Super Lawyer

Tag: India

  • Never think you are an accomplished professional; you should always be a learner- Iqbal Tauseef, Director Legal Affairs – Country Head – India, TTEC

    Never think you are an accomplished professional; you should always be a learner- Iqbal Tauseef, Director Legal Affairs – Country Head – India, TTEC

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

    You’ve had an impressive and diverse legal career spanning various industries and roles. Can you share your personal journey and what initially inspired you to pursue a career in law?

    My Inspiration to pursue the law is to understand the world from an equity and justice perspective. My way of seeing things has developed a lot with critical and logical thinking. Another reason was to be part of the corporate world and sit along with the executives on the table, as their advisor for ease of business from a legal perspective, while meeting their business goals. 

    With experience in IT, software, FinTech, pharma, healthcare, energy, environmental, and manufacturing industries, how do you adapt your legal expertise to meet the unique needs of each sector?

    My vast experience on basics of Contracts Drafting and Negotiations, Compliance and Dispute resolutions skills has made it efficient for me to cross through various industries. One, can be part of multi-industries, if you have strong legal skills and business acumen, as every business requires someone who can avoid the disputes and resolve them if they arise. Strong hold on knowing what compliances are applicable to respective industries, is also another tool for getting on different boats.

    You’ve worked extensively in contract management, negotiations, and arbitration. Could you tell us about a particularly challenging contract negotiation or arbitration case you’ve handled and the key lessons you learned from it?

    I have seen multiple challenging negotiations, wherein I bridged between sales targets and risk mitigation, which is not an easy task. One of the important projects in my journey was an agreement negotiation for setting up a Waste to Energy Plant in India. This is to be the third largest Waste to Energy plant in India. This project was awarded by one of the State Governments to the Company and was given on the BOOT model. The main challenge was to figure out the technology procurement which meets the budget and quality specifications. At the initial level the procurement team reached out to a Japanese Company for providing the Incinerator and that was to be done in consortium with one of the Indian Company for civil works. As part of the legal, I advised upon the challenges we may face for any change in scope and compliance by the consortium (consortium being led by a foreign entity). The executive committee including the CEO and CFO took the cognizance of the risk and decided to reconsider the options for procurement. Instantly, I advised an Indian Company who can be prompt to accept the changes based on the requirements and necessity. The Company worked in that direction and got one of the leading players in India on board for supplies. I as a head for Contracts initiated the drafting, negotiating and finalizing the procurement agreements. We successfully had achieved the timelines with efficacy.

    This deal plays an important role in my career as it involves identifying the unforeseen challenges related to technology issues, warranty, onsite safety, labour availability (During Lockdown period) and completions within the timelines. All the legal matters related to drafting of documents, advising on Logistics & Labour, Financial documents including bank guarantees, corporate guarantees are dealt by my team headed by me. I am proud of this work as we successfully deployed the Indian Company to compete with a foreign company on technology and timelines.

    Your experience at Re Sustainability includes some significant achievements, such as incorporating SPVs and advising on public-private partnerships. Can you share more about these experiences and what they meant for the organizations involved?

    Re-Sustainability is India’s leading waste management company. It is also competing with foreign companies and handles certain major projects outside India as well. Re-Sustainability majorly bids on government projects and has its presence in more than 50 cities and towns in India. This makes the company a reliable partner for various governments and helps the company to build public-private partnerships on certain projects. Few of the significant projects are ‘waste to energy plants’ built in Telangana and Delhi, Municipal Waste project in Chennai etc. 

    In your role at TTEC, you’ve managed a wide range of responsibilities, including M&A, global contracts, legal counsel, and more. Can you discuss how you balance these diverse responsibilities and the key to success in such a multifaceted role?

    “Never a learning, will go in vain”, all my experience and learning throughout various industries helped me to bag this significant role at TTEC. I am associated with TTEC as Legal Head for India. I bag legal, compliance and COE domains. Keen eye on corporate compliances, upgradation with Contracts negotiations skills and productive team leader qualities, helps me to balance all the three roles. We give 100% dedication to what we do and that brings the reliability of various stakeholders, on legal. I have a Contracts Centre of Excellence team working with me, which helps global stakeholders to draft and negotiate their revenue and corporate contracts for various regions such as North Americas, Australia, EMEA etc. 

