Super Lawyer

Tag: LL.M

Abroad LL.M., Foreign University LL.M, Law school, study abroad, master of laws,

  • In Conversation with: Ankita Srivastava, Founder at Gavel Speaks Inc and Head of Legal Department at Practice Party

    In Conversation with: Ankita Srivastava, Founder at Gavel Speaks Inc and Head of Legal Department at Practice Party

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

    Is law something you are inclined to pursue, and why did you decide to pursue it?

    I was always interested in two subjects, law and psychology. It was always either of the two that I wanted to pursue but I had no interest in mathematics or theoretical science as much as I was interested in law. I decided to pursue law because I have always been inclined towards giving to people, have always been an active listener and loved reading since childhood. Just being in the library and going through different books gave me the most special and unique feeling. In those moments I knew that I didn’t want to be anything else but a lawyer. 

    Taking into consideration that you are a third generation lawyer, did you overcome any difficulties or was it a completely easy sail for you?

    It is a huge misconception that if you are a second or third generation lawyer then it’s easier for you. It’s definitely not because I still had to understand and figure out why I was doing law and how I wanted to make it in this cut throat profession.

    My father and grandfather have been into litigation but I never saw myself doing litigation. I started my internship journey with the National Commission for Women and my interest was initially in legal writing and research which led me to join the law chambers of an AOR at the Supreme Court of India. It’s an interesting story that I landed up at his office because of the quality of my work and networking in my first job. I never asked my family for any professional support.

    My choices have been very different from previous two generations and I have been building a network of my own which is now growing beyond Asia. I still don’t know any of my dad’s lawyer friends, never went out for meetings with him or had mutual connections. Seeing my previous generations being respected as a lawyer might have sparked the passion to be a lawyer, but I worked very hard on cultivating the discipline and vision to expand beyond what was already done. It is surprising that most of my dad’s professional network don’t even know that I am a lawyer even today. 

    What importance does legal writing hold in the industry right now and how can one excel in it? Please describe that for our audience

    I think legal writing is the backbone of the legal profession. Top lawyers around the world are known for their legal writing skills. These skills should be continuously developed through continuous reading and writing. Legal writing should be three things in my experience which is clear, concise and conscious. 

    Mentoring professionals in the industry is not an easy task for sure, how critical is that for anyone in the legal field specifically?

    I started mentoring students after I cleared the UGC NET exam and suddenly the pandemic happened. At that time I wanted to discover my hand at teaching and somehow mentoring happening by accident. While I was teaching students I saw that most students are highly capable to be great lawyers but they lack the right mentorship. I used to end up mentoring them more than teaching.

    This made me realize the gap that exists between getting into law school to getting your career established. Currently, I am mentoring a student based in Dubai who is in 2nd year of law school. She didn’t know why she was doing law and if she really wanted to be a lawyer or was just getting a degree. As her mentoring is going, she has discovered the subjects she likes, and has understood the path she wants to take in the legal career. I think we as a society, do undermine the value of expert guidance and how much time and energy it can save. 

    Emotional Intelligence is still a considerable soft skill to have in life, but the question here is, how can one implement that in a short span like you did?

    One just needs to have a humanistic approach towards practicing law. Whenever a client approaches me I make sure I make them feel understood and listen to their problem actively. The key is not to just show legal skills to clients but to walk a mile in their shoes and provide a legal resolution. My journey of working with clients from different continents have shown that despite different nationalities, each one is human and we as lawyers need to embrace the humanistic side of law. A little act of empathy towards the client goes a long way in building a strong professional relationship. 

    How did Lawsikho courses help you in the legal journey that too in the US and UAE?

    The consistent support from the LawSikho freelance team has been a treasure in my international legal career. I developed my Contract Drafting skills with the US Contract Drafting and Paralegal Course with LawSikho during the pandemic when I was emotionally exhausted given the covid outbreak like everyone else and I didn’t know how to further my legal career despite coming from top universities and clearing UGC NET exam. With classes at LawSikho and freelancing sessions each week, I dedicated myself to the process. Slowly I started gaining confidence in myself again which led me to work with clients across the USA, UK, UAE, Europe, Australia, Taiwan, among many other nations. 

    Struggles of corporate often go unsaid, kindly describe the initial hard moments you had and how one can overcome them significantly?

    Corporate world is highly competitive and fast-paced and it is not easy to stand out, especially if you want to work internationally.  I found myself working tirelessly among lawyers who were more and still are more experienced in their legal journey but the key has been to find out my unique skill set and hold my ground. You have to be your own friend in this process, have immense trust in yourself.

    I kept working on my contract drafting skills in different areas of law, I still do and it’s continuous work. I have spent sleepless nights just researching new areas of laws and made sure that each time any new client comes to me I raise my bar of providing the best services. It involves a lot of attention to detail, developing excellent communication with clients, and sometimes even making yourself available at odd hours and holidays. 

    Please tell us the idea behind Gavel Speaks?

    Gavel Speaks is a boutique law firm driven by emotional intelligence and empathy towards clients. It involves cross-border and intra-border transactional work among other areas of law including employment law, entertainment law, handling USA pro se cases, pre-litigation support, case management among other services. The aim is to  be that one legal friend for our client which they want to have in their circle to go to for advice simply because they can trust that advice. We want to change the way the world looks at lawyers and legal systems by humanizing the legal services. 

    Finally, with so many experiences that you have gathered so early on in your career, what would your advice be for the up and coming legal professionals?

    One major advice I give all my mentees and juniors is that choose law only because you want to and not because it sounds good or to earn a degree. It is one of the most noble professions and it demands honesty and immense hard work. Currently, the opportunities are opening up like never before in the legal profession with arenas like NFTs, Metaverse, Web 3.0 etc, it is time to explore your options.

    Don’t choose a path within law just because of its power or position, choose what you can devote life to and feel passionate about. To end with a quote here, “The law is a jealous mistress and requires long and constant courtship. It is not to be won by trifling favors, but by lavish homage.”

    Get in touch with Ankita Srivastava-

  • In Conversation with: Kaainat Pundir, Associate at Shardul Amarchand Managaldas & Co and Co-Founder at Sankalp (The Dispute Resolution Organisation)

    In Conversation with: Kaainat Pundir, Associate at Shardul Amarchand Managaldas & Co and Co-Founder at Sankalp (The Dispute Resolution Organisation)

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

    It is said that the best moments happen when they are unplanned. How true do you find this axiom? Do you anyhow relate to it considering that you were a Science student and had never intended to take law as a career?

    Absolutely, I think my professional journey stands testimony to it – whether it be competing in my first moot competition (Alfred Deakin International Commercial Arbitration Moot) in my final year or bagging the Herbert Smith Freehills vacation scheme prior to that.

    My journey from Sanskriti School to Jindal Global Law School was similar. Having been brought up in a family, surrounded by professionals from the armed forces, engineering and medical background, law was never on my radar.

    After preparing for engineering entrances for three years, I realized I was not passionate towards the field, although I had secured multiple admissions in the field of engineering, commerce and mathematics.

    The decision to enroll into law school was guided by, first, taking a deep look within, and then being mentored by my educationist and career counsellor mother.

    The legacy of my grandfather, a practicing lawyer (alumni of CLC) prior to joining army under the emergency commission, and great grandfather, a leading criminal lawyer/magistrate turned politician (alumni of Law College, Lahore) were definite motivators. In hindsight, studying science until college helped me imbibe a scientific temperament to which I owe my analytical skills, attention to detail and general problem-solving approach.

    The curiosity of a science student drives my interest in the sociological and jurisprudential study of law and understanding the ‘why’ behind concepts.

    You happen to specialize in Mergers & Acquisitions, Investments, and Private Equity Transactions. Can you tell us a bit as to what prompted you towards this field of law? When did you realise that you wanted to specialize in M&A?

    It might surprise you to know that I undertook 16 internships during law school (which allowed me to understand almost all practice areas and work undertaken by corporate lawyers), apart from 2 TAships, 3 RAships and auditing specialized courses (taught by legal doyens like Prof. MP Singh, Sr Adv Ravi Sikri, Ms. Aparna Mehra). Further, being the editor for an interdisciplinary research blog and journal and being part of the college placement team throughout exposed me to a mix of work experience, course work and undertaking research in the field.

