Prominent legal consultants in India August 2020

2020 | Vol.-08 | Issue-01

LAW FIRM OF THE MONTH O.P. Khaitan & Co

PROMINENT LEGAL CONSULTANTS IN INDIA

Dr Mohan Dewan Principal

GAUTAM KHAITAN Managing Partner

Editor’s Note SPEEDING UP THE JUDICIAL PROCESS

I

f justice delayed is indeed justice denied, let’s talk about the story that figures tell us. As of st July 1 2020, the Supreme Court of India has over 60 thousand pending cases. In another report, it was found that there were over 3.7 million cases before high courts, district and taluka courts across India, pending for over a decade.

This was shared by the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), which monitors the performance of courts nationally in June 2020.

The reasons behind this piling-up of cases have been discussed time and again. But focusing only on the problem seems to just aggravate the situation and not deal with it. So what do we have on the solution front? Fast track courts, e-courts and Alternate Dispute Resolution. Of these, Alternate/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has often proved to be a helpful mechanism,

resolving conflict in a peaceful, cost-effective and less time-consuming manner and where the outcome is mutually agreed on by the affected parties.

The Alternate/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism can be utilized to resolve disputes related to matters of civil, commercial, family etc. In this, a dispute is resolved outside the court using a neutral third party so that the dispute can be discussed and resolved. There are four forms/techniques or modes of settlement in ADR namely, Arbitration, Negotiation, Mediation and Conciliation.

In Arbitration and Conciliation(a form of arbitration, but less formal), the disputing parties refer their dispute to one or more people known as arbitrator(s). The decision of arbitrator(s), called an ‘award’, is bound on parties and offers fair settlement of dispute outside of court. This cuts down unnecessary delays and expenses.

In Negotiation and Mediation(or facilitated Negotiation) a neutral and reliable third party facilitates settlement between the disputing parties. Unlike arbitration, the mediators do not make a decision or impose their view of the dispute. They just facilitate the process by using

Sneha Sinha

their communication, negotiation and social skills to help see the parties see and reach a viable solution.

a leading lawyer and dealmaker who is also a frequent author and speaker on M&A and corporate laws.

The practice of ADR has been prevalent in India since the panchayats. In villages, gram panchayats and Lok Adalats are sought after and respected for their decision making and quick efforts.

Lawyers across the country often step into the roles of arbitrators and mediators to help bring speedy justice to matters that need urgent attention.

We also bring Insightful Interviews with Mr. Anshul Sharma, Founder of Law Street, an online legal platform built with a motive to help people who can’t afford high fees charged by our current legal system; Rakesh Umarani, Founding Partner, UKP Legal, a consistent, patient and professional firm giving each new case the attention it deserves; and Zia Mody, Co-founder and Managing Partner, AZB& Partners, a firm providing reliable, practical, and full-service advice.

Lawyers play a huge role both inside and outside the courts to uphold the legal structure of our country. In this issue of Insights Success, we bring you the “Prominent Legal Consultants in India” who help the citizens resolve legal issues on-time, effectively and efficiently.

On the Cover, we present Dr Mohan Dewan, Advocate, Patent & Trademark Attorney, Principal, R. K. Dewan & Co., a leading powerhouse, providing dedicated and superlative services in the field of Intellectual Property Rights for over 78 years.

Our Law Firm of the Month is O.P. Khaitan & Co., led by its Managing Partner Mr. Gautam Khaitan,

We would also like to uphold the services provided by Banthia & Co Advocates, Hariani & Co, Srivastava & Associates, Phoenix Legal, and White Forest Law Offices.

We hope this curated list of Legal Consultants brings the utmost level of valuable insights into the industry, and we also hope these inspirational stories provide you the drive to endeavour towards excellence.

Cover Story

Law Firm of the Month

20 O. P. Khaitan & Co Delivering Practical Legal Solutions for the Modern Dynamic Business

CXO

30 Expert’s Viewpoint

08 R. K. Dewan & Co. Delivering Exemplary Legal Services Globally

Biometric Face Reader Attendance With Thermal Temperature Screening

C O N T E N T S Interview with Insights Success

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Law Street A Go-to firm for all Your Legal Needs

UKP Legal:

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‘Crusaders in black capes’ The go-getter team striving for Client Satisfaction at Every Step

Zia Mody An Iconic Woman Winning her Way through Law & Life

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Articles 32

The New Normal Understanding the Dynamics of Team Barriers in a Global Team

40

Evolving with time Bringing the Right Organizational Change

Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal Managing Editor Sneha Sinha

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R. K.

Dr Mohan Dewan Principal

COVER STORY

PROMINENT LEGAL CONSULTANTS IN INDIA

. Dewan & Co.

Delivering Exemplary Legal Services Globally

The IP Laws in India are sound, but successful results require an India-centric plan and a knowledgeable counsel who knows how to create and execute a winning strategy.

T

he IP Laws in India are sound, but successful results require an India-centric plan and a knowledgeable counsel who knows how to create and execute a winning strategy.

The practice of legal consulting has always been an integral part of our country’s system and governance. With the changing times, globalization and digitalization, the discipline of law has undergone a significant transformation. With it, the need for legal consultants and advisors has also surged.

This special edition titled, Prominent Legal Consultants in India, emphasizes the necessity of meeting this surging demand with quality consulting and advisory services. On the same note, we set sail to seek and exhibit firms that possess the passion and expertise in providing the best of services and solutions to clients. One name that stands out is R. K. Dewan & Co. The Firm R. K. Dewan & Co. was founded by Raj Kumar Dewan in 1942 and is known today to be a leading powerhouse, providing dedicated and superlative services in the field of Intellectual Property Rights for over 78 years. The firm strives towards securing IP Rights for its clients in a costeffective manner, prioritizing client interest above all. Every case that team RKD takes up is dealt with in a client-centric manner. While building up, handling and protecting the clients’ Intellectual Property, the focus is on Personalized Professionalism and Customized Commercialism by working within the clients’ budgets and providing them with cost-effective solutions.

The firm’s mission is to deliver worldwide, a full spectrum of intellectual property services to clients ranging from individuals to large business conglomerates. RKD’s attention to quality and detail is legendary .

The four foundations on which R. K. Dewan & Co. is built are: • Integrity – give correct and trustworthy advice to clients • Intellectual Growth – learn continuously from and for clients & colleagues • Excellence – ensure that work is always of the highest quality & standards • Mutual Respect – respect the talents and worth of client & colleagues forging lasting relationships

A Close-knit Team The Firm is presently headed by Dr Mohan Dewan, a Litigator, a Professor as well as a Registered Patent and Trademark Agent having over 50 years of Prosecution & Litigation experience in the field of IP. Dr Mohan Dewan has drafted and obtained over 8000 Patents in nearly every area of technology from Life Sciences to Engineering to Software and Electronics & Telecommunication. His areas of expertise also extend to IP commercialization including negotiating technology transfers.