    My Key to success is never say “I can’t”, you learn and you do it with dedication and honesty.

    You’ve contributed as an author and have written articles in the legal field. Can you tell us about your experiences in legal writing, and what impact do you think it has on the legal profession?

    Yes, I do write on legal subjects. I wrote an article “FORCE MAJEURE IN DIFFERENT LAWS AND COVID-19” and also contributed to “Handbook on Arbitration: A Practical Guide for Professionals” – published by Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Serving the legal fraternity is significant for legal professions, who gain a good repute and exposure. The way you can serve is to write and share your thoughts. Legal writing is very important to let young and aspiring lawyers know how industry works, how to interpret the law and share the legal skills. This will motivate and guide them to explore legal avenues and gain the subject matter. 

    Your career is filled with awards and recognitions, such as being recognized as one of the Top In House Counsels by Forbes. What, in your opinion, sets you apart in the field of law, and what advice do you have for legal professionals aspiring to achieve similar recognition?

    I believe, hard work, dedication and honesty in the below aspects, have brought me these recognitions and awards.  What sets a legal professional apart can vary, but here are few aspects that can contribute to recognition and success in the field:

    1. Expertise in a Niche Area.
    2. Strong Advocacy and Communication Skills.
    3. Ethical and Professional Conduct
    4. Community Involvement
    5. Mentorship and Networking
    6. Continuous Learning and Adaptation

    As an accomplished legal professional, what advice would you like to give to fresh graduates or those starting their careers in law?

    Never think you are an accomplished professional; you should always be a learner. Here are some tips that can help new lawyers as they embark on their legal careers:

    1. Continuous Learning: The legal field is dynamic, and laws are subject to change. Make a commitment to lifelong learning by staying up-to-date with legal developments and continuously improving your legal knowledge.
    1. Effective Communication: Strong communication skills are essential in law. Develop your ability to articulate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely to clients, colleagues, and judges.
    1. Legal Research Skills: Become proficient in legal research methods and tools. This skill is fundamental to building solid legal arguments and understanding the legal landscape.
    1. Networking: Build a professional network early in your career. Attend legal events, join bar associations, and connect with experienced lawyers who can provide guidance and mentorship.
    1. Legal Specialization: Consider specializing in a particular area of law that interests you. Specialization can make you more attractive to clients and employers.
    1. Work Ethic: Hard work and dedication are often keys to success in law. Be prepared to put in the time and effort required to excel in your work.
    1. Ethical Conduct: Maintain the highest ethical standards. Trust and integrity are paramount in the legal profession.
    1. Professional Development: Seek out opportunities for professional development, such as CLE (Continuing Legal Education) courses and workshops.
    1. Practice Management: If you’re in private practice, learn about law firm management and business development. It’s not just about practicing law but also about managing a legal practice effectively.
    1. Mentorship: Find a mentor who can offer guidance, answer your questions, and provide insights into the legal profession. A mentor can be invaluable in helping you navigate your early career.
    1. Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances and legal landscapes. Flexibility is a valuable trait in the legal field.
    1. Attention to Detail: Legal work often involves complex documents and contracts. Pay close attention to detail to avoid errors that can have serious consequences.
    1. Legal Writing Skills: Practice and improve your legal writing skills. Writing clear and persuasive legal documents is a critical part of legal practice.

    Remember that building a successful legal career takes time and dedication. Don’t be discouraged by initial challenges or setbacks, as they can be valuable learning experiences. Over time, your skills and reputation will grow, and you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the field of law.

    Get in touch with Iqbal Tauseef-

  • The legal field is going to be challenging in the start no matter what one may choose to be their practice area- Divya Hazra, International Corporate Lawyer and Co-Founder, Esplora Consulting Law Firm

    The legal field is going to be challenging in the start no matter what one may choose to be their practice area- Divya Hazra, International Corporate Lawyer and Co-Founder, Esplora Consulting Law Firm

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

    Ma’am, can you please tell us about your educational background and how you ended up pursuing law at Columbia Law School?

    I moved to Mumbai in 2008 to pursue my bachelors in law degree from Government Law College (GLC). After graduating from GLC Mumbai I started my career in the real estate team of the law firm Wadia Gandhy & Co. post which I joined the real estate team at JSA during the course of which I also got the opportunity to work on a few corporate deals. It is during this transition that I realised that I truly enjoy corporate law. To further hone my skills in corporate law, I decided to pursue my masters at Columbia Law School, New York where my course work was focused on corporate law.