    What definitely interested me was the internship at CAM, where I assisted with due diligence and research for the mergers of public sector banks.

    My interest in corporate law grew while studying the Securities & Regulation elective course wherein we drafted a DRHP and I further found my area of specialization during the course on venture capital transactions, taught by Mr. Siddharth Nair, partner at SAM.

    Apart from this, I have actively participated in international mediation competitions which mostly have commercial and cross-jurisdictional disputes case studies – these have trained me to understand the interests of different parties and prepared me for client-facing work.

    Additionally, connecting and discussing with corporate lawyers from Europe and USA, regarding their work/transactions fueled my interest, and mentally prepared me for the hours which come with the job. 

    You also happen to have dealt with some high-profile transactions as well. Not many lawyers can achieve this feat so early on in their career, let alone women lawyers. What was the story behind your success? Did you have to face any kind of stereotypical struggles and if you did, how did you overcome them? 

    In my opinion true gender equity in the Indian scenario is still a long way off – whether it be the higher judiciary, appointment of senior advocates or partnerships at law firms. Having strong leaders who support women’s careers and provide equal opportunity to them contributes a lot to bringing more women into the profession. I feel I am truly blessed to have been mentored by brilliant lawyers, wherein AOR Manisha Karia offered me my first internship and placed her trust in a first-year law student, while Sr Adv Aishwarya Bhati, ASG of India, took special interest in building a strong conceptual foundation for me during my internship, they have been a huge guiding force in my career.

    As compared to litigation, law firms see a much higher female workforce participation. In most part, this is attributable to the strong leadership at law firms which have nurtured an equitable work environment for women to succeed. At SAM, it is Shardul Shroff Sir and Pallavi Shroff Ma’am. My own team, led by Ms. Puja Sondhi, is female-dominated across the echelons.

    The team provides exceptional exposure in terms of venture capital transactions to its associates, having advised on numerous investments into unicorns in the past years. This has allowed me to learn a great deal through various transactions and through the commitment of my seniors to pay particular attention to their juniors’ growth and learning through continuous training and feedback.

    You have made a name in the international ADR circuit for yourself which is quite a distinguished honor so early on and you are also a founder of a dispute resolution organization, Sankalp. Can you tell us about your journey and your organization?

    I trained as a civil and commercial mediator in my first year itself with ADR ODR International. The next year I took it upon myself to learn and improve my skills further by working with Dr. Claudia Winkler at The Negotiation Academy, Vienna for 2 years. During this time, I also participated in multiple national and international competitions including CDRC Vienna and ICC Paris. Over the years I have continued to mentor and still regularly train Indian and International teams both for national and international competitions. I feel privileged to have been invited to judge at international competitions (even as a young law student among a distinguished panel of judges at INADR Georgia and Transatlantic Negotiation Competition by Syracuse University and as a mentor for the maiden mediation training program in Sri Lanka).

    Through such opportunities and having participated in Global Negotiation Conference, I have built a network of friends and colleagues across borders who work in various capacities as political negotiators, corporate lawyers, mediators, et al. The positive support I received from the international community in my endeavors inspired me to expand this community to include more law students and young professionals from across borders to facilitate mentorship relationships with experienced professionals.

    Hence, Thomas John and I founded Sankalp – The Dispute Resolution Organization, which has already garnered support of many professionals and students alike across continents. We are earnestly working towards its growth and collaborating with businesses, institutions and organizations. Our aim is to make business processes more efficient and cost-effective through increased utilization of negotiation and third-party neutrals.

    You worked in Kailash Satyarthi’s organisation and accompanied in their training and child labour raids as well. What was your experience like during such work? And does pro bono work add value to a professional’s life?

    I interned with Bachpan Bachao Andolan in my second year wherein I closely worked with the team on the month-long training prior to the Bharat Yatra (a 35-day long march across the country to build unprecedented awareness on combating child sexual abuse and trafficking). It was truly enlightening to learn from the activists working on-ground across India and to understand the challenges they faced every day to bring about real change and thus secure a safe childhood for children. I also accompanied the team on a raid on sweatshops employing child labour.

    That experience of observing the actions of BBA’s raid team, the accompanying police officials, magistrate, the employers and the children, exposed me to a lot of life’s harsh realities and re-enforced in me the importance of easy access to education and opportunities for children. On days when I was highly tired after my work commitments taking out time to tutor children from lower-income backgrounds or spent weekends volunteering at the nearby children’s home, felt very much worth it.

    Over the years I have stayed connected with the work of the foundation. During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to volunteer with Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation – working on their campaign against child sexual abuse and subsequently, assisted the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights to conduct research relating to the status of children’s well-being and the access to learning resources and activities during the Covid-19 pandemic in government and municipal schools.

    This was utilized as policy inputs for designing effective interventions once schools reopened post the lockdowns.

    It is absolutely essential to do pro bono work – it keeps you motivated, gives one immense satisfaction of helping a person in need and keeps one engaged in the long run. This is also the advice that I have received from multiple senior lawyers and businesspersons. For me, apart from hobbies, education has been an important cause – may that be tutoring school children or coaching and mentoring college students or training professionals in negotiation skills.

    Was it a tough call for you to choose between LLM and job? What points one needs to consider while taking a call between these two options?

    I had first planned to apply for an LLM after receiving my HSF vacation scheme offer since they hire two years in advance as compared to Indian law firms. However, the HSF offer did not pan out as expected in light of the pandemic. Hence, at the time of my graduation, I was presented with the dilemma of moving to London to pursue my Masters or to start work with one of the best transactional law teams in the country.

    I had received offers from University College London and Queen Mary University, and also had the PPO from SAM. Upon weighing the pros and cons, gaining work experience at a tier-1 law firm with a team dealing with VC and PE transactions with exposure to a very active investment market as valuations skyrocketed, was the obvious answer.

    My work with the team has proven my choice to be correct. In college, I lacked sufficient clarity to choose a Masters specialization, and my main motivations to pursue a Masters were intellectual growth and access to a new jurisdiction. However, while working with the best corporate lawyers across jurisdictions, advising on upcoming yet niche areas of law and being part of numerous high-value deals has helped me streamline my professional interests and goals.  

    Our readers will be very much interested in knowing more about Vacation Schemes, the eligibility criteria and more crucial details about it.

    Vacation Scheme is equivalent to securing an assessment internship at a tier-1 law firm in India. UK based law firms have the vacation scheme route to land training contracts with them (which is required to gain qualifying work experience to qualify as a solicitor, however, that is changing with the new SQE regime). Certain top international law firms like Herbert Smith Freehills, Allen and Overy, Linklaters, etc. have India Internship programs wherein each year they invite applications from penultimate year Indian law students and offer vacation schemes to a handful of them selected through a highly competitive multi-stage shortlisting process.

    The process involves an online application and online test which qualifies candidates for a competency interview followed by an assessment centre. The specifics of the process may differ for each firm but are largely similar. There is no one size fits all approach to securing a vacation scheme offer. However, performing well academically, having a good CV including diverse experiences will certainly enhance your chances to succeed.

    There are also a lot of resources available online to prepare you for the process. Reaching out to candidates who have succeeded in the past is always a good idea (I would be happy to help out anyone who reaches that stage). Research well if you are planning to apply. Apart from that, the graduate recruitment teams at the firms are very responsive and helpful throughout the process, so feel free to contact them.

    What would be your parting message to our readers and the young budding lawyers? How can they mark their presence in the niche of venture capital transactions and cross-border M&A?

    Give yourself the time and space to explore your interests to find the area that truly excites you. The legal career is a long one and you should be pursuing what makes you excited to get out of bed each morning. More importantly, be unafraid to put in the hard work to make a name for yourself. The more you persevere in the initial years, the better your learning will be and you will be a better lawyer for it. One has to learn the art of networking both in India and abroad. It is absolutely essential and if you are doing it right, you will realise that most people in this profession are willing and happy to mentor juniors. A great example of such a person is my role model at Jindal, Professor C Raj Kumar despite his multifarious endeavors always finds time to motivate and mentor students.