Dr Mohan Dewan also serves on various committees of IP organizations such as the INTA Bulletin Committee.

Frequently quoted on IP developments in India, Dr Dewan has been consistently recognized as a leading IP lawyer by various research houses such as Chambers & Partners, WTR 1000, lAMPatent 1000, MIP and Asialaw Profiles.

Leading the firm with Dr Mohan is Dr Niti Dewan, who holds a Medical Degree, and has an avid interest in Intellectual Property Rights. She is also a Registered Patent and Trademark Agent having over 25 years of dedicated practice in IP. Currently, the firm comprises over 170 highly trained and dedicated lawyers, patent attorneys, trademark attorneys, engineers, scientists, paralegals, and administrative staff, equipped to deliver services promptly and efficiently.

The RKD team also includes a number of senior ex- Patent Controllers and Trademark Registrars & Examiners whose experience, knowledge and insight into the workings of the Patent & Trademark Offices in India are an added strength to the firm.

The firm has built a close-knit, dependable and extensive network of associates in over 125 countries. RKD is therefore able to seamlessly manage national and international IP filing, prosecution and domestic and transborder litigation across all tiers of the judiciary. RKD also

assists clients in technology transfers and commercialization through assignment, licensing and franchising globally.

A Plethora of Services cut across Industries R. K. Dewan & Co. has, since its foundation, grown exponentially in terms of the wide spectrum of services it offers, with 7 offices strategically placed all over India- in Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Indore. RKD has also expanded its presence in USA and China with the establishment of dedicated liaison offices in order to cater to client needs and requirements in these locations. The firm provides services to over 4000 active corporate and individual clients worldwide including start-ups, government entities, academic & research institutions and several top Indian companies, multinational conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies.

RKD’s expertise extends to all technology areas & industry sectors including but not limited to, software, electronics & telecommunication, artificial intelligence, robotics, automobile, tools & machinery, building & construction, electrical & power, alternative energy, chemical engineering, biotechnology/ biomedical devices, pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology, textiles, agriculture, defence, education, internet, FMCGs, hospitality, food & beverages, sports, entertainment & media, fashion & luxury goods, jewellery, finance & banking and so on. It is also adept at routinely handling complex IP matters that relate to interdisciplinary subjects.

The firm has assisted clients in protecting, enforcing and commercializing their IP over decades. As a boutique law firm, it offers a one-stop-shop for all IP and Corporate services including filing, prosecution, litigation, conveyancing, Patents, Trademarks & Service Marks, Designs, Copyright, Litigations & Anti-Counterfeit

R. K. Dewan and Co. does a sterling job in patent prosecution- in terms of responsiveness, the quality of briefs, and adherence to standard operating procedures, its workmanship is excellent.

- IAM Patent 1000 Rankings, 2017

Actions, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Agreements, IP Audit, Transfer Of IP Rights (IP Commercialization/ Monetization), IP Training & Education, IP Strategy & Consulting (Advice & Opinion). RKD represents the best of IP services that are offered in India and puts the country in a good light in front of international stakeholders.

Dr Niti Dewan Head of Patents & Business Development

Dr Mohan Dewan Principal

Spot Light: Dr. Mohan Dewan has seen the law fraternity evolve for more than 50 years. He describes this journey as one long learning experience which never fails to amaze him. Given a choice, he would love to live his life all over again without a change. When you have such an industry veteran, it is inevitable for questions to pop up and amazing pearls of wisdom to be shared. So here’s what the stalwart, Dr Mohan Dewan has to say: On e-court platforms and digitization: The e-court platforms and digitization of the judicial process is a welcome move as it will reduce and do away with delays, laches, administrative limitations and constraints in the legal fraternity, the Courts and most importantly, for the Clients/Parties. It will also serve towards the conservation of resources, reduce turnaround time and at the same will also remove the time restraints of the legal process and time lags in litigations. However, one needs to be cautious regarding its limitations, such as, compromise on the security of information which needs to be handled effectively.

On Law Education in India: The traditional Law education in India only aids lawyers in learning law and does not train them to practice. There is no emphasis on human skills and how lawyers should deal with the courts, judges and clients. The court-craft is absent and

lacking. At RKD, we train lawyers on how to apply the law they have learnt and teach them the skills that go beyond the course.

The Future of Legal Industry: As lawyers, we need to adapt constantly. The Law fraternity needs to grow organically and improvise continuously. As lawyers, we don’t know what kind of clients we have to deal with every day. RKD, in a day, gets clients ranging from someone in the automobile sector to sanitizer to homeopathy medicine to an agricultural tool. The next client is as unique as the previous one and we need to be ready for it.

The future, like the present times show, will be focused on how a lawyer doesn’t need be physically present in the courts to take care of the legal needs of clients. The current e-court system is a half-hearted attempt and I’m sure things will improve as the system evolves.

On the Future of RKD: We envision spreading IP awareness across the country so that every person irrespective of age or background or industry sector – whether he/ she is a student, a manager, working in R&D, or owning a small paan shop on the roadside – every Indian is aware of the benefits of IP and knows how to take measures to successfully protect, enforce and/or commercialize his/her IP, whether in India or internationally, to gain a definite business advantage.

Patent Fields of Expertise Chemical Patents • Drafting patent specifications • Filing and prosecuting applications at the Indian Patent Office and under the PCT • Filing and prosecuting applications internationally in cooperation with our foreign associates • Journal watch services • Comprehensive patent searching with analysis & legal opinion for: - Prior art - Novelty - Patentability - Freedom to operate/practice (FTO) - Invalidation - Litigation support - White space analysis - Technology maps • Oppositions - Pre-grant & post-grant - Observation submissions - Ex-parte and inter partes proceedings proceedings • Invalidation/revocation proceedings at Appellate Board • Post registration services such as renewals and filing statement of working

• • • •

Polymers & organic chemistry Petrochemicals Catalyst systems Speciality chemicals

• • • •

Paints & Coatings Cosmetics Agrochemicals Materials science

Life Sciences • • • •

Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology & Biochemistry Biologics Vaccines

• • • •

Medicine & medical equipment Medical devices Alternative medicine Nutraceuticals & supplements

Engineering • Information Technology • Electronics & Telecommunication • Electrical, power & Transmission • Alternative Energy • Automotive & Mechanical • Complex tools and machinery • Metallurgy

• Civil engineering & Architecture • Aeronautical engineering and defence • Process equipment • Industrial & Chemical engineering • Textile engineering • Packaging technology