    You co-founded a boutique law firm in Shanghai tailored to serve Indian multinational companies. What motivated you to establish this firm, and what challenges did you face in the process?

    When I moved to China, I got the opportunity to engage in a lot of business development activities. It is at this stage that I realised that along with being a lawyer I thoroughly enjoyed being an entrepreneur as well which made me want to explore the business side of the legal industry more. This is what motivated me to establish a firm along with my partners from Central Asia and China. 

    The legal industry is extremely competitive as there are so many players in the market. Considering my firm is relatively new in the market, we always have to go the extra mile to gain the trust of our clients to get more engagements from them. This continues to be a challenge but at the same time motivates my whole team to deliver better results.

    During the course of your career, you have had the opportunity to represent large private equity funds, corporations, and banks in domestic and cross-border transactions across China, India and USA. Could you share some of the most memorable or impactful transactions you’ve worked on and the lessons you’ve learned from them?

    While I was working at Trilegal, we represented the Edelweiss Group on an investment of USD 75 Million from Kora Management. This transaction till date has been the most challenging yet impactful transaction for me so far as this investment was spread across multiple business lines under the Edelweiss Group and some being in the financial sector was heavily regulated. The timeline for this deal was also very short which added to the complexity. Despite these challenges, I learnt how to manage strict deadlines and drafted complex deal documents which helped me grow as a corporate lawyer. 

    As for China, my whole experience has been a huge learning curve. Not only does language add a challenge but also having to learn the nuisances of practicing law in a civil law country has been extremely challenging yet exciting at the same time.

    You have been recognized as one of the “Top 10 Women Leaders from China” by Women Entrepreneur Magazine in India. Can you tell us about your experience as a female leader in the legal field and any challenges you have faced?

    Being in an industry which is primarily male dominated is challenging as there are some unconscious bias which exist. However, I think I have been fortunate to have worked with the right people and right team who have always seen the value I can bring to the table despite being of the opposite gender. That being said in a few instances where I have felt that bias, I have not shied away from being outspoken and standing up for what I am deserving of. 

    Lastly, based on your experiences and success in the legal field, what advice would you give to fresh graduates who are considering a career in law?

    The legal field is going to be challenging in the start no matter what one may choose to be their practice area. It is however through consistency and hard work that you can excel in the field of law. Like they say “there are no short cuts to success” and in my experience this is particularly true if one is considering a career in law. 

  • Shrutti Rajgarhia, President, Network for International Law Students, India, on pursuing Masters from Cornell Law School and being a professor

    Shrutti Rajgarhia, President, Network for International Law Students, India, on pursuing Masters from Cornell Law School and being a professor

    Shrutti Rajgarhia pursued her bachelor’s degree from Government Law College, Mumbai in the year 2014. She went on to pursue her Masters from Cornell Law School, the U.S in the year 2015. She worked as an Assistant Professor with NMIMS School of Law, Mumbai. She is currently serving as the president of Network For International Law Students, India and the National Lead for Development Policy with One Future Collective.

    In this interview, we speak to her about

    • Her experience at Govt. Law College, Mumbai;
    • Advantages of having a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism;
    • Her experience on being a professor at NMIMS School of Law; and
    • Being an activist and social worker.

     

    WHAT COULD BE A SHORT INTRODUCTION OF YOURSELF?

    Shrutti Rajgarhia is an upcoming lawyer, who graduated from Government Law College and received her Master’s in Law (LL.M) from Cornell Law School. Besides being outstanding at academics, she is a very passionate about human rights, with a special focus on access to education for all, volunteering (she feels there is nothing better than working for the upliftment of the community, without expecting anything in return), and food photography (because it gives her an excuse to eat and capture some of the most beautiful moments of life). Currently, she is the National Lead for Development Policy with One Future Collective (onefuturecolletive.org)

     

    TELL US ABOUT YOUR YEARS BEFORE LAW SCHOOL. WERE THERE PARTICULAR CHILDHOOD INCIDENTS THAT PROVED TO BE AN INSPIRATION FOR YOU?

