pursuing a career in law? What inspired you to choose this path?

    After completing School, I chose to appear for CS and CA foundation exams. Since CS foundation results are released before CA foundation results, I qualified and got through CS, although I had appeared for CA foundation also and passed both of them. While studying for CS exams, I got keenly interested in law as a subject. My curiosity for law increased and I would often find myself dedicating hours to reading law books and cases. I found it extremely interesting and intellectually fulfilling and fell in love with law. After completion of CS, I enrolled myself for LLB with Delhi University. I am a first-generation lawyer in my family and I thank my stars to have landed in a profession that I like.  

    With over 18 years of experience in corporate and commercial law, you must have encountered various challenges and rewarding moments. Can you share one of your most memorable cases or experiences in your legal career so far?

    Quoting a single example from work is difficult as there have been many instances which were challenging in the beginning and rewarding when I got done with them. One of the most profoundly rewarding experiences in my career was setting up Alpha Partners in 2012. As a first-generation lawyer, my passion for creating something extraordinary from scratch fuelled my drive. However, it also presented an immense challenge—bootstrapping a startup law firm. From its inception until our merger with Fox & Mandal, I continuously grappled with the hurdle of elevating the firm to the next level, hiring talent, and enhancing practice verticals in the firm with new partners. For first-generation lawyers like me, to scale law firms to the next level without any avenues to raise finances to fund talent acquisition has been the biggest challenge. 

    As the Partner and Head of the Corporate Practice at Fox & Mandal, Delhi, you lead a team of more than 10 lawyers. What strategies do you employ to foster a collaborative and productive work environment within your team?

    Fostering a collaborative and productive work environment is important for keeping the teams motivated, interested and invested in their work, take ownership of the work and contribute positively to the firm. Few basic tenets like effective communication, clear goals, trust and collaboration, rewarding and recognising good work, encouraging learning and performance evaluation are most important and should be kept in mind by any team leader. 

    In order to instill the above in young associates, I follow Dr. House’s methods. Every assignment or transaction is discussed threadbare with the full team working on it in a 1-2 hour session so that no aspect is left out to be discussed. Such sessions are not a monologue by me but everyone is supposed to give their inputs and ask questions. Sometimes, these sessions happen in two sittings if something has to be researched and then discussed. At the end of the session, each member of the team is given a particular aspect of the assignment to complete but the team is supposed to coordinate amongst themselves and not work in silos, such as drafting is done by someone, research by others, compliances by third etc. Each one is also given a deadline also. The Senior Associate involved in the assignment is supposed to supervise and check on the work so that it is done in a timely manner. Once this delegation is over, I step aside and let the team work on the assignment. Thereafter before the deadline, an update meeting is done and questions if any are answered. Final review of the deliverables is done in a joint meeting of the team.  

    I am of the firm view that delegation is extremely important to make a strong team of good corporate lawyers. If the lawyers are not given room, they will never grow professionally and that will affect the overall efficiency and performance of the firm. It also enables them to work as a team and collaborate with each other rather than against each other. I also make sure that in every assignment, the roles of the team members are reversed so that no monotony sets in and each lawyer is getting trained in each aspect.            

    Your areas of expertise include private equity, venture capital, M&A, joint ventures, and more. Could you highlight a particularly complex or intricate deal you’ve been involved in and explain how you navigated its challenges?

    There are many such instances where deals were particularly complicated and required structuring to achieve efficiency and commercial feasibility. Typically exits become complicated, especially when it is a strategic buyout of the company through which exit is being given to investors. A lot of interests need to be balanced. Once such deal involved around 20 institutional and individual investors who were getting shares in the acquirer’s entity and the investors were sitting in an externalised holdco structure. In other M&A transactions, exits or JVs that I have handled, more than legal issues, it is the balancing of the interests of various stakeholders which requires delicate handling. Also, in case of cross border joint ventures, it is extremely important to understand cultural differences and business practices of the partners who are coming together to form the joint venture as most issues arise because things are handled differently by people from different countries and neither one is incorrect.   

    You have extensive experience in assisting multinational companies doing business in India and the UAE/MENA region. What are some unique legal considerations or cultural aspects that companies need to be mindful of when operating in these diverse jurisdictions?

    UAE is an extremely interesting jurisdiction. I have been working closely with UAE firms and clients and the experience has been extremely enriching. UAE is not very different from India culturally because of the historic cultural and business ties as well as the fact that both the jurisdictions have been influenced by the British common law system. UAE has modernised itself in its systems, processes and government dealings and there is a huge emphasis on use of technology in every aspect of governance and in general life. UAE is welcoming investors both at entity and individual level and has all necessary elements of a modern and business friendly country with congenial living standards. 

    In your experience, what are the key factors that contribute to a successful commercial transaction or project? How do you ensure that all parties involved are aligned and satisfied with the outcomes?

    As a lawyer, it is my job to protect my client’s interest to the best possible extent and so are the counsels of the other side. I believe that if all parties involved are adequately represented by lawyers, the alignment and balancing is more or less achieved. It is imperative for all types of clients to be adequately represented in this present day and age when contracts and compliances are getting more complicated and intricate. Corporate lawyers are not merely “punctuation correctors” but play an extremely important and strategic role in transactions and ensuring that clients are legally compliant, which collectively contributes to better corporate discipline, governance and makes our government’s job easier to govern.   

    With a background in advising clients across various sectors, such as healthcare, hospitality, e-commerce, and technology, how do you stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and legal developments that may impact your clients?

    Read, read and read more. There is no replacement for reading for lawyers and there is no other secret sauce. If in today’s time and age someone says that “I didn’t know” about something, that means she/he has not made an effort to read about it because information is freely available everywhere and you cannot have an excuse that something was not out there. 

    Other than reading, one should also be connected with relevant stakeholders, in-house lawyers, chartered accountants, CS’s and more importantly lawyers from other law firms and keep exchanging ideas, information and must have discussions on legal issues. In fact, I believe that corporate lawyers should make legal discussions part of their social lives so that nothing is missed out. Information monopolies have been broken down by the internet and now is the era of sharing more and more information rather than keeping it with oneself. 

    Throughout your career, you’ve been involved in assisting government organizations with real estate and infrastructure projects. What are some of the challenges and rewards that come with working on projects of such scale and importance?

    Working on government projects presents unique challenges and rewards. While the commercial compensation for lawyers may sometimes be limited and/or delayed, the experience is truly exhilarating.

    Typically the real estate and infrastructure projects that we have undertaken are large scale projects involving multiple legal, commercial and strategic issues. The tussle between remaining fair and just which is a requirement for government instrumentalities and at the same time ensure that the projects are commercially successful for them is something which needs intricate balancing. Also, the commercial expectations of the government from a particular project needs to be balanced against market realities.   

    As a prominent figure in the legal industry, you were recognized in the Forbes Legal Powerlist as one of the top 100 individual lawyers in 2022. What does this recognition mean to you, and how do you continue to strive for excellence in your profession?

    Any recognition is a validation for one’s hard work and receiving such accolades is humbling. At the same time, I guess every day is a new day of learning and one should endeavour that each day is better than the previous one. 

    Considering your diverse background in law and business, what advice would you give to fresh law graduates who are just starting their legal careers? What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in today’s legal landscape?

    I have few tips which may be relevant for fresh graduates:

    1. It’s not a job, it’s a profession. So treat it likewise and train yourself for that;
    2. Read, read and read. If reading makes you tired, you are in the wrong place;
    3. Have a problem solving attitude. Not creating, not fixing, but solving a problem is what is required.
    4. Go for post-graduation only when you have identified a particular area or areas of law in which you are confident you can work for long term;
    5. Do not depend on anyone else’s version of research, not articles, blogs, not even chatGPT. Find your own answers to a problem and don’t stop till you do or understand it entirely. Read, discuss, read, repeat. 
    6. Be very clear about how much money you want from your employer/firm. There is no market standard and your peers or consultants don’t decide what you get, you do. Remember, working for less is more important than asking more and not working. 
    7. Become a generalist but grab one area of expertise or industry or niche practice area and try becoming best in that. Prioritise this over money or any other alternate career options.
    8. Don’t take it too seriously if things don’t work out. Its OK not to be the best.   

    Finally, looking back on your journey and achievements, is there any specific piece of advice or life lesson that has had a profound impact on you, personally or professionally, that you’d like to share with our audience?

    Someone once told me “Be sincere, not serious’ ‘. I guess that was the most useful advice I got which I have used in my life.  

    Get in touch with Akshat Pande-

  • Kunal Sarpal, Founder and CEO, White Collar Legal, on being an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and a corporate lawyer

    Kunal Sarpal, Founder and CEO, White Collar Legal, on being an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and a corporate lawyer

    Kunal Sarpal graduated from ILS Law College in 2016. He is the Founder Partner of White Collar Legal LLP. He is also a company secretary. Very passionate about entrepreneurship, he regularly speaks at various seminars and is also a visiting faculty at various institutes including the TISS, MIT College, Pune. Corporate and IP lawyer, Tedx speaker, entrepreneur, author are only few feathers in his cap.

