Super Lawyer

Tag: Delhi High Court

  • With the right team, right resources and right networking we make sure that we are able to provide our expertise and handle different cases- Kanika Bhardwaj, Founder of Kanika Bhardwaj Law firm

    With the right team, right resources and right networking we make sure that we are able to provide our expertise and handle different cases- Kanika Bhardwaj, Founder of Kanika Bhardwaj Law firm

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

    Can you tell us about your journey and how you ended up becoming a lawyer? What drew you to the field of law and motivated you to establish Kanika Bhardwaj Law Firm?

    My journey till date has been full of ups and downs. There were several issues from time to time. Being a first generation lawyer, I have started from scratch. There was a lack of resources, there was no office ( I used to keep my files in my car and used to meet clients at canteen or CCD.) But I must say consistency is the key and then obviously one must be passionate and love what they do. If you are not passionate about this profession, I can bet you will eventually quit. So step in this profession only if you are passionate about it. 

    I always wanted to be a lawyer. So this was fixed.  It is not the case of mine where I landed up in court with the flow. I knew this place was for me and I must get in. 

    Moreover the idea of establishing a Law Firm was there in my mind since 5th year of mine because to be honest, I did almost 12-15 internships during my college days. I knew everything in and out about the courts and I understood that litigation can only be successful if you have clients on table. If there are no clients, no cases, no matter how good you are, your practice will be considered as “FAIL”. So I started moving towards my goal of establishing a law firm and bringing clients to the table since the day one I got my Certificate of practice. 

    Kanika Bhardwaj Law Firm has been providing legal services in both litigation and the corporate sector. Could you elaborate on the types of cases, matters, disputes, and legal compliance that your firm handles on behalf of clients?

    We are dealing in hard core litigation in criminal, civil, family (matrimonial) cases. 

    We also handle matters in the High court & Supreme court of India which includes appeals, writs, SLP’s, Statutory appeals, Transfer petitions etc.

    Plus we are on panel of companies and start-ups (national & international) and handling their legal department which includes contract/ agreement drafting, legal support in meetings, all sort of legal documentation, handling employer-employee issues, arbitration support, Data protection support and alongwith this we also as “Out-House Counsel” for  these companies who choose us to be on their panel or get associated with us.

    How do you develop innovative legal strategies for your clients to ensure they are always a step ahead in each case, matter, or dispute? Can you provide an example of a successful strategy you implemented?

    Every case is different just like every body and mind is different. So legal strategy always depends upon the facts of a case and also depends upon what relief does a client want. When you are in defense, you have to find loopholes in law and process, when you are for complainant or petitioner you have to make sure that a single loophole is not left. So the strategy keeps changing depending upon case to case. 

    Moreover I make sure that my clients update me with each and every information and detail of the case so that I can make a winning strategy. At times the clients also give incomplete facts or they hide some crucial part of the facts. So the first thing I do is to make the client comfortable and take out every detail of the story that I need to know for the trial.

    Second thing I usually do is to know about the opponents. It’s a saying that you win half of the battle if you know your opponent. 

    Then I come on the laws and procedures and then finally I support my case with judgements/ precedents. 

    I also make sure to go through the facts of the case again and again for the pleadings and trial. Also I focus very much on the drafting part. Drafting is very important. I have seen some lawyers randomly draft a case through a stereotyped draft. This is wrong practice. 

    Drafting should be done carefully as the draft of the case is the foundation of the entire case. Whatever you have drafted, you cannot contradict or change the same till the Supreme Court of India. So draft carefully and take proper time in the drafting part. 

    So this is how I go but again there are several stages in between which again depends upon the facts of a case and relief that client wants. 

    To make sure that my client is one step ahead, I always keep advising my client from time to time what steps he has to take, what all evidence he has to arrange, what things he should do and shouldn’t do during the trial. At cross-examination, I make sure my client reads every detail of the file and I tell him how to answer while he is being examined. I stay connected with the client and keep him one step ahead.

    Your firm strives for legal excellence while appreciating the commercial environment in which your clients operate. How do you strike a balance between personal approach and high professional standards in delivering comprehensive legal services to your clients?

    I believe that a lawyer should not develop any personal sort of relationship with the clients. It should always be professional which makes it easier for a lawyer to work and clients also respect the same. If one develops a personal bond with the clients, the client will not take the lawyer and his instructions seriously after one point of time. A client should always have a professional picture of a lawyer in his mind. Personal approach should only be limited to an extent if a client wishes to express his emotional side in regard to his case or general/ basic information about any relevant issue.

