Tag: HSB

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 25^th 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.
January 3, 2017
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!
December 31, 2016
Kirthi Srinivas, Associate, HSB Partners, on law school experience at ILS Pune and first year of graduation
Kirthi Srinivas holds a degree in B.SL, LL.B. from ILS Law College, Pune, he graduated in 2013. He has participated in various co-curricular activities and has multiple publications to his name. He was also the Convener of Corporate Law Cell at ILS which he had co-founded in his second year of law school and was also associated with ILS Law Journal. While in law school, he also managed to pursue Advanced Course in Copyright and Related Rights (DL – 201) from WIPO and Certificate Course in Competition Law & IPR from FICCI. Soon after graduation, he joined Indiabulls as a Management Trainee/Legal Office. Currently he works as an Associate at HSB Partners.

In this interview, he talks about: –
- His law school experience;
- The importance of academics as well as co-curricular activities at law school; and
- His experience at India Bulls and HSB Partners.
Legal studies are still only a backup option for quite a lot of students. What motivated you to choose law as a career? How did you get through to ILS Law College, Pune?

That is a correct understanding of the psyche,as a lot of students in India end up choosing technical/science or commerce stream after Grade 12primarily because of the career avenues it opens up.However, the trend is changing as a lot more students in India now understand that a legal degree offers anequally wide array of career options beyond court rooms.They recognize that the skills you pick up during law school and during initial years of practicecentres around skills like people management and added to that a lawyer’s ability to communicate effectively helps and these are skills which are at the heart of management skills andthus opens up an array of career option in other fields. Therefore, I agree with the statement in a historical context however, I believe that a career in law is now fast emerging as the primary option for a lot of youngsters in India for the aforesaid reasons.

In my case, I had taken up science stream after Grade 10, and since, I do not have any lawyers in my immediate family I wasn’t aware of what it means to have a career in the legal profession, but my drift from science stream to legal profession was initiated by my interactions with my cousin who had just graduated from law school at that point in time and had started practising indirect taxation with Lakhsmikumaran and Sridaran at Delhi.Hearing stories abouthis experiences at work were quite interesting and sparked my interest in the legal profession.After some further research on my own I realized that legal profession had a lot to offer than the traditional clichés it is known for. Application to ILS, happened as a conscious effort as I had heard about the college from a school senior and it seemed a good place to study law. Apart from that the college is located in Pune which is known to be a college town.

How did you fare in your academics at ILS? Would you say a great CGPA is a necessity to kickstart a good career in the legal profession?

I believe that I had a balanced academic career at ILS, spread between academics and other extra-curricular activities which included being part of the editorial committee of the college law review, taking part in moot courts and being the convenor of the corporate law cellwhich I co-founded during my second year at ILS. I believe that maintaining a decent percentage or CGPA is desirable, but anything below that is not an end of the world scenario. I think percentages apart, a fresher needs to have skills such as willingness to learn in order to kickstart a good career in law as most of what you learn at law school are very theoretical in nature and will be unlearnt to accommodate for practical learnings which cannot be taught at law school.

Did you have any such experience during an internship which helped you decide your career choice?

Since ILS has a more traditional approach to testing and evaluation of the students, there was no concept of chapter-wise tests or projects or compulsory presentations etc., therefore theemphasis were on the semester exams. We had a 3 week preparatory leave prior to the semester exams and that took care of the preparation for the semester exams. So, the emphasis was always to score well in the semester exams in order to maintain a healthy aggregate percentage. Apart from that, as an addition to regular classroom academics I had enrolled myself in certain diplomas/certificate programmes thathelped me a lot.

All my internships were with law firms and with a tax portal which included Mulla&Mulla& Craigie Blunt &Caroe, Crawford Bayley & Co, ALMT Legal, Taxsutra and Juris Corp and revolved around general corporate, mergers and acquisition, banking andcompetition/anti-trust areas of practice. Certain assignments which I carried out during my internship helped me develop interest in my current areas of practice. I feel that each internship taught me something new, but I am biased towards my internship at Crawford Bayley and Juris Corp for certain assignments which I was part of and which I thoroughly enjoyed and revolved my current areas of practice.

What all activities did you participate in? How important do you think that extra-curricular activities are to a law student?

I participated in moot courts actively in the first 4 years of college and later took up drafting moot problems/case studies.As my time at college progressed my interest gravitated towards organising events at college. In second year of college, I co-founded the corporate law cell, a cell whose aim was to have an informal discussion among the student body on the latest news in the world of corporate laws et al. Apart from the aforesaid, I have been part of the editorial board of the college law review.

Answering the second part of your query, I feel extra-curricular activities were important in shaping me and believe were an integral part of my learning experience, I believe that there is no “one size fits all” concept when it comes to how a student goes about structuring their time at law school. Therefore, it is best left to the discretion of the students.

What were your areas of interest during your graduation? How did you go about developing expertise and knowledge in these areas?

My initial interest in law school revolved around international law, contracts, constitutional law as these were the initial law subjects taught to us and were quite interesting. However, over the course of my interactions with certainseniors and exposure I received during internship,my interest shiftedtowards corporate laws especially investment laws, mergers and acquisition and competition law. Developing interest is easy but sustaining it is the tough part. Writing research papers, articles, presenting at conferences are some of the options I explored. I think reading about these subjects both from a legal and a commercial perspective also helped.

After graduation, you joined Indiabulls as a Management Trainee /Officer – Legal. What had contributed towards this appointment? What did you take away from your experience at Indiabulls?