    In this interview we talk to him about:

    • About specialisation in corporate law
    • Pursuing CS along with LLB
    • Being an Entrepreneur
    • Success of White Collar Legal LLP

     

     

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

    I was once called a renaissance man by a senior colleague and have always tried to live up to that label. The best part, Leonardo Da Vinci is my all-time idol and inspiration, coincidentally after-whom, the Renaissance man term was coined. Hence, very special for me.

    I practice, teach and preach law and entrepreneurship. By qualification, I’m a Commerce and a Law graduate, a qualified Company Secretary, one of the youngest to clear the course in India at 20 and having started practice immediately.

    I am the Founder Partner of White Collar Legal LLP, a multi-state Corporate and Intellectual Property Law firm, started in 2013 now having over 20 employees and 3 branches.

    I love enterprises and entrepreneurs and how law can be an enabler to anyone who wants to start, scale or save his enterprise.

    I absolutely adore public speaking and hence am routinely giving key note speeches everywhere, am a Tedx Speaker (you can find the talk here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cwTyIOPCC0) and very recently, I have also started making small investments into Social Enterprises.

    Just written a book this year on Internships (you can find it here https://www.flipkart.com/intern-ceo-50-practical-tips-ace-internship/p/itmf3ye9tfhqdbaw)

    Given my love for speaking coupled with teaching, I am fortunate to be a faculty (visiting and adjunct) with Flame University, TISS, MIT and many more, wherein I primarily cover law and entrepreneurship.

    I’d love to go on, but for more (visit my linkedinprofile here https://in.linkedin.com/in/adv-kunal-r-sarpal-3b404635)

    Pre College:

    I can be summoned up in 3 words. Creative. Speaker. Organizer.

    I was all over the place. Extra curricular activities were my thing. Hated academics big time. Still do.

    Loved attending school and college and rarely missed a single day, because there was so much to do!

    Did my schooling from J.N. Petit Technical High School, followed by college at Ness Wadia College of Commerce and ILS Law College. CS was done along-side my Commerce degree. Surprisingly, had great grades throughout after clearing school. Into Top 5 always.

    Throughout school and college, you could find my participating in every event that was going on, be it as a participant, as a delegate or as an organizer. Loved the entire concept of learning from doing. Experiential learning is what they call it today. I have this huge trophy chest and a pile of certificates which I am very proud of.

    Very notorious, always getting into trouble. When my school friends look at me today, they say I’ve changed completely. Few hours spent with them, they realize that not much has changed.

     

    HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE LAW AFTER B.COM? MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE OPINION THAT THE THREE YEAR LLB IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE STUDY OF LAW. DO YOU AGREE?

    While I was pursuing my CS along with B.COM, my interest in Company Law and other mercantile laws grew. To satiate this curiosity, I had to do law. Now, after practicing for more than four years, I can safely say that it was a great decision.

    On a lighter note, I’m sure, the only folks who say that are five year law students or graduates!

    To put it straight, the study of law cannot be construed through a tenure or a timeline. It is continuing.

    I enjoyed the three year timeline because it was crisp, all-encompassing and gave me the skill of reading the law. To understand and severe the difference between, what the law is, and between, what the law is for.

    And frankly, that’s all you need to know.

    Interacting with a lot of lawyers now, senior and junior, with a three year and five year law education, I can confidently say that it holds little ground in the long run. Especially in practice. Maybe in employment, the 5 year course is preferred.

     

    WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO SPECIALISE IN CORPORATE LAW?

    My prior education as a CS, study of the legal sector from the practise scope and my inclination towards helping entrepreneurs.

    Since I was the first generation lawyer getting into practise, I knew it’s going to be an uphill task to build clients, generate work, to create a brand and so on.

    Internships were key too. When I interned with lawyers, I realised that litigation at the lower level is not for me. And litigation at the higher level won’t accept me right out of college. So, the choice.

    This also opened a beautiful new area to practise in. The Tribunals. Both NCLT and the IPAT.

    Further, my CS internship with Amanora Group (City Corporation Limited) and my Corporate Law Internship with DSK Legal really gave me exposure to Corporate Law, to practise and to really savour the entire consulting approach to law. I love it till date.

    As a natural corollary, we are now into Intellectual Property Law too.

    I’d say, once you’re really into something you like, things develop. Just give it time. And if you don’t like something, please shift. Don’t give it time.

     

    YOU ARE ALSO A QUALIFIED COMPANY SECRETARY. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND STUDENTS AIMING TO BE CORPORATE LAWYERS TO ALSO PURSUE CS?

    Oh yes. Definitely. A 100%.

    It’ll help both in employment and practise. Will give you a wider scope and your grasp, especially on Company Law and other allied laws will be super.

    CS is a great course in terms of how it’s administered by ICSI. Especially the examination. Gruelling, lengthy and mind boggling. Application of knowledge is rewarded over reproducing information/retention power. It being a competitive course, clearing it with flying colours will also validate your choice and give you the confidence to choose Corporate Law as a long term career path.

     

    YOU STARTED YOUR OWN FIRM AFTER YOUR GRADUATION. WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES IN YOUR INITIAL YEARS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?

    Oh my my! (He smiles remembering those days..)

    The challenges just didn’t seem to end for the first few months. As mentioned earlier, no clients, no experience, monthly rent, expenses, over confidence of sitting out of placements, family taunts, not meeting classmates to avoid humiliation, loss of social life, was constantly giving me nightmares. You really need to have to be strong emotionally if you’re starting out from scratch like me. Those were testing times.

    The only thing that kept me going was assignments which came now and then and since I was good at speaking with a decent knowledge of the law, I used to moonlight as a visiting faculty with a few coaching institutions. A habit that stayed, even today, I may have moved on from coaching institutions but am not associated with top Indian Institutions. At most times, I’m teaching students who are my age or older. I think it is fitting to mention here that I’ll be 25 this year.

    By one and half year or so, we had our first employee, office renovated and our names on the building wall with a decent per month takeaway.

    After year two, it was beautiful. A quarter on quarter growth of 25% and above. Since then, no looking back.

    Year three onwards, it’s a well-oiled process driven machine now wherein we target to help 100 new entrepreneurs each year.

    What I did well was, lot of article writing on leading portals and magazines, speaking a lot at conferences and events and teaching. Writing gave me clarity and certain fame. Speaking helped me establish my brand. And teaching helped me stay updated. So in a way, what I loved doing helped me, even though it wasn’t strategic.

    Since we can’t market or solicit clients, the above are excellence avenues to organically create your network. Because your network will eventually become your net worth.

     

    PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRM WHITE COLLAR LEGAL LLP?

    It’s my baby. My brainchild and comes above everything else.

    To start this journey alone but now sharing it with more than 20+ partners and staff and over 350+ clients is truly rewarding.

    We at White Collar Legal LLP, help individuals and businesses, start up, secure themselves, structure themselves and scale up. Corporate and Intellectual Property Law is where our core competence is. We help execute Ideas. Taking Ideas to IPO or Ideas to Impact.

    We help companies establish their entire legal framework so that the entity is driven by systems and processes and not by promoters or people, so it stands the test of time, the investors and the shareholders. A lot of credit goes to our investors and clients whose constant feedback to us helps us compound our learnings and apply them to future projects. Hence, I’m usually quoted at the office saying that the client feedback is the greatest teacher.

    Right from registering one’s entity to drafting all agreements to getting all the IP secure to advising on M & A, we help entrepreneurs deal with the entire legal framework, partnering with him or her.

    From student startups to large clients like Natural Ice Creams, we cater to them all.

     

    WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A GOOD ENTREPRENEUR?

    Lots and lots of guts. Being laser focused/Master of one. The ability to eat humiliation for breakfast every day. Clairvoyance to see where you’re industry is headed and accordingly adjusting. A tab on international trends. Using Technology to automate everything non-essential/mundane and for MIS. Incessant reading to keep yourself updated. Very strong skill to sell. A strong WHY/ passion behind doing what you’re doing. Service nature by upbringing. Pro-activeness. Ability to do multiple things. People management. Excellent communication skills. Impeachable character/name/brand. And lastly but most importantly, oodles and oodles of humility.

     

    YOU HAVE BEEN A TEDx SPEAKER. PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE.

    It was fantastic. Truly. To be able to share your story with the world is something else.

    I feel very lucky and blessed to have had the opportunity. In the Tedx talk, I spoke about youth entrepreneurship. Till date, I keep receiving emails from students about the ideas they have and about people who want to support. An ecosystem is getting built and that’s awesomeness!

    TEDx talk led to many new and better opportunities from a practice, teaching and speaking point of view.

