Starting with the basics, can you share a bit about your journey into law and what inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
I started as a litigating lawyer with Mr. Vivek Chaudhary who was elevated as a HC Judge from Allahabad. Thereafter, I worked with Sr. Adv. Aman Lekhi for some time and went on to become an in-house counsel with CREDAI. Worked with CREDAI for a span of few years and realised that I could call myself a real estate lawyer. I got an offer from MAX subsidiary Antara Senior Living and joined Antara in 2021. I worked with MAX for two years and got an offer from an MNC to lead their real estate team in India. I resigned from Antara only to find out that the company’s culture is bad – hence, instead of finding another job, I ended up making MAYSS Partners with two other colleagues.
As the Founder of MAYSS Partners Law Offices, can you tell us about the ethos or guiding principles that define your law firm and set it apart in the legal landscape?
We wish to make a law firm that understands its Client’s business. Very soon, we will be taking up interns and freshers from Tier 3 colleges and try to give them exposure to good Clients and Courts in New Delhi
You transitioned from the role of Legal Counsel at Antara Senior Living to becoming the Managing Partner at MAYSS Partners. What motivated or inspired this transition, and how has your perspective on the legal profession evolved as a result of taking on a leadership role in your firm?
Honestly, it was never planned, it all accidental – A coffee meeting with my Promoter made me think if I should really work for a company that does not have very good intentions for its employees, I resigned immediately after the meeting and thanked the Promoter for being so honest on day one – Ended up making MAYSS Partners
As a Managing Partner, you lead a team of ten lawyers. What qualities do you look for in team members, and how do you foster a collaborative and productive work environment?
I honestly believe that everyone can learn and anyone can be trained. Therefore, the idea is to help young professionals from Tier 3 cities come to Delhi and Mumbai and learn the art of practice in these cities.
Given your expertise in regulatory compliance, what are some key considerations for businesses dealing with RERA, RBI, SEBI, IBC, and other relevant regulatory frameworks?
The only thing that businesses should bear in mind is that they cannot cheat the investors anymore.
Looking ahead, what are some trends or developments in the legal landscape that you find particularly intriguing or that you believe will shape the future of legal practice?
I think AI will bring in a massive change and it is high time that we start learning to use AI.
With your extensive experience, what are your thoughts on the dynamics of working as legal counsel compared to being a managing partner? How do you navigate the challenges and find fulfilment in these distinct roles?
In employment, you work for business teams who are your clients and the same goes for a law firm. As long as you are committed to solving a problem, it’s all the same.
For aspiring law students, internships are often pivotal in shaping their understanding of the legal profession. In your experience, what kind of internship do you believe is crucial for a law student, and what advice would you give on how students can make the most out of their internship experiences?
I think students must intern with good companies, law firms and lawyers. Students should learn how businesses are run and how do we reach out to the Clients.
Beyond the legal realm, what are some of your personal interests or hobbies that you find relaxing or rejuvenating?
I am trying to run five km every day. I love to cook and hang out with my family.
Considering your extensive experience, what are your thoughts on aspiring legal professionals choosing to intern or work with Tier 1 law firms as opposed to Tier 2 or Tier 3 firms?
How do you believe the choice of the firm tier can impact one’s career trajectory in the legal field? I think all three are important. Learning happens with all sorts of firms in different ways and means.
Can you tell us about your journey into the field of law? How did you decide to pursue a career in this field?
I am a lawyer by default. For me law was an unlikely choice. As a child I was fascinated with planes and so dreamt of pursuing a career in flying but later, since I didn’t have best of the eyesight which is quintessential for being a pilot (particularly Airforce pilot), I harbored interest in doing MBA and eventually taking up c-suite job with an MNC. Gladly, the universe had other plans for me.
Soon after I graduated from Campus Law Centre in 2004, I briefly worked on the original side before trial courts and the High Court of Delhi. In 2006 I went to King’s College London for LLM. During my LLM I secured an opportunity to intern with the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, London, which is one of the leading independent research centers for international and comparative law in the world. It was only during my studies in the UK that I developed interest in law.
