Super Lawyer

Tag: MDU

  • Jyoti Singh, Partner, Phoenix Legal, on experience in Banking and Finance Law

    Jyoti Singh, Partner, Phoenix Legal, on experience in Banking and Finance Law

    Jyoti Singh studied law at Maharshi Dayanand University and graduated in 2000. She worked for a while at Dhir & Dhir Associates as a Principal Associate and is now a Partner at Phoenix Legal.

    In this interview Jyoti talks to us about:

    • The reasons behind her career choices
    • Her experiences and learning curve while working with Mr. Jugal Wadhwa and Dhir & Dhir Associates.
    • Her views on the current legal education system

     

    How would you introduce yourself, given that most of our readers are law aspirants, lawyers-in-the-making & young lawyers?

    I am a lawyer who hails from Sonipat, a small city in Haryana, and currently a partner at a well-reputed firm thanks to my self-confidence, hard work, sincerity, and dedication.

     

    Which incidents, influences or interests prompted you to think of law as a career? If not law, what other options would you have considered for a career?

    My father currently practices in Sonipat and I have always seen him working very hard. He still wakes up at 4:00 a.m. and reads his briefs. His lifestyle used to fascinate me. But frankly, I had science as my subject in my 12th Standard. While I was taking up exams for pursuing a career in medicine, but after a detailed discussion with him about my future plans and career choices he ended by telling me that, “You argue so much, I feel you will make a good lawyer”. I laughed it off. But today I surely am a lawyer, though still trying to be a “good one”.

     

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    How would you describe your academic career while at M.D.U, Rohtak? What made you want to pursue an LL.M after your graduation from the same?

    I was one of those students in M.D.U., who probably never bunked a class but still had my own share of fun at hostel. I used to take part in debates and essay writings etc. I pursued a LL.M because I like studying, and frankly while choosing “Winding up by Courts” as a topic of my dissertation I never imagined that one day I would be ranked as a leading lawyer in Dispute Resolution and Insolvency (Ranked by Chambers and Partners 2015 and 2016).

     

    Did you indulge in any co-curricular activities such as debating or mooting while there?

    I participated in debates and moot parliament etc.

     

    What made you target a litigant’s practice straight out of law school?

    My father was and is my inspiration, he is a litigator so it came to me naturally.

     

    What would you say are the greatest learnings from your time spent with Mr. Jugal Wadhwa?

    In terms of law and procedure, it was an enriched legal experience where his knowledge of the same helped systematically build my foundations of law. While practising in the district courts and the High Court of Delhi, it exposed me to both the procedure and the original side of litigation itself.

     

    How did first-hand exposure to the legal system in all its glory affect or influence you?

    The deeper I went into the profession, the more I was convinced that this is what I want to do all my life.

     

    What prompted the shift to Dhir & Dhir Associates? How did your experience there differ from your earlier experiences?

    With Mr. Jugal Wadhwa, I gained a lot of experience in civil and criminal litigation after which I wanted to shift to a law firm. At Dhir & Dhir, I worked with a team specialising in proceedings at AAIFR and High Courts, and slowly started looking after work at various High Courts. The travel intensive nature of my work there increased my exposure to the same.

     

    Why the special interest in Banking and Finance Litigation with a special focus on proceedings under SICA and Insolvency proceedings?

    Dhir and Dhir has been a leading Firm in that area of law, hence it was only natural to have focused on SICA and insolvency proceedings.

     

    Again, when and why did you decide to join Phoenix Legal in 2010?

    Phoenix started in 2008 with a set of very dynamic professionals. I wanted to join a firm where I could grow with the Firm. I joined Phoenix, Mumbai office, in October 2010 as a Counsel and was made partner in April 2011.

     

    How did your previous experiences help you or influence you through the same?

    It helped be set up and grow through a litigation practice.

     

    Your current profile seems fairly commercial and finance-centric under a larger purview of corporate law, how did you come to chose the same as your area of interest?