    Not many people know this (now I guess they will) but I wasn’t the brightest bulb in school (attended Bombay Scottish School). Low on self-esteem and confidence due to a stammering problem, I barely made it through my courses. I did not understand self-confidence, let alone the massive impact it can have on a person’s life until I graduated school. Sadly, the confidence came from my 10th board results. The reason I say sadly because marks should never be the yardstick to measure one’s capability. But, unfortunately, that’s how our education system has ‘educated’ us to think.

    It was also at this point that I realized the importance of standing up for myself and for people who may not be able to stand up for themselves owing to various circumstances (my own example while in school). It was this thought that led to my decision to do law.

     

    HOW DID THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY LAW AT THE OLDEST LAW COLLEGE IN ASIA BENEFICIAL TO YOU? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ANY MEMORY?

    Government Law College is a very significant part of my life. When I look back to those fives years of BA., LLB, there was a lot that went by in between the Jhabvallas and Mokals. There are many life-defining situations but my most memorable was being General Secretary of the Placement Committee at Government Law College (GLC). I wasn’t sure I wanted to take up the position, in fact, deep down I knew the answer was a straight no. However, one of my closest friends now and then senior at GLC, Manvendra Singh Bhatti, encouraged me, no he actually demanded that I take this position up and refused to take no for an answer. And I’m glad I did because it has contributed immensely to the individual I’m today.

    Recruitment is hard, especially when you have 90% of the law firms and the corporate bodies; wanting to recruit National Law School students over GLC students. Convincing them to come on campus and pulling off two placement weeks, was nothing but the team effort. I had the most hardworking and enthusiastic team. They were as passionate as I was, to get placement for as many seniors as we could. And that’s why we decided to do two placements (it was a new model); one in September and one in January, providing more employment opportunities to our students.

    From managing the staff at GLC, coordinating with other committees and their events, synchronizing the work and updates from over 50 team members, taught me to multi-task and more importantly, to multi-tasking well. It taught that everything will come and go, but the people you work with are extremely important and respecting them comes before anything. A very famous quote by Voltaire will sum up what I learnt from this experience, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.

     

    YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERED RIGOROUSLY DURING YOUR LAW SCHOOL FOR A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS. WHAT MOTIVATED TOWARDS SOCIAL WORKS?

    I realized at a very early age that giving back to society is important. There are too many people in the world, who need help and not enough that are extending the help. Volunteering enables a person to help without expecting in return. It’s a platform that allows you to experience the joy of giving. For me, it was education. I strongly feel that imparting education is one of the best gift’s anyone can give to the community. Yes, you can give clothes, food etc. but all of these are perishable and people are going to run of them at some point. But education- it sticks. Nobody can ever take that way from a person. In my opinion, it is the golden ticket. The golden ticket of empowerment.

    Human rights mean living life with dignity. They are rights every individual is entitled to because he/she is a human being and we as lawyers are responsible to uphold this right and stand for justice.

     

    WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE FACED DURING THE SOCIAL WORKS THAT YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN, AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?

    Groundwork is where reality exists. It’s where the actual work happens. It’s also where connections are built. What do you do once your volunteering time is up with the organization? How do you keep in touch? The children you teach, the staff you train become a part of your life. But, you also have other responsibilities to take care of- a job, a family. The hardest part for me was to keep in touch with the organizations I worked for. Virtually being available is never the same as physically being around to help. The organizations get new volunteers and you go on with your life. The connection that is built with the children is very valuable, for them and for you. That’s something I’m still working on. Working on trying to help make that connection long-lasting.

     

    WHY DID YOU SELECT CORNELL LAW SCHOOL FOR YOUR MASTERS? WHAT ACTIVITIES DID YOU ENGAGE IN THERE BESIDES ACADEMICS?

    Cornell, had a very interesting mix of International Law subjects, that I was keen on pursuing. I tried to involve myself in a few things there- worked at the veggie salad bar after class, interned with the Agricultural Sciences department, took classes at the B-School, honed my photography skills by taking off on the beautiful trails around Ithaca. Pursuing a Masters abroad definitely gives you a very different perspective about life and people. It also gives you a chance at getting to know yourself better. It helps you venture out of your comfort zone and explore opportunities, you didn’t know even existed.

     

    WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION BEHIND PURSUING MASTERS AND WHEN DID YOU FINALLY DECIDE TO PURSUE HIGHER STUDIES?

