Super Lawyer

Tag: Litigation

  • In Conversation with: Sanjay Vashishtha, Partner at Vashishtha Law Office’s

    In Conversation with: Sanjay Vashishtha, Partner at Vashishtha Law Office’s

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

    Is law something you were inclined to pursue, and why did you decided to pursue it?

    Initially law was not my first preference – it was medicine. Some proclivity caused by watching television shows such as Boston Legal etc gave birth to my legal career when I enrolled at the Faculty of Law Jamia Millia Islamia in a 5 year LLB Programme. Without slightest hesitation, I can now confirm that  I was meant to be a lawyer. In other words, patients got lucky!

    During my first few years of legal studies and mock trial competitions, I felt a sense of proclivity and interest in law as I thoroughly enjoyed the subject/discipline. On one occasion, I won an award at a Bar Council of India event and Mr R Venkatramani invited me to his office for a brief conversation. Sir as kind he is, inspired and encouraged me to join litigation. I never looked back.

    After my LL.M at McGill University, Canada, I was selected to pursue my second masters at University of Oxford – which further powered my quest to pursue litigation – and this time rights centric. The profession has been equally financially rewarding in terms of both needs and wants. Litigation as I know it provides me with opportunities to learn and grow every day, moment. Every court room provides me with a vicarious experience – unlike anything else.

    What is your current role? Could you walk us through how a normal day looks like in your life?  

    I am blessed and equally thrilled to have multiple roles. From representing Govt as a Standing Counsel/Special Counsel to Law Enforcement agencies, I have a private practice where I am represent clients before various court of records across India and primarily at Delhi.

    A normal day for me usually entails visiting at least 2-3 forums, which would ordinarily start (depending on cause list) with High Court then Trial Courts/NCLT etc. or Supreme Court. It is a challenge managing dates as we endeavour to get an effective hearing as much as practicable and possible. Most of cause list management is intuitive and cannot be managed without an efficient (which I am lucky to have).

    This follows with conferences with clients, seniors, law office management and that too with utmost punctuality when possible! At last, we finish our work, leave some for the day to come. Research and case laws – preparation for the matters listed on the following day/week is most important of all and given priority on daily basis.

    What worked well for you doing a MSC in criminology and how in the beginning it created an interest for you?

    For me MSC Criminology and Criminal justice meant a second masters. Then, I had just finished my LLM in Comparative law from McGill University, Canada. It is undeniable that my proclivity in criminal law was polished at Oxford – inasmuch it enabled me to really think critically of the underlying issues concerning administration of criminal justice in India. It helped me get a holistic understanding of both the victim and the accused.

    The society as a tertiary victim. The fact that my entire cohort was representative of people from across the world helped me gain insight into other territorial jurisdictions. Some were judges, lawyers, social activists etc. while others were academics. Therefore, it gave me an opportunity to reflect on the entire process and which comes in very handy on day to day basis.

    As a faculty for Delhi Police and other authorities, where do you see the gap to be filled while maintaining a sort of balance between Police and Courts?

    As a Faculty at Delhi Police and other institutions, the most obvious gap is – translating theory to practice in terms of procedural fairness to due process before Courts. The situation exacerbates owing to excessive pendency and work load on Investigating Officers – who have multifarious roles such as attending courts, investigation, attending emergency calls etc. Despite this, the institutional legitimacy of law enforcement agencies are often put in doubt perhaps because of one or two remote incidents. The narrative (negative ones) often spread like a wild fire thereby putting the entire executive in the dock.

    This needs to be reflected upon and worked upon as an entire society at large. The law enforcement agencies deserve due credit for managing as diverse of a society as ours, day in and day out and most importantly constructive criticism – aimed towards helping them improve. Apart from this, there needs to be a better coordination inter se judiciary and executive.

    I personally feel, the investigating officers should be allowed to join virtually where possible so as to enable them to work on their files/ investigation while waiting for their turn at various Courts and should only show up in person in cases especially called upon by the Courts. We would also benefit from joint training programmes and programmes designed to overcome hierarchical gaps between the law enforcement agencies and that of the trial judiciary – who manages the major bit of fair trail rights of the accused and that of the victims.

    How far do you consider the role of publications in a legal professional’s life?

    The role of publications and academic discourse as a legal professional is one of the most important duties bestowed upon us. This is indispensable for two reasons,

    (1) Our duty to disseminate what we learn on day to day basis

    (2) Enable young counsels / new ones to learn from our vicarious experiences as much as possible. Publications or academic discourse is one of the most important platform for a legal debate and to discuss socio-legal issues. Through publications, we are provided with a platform that enables us in identifying situations of conflict of laws, pre-empt situations surrounding conflict of laws and allow suggestions for improvement.

    Personally speaking, I have regularly published both scholarly work and have a book coming up on criminology. I personally feel that an academic heart is sine qua non for any legal practitioner be it this side or the other side of the bench.

    Being able to accomplish so much in such a short period of time, what challenges did you face?

    Well I don’t know if I have accomplished anything as of now. Accomplishment is a myth in our legal profession. The idea is to continue to thrive to learn in this knowledge based economy as I label it. The beauty of our profession is networking and making new friends so often than not. I am often astonished by unique approaches of our interns and young associates. The legal fraternity is changing for good.

    What message/advice would you like to give to the upcoming generation of law and young people in general?

    The message I would give to the upcoming generation is simple yet straight forward –

    Focus on mental health. Stay away from unhealthy social media. Study in a multidisciplinary manner. Stay updated with global affairs and spend time with your loved ones in a quality way. Learn to separate personal and professional time –

    This will enable you to procrastinate less. Best wishes to them all!

    Get in touch with Sanjay Vashishtha-

  • In Conversation with: Bambi Bhalla, Corporate Lawyer and Emissary Counsel at Cornellia Chambers

    In Conversation with: Bambi Bhalla, Corporate Lawyer and Emissary Counsel at Cornellia Chambers

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

    What was your motivation behind choosing law as a career?

