This interview has been published by Namrata Singh and The SuperLawyer Team
Can you walk us through your decision to study law? What inspired you to pursue a career in the legal field, and how did your time at Campus Law Center, University of Delhi, shape your outlook on the profession? What were some of the initial challenges you faced in launching your career, and how did you overcome them?
Like many others, I too was uncertain about my career path, so I explored various fields. I had a background in science from school and pursued a Commerce degree in college. It was during this time that I discovered law, which sparked a deep interest in me.
My time at the Campus Law Center, University of Delhi, played a pivotal role in shaping my outlook on the legal profession. The dynamic environment, enriched by diverse peers, inspiring mentors, and numerous opportunities, fuelled my enthusiasm. The rigorous academic curriculum, combined with practical experiences, provided me with invaluable insights into the complexities of legal practice.
Challenges that I Initially faced were transitioning from academia to professional practice, adapting to the practical demands of legal work, such as client interactions, case management, and navigating the intricacies of the legal system, which required a steep learning curve. However, I overcame these challenges through perseverance, continuous learning, and seeking guidance from experienced colleagues and mentors.
In your experience, what are the most common misconceptions people have about arbitration, and how would you clarify them?
Some common misconceptions about arbitration include that it is always faster and cheaper than litigation, that the arbitral awards are final and binding and hence cannot be appealed. Actually, arbitration can be more efficient, but not always. Although there are limited grounds for appealing a decision of the arbitrators, they can be set aside.
A common misconception that I often come across doubts the integrity of the arbitrators. I have always sought to reassure the clients that arbitrators are bound by strict ethical standards and the selection processes as provided in law ensures impartiality.
What inspired you to co-found SAMAGRA LAW, and what unique value do you believe your firm brings to clients?
While working at established firms has its merits, there’s a certain spark that comes with building something new. Perhaps that was my inspiration for Samagra Law to co-found a more dynamic and collaborative legal environment. A place where clients aren’t just cases, but partners in achieving their goals.
Our team structure prioritizes a well-rounded approach. Senior partners with extensive experience bring a wealth of knowledge and strategic thinking. This, combined with a team of enthusiastic associates, fosters a blend of expertise and fresh perspectives.
Outside of your professional life, what hobbies or interests do you pursue to maintain a balance? How do they contribute to your work-life balance?
Balancing the demands of my legal career with personal interests can be quite challenging. Beyond my professional commitments, I prioritize reading and cherish quality time with my family, especially as a dedicated father and son to my aging parents and with childhood friends. While these roles occupy a substantial portion of my time, I also make sure to carve out time for reading, swimming and exercise.
As someone who handles technically complex cases, what strategies do you employ to communicate effectively with clients who might not have a legal background?
When dealing with technically complex cases, effective communication with clients who lack a legal background is essential. To ensure that clients understand the complexities of their cases without feeling overwhelmed, I make a conscious effort to use plain language instead of legal jargon. I break down complex legal concepts into clear and simple explanations and use relatable analogies or real-life examples to illustrate key points. Additionally, I actively listen to my clients to understand their concerns and questions, enabling me to tailor my explanations to their specific needs. I encourage clients to ask questions throughout our discussions to create an open dialogue where they feel comfortable seeking clarification on any aspect of their case. Regular updates on the progress of their case are provided in straightforward language to keep clients informed and reassured about the status and next steps. I approach each client interaction with empathy and patience, creating a supportive environment where clients feel empowered and informed. Managing expectations and providing realistic insights about case outcomes and the legal process helps foster trust and reduce anxiety. By implementing these strategies, my goal is to ensure that clients with limited legal knowledge feel informed, supported, and confident in their understanding of their cases and the legal strategies being pursued on their behalf.
How do you envision the role of technology shaping the future of legal proceedings?
Over the next few years, technology is poised to take legal proceedings to a whole different level. In my view, artificial intelligence will be vastly applied in legal research and review, which will really speed up the preparation stage of a case and involve reduced costs associated with case preparation. Virtual hearings—the creation of necessity throughout pandemics—will have become much more common, bringing improved accessibility and efficiency. Video conferencing and data analytics are going to further revolutionize courtrooms and litigation strategies. Blockchain technology could provide frontiers in smart contracts and secure document storage. We do, however, have to be very conscious of the challenges that are to be contended with, such as access to technology by all and efficient security and confidentiality processes in the legal proceedings.
