This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team
With over a decade of experience spanning litigation, arbitration, and corporate advisory, what inspired your transition from an academic background in economics to a full-fledged legal career? What drew you to the practice of law?
Anyone who chooses to pursue a challenging or demanding field must first ask themselves a fundamental question about their motivation and commitment. For me, the transition from Economics to Law was shaped by a single, thought-provoking evening discussion with my mentor, who questioned me about my future career path while I was in the second year of my undergraduate program. Unlike many of my peers who found Economics dry and difficult subject to grasp, I had a different perspective. Economics not only deepened my understanding of fundamental commercial principles, such as demand and supply, but also sharpened my analytical thinking and ability to evaluate situations rationally. I truly realized that law was my calling when I began to understand how the legal system serves as a tool to help individuals identify and secure their rights, while safeguarding their interests.
You’ve represented clients in high-stakes civil and commercial disputes. Could you share one of the most challenging cases you’ve handled so far, what made it particularly demanding, and how did it shape your approach?
Maintaining the confidentiality of parties is essential to preserve their dignity and integrity. One such instance involved a family dispute where the daughter-in-law claimed rights over the assets of her mother-in-law based on a Memorandum of Family Arrangement executed among the family members. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were residing in the same house, while the son (and husband of the daughter-in-law) was living abroad.
The mother-in-law, who had inherited both movable and immovable assets from her deceased husband, was dependent on the court’s intervention to access and utilize these assets for her daily maintenance. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, court proceedings were delayed, disrupting the entire legal process. Eventually, through the intervention and mutual discussions facilitated by the legal representatives of both parties, a settlement was amicably reached.
The family settlement not only resolved long-standing disputes and differences but also brought much-needed relief to the family members, allowing them to move forward amicably in their respective lives. Personally, this case gave me immense satisfaction, as the elderly mother-in-law finally found peace and solace in her old age, gaining relief from what could have been an unending cycle of family disputes and disagreements.
This experience was one of the most significant family settlements I have been involved in, and it changed my approach to handling family disputes. Since then, I have consistently advised my clients to consider amicable resolution and mutual settlement wherever possible, rather than engaging in prolonged and indefinite litigation.
In your advisory work with startups on legal compliance and employment law, what are some of the common legal pitfalls you’ve observed? How do you tailor your guidance to meet the unique needs of early-stage businesses?
Each startup venturing into the development of its unique business model in today’s competitive market is not only driven by innovation but also holds confidential and proprietary data and information. At inception, the intent is almost always to build the business in an atmosphere of complete confidentiality and discretion. However, due to a lack of awareness regarding legal requirements and compliance frameworks, many startup founders inadvertently overlook key statutory obligations.
When a startup founder or their associate seeks legal advice, I make it a priority to first educate them on the bare minimum legal and compliance requirements necessary to establish their entity in a structured and compliant manner. I then advocate the importance of legal structuring to ensure smooth and sustainable business operations.
In my view, guidance is not a one-time exercise—it is a continuous process. However, the role of a legal advisor extends beyond merely offering guidance. Accessibility and consistent availability are equally critical in enabling early-stage businesses to remain legally compliant and to gradually manoeuvre independently with confidence. A legal advisor must act not just as a consultant, but as a reliable partner throughout the startup’s journey, ensuring that the foundation is strong and the business is equipped to navigate complexities on its own over time.
I firmly believe that it is an advocate’s professional and ethical responsibility to provide clients—whether a startup or an individual—with clear interpretations of the law, as well as a thorough explanation of their roles, responsibilities, rights, and duties. This, to me, goes beyond a moral obligation; it is part of our code of conduct as legal professionals.
Having worked both as an independent practitioner and within a law firm, how would you compare the dynamics, responsibilities, and client expectations in each setting? What motivated your decision to establish a law firm?
In my view, independent practice and firm practice are two sides of the same coin. As an independent legal practitioner, the focus is largely on litigation matters, including Alternative Dispute Resolution. On the other hand, firm practice generally offers a broader scope—you cater to both litigation and non-litigation matters.