    Could you share some insights into the team at Kanika Bhardwaj Law Firm? How does the management and operations function within the firm, and what role do you as a founder of the firm play in the decision-making?

    So we have 3 juniors as of now, one office boy, one clerk and 5-6 interns which keeps changing. Whenever we get a fresh case, the juniors do the drafting, share it with me, I finalize the draft. Meanwhile the juniors do the research work, find relevant judgments on the same. Clerk is responsible for all the fillings in the court, getting the orders, keeping a record of cases and maintaining the files and other clerical work.

    We do have a team for legal drafting too. But the final draft of the case or any legal document is always finalized by me personally. 

    Kanika Bhardwaj Law Firm handles a wide range of practice areas, including civil litigation, labor law, arbitration, corporate law, intellectual property rights, and more. How does your firm ensure expertise in such diverse areas, and what is your approach to handling different types of cases?

    With the right team, right resources and right networking we make sure that we are able to provide our expertise and handle different cases. 

    The stages in all these cases are almost the same. Every Act follows the process of CPC or CrPC. And one should also thoroughly know the Evidence Act.  The exception if any and the way of challenge, appeal of an order, the jurisdiction etc. is given in the Act itself. So if you read, everything is there in the Act itself. One just has to follow it. It is not rocket science. 

    According to me a lawyer should know everything, learn everything and do everything until he comes to a level where he can earn in Lacs for 1 hearing.

    I always aimed to provide services in diverse areas, I never wanted to restrict myself in a particular field. A lawyer should have knowledge of everything. 

    Also the expertise comes from experience. The more and different cases you will do, the more experience and expertise you will have. It is a simple funda. 

    Plus, it is very important to have the right kind of networking with seniors and other important people. At times there can be a situation where you are stuck, so one must have the right connections who can help you out in such situations. We make sure that we have the resources, networking, knowledge, expertise and skills to manage different cases. But all this is not built in a day. It cannot happen in a few days or months. It took 10 years to come this far and maybe it will take a few more years to reach a certain level where I have always dreamt of.

    In addition to handling cases in various courts and tribunals, your firm also offers retainership and contract-based legal services. Could you explain how these arrangements work and how your firm maintains effective communication and updates with clients?

    The empanelment of law firms or lawyers in government and private companies is common. We act as an “out house counsel” for several companies (both nationally and internationally) and handle their internal and external legal matters and drafting of their documents e.g. contracts, agreements, NDA’s, Legal notices, arbitration support plus we handle their litigation in court. We also provide the companies and start-ups legal advice they need from time to time. 

    For all internal issues, drafting of legal documents, legal consultation, IPR and data protection related issues we charge a monthly retainership amount depending upon the work burden of a company or start-up. And in case there is any litigation, we charge extra for court cases and the fees are pre-decided. So this is how it goes. 

    Initially the issue or drafting comes to juniors, they give me a basic draft, and then I finalize it.  The court hearings are attended by me personally. 

    All the communication is via mail and virtually via zoom or google meet. If required our office is always open on working days and working hours for in-person meetings. 

    The legal landscape is constantly evolving. How do you stay updated with local and international legal developments that may affect the interests of your clients? How does your firm adapt its strategies to incorporate these changes?

    We all stay updated with the latest judgements and rules.  Nowadays several websites online keep us updated on latest judgements, rules and amendments. Several webinars are being arranged. In fact, lawsikho is one such website that helps us stay updated. 

    For judgments we have SCC and Manupatra access plus we have access to several other newsletters.

    The scenario has now changed a lot. With the digitalization in the legal profession, it is very easy now to stay updated with national and international laws. 

    Also we keep ourselves updated from international bar associations and their pages plus we are also connected to lawyers and researchers who are working in relevant fields internationally if we want to know any specific law/ rules or guidelines. 

    As a successful lawyer and founder of Kanika Bhardwaj Law Firm, what advice would you give to fresh law graduates who are starting their careers in the legal field?

    Today I have seen the law students and fresh law graduates directly in order to maybe show- off or for whatever reason directly start their internship or practice from supreme court or high profile law firms which is a major mistake. I can bet you will not understand a word there and you will end up wasting your time. 

    The right way is to start from ground level. Start from district court. Learn Trial; learn basic things e.g. filling of a case, filing of summons, learn the art of cross- examination, the stages in civil or criminal case. Once you have mastered this, and then go to the High court/ Supreme Court. Then you will be able to understand the process and arguments in upper courts. 