     

    YOUR FIRM HAS WON NUMEROUS AWARDS. WHAT FACTORS WOULD YOU ATTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR FIRM?

    Complete focus on client service. Being their partners in growth and not just cold third party service providers.

    Getting things done. Less talk, more action. Always going out of the way.

    Being young and small, it also helps us stay lean and agile and deploy tech to our advantage, to understand and respond to client needs better.

    The Japanese principle of Kaizen (continuous improvement) is what serves us well.

    To mention my Partner Ms. Isha Eklaspur (ex- VRL Logistics) and two of my key members, Mr. Praful Srivastav and Ms. Gemini Rajgor, who were key in setting the culture of excellence in client service and delivery.

     

    WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR LAW STUDENTS AS TO HOW TO BE A GOOD ORATOR? HOW DO STUDENTS OVERCOME STAGE FRIGHT?

    Practice. At every given opportunity.

    Speaking is a skill. And just like archery or swimming or driving or any other skill, you will learn it only by doing it. Not by reading about it or watching videos or listening to lectures.

    10,000 hours of doing anything, will make you bloody good at it!

    And yes, join your nearest Toastmasters Club.

     

    YOU ARE ALSO A VISITING FACULTY AT TISS, MIT PUNE AND FLAME UNIVERSITY. HOW IS YOUR EXPERIENCE AT TEACHING?

    It is pure bliss and very necessary at the same time. It keeps me updated as I have to read to prepare, it helps me keep in touch with current trends through student discussions and it helps me gain wider perspective, as I have students ranging from all ages and all walks of life.

    I chose to do this only when I received feedback that I was great at it.

    As a student, I always enjoyed listening to visiting, guest or outside faculty a lot. Purely because it brought change and also gave industry perspective. I love doing that with my students. Sharing snippets of what I do with them. Notably, my favorite teachers at college were always visiting faculty. To name a few, Mr. Ajit Kulkarni (for Drafting), Mr. Aglawe (For Land laws), Mr. Dangre (For Criminal law), Mr. Ganu (for CPC) and many others were just fantastic at ILS.

    But we also had equally erudite faculty among others in Mr. Jain (For Constitutional Law), Mrs. Bhadbhade (For Contracts), Mrs. Sagade (For Family law), Mrs. Satya Narayan (For Torts) and Mrs. Sonali Jadhav (For IPC). We were lucky as ILS has the best of both worlds!

     

    WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WORD OF ADVICE TO YOUNG LAWYERS AND LAW STUDENTS LOOKING TO MAKE A CAREER IN CORPORATE LAW?

    Intern for a minimum of two months and see if you like the work. Work at both small and large firms (at least a quarter dozen) and see if you can do it for 50 years and more of your life.

    Ask questions to your seniors at college and at work. The more the better. The weirder the better. To those who have been there and done that. Don’t assume anything. And don’t settle on Corporate Law or Litigation for extraneous factors such as money, fame or feel good factor. Do it only if you really really love it.

    And if you’re planning to practise, make sure you have all the traits of being an entrepreneur.

    All the best! Crush it!

    Share your thoughts with me at : kunal@whitecollarlegal.in

    Link to company website: www.whitecollarlegal.in

     

     

     

  • Rajeev Nair, Principal Associate, Rajani Associates, on being a Company Secretary, and his experience in Corporate Law

    Rajeev Nair, Principal Associate, Rajani Associates, on being a Company Secretary, and his experience in Corporate Law

    Rajeev Nair graduated in law from Mumbai University, in 2007. He is also a qualified Company Secretary. He has experience of around ten years in the areas of corporate laws, corporate acquisitions, mergers and demergers, joint venture transactions, corporate restructuring, private equity transactions, due diligence, general corporate, corporate legal compliances, negotiations and drafting of the transactional documents, setting up investment funds, debt transactions and real estate private equity transactions.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Pursuing the CS course with law
    • Working at Rajani Associates
    • His experience in corporate law

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a first generation Corporate Lawyer. During my early days of law studies, I got attracted towards the subject of Corporate Laws and was fascinated by it, not just because of it being glamorous/ high paying arena, though I admit the Corporate Law field has grown multi folds in the past decade or so. Thus, I decided to choose a career in Corporate Laws and here I am sharing my thoughts and experiences in my journey as a Corporate law professional.

    Presently, I am a Principal Associate at Rajani Associates, a Mumbai based full service law firm. I am part of the Mergers and Acquisitions team at Rajani Associates.  

     

    What made you decide to pursue a career in law and take up studies for being a company secretary at the same time?  

    Frankly speaking, after completing my Commerce graduation, I was (like most of the people at that stage) contemplating exploring certain career options. Among them, the foremost being to study law, though, I would not attribute any particular reason to it. Subsequently, during my first year at law college (Jitendra Chauhan College of Law, Mumbai), I found a growing interest towards the sphere of Corporate Laws such as Companies Act, SEBI laws, Income Tax, etc. I was keen on studying those subjects in depth and somehow found a natural liking towards them and wished to be a specialist. At this stage of my career, I thought an additional educational qualification catering to this desire would be ideal for my career. Hence, I decided to pursue Company Secretary (CS) course, along with my law studies. The reason for me opting for the CS course was owing to the fact that it is ideal for professionals who wish to specialise in corporate laws, and the CS syllabus provided an opportunity for me to study my favourite subjects in depth. This way, I tried to manage both my law as well as CS studies, though I must admit that I found it very difficult to manage both simultaneously. But, I believe, that there would be no gain without any pain, and thus applied my all focus to juggle my law and CS studies together.

     

    What are your areas of interest in the legal field? How did you discover and cultivate such interests?

    As discussed earlier, during my early days at law college, I found growing affinity towards the subject of Corporate laws – Companies Act, SEBI laws, Income Tax etc. and was keen to study further and in depth in these subjects. I always wanted to be known as a corporate law professional with an intent to constantly learn and improve the requisite skills. As a student, I began following the developments in the corporate world through the internet, newspapers, business newsletters etc. and started cultivating habits which would enhance my professional prospects and help propel my career in the arena of corporate laws. As such, this became my professional ecosystem, thereby leading me eventually to become a corporate lawyer.

    You were a company secretary at Cello. Can you briefly tell us about the work profile of  a CS? 

    Right after I qualified as a Company Secretary, I joined the Cello Group of companies – which was famous for its pens, writing instruments, cookware and other products. Essentially, I was responsible for the compliances of Corporate laws and Corporate governance norms for certain Cello group companies. Here I was, immediately after qualifying as a CS, being appointed at a responsible position, which being a statutory requirement. Frankly speaking, initially I felt like I was sitting on a hot seat as I was being responsible for the Corporate laws for the well-known companies and was answerable to the management, the foreign investors, the auditors and government authorities and all of which seemed very daunting initially. As a CS, you are also required to sign the financials of the company along with the directors. All this accountability for a freshly qualified profession appeared to be sufficiently intimidating. They say that you learn swimming when you are thrown at the deep end of the pool. My experience at Cello was somewhat similar to that. I learnt many things – essentially accountability, responsibility and being confident. Generally, I have realised over the years that you learn the best lessons of your life when you are put in a challenging position, when you are tested, and not when you get things easily, without any effort. I admit, when you undergo a challenging phase, the first thing that comes to your mind is when I would get out of this situation soon. With experience, you get wiser and you learn to deal with challenging times in better manner. But for that, you have to face the difficult circumstances and undergo the ‘process’, however grueling it may be. No two ways about it.     

     

    What motivated you to leave your position as a Company Secretary and enter the legal field?

    During my tenure as a Company Secretary at Cello, I realised that I wanted to do something more than looking after the Corporate law compliances and overseeing the Corporate Governance function. I wanted to have the exposure to a wide gamut of corporate and commercial laws where I would get the opportunity to work on my drafting skills, advise clients and provide solutions to them on their various legal issues, understand their commercial understandings for different transactions and experience other related things. Then, I thought of giving a shot at work with a law firm. I was criticized and also cautioned by people around me, as life at a law firm was considered tough and challenging (not denying that even today) with deadlines and late working hours. However, I had decided that I wanted to give it a try as I realised that if I don’t try, I would never realise what it is like actually working at a law firm. I was ready and made up my mind that come what may, I would proceed and give it a crack with a lot of conviction. I told myself that if I don’t succeed, I would stick to my CS profession. It’s just that I never wanted to sit and regret having not giving honest try. This is how my career change took place – from CS to law. This is where I learnt that if you want to achieve something, you should want to achieve that badly and have a junoon (urdu word, read in the sense of having unflinching dedication and absolute focus towards achieving a particular thing) for that respective thing and at the same time be ready for failures as well. The failure (depends what you choose to call it – I prefer referring to it as stepping stone) should not bog you down. This may sound cliché but this true. I can now say this as ‘I have been there and done that’ – though still a long way to go. Not at all boasting, but saying this only to encourage the young lawyers who are on the verge of joining or have just joined the legal profession.