    There are very few teams working in the niche area of VC. Speak to people, intern and find a team that does the kind of work you want to do, and also, provides a healthy work environment where your seniors motivate you to learn each day and to gain more exposure.

    It is a blessing to be doing the work you love and with the people who inspire you. Further, build mentorship relationships with your seniors to learn from their expertise and experience. For me having a mentor like Mr. Siddharth Nair and learning from my partners, Ms. Puja Sondhi, Mr. Aayush Kapoor and Ms. Manita Doshi, who have each built a name for themselves in the industry and go out of their way to teach me on a daily basis – has made all the difference.

    Get in touch with Kaainat Pundir-

  • In Conversation with: Ankita Shaw, Associate Solution Advisor at Deloitte

    In Conversation with: Ankita Shaw, Associate Solution Advisor at Deloitte

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

    What was your motivation behind choosing law as a career?

    Having the knack since the early years to eliminate options I always knew what I never wanted to pursue rather than being crystal clear about what I wanted to pursue.  Law happened to me by chance and for me, it was never the means to achieve my goals. And honestly, I do not remember one specific isolated incident that motivated me to pursue law until I left political science honors after pursuing it for one year.

    In this one year, I participated in MUNs and studied different philosophers which led me to realize my interest in Constitution and International Relations and hence law happened.

    How important is it to get yourself into legal writing in this profession according to you, what other areas should one explore?

    Well, in my opinion, it is indeed very important to get oneself who is involved in the legal profession to indulge in legal writing. In the first place tell me, what is an article all about – is it merely a combination of words or a compilation of the already existing literature? The answer to this would be a big NO. Over time, as I have understood an article is your way to contribute to legal academia by using your own interpretational and analytical thoughts based on the grey area in the existing literature – something beyond what exists on google or for that matter of fact any other legal database.

    As a law student, one is engaged in writing right since the first year – the primary purpose for which is to inculcate the research aptitude and execute it in writing considering that this aptitude is one of the basic requirements even post the undergraduate years.

    Additionally, having publications in your name in esteemed and reputed journals surely makes a remarkable impact on your CV undoubtedly showcasing the extensive knowledge one has in a specific domain. However, at the end of the day, it is one’s sole discretion to either quote what already exists in the databases or make a significant contribution to legal academia by one’s name.

    Furthermore, other areas that one should explore during law school without an iota of doubt are mooting, internships, debates, paper presentations and attending conferences, and actively participating in societies and volunteering for events. I consider all of these activities to inculcate confidence in an individual while also building skills at the same time.

    The more one gets involved in these activities, the more skills and knowledge the person has and no other place is better to give it a shot if not law school. While I believe interest area surely lies in specific domains, without exploring each domain how does one get to conclude respective interest areas?

    Tell us about your journey in this profession in a nutshell!

    The five years that I spent at KIIT Law School, Bhubaneswar has in all been an amazing experience. I knew right from the first day of college that the journey for a first-generation lawyer is not a cakewalk and that to succeed in any area of law would require hard work and patience at the same time.

    Hence, during law school, I kept myself involved in balancing my academics with both extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. I have had the opportunity to represent my college in Moot Court Competitions winning laurels for the college.

    Additionally, I have participated in several conferences and have several decent publications in my name. Apart from academics, I also was quite an active member of different societies in college which led me to become the Convener of the Moot Court Society.

    I also was fortunate to share excellent relations with some of the professors at KIIT Law School who taught me valuable lessons for life beyond the black-and-white letters of the law. In retrospect, I think I made the best decision to join KIIT Law School which gave me ample opportunities to grow into the person I am today.

    On the personal front, I think my personality went through a massive change during the journey. Made a lot of friends, committed endless mistakes both at the professional and personal level – learned from them, failed ten times more than I succeeded – learned to get up again and again.

    Like we always say, hard work does not go to waste, each and everyone gets paid on time! but what were your strategies for achieving the goals you planned?

    I would first like to share a small anecdote before I answer this question. Right from Day 1 of my five-years law school, I started dedicating myself to writing research papers. However, it would not be until my third-year end that my first paper got published. Three years of rejections from endless places and I could not figure out the reasons for it not being accepted for publication. Between the journey of failing time and again and getting up an equal number of times, my first paper after years of hard work got published. To answer the question, I have learned it hard way that a CV of failures is ten times more than the two-page original successful CV.

    Hence, I never had planned any particular thing to achieve a certain goal, instead, I picked up things impromptu and would never give up on the said until it was done and achieved. The only strategy that I followed throughout my law school was to maintain hard work, and consistency and never say die even when the going gets tough! Additionally, I also believe that read, read and read no matter the upward or downward phase of life – because the knowledge and the experience that comes with reading are irreplaceable.

    You’ve written on the role of Artificial Intelligence in the Healthcare Sector, how do you think AI can change the way we deal with different industries, and what necessary dangers it can impose for us as well?

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has penetrated almost every sphere of an individual’s life. Albeit, AI has the potential to transform every sector in an efficacious manner yet the ramifications it poses cannot be denied. Some of the ramifications in my limited knowledge are ethical issues, regulatory and compliance issues, legal issues, environmental and sustainability issues, and economic and socio-political issues only to mention a few.

    Given that each sub-topic has the potential of being expounded into a research paper or an article I limit myself to merely mentioning the categorical issues. In my opinion, before the implementation of AI at the core of each sector, the artificial literacy of the nation and the economic status of the nation is ought to be considered to prevent any sort of exacerbation of the gap between the two extreme ends of the economic status and hierarchy.

    Please tell us in brief about your current role!

    Usually, we are expected to start by 9.30 – 10 am wherein the first hours of the day generally go into attending meetings, responding to emails, and updating oneself on the task for the day. Primarily, the task involves reviewing documents and contracts for the clients, reading the case, and the judgments related to the task.

    What is your life mantra to work stress-free?

    Some of the mantras that I follow at a personal level to work stress-free is maintaining a balance between work life and personal life. I believe being with your family is equally important as your career. In this context, I more often than not take shelter in some close friends and family to calm down on any aspect of life.

    At the professional level, I tend not to compare myself with either friends or colleagues and not attach myself to the outcome of the work. At the same time, I also believe strongly in my hard work and ability to accomplish the goals I have set my eyes on.

    Any last piece of advice that you would like to give to the upcoming generation of professionals?

    My constant endeavor throughout this interview has been to share my own experiences with extreme frankness. And since I have just started, my limited knowledge and inexperience shall make the pieces of advice narratively limited and premature, nonetheless, some of my learnings that I would like to share are

    In the first place, in this journey that entails endless creativity and options to be explored, do not limit yourself and explore every kind of opportunity that one may have at hand. Secondly, as cliché as it may sound there is no substitute for hard work and I will not be either the last or first person to emphasize this. Along with Hard work, patience, sincerity, and perseverance are the basic requirement of an individual in any profession.

    Thirdly, never hesitate to ‘ask’ either for any sort of help or internships or recommendations, or any other thing that comes up to your mind. I’ve learned that ‘asking’ does not allow you to lose anything because you do not have a thing to lose instead it might as well work in your favor. Fourthly, read, read and read because this will help you eventually in your career.

    Lastly, being an avid follower of Swami Vivekananda, I suggest one have a ‘never say die’ attitude. This essentially helps in recuperating the failures and rising once again considering at times you will inevitably feel like giving up on everything because things failed to work on your chartered timelines but then don’t!

    Get in touch with Ankita Shaw-

  • In Conversation with: Arpit Guru, Partner at Legal Intel and Law Clerk to the Former CJI Hon’ble Justice Deepak Misra

    In Conversation with: Arpit Guru, Partner at Legal Intel and Law Clerk to the Former CJI Hon’ble Justice Deepak Misra

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

    Tell us about yourself-what motivated you to choose law as a career path ?