    I decided to take up law as a career after my 10th boards. After interning with a fashion designer and at a couple of NGO’s and speaking to people who were working in various other fields, taking up law was a clear decision for me because I had decided that I wanted to help people by finding solutions to their legal problems. I wanted to contribute to society in a way I thought would be more effective.

    I have always had a passion for writing and I have always had strong opinions and so choosing law as a career was a means to work towards achieving everything I was setting out to do including the person I wanted to become.

    What were the challenges that you faced in the beginning of your career?

    Like every other first generation lawyer, I felt I had been thrown into the deep end of the ocean at the beginning of my career. Although, one learns to read the law and apply oneself in different scenarios in a classroom setup, when you join practice, you are immediately transformed into a professional and are expected to apply your skills and assist your seniors with all aspects of a transaction, whether it is research, contract reviewing and drafting or speaking to clients and managing them.

    The first year of practice can be a daunting experience for most lawyers, however, the initial years will also set the course for what is to come so I believe that hard work, passion, determination and the ability to push oneself and grow through the discomfort are key to ensuring a successful and meaningful career.   

    You started out as an intellectual property lawyer and then moved to corporate law. Can you tell us more about your role as an IP lawyer and how is it different from being a corporate lawyer?

    My role as an IP lawyer involved advising clients across the globe on trademark and copyright-related laws in India. I handled IP portfolios of some of the leading FMCG companies in the world and handled all aspects of trade mark and copyright prosecution. My work involved conducting clearance searches, drafting replies to examination report, strategic development and management of trade mark and copyright portfolios and appearing before the trademarks registry. I switched to corporate law after almost two years in IP.

    As a corporate lawyer I handle all aspects of general corporate advisory, commercial contracting, employment law advisory and contracting and investment transactions. I also regularly advise cloud communication companies on regulatory, policy and compliance’s issues. I believe my unique experience of intellectual property law and corporate law has helped me understand the legal requirements of a company when it comes to its business model in a holistic manner.

    As someone who is passionate about writing on various topics, how important do you think legal writing is and what are the skills that one needs to have in order?

    I have always had a flair for writing essays, poetry and screenplays throughout my school days. As lawyers, we are essentially thinkers and writers. As a young girl, I found that the best way for me to express my feelings was through writing. In law school, I had the opportunity to hone my writing skills and move up to writing articles on various legal topics that were of my interest. Research and writing was a way for me to delve deeper into subjects that interested me and to stay abreast with the latest developments in the legal field.

    I had found the way for me, as a lawyer, to express my thoughts and opinions and this helped me find my confidence professionally.

    According to you, briefly what is the right approach to drafting tech contracts and other critical documents?

    As a lawyer working in the telecommunications and technology space, we have to learn and adapt to changing technologies and bridge the gap between legal and tech to provide solutions to our clients and help them mitigate their business risks.

    From a contract drafting perspective, it is important to firstly understand the clients product and services and to ensure the clients compliance with the legal and regulatory framework surrounding its business model. It is important to have a strong understanding of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and rules including the data protections laws.

    Having a strong grasp on the industry specific regulations is also a must. For example, for clients in the digital communications space, it is crucial to understand the implications of TRAI regulations such as  the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR), 2018 on their business. It is important to incorporate appropriate clauses in the clients customer/user agreements to help mitigate any risks due to non-compliance with the such regulations. Having a good understanding of the clients licensing framework and business model is also necessary when advising in this space.

    With content writing they say your drafting improves a lot, if you agree, would you suggest only writing on legal topics or any other niche as well?

    I feel that one should write only if they are passionate about it. What started out as a personal outlet became a professional skill for me. That being said, being able to express your thoughts in a clear and concise manner is a skill which ultimately helps in professional pursuits in this industry.

    As technology related startups including legal technology are evolving at a rapid pace, how must lawyers and law firms prepare themselves for doing different types of legal work?

    This is an interesting time to be a lawyer and through our work at Cornellia Chambers we hope to disrupt the legal services industry through innovation under the guidance of our founder and mentor Ms. Pritika Kumar. Ever since the pandemic and offices becoming virtual and with the evolution of technology, everything and everyone has moved to the cloud and traditional law firms and systems are being challenged every day.

    Such innovation in the industry will not only help organizations and the community of lawyers to become more efficient but will also help in improving the issue of lack of access to justice in our country through technological means.    

    Any few important tips for young law professionals?

    Always be eager to learn, diligent and passionate about your work and never be afraid to fail.

    Get in touch with Bambi Bhalla-

  • In Conversation with: Mugdha Sharma, Senior Legal Counsel at Optum, UnitedHealth Group |DCPP

    In Conversation with: Mugdha Sharma, Senior Legal Counsel at Optum, UnitedHealth Group |DCPP

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

    ***Disclaimer***

    The opinions and views expressed are that of the author and Optum, United Health Group bears no responsibility whatsoever. The thoughts shared are for general informational purposes and should not be construed as any official advisory.

    Why did you choose law as a career, was it planned or all of a sudden you decided to be a lawyer?

    I was a science student, who was coaching herself to be a doctor honestly, so I didn’t really know if law was something I would want to pursue.

    It was definitely not a planned decision to begin with. It was at the middle of my 12th grade, when my fellow students started discussing about courtroom dramas and how they are being inclined towards pursuing law, I started reading and exploring the opportunities in legal field.

    On a lighter note, it wouldn’t be wrong to even admit that I became attracted to courtroom dramas and the more glamorized view of law.

    I started to then consider more seriously what I wanted the most in my career and think I wanted professional stability and financial security. I was also keen to follow a career path that allows me to leverage my communication skills and offers an avenue for continious learning and keeping myself updated with the latest in a field.

    At the time it felt that the law provides both, so I imagined it would be an ideal career for me.

    Then the more I read about it, I started to understand that being such a fascinating field it would offer nuanced challenges to resolve while demanding a variety of skills and this piqued my interest in the field law.

    What were the challenges that you faced in the beginning of your career?