     

    How did you secure an appointment at Rajani Associates?

    As I pointed out above, I was making a career change from CS to law and I was not joining the legal profession after my law graduation. Due to this, I have to be candid, I found it relatively difficult to find opportunities to work at a law firm. Here, at Rajani Associates, after a lot of search, and almost giving up on my desire to work at a law firm, I eventually got an opportunity to work in a law firm and continue my journey of Corporate laws – the settings changing from CS to a law firm. I thank Rajani Associates to have provided me an opportunity to work with them and providing me professional enriching experience.

    At the outset, I experienced certain difficulties, as I was not a fresh law graduate (who generally goes through various internships during their law college days and are thus aware of the things to expect and well aware of the law firm ‘culture’) but here I was a professional who was making a career change (from CS to law) and trying to get a footing in a law firm. As long as you know what you want, it becomes easier to face challenging times as you already have a motivation to get through the tough phase. Here after joining a law firm, I got an opportunity to do things what I desired and thus was ready to overcome the initial challenging phase. It was definitely a substantial change for me career wise to join a law firm. But with clarity, patience, and support of my colleagues, I took some time and got in sync and became part of a law firm system. This was possible because I knew what I was doing and in which direction I am going.

    In a nutshell, I can say that there was a major change in my attitude from working as a CS that compared with working as a corporate lawyer.  

    All I can say is that it has been truly a memorable and enriching experience working at Rajani Associates as I have got to experience many things which I always wanted to learn prior to joining Rajani Associates. Mr. Prem Rajani, Managing Partner of Rajani Associates, has been truly inspirational and has guided me all through. I thank him for keeping faith in me and my abilities and providing an opportunity to work with the firm. The work environment at Rajani Associates is truly like one big family which helps in having a positive and upbeat work environment. The work environment goes a long way in shaping your professional development and it helps further if you have positive, motivated and hardworking colleagues working with you – as is the case at Rajani Associates.     

     

    As a Principal Associate, how is your work profile different from an associate who has freshly joined?

    Initially, as junior lawyer, I was very eager and looking to learn and absorb every aspect pertaining to working as a lawyer in a law firm. Over the years, apart from the laws, I have learnt many things at Rajani Associates, including the importance of research work, the client interactions and advisory, drafting and negotiating commercial documents, knowledge management, etc. At the start, if one needs to succeed in any particular field, you need to have the focus and sincerity and keep learning the necessary things, never stop. Now, after graduating to a senior position, life is a bit different in the sense, you work on matters independently, you have to do client management, work on areas of development of the firm which includes writing research materials, newspaper publications, you are also involved in training the new lawyers and guiding them through various aspects of the law field and provide more practical insights which they may not necessarily get to experience while at law college. As such, life after joining a law firm did change to a certain extent and now after spending certain years at the law firm, life has definitely undergone a major change and undoubtedly with a sense of satisfaction of having taken the plunge of joining a law firm. At the start of the career, you learn the essentials of the profession and your focus is on building your foundation blocks of the profession and once when you progress to a senior level, your focus areas/ role in the firm change accordingly.

     

    Can you tell us a little bit about the nature of work in the field of corporate law and what qualities one should develop to succeed in this field?

    I work in the Mergers and Acquisitions team at Rajani Associates. As such, my work areas include working on Companies Act, SEBI laws, Competition laws, Income Tax, Foreign Exchange laws and related subjects. Here you do transactions such as acquisitions, Mergers, Amalgamations and required to merge the laws with the commercial understanding of your clients. You are required to negotiate for your clients with a view to protect their interests and draft the transaction documents accordingly. There is a strong element of responsibility and accountability and considering the high commercial stakes of your clients, you have to take adequate care to uphold the interests of your client. This further becomes complicated by ever evolving and constantly changing ecosystem of corporate laws. Thus, you are always on your toes and need to keep oneself updated with the latest amendments of law as otherwise it will not augur well for you professionally. Thus, you need to work and focus on constantly updating yourself with respect to the Corporate laws, develop on drafting and negotiation skills and client management. If one wishes to join the corporate laws arena, one need to have flair for these things.         

     

    Did you ever consider pursuing higher education? 

    As I have already discussed above, I pursued my CS course, along with my law studies, as I wanted to study further and specialise in the areas of corporate laws. Thus, according to me, higher studies is very subjective matter. It is for every individual professional as to decide for higher education/ additional educational qualification. According to me, additional education qualification should be taken up if any one feels that the same is to their liking or which would further enhance their already chosen career path. Merely adding degrees, though may look good on the face of it, but will not yield desired result if pursued only for the purpose of ‘showing off’ or expecting that ‘magic’ will happen with the additional degrees. I say this with due respect to the people doing further studies/ additional courses and do not intend to ridicule them. Thus, ideally speaking, an individual should introspect and accordingly decide as far as higher education/ additional degrees are concerned.    

     

    How do you maintain a work life balance given the challenging nature of your job?

    As I have already pointed out, the work life at Rajani Associates is very positive and like a family. Due to this, there is a positive impact on my work and coupled with the fact that I work alongside hard working, understanding and friendly colleagues. It is indeed difficult to maintain work life balance, but the experience gained over the years help immensely to attain that and as with experience you become wiser and are better equipped to handle things at work place and if you have a very understanding and encouraging work place like Rajani Associates, it only acts as a catalyst in your pursuit of striking a work life balance.

     

    How can law students prepare to increase their chances of securing jobs at law firms?

    Most Important, know what you wish to do. Your internships, interactions with your seniors, your peers should help you understand/identify which stream of law you wish to go for. I believe this is the age of specialisation as the clients are increasingly looking for that as the complexities in every field has grown multi-fold. As such you need to understand your objective so that you can dedicate your focus and keep working towards a particular goal. Accordingly, the law students should apply to the law firms which they believe would provide a platform for harnessing their career professionally (monetary benefits will follow and should not be a primary criteria). If one is not sure where one needs to go or what one needs to do, then it becomes very difficult. Law firms would also welcome those law students (at least the chances are much higher), who are confident and have a certain clarity in mind as to what one wishes to do.  

     

    What advice do you have for our readers who are primarily college students?

    Life teaches you many things, every second is learning experience. So when life does not stop teaching, you also don’t stop learning things and in the process becoming a better person and professional in your chosen arena.

    Identify the area of your interest. Introspect yourself as to where your liking is. This will help you a lot in choosing a right career path. I understand that in today’s age, there are lot of activities happening at law colleges, then you have internships, social media, etc. Absorb and learn as much as possible from all these things and identity your passion, your liking and where you can solely focus and dedicate yourself. Only then you will be able to accomplish greater things. This is because, you will attain joy only in doing what you like. It is said, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life”. Money should not be the primary or sole criteria. Do the work what you like and enjoy, you will do a great job and money will definitely follow, as was famously said in the Hindi film 3 Idiots – try to be competent, success will surely follow.

    Also, there is no substitute for hard work. The profession is such that you have to constantly update yourself; learn, unlearn and relearn, no substitute for that. Also, when you are young and new to the profession, you have lot of enthusiasm, passion and energy, but in most of the cases, the passion and energy tends to wane over a period of time. It is important to sustain that passion and drive towards your career and never allow it to diminish, only then you would achieve remarkable success and most importantly, do your work with sincerity. I believe, you don’t do your work seriously but do it with sincerity. You can fool others, but not yourself. For this, you have to constantly learn, improvise, look for betterment in your work. As commonly said, you should keep the fire in you burning always, so that you always come out as a better professional in each of your professional endeavours. As a music lover, I would end on a musical note, and in order to summarise my advice, would quote the song “Never Give Up” from the Hollywood movie Lion to the young lawyers – wonderful song with amazing lyrics, truly inspirational.   

  • Swati Dalmia, Senior Associate, Fox Mandal, on being a Company Secretary, and her diverse experience

    Swati Dalmia, Senior Associate, Fox Mandal, on being a Company Secretary, and her diverse experience

    Swati Dalmia graduated in law from Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies, in 2009. She then went on to pursue her Masters from NLSIU, Bangalore, with a specialisation in Business Law. She is also a certified Company Secretary. Swati has been working with Fox & Mandal, Kolkata, since November 2009.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Being a Company Secretary
    • Her role at Fox & Mandal
    • Her experience thus far

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I believe in the dignity of labour. There is dignity in every job. And if anyone disagrees with me, I don’t even understand it. I do my job with a lot of effort, with all the right means. I am passionate and totally committed to my work. It’s been almost seven years in this profession and the journey has been quite fascinating, enriching and fun-filled; while working at Fox Mandal along with my seniors and colleagues.

     

    What motivated you to pursue law?