That said, if a firm intends to maintain a more focused approach, it can adopt a boutique law firm model, which specializes in a limited set of core areas. This ultimately depends on individual choice and the vision one has for their practice.
At VR Law, we follow the boutique law firm model. We handle a mix of litigation and non-litigation work, such as general commercial litigation and contracts, while consciously narrowing our focus to ensure depth and quality. Our primary intention is to deliver optimum outcomes to our clients.
Now, if I were to compare firm practice with independent practice, I would say it’s not a matter of one being better than the other—they simply operate differently. In firm practice, there is more structured client interaction, compliance, documentation, and continuous updates to clients. It also requires being consistently aware of amendments, circulars, and procedures in order to provide prompt and accurate solutions.
Independent practice, of course, carries responsibilities as well, but compared to firm practice, the quantum of compliance and client management is relatively lighter. In the end, both have their own value depending on what a lawyer seeks in their professional journey.
Your legal practice spans a wide range of sectors from real estate to intellectual property catering to a diverse clientele. How do you keep yourself abreast of changing regulatory frameworks and sector-specific legal developments?
This is actually a tough one, but I believe there is one thing common to all lawyers—whether attorneys, counsels, or legal practitioners—and that is reading. Regardless of the format or medium we adopt in our daily routine, reading is a must. Like most budding and practicing lawyers, I make it a point to read or listen to the latest judgments, legal updates, circulars, or notifications.
There are times when professional or administrative responsibilities take over, and I may not be able to keep up on a daily basis. But I always make sure to go back, revisit, and update myself. Thanks to social media platforms and digital resources, access to legal updates has become much easier.
That said, I firmly believe that nothing can replace the bare act. I make it a habit to go back to the law itself—read the provisions, understand the legislative intent, and refresh my interpretation at regular intervals. What’s interesting is that each time you read a bare act, your understanding of a concept deepens, and your perspective evolves, allowing you to apply it in a more refined and effective manner.
Most importantly, I would like to share an advice given by my senior, Mr. Chaitanya Mehta (Managing Partner, Dhruve Liladhar & Co.) in the early years of my practice i.e.‘Whatever you read in life never goes wasted.’ This advice has always stayed with me and continues to guide my approach to learning and paving my journey as a lawyer.
You’ve contributed to legal education through seminars and guest lectures. What drives your commitment to academic engagement, and what is your idea to bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world legal practice for aspiring lawyers?
As a first-generation lawyer, my curiosity and drive to learn have always pushed me to attend seminars and lectures that broaden my understanding of different areas of law. Over time, I realized that while these forums provide valuable insights, the information is often presented in a complex and highly technical manner. So, when I got the opportunity to conduct sessions myself, I made it a point to simplify the content, weave in real-life professional and personal experiences, and make it relatable for aspiring lawyers.
To bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world practice, I focus on making law relatable and practical. Beyond seminars and guest lectures, I also got opportunities to mentor juniors/budding lawyers. Along with sharing case experiences, I encourage juniors to read and critically evaluate the law, and whenever possible, I give them opportunities to appear and represent clients.
This combination of theory, mentorship, and hands-on exposure not only motivates them but also builds their confidence as aspiring lawyers. For me, academic engagement is not just about transferring knowledge—it’s about empowering young lawyers to connect theory with practice and grow into confident professionals.
Looking back to your early years in the profession, what were some of the initial hurdles you faced as a young lawyer? Now, with a diverse practice in place, what vision do you have for your future and that of your firm?
The challenges faced as a young legal practitioner vary for each individual. When I began my career as an independent lawyer, I quickly realized that building a practice from scratch extended far beyond courtroom appearances. Key initial hurdles included:
- Establishing a Professional Network: Building meaningful relationships with fellow colleagues, including senior counsels and peers, was critical to gaining credibility and support in the legal community.
- Client Accessibility and Trust: Ensuring clients could easily approach me required consistent availability, clear communication, and regular updates on their cases to build trust and confidence.
- Staying Updated with Legal Developments: Keeping abreast of the ever-evolving legal framework, including new provisions, amendments, and modifications, demanded continuous learning and adaptability.