    Learning about law in classrooms compared to real life application in time bound scenarios was the first challenge that I faced.

    There were many days that I had to go back to refer to my internship days or leverage experience of my batch mates/seniors to draft an appropriate clause or provide the most effective advice. Initial days required a lot more hours being spent making the transition from academics to a law associate all the more challenging.

    Apart from this, settling in a big city like Bombay was also a real challenge. Coming from a small town and then being in law schools’ protected environment, it was only now that I had to “go figure” for everything from renting a house, setting it up, making transport arrangements, at the same time putting the extra work in the first few months of your career. The trouble is, no one teaches you this part!

    Mugdha, do you think that for a first-generation lawyer, the journey becomes a little difficult? Please explain the same wrt to your own experience.

    Stepping into law school was a new world, where people who had families with multiple generations of lawyers talked fluently about topics I was making hard efforts to understand myself and that made me feel I had more catching up to do. I had to assess all opportunities independently with my own lens and learn concepts from scratch that some had been exposed to from childhood.

    Looking back I feel now that the extra effort I had put in also created the appreciation that I hold for the field of law.

    Being able to build an experience in M & A and VC deals, what according to you are the most important skills to have?

    Within my limited experience of M&A and VC deals, I believe one of the most important skill is to see the bigger picture. You need to be able to get your head out of the documents to see that you are working the whole process from scratch to end and therefore must be able to build your opinion on the end goal and the manner in which you’d assist your client to achieve it.

    This requires strong business awareness and equally strong legal and commercial understanding of the transaction.This in no sense should take away from the importance of paying attention to detail as the devil is always in those details!

    Apart from this I believe, building a good relationship with both your client and also opposing counsels, help you navigate the negotiations better and sometimes even builds your own power of persuasion. While this may not be practical all the time, trying never hurts.

    As someone who got a chance to work with big companies, was it a smooth sail for you?

    I don’t think it was all rosy by any means. It did take some time and effort and a lot of of unlearning for ultimately learning some more. I worked towards moving from a law firm mindset and started to imbibe an in-house midset.

    The in-house mindset I speak of is much more closer to business, stakeholder requirements and is also customer driven. In the beginning one of the challenges that I personally faced was balancing expectations as an in-house counsel, keeping the business needs ahead of the legal structures and nuances, yet being within the scope of law.

    I’d say, I am still a work in progress.

    India is witnessing amazing growth because of the startups, according to you Mugdha, what are the roles and responsibilities of a lawyer in dealing with start-ups?

    In my opinion, you need to be more of a generalist in the real sense of the word. As a startup lawyer you must know a bit of everything as you advise startups throughout their lifecycle on a variety of issues, while all along living the risks and uncertainties associated with startups. This begins with setting up of their venture and related legal & regulatory compliance, which then moves to routine advisory for general corporate or commercial transactions undertaken on a regular basis.

    The role of the startup lawyer doesn’t end here as now they will also assist the startups for raising capital from angels and VCs and help the startups sail through legal and business issues arising as it scales and grows its businesses.

    Finally, also taking the full circle and reaching the finishing line is the most toughest, but perhaps also one of the more satisfying tasks of a startup lawyer who has seen the emergence and growth of the startup and is now able to help them sell the business or take the company public in an IPO.

    Creating a work-life balance and focusing on mental health has been a challenge lately in this industry, but you manage it well, please tell our audience how?

    I think I am far from managing it well, but I am now at a place where I constantly aim to strike that balance between work and personal life and try and give time to a lot of my dreams beyond just the law and my professional commitments. I now understand when to pause and enjoy life and when to get back to the rigorous work routine.

    I am comfortable assessing how much work is too much work and to take a step back (including mentally), when needed.

    I enjoy creating content when I get some time while I am travelling or just some happy stuff on Instagram. I unapologetically think that it is okay and so I am active on social media because I enjoy it.

    While I understand, to some social media is trivial or toxic and to an extent it maybe is, but I think it is also a great tool to voice your opinion, teach, learn or for just any form of expression and I believe a part of my ‘work-life balance’ comes from being able to show who I am or where my heads at by simply expressing it. It is a very personal view though and to each their own!

    For this I believe one sincerely has to put in efforts to create this space and the right kind of work place often accelerates that effort.

    Apart from expression on social media platform, I love experimenting with food, both to cook and eat. I travel across continents just to experience the culture and I believe a part of that culture is their food. Once am back, for weeks I try to recreate food that I eat on my escapades and I enjoy reliving my travel stories through this.

    I love to travel as it adds perspective to life and keeps me grounded too knowing that theres a huge World out there with variety of people and culture and we, as an individual, are such a small part of this whole story and there is so much to learn and know.

    They say nowadays a lawyer must have that business acumen, do you believe this as well? If yes, briefly describe our audience about it.

    Yes, definitely. The journey becomes smoother once you are able to amalgamate your legal knowledge with business acumen and are able to communicate effectively and efficiently with your stakeholders.

    A lot of decision making is done by weighing and analyzing differentiated opinions and often conflicting priorities, that may even sometime require you to say “No”. As in-house counsel, one should learn to strike that balance.

    In the rapidly growing and dynamic world, it becomes important to anticipate and understand how various factors such as geopolotical scenarios, changing landscapes of policies and increased focus on risk mitigation will impact both businesses and laws.

    Lastly, few tips for our young law professionals?

    For the young law professionals I have just a few tips from my own experiences and that is ;

    ‘Use this time to understand where you want to be in next 10 and 20 years of your career and start making those career choices early on, if possible’

    These are the days of maximum learning but also maximum hardwork so put in that extra effort and it will take you a long way.

    Having said that, don’t lose the sense of self and try and understand your own boundaries, that can help you create space for self-awareness and mental stability.