After coming back from London in September 2007, I worked briefly with Singhania & Partners. Thereafter, the same year I joined Fox Mandal Little. Here I was part of the disputes team doing general litigation and arbitration matters and worked till 2010.
In June 2010, I joined J. Sagar & Associates (JSA) in New Delhi, where I worked for almost 7 years. At JSA I was part of the regulatory & policy team and for the first time got introduced to the diverse infrastructure sectors such as energy, telecom, cable & broadcasting, aviation etc.
I left JSA in December 2016 to head the legal & regulatory function for Media.Net Advertising FZ-LLC (a multibillion-dollar Ad Tech co.). It was a one-year stint as Vice President (Legal & Regulatory), based out of the company’s headquarter in Dubai, UAE, and my role involved advising the management on US, China and EU laws & regulations around the company’s business and technology and coordinating and supervising litigation matters of the company across different jurisdictions.
I returned to India in January 2018 to start my own firm along with my partner, who is also ex-JSA, under the name ‘RegLaw Chambers’. The firm specializes in regulatory, policy and legal matters across telecom, media & technology (TMT), cable & broadcasting, space, energy, oil & gas, aviation, environment, ports, real estate, highways and other infrastructure areas. In 2022, I was called to the Bar as Barrister in England & Wales at Gray’s Inn, London.
What have been your key take aways from your journey as a first-generation lawyer?
Legal profession is extremely demanding and to sustain a career in law you need to be resolute. Nothing can supplant hard work, commitment, and knowledge. Everything that is required for having a successful legal career only gets amplified for a first-generation lawyer, including the challenges. Therefore, as a first-generation lawyer one needs to have unflinching determination. In my survey the two necessary attributes that one needs as a lawyer are knowledge and articulation, both of which can be acquired with persistent hard work.
Could you share some insights into the nature of your work and the sectors you focus on?
My area of practice is regulatory, disputes and general corporate commercial laws within the regulated sector of the economy, such as telecommunication, cable & broadcasting, technology, space, energy, oil & gas, aviation etc. I advise on certain highly niche areas, such as outer space, undersea cabling, IoT/M2M, privacy & data protection, investments etc. My practice is a good mix of disputes and advisory. I regularly appear before diverse regulatory fora and courts for my clients. While regulatory happens to be the core area of my work, I do take up matters on the civil and criminal side as well.
Since you have also worked in-house internationally, could you tell us about some of the challenges working across different jurisdictions presents?
The fundamental challenges that multi-jurisdictional work entails are different time zones, different laws/regulations and different systems. Certainly cross border issues are generally very complex. When you are coordinating or conducting work across different jurisdictions, the foremost task is to map all applicable laws and survey precedents. Concurrently, you engage with lawyers from different jurisdiction(s) to help gauge the situation and ascertain possible outcomes and recourses available to achieve the desired outcome. All of this requires immense work since you are often working in unfamiliar jurisdictions.
In 2018, you started your own regulatory disputes practice under the name ‘RegLaw Chambers.’ What motivated you to establish your own firm?
While working in the law firm I and my partner (who is also a co-founder with me in RegLaw Chambers) occasionally had chats about someday going independent. But we could not then traverse through the comfort and security of working in a big law firm. In 2016 we parted ways briefly when I left the law firm to pursue an international career. This period of staying away from India was a moment of reckoning for me. During my time abroad I worked closely with founders of billion dollar start ups and was part of the process of setting up start-ups in different countries. I suppose it was then that I gathered confidence to do something on my own and uncovered the real worth of my domain expertise.
How has this multi-jurisdictional experience influenced your approach to legal practice?
Today businesses have become more international than ever, and multijurisdictional experience undoubtedly adds to your credibility. The wide expanse of my work over the years right from litigation, negotiating deals, closing investments, and handling regulatory investigations across jurisdictions could not have been possible without my multi-jurisdictional experience.
The exposure to other jurisdictions surely has had an indelible impact not just personally but also professionally. It has been a point of inflection where today I am not risk averse and more versatile than ever. This aside, the confidence that I acquired in handling complex matters is supreme.