    Studying law and making a career in it was not a matter of luck but a consciously thought and willfully made decision, which actualized the moment I entered law school. While the textbooks exposed me to a fascinating world of legal studies, the extracurricular activities and internships exposed me to the practical side of the law.

    Being from a law enforcement background I understood the law as powerful means to make a difference, that is the reason I went into the field of law.

    How tough was pursuing C.S. with additional professional degree like LL.B.?

    I pursued a full-time Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Law and Management from Indian Law Institute, New Delhi. By doing that Diploma a person can get a certification to practice as a Company Secretary in India for companies having paid-up share capital of up to INR 5 cr. So, I did not do the traditional CS and finished my PG Diploma only after graduating from Law School.

    “Man with a silver spoon in his mouth” is what they say to a law student having a family with a law background. But in your case, it was somehow different as well, how far did it help you having some sort of legal background?

    It is difficult to establish yourself as a first-generation lawyer however with time your talent and caliber are tested. I would suggest having patience and keeping enhancing your network. You might not be paid well initially, however with time sky is the limit.

    Please tell us about one special case that helped you gain a great understanding of legal practice.

    Each case or situation in law teaches you something new. Law school might prepare you theoretically however it is different when you enter the real world. If I have to choose one situation or an experience I would say working as a Law Clerk Hon’ble Chief Justice of India (Hon’ble Justice Deepak Misra) has been the turning point in my career.

    Along with that, working in the field of litigation teaches you a lot which no textbook can do. My advice would be to just jump into the practice and will in no time be able to swim.

    As someone who is well versed in the areas of Real Estate and Arbitration, what sort of improvements are needed at the forefront in both the areas?

    Real Estate is quite rewarding however it is extremely complicated as the land record system of India still poses certain challenges. I would suggest any lawyer who wants to work in the field of real estate to practice before the office of the Tehsildar or Revenue Inspector and understand the nuance of this field.

    With regard to Arbitration, I feel laws have changed in favor of ADR and now it’s beneficial for lawyers to go for ADR rather than litigation as a mode for dispute resolution.

    What will be your parting words for our readers?

    If someone is pursuing litigation I would suggest giving your heart and soul to it. And trust me you will definitely be rewarded.

    Get in touch with Arpit Guru-

  • In Conversation with: Lisa Lawrence Beard, Head of Legal Executive Search at Integral Search

    In Conversation with: Lisa Lawrence Beard, Head of Legal Executive Search at Integral Search

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

    If we start from the beginning, were you ever dicey while choosing law as a career option? 

    I had some reservations about choosing law as a career, having never known any lawyers. I come from a family of working class Jamaican immigrants and my decision  to pursue a  legal career was based on what I read in the news or saw on TV. 

    I was a Humanities major at Stanford and loved critical thinking and creative and persuasive writing so I thought those interests, along with a passion for justice, would make me a good lawyer.

    What is your current role? How exciting is it for you?

    I have an incredible new role as Head of Legal Executive Search at Integral Global Search in London.  Integral is a leading executive search firm with global expertise in legal, tax, and compliance. I work with a brilliant team of experienced search consultants who are tax and compliance specialists in the financial services sector.

    I joined Integral, bringing my years of legal expertise as a former practicing lawyer and as a search consultant who also managed the global legal recruiting team at a Fortune 10 company. 

    It is a very exciting role. Many executive search firms work regionally with search consultants limited to choosing between in-house or law firm practices whereas at Integral I have a remit to service corporations and law firms internationally, better leveraging my market knowledge and contacts around the world.

    Being involved in so many roles lately, how far do you see a diverse set of roles helping in the legal profession? And do you think pursuing unconventional roles expands the skill set of an individual?

    I think diversity of all kinds just makes good business and career sense. The legal profession is a more conservative profession in terms of the type of experience firms and corporations are seeking but if you are strategic and very thoughtful about your career moves and can articulate them passionately to employers, your diverse background will serve you very well. 

    As I look back on my legal career, I worked in private practice, government, and in-house. My background has afforded me unique expertise as a legal search consultant.   I have a wealth of first-hand knowledge about what lawyers do for a living.  For lawyers seeking to work in-house, it’s critical that you are commercially-minded and creative. You’re expected to be a strategic business partner.

    Diverse experience will help you grow with the business.

    How important do you consider legal professionals to work with NGOs and support social initiatives? Do you think it adds value in the long run?

    I am very passionate about pro bono work and strongly believe that legal professionals should support social initiatives by volunteering their time and/or hosting fundraisers.  I think that the majority of us entered the legal profession hoping to make a difference in our communities.

    NGOs do not always have the budget to hire legal talent yet their work is invaluable to a fair society.

    As a legal recruiter, what are the necessary skills to have?

    As a legal recruiter, you must have a passion for people and be skilled in customer service. I see my role as a matchmaker. I care very much about the right cultural fit, even more than I care about technical skills.  Clients are willing to spend time mentoring someone who fits in well with their culture. You also need to have a firm understanding of the legal market and the confidence to pick up the phone to pitch to clients and candidates. 

    Strong communications skills, oral and written are crucial. Thick skin helps too. You are primarily in the people business and people will do the most surprising things! Search consultants are in the relationship business. Long lasting relationships with clients and candidates are what this career is all about. 

    How would you describe your career up till now? Where can we expect you in upcoming years?

    If I were to sum up my career in one word, it would be “eclectic”.  It’s been a fun journey that has allowed me to work with some of the smartest minds I’ll ever meet.  I have found a wonderful culture and collaborative community of leading experts at Integral Search. In the coming years, you will see me here at Integral, doing what I do best – matchmaking!

    Can one with no proper guidance pave his/her path and succeed in life? How would you like to inspire our readers to be determined and passionate? 

    ABSOLUTELY! If you want to do something, go for it.  I did not feel that I had proper guidance at the start of my career because I wasn’t comfortable initially asking for help or mentorship.  I thought I had to prove to people that I could do a job without asking for guidance.  I tell students entering university now to seek mentors immediately.  Visit your professors during their office hours.

    Always come to them with solutions (your thoughts on an issue) not problems.  Have the courage to ask for mentors at work.

    Find someone you admire and take them to lunch and ask.  I think I learned some lessons the hard way, by going through an experience a few times before I figured out the right path, whereas some people were given advice early on.  If your parents went to university and went to law school, there’s a clear advantage but you can succeed without legacy. 

    And some of us are just experiential learners. I don’t think I was always good at listening to being told what to do!  In the tech world, failure is an asset. It’s about failing fast and learning from your mistakes quickly to course correct. Take the leap, with faith!

    Get in touch with Lisa Lawrence Beard-

  • In Conversation with: Deeksha Malik, Senior Associate (Employment Labour and Benefits) at Khaitan & Co and Founder (Editor) at IRCCL

    In Conversation with: Deeksha Malik, Senior Associate (Employment Labour and Benefits) at Khaitan & Co and Founder (Editor) at IRCCL

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

    Let’s start from the beginning, what inspired you to pursue a career in law? And how would you describe your journey thus far?

    Frankly, I had no plan of becoming a lawyer. I was always more inclined to pursue civil services and had thought that the 5-year B.A.LL.B (Hons.) course would help me in my preparation for one of the toughest exams in the world. However, from my third year in law school, I was exposed to several important subjects in law including constitutional law, and it was then that I realised how interesting the legal practice can be. I always had an analytical mind and immense love for writing, and it dawned on me that my new-found interest in law generally coupled with my capabilities could help me make a good career in this field.

    About my journey thus far, well, it has been a roller-coaster ride. I always say this in interviews because when I joined Khaitan & Co, I was assigned to the capital markets practice where, over a period of time, I realised how mis-aligned my interests are vis-à-vis the said area of law, and while I was already struggling in terms of finding an interest in the subject, I did meet people who were not always kind to me; and yet, the same place introduced me to the subject which I now love the most, which is employment law.

    Khaitan & Co gave me a platform to thrive, not just within the firm but outside as well, as I explored my love for pro bono work, teaching (through guest lectures in law school), and writing (through my blog). I am very grateful for all I have been able to achieve through a fantastic support system at the workplace and beyond. My parents have been absolute gems in this journey.