    Get in touch with Mugdha Sharma-

  • In Conversation with: Samuel Ngwu, Co-Founder at Privacy Hub Africa, Co-Founder at APLA, Legal Associate at Alliance Law Firm and Member,Policy and Regulation at SIBAN

    In Conversation with: Samuel Ngwu, Co-Founder at Privacy Hub Africa, Co-Founder at APLA, Legal Associate at Alliance Law Firm and Member,Policy and Regulation at SIBAN

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

    Let’s start from the beginning – What prompted you to choose law? Was choosing law came naturally or it felt easy to adapt?

    I was fascinated by the unique oratory prowess of lawyers and prestige and nobility they enjoy in the society.

    What was your Law School journey like? Was Law School where you first tried a hand at writing?

    Nigerian Law School is one of the most difficult law schools in the world. There are lot of materials to cover within a very short period of time. I started writing after my law school

    Kindly brief us about your initial struggles in the beginning of your professional career.

    It was difficult adapting to the practice aspect of the profession. I noticed a big gap in what we were taught and what is obtainable in practice. It was more like unlearning and re-learning. For instance, Faculties of law in Nigeria do not have any tech law related courses on the curricula, including law school. Anyone aspiring a career in Tech Law would either travel oversee or leverage online course platform to learn about it. I started off by taking courses on Coursera, Udemy, Future learn and the likes..

    Tell us about your current role and how do you plan your day?

    I practice as a Barrister and Solicitor. In my firm, I am a member of the litigation as well as commercial law team.  In the transaction team, I advise on Capital Market, Mergers and Acquisitions, Data Protection, Financial Technology/ Blockchain, Intellectual Property and Start-ups Generally. I also do the litigation aspect of these areas. However, I am very intentional about building my career around Technology Law.

    Why do you choose Technology Law over other sectors? What made you interested in that domain?

    There is a paradigm shift towards digital economy. I once read a report that stated that 20% of the world economy is digital whereas the remaining 80% runs on digital platform. What this tells is that tech law is the present and the future and this is what prompted my interest in the area.

    Do you think Technology sector and the opportunities in its legal side will continue to grow in the coming years? If yes, please explain it to us.

    Yes, there is because there is a paradigm shift towards digital economy. I once read a report that stated that 20% of the world economy is digital whereas the remaining 80% runs on digital platform. Thus, many opportunities are expected to be created. Lawyers will have to advice on the Mergers and Acquisitions of Startups, Data protection issues, Digital taxation, Intellectual property, financial technology amongst others.

    According to your experience, what specific observations one has to make while reviewing the commercial agreements and contracts that too according to the GDPR compliance?

    It depends on the nature of the transaction and agreement. If it the transaction involves the procurement of the services of a data processor, then one should look out for clauses contained in Article 28(3) of GDPR that should guide the relationship between data controller and data processor.

    What is “Data Colonisation”, please elaborate for our audience!

    It is the appropriation users or customers data by either organisations, institutions or government bodies.

    Any 6 best tips for our readers that worked well for you in legal?

    • Be intentional about your career
    • Be Open minded or flexible in learning new things
    • Find a mentor
    • Create contents
    • Network
    • Leverage professional platforms like LinkedIn

    Get in touch with Samuel Ngwu-

  • In Conversation with: Adv Jagriti Sanghi, Founder at JSL Advocates, Mediator and Consultant

    In Conversation with: Adv Jagriti Sanghi, Founder at JSL Advocates, Mediator and Consultant

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

    ­Tell us about yourself – Why did you choose law? If not law, what other career options would you have considered?

    Hi, I am Jagriti Sanghi. I am a law graduate of National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi. I am a practising Advocate with 3 years of experience in court/tribunals litigation, dispute resolution and corporate advisory.

    My practice areas include civil, criminal, consumer, family disputes, arbitration, mediation, insolvency and contractual matters. I regularly appear for cases in the courts of Telangana and as well as across India.

    I have a passion in law, be it any subject. If someone asks me about my area of interest in law, I cannot possibly choose one.

    This is because I just love the diversity of subjects from which one gathers immense knowledge. I believe that studying law is an art and it includes various aspects including but not limited to interpreting complex situations, breaking down laws, analyzing judgments, researching precedents, case management and writing simplified Articles/Blogs. 

    If not law, I would have chosen the path of becoming an Army Officer.

    What are the best strategies that work for you while dealing with mediation cases? Tell our audience in detail please

    So, mediation is quite different from the conventional adjudicatory process of courts. In mediation, there is complete party autonomy. The parties decide for themselves the outcome of the settlement/mediation process. Unlike court, mediation is not about winning and losing.

    It is about reaching an amicable and sustainable solution. A court case takes years and years to be decided finally as parties can go for appeals, revision and so on. As a consequence, the parties expend lot of money, time, energy on it. 

    Since I know the peculiarities of litigation and court procedures, I always encourage my clients to go for mediation especially in family disputes.

    The mediator’s duty is to assist the parties in charting out options and showing them the bigger picture after listening to the perspectives of both sides. The parties have to choose the best option for themselves in order to avoid the wasteful battle.  

    In a case, I urged the couple to go for mediation rather than jumping into long drawn contested case. The mediation worked as the couple settled their issues such as lump sum maintenance amount, custody of child, division of property amongst other things and filed for a mutual divorce with their consent terms.

    There are no best strategies as such for mediation to work out. It is primarily about understanding human psychology and brainstorming viable options for the dispute to be settled peacefully between the parties.

    How do you see the unconventional roles in law increasing?

    My 10th Standard teacher suggested me not to choose law because she thought I would waste my talent in doing notary or basic clerical work in courts with no income. However, she didn’t know that a lawyer can don many roles.

    A law graduate can become a Consultant, Paralegal, Human Resource manager, Jounalist, Faculty, Mediator, Contract Specialist, Insolvency Professional, Content Creators, Labour Relations Manager, Arbitrator and I am sure many more.

    There are a variety of alternative career options for lawyers beyond the courts unlike past times.

    Being an NLU student, what are the extra-curricular activities one must take advantage of? And do you believe that the law firms discriminate on the basis of NLU and Non-NLU?