    If I would be allowed to say so, then with all modesty, I would admit more than me having to choose law, it chose me. Law enthralled me, embraced me, and gave me a vision. Studying law and practising law is not the same. Various people study many subjects but practise what they love doing most. When I ventured into this world of law I was mesmerised with its vastness. Post my board exams I wanted to move out of my hometown and started exploring opportunities, looking for courses and colleges, and then settled for studying law. Today, I’m happy about choosing this subject.

    How important are grades, in your opinion?

    Success is peripheral to hard work. If we work hard with the right attitude, seek knowledge at any and every given point of our lives, we shall surely be successful. There are no set standards to succeed, to each is his own. In our academic life we seek success by getting more marks but that does not ensure the making of a good lawyer. Yes, it does make you a good student; grades are very important since it is the most focused tool to measure one’s success rate. The hard work academically bears fruits when it is time to be selected among the lot, good grades give you accessibility to a better platform. It is more important to be a consistent performer and thrive to attain more with an undying quest for learning. There is a huge difference in being a good scholar and a real player in the industry.

    Tell us a little about your days in law school.

    My law school days were just fantastic, the best days of my life. It was an ocean engulfing me; there was so much activity all around me. I wanted to do it all. I maximized my time in a productive way, was very active as a student, and I loved being that way. I tried to excel in academics, participated in several moot court competitions, debates, seminars, client counselling sessions, research papers, etc. I pursued the company secretary course along with law and finished it even before graduating as a lawyer. I still remember the most stressful part of my law school days was writing my ninth semesters and then just after a gap of three days sitting for my CS Final exams. It was then that I realized how friends and family help you achieve your goals.

    I think I was quite enthusiastic and wanted to do everything possible which also included not missing a single party happening around me! Yes, I enjoyed myself and made friends for life.    

    What are the subjects that you took particular interest in during your law school days?

    Every student is exposed to all subjects in law. The curriculum is almost the same everywhere. Torts and contracts are the basic foundation and the most interesting subjects possible. But since I took up the company secretary course and later pursued Masters in Business Law, I think, as a fresher, I was at considerable ease (in comparison to other statutes) while working on the companies act and its allied statutes.

    But I strongly feel that law school days are the time to explore academically and not to decide upon your career option. One has to make a choice and may go with the flow and his instincts but the ultimate decision comes when one joins the industry and starts practising.

     

    In your opinion, what are the law school-centric activities that you would recommend as necessary experiences for every law student? 

    Read, read, and then read some more. Law school activities provide students an energetic and competitive platform to increase their knowledge and work on their oratory skills. Also, unconsciously, one develops the skill of working in a team.

    Any and all activities which we undertake make us a better human being, since we learn to rejoice our success and also handle failures with grace. It may not be an indication to whether one shall become a successful advocate or not, but it is surely important in shaping one’s law school days. Otherwise, as a student, life gets boring and mundane. I think as a student I wanted to do everything apart from writing an exam (which was compulsory). My most memorable days were winning and being appreciated for my mooting skills, and the cherry on the cake was when we won a debate competition related to child rights organized by Legal Assistance Forum.     

     

    Tell us about your experiences as intern at S. Jalan & Company, Kolkata as well as Fox & Mandal, Bangalore.

    I was fortunate enough to get these opportunities both at S. Jalan and Fox Mandal. My internship at these places certainly played a role because it helped prospective employers to know about me as a worker and also as a person. I personally feel, as an intern (also as a fresher), my seniors never expected me to do everything correctly but what was more important is my attitude towards my assignments. There has to be a balanced enthusiasm to take up work and try to finish it within timelines.

    My advice would be never to seek an internship only for the purpose of holding a certificate. It would do more damage than by choosing simply not to do it. It you are interning at a firm, then reach out to the associates and seniors and ask for work and get back to them after completing it. One should try to research well and push information in the simplest way possible (without relying on Wikipedia).

     

    What are the challenges that one needs to prepare himself/herself for when they step out of the comfort of a law school and into the real working world?

    The first and foremost challenge is to be in working mode for ten continuous hours every day. There are no official breaks in between and the offices do not stop working at 4 PM. The next thing I feel is acclimatizing to a new place and getting yourself familiar with your colleagues and seniors. It is a transition process from a caterpillar to a butterfly. It is a new beginning when you leave an impression on others (who may be colleagues, seniors, partners or clients); so be focused, dedicated and disciplined.    

     

    What are your areas of specialisation in law? 

    I feel my senior Orijit Chatterjee at Fox Mandal (my mentor) has been very kind to me when it comes to my understanding of specialisation. When I was a complete novice and had no understanding of work which generally takes place in a full-service law firm, he just held my hand and very patiently brought out the best in me. I strongly feel my mentor has played a very important role in shaping my career.

    Initially, I tried developing my skills in general corporate, advisory and transactional work because those were the kinds of work which were assigned to me. But he never stopped there. He introduced me to a plethora of work and made me work on diverse matters under strict deadlines. Honestly, I quite enjoyed it. It was challenging and satisfying. He strongly believes in a theory and told me one day “you are hardly an advocate if you don’t practise in courts because that is the place where the real interpretation takes place”. These words still resonate in my ears and I feel it so true. He introduced me to litigation and since the last three years I have been actively involved in dispute resolution practice and today I am experienced with a 360 degree overview of a corporate transaction which takes place, from a non-binding term sheet to the enforcement of exit clause.

     

    Tell us about your current work profile with Fox & Mandal. 

    A regular day at work is buzzing, overflowing with work, and I certainly enjoy it. It is combination of discussions with seniors, attending courts/tribunals, meetings with clients, drafting, researching, attending conferences with counsels, and without even realizing the day comes to an end. Our profession is extremely demanding and one has to be fine with long working hours on a daily basis. But under the tutelage of Mr. Shourya Mandal (Partner, Fox Mandal) and Mr. Orijit Chatterjee, work is enriching and fun-filled and their deep sense of humility and legal acumen encourages me all the time to strive hard and reach for the next level.

     

    Where do you see yourself ten years from now? 

    The stalwarts in this industry make me seek more and more, when I see their quantum of success I feel like taking a deeper plunge. As I always say, law seeks me more than I seek it . It ensures I’m glued to it, that I love nothing more than being a lawyer. I’m sure in years to come I shall find a place in the legal history of the country, my own place.

       

    What is your message to our readers?

    Make most of your law school days. Go ahead, reach out and do whatever you desire. Get into action, then give your hundred percent and never look back. Enjoy, have fun, take trips and most importantly, make memories.

  • Goda Raghavan, corporate-commercial practitioner, AK Law Chambers, on being a lawyer, company secretary, author and illustrator  

    Goda Raghavan, corporate-commercial practitioner, AK Law Chambers, on being a lawyer, company secretary, author and illustrator  

    Goda Raghavan graduated in law from University Law College, Bangalore in 2010. She went on to pursue her Masters in Law from the prestigious London School of Economics, batch of 2011. She is also a qualified company secretary and was awarded the gold medal for securing the highest marks in the foundation examination from the state of Karnataka. After working with GMR Infrastructure Limited, Bangalore, as their management trainee for two years and with HSB Partners, Chennai for four years, she quit to set up the corporate-commercial practice at AK Law Chambers. Additionally, she is also a freelance illustrator. She draws a comic strip called “Pickles & Lota” and has illustrated several strips on legal humour.

     

    In this interview she speaks to us about:

    • Her courses and curricula at the London School of Economics
    • Managing being a company secretary alongside with being a lawyer
    • Her experience working with diverse firms in India and abroad, and building corporate-transactional practice

     

    You said you’re a third generation lawyer? What was it like growing up in a family with so many lawyers and how has that influenced your career and practice?

    Being a third generation lawyer brings with it a lot of advantages as well as a lot of responsibilities and extremely high expectations. You are judged on a daily basis and quite easily written off for even small stumbles. Yet I am fortunate to be carrying on the family ‘tradition’, if I may call it. My grandfather Justice K.R. Gopivallabha Iyengar was a judge and my father Mr. K.G. Raghavan is a designated senior counsel of the Karnataka High Court. To say that I wasn’t influenced to take up law and that this was a completely independent decision would be a lie. On the contrary, it was a positive influence on me. Immediately after the 10th standard board examination, I specifically opted for commerce to benefit from the courses in economics and business studies to assist me in the five year law program thereafter. As luck would have it, I married Anirudh, who is also a litigating lawyer. It was only then that I decided to focus on transactional work, an attempt to not “duplicate resources” within the family.

    You have a publication “Breach of Representation and Warranties in M&A: A Buyer’s Guide” to your credit? What role do you think writing and research have played in your career? Did you write many papers when you were in law school?

    According to me writing is a very crucial part of being a lawyer – be it writing in the form of drafting or writing for research articles. My schooling has added vastly to my skill in the use of words to convey my thoughts and that has greatly benefitted me in drafting agreements, opinions and pleadings as well. While I presented several papers on corporate laws for the legal and secretarial group meetings that were held monthly, during my training period at GMR Infrastructure, I was hardly left with any spare time between balancing my courses and exams at law school and the company secretary course. I believe that the most important skill of a lawyer lies in articulation- written (be it drafting a pleading or an agreement) and oral.