    If you start from High court or Supreme Court directly, you will not know how to conduct a proper trial or you won’t be able to handle a case individually. 

    So start from the scratch, there is no short-cut. 

    Get in touch with Kanika Bhardwaj-

  • I always believe law as a profession and precisely litigation requires serious discipline, dedication and perseverance and for that every successful lawyer has to have one or two antidotes to overcome the challenges of this profession- Dawneesh Shaktivats, Advocate on Record, Supreme Court of India

    I always believe law as a profession and precisely litigation requires serious discipline, dedication and perseverance and for that every successful lawyer has to have one or two antidotes to overcome the challenges of this profession- Dawneesh Shaktivats, Advocate on Record, Supreme Court of India

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

    Sir, can you elaborate about your educational background and how it influenced your decision to pursue a career in law?

    I was born and raised in Ayodhya and I did my schooling from there itself. In an initial part of my career I was keenly interested to enter medical profession therefore after passing high school in 2009 I opted for science stream and started self-preparation for medical entrance examination. Thereafter after passing intermediate in 2011, I sat for medical entrance examination but I couldn’t clear the same.  In the meantime my sister Diva Devarsha (NLU Jodhpur Graduate, currently working as Principal associate in Economic Law Practice Mumbai)  inspired me to pursue law as a serious career option and prepare for various law entrance examinations as it requires similar dedication and hard work as compared to medical profession. On lighter note I would like to share that during my teenage days while traveling to my school I used to take one short-cut via District and Session Court, Faizabad (now Ayodhya) so I used to pass through various courtrooms near to which various staffs, police personal and litigants use to chit chat between each other but I was always having curiosity to know that what exactly used to happen inside those courtrooms so subconsciously in the back of my mind this acted as a fuel to my leap of faith to opt law as a career option. Thereafter finally after proper consultation with my parents I decided to start self-study for pursuing law as a career. Fortunately after one year of sincere dedication and self-study I qualified various law entrance examinations across the country.  Being new to this legal field I was always craving for proper guidance and practical exposure for witnessing application of law in courts & administration. This inspired me to join the Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi to pursue my legal education as it is India’s finest Central University and it is situated in the Heart of Delhi which is the best place to get all kinds of exposure required for a budding lawyer.      

    You have interned at different organizations during your education. How did these internships contribute to your overall growth and understanding of the legal field?

    Whether it was my MHRD IPR Research Associate work in collaboration with IIT Madras, SEBI’S (Headquarters) Legal Team, Greenpeace Pune, HRLN Delhi or in the Direct Tax team of Lakshmikumaran & Sreedharan, Delhi.  I always believed that the more exposure I will get after working as an intern for these prestigious organizations the more clarity I will get while finalizing my stream in the legal profession. Here I would like to emphasize one of my major internships which was in the winters of January 2014 when I was interning under AOR, Sudhanshu Chaudhari in Supreme Court. I witnessed Late Sr. Advocate. T.R.Andhyarujina making submissions before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in one of the matter their I got so much mesmerized by his way of speaking, legal knowledge and humility that on that day itself I made one internal conviction that after passing my law school I will be pursuing litigation as my career option. In the similar fashion Late Sr. Advocate Ram Jethmalani and Sr. Advocate Fali. S. Nariman gave me inspiration to pursue litigation as my career option.

    Could you describe your current role as an Advocate on Record at the Supreme Court of India? What types of cases do you handle, and what are your primary responsibilities?

    My primary role as an Advocate on Record is to properly safeguard my client’s right and prepare my case file considering all the facts and legal provisions mentioned in the impugned order or the corresponding proceedings of any other forum. I usually handle civil, criminal and commercial, white collar matters in the form of Special Leave Petitions, Writs, Transfer Petitions, Civil and Criminal Appeals. Further my duty is to properly draft the matter , if required then briefing matters to the Senior Advocates, preparing Argument note with proper precedents, handling of Chamber and Registrar Courts and making  proper submissions before the Hon’ble Supreme Court whenever the case demands.

    In your previous work experiences, you have dealt with a wide range of legal matters, including civil, criminal, commercial, white-collar crimes, and more. How do you manage such diverse cases, and what challenges do you face in handling them?

