This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team
With your broad expertise in areas such as Insolvency Law, Competition Law, Administrative Law, and more, could you share the story of how you first embarked on your legal journey? What inspired you to choose law as a profession? Was it a deliberate decision, or did your passion for law evolve gradually over time?
I did not think I would be a lawyer. So I’m a lawyer by chance but I’m glad that I pursued law because now that I think back I am sure it is my calling. I don’t think I could have been so happy doing anything else. As destiny would have it I got admission into ILS Law College, Pune and I can safely say that I spent the better part of my life there. I was fortunate to study under some excellent faculty like Dr. Jaya Sagade, Prof. Nilima Bhadbade and Prof. Smita Sabne to name a few. Their teachings and guidance have been invaluable to me.
You participated in the dual LLM program in Global Business Law at New York University School of Law and National University of Singapore. Could you kindly share your experiences during that time and also ponder upon how the program equipped you to navigate the complexities of international corporate and financial services law? What challenges did you encounter during the application process, and what impact did the Dean’s Award from New York University have on you?
I think I was extremely fortunate to be part of the NYU-NUS Dual Masters’ Program. It was truly one of a kind and we used to joke that we were part of a “limited edition”. Unfortunately, the Dual program has stopped. But it was a brilliant experience. It was very intensive and taxing to do two programs in one year because when one university was on break we would have the classes and exams for the other. But the faculty was top notch. We got to experience the best of both worlds and had a natural kind of insight into comparative law without even having that as an elective. There is often this debate about whether it is worth pursuing an LLM abroad if you want to come back and work in India and especially in Litigation and I would like to say that if you have the resources you should definitely pursue one. Personally I feel it broadened my horizons in ways I could not have imagined. The bonus is I made some lifelong friends. The Application process was very smooth. It was completely online and I don’t recollect any hassle. The Dean’s Award definitely helped me financially to be able to afford the program
In terms of learning, I was extremely fortunate to be able to do my dissertation on International Investment Law under Prof M. Sornarajah. At NUS I interacted and studied under some excellent faculty like Prof. Umakanth Varottil and Prof. Arun Thiruvengadam. For the NYU Program we had some legends like Prof. Jose Alvarez for International Investment Law and Prof Stephen Choi for M&A and Securities. There are so many things that I learned during the program which I am able to use in my practise today especially when it comes to subjects like Competition Law and International Arbitration Law , apart from principles of corporate and financial laws.
In the early stages of your career, you worked with a major corporation. How did you approach the legal intricacies surrounding the Copyright Act and Cable TV regulations during that period? What key takeaways from that experience helped shape the foundation of your career and propelled your professional trajectory?
I was lucky to work with some major corporations so early on in my career. It was a great learning curve for me. I dealt with several issues under the Copyright Act and Cable TV Regulations which were very relevant at the time. More than that, it helps me now immensely while dealing with in – house clients. I understand their issues and try to resolve them to the best of my ability.
After gaining valuable experience working in-house, what prompted your decision to transition to litigation, working alongside Senior Advocates? How did you find the shift between the two environments, and what major differences stood out to you?
I had a great learning experience working in – house but I always felt I was missing out on attending court. So I decided to finish my masters and switch to litigation. At that time the thought was if I don’t like it I can always go back. But I took to litigation like a fish takes to water. I loved coming to court and still do. It is what drives me. I feel like we make a difference to our client’s lives in whatever small way possible and that gives me a sense of purpose and immense satisfaction. The shift was not difficult, both have its pros and cons. But the working culture is very different. While working in – house my deadline was often completing a draft or sending an email. In litigation we are racing against time to secure bail or stop a demolition. So we cannot compare. Both are invaluable learning experiences.
I am immensely grateful to my seniors Mr. T. Srinivasa Murthy and Mr. Senthil Jagadeesan, who have been my Gurus and Mentors in this profession. I have literally learnt everything I know from them and I continue to work and learn from them.
After working with various legal entities, you went on to establish your own practice. What motivated you to take that leap, and what were some of the initial challenges you faced in setting up your own firm and how did you navigate them?