    At University, I used to often participate in moots, research papers, debates, paper presentation and negotiation/mediation competitions as that kept me engaged. These extra-curricular activities enabled me to think critically and opened my mind to new possibilities of research and legal thinking. 

    These activities should be opted by any law student irrespective of their University tag.

    I have interned with many co-interns who were non-NLU students but were equally or in fact more capable and diligent. At least, the law firms I have interned with have not discriminated on the basis of NLU and Non-NLU tag. Their main focus was on the determination and hard work of the candidates.

    How do you define “Thinking Legally”? Please elaborate for our audience.

    Thinking legally is nothing but strategizing for my clients to come up with best and effective solutions within the confines of our legal system. It is also about learning to interpret and apply the law to a specific factual matrix of the case.

    A lawyer has to approach a case from all angles, cull out material facts, avoid emotional entanglement, question everything, accept grey areas, comprehend the objective of laws, precedents and judicial opinions and anticipate the defense.

    This trait comes with practice and experience and obviously cannot be mastered in a day. Thinking legally and differently is an ongoing process for any lawyer.

    What was that one learning experience in your entire career trajectory that you’d credit to have shaped your career?

    I helped a superannuated employee get a favorable order from the High Court of Telangana for his hard earned retirement benefits. It is when I realized that being an Advocate is truly a service to the public. I am devoted to coming up with best solutions for the interest of my clients.

    Do you think that participating in National MUN, National Parliamentary Debate or National Moot Court Competition helps in real litigation or legal field?

    Yes, definitely. Moot court competitions helped me in enhancing my oratory skills. It also instilled in me the confidence of drafting, researching and arguing legal points. The best part about moot court is that one has to prepare from both sides. That allows a law student to think critically on each and every point.

    Because in real life, you can be approached by a client with a very weak side and you are supposed to do represent your client with the best possible arguments.

    These competitions also help us to make friends with students from other Universities. These extracurricular activities enhance drafting, legal knowledge, research, command over the formal language, interpersonal skills, confidence and are always a great learning experience in a law student’s life before actually becoming a professional. 

    Lastly, is there any suggestion or advice that you’d like to give to our readers? 

    Do not ponder so much about your future, Have life goals and strive for it but always remember to enjoy it in the moment. Life is short and has many surprises for us.

    Just make full use of the opportunities at your disposal in the present. This thought will help you to approach things differently. Good luck!

    Get in touch with Jagiriti Sanghi-

  • In Conversation with: Mohamed Elamin Mohamed, Assistant Managing Director at Muslim Council of Elder, Legal Specialist and Researcher

    In Conversation with: Mohamed Elamin Mohamed, Assistant Managing Director at Muslim Council of Elder, Legal Specialist and Researcher

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

    How would you describe your job and yourself to a ten year old?

    I would explain to him that I advise people to be aware of their decisions and actions. People must be aware of the consequences of these decisions and actions. It is an important job because I advise people how to treat each other on the basis of laws and regulations. Without my job, people might take the wrong decisions and/or do things that negatively affect their lives or others’ lives.

    Why does corporate law attract so much attention? What makes it so unique?

    In my opinion, corporate law has gained more attention in recent years because of the nature of human relations. People tend to gather because they need each other. This is the same for businesses, as people organise themselves to enter markets together. People need corporate law to ORGANISE themselves and interact with each other regarding their business.

    Corporate law is challenging because it is complicated and needs clever attorneys to deal with its complexity. This tempts attorneys to enter this field to prove their capabilities.

    In addition to what has been mentioned, corporate law pays well. This might be a reasonable explanation for why corporate law is becoming more popular with legal professionals.

    What makes corporate law unique is the fact that it has a wide range and scope. It begins with the entity from the moment of its creation and even before that in some cases. It covers so many areas, such as investor interests, company management, managing the interests of people associated with the company and compliance with legal formalities.

    As for professionals working in international law cases, they often say that the cases they’ve come across are quite complex; what’s your take on this?

    That’s true. As a legal professional who deals with cross border law cases, in most cases I have to deal with multiple laws, which may indicate differences in the legal interpretation and/or application of such laws. Not to mention the interpretation of the words in the laws themselves.

    The differences in legal terms, culture, procedures in international law cases and the multi-jurisdictions that may apply to just one international case make it challenging for me and for other international legal professionals.

    Managing the expectations of an international client means another level of difficulty. You must always be accessible to your client, but, due to differences in time zones, you may not be able to answer the client immediately.

    What I usually do if this happens and I cannot answer the client immediately, is that I send him a message or a confirmation that I have received his messages or emails and indicate that I will reply to him as soon as possible.

    Other aspects that may contribute to the complexity of international law cases are the need for travel outside your country, translations, shipping and receiving international couriers, discoveries, and the procedures of tribunals/courts.

    In international organisations and international public law, things tend to be easier, because my work with these clients does not normally require litigation. Usually, I have to prepare international agreements between international organisations and other actors in the area of public international law or offer public international law actors my legal opinion.

    Having said that, I want to add that I love to work internationally, despite all the complexities and difficulties associated with international cases, because it really gives you an opportunity to show your skills and capabilities and challenge yourself.

    What can be the challenges working in the field of law?

    Handling the workload, finding a balance between work and your private life, making good connections, showcasing yourself and your work, and keeping up with the latest advancements and technology may also be challenging, but a key to success at the same time.

    What is the difference between legal content and legal writing? How can professionals work on both sides to improve their game?

    Well, this is a very important question. Indeed, legal content is different from legal writing in many ways. One of them is that the audience is different for each, as follows:

    • The audience in legal content: When you write legal content, you have to bear in mind that your audience are often people who know little about the law. You have to explain things clearly, to make sure that they understand what you want to say. You should not use abbreviations or complicated legal terms, nor refer to case law or other external court documents and verdicts that may confuse your audience. Keep it simple.
    • The audience in legal writing: Your audience here are specialised legal professionals. You have to be totally professional, adhering to a specific writing structure, such as IRAC and/or using writing styles such as the ‘Blue Book’. Use legal terms with these audience and of course you have to refer to case law or legislation to prove your point.
    • The goals and objectives are also different in each case. The main goals with legal content are raising awareness, marketing and building up your client base, and/or sharing thoughts regarding legal issue, while the main goals and objectives with legal writing are to address a legal issue in a scientific and professional way, to explain and prove your points regarding legal issues, and/or abiding with the formalities that are required in court.