    Being a first generation lawyer I am able to handle a wide range of legal matters which includes civil, criminal, commercial and white-collar crimes matters. Here I would like to emphasize that it only got possible because of proper guidance by my mentors (AOR Mr. Deepak Parkash and AOR, Pallav Mongia) in my initial years of this profession. I always believe law as a profession and precisely litigation requires serious discipline, dedication and perseverance and for that every successful lawyer has to have one or two antidotes to overcome the challenges of this profession. My antidote of multitasking with proper planning, deadlines, documentations, research, client discussion with my team members and mentors before working on any matter helps me to counter a wide range of legal matters with its complexities.

    Can you share a notable case or project that you worked on, which had a significant impact on your career? How did it shape your perspective or approach to law?

    I have worked on many landmark cases listed before the constitution bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India which includes Data Localization matter , Ayodhya Land Property Dispute (Ram Mandir matter ) , Land Acquisition matter (Indore development authority matter ). But the matter which had a significant impact on my understanding or approach towards the application of legal procedure altogether is the Gain Bitcoin matter. Unfortunately I would refrain myself from further elaborating about this matter as it is still sub judice before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

    Could you discuss any workshops, conferences, or moot court competitions that you have participated in? How have these experiences helped you grow as a legal professional?

    Yes, in my law school days I used to participate in various workshops, conferences and moot court competitions. But the most memorable experience I had was while preparing and participating for India Rounds of 56th Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court competition held in the year 2014 as this is a very special and prestigious moot which requires extensive research and preparation before participation. Though we as a team were unable to qualify for the world rounds of this prestigious moot, this moot gave me a very in-depth understanding of International Law  including  its inception. As a legal professional this made me explore various research tools and methodologies which till date help me in my various matters going on at different forums.

    You have been involved in various extracurricular activities, such as legal literacy programs and discussions with media persons. How do you balance your professional and social responsibilities?

    Whenever I get free time in this profession I love to devote myself to fulfill my larger life goals of doing something for society at large which includes legal literacy programs, engaging in social work for downtrodden strata of the society and participating in various discussions on social issues and issues of national importance. The only passion which drives me to do all these extracurricular activities is to give back to society its due as many selfless people helped me during my struggling days when I was a budding lawyer.

    What advice would you give to fresh graduates who are considering a career in law? What are some key lessons or insights you have learned along your journey that you would like to share with them?

    Being a first generation lawyer I will be very blunt in advising all the fresh graduates who are considering a career in law that you will not get bed of roses in the initial part of your years and you might also face many ups and downs but with proper discipline, hard work and perseverance you can melt the mountains of challenges coming in the path of your professional journey. 

    Get in touch with Dawneesh Shaktivats-

  • Somnath De, Advocate, Delhi High Court and Supreme Court, on practice in IPR and Cyber Law

    Somnath De, Advocate, Delhi High Court and Supreme Court, on practice in IPR and Cyber Law

    Somnath De graduated from Kalyani University in 2011 he went on to pursue his higher studies from Symbiosis Law School, Pune and completed his post-graduation in Intellectual Property Rights in the year 2014. During his college days, he actively took part in conferences and has completed several certificate courses in Cyber Laws. Post graduation, he started working under the guidance of Adv. Pavan Duggal in his renowned firm Pavan Duggal Associates. During his stint at Pavan Duggal Associates he handled a number of cases pertaining to his specialization of Cyber Law and IPR. Currently he is working at an IPR law firm, Vohra and Vohra. He is a senior consultant of Astrea Legal in Delhi Region in the IP and Cyber Law matters. Based out of Delhi, Somnath practises in both the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court.

    In this interview Somnath talks about –

    • His college days
    • Importance of mooting in college
    • His reason behind the decision of practising in IPR and Cyber law
    • National IPR Policy
    • His work-experience

     

    Hello Somnath, how would you like to introduce yourself to the readers of Superlawyer?

    I am an Intellectual Property and Cyber Law attorney. My work is to help people protect their ideas, inventions, and identity, and I deal with counterfeiting and online rights and responsibilities towards clients. I help them, protect them from competitors and establish them in the market place.

     

    Kindly tell us something about your childhood, school and college days.

    I was born and brought up in Bengal. I come from a business family, and therefore, I have no legal pedigree. I completed my primary and secondary school education in Bengal. Subsequent to completing school education, I completed my B.A.LL.B (Hons.) from Kalyani University, W.B. I pursued my LL.M. from Symbiosis Law School, Pune with specialization in Intellectual Property Law. My almae matres , both for LL.B and LL.M, laid great emphasis on extra-curricular activities. I was an active debater and presenter, and loved playing sports. I was very lucky to find good friends with whom I have the warmest of memories.

