This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team
Could you please share with us what initially sparked your interest in pursuing a career in law?
I was born and raised in Kolkata, West Bengal. After completing Class 12, I was looking for options other than the traditional courses like B.Com, BBA or pursuing CA. It was then, I chanced upon the integrated 5-year law course and thought of giving it a try. I pursued my graduation B.A. LLB from M.S. Ramaiah College of Law.
In college my interest towards Law grew more, as I was fascinated about Contracts and its various facets which has helped me later in building a career as an Arbitration Lawyer. Till date the nuances of contract fascinate me.
With your diverse experience across various law firms and legal internships, how did those early experiences shape your understanding of the legal profession?
Each internship and each role in my previous law firms taught me a different lesson. As far as my internships are concerned, I was learning the practical aspects of law as practice. Furthermore, during internships, I was more inclined to join in-house or corporate law firms. In my college I was also steer heading the placement committee with my dear batch mates. Being involved in the placement committee, I realised getting through in-house and joining a well known law firm would be difficult. Hence, after finishing college, I went to Delhi, through a friend’s reference I had joined a litigating lawyer practicing before the Supreme Court of India. I still remember my first day at the senior’s office. I was told to go to the Competition Commission of India, where I had the good fortune of observing a high-stake matter between a star cricketer and a sports apparel giant. During my first few weeks as a litigation lawyer, it was tough, as the picture I drew in my mind was of a big office and big pay scale. During this time, I had got an opportunity to join in-house, however, by this time I enjoyed appearing before various Courts and it was then I realised, I want to be a litigating lawyer. During my time as a junior advocate, since I was not local and being a first-generation lawyer, it was difficult to join good chambers/law firms, I used my learning from my placement committee days in college and kept on contacting chambers/law firms, fortunately, I have been able to get through some good chambers in Delhi and worked with a well-known law firm in Delhi. I have learned a lot from my seniors/mentors with whom I have been associated.
During my term as senior associate with a well-known law firm, I was trying to start my own setup. I had consulted a very good friend, who already had her own practice ongoing. She agreed to join me as a partner for opening a law firm. My journey with RG Legal Associates started in 2019 and thereafter we grew in number and we had the good fortune of adding two more partners and then our law firm was rebranded to RG & Kumar LLP. It is always tricky when one starts practicing/runs their own setup, that becomes a different ball game altogether, because, as a professional one becomes answerable to their clients. Especially when stakes are very high in the matter, the entire gamut changes. I have also learned through my seniors. What I am today in the professional field I owe to my mentors under whose mentorship I commenced my professional journey.
Another important aspect I learnt in the formative years of my career is teamwork. It is one of the most crucial yet neglected areas, if properly appreciated teamwork can yield results which have no bounds.
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What motivated you to specialize in areas such as Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Arbitration, and White-Collar Crimes?
I took up all sorts of work that came my way. However, since the start of my career, I have always joined chambers/law firms specialising or have worked in arbitration/commercial litigation. I have been keen in reading materials about Arbitration, I still try to read one judgment on arbitration every day. For my love for the subject, I had completed the Associate level of professional curriculum offered by Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London. I still plan to complete the remaining curriculum.
For matters in White Collar Crimes, I would have to give credit to my friend Ms. Kinnori Ghosh, Partner, RG & Kumar LLP. She is the one who heads this practice area in our firm and I have learned a lot from her. Whatmore attracted me to White Collar Crimes cases is the commercial angle involved in it. Interestingly, my client base has been more of Commercial litigation and white-collar crimes. Also, the complexities of special acts added as a catalyst to me, to read and find out of the box strategies for my client, which has in turn helped my clients.
We see you’ve represented clients across different forums and even internationally. Can you walk us through a particularly challenging case and how you navigated through it?
There is this case, wherein, the Government of India is requesting the extradition of my Client from London and the extradition proceedings were going on before the Westminster’s Court, UK. We as a team were working remotely round the clock for our client during the COVID-19, we had to work both Indian and UK time as well, as we had conference calls with a law firm based in London. We were opposing our Client’s extradition proceedings. Also, we had to appear as an expert witness in the matter to assist the Magistrate Westminster’s Court, UK in understanding Indian laws. That is one case where my team and myself had to work on dual jurisdictions and work on both UK and Indian timings. Coupled with the fact that extradition in itself is a very critical aspect where a number of technical aspects are to be checked and extensively worked upon.
As a certified Associate Arbitrator and a member of the Young Singapore International Arbitration Centre, what drew you to arbitration, and how has it enriched your legal practice?
Arbitration as a subject always excites me and as the law in arbitration is evolving and the steps taken by the various stakeholders to make it more efficient further adds to my interest. Further, being members of these prestigious institutions, the one advantage that one gets is to attend events and interact with the experts. We as a firm always encourage our partners to attend knowledge sharing events organised by the likes of SIAC.
You’ve been involved in matters related to Money Laundering, Customs, and other White-Collar Crimes. What unique challenges do you face in handling such high-stake cases, and how do you overcome them?
In matters of money laundering, customs and other white-collar crimes, the stakes involved are huge, to share one of such incident, we were assisting one of the companies in customs case, wherein, we as an organisation had to get a stay order from the Jaipur Bench of Rajasthan High Court, failure on our part would have resulted in halting of production of our client, in consequence it would have impacted the production of another listed company of which our client is the exclusive supplier for certain product to that listed company. Overnight we had the writ petition drafted and the same was filed and listed the next day. We were shuttling between Delhi and Jaipur for this specific matter. Our team had strategized the situation so well that we were able to get relief for our client without hampering the production and/or business of our client.
Lastly, considering your journey from law school to becoming a partner at RG & Kumar LLP, what advice would you offer to recent law graduates embarking on their legal careers?
Well, first and foremost, take care of your health, this was the first advice that I had received from my seniors that I have worked with. One can deliver the best if one can take care of his/her health.
Never give up, the worst of situations can turn around the best for you. To share one incident, in one of the matters we were briefed by a lawyer from Kolkata, wherein, our client had lost before the MM Court, Sessions Court, Calcutta High Court and thereafter we had filed SLP for stay of arrest for our client before Supreme Court of India, we had no hope in the matter, as concurrent findings were against our client, to our surprise we were able to get a stay on arrest from the Supreme Court of India.
Always be prepared with your brief, a client is more comfortable with a professional who is well versed with the facts of the case, this will help one to retain the client for a long period and most importantly will help one to get the best results for the client.
One should stay updated with the latest developments of law, one aspect I have learnt from my senior is reading one judgment a day. It helps you give a boost to your knowledge and also helps you stay confident in representing your clients or appearing for an interview.
Further, a lawyer should always socialise and should always meet people not only from the legal fraternity but also from people from different industries.
Lastly, you will know what choices you make.
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