    Receiving an offer from the University of Cambridge and turning it down to pursue practise has to be one of the most crucial choices you have made at the beginning of your career and making such a decision requires a great deal of confidence in oneself. What advice would you want to give out to the readers to help them make better decision early in their careers?

    I am not exaggerating when I say that choosing between my law firm life and a masters at the University of Cambridge has been nothing but a Sophie’s choice. I spent days and nights discussing my options with my parents and preparing a pros-and-cons list. However, what I have realised is that you can mark in your field only if you are true to yourself and understand yourself completely.

    I knew very well that I was considering masters in corporate specialism at the University of Cambridge only because everyone around me told me that I would be a fool to lose something this prestigious and exclusive, and I knew deep down that I wanted to explore employment law and make my niche in a subject that is still underrated as an area of practice. My parents told me to follow the latter and forget the world for a while, and I did exactly that.

    My advice to law students and those starting out as young professionals is to stick to what you really desire. Hear everything that others have to offer but listen to yourself.

    You happen to specialize in Employment Labour and Benefits practice group at Khaitan & Co. Can you tell us a bit as to what prompted you towards this field of law? When did you realize you wanted to work in the field of employment?

    I wish I had a more interesting story about this than what I am going to say just now. I never liked employment law as a law student, perhaps because we had a trimester system of examination back then and we were expected to explore the vastness of the subject in a span of three months. Then again, our seniors were securing placements at the corporate practice groups in Tier-1 law firms, and we were made to believe that this really is the be-all-and-end-all.

    When I was allotted capital markets as the area of practice at Khaitan & Co, I gave it a sincere try. However, while not intending to sound critical here, I do note that working in this subject area cannot be everyone’s cup of tea. The subject entails heavy transactional work, much of which could get repetitive over a period of time especially for a young professional.

    I did have an amazing time there learning about different deal processes, but I knew it was time for me to move on to a practice area where I could better use the kind of analytical capabilities that I always had. The human resources team at the firm then allotted the Employment Labour and Benefits practice to me quite randomly, and I have never looked back since. It was – like I mentioned earlier – the most random and unpredictable move and yet the best one I had till date.

    People-centered issues are often overlooked and undervalued. What, in your opinion, is lacking in addressing the issue of equal representation, given your specialization in employment-related issues?

    I can think of two reasons. Labour laws have not kept pace with changing times. The laws provide bare minimum standards of compliance for employers. If I may, the law on persons with disabilities directs a private-sector employer to frame an equal opportunity policy for employees with disabilities, but it does not lay down a more direct set of guidelines to ensure that such employees are reasonably accommodated at the workplace.

    Also, while there is an increasing realization of the importance of diversity and inclusion at the workplace, it is definitely an expensive affair. For example, the law on maternity benefits requires employers to set up their own creche facility for allowing women-employees to take care of their children in close proximity, but no flexibility is afforded in the form of arrangements with third-party day care centers, nor any financial support offered by the government for such critical compliance.

    Even if one convinces oneself about the business case for a diverse and inclusive workplace, these compliance requirements, in their rigid form, could get too technical and impractical to fulfill.

    Would you like to talk about the new opportunities in law for aspiring and budding lawyers? Especially in the aftermath of pandemic?

    I am not sure if there is any correlation with the COVID-19 pandemic, but a positive sight I have noticed lately is the growing realisation among young professionals is that there are many ways to become successful in the legal profession. More young professionals are willing to try in-house practice or niche practice areas within law firms (such as employment law, data privacy law, etc.).

    Some young professionals are also setting up career counselling / consultancy organisations (such as LLM Wizards) or doing business strategy / knowledge management / learning and development work within law firms. We are living in a world where there is a greater realization of following the heart and maintaining work-life balance to the extent we can in this otherwise demanding profession.  

    Is it possible to pave one’s own path and succeed in life without proper guidance? How would you like to motivate our readers to be more determined and enthusiastic?

    Yes, this is possible. As much as I am grateful to my alma mater for what I have achieved, I have also faced slightly unfair treatment from certain seniors who preferred mentoring my batchmates who appeared to be promising because of their affluence and background (there was actually a “metro” group in my batch that was guided by seniors even during intra moot court competitions!). I learnt to carve my niche in those situations.

    For instance, when I realised that some of the seemingly popular individuals in my batch were not inclined to collaborate with me for a moot court competition because I was not part of THE “metro” group, I started looking for competitions that did not require group participation.

    I won a couple of writing competitions in the process, honed my writing skills along the way, and then aimed at and got published by some of the leading international publications. I continued to focus on academics because this again was something that only required my hard work and dedication without any specific guidance from anyone. A good academic performance helped me secure good internships and even an acceptance from the University of Cambridge.   

    Point is, if you seek guidance but do not always get one, become your own counselor and develop a fighting spirit that does not get overwhelmed by unpleasant circumstances.

    What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not at work? Do you have any interests or hobbies that you’d like to pursue?

    Oh yes. I love biking and I am also a trained classical dancer. I along with my team also run a blog called The Indian Review of Corporate and Commercial Laws, which has received an insane amount of love and following over the years.

    Finally, do you have any parting words of wisdom for our readers who are still trying to figure out their path?

    As I mentioned before, one should stay true to oneself. There is no single path to success, hence we must all stop drawing parallels with the journeys of people who have traveled through the career path before us. But before we decide to follow what our gut feeling suggests, we must ensure that we have all the resources available with us to make an informed choice.

    This is possible only when we reach out to experienced professionals through professional / alumni networks and strike a candid conversation.

    Get in touch with Deeksha Malik-

  • In Conversation with: Arunoday Ganguly, Founder & Director – Cygal Attorneys (An ADGM Law Firm), National Director-BNI and Founder – Cygal Systems (Social Impact Startup)

    In Conversation with: Arunoday Ganguly, Founder & Director – Cygal Attorneys (An ADGM Law Firm), National Director-BNI and Founder – Cygal Systems (Social Impact Startup)

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

    First of all, we’d like to know what was your motivation behind making a career in law?

    When I was studying in High School, I used to get fascinated to see my uncle’s practice at Calcutta High Court. He was a Senior Counsel and his law chamber used to be very busy with Juniors, Stenographers, Law Clerks, Solicitors and their Clients. In those days, there were no online meetings or telephonic meetings. All Solicitors used to visit the Chamber with their clients for face-to-face meetings.

    When my uncle used to get favorable Court orders for the Clients & the Solicitors, I used to see the tears of joy and their gratitude towards my uncle. This aspired me to get into the field of law.

    You are the Founder and Director of Cygal Attorneys in UAE. What are the challenges you faced in this process and how is your experience managing a firm at your level?

    There are challenges in starting any new business including a law firm and more particularly when you want it to be licensed by one of the award-winning jurisdictions like ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) www.adgm.com . One needs to work much harder and with more responsibility when laying the foundation of a law firm. Cygal Attorneys is licensed by ADGM as an English Law Firm for Arbitration and Legal Consultation. Our niche is to provide full legal support in cross border business and technology SMEs & startups.

    How far do you consider taking Pro-Bono cases and how it can benefit one in their professional lives?

    We believe in not publicizing ourselves in Pro-Bono cases. We do it discreetly without letting anyone know about it. We do not make our clients feel that it is a Pro-Bono case as we give equal importance to the case as we do in any other cases.

    Kindly tell us about the BNI network in detail and what opportunities it brings for professionals?

    Business Network International (BNI) has been present for 37 years (www.bni.com) in 77 countries across the world. It gives professionals like us a referral platform. As a part of my entrepreneurial effort, I am on the process of launching BNI in Bahrain where businesses, mainly startups and SMEs, could grow through the worldwide networking platform.

    What sort of preparations one needs to do for settling as a legal professional in the UAE?

    At least 4-5 years of prior legal experience either in practice or in-house would be very helpful before starting in UAE or for that matter anywhere in GCC. To start with, I would recommend joining a small to mid-size law firm or as an in-house legal counsel which would give more all-round exposure to law. I would also encourage law students or fresh graduates to do internship with UAE law firms if there’s any opportunity to do so.