    What were your priorities during law school? Did you always know which area of law you would set up a practice in or did you decide later?

    During law school, I focused a lot on internships and also on completing my company secretary course. To this effect, I interned at various offices and companies and got an idea of the various kinds of work involved. At the end of five years, I also successfully completed my CS course.  When I started off at law school, the only area that I was exposed to was litigation because of my father. It was only when I began my course at the LSE — by which time I had finished by company secretary course — did I realise that I might be interested in pursuing a career in corporate transactional work. Backed by my experience at GMR Infrastructure, I joined HSB Partners, Chennai, which I believe has one of the best transactional practices in the city. Mr T.K. Bhaskar is a fantastic mentor to have. The exposure to direct client interaction at HSB is a huge advantage and boosts your learning curve and confidence. The interplay of law, finance and business while working in this area intrigued me. All of this led to my decision to set up corporate practice at AK Law Chambers.

    Tell us a little about your course in LSE, please. What are your views on both, pursuing an LLM and studying abroad for Indian law students, from a career point of view?

    At the LSE, I took courses on dispute resolution, project finance, contracts, international business transactions and trademark law. I was particular about taking courses that teach the law as a jurisprudential concept and not courses that are legislative specific to that region. While a one year program does not enhance one’s knowledge of the law drastically, there are three invaluable skill sets that one picks up, especially while studying in one of the best institutions in the world: One is the method in which you approach the situation on hand as taught by the some of the most qualified professors in the world at the university, two is the way in which fellow students from various jurisdictions, who are all top of their class at their universities, approach the same situation, and three is the drafting skill. In addition to the education, the program encourages you to live independently, manage your own finances and travel. All of this adds to the overall personality of a person and this shows in the way one handles a client, their drafting and presentation skills. Even though I went to the LSE straight after college, I would believe that pursuing an LLM after a couple of years of work experience would be a lot more beneficial.

    You interned at Allen and Gledhill LLP, Singapore. How did you choose and apply for that internship and how do you think it shaped your perspective?

    During my term at law school, I had interned with Mr. Uday Holla at the advocate general’s office, the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi and Crest Law Partners, Bangalore. After working with offices that engage in different types of legal practice and gaining exposure to a variety of domestic legal work, I was keen on working with a foreign law firm to get international experience. Mr. Nakul Dewan was kind enough to accept me as an intern at Allen & Gledhill LLP, Singapore on their dispute resolution team. It was the first time that I lived by myself and worked outside the comfort of my home country. The internship taught me the work culture of a foreign firm, their attention to detail, the meticulous manner in which documentation is done and their focus on specialization.

    What work did you do at HSB Partners?

    At HSB Partners, over a period of four years, I worked in Mr. T.K. Bhaskar’s team. I was involved in private equity transactions, advising promoters and funds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions and also general corporate advisory work across several sectors including e-commerce, seaports, automobiles, technology and manufacturing services.

     

    You are a certified company secretary. What prompted you to pursue the degree?

    I had a fractured leg and was lying in bed when my father brought me a few forms and asked me to sign on it. Few days later he handed me some books for the company secretary course and said that the classes would start in a couple of days. That was how my tryst with the course of company secretary began! I believe that my CS qualification strengthens my knowledge on procedure and secretarial compliance of the companies act, SEBI, etc., which is an aspect that is often not delved into adequately by litigating lawyers.

     

    Tell us a little about AK Law Chambers.

    AK Law Chambers, a boutique law firm set up in the year 2013, focuses on litigation, arbitration and real estate work. I am now building the corporate-transactional practice. AK Law Chambers comprises fifteen lawyers and four partners, with offices in Bangalore and Chennai.

     

    Do you have any insights you would like to share with law students on a general or specific note, with respect to getting through law school?

    The most important thing during law school and early years of your career is to keep an open mind and focus on learning everything you can. Give every opportunity its fair share of time. Don’t let preconceived notions come in the way of learning.

     

  • Varun Sriram, Partner, J. Sagar Associates, Chennai on steering a successful corporate legal practice with a law degree and completing Company Secretary course

    Varun Sriram, Partner, J. Sagar Associates, Chennai on steering a successful corporate legal practice with a law degree and completing Company Secretary course

    Varun Sriram graduated from Symbiosis Law School, Pune in 2006 and thereafter also qualified as a Company Secretary Course from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He is currently a Partner at J. Sagar Associates, Chennai and practices mainly in General Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Banking & Finance. He has over ten years of work experience in corporate legal work.

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • His law school life at Symbiosis Law School Pune;
    • The essentials of a good corporate lawyer;
    • His experience and work strategies for ruling the corporate market;
    • Opportunities that a corporate practice has to offer;
    • His views on the current demonetization of high value currencies and the new Insolvency Code; and
    • His fondness for corporate and commercial laws.

     

    What interests or influences propelled you to pursue law as a career? What other options were you considering apart from law and how did you make the final decision?

    It wasn’t out of any specific interest at the beginning. Interest grew over a period of time, over a few years into practice. I took up a science group in eleventh standard since most of my friends chose science and I wanted to continue to be in the same class as them. It was during my mid-term that I started considering options for higher studies mainly due to peer pressure. I knew science wasn’t my cup of tea and I should not continue in that stream. I asked the school principal if I could change streams to commerce and she was gracious to agree. I joined the commerce stream just a week or two before our half-yearly exams and aced business studies, economics and accountancy.  That’s when I knew what my fundamental interests/strengths were even though I was not sure about future plans. I was considering my options in twelfth standard and one of my teachers mentioned that no student for several years had opted for law. Plus I was reading Perry Mason books back then and had seen quite a few movies with court room drama. Thereafter when I heard about Pune law colleges and life out there, I was quick to make my decision. I joined Symbiosis Law College in 2001 and never look back. My other option was to do a professional course in culinary arts and become a chef. I enjoy cooking and thought I would take it to a professional level. Then someone told me I could be a lawyer and still cook for people, but the other way round would not work. It made sense and I stuck to the plan.

     

    What were your objectives and plans in the preliminary years of law school? What curricular and extra-curricular activities and internships did you opt for while in law school?

    I did not have a plan, at least not for the first two years of college life. I spent time exploring Pune and making new friends. Sometime during my second year, I realised I had lot of time in hand and enrolled for ACS. I did one internship every year including outside of my home town Chennai. I did a few moot courts as well. I was also part of AIESEC, Pune. I would sum up my college life as academically above average, well rounded and a lot of fun.

     

    Straight after law school, you got an offer from HSB Partners, Chennai. What was the work profile you were entrusted with there and how was your experience there during your initial days?

    I joined HSB Partners by chance and not by plan. I was exploring my options after college. I took up a special project with a Danish MNC based out of Chennai to work on compliance aspects for them. I thought I would take the opportunity to get some perspective on management/strategy issues on the side. Within a few weeks, I realised it was not the right fit for me. I needed professional guidance. I met with some Industry leaders, entrepreneurs and lawyers to get suggestions. I even had an offer from an FMCG MNC based out of Mumbai for a legal role. Still, I was not convinced. I had done an internship with Mr. TK Bhaskar (TKB) in my third year of college and decided it would be good idea to meet him and discuss some options. That was the turning point. He offered me a position instantly after a brief discussion around 8:30 PM. I joined the next day not knowing that stint was going to be my beacon in the years to come. Initially, I worked with HSB Partners for two years. I was involved in a variety of work on corporate & commercial contracts, PE/VC and M&A work, corporate litigation matters, merger/de-merger schemes, drafting legal opinions on various corporate/commercial matters and occasionally even running to the consumer forum. Most weeks were six and half day working weeks. It was a good experience, especially the diversity of the nature of work that I was exposed to. I was also fortunate to get a lot of time from TKB.

     

    Within a few years, (if I am not wrong it might be shortest journey for a new law graduate) you got promoted to partner at HSB Partners Chennai, a reputed law firm in the southern circle.  What skills and qualities do you think helped you achieve you this position?

    While I continued to enjoy work at HSB Partners, I wanted to have first-hand experience in a Mumbai law firm specialising in PE and M&A work. So I started applying to various firms and had the opportunity to interview with a few of them. A very good friend and senior from college was working in Economic Laws Practice (ELP) and arranged for me to interview with one of the Partners. I interviewed with them and was offered a position instantly by Mr. Suhail Nathani and I took it up. I worked in ELP’s PE/M&A team and did some fantastic transaction work. I learned a majority of private-equity transaction related nuances during my stint here. I moved after a few years to ALMT Legal in Bangalore and worked with well-known names like Mr. SR Arun and Ms. Dhanya Menon. I had the opportunity to do capital market work like IPO, Rights Issue etc. besides some good and large M&A transactions.         I spent almost five years between Mumbai and Bangalore before moving back to Chennai. I re-joined HSB Partners although I had an offer from a national level firm in Chennai. While I started handling more of transaction related work, I worked on other matters from time to time. I was extremely moved when I was elevated as a salaried partner, especially considering I was the first associate to be elevated as such. I think my progression is a result of the combination of many attributes – exposure to a variety of work, good mentorship, strong fundamentals and liking towards corporate/commercial legal matters, my dual qualification (Law and ACS) and my associations with reputed firms and individuals.