    I would say that I started as a general litigator and I still do a fair bit of civil, contractual pre-litigation strategy and litigation/ arbitration. But, corporate, banking, and finance have been my core strength due to my extensive experience in these fields (be it advisory or disputes/ recovery).

     

    What has your experience in dealing with foreign companies been like? How do they differ, if at all, from local clients?

    Foreign companies are more professional in their approach but now the local companies are also reaching there.

     

    What would you describe the work atmosphere as? How does the same play out in terms of work load and cooperation among those working with you?

    Work atmosphere plays a very important role because you spend a majority of your time at the workplace. If your colleagues are helpful and seniors are motivating, then it surely acts as a catalyst in facilitating the growth of any individual and the organisation as well, because I believe that “Happy and successful Employees make a Happy and successful Organisation”.

     

    How taxing would you describe your work as, does it afford time for a life outside the office?

    I love what I do and I can’t see myself doing anything else. I am passionate about my work and hence it’s not taxing at all. I am an early riser, so I get my share of “me” time and remain much contended with that.

     

    Looking back, how different would your experience have been if you were at a national law university?

    Education systems makes a lot of difference. Surely there would have been a lot of value added.

     

    What is your opinion of the current legal education system for law students given the internship and material intensive five or three year programmes? How does the same affect your hiring policy?

    I really like the current education system. I see interns at my firm. Some of them “are very good lawyers in making”. We, in fact, sometimes absorbs interns as associates because we have first hand experience of their ability and attitude. I personally, in my team, have a few such examples of individuals who had interned with me and are/were working as associate.

     

    If you were a law student today, would you do anything differently? If so, what would it be and why?

    Yes, certainly. I would have done internships during my law course because getting exposed to practical side of law while gaining knowledge of the theory acts as a stimulant in becoming a good lawyer.

     

    What would your parting advice be to our readers?

    Work hard! Read Hard! Make books your best friend!

  • Jitender Chawla, General Manager – Legal, Cinepolis, on litigation at District Court and work experience in corporate bodies like Moser Baer, PVR and Indiabulls

    Jitender Chawla, General Manager – Legal, Cinepolis, on litigation at District Court and work experience in corporate bodies like Moser Baer, PVR and Indiabulls

    Jitender Chawla is a graduate from Maharishi Dayanand University (Batch of 2000). Soon after graduation, he started practicing law at District Court, Rohtak for an one year before moving to Indiabulls Securities as an Assistant Manager-Legal. He has also worked as Team Member – Portfolio Administration at Cushman & Wakefield, as a Legal Officer at Moser Baer India Limited and Assistant Legal Manager at PVR Limited. Meanwhile, he managed to pursue an LL.M. from Maharishi Dayanand University and a diploma in IPR from Indian Institute of Law, New Delhi. Currently he works as a General Legal Manager at Cinepolis India Pvt. Ltd.

    In this interview he talks about:

    • Law school experience at MDU
    • Work experience at Cushman & Wakefield, Moser Baer and PVR
    • Induction and work at Cinepolis

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself? Tell us a bit about your childhood and pre-college life as well as educational background.

    I like to be viewed as a person of high values, discipline and integrity. It is always the attitude which is like an in-born quality; the skills are learnt throughout your life. I was an average student and more inclined towards playing football and other games. My father has to visit my school every quarter for assessment of my education on special call from the school principal.

     

    What impressed upon you the idea to study law?

    One of my father’s friends was a lawyer, who often visited our place when I was in 5th standard, and was living a luxurious lifestyle. Initially this was the reason which prompted me to study Law. Later during the school days I visited courts for some purposes, which strengthened my decision to study law as I felt that the law is an important, independent and one pillar of our democracy and its participation is highly appreciated in the society.

     

    You have done your graduation and post-graduation from Maharishi Dayanand University. How would you describe your experience?

    Studying law at MD University has given most cherished moments in my life, we have been mentored by great professors and seniors throughout our law course. Participation in debates on the on-going legal matters/media trials were always encouraged and were of my interest as well. Moreover, we learnt to be straightforward and have empathy towards people.