    As a legal professional with such great achievements, what motivates you to push harder than yesterday? And what is the role of mentoring specifically in the legal industry?

    Practicing law like my uncle has always been my aspiration. Destiny had other plans and I had to take up service at a very initial stage of my legal career where I had the opportunity to work with the best brands in the world in the likes of TATAs, Citigroup, ICICI Bank, American Express.

    I have worked closely with many CXOs and I know their prism through which they look upon the lawyer and the legal industry. I see an opportunity of disruption in the legal industry, and this is what keeps me motivating to work harder on my current legal tech project which I am sure it sees the light of the day would change the way the lawyers are engaged today.

    Finally, a word of advice for the upcoming legal professionals?

    Upcoming legal professionals should confidently prepare themselves to be able to produce pragmatic legal solutions for businesses – they need to believe in themselves. In addition to the good understanding of law, a good grasp of business will be a boon.

    Get in touch with Arunoday Ganguly-

  • In Conversation with- Sandeep Bhalothia, Head, Legal Affairs Section (Legal, Regulatory, Risk, Compliance & Contracts) at Augmented Era and Partner at Node.Law

    In Conversation with- Sandeep Bhalothia, Head, Legal Affairs Section (Legal, Regulatory, Risk, Compliance & Contracts) at Augmented Era and Partner at Node.Law

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

    What is your current role? How exciting is it for you? How do you describe your legal career?

    Let me begin by appreciating the work that SuperLawyer has been doing for the past few years. I used to read the interviews on SuperLawyer when I was in law school, and it gave me immense inspiration, hope and guidance.

    I started as a Legal Manager and sole legal counsel of Augmented Era when it was a start-up. Now, I am Head of Legal Affairs, and the group does more than 100 million USD (B2B) with several business verticals like apparel manufacturing, software development, financial education platform, events and marketing.

    I have seen my role and the company grow significantly over the past three years, with now presence in more than ten jurisdictions.

    This role will always have a significant impact on my career, irrespective of where I work in future, as it has exposed me to high stake deals, cross-border negotiations, emerging technology transactions etc.

    I also had the opportunity to lead the regulatory hearing in 4 jurisdictions which ultimately resulted in administrative closure – a rare opportunity for young lawyers.

    Having said that, the role came with its unique challenges. I was new in UAE and graduated just one year ago from law school.

    When I was offered this role in 2019 after cracking the last interview round, I started having a second thought. I thought that I might be biting off more than I could chew! We all occasionally have self-doubts. But as William Shakespeare once said, “Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt.” So, I went ahead with the opportunity, and it turned out to be the best decision of my career.

    Now I primarily work on technology, data protection and regulatory compliance issues, which I thoroughly enjoy.

    What struggles one has to be prepared for when practicing as a legal professional in the UAE? How can networking help in both corporate and litigation areas?

    It is not easy to provide a comprehensive answer to this question. The struggles an individual would face in UAE will vary depending on their past work experience, from which jurisdiction they graduated, what was their practice area, and whether they have a bar registration in India and other jurisdictions like the UK, USA, Canada etc., or not.

    The ability to draft and speak in Arabic, a law degree from the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, or some other prominent common law jurisdictions and a bar registration in those jurisdictions can ease your life when looking for a legal role in UAE. However, these requirements are not mandatory for all roles. I do not have any of these and am doing fine.

    Finding a corporate lawyer role in the UAE is easier than finding a litigation lawyer. UAE’s legal system is unique, and the court hearing before local courts are in Arabic with some exceptions like ADGM and DIFC, and that would be one of the biggest hurdles for someone who wants to be a litigation lawyer in UAE.

    Nevertheless, I don’t see any challenge in UAE that cannot be tackled for someone who wants to practice commercial and corporate law, whether in local law firms or in an in-house role. Every year I see dozens of lawyers in my network moving from India to UAE.

    Those who can break into this jurisdiction from India highly rely on transferable skills like contract drafting, regulatory compliance, outstanding legal research capabilities and networking.

    Networking, to some extent, is like preparing for war. You might not see the immediate benefit of it, but all the hard work and time invested in networking will ultimately be helpful when you plan to make that shift to a foreign jurisdiction. Networking takes time, so I would recommend that the readers start early.

    You were great in academics and was awarded with the Distinguished Alumni Award on graduation What impelled you towards your goal?

    I would disagree!

    I was never great at academics, or at least l do not believe so. I used to be above average and would score high in some subjects that sparked my curiosity. However, I never prioritised academics over other meaningful exposures.

    The Distinguished Alumni award was given to me not because I was great at academics. The selection committee’s decision was based on overall exposure to various activities.

    I participated in debates, negotiation and mediation competitions, client counselling competitions, publications, a variety of internships, semester exchange (Tsinghua University), was briefly active in sports, etc. I was doing everything that I can get my hands on while ensuring that I don’t blow a hole in my academics.

    I enjoyed all these different experiences that Jindal Global Law School provided rather than just “going through” law school. And I guess that is the reason why I received that award.

    How do you see the role of Virtual General Counsel emerging in coming years and what roles and responsibilities do they play?

    During the recent pandemic, we have seen that legal departments around the world have become more cost-conscious.

    Even big companies have started giving serious attention to outside counsel expenditures, and recent economic headwinds have further pressured the in-house legal department to cut costs.

    It is still manageable for MNCs, but it gets further difficult for start-ups or smaller organisations to get the best legal advice for their fast-growing operations. And that is where Virtual General Counsel come in. It is a relatively new concept, but we can see many tech companies and start-ups accepting this model.

    Virtual General Counsel is a lawyer who usually works full-time for a law firm or is an independent practitioner and is hired by a company to act as their General Counsel, but the twist is that such a person will not be a full-time employee of the company that has hired its services as “Virtual General Counsel”.

    Such lawyers would act as “Virtual General Counsel” for more than one company, depending on their time commitment. Companies prefer this because they can hire an expert from private practice to advise them on day-to-day legal issues and rely on their growing expertise; companies don’t have to bother about hiring an internal General Counsel and can avoid the cost associated with immigration, visa, insurance etc.

    Sometimes, in such an arrangement, the company gets the entire law firm team as their Virtual General Counsel giving the company on-demand specialist expertise at a low cost, where there will be a single point of contact from the firm, more like a Relationship Manager.

    I believe such arrangements will become more prominent in tech start-ups where in-depth legal advice is required at a competitive cost over the coming years.

    We are excited to hear the reason you opted for MSC in blockchain and digital currency, also what privacy issues does blockchain invite along with itself in coming times?

    I have always been fascinated by technology, especially how the law has to always catch up with it. I started reading about blockchain in my second year of law school (2014), and after coming to UAE, I got lucky to work on some blockchain and digital currency projects. This further increased my interest in exploring this domain in-depth academically.

    It was in 2020 when I first thought of doing this MSc from the University of Nicosia but pursuing it along with my current job seemed daunting, so I shelved the idea. However, at the beginning of 2022, we had some additional projects in the company where I was supposed to advise extensively on emerging technologies like blockchain and NFTs; therefore, it seemed a logical next step, and that is how I ended up being an MSc student (distance learning) along with the current full-time job.

    The University of Nicosia is arguably the first to provide a full-time degree course on Blockchain and Digital Currency. Their modules mix law, policy and technical aspects of blockchain and digital currency. I would recommend this MSc to someone who wants to dive deeply into blockchain and digital currency. It provides a comprehensive understanding of what is happening worldwide in this space from both legal and technical aspects and what we can anticipate.

    Regarding the privacy issues that blockchain brings with it, one can argue that it makes it difficult to regulate it. It is not a privacy issue but a regulation issue because of privacy. Like in the case of cryptocurrencies that are based on “Trustless”, “Decentralised”, and “Immutable” blockchain, it becomes challenging and unfeasible to fully regulate such cryptocurrencies.

    Firstly, there is a lack of one target as no single entity controls cryptocurrency like BTC.

    Secondly, the proliferation of pseudonyms makes it nearly impossible to identify the accused.