Could you share any memorable experiences or lessons you have learned during your journey as a lawyer that have had a lasting impact on your professional and personal life?
If I was to telescope my several years of experiences and lessons as a lawyer,
I would say this – If you create value in you, it’s only a matter of time before the world finds you worthy of notice.
I am an ardent believer that what you make of your life is your responsibility. Do not expect people to come and help you. Also do not permit anyone to come and define you for you. Be confident and persevere through all situations.
As a final question, considering your extensive experience in the legal field, what advice would you give to fresh graduates who are just starting their careers in law? What skills or qualities do you think are crucial for success in the legal profession? My advice to young lawyers would be to constantly invest in yourself to make yourself valuable. By investing, I infer acquiring knowledge and skills needed for practice of law. Never go unprepared to court or for a meeting. Constant improvement and striving to know more than your audience must be the perennial theme. And always work with 3 Cs viz. conviction, confidence, and congruence.
What inspired you to choose law as a career? How has been the decision so far?
A career in law was an informed decision as it has always been fascinating to me. Although a career in law is demanding and intellectually challenging, it also provides personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. My decision of choosing Law as a career has been great as it allows me to explore the diversities and to further hone my skills.
What were the challenges that you faced in the beginning of your career?
As I am a first-generation lawyer, I had no Godfather who could guide me. However, I did not take it as a drawback and with consistent efforts and dedication, I worked towards achieving my goals and overcame the impediments. Today, I represent several corporate clients, Start-ups, MSMEs, and individuals. I believe with sincere efforts and dedication one can successfully achieve the goals of their life.
Megha, what do you think are the most important qualities of an effective IP lawyer?
Intellectual Property is nothing but creation of minds. A set of intangible assets come under the umbrella of Intellectual Property. I believe, to be an effective IP lawyer, one should have traits such as attentiveness, strong analytical thinking, research skills, time management, effective communication skills etc. to understand the creation of their client. Any advice which is erroneous while protecting the IP, may prove to be fatal to the business(es).
Among all the various specialisations and cases you have dealt with, which one do you find the most interesting and challenging?
I am an IP lawyer and had once represented a client which happened to be a corporate, in front of the Tribunal. I had to defend a trademark which was highly descriptive. I strategized the case, made pointers and submissions in support of the mark and had successfully secured registration for the same.
By effectively strategizing a case and listing the valid key points, one can achieve positive results.
Megha, do you think that for a first-generation lawyer, the journey becomes a little difficult? Please explain the same wrt to your own experience.
I won’t say that for a first-generation lawyer, the journey becomes a little difficult. That being said, I believe having a mentor always gives you an edge over others. A first-generation lawyer must never let themselves feel gloomy and should remain focused and consistently work towards achieving their objectives. One should never shy away from taking advice or opinion from their seniors or fellow lawyers.
What can be some of the toughest considerations while someone from a non-legal background has to see before opting law as a career?
Earlier, a career in law was considered as a traditional concept. But with the changing times, a plethora of career options like journalism, career in banking and insurance sector, legal academia, consultants etc. have emerged and increased and are gaining attention of the law aspirants. One must take into consideration several factors before opting law as a career, like the aim in choosing the field (of law); being prepared for hardship during the initial phase of their career, specially for those who choose a career in litigation; having strong drafting and analytical skills and so on.
Megha, was there any roadmap that helped you thus far in your journey, or any mentor that supported you from the very beginning, please share how was it for you?
I have always aimed at continued development of my skills with a strong focus on my work so as to achieve my goals. I had designed a roadmap clearly specifying my goals and was adamant to be where I wanted to be. I have also been fortunate to have knowledgeable seniors and fellow lawyers who have mentored me.
Megha, what is a typical day like for you and how do you suggest time management strategies for our young law generation?
I start my day by prioritizing my tasks so as to eliminate the risk of missing any important task or a deadline. I suggest our young lawyers to make a list of their daily tasks according to the priority. One should complete the high efforts task first before moving to a new task. Prioritizing and focusing on one task at a time also helps in managing the time in the most effective manner.