     

    Your linked in profile says that you are driven by an “interest to find resolutions to intricate business requirements” and that your “practice emphasis has always been to add value to clients”. What interests lead you to such a yearning?

    The first sentence of the statement is based on my interest and passion. The second sentence of the statement is the end objective of my first sentence. That’s how I look at it. Without facing challenging requirements, there is no intellectual stimulation. Without finding lawful yet workable solutions to clients under such circumstances, there is no value creation. Without value creation, there is no client. Thus I feel there is immense logic and purpose in that statement and living by it.

     

    What are the opportunities that a practice has to offer? What are the essential requirements to rule the Indian corporate market?

    The legal profession is going to become more specialised in the days to come. This is the natural progression. Clients demand, and rightfully so, deliverables under tight time-lines to keep pace with various commercial and M&A activities, competition etc. This is possible only if the lawyer in question is fundamentally strong in the subject matter and has good exposure on ground. The requirements for developing into a good corporate lawyer and continuing to be one are always dynamic and not constant or a one-time effort. I think the use of technology effectively will make a difference going forward. It is important to be aware of legislative/policy developments, changes, general business news, developments in transaction structures and practices, new and changing business models etc. It is combinations of all of these that aidsand improves one’s legal acumen and helps one perform better as a corporate-commercial/transaction lawyer. Being level-headed, rational and solutions driven is vital.

     

    Do you feel that doing a company secretary course from the Institute of Company Secretaries in India will be add fuel to one’s work profile at a corporate practice?

    Completing a Company Secretary course together with Law certainly gives an edge with regard to certain fundamentals academically, in corporate and secretarial laws and adds weight to one’s resume. But I would not attribute more than that. Anything I learned out of a text book until I applied it on the job was to some extent surreal. Most of the real learning is on the job at least that has been my experience. I think if one has the time to study and get an extra degree, why not. It could CS, CA or MBA finance – all of them are good combinations with a law degree.

     

    The newly enacted Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 has stirred a dynamic shift in the insolvency regime. What is in your opinion, efficacious about this code in the Indian corporate market?

    Prior to this legislation, there were multiple laws and forums that dealt with insolvency related issues. The insolvency code is a uniform and complete code dealing with insolvency issues and applicable to all companies (not banking companies), partnerships and individuals. The code has established a new framework, with a regulator, insolvency professionals and detailed adjudication mechanisms. The code if implemented properly, will lead to pro-active and effective resolution processes re insolvency matters.

     

    You are currently partner at J. Sagar Associates, Chennai. What is your work profile there? Could you share your experience at the firm so far?

    I primarily deal with private equity, M&A and other corporate and commercial matters. JSA is a tier-1 firm both in capability and culture. JSA is known and stands for work quality, expertise and good values. The organisation inculcates and encourages good ethos and transparency in dealing with people, both internally and externally. It is also interesting to note JSA’s active involvement in pro-bono activities. This year being the 25th anniversary, additional pro-bono initiatives are under-way. This milestone is being celebrated by reaching out and giving in ways we can, so that others may be lifted by an experience of equality, empowerment and justice. I feel fortunate, proud and a sense of satisfaction being associated with JSA.

     

    Why the special interest in corporate laws and commercial laws with a special focus on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity, general corporate matters and corporate compliance over a number of sectors?

    While I worked on a variety of matters during the initial two years of practice, I gradually realised I needed to focus on some area of practice. My natural inclination towards corporate/commercial and M&A matters made the choice easier. I think it’s important for any fresh law graduate to get a feel and sense of as many diverse areas of practice as possible, initially. At some point it will naturally lead to a focus in one or more areas of their liking if all goes well.

     

    Do you think the current demonetization of higher value Indian currency is going to boost the Indian economy?

    The market sentiments are polarised on this. Professional write ups, views and emotions are mixed and economists in some cases have taken a cynical view. While I am no expert on policy issues, I think the logic behind the policy measure is sound. Implementation of the policy is another matter and there possibly could have been more systems and checks put in place for it being more effective and reducing hardship to sections of people relying on physical currency in their daily life. But now that the policy is already in play, improvising implementation dynamically is the need of the hour. Whether the policy will actually meet its purpose and objective i.e. eradicate black money/counterfeit notes, weakens the parallel economy thus consequently leading to better GDP, digitalisation of payments and receipts etc., only time will tell. It is also important to measure the purpose and positive effects of the policy against the cost of implementation of the policy factoring in all adverse ripple effects created, in some objective manner to test the success of the policy.

     

    What were the challenges you faced in shaping up your career as it stands today and where do you see yourself ten years from now?

    It will be unfair to say I faced any material challenges in shaping my career. I was reasonably dedicated, took a keen interest in work and looked out for client interest while never diluting integrity. I did not see or think of them as challenges. I don’t know where I see myself in ten years. I just hope I have the strength and opportunity to do and continue to do what I like and proud of.

     

    Do you agree that law students with a corporate legal legacy (family background) are more likely to succeed in practicing it?

    Not necessarily. It may give a person an edge with respect to learning, networking and an immediate name in the market. But I believe one earns the tag as a good corporate lawyer over a period of time based on merit and work quality. Therefore, it is possible for lawyers without legal family lineage to also succeed, catch up, and even go past those who have it. It entirely depends on the individual, his/her capabilities and conviction. It needs to kept in mind that success is subjective, a state of feeling and difficult to be objectively measured.

     

    What is your parting message to law students and young generation lawyers?

    It is good to try diverse legal work for a few years before focusing on something more specialised. During the initial phase of your career, give more weightage to working with a good and reputed senior rather than the size of the firm, brand of the firm, pay package etc. Don’t give into placement/peer pressure. If often you do not feel a sense of pride/satisfaction relating to the work that you deliver, start assessing the situation as rationally as possible. Never hesitate to make drastic changes in the way you work or your career options when you are convinced the outcome will be more positive. But never make them in haste. Always think through, talk to well-wishers and more experienced people before taking any drastic steps relating to your career.

     

  • Priyadarshini Natarajan, Principal Associate, HSB Partners, on Corporate Law Practice, Law School days, and the Company Secretaries’ Course

    Priyadarshini Natarajan, Principal Associate, HSB Partners, on Corporate Law Practice, Law School days, and the Company Secretaries’ Course

    Priyadarshini Natarajan graduated from ILS College, Pune in the year 2007. She has also completed a Company Secretary Course from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. She is currently Principal Associate at HSB Partners, Chennai and heads its General Corporate Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions & General Corporate Litigation. She has over nine years of work experience in these domains.

    In this interview she talks to us about-

    • Her legal education at ILS College, Pune;
    • How to make the best use of internships ;
    • Her experience at HSB Partners
    • The importance a CS Course in a corporate lawyers life and
    • How to make career decisions while at law school.

     

    How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am an enthusiastic person with a thirst for new experiences in life.

     

    You completed your legal education at ILS Law College, Pune. Tell us about your college experience and how it helped shape you professionally.

    ILS and Pune city were one of the many good things that happened in my life. Having studied and lived in a cocooned home environment in Chennai all through my school years, it was indeed refreshing and an amazing experience to be in the ‘student city’. ILS has an amazing campus, some really good lecturers in the faculty, a fine library, a reading room, huge classrooms, an enormous ground and a hill behind the college where one could go trekking! We had students from different parts of India and abroad and it is wonderful that we are still connected. I had lovely friends who would generously lend me their notes to study, and inspire and support me in all endeavors. The students always had so many ideas, and took many initiatives in both law related workshops as well as extra curricular activities. The college arranges for many guest lectures, diplomas, workshops, moot courts, international certificate programs and has a very good placement cell.

     

    Did you do extra curricular activities, and if so, how important were they?

    I love new experiences and during college it was the time to experiment with different things each year. I played with the college women’s cricket team, was part of Human Rights Cell in and did a few diploma courses on subjects such as Cyber Laws, Geopolitics and International Relations, and Corporate Laws. I spent three years trying my hand at guitar at the Institute of Modern Music.  I believe that extra-curricular activities  overall development, expand one’s circle, provide opportunities to meet various people and helps one have an open mind. I recollect that once I complained that I did not have enough time to practice playing the guitar every day, to which my guitar tutor, Mr. Shital Kulkarni, retorted “you mean to say you do not have 15 minutes in one whole day to practice?” I was dumbstruck and realised discipline and practice are not that hard and one just needs to make time for it. That voice still echoes in my head. What we learn in one sphere always helps us in other spheres of life.