     

    Did you ever take part in any co-curricular activities while being in college? Can you please share with us your experience and opinion on the importance of them in a law student’s life?

    I participated in a few moot court competitions as well as numerous national and international conferences during my college tenure. I have also penned a number of legal articles which were published in various national and international journals. However, apart from improving my legal skills, I love to play cricket and badminton, and to even engage in dramatics sometimes.

     

    How beneficial do you think mooting is for litigation?

    Practicing in court as a litigation counsel is a different ball game altogether. However, participating in moot court competitions can provide you with a very good idea as to what kind of lawyer you think you want to be. Writing skills and speaking skills are invaluable not only as a student but also when you enter the work force. Having to face a panel of well prepared and demanding judges in a courtroom setting can become an addictive experience. Therefore, participating in moot court competitions lays the roots to become a successful lawyer. A law student must make the most of these opportunities and should participate in as many competitions as possible.

     

    What exactly prompted you to take up law as a profession?

    Actually, there was no affirmed decision to take law on my part. It happened by accident and not by design. However, previously, i.e. during the time of my school days, I had already been introduced to subjects such as Philosophy, Reasoning, Logic, and Political Science, and this drew my fascination towards Law. Apart from that, I was fond of debating and reasoning. I felt that this would come in handy when I had to stand in court and argue on point.

     

    You have been practising in the cyber law and ipr law domain for quite some time. What made you choose these fields as the relevant areas of your practice?

    (Somnath has done his LL.M in IPR and is a certified cyber crime investigator and digital forensic investigator)

    I chose these particular fields because I am a strong believer in the digital format crucially shaping the future of the world. We are in an information age. We all are living in the digital world. The impetus came when I was in the 2nd year of finishing my LL.B. I used to read journals and numerous technological blogs and it was the complicated technicalities gradually surfacing including that of legal challenges faced by companies that motivated me to get into this nascent legal ecosystem.  In contrast to other disciplines of law, Cyber Law and Intellectual Property law was constantly evolving. I was fascinated by it and decided to concentrate my efforts in that direction. Then, I perused my Diploma in Cyber Law and after one year I became a Certified Cyber Crime Investigator and Digital Forensic Investigator.

    However, the advent of cyber space has brought newer parameters. The digital ecosystem that exists today has seen a dramatic increase in the scope of Intellectual Property Rights and Cyber Laws. Technology has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives and, consequently, the legalities pertaining to the Internet assume extra significance. The legal ramifications pertaining to Intellectual Property and Cyber security are being rediscovered regularly. Therefore, Cyber Law and Intellectual Property are emerging disciplines, as its contours are yet to be defined. The quantum of Cyber security breaches keeps on increasing with each passing day. That is what, even more than other factors, makes it such an exciting time to be specialising in Cyber Law and Intellectual Property Law as a new discipline of law.

     

    Apart from Cyber laws and IPR, what are the other areas of law that you are interested in?

    Apart from the Cyber Law and Intellectual Property, I am interested and am currently practicing in the fields of Media Law, Corporate Law, Completion Law and Constitutional Law.

     

    Can you please share with the readers your work profile so far? What is your average daily worktime like?

    After passing my LL.M, I got the opportunity to work with Mr. Pavan Duggal who had specialised in Cyber Law and Intellectual Property Law. After that, I joined Vohra and Vohra, which is a full service law firm, in the field of Intellectual Property and Cyber Law. Apart from this, I am an IPR and Cyber Law consultant to numerous organisations across India. As a legal professional, I have never declined any case or client however small and was least bothered about fees and other attending monetary issues. I think that such a mindset is instrumental for excelling in this field. As a lawyer, I feel, you should give sixteen to eighteen hours per day. As for me, after court matters, I come back to office. After completing my meetings, I prepare for matters which are listed to be heard the very next day. I believe you should plan out your day in such a way that you have about, say, four to five hours of unperturbed time when you can completely apply your mind to the case. I give two to three hours for my independent research works every day and staying up to date with current legal trends and international developments in my field.

    Law students seemed to remain confused on which particular field of law they should choose for his/ her career. What according to you should be the way of coming out from this maze of conflict?