Could you highlight some of your success habits that enable you to meet your goal?
I practice a habit of reading a lot, be it a book, an article, a judgement or any other related stuff. It helps me in keeping myself updated with the latest trends and further helps in honing my analytical skills, knowledge and creativity. Other than that, I always make efforts in connecting with others to exchange thoughts. I think networking is an important aspect which helps you grow.
Lastly, what advice would you give to someone starting out?
Before planning a career in law, one should be self-aware and must reconnoiter all the areas of law. The foundation of a successful career in law lies in the clarity of subject matter.
Was pursuing law planned for you or it all happened in a flow? Kindly share with our readers.
Well to start with, I am a first-generation lawyer, and to be very honest law was never a career option for me until the 10th Grade, I had planned to either join my father’s business or start something of my own. However, it all changed in the year 2012, when my father was involved in a car accident, in which one bike hit his car and the pillion rider died on the spot.
After this, it was the first time that I ever visited the Local District Court of my city. During court visits, I was highly influenced by the impact the lawyers could have over their clients. Soon after, I developed interest in Criminal Law and the same grew over me and made my belief indeed stronger. So today, I can proudly say that being in the legal fraternity was a well thought decision and didn’t happen by chance.
What do you think, which specific advice has helped you come thus far in law? What is that one motivation that keeps you going in life?
The advice that has helped me come this far is that if you roll up your sleeves and decide to do something, nothing in this world is impossible. Everything is doable, you just need to have the courage.
Frankly speaking, I never participated in any public speaking event in high school and had stage fear. Now came the time in Law School, when I realized the importance of Moot Courts but the continuous insecurity of never being a good public speaker or having no prior experience kept acting as a barrier.
It was only in the third year when I got the opportunity to participate in the Intra Mock Trial, where although in my opinion, my public speaking was not up to the mark, however, this opportunity gave me a sense of understanding that it was these mental barriers which were stopping me to do something. Since then, I have worked upon my oratory skills, and have never said no to such an event, which has helped me tremendously in becoming a better orator and Advocate.
Speaking about Motivation, after winning the National Mock Trial Competition in 2017, me and Prateek Lakra made a goal to start our own law firm after completing 3 years at the Bar. In 2021, we started Clergy & Wisemen, and since then there has been no looking back, and taking our Law Firm to the level of top law firms in India is the motivation that keeps me going.
Could you brief a case you were led on that substantially broadened your knowledge of the legal field?
From what I have learned while practicing law is that law is nothing but common sense, one should just have the vision to see the answers. It is an art that is learned through experience and wisdom. During the initial years of practice, the most crucial part is to understand the implementation of what we study in the Law School.
It was in 2019, when a Fraud had been committed by a person, which was worth crores. In the same case, my client was duped for a handsome amount. Initially, we filed a Suit for Specific Performance against one of the properties of the Accused before the Delhi High Court, however, it came to our knowledge that the Accused had created multiple third-party rights over the property, therefore, we also had to move before DRT, since the bank had started proceedings against the accused. Also, there were claims from various entities, due to which there were multiple suits and cross impleadments.
Parallelly, proceedings under the 156(3) Cr.P.C. were also instituted against the accused, wherein we got favourable order and an F.I.R. was also registered with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Delhi Police.
These proceedings helped me understood various remedies that a person has under both the Civil & Criminal Laws in India and how the Courts and Tribunals function.
Among all the specialisation, i.e., Administration law, RERA, Taxation, Corporate law and Arbitration, which area of law is the most interesting to you and why?
I would say that Corporate Law, since Corporate Law can itself be classified into various other sub-specializations, and due to the recent increase of Startups in India, Corporate Law has opened up various opportunities for Young Lawyers.
Now, with Startups the issue that usually comes up is that they cannot afford Big Law Firms, and it is where young lawyers can step in.