Computer Implemented Inventions Nanotechnology Robotics & Articial Intelligence Internet of Things Interdisciplinary Technologies

IP Policy • Establishing & implementing institution-wide IP policies • Establishing corporate IP cells

Madrid Protocol • Filing international registration for Indian owners • Responding to objections of the national offices • Opposition proceedings • Post registration services

Trade Marks and Service Marks • Registration of trade marks/ service marks at the Indian Patent Office • Registrations internationally with the cooperation of our foreign associates • Opposition and revocation proceedings • Searches locally and internationally • Clearance of title & Brand selection advice • Journal watch services & Renewals • Appellate Board proceedings

IP Valuation •Technical

•Legal

•Commercial

Litigation

Corporate Services

• Prosecuting and defending civil suits for infringement of trademarks, patents, designs and copyrights • Suits for passing off • Criminal cases for trademarks and copyrights • Anti-piracy measures • Anti-counterfeit actions • Appeals from orders of the patent & trademark office • Writ petitions

• Incorporation (Company, LLP, non-profit, Partnership Firm) • Drafting/Vetting Corporate Agreements • Due Diligence and Consultation on Merger/Amalgamation/Demerger along with all related compliances • Consultation on Foreign Collaboration including Joint Venture and compliances related thereto • Representation/Appearance before the National Company Law Tribunal & Commercial Courts • Compliance under Corporate Laws including Annual Compliances • Compliances relating to Alteration in Company Information • Consultation and Compliance – Foreign Direct Investment • Cases under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code • Arbitrations on a full range of civil matters and company law matters

Alternate Dispute Resolution

Designs

IP Training and Education

• • • •

• Conducting workshops and seminars for law students, corporations, trade associations, government entities • Lecturing at law colleges, engineering colleges and universities

Applications for registration of designs Searches locally and internationally Journal watch services Infringement and opinions on the validity of Designs • Renewals

Copyright • Copyright registrations in India • Copyright registrations internationally • Cancellation proceedings

Transfer of IP Rights Due Diligence & Negotiation • Assignment • Licensing • Mortgaging • Identification of partners for assignment, licensing, joint-ventures • Franchising • Transfer of technology • Transmission

IP Audit Other Services • Business transfer • Technology transfer • Assignment, licensing, franchising • Software development

• Joint venture • Confidentiality & nondisclosure • Employment • Vendors, distributors, manufacturers

• Inspection & scrutiny of IP portfolios • Preparing comprehensive reports

Social Media Enforcement

Internet Domain Issues

Accreditations and Accolades R K Dewan & Co. is accredited with ISO Certification and has been consistently recognized as a Leading IP firm.

During the years 2017-2018, the firm received awards from World Trademark Review 1000 (Gold Tier), Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 (Band 1) and was ‘Highly Recommended’ by IAM Patent 1000. It received the Client Choice Awards – Patents in 2018 and has been verified by MIP as one of the top 3 PCT filers from India for 3 years in a row.

R. K. Dewan & Co. as a firm and its professional team of Lawyers and Patent Engineers and other professionals are members of various IP bodies such as INTA (International Trademark Association); AIPPI (International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property); AIPLA (American Intellectual Property Law Association); APAA (Asian Patent Attorneys Association), CIPA (Chartered Institute for Patent Attorneys); Marques, PTMG (Pharmaceutical Trademarks Group); FICPI (International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys), CII (Confederation of Indian Industries); MCCIA (Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture) and ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India).

Raising IP Awareness Frequently invited as a speaker at conferences, Dr Dewan is passionate about teaching IP and conducts training workshops for IP office examiners, judges, corporates, government entities & academic institutions. The firm and its members also take active steps towards increasing IP awareness in the country. RKD conducts several IP Training and Education programs, from arranging workshops and seminars for corporations, trade associations, government entities, to lecturing at law colleges, engineering colleges and universities.

The Keys to R K Dewan & Co’s Success The firm is constantly working on fine-tuning and moulding its services to meet the expectations of the client and to adapt to the changes in laws. Over the years, RKD has emerged as a highly reliable, trustworthy and efficient firm.

Of the several reasons that make it the go to choice in a highly competitive legal market, here are some that resonate with what the clients feel:

• Responsive – the firm responds to clients within 24 hours, at the maximum • Technical, commercial and legal expertise along with attention to detail • A pan-India presence • Provision of innovative and customized solutions for clients • Cost-effectiveness and values of honesty, transparency and respect • Incredible infrastructure and policies that allow the firm to handle a large number of matters while giving individualized attention to clients • One stop for all verticals of IP and all matters ranging from prosecution, enforcement to monetization, including corporate law • Giving clients the assurance that their interests are well looked after

Litigation aceMohan Dewan always has time for his clients and can break down complex concepts into succinct explanations that a layman can understand. -WTR 1000 Rankings, 2014

“A hub of IP Excellence, RK Dewan continues to gain momentum and recently opened several new offices, expanding its network to six cities across the country. Domestic titans such as Tata Consultancy Services flick to its doors for cradle-to-grave brand protection- a testament to the consistently high quality of its work. Its finely tuned prosecution leaves no stone unturned, while its contentious firepower allows it to take any dispute by the horns without breaking a sweat. At the top of the totem pole is Mohan Dewan, who has spent over four decades at the IP coalface; From Leading anti-counterfeiting actions to shepherding lucrative transactions to close, he has seen and done it all.” - Source: WTR 1000 Rankings 2017

“The team's performance is undoubtedly flawless, report sources, adding: It has a good worldwide reach and the lawyers are quick to listen to feedback.

Market Commentators state: The team is very professional and knowledgeable, as well as wellconnected in many countries, which helps us a lot.” Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific 2017

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Gautam Khaitan Managing Partner

20 | August 2020

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O. P. Khaitan & Co Delivering Practical Legal Solutions for the Modern Dynamic Business

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or any given company, the decision to go for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is taken with a focus or target of improved efficiency and market share. In the dynamic nature of the business, it is seen as an effort to stay afloat and relevant and joining forces with like-minded people or companies that share the same competency.

The Indian market which is bustling with start-ups right now, has warmed up to and seen many large as well as small scale M&As in the last few years and the trend is here to stay, say experts. It has been observed that the mid-market ranging between $10 million and $50 million is gradually opening up which serves as an encouragement. Entrepreneurs who seem stuck and are not able to scale well despite having decent equity in the venture look forward to selling early on and make returns.

advising clients on M&A and other corporate matters.

His clients recognize him as practical and solutionoriented.

In his own words: “M&A is a wonderful mixture of things that I find interesting. It's a dynamic area of law that has evolved immensely during the years. I like negotiating the terms of the contract – and sometimes litigating – to manoeuvre, compromise, and reach an agreement. Plenty of opportunities to serve and make the difference”.