- Balancing Multiple Roles: As an independent practitioner, I had to manage not only legal work but also administrative tasks, client consultations, and providing well-reasoned legal opinions.
When I transitioned from my independent practice to establishing my boutique law firm, the scope of responsibilities expanded significantly. Beyond administrative duties, new challenges emerged such as :
- Team Management: Leading a team of juniors, associates, and interns involved reviewing their work, discussing their perspectives on cases, assigning clients, and fostering a collaborative environment through team-bonding sessions.
- Feedback and Growth: Providing constructive feedback to team members while also seeking their input was essential for creating a supportive and dynamic workplace.
- Self-Evaluation: Continuously assessing my own performance and behavior as a leader and colleague ensured I maintained strong relationships within the team and the broader legal community.
Hurdles in a legal career never truly disappear; they evolve with time. However, these challenges become more manageable with a supportive team and a strong professional network. My vision for the future of my practice and firm is rooted in growth, collaboration, and excellence by Building a Resilient Team, Expanding Client-Centric Services, Contributing to the Legal Community and Personal and Professional Growth.
With the unwavering support of my family, colleagues, and team, combined with divine blessings, I was and am still able to navigate challenges and achieve my vision as a lawyer.
What advice would you offer to students aspiring to enter the legal profession? Are there any resources, reading materials, or experiences you would recommend to help them build a strong foundation?
Although I personally believe that I am still in the process of maneuvering and exploring the dynamics of legal studies and practice, I firmly believe that one must continuously focus on Learning, Reading, and Adapting.
Learning goes beyond textbooks—it is about broadening one’s knowledge through practical exposure, observation, and critical engagement with real-world issues. Reading, on the other hand, does not merely mean going through books, judgments, or case studies; it also means reading between the lines, evaluating facts, analysing circumstances, and interpreting the unstated aspects of a situation. Adapting is equally vital—it requires embracing the ever-evolving dynamics of law and thoughtfully adopting them into one’s practice.
One of the most important lessons I have imbibed and also share with aspiring lawyers is this: always place yourself in the situation first, and then prepare your legal framework. This approach not only safeguards the client’s interest but also enables a lawyer to anticipate potential challenges and assess the possible adverse implications of any act or deed.
Today, we are surrounded by umpteen sources of knowledge—both in print and digital media. Yet, the strongest foundation for any lawyer lies in the habit of reading bare acts thoroughly. This means not just skimming through provisions, but studying them holistically—from the long title, statement of objects and reasons, and definitions, to the substantive provisions, explanations, and even the repealing and saving clauses. At the initial stage, the significance of this practice may not be apparent. However, as one delves deeper into the subject, it becomes evident that every word in a statute carries its own weight, purpose, and interpretation.
With the growing judicial backlog in India, ADR mechanisms are increasingly being viewed as effective alternatives. How do you foresee the evolution of ADR in India, especially in light of recent legislative reforms and institutional developments?
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), particularly arbitration, has fundamentally changed the
approach to dispute resolution in India. Increasingly, parties—especially in small and medium-sized businesses—are making it a practice to include arbitration clauses in their contracts, reducing judicial dependency and facilitating resolution through neutral third parties.
The enactment of the Mediation Act, 2023 has given further impetus to ADR by providing statutory recognition to mediation as a structured process, thereby enabling early resolution of disputes and further reducing the burden on courts but at a preliminary stage. Alongside this, the shift towards institutional Arbitration and Mediation is a development we should accept with open arms. Institutional mechanisms ensure greater consistency, procedural discipline, and credibility, in contrast to ad hoc practices which often lead to delays and inefficiencies.
That said, the evolution of ADR in India will require time and investment in capacity building— whether in terms of institutions, trained professionals, or awareness among litigants. Encouragingly, the interest of the younger generation of lawyers in ADR is growing rapidly. Coupled with legislative reforms and judicial support, these developments are poised to revolutionize India’s dispute resolution framework, making ADR a central pillar of justice delivery in the years ahead.
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