Further, in Corporate Law, a Lawyer has to get into the shoes of the Founders so as to protect their interests while making agreements such as the Shareholders and Founders Agreement, so that in case the Company goes for funding or dilutes its equity, the founders don’t lose the control over their own company. Moreover, issues like dispute resolution between founders also has to be carefully drafted. With contracts, it is necessary that the Liabilities are limited, indemnification clauses are watertight, and in the case of Intellectual Property, the rights are carefully defined. I can go on with such examples, such is the nature of Corporate Law.
What would you do if you had taken on a case that went against your values? Any prior experience you could relate with?
I take cases as per my conscience; however, I am a firm believer in the fact that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
Yes, there have been certain cases where I had to self-introspect whether I was doing the right thing, however, I tend to keep my personal opinions and professional life apart. As the great Mr. Ram Jethmalanai once said: “A lawyer who refuses to defend a person on the grounds that people believe him to be guilty is himself guilty of professional misconduct.”
How do you maintain the work-life balance Avi?
As a Lawyer, I feel that law is that field where once you are at the initial stage you need to spend more hours, drafting, researching, and navigating through documents, but as you practice more and more it gets easier to locate the crux of the case and you exactly know where to hit the nail, so spend in your initial years, it will reap well. Also, law is just like investing, the more you invest in your legal skills right now, the more returns in the later years.
Personally, for me, what has helped me maintain my sanity with this schedule is waking up early in the day, and having some time to myself before the whole show at the law firm begins. I believe that one must do something that is good for his/her soul once a week. It’s okay to take a break, but you should know when the break ends. The work should not suffer, make yourself that efficient.
What strategies do you use to ensure that your clients receive the best possible?
There is no secret sauce to ensure the best possible results. Each case has to be seen in its own strategic manner.
In my previous experience be it working at chambers of a lawyer or law firms, one thing I saw was that although the Clients were getting reliefs in their cases, however, they were not satisfied by the management. For example, the client would not know what is going around in the case, sometimes they won’t know what is next date, no regular updates, so on and so forth.
After starting Clergy & Wisemen, we not only ensured that our clients get the best legal services but also focused on the management of the Law Firm, be it the regular updates of their cases, addressing their doubts, having dynamic meeting slots, taking regular follow ups about our services, etc.
Now with Corporate Clients, we have come out with certain services such as Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), Legal Manager, which have substantially increased the effectiveness and efficiency of the services provided by us. Recently, we have tied up with certain AI companies, which help us in the drafting of contracts, although each contract is reviewed by either an Associate or Partner at the Law firm, but it has helped us in reducing the TAT and Cost.
What challenges have you faced as in bank matters with DRT, DRAT, NCLT & NCLAT?
DRT and NCLT, alongwith their appellate tribunals, were made so that the burden over the courts is reduced and the cases can be fast tracked. Although, the burden over the courts have been substantially decreased, but I would not agree with the fact that the matters have been fast tracked.
Since, due to a smaller number of benches, the matters usually take a substantial time to be adjudicated, wherein the sitting benches are not able even finish half of the cause list, and requests such as to list the matter at the top of cause list have to be mentioned.
Moreover, these tribunals are not on par with the High Courts, be it the adjudication process, or the working of the registry.
Therefore, I believe that the number of Benches in the Tribunals should be increased and only in the rare cases the timeline mentioned under the Code shall be extended.
Lastly Avi, any advice for our young legal professionals?
My advise to the young legal professionals would be that they should always be updated with what is going around in the Legal Sector, this would not only help them in increasing their knowledge, but also to strike out a conversation at a relevant place and time, and trust me this helps significantly.
The other would be that they should understand that whatever service you are giving should be a valuable addition to the client and it must solve their problem, taking care of these would definitely help a professional building up his name, since the person would not only happily pay his/her fees to you, but also would recommend you to others.
Lastly, in case someone is planning to start his own practise, then rather than just possessing the legal skills, one must also have the skills of a sales person, it might sound a little different, but Law is a Business until you get a client, one might be a very good lawyer and possess good skills, but till the time he has got no client, those skills would be worth nothing. Therefore, it is advisable that you must know to sell whatever skills and knowledge you possess.