Since childhood, Gautam Khaitan was motivated by his father, Late Mr. O. P. Khaitan, and learned the nuances of the law. He was the mentor and pillar of strength. The zeal that he has towards the profession has helped Gautam Khaitan to soar high. He is very passionate

“

While the above may make M&A sound like business as usual, the legal aspects of it can be very tricky. The complete process of M&A takes its own sweet time covering every aspect of legality that needs to be agreed upon by all the parties involved. So here again, we need experts who know every aspect of an M&A. And we, at Insights Success, found one in O.P. Khaitan & Co.

an excellent reputation for

Meet the Dealmaker

its value-based proactive,

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“

Gautam Khaitan is the Managing Partner of Firm O.P. Khaitan & Co and heads the Corporate Division. He has, time and again, been recognized as a leading lawyer and dealmaker and is a frequent author and speaker on M&A and corporate laws. His practice focuses on

The firm has established

pragmatic, and innovative legal advice.

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“

The Firm’s paramount concept of

“

“Client Satisfaction” is the backbone of

about his work and believes in never giving up.

Gautam Khaitan has handled various corporate and litigation work for various leading multinational and national companies, banks, and financial institutions all over the world. His expertise includes mergers, demergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, structuring transactions, collaborations, etc. He has regularly acted as a lead negotiator on legal and contract issues for various clients and has coordinated a range of specialist advice as required, working with business and financial advisers and generally as part of a team focused on complex projects. The clients benefit from his diverse experience and expertise, and particularly his commercial approach and problem-solving capabilities.

Apart from work, Gautam Khaitan has a passion for travel and playing golf.

Tracing the Growth Trajectory The firm’s tryst with providing the clients with unparalleled service and legal expertise began in March 1990 when it was founded by Late Mr. O. P. Khaitan.

Before setting up the Firm, he had a successful and flourishing practice in Khaitan & Co. Late Mr. O. P. Khaitan brought a wealth of experience in dispute

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resolution, corporate and commercial laws. His knowledge and support have been fundamental to the firm’s success.

O. P. Khaitan & Co saw enormous growth over the period from 1990 onwards. The Firm seized the outstanding opportunities that came in the year 1990 with the commencement of the economic liberalization in India. During this time, the country witnessed changes in the investment and corporate environment which provided new avenues of growth to the legal profession.

As the activities in India expanded, the number and scope of O. P. Khaitan & Co’s practice areas also grew.

In 1993, Gautam Khaitan took over the reins of the firm and in a short span, he took the firm to its new heights.

Over the years, O. P. Khaitan & Co has grown in size by developing highly talented partners and associates capable of expanding and diversifying the firm’s areas of legal practice. Today, the firm offers a full range of legal services across a broad spectrum of practice areas that include, Corporate Advisory, Mergers and Acquisition, Disputes Resolution, Human Resources, and labour laws, Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Tax, Banking, and Finance.

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PROMINENT LEGAL CONSULTANTS IN INDIA

Evolving with Time “Going digital” was once an illusory concept for most counsel and senior management teams. However, the entire judicial system today is adopting a new way of working. There are challenges and opportunities. The firm feels that those who up-skill and adopt a learningfor-life mindset will find opportunity. The e-court platform will make the justice delivery system affordable, transparent, speedy, and accountable by limiting the paper filings. This will certainly help law firms and citizens.

Gautam Khaitan feels that the firm is fully equipped to handle the changes as they have very good lawyers who are willing to work hard. Secondly, the team makes great efforts to keep up with the current ongoings and finally, because they have the experience to know how to approach particular matters with necessary creativity.

Hard work and Persistence – Key to a Successful Future The firm attributes its growth and success to the combined efforts of its team. The Firm’s success has been exemplified by the long list of awards and recognition the firm continues to receive for client service and legal expertise. O. P. Khaitan & Co has kept on evolving and is today a full-service law firm with reliable global connect.

The Firm looks forward to continued growth in its third decade and to carry forward the traditions of the past.

“As time passes by, new challenges will come by and that’s the thrill of it. I not only aim to see the firm grow beyond the success horizons but also see such growth along with a healthy and conducive work environment at the firm,” concludes Gautam Khaitan.

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“

We take a fresh perspective on situations, exploring whether there are

“

As an experienced and eminent personality in his field, Mr. Khaitan advises the young professionals saying, “Work hard, always go that “Extra Mile”, keep current, know your client’s business and give practical advice.

Relationship building goes a long way. Clients value that.”

better ways of delivering practical and commercial solutions.

23| August 2020

Law Street A Go-to firm for all Your Legal Needs

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awyers or attorneys, as we call them, play an important role in maintaining peace and harmony in society. The importance of lawyers in contemporary society cannot be overemphasized. The wide and extensive knowledge and problem solving ability lawyers possess a major contribution to promote development, uphold the rule of law worldwide and advance democracy.

To better understand the role of lawyers in our society, we interviewed Mr. Anshul Sharma, Founder of Law Street. Through the below-given conversation we will also get insights into how the legal consultants at Law Street play their role bringing justice and helping its clients with all their legal problems.

Introduce our readers to Law Street. How does it help clients with their legal requirements?

Law Street is an online legal platform built with a motive to help people who can’t afford high fees charged by our current legal system.

We assure you that we do not only meet with your expectations but also have the potential of exceeding them.

We are specialized in providing legal facilities and legal data in the simplified form so that it can be used

26 | August 2020

easily. There is one best thing which we promise to provide is nice client service. At the Law Street, we tend to take the time necessary to know our client’s expectations.

Once we get the basis, we tend to work not to just meet but to exceed their expectations. Our platform’s vision to unravel the client’s issues swimmingly, in order to make trust between us and our clients. We assure our Client’s with the most effective provided services with an honest quality to make higher standard of living for people.

Our goal is to supply best services to any or all our clients and perceive their wants and issues so that consequently we are able to file the grievance with sincerity, so serving them to resolve their problems in no time.

What are the Mission and Vision of Law Street? Kindly elaborate on its organizational goals.

Law Street was founded in 2017, with a vision to help individuals in India that are facing the outrage of high legal fees charged by the legal professionals. It is a dynamic platform with a mission to become a one-stop-solution to all the legal problems faced by the citizens of the India by 2023.

What is your take on the current industrial scenario of legal consultants in India?

The Consulting Industry in India is growing at fast pace and soaring new heights all across the world. This time, it is required to make an action plan to exploit the tremendous potential available for growth of consulting market. Also, there is a need to strengthen the framework of Indian consulting industry by embracing innovation, nurturing talent, improving the quality of consulting services, and enhancing consulting skills.