    I realized in my second year of law school, that I wanted to pursue a Masters in Law. I wanted to experience the Socratic method of teaching (method of teaching involving asking and answering questions, that helps develop a critical way of thinking and arriving at conclusions). My main idea behind pursuing a Masters was to study varied courses on International Law, to understand the international community better.

     

    WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A WELL WRITTEN SOP? CAN YOU MAKE IT PERSONAL? WHAT SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND WHILE WRITING SOPS?

    There is no set format for a Statement of Purpose. The answer to what to keep in mind is in the term itself- ‘Purpose’. Everyone’s idea behind pursuing a particular course is different, everyone’s experiences are different, so how can the way you write a Statement of Purpose be the same? I have always maintained that a Statement of Purpose is an individual’s life story; it is who they are and who they want to be; it is their journey. Like nobody should tell you how to lead your life, nobody should tell you how to write your own life story, when it comes to writing a Statement of Purpose, for a college application.

     

    YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL DEGREE OF POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN JOURNALISM STUDIES AND IN HUMAN RIGHTS. DO YOU THINK THESE DEGREES WAS AN ADVANTAGE IN YOUR CAREER PROGRESSION?

    A P.G Diploma in Journalism is something I pursued because I’m passionate about writing and wanted to get some formal guidance on it. K.C College of Management Studies was a great choice because the faculty at this institute was incredible. Besides, learning a lot about the media, about the know how’s of journalism, I learned a lot about quick knacks on writing. This did help me in my work life. But the aim of taking this course was more to have fun writing and less for any professional gain. The Human Rights course that I’m currently pursuing is to understand the technical aspects of human rights better. Since I feel so passionately about it, I wanted to get a better, holistic understanding of it from the legal standpoint as well as from the developmental side. My advice to students pursuing diploma courses is, do it because you are learning something not because you think it will look fancy on your resume.

     

    WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TAKE UP TEACHING AS YOUR CAREER OPTION, DESPITE THE FACT THAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE LUCRATIVE?

    Teaching at NMIMS, School of Law was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Teaching is sacred to me. I’m super passionate about it and come from the school of thought that it is a two-way street. The teacher not only teaches the students but can also have a lot to learn from them. You’d be surprised the amount students have to share. You just have to keep an open mind about it. There have been many instances where I walked out of class with more information than I walked in with. Teaching for me is about sharing my experiences and learnings. It’s about motivating young people to go out into the world and make a difference. It’s about challenging students to walk out of their comfort zone and embrace differences. It’s about educating them about the right and wrong and encouraging them to fight for justice. Teaching isn’t about teaching from a textbook, it’s about using practical examples and helping mould the way students think. Most importantly, I think it’s about letting students decide what kind of lawyers they want to be; what kind of change they want to bring about and letting them know that they have the capability of bringing about that change.

     

    YOU HAVE BEEN RECENTLY SELECTED AS A PRESIDENT OF NETWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW STUDENTS. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US A BIT ABOUT THIS ORGANISATION AND HOW DO YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE ORGANISATION?

    The organization aims to further the legal education and the legal profession around the globe. You can read up more about the organization at https://www.nilsinternational.org/

    I’m fortunate to get an opportunity to contribute to the tremendous work this non-profit organization is doing, thanks to Mr. Pratik Bakshi. The aim of NILS, India would be, to create more awareness about law and justice, give students access to new opportunities of learnings in the legal field, help make law students more socially responsible and in all, help law students sitting in India, get an international exposure through our partners across the globe, through interactions with students from different countries and so on.

     

    WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, AND WHAT ARE THE CHANGES YOU EXPECT TO BRING ABOUT IN SOCIETY TILL THEN?

    Thinking of five years down the line is too far away. I don’t know what my life will look like 5 days from now. But, I hope my actions today, help build a strong community in the future. A community with more access to education, with more tolerance for differences and with more hands to help. To all the young people reading this, go out and help your communities, in whatever way you can. A community is a true reflection of the people who build and nurture it.

    LASTLY, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MESSAGE TO OUR READERS?

    I actually have two pieces of advice that I’d like to share. These are two great pieces of advice I received as a law student:

    Don’t wait for the right moment. There is no such thing as a right moment. The moment is right when YOU decide it’s right.

    Don’t let anybody else’s journey, define yours. There is only one person in the world like you, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!