    And thirdly, it is difficult to establish the jurisdiction and governing law because the cryptocurrency network is not restricted to one specific jurisdiction; some jurisdictions treat cryptocurrency as property and others as currency.

    Even void or voidable crypto transactions can be entered on the blockchain, but a transaction entered on the blockchain is not legal by default, but it does, in most cases, make it irreversible.

    GDPR requires the identification of a “data controller”, and public keys used by natural persons for cryptocurrency transactions on blockchain may constitute “personal data” under GDPR rendering GDPR is applicable to “processing”, “collection”, “use” or “disclosure”.

    Recital 26 of GDPR states that data which has been “pseudonymised”, and could be attributed to a natural person by using additional information, is information on an identifiable person.

    And French data protection authority has observed that public keys constitute personal data if it is connected to a natural person.

    In the absence of an identifiable data controller, the GDPR cannot be enforced as data subjects enforce their rights against the data controller under GDPR.

    In cryptocurrency transactions, miners, developers, and users of the network determine the purpose of processing personal data.

    All these players might be hiding their real identities and located in separate jurisdictions, complicating the enforcement of GDPR.

    Such situations make it challenging to access who is the data controller, where they are located, how data subjects can enforce their rights and whether it is feasible to do the same.

    This is one challenge, but I am sure there is a way around it.

    You worked in multiple jurisdictions, how was that experience and being  a lawyer how tough it was for you to adjust according to different laws and regulations?

    Switching jurisdiction as a young and first-generation lawyer is challenging. I had to understand the new legal system, find opportunities, make new friends, get active in networking, read, understand new laws, adjust to a new culture etc. But eventually, one can manage all these challenges, and after a few years, when you look back to the time when you started, you develop a lot of respect for lawyers who have come before you.

    I will not say it was easy, but also it is not impossible. Many lawyers migrate from their home jurisdiction to a foreign one, and they were my inspiration. I silently looked up to them and focused on improving.

    I have been pursuing online courses since 2013. I am a big fan of virtual learning. Whenever I felt that I lacked academic and technical knowledge on a specific topic, I would look for an online course and devote myself to it until I was confident that I had some grasp over it.

    I continued this habit even after moving to UAE, and that has been of immense help.

    What made you start your own legal consulting company and how well is it going for you thus far?

    The Node.Law focuses on delivering legal consultancy services to start-ups working on Web3, NFT, Digital Currency, Metaverse, Blockchain, and FinTech space. It is a new venture, and I co-founded it with my friend from law school, Aman Garg, who is also working in Dubai.

    In the last few years, we have seen increasing demand for legal support in emerging technology, and since both of us are interested and have been working in this domain, we thought of extending our support.

    It has been an exciting journey so far. In such a short time, we have advised on several projects and our firm is retained as Virtual General Counsel on a 1-year contract by two fast-growing start-ups.

    How would you describe your career up till now? Where can we expect you in upcoming years?

    I am blessed with a supportive family, friends, mentors and professors from law school. They all have played a significant role in shaping my career. I am doing what I love to do, and this will continue in future.

    I plan to finish my MSc by next year and then focus on growing Node.Law.

    Would you like to give some advice to the law students?

    There are only two ways to be good at something. First, by in-depth reading and second, by working on it. If something excites you, then make sure you immerse yourself in extensive reading to have the required confidence when you get an opportunity to work on it.

    Reading and continuous learning are inalienable parts of a lawyer’s life.

    Get in touch with Sandeep Bhalothia-

  • In Conversation with: Ayesha Karim, Senior Legal Consultant at Mezzle Law, Enrolled with the Delhi Bar Council

    In Conversation with: Ayesha Karim, Senior Legal Consultant at Mezzle Law, Enrolled with the Delhi Bar Council

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

    What prompted you to choose Law? Did you always want to take Law as a career? 

    Yes, since I was about 12 or 13 years old I wanted to study law; it is difficult to say exactly why I chose law, as it was before the age of the internet and we did not have access to the sources we had today, but reading was a passion and I never changed my mind about the profession I wanted to follow.

    Congratulations on being awarded as the DIFC Courts Law Specialist by the DIFC Academy, DIFC Dubai UAE, can you please enlighten our audience about this academy?

    For over a decade, the Dubai International Financial Centre has catered to the learning needs of the financial services industry by providing a platform for top-ranked educational institutes to deliver professional development and higher education courses. 

    The DIFC Academy continues this legacy by partnering with some of the world’s most reputable institutions to offer a variety of options ranging from short certificate workshops to multi-year executive MBA degree programmes.

    The Dubai International Financial  Centre is a free zone with  common law courts, though the UAE is a civil law jurisdiction. 


    Lexis Nexis published a series of books called the Laws of the DIFC. I co authored the section on the DIFC Law No 10 of 2004, the Court Law with Late Barrister Stephen Field of 1 Pump Court Chambers,  UK.  As a result I was recognised as a  DIFC Court Law specialist .

    What prompted you to choose banking and finance law as an LLM course, and how do you see this area bringing new opportunities for the young law professionals?

    Banks are  very important institutions in any economy as well as in corporate and individual lives. Certainly there are many professional opportunities with such degrees. 

    How crucial is it for the young legal professionals or even the experienced ones for taking Pro Bono work and is there any criteria for choosing the type of such work?

    Pro bono is a way of giving back to society. Everyone cannot afford lawyers. Access to justice is considered a fundamental right in our country and every civilized society and as lawyers we should be part of the larger picture if possible.

    Pro bono work gives lawyers exposure to different areas of law. For example, when working with a legal aid clinic, a firm receives a list of cases that need lawyers.


    A corporate lawyer may get an opportunity to work on a matrimonial matter or an employment case.

    Pro bono cases also give lawyers the chance to work with other lawyers in and build relationships and networks. Exchange of knowledge and ideas is extremely important and interaction with professional colleagues is an invaluable learning process.

    You have so many publications on various topics, what tips do you give to our audience for choosing journals and topics as per that specific journal?

    That would depend on the interest of the audience; there are specific journals for almost every aspect of law. However, it is important to do independent research, published articles can give an introduction to the topic but certainly do not replace self study.

    Insider trading has been there since ages in corporate, such as writing a newsletter on the same, what can be the root cause for the same and steps that can be taken to avoid it completely?

    That is a hard question; Strong regulatory and enforcement systems have to be put in place. Ethics and honesty are character traits imbibed from our families and society. Therefore strong laws can help reduce unlawful acts but cannot eradicate them totally.

    Being associated with a UAE law firm, how can one prepare himself to settle there as a law professional in different areas? What is the road map for the same?

    Look for a vacancy in a busy firm, learn about the new systems and law. At some levels different jurisdictions have challenges, but basically a lawyers work remains the same, wherever they may be.

    What would be your parting message to our young readers?

    Gain as much experience as you can, avoid any toxic offices that do not provide opportunities to learn and grow. Do not accept bullying and sexual harassment, good knowledge and hard work is the key to success.

    Get in touch with Ayesha Karim-

  • In Conversation with: Bhagyashree Pancholy, CoFounder at Avyana GmbH, Metalawyers India, Web3 Law and AI Law Specialist

    In Conversation with: Bhagyashree Pancholy, CoFounder at Avyana GmbH, Metalawyers India, Web3 Law and AI Law Specialist

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

    Did you always want to become a Lawyer or was it something that you decided in the later part of your school life? What other career options would you have considered, if not particularly law?

    No, I had never wanted to become a lawyer, in fact, my dream was to become an astronaut after watching I dream of Genie as a child. But after graduating with Geography Honours from Miranda House, Delhi University, I filled Law faculty form, sat for the entrance exam, and cleared it. Since it was the first exam I cleared after graduation, and did not want to study anymore during the summer breaks, I just decided to join Campus Law Centre.

    I would have been an environmentalist or a vet if not for a lawyer.

    What can be the real challenges while establishing a career in the field of law?

    There could be many, but I will restrict myself to the two I experienced and get asked about a lot:

    (1) godfather or having mentors/family members in the legal field,

    (2) how can I work remotely or cross border as a lawyer.