     

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    Soon after graduation, you started working at Indiabulls Securities as an Assistant Manager-Legal. How did your appointment take place?

    Prior to joining Indiabulls I was practicing law at District Court, Rohtak and was preparing for LLM. During this time one of my brother friend and my school alumni approached me with an offer to join this company. He encouraged me to join the corporate and to appear for the interview next day morning. The decision was tough and I decided to appear for the same and got selected by the then Managing Director to handle the litigation and other matters pertaining to the Company.

     

    What were the biggest hurdles and challenges in the first few months? How did you deal with them?

    Shifting from the practice to the corporate did take sometime to adjust. Earlier I was independent and was representing the clients in the court, however in the corporate there are many processes and reporting structure that you have to follow. For me it was flip side of the coin, now I was a client for other lawyers in the court. I had to do lot of briefing and review/vetting of the filings before the courts representing the company. Constant touch with the appointed lawyers gave me comfort that I am still part of the court procedures and learning new cases. But over a period of time the nature of business of the company defines your professional growth, which gets limited as compared to the vast experience one gets while practicing law as one gets exposure to all kind of matters.

     

    How did your appointment at Cushman & Wakefield take place?

    The opportunity to join C&W came from a family friend who was working as Senior HR Manager with the organization. The opening was to work on real estate portfolios of the clients of C&W. Hunger to learn more made me excited to join the organization. I had good experience on the Contracts management before I left the organisation.

     

    Thereafter you joined Moser Baer and later, switched over to PVR. How did that go?

    Experience of working at the district Court, Indiabulls and C&W gave me the confidence to handle the Real Estate contracts and litigations. I was having better understanding on the coordination required for handling/representing the Company matters. The requisition for Moserbaer had lot of similarity with my previous profile. Afterworking for two years with Moserbaer I joined PVR, which helped me strengthen and improve my skills on contractual matters.

     

    How important do you think that extra-curricular activities are to a law student? Did you take part in any extra-curricular activities during your law school days?

    During my college days, I was associated with “People for Animals”, an NGO. I made many good friends during this association with NGO. The mental peace one gets by working for the welfare of stray animals is very satisfying and further strengthens one’s ability to work with focused mind.

     

    Currently, you are working as General Manager – Legal at Cinepolis India Pvt. Ltd. What prompted you to make this choice and what made this shift possible?

    I was working in the entertainment industry for 3 years before I joined Cinepolis. It was a new entrant in the cinema exhibition industry and was looking for the professionals from the same industry. Then MD of the company called me to have a discussion with him. After the discussion with him I was impressed with their Idea, attitude and growth plan for the company. I was having a big opportunity to handle the legal department of the startup. It was exciting and challenging to join the company. I was 4th employee of the company when I joined 6 years back and today we have more than 1000 employees.

     

    How did your appointment as a General Manager of the Legal Team at Cinepolis India Pvt. Ltd. take place?

    It was a small startup and we were having a very small office. It was more like a family working towards a common cause. There was no formal HR that point of time and my appointment letter was given to me by then MD of the company. We were multitasking and working hours were long as we were working towards the success of the organization

     

    We would love to hear about your work profile. What is your workday like? Are there new challenges every day or did work fall into a predictable pattern?

    Today, I handle the legal department of the company. I support the management to strategies on the matter related to contractual obligations of the company. I have implemented the process to create the contractual obligations and to streamline the liaison process for the company.I oversee all the contracts, legal disputes and give legal training on the processes.

     

    What is the current scenario of studying corporate law as a career option in India? What are the key qualities one should posses for becoming a corporate lawyer?

    I see a lot of growth in the field of Law. As we know about the India growth story and huge investment happening in India, there is lot of potential for a law student in India. The three qualities that I would emphasise on are Integrity, commitment and Straightforwardness to be successful as a lawyer.

     

    What would be your message to law students?

    Keep it Simple.

    Positive attitude, empathy and focused approach. Someone has stated “If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything”.