How is Law Street making a difference in the Indian Legal Consultancy domain? How does it stand out from the rest of its competitors?

Keeping in mind the differences of the domestic market in India with respect to the Global market, the major challenges Indian Consultants usually face in India. We stand out from the rest of our competitors because Adoption of New Organizational design and Managing the Knowledge Flows.

Briefly educate us about the services offered by Law Street as an emerging legal e-platform Trademark Registration: Trademarks are registered under the

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INTERVIEW WITH INSIGHTS SUCCESS

Astute Lawyers and Entrepreneurs Any organization is established to solve a problem. Mr. Anshul Sharma established Law Street taking into consideration the problems he had faced. Let us see how he established this firm in his own words.

“During my 2nd year of BBA LLB, I started facing problems while studying and I tried to take help from my seniors but didn’t get any solution of my problem then I decided to resolve this by my own. I created my YouTube channel wherein I started teaching all the law subjects to students so that nobody else gets to suffer the same. Law Street was started in 2017 by me and my friend, Mr. Divyaprakash Jha.”

Mr. Anshul Sharma Founder

“Mr. Jha was also pursuing law until he realized that he is not meant to be a lawyer and later he quit his graduation. At that point of time, we only had a vision to teach as many people as we could through the medium of YouTube and over the time we evolved ourselves.”

“So during this process, we learned many things and one of those is that a lot of people in India require a legal aid and legal support. So, we came up with the idea of introducing and providing legal services to people at affordable amount so that we could contribute to the welfare of the society. My Legal knowledge and Mr. Jha’s business mind united to create such a brilliant law platform named “Law Street.”

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Trademark Act, 1999 and give the trademark owner the power to sue for losses when infringements of trademarks happen. Registered trademarks are intellectual property for business, they are used to safeguard the company’s investment. Trademarks are necessary for the products and services you offer.

MSME Registration: Udyam registration is a government registration provided with a recognition certificate and a unique number in order to certify micro, small and medium enterprises. Almost every type of business entity can obtain Udyam, be it Hindu Undivided Family, Proprietorship, one-person company, Partnership Firm, production company, limited company, private limited company, limited liability partnership, cooperative societies or any association of persons or any other undertaking.

Online Legal Service in India: We resolve every Kind of Cases: • Divorce • Criminal Cases • Delay In Possession • Cheating Partner • Builder Dispute • Employment & Salary Issue • Cheque Bounce • Property Disputes • Money Recovery Suit • Consultation on Family Matters • Domestic Violence Police Complaint • Wrongful Termination • Removal of Copyright Objection • Unpaid Salary • Debt Recover.

File your case in consumer court/forum: Customer Is GOD! If any company is failed to serve good service or good product, customers have right to file complaint against the company & request for compensation in consumer court/forum. Law Street will resolve your case at minimum cost. Get support until your case is resolved. Save Time – Get Justice! 5. Send Legal notice: A “Legal Notice” is a legal intimation sent to the

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opponent indicating that the aggrieved is preparing to file a lawsuit against the concern in case the demand mentioned in the relevant notice is not fulfilled.

During these dynamic times, especially after COVID19 outbreak, how has digital proficiency upgraded the Indian Legal System online?

Beyond the COVID-19 crisis, virtual hearings may actually be more suitable than face-to-face hearings in some cases where it is damaging for parties to meet in person, or where it is costly for parties to join proceedings in person, for instance. In future, therefore, digital proceedings may allow for a more tailored and accessible justice system generally. Perhaps Covid-19 has been the catalyst needed for courts to make changes – but it remains to be seen whether any of the positive outcomes of a temporary virtual judicial system will be extended beyond the Covid-19 crisis.

Where is your startup based out of? Why do you think that is the best place for you?

While we are headquartered at Ambala Cantt, the beauty of a digital platform is that it can be carried out from any place. True, Ambala cantt does act as a perfect blend for our services but having said that, the kind of passion we have for Law Street, we would have made it work even if we were situated in a remote area.

In terms of growth prospectus, what is in store for Law Street in the future?

Law Street is looking forward to create a technology that will be working on block chain platform. What we are thinking is to create a cloud portal working on block chain that will keep all the important documents in an encrypted format which can only be access through a private API keys.

The reason we are doing this many individual during their life span are required to have a particular set of documents that he/she may lose due to any reason. So our portal will help every individual to store their important documents in an encrypted format created using cryptography.

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Biometric Face Reader Attendance With Thermal Temperature Screening

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he world is facing trouble due to the impact of coronavirus. Every industry is struggling and seeking help in a variety of ways. Many companies are working on advanced facial attendance system to help the organizations in protecting their staff members and enabling contact tracing from this virus threat. Many companies have suspended the fingerprint-based Biometric Attendance Software due to the fear of infection. In order to ensure the safety of the employees, the organizations are seeking touchless attendance, as the pandemic is bringing the focus back on hygiene.

eyes, nose & mouth from each other and saves an analytical picture of the face into it. Here are some of the top benefits of using Biometric Devices which are mentioned below for your consideration: • Detects an employee based on their individual physiological characteristics that are useful for individual tracking • It provides accurate tracking of employee time by verifying the identity of those clocking in, creating a digital audit that cannot be altered.

Using this method, we can eradicate time-theft

Innovation in facial attendance system: With the help of the advanced facial recognition system, which includes Body Temperature Detection using a thermal imaging device, companies can ensure the safety of the employees. This system allows tracking the employees with high temperatures, which can be a sign of infection. It avoids further contamination, which might cause due to the fingerbased biometric scanners. It will detect the faces of employees along with their body temperature. Also, it restricts the entry of the employees with high temperature with audio/visual alerts as “Access Denied.” This is the only way to protect the organization and its employees from this pandemic.

Benefits of a biometric facial recognition system: Most of the sectors use facial attendance system with temperature screening feature for individual identification & authentication. The face reading machine monitors the dimensions of a face, maps the facial features which include the distance between

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• Biometric Security System is more reliable and accurate. The employee biometric templates cannot be duplicated • It can decrease employee absence and significantly increase productivity. Hence, this system approach offers time and time saving thus reducing contagion.

• Facial recognition software can clearly track time and attendance without human error. It tracks the exact number of hours an employee is working, which can help in saving a company’s capital.

Once you use the facial recognition attendance system in your company, then your business can be benefited with more efficient time tracking and reduction in time fraud.

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Expert’s Viewpoint

ABOUT THE AUTHOR The enablers of this advanced biometric system is Star Link Communications. This company is a leader in providing solutions related to Attendance and Biometric Access Control. The sole motto of the company is to provide solutions according to the requirement of the clients. It incorporates the demands of the client according to their requirement, providing customer delight.

