In this interview, Surbhi Kapoor, Associate Partner at King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys, shares her journey as a first generation lawyer. With an LL.B. from Delhi University and a Company Secretary qualification, she reflects on how her academic choices shaped her legal career. Drawing from experience across litigation, regulatory compliance, high value transactions, cross border matters, and ESG advisory, Surbhi offers practical insights into managing complex deals, stakeholder expectations, and leadership in a fast evolving corporate and finance law landscape.
This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team
How did your LL.B. from Delhi University and Company Secretary qualification shape your path into corporate and finance law?
My professional qualifications have significantly shaped my career in corporate and finance law. Upon entering the legal field as a lawyer, my background as a qualified Company Secretary provided me with a unique understanding of legal requirements, giving me a competitive advantage over my peers. This dual qualification opened doors, allowing me to secure opportunities based on merit rather than connections, which was especially meaningful as a first-generation lawyer.
The impact of these choices may not have been immediately apparent early in my career; however, over the passage of time and years of experience in the legal field, the importance of education served its purpose in shaping my career trajectory. These early decisions have undoubtedly laid a strong foundation for my career.
How have your roles across multiple firms shaped your understanding of corporate, banking, and finance law?
I am truly grateful for the myriad of opportunities that have been bestowed on me, contributing to my role at the law firm I have been associated with, both in the past and at present. These experiences have allowed me to engage with a diverse array of clients and navigate various practice areas, enriching my legal expertise.
My early career as a litigation lawyer proved to be particularly invaluable. It equipped me with a deep understanding of disputes and its resolution, with insights that I now leverage when advising clients during due diligence processes, corporate acquisitions, and general contract reviews. This foundation in litigation has been instrumental in enhancing my ability to foresee potential challenges that clients may face, enabling me to provide more effective and proactive legal advice.
I have had the privilege of exploring multiple facets of law, including civil litigation, IBC matters, employment law, TMT (Technology, Media, and Telecommunications), taxation, compliance and regulatory, alongside my corporate specialisation. This exposure has not only broadened my knowledge but also sharpened my analytical skills, preparing me for a specialized focus on general corporate law and transactions.
In recent years, I have expanded my practice to encompass project and banking finance, along with ESG-related work. By integrating these areas into my corporate practice, I am better positioned to address the evolving concerns of clients in today’s complex regulatory landscape. The intersection of corporate, finance, and ESG practices is increasingly crucial, and I am excited to contribute positively to this dynamic field while supporting sustainable business initiatives. Each of these experiences has collectively shaped my approach to legal practice and strengthened my commitment to delivering comprehensive solutions to clients.
Having worked in the construction sector, particularly with a cement company, what do you see as the key challenges when managing stakeholders in such transactions?
Yes, I represented a cement manufacturing company in its acquisition of a ready-mix concrete (RMC) business, which included the purchase of five plants located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. As the lead counsel, I was involved in a turn-key capacity, overseeing the entire process from structuring and due diligence to drafting the asset purchase and definitive agreements for the complete sale of the business and the individual plants. One of the key challenges was managing various stakeholders, as well as collaborating with diverse counsels and experts who provided their independent solutions. This required strong interpersonal skills to advocate for your legal position while respecting the views of the experts. My primary goal was to represent the client effectively, ensuring that the end result adhered to industry best practices and facilitating timely decision making.
What are the key considerations in handling high value cross border acquisition transactions?
While undertaking high-value transactions, be it a corporate or a project finance transaction, it is critical to be able to manage internal and external pressures. The pressure does not necessarily flow from the client; it can be internal too, when you have to manage a team as well as report to your management on the progress of the transaction.
As a legal professional leading a transaction, you often juggle the responsibilities of managing a team while simultaneously reporting to the management about the transaction’s progress. This dual responsibility can create significant pressure, making it vital to navigate these challenges adeptly. Clear and effective communication is key to alleviating this pressure. Establishing well-defined timelines that accommodate both the internal team and the client is essential.
As lawyers, we are often expected to operate on an urgent timeline—essentially delivering results on a “yesterday” basis. This necessitates a keen awareness of deadlines and the ability to identify when specific deliverables must be submitted and when there might be flexibility for submission with the client’s agreement. Balancing these demands requires not only strong organizational skills but also a proactive approach to anticipate potential bottlenecks or hurdles. Maintaining open lines of communication ensures that all parties stay informed and aligned throughout the process. By fostering a collaborative environment, legal professionals can mitigate stress and enhance team performance, ultimately leading to successful transaction execution. Striking this balance is essential, as it allows for the delivery of quality legal services while managing the competing demands of clients and the internal team.
What challenges arise when advising multinational clients on Indian law, and how do you ensure effective cross border collaboration?
I have always had a great experience advising international clients on Indian law, and my experiences have been rewarding. A fundamental aspect of this process is understanding and respecting cultural differences while fostering a collaborative team environment. However, I believe that one crucial constraint that significantly influences the success of cross-border collaborations is the ability to identify and adhere to established timelines for project deliverables. Meeting these deadlines with high-quality outputs is essential; if timelines are not met or if the work falls short in quality, the entire purpose of our collaborative efforts can be compromised. Therefore, prioritizing both punctuality and excellence is vital to ensuring successful outcomes in our international partnerships.
Looking back at your career, what has been one of the most challenging cases you’ve handled?
I would like to highlight a transaction that was completed in less than six weeks, involving collaboration amongst diverse cultures on a multi-jurisdictional deal. Beyond the challenging timeline, a significant hurdle was ensuring that all team members were aligned and working cohesively towards a common goal. To navigate these challenges, I implemented a strategic preparation approach by breaking the mandate into distinct stages and concentrating on one stage at a time. This method not only facilitated focused progress but also ensured that each stage was executed with a high standard of quality, thereby minimizing the risk of redundant work. Additionally, when a deliverable is achieved through a Request for Proposal (RFP), I made it a point to thoroughly review the RFP to fully understand its implications. The attention to detail helped me lead the transaction effectively while leveraging both my legal expertise and business acumen, ultimately contributing to the success of the deal.
How did your early experience in litigation, insolvency, and regulatory work shape your approach to corporate and transactional law?
I believe that my experience in litigation and providing dispute resolution advisory and services for clients has significantly enhanced my ability to offer effective solutions at a corporate level. The opportunity to make arguments before any Hon’ble Court has provided me with invaluable insights, which have greatly enhanced my capacity to advise clients on a wide range of corporate matters.
With such a demanding career and diverse responsibilities, how do you balance leadership, team mentoring, and personal growth?
I consider it a delicate balancing act. There will undoubtedly be times when this balance is disrupted, and that is simply part of life. The key is to engage in self-reflection and strive for improvement through experience. I adhere to a mantra of ‘Work-Recharge-Reflect-Repeat,’ which has proven effective for me. It’s essential to extend grace to both my team and myself by acknowledging that perfection may not always be achievable and might not be the best solution. This perspective allows me to prioritize progress over perfection while also fostering a healthy work-life balance.
What advice would you give young lawyers aiming to excel in corporate, banking, or finance law and stay ahead competitively?
A lawyer’s journey often begins as a legal intern, aspiring to be a great lawyer. My key advice to young lawyers is to seize every opportunity that comes your way. Each experience, no matter how small it may seem, contributes to your growth and expertise in the field. I feel that when an opportunity arises, embrace it and make it your own. The legal profession is filled with abundant possibilities stay committed to your work, and you will find success.
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