I was always interested working in-house for a while, but was reserving such an assignment after spending my initial years after graduation with a firm. The move to Indiabulls, therefore was as a matter of coincidence and happened as part of the placements facilitated by the college. The assignment revolved around dealing with compliances of a mortgages company. Since, my experiences prior to Indiabulls had been in the form of internships at law firms exclusively, working in-house at Indiabulls was unique. However, when I reflect on what it has taught me I would have to say working in-house lends perspective now more than ever as I can relate to being on the other side and can relate better to a client and thus I am equipped to provide appropriate solutions.

After having worked at Indiabulls for 8 months, how did the shift to HSB Partners take place? How did you go about bagging this job? Please tell us about the recruitment process atHSB Partners?

I had always wanted to start my career at a firm and then shift to an in-house legal department, but the reverse was true in my case. Therefore, I was on the lookout for an opportunity and heard that the firm was on the lookout for a fresher with about 1 year PQE at that point in time, added to that I wanted to focus on my areas of interest and the firm is known for its transaction and advisory capabilities in venture capital/private equity, m&aetc. and the firm has a strong clientele in South India which prompted me to make the jump. The recruitment process is quite simple and hassle free, and the firm gets in touch with prospective candidatesbased on the applications received and sets up an interview with a partner, it comprised of two rounds of interview in my case (both of which were technical in nature).The interview is based on the resume and latest developments in corporate law/regulations.

Please give our readers some tips to perform well at a law firm interview.

I think a law firm interview at a fresher level is designed to test your basic understanding of law, commercial awareness and common sense. First and foremost tip is to keep your resume short and relevant to the kind of opportunity you are targeting, therefore if you are interested in being a transaction lawyer your resume should be tailored to your internship experience relevant to that in case if you are a fresher. Second, you are expected to be well versed with every little detail in your resume e.g. If you have carried out a research during a past internship and the same is listed in your resume, you are required to know the position of law with respect to the same both from its historical and current standpoint.

How tough were the first six months at your workplace?What are your day-to-day responsibilities? How is the experience so far?

I wouldn’t say my first six months at HSB were tough. It was interesting from the standpoint of the kind of work/assignment I was exposed to. Work at HSB, generally happens as a product of debate between team mates and senior colleagues are helpful in shaping the discussion towards a productive outcome. The day-to-day responsibilities revolves around tracking various stages in which assignments are and responding accordingly. It involves reviews of opinions/documents, drafting a suite of documents based on the kind of assignment we are engaged in, client meetings and strategies in relation to the aforesaid. So, far my experience has been good. I think most of it is contributed by the variety of work we do and the clients we interact with.

How do you keep yourself abreast with latest industry news and trends?

I think it is very important to stay well versed with the constant changes to laws/regulations in order to advice client’s effectively, so the obvious answer would be to proactively track certain government websites such as MCA, RBI, SEBI etc., apart from certain blogs to keep abreast with latest changes to policy etc. However, even if one does not proactively stays in sync with the latest updates, it happens as part of work when one has to read various policies/laws/regulations and changes to them while preparing opinions and drafting documentation.

What are the primary professional ethics you follow while at work? What has been your strategy to deal with errors and mistakes?

The thumb rule in professional ethics which all lawyers follow is to keep our client’s work confidential. As a young lawyer, I have had my fair share of doubts but my strategy has always been “when in doubt consult your senior”. In my view, it is a better option to minimise errors/mistakes by holding back on the work/responding in haste especially if you are unsure or have a persisting doubt thus you can avoid a faulty decision from translating into an error/mistake.

Does HSB Partners take interns? What do you feel makes an intern stand out and is very important for him to do to have a chance of getting a call back or even a PPO?

HSB takes interns throughout the year. Interested applicant’s are required to send a short e-mail with their desired period of internship and attaching their resume, the relevant team in-charges subsequently get back on the availability of a slot for an internship. In general, if an intern has an open mind and willingness to learn coupled with the ability to work intelligently then their chances of getting a call back/ PPO increases dramatically.

The question that whether one should specialise in a particular area of law or be more of a general lawyer often comes up before law students. What is your opinion on the same?

I think there are no generalist in law, there are several lawyers who tend to advise on variety of subjects but they too have their specialities through which they are recognized. Being a super specialist right from the start is not advisable because it is very difficult for a lawyer to be sure of their interest right from Day 1 of practice, as the profession is quite dynamic in nature and the scope of work keeps changing, in course of time it would be highly likely that everyone dabbles with multiple practice areas, therefore it would rather be desirable to have a handful of linked subjects/ areas of practice which one has interest towards and see what interests you better in the longer run and focus on those.

Many lawyers would say that the actual learning takes place in the years of practice. How far would you say it is true? What was the case in your situation?

I think that is very true. Most of what one learns at law school is oriented towards theory and is vital in laying a strong foundation towards principles that make up the subject. However, law as a subject is constantly evolving therefore it is in a state of constant flux and by that token a lawyer needs to constantly unlearn and learn new things to be able to stay relevant.

Lastly, what would be your parting message for our readers?

For freshers specially and those who are thinking of taking up legal profession, the profession as such is slow in terms of growth as compared to investment banking, finance etc., so you will be required to have patience in order to succeed. Second, the other key principle to success in this profession is to work intelligently as opposed to working hard. Thus, it would be wiser to develop the proficiency in order to work faster to deliver with better/faster turn arounds for your clients without compromising on the quality of deliverables.
July 6, 2015