It also provides cost-effective solutions that are highly efficient, which help our clients to reduce the administrative cost. To achieve this objective, it has set strict parameters of checking quality, and efficiency of its products. Driving this company to the zenith of success and maintaining its continued growth is Mr. Vipin Yadav, Managing Director of Star Link communications.

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Understanding the Dynamics of

Team Barriers in a Global Team

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esearch reveals that when multicultural people come together to form a team, they produce more creative and innovative results than culturally homogenous groups. This is because people from various cultural groups approach challenges and problems in various ways. Diverse types of people think and react to the same situations in different ways. Through the combination of these diverse approaches and thoughts, not only does the culturally diverse team expand its ability to think and but also find solutions at various levels.

This works only if the team works together well and this is often the difficult part. If their different strategies are not comprehended, misinterpreted, or not taken, cultural differences will lead to challenges between team members.

Hence, global leaders not only face the difficulty of working well together in terms of their differences but also when team members are based in various countries.

World leaders need to recognize a broader and more varied variety of job practices in today’s globalized environment.

They need to be able to determine the characteristics of personal interaction and those of the cultural differences.

Stereotypes and Prejudices Stereotypes are mostly negative portraits of a given community, group, or culture or preconceived notions. A lot can be the basis of stereotyping, though nationality, gender, race, religion, or age are the most common things. This creates prejudice among people from various cultures and gives rise to judgment.

People look with certain stereotypes in other cultures and treat them with disregard and disrespect. When things go so far on a team or company, it can become extremely difficult to work together effectively among people who have resentment and disregard.

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Language Not speaking the same language can lead to many incomprehension and is seen as the most important barrier in cross-cultural communication. In every context verbal communication is important, but the meaning of words in translation is literally lost. If one person does not know the exact significance of a word, the other person may be misunderstood or misinterpreted and cause a clash of ideas.

Behaviors and Beliefs Cultural differences lead to different behaviors and different personalities such as body language, gestures, attitudes, communication, manners, and standards. In some cultures, for instance, eye contact is very important, but in others, it is rude and disrespectful. People can also lead to conflict and cross-cultural barriers with diverse religious or spiritual beliefs.

Signs and Symbols Nonverbal communication such as symbols and signs vary from culture to culture and therefore cannot be trusted in communication. Although the fabrics in a team environment are not as easily misinterpreted as the other, they can still result in cultural falsifications, which can take time and can be avoided beforehand.

Us versus Them From an evolutionary point of view, being in a group helps you to survive in a hostile world. And there is always some part of us versus them, which is embedded in our subconscious. This thinking of ourselves against them is embedded in our subconsciousness can lead to a sense of alienation if someone acts in such ways that we do not understand or expect.

The standard of a person is his own culture. The more different the culture of another person, behavior, language, and convictions, the more they are labeled as ‘other.’ This

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The New Normal

affects the knowledge and hostility of the message.

Overcoming the Barriers A global leader should show that culturally diverse teams generate more innovative and creative results than homogeneous groups. Therefore, rather than creating barriers, cultural differences should be appreciated, openly discussed, and used to support each other.

The leader must give employees opportunities to learn about the prospects and ways of living of their colleagues in order to build openness and appreciation. The focus should be on the strengths of each culture and how these strengths can be integrated into the way in which your team cooperates, challenges, and projects are addressed.

It is the global leader’s responsibility to ensure the cultural

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differences of the team members and employees are worked together. They must be aware of and try to conservatively override stereotypes and prejudices. Understanding the differences between the team members can foster an open culture of enterprise communication.

Cultivating and including all members must also be a corporate or team culture. As a heterogenous group, it is necessary for the team to dedicate special periods to discussions on discrepancies and complaints. This is more important but more complicated, with a team not only culturally diverse but based in various locations.

When people don’t interact, it becomes harder to look over and know the person behind the cultural stereotypes. This is essential, however, to foster mutual understanding and building together a company or team culture.

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‘CRUSADERS IN BLACK CAPES’

THE GO-GETTER TEAM STRIVING FOR CLIENT SATISFACTION AT EVERY STEP

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n any business or profession, clients are the most important factor and they need to be treated with utmost respect. They deserve to know and get every answer for their queries, they need to be ensured that they are at the right place, in safe hands and their legal assignment will be taken care of efficiently and diligently. It is very essential to gain faith of the clients. This is again the part of professionalism. The

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THE STEREOTYPE MINDSET OF ‘LEGAL SUIT IN COURT WILL TAKE YEARS TO FINISH’ IS NOW CHANGING FOR THE CLIENTS

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professionalism doesn’t always mean to act in neat manner and throwing an attitude in the name of policy and working culture. The professionalism also includes how convenient are you for the clients to reach, are you well connected, can the client count on you when he’s in trouble? One needs to make that connection with the client.

And that’s where UKP Legal comes in. The team of UKP Legal shares, “There’s only one thing we worship at our firm which is ‘Client Satisfaction’.”

UKP Legal is a core litigation law firm.

“We practice mainly in Civil & Criminal Litigation, Arbitration, Environmental Laws. Moreover Commercial Contracts, Real Estate & Conveyancing is our forte,” says its team. In a fast changing world, the dynamics of legal practice are being redefined at breakneck speed. The need of the hour is to evolve, innovate, bring state-of-art and service oriented approach towards the client, and the entire team at UKP Legal is committed towards this, heart and mind.

With the legal universe throwing up new challenges on a daily basis, the

UKP legal team realized long back that the foundation of practice has to be a fundamental understanding of the big picture, along with the complexity of the details to provide proactive solutions to a diversity of clients. It is necessary to think of law today as much as a holistic experience for all the stake holders, as much as a world of facts-based knowledge of thousands of clauses and sections and legal jargon. This, eventually, is what makes it all worth it. An integral part of its services is to work closely with the clients so that they can make the right decisions with respect to their legal needs.

The Trio Extraordinaire “Our partners and associates are involved in some of the most landmark, path- breaking and complex legal cases all over India,” tells the Founding Partner of the firm, Rakesh Umarani. A Pune University graduate, Rakesh is armed with a coveted Master of Laws in Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law from the University of East Anglia, UK. His vast experience in general civil litigation and commercial corporate

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INTERVIEW WITH INSIGHTS SUCCESS

Rakesh Umarani Founding Partner

Harish Kumbhar Founding Partner

Vaniti Pandit

“Today in a particular time of utmost essence, at UKP Legal, we know how important it is to help our clients resolve matters as quickly and efficiently as possible,” shares another Founding Partner of the firm, Harish Kumbhar. A 2009 graduate of Pune’s prestigious D. E. S. Law College, Harish complemented this with a diploma in (IPR) Intellectual Property Rights, from the prestigious University of Pune and started achieving his goal and flourishing his career intellectually.