    Having clarified some important differences between legal content and legal writing, I want to emphasise that it is highly recommended for legal content to be written by an attorney, a legal professional or at least someone who has a legal education or background. The reasons for this are the following:

    • Protecting your brand and reputation: Legal content contains legal information, so imagine if someone who knows nothing about legal content writes something that contains false or outdated legal information!
    • If this happens, your credibility and reputation will be ruined and people will not trust your advice anymore. Beware of this please and do not make such a mistake.
    • Being responsible: It is true that providing legal content to the public doesn’t constitute an attorney-client relationship nor an attorney-client privilege, but you are morally responsible for the content. This content may be used as a reference or it may influence someone’s decisions or actions. Thus, it needs to be written by an attorney, a legal professional or at least they must review it very carefully before its publication.
    • Preparing legal content is not an easy job. Searching through legal documents, laws, legislation and case law is hard work and requires a high level of legal education. Search engines dedicated to the law, such as Westlaw, LexisNexis and others, are vital when it comes to legal searches, and unfortunately it is very difficult for non-legal professionals to use these engines properly.

    So, it is highly recommended, if not a must, that legal content be written by an attorney, legal professional or at least someone with a legal education or background.

    What was your topic of research for your LLM [Master of Laws]? What prompted you to undertake that topic for your research?

    I did my LLM in International Law at the College of Law, Stetson University in the USA. The title of the research paper was ‘Ensuring Respect for International Humanitarian Law: Appointing Legal Advisors to Commanders in the Armed Forces’.

    I decided to research this topic because I believe that legal advisors can play a vital role in times of both peace and war. In my opinion, everyone needs a legal advisor to help him/her take the right decisions and actions; thus, access to legal aid should always be one of our human rights.

    What would your parting message be to all these young budding lawyers?

    It was nice talking to you and I would like to tell you guys that you should believe in yourselves, be proud of being lawyers, and do not forget to give back by pro bono or in any way you can.

    Get in touch with Mohamed Elamin Mohamed-

  • In Conversation with: Nishant Verma, Advocate on Record at Supreme Court of India and Legal Advisor at B2B Hospitality Pvt Ltd

    In Conversation with: Nishant Verma, Advocate on Record at Supreme Court of India and Legal Advisor at B2B Hospitality Pvt Ltd

    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.

    Career of law provides multitudes of opportunities. There is no dearth of opportunities after pursuing law honestly . Advocates don’t retire.  I wanted to leave an imprint on my deceased father’s legacy. This motivated me to choose law as a career path.

    There is still a cloud of uncertainty regarding the importance of internships as there still are a lot of law students out there who do not pay much heed to internships and practical training. How important do you think internships are to succeed in the legal profession?

     Internship and practical training have become an inevitable part of the academic career of law students.  In my humble opinion, procedural law like CRPC, CPC could not be well understood without practical training in chambers of an advocate or litigation firm. Process fee, suit valuation, court fees calculation, deposition of witnesses, trial intricacies  are such important concepts which a law student cannot understand without practical training. Law students should get training like they become ready to take up cases independently just after graduation. 

    Everywhere there is a shortage of Court staff, every court is over burdened.Senior Practitioners  should be invited as guest faculty in law college.

    Every aspiring Criminal law candidate must do an internship with Public Prosecutors available in District Courts who conduct trials daily. Candidates will be able to see how examination of witnesses done in Trial, they will be able to see original police records like charge sheet, FSL Report, depositions of witnesses, Seizure memo, post mortem report. These practical learning can be possible only when candidates are associated. with Public Prosecutors .Candidates will be able to understand where lapses in investigation done by Police and difficulties of Judiciary.

    Congratulations on passing the AOR exam in your first attempt, how was the experience for you writing that exam? What preparation or tips would you suggest to our readers?

    Thank you . I was determined to Crack AoR exams because I had  conviction in my mind that AOR tagg set me apart from other leagues of advocates. Since i came from Bihar to Delhi. I was facing difficulty in getting cases. I could not become a Junior all the time. AoR tagg gives me recognition and a sense of independence. The mantra for my success is consistency.

    I used to study daily for AOR exams. I had taken print out of questions papers of previous years questions papers  and answered all questions that have been frequently asked .  For leading cases, candidates should focus more on understanding the cases. For cracking exams I have some  most important tips:

    (a) Answer all questions completely.

    (b) Handwriting should be legible . For drafting paper don’t make errors in mentioning Order and Rules of Supreme Court Rules/ provisions of laws.

    (c) Answer to the point. If you are able to cite Judgments it will help you fetch good marks.

    Do you believe that law students must be taught the ground reality of Court procedures along with the theoretical part?

    Yes law students must be taught ground realities of court proceedings by Trial Court Advocates. Candidates will be able to understand why there is delay in delivering Justices and huge pendency of  cases. A student of today is a practitioner of tomorrow. If they are  aware of ground realities , it will help them in solving problems of the system or they will be able to make correct decisions pertaining to their career.How do different approaches of adjudicators help in critical thinking? Do you believe that it helps in understanding cross-cultural overlaps in legal systems?

    How do different approaches of adjudicators help in critical thinking? Do you believe that it helps in understanding cross-cultural overlaps in legal systems?

    Different adjudicators may have different approaches in dealing with the same case. It certainly helps in understanding cross cultural overlaps in the legal system. Reading orders and Judgments of adjudicators at different levels at ( Original side and appellate side) certainly develop critical thinking. 

    Do you believe that being related to a family of lawyers helps in this profession? 