    Definitely, in litigation, having a family member or a mentor that supports a novice lawyer helps. But let us come to the second challenge of working remotely and across borders.

    Covid changed the way the world worked and it pushed the Indian judiciary to adopt the technology. Many advocates pleaded from the comfort of their houses by using video communication platforms and many more parties to the lawsuit were given an opportunity to hear their cases in person.

    As COVID restrictions loosened up, many lawyers went back to the old way and yet many new ones want to work remotely. And some, also cross borders.

    What many lawyers do not understand is that with globalization and emerging technology, lawyers will have to be border-less.

    New tech and associated legal areas like data protection, privacy, web 3, cryptocurrency etc. are border-less and the system will have to move from litigation in a specific country to alternate dispute mechanisms like arbitration or mediation. 

    New lawyers will not have to appear in front of a district judge every day, they will be assisting legal counsels and judges outside of India and will need to know many other laws apart from Indian laws.

    This can be challenging as now lawyers will literally be competing with lawyers globally

    Where individuals are still struggling learning about GDPR and data protection, you had a control on it way more earlier, what was your preparation for the same and how professionals can take charge on such critical laws?

    I actually started working in data and privacy when GDPR didn’t exist and many were not aware of this right of theirs.

    At my first place of work in 2012, which was a tech/SaaS company that hosted websites globally, I was introduced to user privacy. The lack of laws and fewer judicial precedents meant every builder had their own way of assigning roles and responsibilities when it came to data privacy.

    The strict segregation of controller and processor came much later when GDPR came into effect, but back then, we were responsible for assigning such roles and interpreting local IT laws in a way that protected the rights of both, user and builder, across jurisdictions. 

    My seniors in the legal team were my guides who had a rich experience in such fields with big companies like Intel, Microsoft, and Google who taught me everything I know about data protection and privacy policies. 

    Even after GDPR came into effect, we did not have to re-do a lot, as GDPR is more about regulation than prohibition (many users believe that under GDPR, companies are prohibited from storing and processing their data which is incorrect).

    I am seeing a repeat of 2012 now in web3 and AI space. The laws are currently non-existed and are being drafted, and each user is interpreting and applying local laws to the best of their knowledge. 

    I would suggest the upcoming legal minds not focus on a lot of courses, but gain knowledge of such laws by experience. I never sat for any data protection and privacy exam, have no certification in this, and yet I know these laws because I learned from working in these sectors.

    Congratulations on being listed as Remote Influencer and Women Lawyer in the Legal Technology Sector, how would you describe your role as a leading lawyer in the technology sector?

    Not easy, in short. Tech is a male-dominated world and when I attend business meetings as a co-founder of my company that researches in the field of Artificial Intelligence, I do get an occasional look.

    Again, I started working remotely in 2012 for many personal reasons and it was very, very tough to break into the industry. Lawyers working remotely was unheard of, and to be in the tech sector, even a lawyer needed to understand the basics of it.

    After working hard for ten years, I am now in a much more comfortable situation where I work on new technology, overseas labour compliance, artificial intelligence and law, remote work and law, and lecture at universities.

    Though it may appear as if I have settled, I can assure you that every month, I end up reading and learning about new tech, digging some judgments on them, and interpreting laws (even though I don’t speak many European languages or am qualified to practice there.

    I have interpreted German, French, Swedish, Swiss, Australian, Canadian, etc laws for my clients in the tech industry or as my role as the GC at Lano Software GmbH), aiding courts and litigators in lawsuits around web3 and AI law across the globe and going back to studying some more.

    At my first workplace, I ended up learning PHP as it was needed for me to understand the tech before writing user rights documentation for it. Now, for my company, I am learning Python to be able to understand our projects, write accurate legal documents for the products and aid my co-founders.

    What are the challenges that HR’s in their work life face with emerging technologies like Meta Verse and Web 3? And how can they overcome those?

    Let us first understand that when employees work in metaverse or any other virtual platform, it is deemed to be a workplace. Employment and workplace health and safety laws will be applicable in these workplaces as well.

    In 2 years since I have been working in this tech, I have seen the following challenges that HRs have faced and I was consulted:

    1. Establishing the identities of avatars that employees use in the metaverse

    2. Checking if the employees are using a VPN or not

    3. VR headsets that are available in the market are bulky and may cause temporary disorientation, watery eyes, headaches, or other nerve-related issues if used for longer periods of time. Injuries from the usage of VR headsets may amount to workplace injuries for which employers will be liable.

    4. Cases of cyberbullying, harassment, or discrimination in the virtual workplace will also be the liability of the employers.

    5. HRs will need to remember that employment contracts signed in the metaverse may not be legally binding, hence, such contracts should be signed as per the local laws in the non-virtual world.
    6. Salaries, remittances, perks, and benefits to the employees must be done in legal tenders only. There is a trend of accepting crypto payments as salaries or to contractors for their services rendered, which is illegal. However, there are a few apps that facilitate this and can be used as they deduct the mandatory taxes from the gross amount, turn the net amount into cryptocurrency and transfer it to the beneficiary.

    What HRs can do to overcome such issues:

    1. Draft workplace policies that take into account the metaverse workplace.
    2. Include cyber bullying, online harassment, discrimination and other forms of online safety norms in the company policies

    3. Prohibit the use of VPNs by employees

    4. Maintain and update a list of avatars that employees use and ensure that they are not copyrighted and are available for commercial and non-commercial use 

    5. Draft an extensive and clear-cut workplace safety policy

    6. Conduct company-wide training for the usage and code of conduct of the VR workplace

    7. Set salaries and compensation expectations right. Will these be made in cryptocurrencies, if yes, how and if no, why should be mentioned in the employment contracts.

    8. Draft a VR workplace policy, in addition to the regular workplace policy, that should contain all the issues related to VR.

    You have a decade of experience in dealing with employment laws, at a similar pace, how crucial is it for the employees to strike a balance between work-life balance and are there any laws that we should be aware of significantly?

    Since I work for a German company, I can tell you that the laws in the EU are very strict and employee-friendly. As per German laws, I cannot be disturbed during my non-working hours and cannot work overtime, unless mutually consented.

    In India, the concept of work-life balance is unheard of at many companies. Toxic work culture, unnecessary work pressure, office politics and favoritism, and lack of knowledge of the employee’s part of their rights are duties are major challenges.

    I have to admit that these challenges also exist in the EU, but there are regulations that prohibit employers from doing certain actions that result in a toxic workplace environment.

    The laws also exist in India, but the question is always of implementation and the lengthy process of getting justice. Labour courts in India are slow and definitely have a lot of work, but then employers do manage to get out with little to no repercussions. 

    The HRs and the in-house legal team at companies should continuously educate the employees about their rights so that friction is easily mitigated.

    In the EU, employees enjoy protection to a very large extent and the onus is on the employer for many issues, thereby, making it easier for the employee who has been wronged to get justice.

    One must always remember, you are replaceable at the workplace, but not at home.

    Will AI be the future of law?

    Legal tech is to a lawyer what a tractor is to a farmer. A recent report I read mentioned that AI was more accurate at reviewing a contract than a team of very experienced lawyers (96% to 81%). And then there was a very interesting discussion on if AI will replace lawyers.

    Having worked in deep AI for a little less than three years now, I can tell you that legal tech powered by AI will be a boon and not a bane.

    Currently, AI is not 100% accurate and there will always be a need for a human to counter-review as AI has its own limitations. AI will be an aide and not the controller.

    In a few courts in the Netherlands, for a test project, AI was also deployed to aid the judges in delivering judgments, researching case laws, and suggesting legal theories which actually helped the judges a lot. 

    Of course, lawyers in the future will intervene to eliminate AI bias and that I think will be a major game changer, combining the accuracy of AI along with the rationality of humans.

    Can an Advocate be soft-spoken yet established; what do you think about how the legal profession takes this quality?

    Yes, absolutely. It is very wrong for people to think that a loud or aggressive individual will be a good lawyer. To be a good lawyer, one needs to have sound reasoning, analysis, logic, and effective communication skills along with strong professional skills and ethics. 

    Get in touch with Bhagyashree Pancholy-