Harish is a legal eagle with a sharp eye on dealing in Real Estate matters such as buying & selling of properties, analysing title for the same, visiting various Government Offices, Revenue Authorities and Due Diligence, RERA Complaints, Environmental Clearance and Co-operative Societies’ Disputes.

He has also represented renowned business entities in Civil Litigation before Civil and District Court and Cooperative Departments.

“UKP Legal is a team of smart and prolific lawyers giving each case the attention it deserves. It is never a matter of small or big, UKP Legal is there for the client, whatever it takeshis comfort is all that matters.” says Vaniti Pandit, the Founding Partner who completes the partner’s team of UKP Legal.

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IT IS NEVER ABOUT WINNING OR LOSING THE CASE, IT IS ABOUT HOW EFFICIENTLY AND DILIGENTLY YOU HANDLED THE MATTER AND CLIENTS DO SEE THAT

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laws, cyber laws, arbitration, environmental laws, claims and disputes relating to intellectual property laws, translates into knowledge that is profound and diverse. He regularly appears in various courts and tribunals, including regulatory bodies, across India. His ability to act for clients as a legal adviser and plead in court as a counsel has helped him to carve out a niche practice.

Founding Partner

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practice law but in fact he taught us how to be a better advocate to stand out from thousands of practising advocates,” says the duo.

There are more than 1500 law firms and more than 40,000 practising lawyers in Pune and Mumbai. Initially, seeing the number, all the partners were certainly demoralized a bit before forming UKP Legal. “We won’t say that we were going to the break the taboo of regular Legal process and Law practice, but we wanted to succeed in serving the clients with great satisfaction and speedy disposals of their matters,” states the trio. The partners had one thing in common, their thirst for work and willingness to work harder than yesterday.

The smart and prolific team of ten is performing at their best. The clients prefer UKP Legal for its new performance based practice. The team is always ready to cater the needs of the changing world. Up to March 2021, the trio aims to double the current size of the firm so that with the increasing work, the firm does not have to compromise on quality and efficiency. While all three partners at UKP Legal are young, well-travelled, and savvy, they are also, at the core, empathetic individuals. Not for them the ‘arm’s length’ approach of law. The team says, “Yes, Justice is blind. Yes, it is impartial and objective, but we, who are the support system of the client have to be vigilant, alert and sensitive. That, I think, is what we at UKP Legal live and work for.”

She is a law graduate from D. E. S. Law College, Pune. Her practice area broadly includes appeals & writs at High Court, arbitration and family matters. She appears regularly before the High Court of Mumbai, City Civil Court Mumbai, DRT and DRAT Mumbai, Family Court Mumbai & Pune.

With her eloquent style and excellent communication skills, she has an edge in drafting and presenting the case before the court. As the third founding member of UKP Legal, Vaniti also keeps tabs on practical approach towards matters and working closely with the clients. This often means strategic planning to achieve results, weaving in an end to end support across areas.

Dynamics of UKP Legal All the current partners were working under one roof and under the leadership of senior Advocate S. K. Jain, Adv. Surekha and Sunita Kinkar in Pune. Rakesh Umarani and Harish Kumbhar have worked for almost 5 years under the guidance of Adv. S. K. Jain. “He didn’t just teach us how to

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The UKP Legal office is situated in a quiet, leafy part of upmarket Pune. It has been created with the passion- quality that the UKP team believes is vital for the profession as well as for the client’s comfort and satisfaction. As Rakesh Umarani, Founding partner says, “When clients walk in, it is quite common for them to loosen up, smile, feel cheerful, and walk out with a pep in their step. That is why our office reflects what we practice - 100% integrity”. These are not mere clichés. When Founding partners Rakesh Umarani, Harish Kumbhar and Vaniti Pandit came together to form UKP Legal years back, it came with a resolution to serve their clients with utmost empathy and priority. Their office mirrors this resolution – with its liberal use of copper and soft lighting and subtle interiors, it is a place where even the most harassed minds would find solace. Their mentor and well known senior Adv. S. K. Jain said at the time inaugurating their office at Pune, “Decency, utility and environment is the name, and Advocates working here will always be energetic, and work with spiritual view keeping in mind.”

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For future generation of the legal leaders, the trio suggests, “If you can’t perform, there are thousands of advocates standing in line to take over the matter or the assignment.” Considering the current market conditions, the clients can’t afford to entangle the property, money or even themselves in litigation for longer.

Therefore, the new advocates need to focus more on giving results each and every day of their practice. The clients are becoming impatient and that is in fact good for the legal field because they want results “The traditional ‘Tarikh pe Tarikh’ practice is now fading away. This is an era of performing advocacy,” conclude the three founding partners.

THEIR OFFICE MIRRORS THIS- WITH ITS LIBERAL USE OF COPPER AND SOFT LIGHTING AND SUBTLE INTERIORS, IT IS A PLACE WHERE EVEN THE MOST HARASSED MINDS WOULD FIND SOLACE

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Bringing the Right

ORGANIZATIONAL Change

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Evolving with time

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voiding change is not an option for most organizations today, regardless of how agitated it is. As the rate of disruption speeds up and almost every industry is challenged, companies that don’t want change, will eventually go out of business. In fact, mastering the art of quick organization-wide change has become a critical competitive advantage, and it has far more likely that organizations that implement it, succeed.

However, there are different skills to recognize the need for change and to know how to make changes successfully. And everything begins by understanding what kind of organizational change a company wants.

Organizational changes have a major impact on the organization as a whole. Major changes to staff, company objectives, services, and operations would all be considered as forms of change in organization.

Companies need to determine the type of organizational change they are making before they can design the change management game plan. The correct change management plan can be implemented to improve results once this is determined.

Types of Organizational Changes There are different strategies in different types of organizational change. From the implementation plan to the communication, everything should be tailored to the type of change that a company wants.

Strategic and structural changes may require the further formation and gradual transitions, and immediate action would be necessary for a corrective change. On the other hand, people-centered changes benefit from a wellconsidered communication strategy on change management to navigate emotional reactions.

The four types of organizational changes are:  Strategic transformational change  People-centric organizational change  Structural change  Remedial change Understanding the Audience Regardless of the approach to a particular model or hybrid organizational change management, knowing one’s audience is the first step. People responsible for the charge may also carry out a preparation assessment, which shows how personnel can respond or oppose. The styles of leadership and the positions adopted by middle managers should also be considered.

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A plan can be developed once this is established. This should include details on the team, sponsors, and communication, in addition to a schedule and a task list.

change can also contribute to identifying areas that need additional tweaking and examination.