Reflecting on your early days in the legal profession, do you remember the first time you fought a case? Could you share with us some anecdotes or memorable moments that occurred in the courtroom during that experience?
Yes, I do remember the first case that I fought in court. It was a civil suit filed by a vendor against my client, an automobile manufacturing company before the Agra district court.
An interesting anecdote, I used to be very curious every time I went to that court because the tablecloth on the judge’s table, which was white in color but the portion falling on the side where the lawyers used to stand and argue was varying shades of red. I couldn’t help but ask the court master about this and was most amused to hear from him that some of the local lawyers used to wipe their tobacco chewing mouths while making submissions before the court.
My opposite counsel was a veteran lawyer of the district court. He was somehow deeply impressed by my dedication to reach the court early in the morning on each date of hearing from Delhi as well as my research skills – citing relevant judgements before the court. I finally succeeded in getting the suit dismissed for lack of cause of action. I was pleasantly surprised when he congratulated me and wished me success in my career. Later, he recommended me to some of his colleagues for their cases before the NCDRC, which was really a sweet gesture from him.
With your background in aviation law and dispute resolution, how do you see the landscape evolving in the next decade, particularly in India?
In the first place, I hope to see specialized tribunals in India at the national level, such as the HCAA in Europe, to deal with aviation-related disputes, therefore providing a forum possessing the necessary expertise in handling complex aviation cases.
Arbitration is set to play an increasingly prominent role in resolving aviation disputes. It is uniquely suited to the aviation sector because it is fast, confidential, and expert-driven. We may see an increase in institutional rather than ad hoc arbitration to obtain greater consistency in results and to build up a jurisprudence of sorts.
There is also a growing requirement for more global legislation and arbitration within aviation. Environmental considerations can easily be envisioned to feature largely in aviation law in the future. We are going to witness more sustainability- and reducing-emissions-centered rules and disputes in the near future.
What advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to succeed in the legal field, especially in areas like litigation and arbitration?
What I’d like to tell young professionals who want to excel at litigation and arbitration would be:
- Develop a habit of continuous learning. Laws and regulations are constantly evolving, especially where the field is so dynamic.
- Specialize in a niche area within litigation & arbitration, as that will further enhance career prospects by showcasing your expertise and differentiation.
- Establish a professional network. These are the relationships that will sustain you during your career with colleagues, mentors, and even opposing counsel.
- Uphold high standards of integrity and ethics. Your character is your most valuable asset in the legal profession.
In your role representing government regulatory agencies and advising aerospace companies on offset contracts and technology transfer, Please share with us what unique insights have you gained about the intersection of legal frameworks and the rapidly evolving aerospace industry?
In my previous role, the interface with government regulatory agencies and aerospace companies provided me a vantage view of just how complex the intersection of legal frameworks and an evolving aerospace industry really is. This sector is controlled by a multi-faceted regulatory environment involving agencies like DGCA to AERA, coupled with multiple acts and policies. Consolidation is turning into a trend across global supply chains, driven by digitization and environmental factors. Such consolidation is producing new legal challenges and opportunities, especially within M&A activity, where due diligence is an increasingly important function.
Nishant, amidst your diverse legal expertise, is there a particular area of law that you’re especially passionate about or that resonates with you on a personal level? If so, could you share why it holds such significance for you?
I was introduced to arbitration in 2002 or 2003 and since then my passion for the same has only increased. In subsequent years, I was fortunate enough to be part of domestic and international arbitrations, ad hoc & and institutional arbitrations where I represented foreign clients and sometimes the PSUs. I got to work with some of the finest arbitrators and arbitration expert lawyers. Not only that, it also gave me an opportunity to interact with engineers, IT experts, financial analysts and the valuable takeaways helped me in my future cases.
The reason that I like arbitration is that it not only involves months of hard work but also the strategy behind the constitution of the tribunal and the structuring of the claim statement or the statement of defense. Conducting cross examination of the opposition witness has always been an enjoyable experience.
Besides that, it is an extremely dynamic field where law is constantly evolving, be it by the legislature or the courts. There were also instances where we could not find helpful judicial precedents under the Indian law and therefore had to look at English and other jurisdictions. So, to be constantly updated on various aspects of arbitration is an intellectual challenge that constantly drives me to learn and improve.
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