    Being related to a family of lawyers certainly helps in kickstarting your career. But after certain years of career , it’s  hard / smart work that will give you name and fame. It’s my experience that when a law student becomes an advocate , nobody easily helps. “Exceptions exist” .

    Every other advocate becomes your competitor. Therefore if somebody has advantage of a lawyer in the family , it will certainly help in many ways.

    You are quite active on Linkedin and we are guessing that you know the algorithms as well, what’s your mantra of posting content there?

    I post knowledge based content on Linkedin. Sometimes the topics and issues are not preplanned. It randomly comes to my mind. While posting , I always think that viewers get some insights from my post. All my posts are natural and originate from honest thinking. Networking is important for Advocates.

    And posting on Linkedin is one of the ways that people will recognize you when you cannot advertise.

    Would you like to discuss how the startup era opens new opportunities in law for upcoming lawyers? 

    Every new start up needs a legal consultant. There are compliances of regulatory authority, approval of authority, required to every start up.  There will always be opportunities for IPR practitioners, cyber law experts, corporate and commercial law practitioners.

    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?

    There are many things in life which a person learnt from committing mistakes and also  after a certain time period. If somebody is getting proper guidance, he/ she may have to struggle less  compared to those who don’t have proper guidance. But I won’t say that if anyone has no guidance he/ she will not succeed. We learn many things from observing others. Good association is important .

    See, your Job and career are your bread and butter. First stay honest to yourself then only you can be honest to others. Everyone should aspire that I have to learn something new every day.

    I used to read the life stories  of Dr BR Ambedkar, Nani Palkiwala ,  Martin Luther King Jr, Mathematician Ramanujam, Nicole Tesla . They leave a great impression on mankind. This helps me to be motivated and passionate to do better in life.

    Get in touch with Nishant Verma-

  • In Conversation with: Syed Aatif, Advocate Supreme Court of India, Panel Counsel at Delhi State Legal Services Authority

    In Conversation with: Syed Aatif, Advocate Supreme Court of India, Panel Counsel at Delhi State Legal Services Authority

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

    Let’s start from the beginning – What prompted you to choose law?

    I still don’t know what triggered me to choose law. Somehow I never even imagined about pursuing a career in any other profession. I always wanted to be a lawyer.

    Was choosing law came naturally or it felt easy to adapt?

    It was certainly not easy to adapt to it, definitely not when you choose to join litigation as a profession. It is the most difficult path to choose as a Law Graduate. At the same time, it’s the most interesting and fascinating one as well. Every day you learn something new irrespective of how many years you have been practicing for.

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

    There are way too many to list them out. However, I believe in just one mantra. The path is very difficult and you will get many reasons to quit. Both work and money won’t come for years. Just hold on and keep moving. A career as an advocate won’t be made overnight.

    How do you manage a balance between appearing before different tribunals? How do you plan all that?

    I have always believed, ever since my days in Law School that Tribunals are the most important part of our judicial system. They are headed by experts in law and believe in imparting speedy justice. The ease with which Tribunals in this country function helps me in managing my work.

    Could you please shed some light on “Personal Laws” so that our audience can understand that better?

    Broadly speaking, Personal Laws govern those aspects of our life that come under the wide umbrella of Freedom of Religion under Article 25 to 28 of the Constitution, for instance, laws relating to marriage, divorce, maintenance, succession, etc.

    These are those aspects of our lives that are governed by the religion one follows. Hindus, Muslims, Christians…all have different rules and a person belonging to any of these sects must adhere to these rules. The Constitution of our country grants protection to them provided they are not against the rules and limitations provided therein.

    Please share some insights on your Book “The Defective Sex Law of India”.

    The Defective Sex Law of India is my first book that was published in 2018. It is a detailed criticism of the criminal laws governing sexual relations in India viz., the law punishing Rape under the IPC,

    the erstwhile Section 377 that criminalized homosexuality, the provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the provisions under the Evidence Act and the CrPC. The Book is available on Amazon.

    According to you, what necessary changes have to be made in women’s laws?

    All the women laws in India find their roots in Article 15(3) of the Constitution that gives Parliament the power to make special laws for women. The provision talks about protective discrimination and protects the interests of women and children. Because of this provision in law we have seen some path-breaking changes in the conditions of women in India society that have been devastating ever since.

    However, today we are witnessing that these laws that are made to protect women are in turn being used as a weapon to harass and extort people. False cases are rising and the judiciary is finding it very difficult to cope with them because of the loopholes in these laws. These loopholes have to be filled and the laws that are meant to protect women cannot be used as a weapon to harass anybody. It is the legislature that has to step in and amend these laws in a way that the true spirit of Article 15(3), Article 14 and the Preamble is protected.

    What is your life mantra to work stress-free?

    Stop bothering yourself about the future and stop lamenting about the past. Live in the present and give your best in what you do. Success or failure is not in your hands.

    Whether you succeed or fail, keep moving. Either way, it’s not the end of the tunnel. The road of your legal career is very long, precisely why a lawyer never retires. Keep moving.

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

    Be patient. Success comes late for a lawyer. Most probably you’ll get the tag of a ‘successful lawyer’ when your hair are grey and your body has started to give up. Till then be ready to face criticism from your seniors to colleagues to judges to court staff and even family and friends. The only person who needs to believe in you is “YOURSELF“

    Get in touch with Syed Atif-

  • 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: Vipender Mann, Co-Founder & Senior Partner at KNM & Partners, Law Offices

    In Conversation with: Vipender Mann, Co-Founder & Senior Partner at KNM & Partners, Law Offices

    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.

    My roots are in the countryside and the farming community. My parents both worked for the government, so my family and I moved to the city of Karnal, Haryana where I attended school and eventually went to college, even though our hometown was only six kilometres away from our village. Due to our proximity to the village, we felt a strong sense of belonging to our heritage.

    When it comes to school and college, I’ve done about as well as average. However, my life experiences are quite varied. While in college, I joined the National Cadet Corps. (NCC). For my flight training, I went to the Karnal Aviation Club in Haryana, India. In Rajasthan, India, I assisted my brother in turning around a failing emery powder production facility.