Keeping an Eye out for Hurdles

Including all Stakeholders Stakeholders can include technical teams, junior-level staff, support personnel, and others in addition to senior leadership. Senior leaders provide vision and guidance ideally, whereas others provide the information and expertise necessary for their operational areas. Concern regarding requirements can be reduced early on by taking this approach. This can then make them more prepared to meet the larger group’s needs.

Communicating the Right Way The crucial step of organizational change must constitute a continuous and transparent process, which should also start as quickly as possible. The communication plan itself is first on the agenda. What, and when, are we going to communicate? The objective is, in the end, to ensure that the initiative, the global plan, timelines, and individual/team tasks and responsibilities are always clear to all parties involved. The ongoing updates that are shared with all team members and stakeholders should also provide an urgent feeling of communication.

Breaking the Barriers

Themes such as the ability of employees to make changes must be presented during implementation. For example, with the introduction of new systems or platforms, participants may discover that new equipment is required or that additional training is needed.

Having a Feedback System Regardless of whether it is good or bad, it’s good to have feedback. This will help to identify and remedy problems and defects early on which small problems can, and in many cases, be prevented. It will also show that employees are valued and needed for their input. The management should answer questions and address concerns, and proactive transparency should also be applied. Eyes should be kept out for progress and success.

Continuing Navigating the Path It is important to keep up and constantly strengthen the change so that it does not become withered in a midway.

This can be achieved by creation, benefits, strategies, and/or promotions, up to and including the status quo.

These could include methods that are way too common to many organizations, such as managers who don’t encourage changes, insufficient information systems, and/or official structures and isolated departments that limit the employees’ ability to act.

Comprehensive Testing Any tests needed should include users with different levels of competence for optimum results. Although experts in topics are needed to quickly adapt to new systems and processes, new team members and those who sometimes strive to bring about organizational

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Zia Mody AZB & Partners Founder & Managing Partner

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Interview With Insights Success

An Iconic Woman Winning her Way through Law & Life

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popular writer, William Arthur Ward, once said, “If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”

Let us hear the story of a renowned lawyer who has turned these words into reality. Let us hear the story of Zia Mody, a prominent personality redefining justice. Following the footsteps of her father, Mr. Soli Sorabjee, she is setting benchmarks in the world of law. Zia is very passionate about her work and believes in never giving up. Being a hard-worker and an enthusiast, she is, today, recognized as one of the top-most lawyers in the country as well as internationally. Zia is the founding partner of AZB & Partners, a leading Indian law firm.

To highlight the story of this brilliant leader, we are glad to feature her in this issue of ours. To know more about her absorbing journey and drive inspiration from her thoughts, we bring to you an exclusive interview with Zia Mody.

1. Brief us about you and your journey since the beginning of your career.

I did my law at Cambridge and thereafter my Masters in Law at Harvard. I came back and began appearing as a Junior Counsel and practiced at the Bar for about 10 years. I then started my own boutique law firm called the ‘Chambers of Zia Mody’. It was a joyous journey. We debated non-stop about legal propositions at the time when India was rising, which became the wind beneath our seals. I think my own skill was in running the firm to be fair, transparent and communicate as much as I could. I

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think the goal is to have a moral leadership, which is imperative to be a leader. Now, we are a PAN India law firm – AZB & Partners, a law firm of over 430 lawyers.

2. Could you name a person/mentor/book that has had a tremendous impact on your journey? When did you decide to become a lawyer? Why? My entrepreneurial journey continues. I still take a lot of joy in new practices, new talent coming to AZB and lifting us to even higher levels. My father is one person who has had great impact on ensuring my value system in the profession. I decided to follow my father’s professional footsteps from a very young age. He has had a significant impact on my choice of the legal career. My husband is the one who has ensured the success of my entrepreneurial journey.

3. What did you expect from a career in the law?

A fascinating future where every day presents a new issue, which needs a new nuanced solution.

4. Is it more challenging being a woman in the legal market? How do you maintain a balance within your career and home, so seamlessly?

Yes, it is surely more challenging. The inherent bias in favour of men to argue a client's case in court still persists.

Not much has improved. However, when it comes to non-contentious work, women are far more recognised and visible, especially in general corporate practice.

As for maintaining a balance between career and home, it is almost impossible.

5. What is the one thing that keeps you motivated? To what do you attribute your success?

My curious passion.

I attribute my success to my hard work, my ability to see and remember hundred things at a time, my intensity to want to be perfect and in the quality of advice I have to give several times a day, in the role of my trusted advisor to my key clients.

6. Tell us about your passions, aims, and goals. Tell us about your major achievements.

My passion is to continue to raise my own bar. My goal is to institutionalise the firm and create a clear gap between AZB and other law firms.

Some of my major achievements are: • Growing a 12 lawyer boutique to a top tier law firm of over 400 lawyers; • Developing a reputation that puts us at the top of the legal landscape; and • Expanding the litigation practice to a new level.

7. What is the biggest risk you have ever taken? What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?

The biggest career risk I have ever taken is to leave my job as a corporate associate in New York and come back to

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India to get married, not knowing whether I will succeed in this profession, which was at that time clearly male dominated.

Some of my failures have been the inability to think long term, to react negatively to situations, which were partly caused by myself and to not listen enough to some people who gave me advice for my own good. What I have learnt is to listen to people who genuinely have my interest at their heart.

8. What differences do you see in today’s legal market compared to when you started?

A far more sophisticated practice, intense regulatory intervention and interaction.

9. Kindly tell us about the major challenges you have faced while building up your career.

Too much work, too little quiet time.

10. What led you to start AZB & Partners?

A combination of the happy coincidence of India opening up its investment shores and we returning to India to see it grow. The journey of AZB & Partners started almost 25 years ago as a small boutique consisting of about 12 people, which was called the Chambers of Zia Mody. Much has happened since then and we are now a PAN India Law Firm with over 400 lawyers. The bedrock behind starting a boutique law firm and its journey was to create a value proposition and provide services of a uniquely responsive and thoughtful nature.

11. What are the services your organisation provides, describe in detail?

We are a law firm with offices across India and about 430 lawyers. We are considered an M&A powerhouse and one-stop shop which provides our clients services across all major practice areas such Private Equity, Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Investment Funds, Financial Services and Fintech, Forensic, etc. Our Firm is considered one of the top 2 law firms in India.

12. What law would you change, abolish or create?

Archaic laws, which have outlined their utility.

13. Tell us about the most memorable and remarkable moments of your life.

When I was a junior counsel, fighting away in various courts, learning how to dance in court and develop a quick presence of mind.

14. How do you describe yourself in one-word or one-sentence?

Intensely passionate and eternally curious.

15. What would you advise to the budding lawyers?

My advice to the budding lawyers is stay honest to your core, work hard, be persistent and never give up.

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