    You are also a Company Secretary. How helpful is the fact that you are a Company Secretary, in the legal context?

    I pursued CS after I graduated and started practicing. I wanted to do something apart from work and therefore enrolled to do CS. I am always first a lawyer, then a qualified Company Secretary. Therefore, my priority was my law practice and I studied for CS exams only during free time, and I must say I passed CS mostly with the practical knowledge from work. CS does compliment corporate law practice, including due diligence assignments, provided that one is updated on the corporate compliances as much as one is updated on changes in the law.

     

    What should legal students aspiring to pursue CS course keep in mind whilst preparing for the same? Would you recommend pursuing a CS course during law school or after, and why?

    It really is a personal choice whether to pursue it during law school or after. Personally, I was able to appreciate the course better due to the practical knowledge from work assignments. If one is considering practicing corporate law, then one could consider pursuing it during law school as it gives an insight into the subjects and help in making a decision. However, one must keep in mind that a graduate is eligible for an exemption from taking the foundation exams and therefore could directly progress to the executive program of CS and thereafter the professional/final program. Whether one chooses to pursue it during or after law school, I would recommend going for private tuitions or the ICSI classes so that one can interact with other students and practicing Company Secretaries to get an insight regarding the options as well as to discuss the subject.

     

    Tell us about the internships you did whilst at law school. What is the most important quality of a good intern?

    We had two months off in a year, one in May and one in December, both being court vacation periods. During my first year of college, I had interned with Dr. Suresh, Mrs. Nagasaila, Mrs. Sudha Ramalingam who were also involved with PUCL, Chennai. I remember Dr. Suresh vehemently opposing the other side’s advocate (a public prosecutor) in vacation court and then came out of the court and shook hands with him. Dr. Suresh, whom I have great respect for, winked at me and said “no permanent enemies and no permanent friends”. All the three advocates as well as the other advocates I met there were not only intelligent, hardworking and inspiring but such amazing, distinct individuals. I was asked to be part of a client meeting, where a lady had come in for filing a case for rape. After the client meeting, the advocate told me the difference between facts and allegations and mentioned how the client (a rape victim) was contradicting her own statements. It does not mean that one ought to doubt the client but I learnt that while the client is giving the pieces of information, I must assimilate it quickly and have the script ready, be it drafting an agreement or filing a litigation. Another interesting person I met was Mr. Jose John, when I interned with King and Patridge, who is so hard working and humble. Other places I have interned are Menon and Gokulaney and Kini and Company. Mr. Ashok Menon and Mr. Harshad Gokulaney have also interacted with me and given some great advice. During internships, it is a stroke of luck to get the so called ‘interesting’ work in the one month period, especially during court vacations. However, there is something to learn from every work assigned to you. I had some exposure to research work, drafting of notices, watching vacation court proceedings, and reading of case bundles. If I speak of one value addition that stands out, it is the very interaction with such amazing lawyers who could give me an insight regarding work life after college, career path, choices to make, and taught me how to focus on the case without getting emotionally tangled in the client’s problems.

    I think the most important quality of an intern is to have an open mind! It is also important to spend quality time and a minimum of 4 weeks in one firm/ under a lawyer as opposed to trying to squeeze in a great number of internships. Honor those hours you get to spend in the office. Keep reading books/laws/magazines if you have not been assigned any work for the day/hour. Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to the advocates and ask them for work!

    How important are internships for shaping a young legal mind and preparing him/her for the real world?

    I have had the opportunity to interact with many interns, some of them who have amazing confidence and clarity regarding their future career. In that sense I believe that many students are already quite conscious of the ‘real world’. As an intern, the assignment given tends to be etched in their memory for a long time to come. A small task such as numbering pages in a typed set, looking for acknowledgement cards, taking a dictation, doing research, or looking for a phone number of a governmental authority would come in handy when you graduate and start practicing. Try maintaining a log of each day’s assignments in all internships. It helps in self assessment, planning a future and most of all, makes an interesting read with a smile on the face when you finish 6 months or 1 year of practice post graduation!

     

    You work in HSB Partners, Chennai. Tell us about your experience working at this firm. What are the areas of law that you practice?

    I have been working with HSB Partners for nearly 9.5 years and it has been a wonderful experience with loads of opportunities. My primary areas of practice are corporate litigation, corporate transactions/ advisory and commercial agreements. The firm has a young vibrant crowd and amazing colleagues, both in the past and the present, who have been helpful and inspirational. The partners are not only approachable but are also very receptive to opinions of even the junior-most person, provided it is backed with law/reasoning. That helps in building confidence and the freedom to think independently and provide solutions. Each of the partners is very inspiring to work with and their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn makes one even more interested in the subject. For instance, I was one of those kids who did not like Labour Laws when I was in college. During my first month of work, I recollect that Mr. T.K. Bhaskar (the partner I work with) explaining an assignment to me that got me interested in this subject, which I thought I loathed. Anyone who walks into his room learns something new. In fact, when I was a fresher in the office, every single day I went back home having learnt something new. I used to feel so happy about being a better lawyer than the previous day. This remains true till date. I have learnt a lot from working closely with many esteemed senior counsels as well as a wide variety of clients. I have been fortunate to get the opportunities and mentorship that I have received, which has shaped me to the half way decent lawyer I am today.

     

    Did you always know that you wished to practice Corporate Law? If not, how did you make the decision to make Corporate Laws your career – what were the factors you took into consideration whilst picking a suitable area of law with a professional point of view.

    When I joined law school, my area of interest in law was Criminal Law and Human Rights. In fact till date, one thing that I want to do is to work for child development, child rights and work against child sexual abuse, though I get to do that only part time. I developed an interest and decided to pursue Corporate Laws after I completed a Diploma in Business and Corporate Laws. Though I never did an internship in this area,  I decided to start my practice in the area of Corporate Law considering my limited exposure during my other litigation internships vis-à-vis my skills, strenghts and suddenly developed an interest.

     

    What is the basis of recruitment at HSB? What do interested applicants need to keep in mind when applying to HSB?

    The usual- qualifications, past internship/work experiences, aptitude to work hard, sincerity, clarity in thinking, team spirit, achievements and extra-curricular activities. In addition, you must shed the attitude that you are a trainee and walk in as a lawyer.

     

    What is the most notable improvement from the erstwhile Companies Act, 1956 to the current Companies Act, 2013?

    Some of the notable changes are the introduction of the  concept of One Person Company, increasing the number of members of a private company, introducing the definition and duties of an independent director, making it mandatory to have a woman director in listed companies and certain public companies, introducing the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and casting it as a duty of a director to follow provisions regarding CSR, the concept of Key Managerial Personnel, et al. One of the most important changes is the introduction of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in the place of erstwhile Company Law Board and shifting of all the company matters from High Courts, including matters related to reduction of share capital, schemes/amalgamation, and winding up – to the jurisdiction of NCLT and introduction of the appellate tribunal – National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

     

    What are the factors law students need to take into account while making substantial career decisions?

    Most important aspects that would aid in decision making are your interest, your passion, your strength, and your own dreams/goals. Pick something that you like doing. Some of you may not have the clarity as to which area of practice to choose and it may happen that some of you may not be able to find an opportunity to do work in the area that you desire. In both cases, keep your eyes open for opportunities and your ears open for any advice people have to give. If you fall in the former category, read a lot, try discussing with some advocates you have interned with, or batch mates, and try building a good network. Don’t hesitate to ask for help as you may never know from which quarter you may receive it.. If after all this you still do not know which area of law you want to practice in or if you want to be an in-house counsel, do not fret and just go with the flow. Having a good mentor and practicing a particular thing long enough with dedication and sincerity, would slowly make you an expert in a subject and in turn that will bring you success. If you fall in the second category, grab whichever opportunity you get and do your best. What is more important is to be focussed and do your best wherever you are. However, make sure to have your dream/passion/goals in the back of your mind. For example, if you want to specialise in Cyber Law and you end up in Civil/Corporate Laws, pursue your career in the opportunities you have. Optimise on the resources at hand and keep updating yourself with Cyber Laws. There will definitely be a window of opportunity and a break through. Believe in yourself, work hard, fight against all odds and follow your dream.

     

    What advice would you give current law students?

    Be passionate about what you do. It is a service industry and whichever area of law you choose, understand that you are dealing with and protecting someone’s rights. Anything you do or not do in a case/transaction could make a difference in that client’s life. So, strive to make a good difference. That apart, bear in mind that to understand if an area of law interests you, you must give it time. Patience, hardwork, consistency, sincerity and honesty may sound “cliché” but are the good old principles that will make you successful. Accept whatever work that comes your way and do your best. Be open minded and receptive to changes! All the best!