I cleared the Advocate on Record Exam and became an AOR of the Supreme Court and felt that I could start something on my own so my Partner Anandh K and I set up SA Law. It is based on our philosophy of doing good work and helping our clients. When we work in some other organisation we are always bound by their rules. Setting up my own practise gives me the freedom to do what I want both professionally and personally. It also helps me do other activities like teaching or interacting with law students and doing pro bono work without any pressure. In terms of the challenges we faced- we are both first generation lawyers from outside Delhi. We don’t have any Godfathers here. We have struggled and grown brief by brief and survived by word of mouth of our clients who have trusted us.
As a Founding Partner at SA Law and an AOR, you oversee a variety of practice areas, including land acquisition, civil rights, POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment), arbitration, and competition law. Could you share a fascinating case you’ve handled in the field of competition law and how you approached the complexities of such a case, especially for our younger readers looking to understand this area of law?
I think one of the biggest cases I have handled is the cement cartel case. The case is now pending before the Supreme Court. But I was fortunate to work on the case from the CCI stage to the appeals before erstwhile COMPAT and then NCLAT and now Supreme Court. Working on a case through all the stages is a great learning experience. I think one of the fascinating aspects of competition law is how much we rely on foreign judgments and concepts – both the US Anti-Trust Law and EU and also compare it with our own jurisprudence. I think my LLM came in very handy in dealing with this.
Your passion for teaching is evident in your contributions to judging moot courts, delivering guest lectures, and conducting seminars and workshops for law students. What advice would you give to aspiring lawyers who are just beginning their legal careers?
I don’t think I can give much advice- there are far more learned people for that. I would say enjoy your time at law school. Most of them would be doing the 5 year law course. When I look back at my time in Law College – I just remember that I had fun. I participated in all the activities in college both curricular and extra-curricular. It helped me make so many friends. And maybe I would say use that time to read and write a lot. 5 years is a long time. It is ok if you don’t have 10 internships in 5 years or don’t do many moot courts or write research papers. Of course, doing all this helps. But utilise the time doing something. I spent a good amount of time doing Purshottam and Firodiya Karandak in Pune which had a big Marathi Theatre Scene. It helped me learn one more language which is a life skill and comes in handy even today.
Perhaps I would add one thing – it is very easy to be enamoured by the profession when we are in college – especially when we hear Senior Advocates or Judges come to our college and talk and advise youngsters to pursue litigation. There is nothing wrong with that. Perhaps even I would give the same advice. But the initial years are tough. It is sometimes very easy to feel dejected, especially if you fall in the trap of comparison. Social media doesn’t help. Litigation is a marathon with very slow returns and requires a lot of consistent effort. And sometimes, even after a lot of hard work you may not get material returns or recognition. And that is ok. As long as you are able to feel satisfied that you are doing some good work, you should be ok with that. There are many loopholes in the system, all the more for women, but there are many good people as well- whether in terms of seniors, peers or mentors – there is no dearth of good people who will help you both personally and professionally and I think the camaraderie of the Bar is one of the best parts of this profession. Last but definitely not the least – there is no substitute for hard work. You may keep hearing about networking and legacy and luck and it is very easy to get lost in this hubris but there are no shortcuts to success.
As someone dedicated to staying at the cutting edge of legal developments and inspiring your colleagues to do the same, what do you consider to be the key emerging trends in your areas of expertise, such as Intellectual Property and Competition Law, particularly with the rise of Artificial Intelligence and technological advancements? How do you stay informed about these evolving fields, and what direction do you see them taking over the next five to ten years? Additionally, could you suggest any resources for our readers to stay up to date on the latest legal trends?
In terms of the latest trends – I think AI and its impact in different sectors and the legal nuances surrounding that would definitely be something over the next five and ten years. The other emerging trend is the DPDP Act and its enforcement and the complications that arise out of them. In terms of staying updated, I think there are way more resources now than we had, especially online resources. I would say the good old way of reading law reports is also invaluable.
How do you manage to balance your professional growth with your personal interests? What hobbies or activities do you enjoy that help you unwind and relax after a demanding day at work?
I think we always try to balance and if someone says that they have figured it all out then perhaps they are lying. But I try. I recently gave birth to my second child. So I am currently in the depths of everything postpartum, but I would say whatever time I have I like to spend with my children.
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