    By riding around in a truck my brother owned, I got a taste of what it’s like to be a truck driver and learned about the ins and outs of the transportation industry and the difficulties truck drivers face.

    Due to my insatiable curiosity and desire to broaden my skill set, I decided to pursue a career in law school. In the field of law, you can expect to expand your knowledge every day. In 1998, I began practicing law in Delhi, India.

    Do you think being a Non-NLU student creates several obstacles in one’s professional life? If yes, how can one overcome that to build oneself in the industry?

    Whether we like it or not, branding plays a significant role in every aspect of our lives. A non-NLU student may find it more difficult to break into the legal profession, either by being hired by a prestigious firm or given a position in the chamber of a well-known senior advocate.

    However, that is only significant in the very early stages. These days, one can find many excellent job prospects among the many law firms and attorneys. Each law student, in my opinion, should make the most of his or her time in school by participating in as many internships as possible. It’s important that internships offer a wide range of experiences to their participants.

    The district court, the high court, the supreme court, the tribunals, the forensic laboratories, in-house departments, central/state govt. legal departments, pro bono/NGO etc. This variety will increase one’s horizons, education, and self-assurance.

    A lawyer ought to be well-rounded, with broad knowledge and deep expertise in specific areas. Experiences in the real world are the best teacher, and the more you gain from them, the more you can apply to your career. When someone needs legal advice, they automatically put their lawyer on a higher tier.

    Therefore, it is essential that he is well-versed in more than just the law. To put it another way, law students attending schools other than National Law Universities should focus on developing their own personal brands in order to compete with NLU.

    How has your experience been working with mid-sized firms and MNCs? What do you consider matters when it comes to having the right skill set for working with MNCs?

    Since multinationals usually only go to large law firms for complex legal matters, working with them can be challenging. It’s not that smaller or medium-sized businesses can’t handle legal matters; rather, they can point to their decision to hire a large law firm as proof that they did everything possible to secure a favourable outcome for the company in the event of a legal dispute.

    In-house attorneys I’ve worked with have trusted me with their personal lives, but they’re hesitant to refer me high-stakes cases because they don’t want to be held responsible if we lose. In spite of this, a law firm of medium size still has room for making a significant impact.

    Even though they may be outnumbered by larger firms in some practice areas, small and medium-sized law firms can stand out in their own right. As an example, we have been collaborating with a number of multinational corporations on a wide range of projects, from the mundane to the highly complex.

    M & A deals have boomed in these 2-3 years; what would be some of the challenges for legal professionals to deal with such transactions? And how do you cope with the same presently?

    In light of the rapid evolution of technology, it would be foolish to try to create everything in-house. An excellent illustration of the rapidity of change is what happened to Nokia when Android first appeared on the market. Recent years have seen a proliferation of merger and acquisition deals, as companies have realised that acquiring technological resources is the best way to maintain a competitive edge. The number of merger and acquisition deals will continue to rise in the years to come. To keep up with the rapid pace at which technology is advancing, legal professionals face a significant challenge in the current environment.

    You need to close the deal quickly because you can’t afford to miss out on this M&A opportunity. The opportunity cost of these M&A deals is high, so lawyers involved in them need to be well-versed in both the law and the business. 

    An attorney involved in such a deal will need to communicate with multiple parties, including those in upper management and business who have higher expectations than those of the legal team.

    They count on their attorney to provide them with business advice as well. Therefore, it is recommended that legal professionals also keep them updated on the commercial side of their clients’ interests.

    How far do you consider the role of LinkedIn in building a personal brand and great networks wrt the legal industry?

    If you know how to maximize LinkedIn’s potential, I think it’s a great platform for your business. The legal profession imposes many limitations on our ability to promote our services or to contact potential clients.

    In this case, you can use LinkedIn to meet people from all over the world. In addition, sharing your thoughts on any legal issue on LinkedIn is a great way to show off your knowledge and expertise in the field.

    I can’t promise you’ll see immediate results from your time spent on LinkedIn, but if you commit at least a little time each day to expanding your network there, you’ll soon begin to grasp the site’s value.

    Though, don’t be a spammer or ask for things like jobs or work directly. In other words, you have the option to ask for help. People are usually happy to offer assistance or advice, but it’s not a good idea to just blast them with your CV or a generic “Hi How are you?” Instead, you can ask for help or advice, and if you get a positive response, you can possibly move forward with your plan. You need to make sure you have a good profile and don’t treat it lightly. Without a profile at all is preferable to a sloppy one.

    Avoid combining your LinkedIn and other social media profiles. Don’t get too close to the subject or use personal language. You are welcome to share updates about your academic or professional pursuits, but please keep the personal details to yourself.

    What is your life mantra to work stress-free?

    Because of my extensive study of philosophy and spirituality, I am well-equipped to address many of the pressing concerns you may have about your life. The reason we experience stress is because we can never see more than a few steps ahead. For me, the study and practise of philosophy and spirituality facilitates this ability to look beyond when I am afforded a bird’s-eye view of a given situation.

    Thus relieving some of my stress. If we can look ahead and beyond, there will be no need to stress, and that is entirely up to our conditioning.

    I once worked with a client who, at 75 years old, still had a lot of pep in his step. We were tackling an extremely difficult problem that required us to put in long hours. When I inquired as to the source of his boundless vitality, he simply replied, “Stay stupid and drink lots of green tea.”

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

    I’ve also learned the hard way that you can’t give good legal advice to a client if you don’t try to put yourself in their shoes. The complicated legalese found in statutes need not be repeated in your legal advice. It is important that the legal advice you provide is clear, brief, and to the point. Be as specific as possible about what must be done, what must not be done, and what cannot be done. 

    Final thoughts: You are what you think, so think like an owner, act like an owner, and present yourself like an owner, and you will one day be an owner. 

    Get in touch with Vipender Mann-