This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team
Law is often regarded as both intellectually stimulating and socially impactful. What inspired you to pursue a legal career, and was there a pivotal moment or personal experience that influenced this decision?
The term, ‘Advocate’, unlike a lawyer or law graduate, always used to amuse me since it’s all about championing causes. While growing up, I was almost always appreciated for my ‘gift of gab’, innovative thinking, problem-solving abilities, and my flair for writing.
Additionally, my role models and famous personalities about whom I liked to read, namely Dr. BR Ambedkar, Chittaranjan Das, Robin Sharma, Abraham Lincoln, Fali Nariman, etc. were all lawyers.
On a lighter note, my love for Hindi movies with exaggerated and over-dramatized courtroom-scenes might have subconsciously sown the seeds of embarking on the path of rendering legal services and making a difference to the infamous “taareekh-pe-taarekh” system.
After completing your master’s degree, you embarked on an academic career. What motivated you to take this path, and what valuable learning experiences did you gain during that time?
My intellectual curiosity got me bitten by the ‘research-bug’, which motivated me to share with aspiring lawyers my learning-takeaways and enthusiasm for new knowledge in this dynamic domain of law.
It is pure delight to witness my students get empowered and blossom into successful legal professionals, Magistrates, etc. and receive heartfelt messages from them on Teachers’ Day and invites to their weddings. No fee can match that feeling of joy.
My brief teaching-stints at CLC (DU), HILSR (Jamia Hamdard), MAIMS (GGSIPU), and NorthCap University gifted me with diverse exposure, pan-India network, and the golden chance to positively impact young and bright minds.
Your background as an Assistant Professor and NET-qualified academic in law is impressive. How did you blend your teaching methods with real-world legal practice, and how did your students benefit from your diverse experience in litigation, consulting, and working with corporate and government organizations?
Creative interpretations of law, interactive case study-discussions, narration of courtroom-anecdotes and real-life client-handling experiences made my sessions interesting, I was told.
Guest interactions and internship opportunities with those in my circle, event-sponsoring through my firm, etc. were additional benefits for the students.
I have been blessed to have had responsive seekers as my mentees, most of whom resonated with my passion for breaking barriers as a first-generation lawyer, being unapologetically self-made, and experimenting with research on law in multidisciplinary shades.
Could you give an overview of the role and contributions of a Resource Person working with various MNCs, organizations, and NGOs?
Mainly, the common thread comprises assisting them with navigation through legal complexities in their daily workings, observance of relevant compliances, urgent legal support, policy-making and risk-management strategies.
With a client base that includes MNCs, MSMEs, and educational institutions, how do you approach legal consulting for large corporations versus smaller businesses? What unique challenges do you face when working with startups compared to established companies, and how do you tackle those?
The focus changes, and approach to legal problems also gets affected thereby.
It is my observation and experience that startups and smaller businesses focus more on short-term productivity and long-term rapid growth, while larger establishments aim at steady and consistent momentum. The former may be achieved through innovative and tailormade solutions that are cost-effective and sector-specific, while the latter require transaction advisory, stable plans for dispute-resolution, calculated policy-modifications to suit changing times or industry trends or amendments in regulations/laws.
Could you share your perspective on the role of mediation in dispute-resolution in India, and how its dynamics have evolved over the years? Additionally, how has technology contributed to simplifying the proceedings?
From our age-old panchayat system to the popular ‘Lok Adaalats’, and from the mandatory pre-litigation mediation under the Commercial Courts Act of 2015 to the recently passed Mediation Act of 2023, this simple-yet-effective out-of-court settlement technique of dispute-resolution has witnessed an evolving landscape in India and is here to stay with a promising future.
I personally feel that it offers an expeditious means to reach amicable and self-binding solutions to legal problems.
With technological progress nowadays, ODR (online dispute-resolution) through SAMA, AGAMI, and other such portals is the pleasant reality to experience the magic of mediation sitting anywhere in India.
As a partner at MKA Legal and the head of LAWGYSTIX Foundation, what is your approach and vision for your legal practice? What has been one of the most challenging cases you have dealt with so far, and how did you manage it?
Bridging gaps between the industry and academia, and awakening students of law to their ‘social engineer’ Advocate self has been my vision for enjoying a ‘rule of law’ based society around us.
A holistic, multi-disciplinary, ethical and humanistic approach has always worked wonders for me and kept me grounded.
Though all matters present unique challenges, I personally cherish the one through which I learnt nuances about powers of the Trial Court hearing Criminal Revision. It wasn’t a cake-walk to get a 1100+ day-limitation condoned in the interest of justice, and to get the charge successfully modified in a murky cross-case involving factual elements of modesty-outrage and attempt to murder. Working on cases related to men’s rights in false complaints under the PoSH law, or intriguing IPR advisory have also been full of learning.
Client probing, issue analysis, brief preparation, witness examination (if the matter is at trial level), applying knowledge of human psychology, engaging in avid research etc. enable us to effectively assist Courts in delivering justice while helping oneself evolve as a practising counsel.
I am deeply indebted towards my mentors in chamber litigation, namely Late Sh. LK Upadhyay, Senior Advocates Gopal Subramaniam, Priya Hingorani, and Anil Sapra who have all nurtured and guided me in their special ways.
You’re not only a successful legal professional but also an image consultant, soft skills educator, and energy healer, among other roles. What strategies have you used to maintain a healthy work-life balance? What advice would you give to others trying to balance career aspirations with personal responsibilities?
Donning multiple hats keeps me on my toes, and the various things I do help me get my ‘battery-recharge’ when needed.
Though the Indian law prescribes certain boundaries for licensed Advocates, I have experienced that all domains of knowledge have the ability to fuse into one another, provided we know how to use the integrated version.
Following the Hindu way of life and being a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism, I surrender to cosmic plans for my own inherent wisdom and infinite potential to unleash when necessary. So, no specific strategies.
On the personal front, my parents are my biggest strength, with my mentors being my compass, friends being my biggest cheerleaders, and marriage being a great teacher.
Live in constant gratitude, and learn from everyone and everything. There might be crooked turns and deep pits on your way, but see dreams, set your goals, have a vision, wake up to your unique mission every morning, maintain a loving heart, work for others’ growth alongside your own, and keep moving ahead.
Once your work becomes your real fuel, your spiritual engine will keep you motivated and wisely guided towards healthy habits and holistic approach towards life.
With your extensive experience across various areas of practice and academia, what advice would you offer to students aspiring to build a career like yours? Additionally, could you recommend some resources to help them stay informed about the latest legal trends?
From the standpoint of honing your skill-sets as a lawyer, be a voracious reader, aim at polishing your legal language, keep pace with latest developments, take the study of jurisprudence and statutory interpretation seriously.
Rest, from a macro perspective, I would only suggest- focus on the soul’s progress, and the rest will smoothly follow. And trust the divine to unravel your life purpose, since whatever happens, happens for the best.
As regards resources, the Universe has no dearth of those. However, as they say that, “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”, be a life-long learner and coachable mentee whose appetite is not restricted to judgments, news, interviews, amendments, debates, conferences, publications, social media content, MOOCs, etc.
Use your superpowers wisely, and the world will be your playground. Always remember that life is precious, and good karma is the eternal, indestructible currency.
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