    One of the key challenges is to match the pace of development in law. During your college days, you should do regular reading and be aware of legal developments, amendments to the law in India and elsewhere, cases, precedents and other development in the industry. I must say that you should absolutely listen to your heart in respect of which field you should choose to practice in. It must be something obviously which you are passionate about and have an ardent interest in; that is the key to build up one’s potential in this field and achieve your motive. Every arena of law has its own beauty. While it is true that should you opt for litigation you should possess a great level of patience, but the scope for litigation practice is widening day by day. Be focused, never lose hope and always keep trying. I also advise that you should choose carefully who you work for. Find someone who will teach you, groom you, pay you decently and mentor your practice after you leave.

     

    From a law student to a lawyer, how will you describe the transition?

    The beauty of this filed is that you will always remain a ‘student of law’. For me this is just the start of my journey, and there is still a long way to go. Things are harder than when I was in college. However, I enjoy my work and the challenges that I face every single day. Nevertheless, I definitely missing the life I once had with my friends.

     

    Your experience with the Bar Exam

    Well, the Bar exam, formally AIBE, was fun and totally relaxing for me. Apart from the actual examination and its concomitant experiences, it was also a kind of reunion with my friends. I was really pumped; questions were simple and only just needed a little application of mind. It was not a difficult encounter very much at all.

     

    Red letter day, so far

    I cannot discuss any specific case in detail due to confidentially. However, the classically antique day for me was when I dealt with a very high-profile case in mid-February, 2015, when we had to take an order at midnight from the Delhi High Court. I remember how there was no single restaurant open at the time to serve us any food. At last, we had food at a Gurudwara near Red Fort, Delhi. I had not slept that night and the next day I had to report early to the office to prepare for the subsequent hearing. Another one was when I started my practicing career. I had gotten the opportunity to deal with a matter independently. It was about setting aside an order and the matter was placed before the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court. The first item listed on the day of the showdown was my case. The case was really challenging. I was thoroughly prepared, and argued for twenty to twenty five minutes, faced numerous questions and clarifications as put forward to me by the Honourable Judges. During my argument, the Court Room was completely silent except the reverberation of my own voice and at the end of the arguments I had bagged an order in my favour.

     

    Any unpleasant or difficult case/ situation in the courtroom or outside

    There are ups and downs, which is part of this profession. Sometimes, really closely listed matters can become nightmares. To read voluminous documents and then complete the draft within time is a difficult situation. Therefore, it’s very important to manage time smartly and to be well versed with all the intricacies pertaining to the concerned matter.

     

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    Your take on National IPR policy

    I applaud the Government for effectively bringing this far reaching document which kindles creativity and innovation across sectors and also facilitates a stable, transparent and service-oriented intellectual property rights administration in the country. The said policy is enormously relevant for a country like India, being a repository of indigenous creativity and traditional knowledge. Further, by this policy, the Government is attempting to resolve the adjudicatory delays in the newly designated commercial courts. The policy further advocates generation of IPR, which will encourage start-ups and safe guard their Intellectual Property, which is the need of the hour given India’s massive strides towards a digital society. However, the said policy should not remain as a paper tiger; the Government should implement the goals envisaged in the practical world in full phase and plan out for proper mechanism, as the same policy is in a comparative context a directive that needs a fresh look.

     

    Your opinion on the challenges before IPR regime in India

    At the very outset, there is lack of awareness about Intellectual Property protection among many stakeholders. I must stress that a detailed annual plan ought to be there on spreading awareness about Intellectual Property Rights and the involved legalities alongside interactions with all possible stakeholders. There should be a quicker approach to reduce delays in clearing Intellectual Property applications to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, which are also one of the seven pillars of the National IPR Policy. Furthermore, India faces challenges to its IPR regime as developed countries try to put in place an even stronger framework through mega regional trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. India needs to create its own culture of innovation for its people and grow at a rapid rate. Apart from that, India is facing challenges of online piracy, data protection, vulnerability of trade secrets etc.

    Where do you want to see yourself five to ten years from today?

    My first aim is to build my expertise in my domain. I would like to be an attorney who will make sure every client who comes to me is satisfied with the quality of services and gains trust. I would also like to earn the respect of my seniors, peers and colleagues. Since I love to interact with people, I would additionally like to become an academician in my field of expertise alongside practicing as an attorney.

    Any piece of advice you would like to pass on to the readers?

    You should have the right kind of attitude towards the legal profession. It’s always advisable to think out of the box and be innovative in order to develop the culture and personality of a true legal professional. One should be determined, patient and remember that there is no alternative to hard work. You should always have faith in yourself and should never be disappointed, as failure is an integral key to success. It’s always advisable to stay up-to-date with both the national and international developments of your chosen field of law.