www.theleadersglobe.com October 2022
The
10
Highly
RECOMMENDED
LAW FIRMS 2022
Buisness Curative Techniques For Growth of Law Firms
Leader's Perspective The Gig Econony in India Employment Laws - By Rajeev Rambhatla
Technology Technology Trends That Will Define the Future of Law Firms
Must have apps Reinventing Better Productivity for Law Firms with Apps
Sudhindra Bhat Advocate
SS Law Firm Enhancing Efficiencies with Innovation and Insight
The Increasing Significance of Law Firms
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very aspect of a deal or daily life requires legal requirements to be fulfilled. There is obviously a difference between a lawman and a layman. And to solve all the legal issues be it civil scenarios like seeking a divorce, entering into an agreement or criminal cases of dishonor of cheque or theft, or just obtaining consultation we have law firms working the whole day and burning the midnight oil. Everything that requires legal attention, you need a lawyer for it. For all your legal needs, you have lawyers and law firms. Though they are related to each other, they are vastly different. A Law firm shares the same values of a corporation, but it sets itself apart as an entity. It is an association of lawyers that come together under one company to provide services. This is done due to the specialization they hold. We The Leaders Globe Media featuring 'The 10 Highly Recommended Law Firms 2022' that have outnumbered their competitors and made it to the top with their zest, determination,
resourcefulness and innovation. Aligning areas such as corporate, tax returns, labour laws, property laws etc. these law firms have made an image and reputation for themselves among their clients. They are the most trusted and reliable law firms and are clientcentered above everything. Dealing with the crisis and overcoming serious threats the industry faces, these law firms have sustained themselves at their respective positions. An independent lawyer may be able to provide services based on his professional specialization but when a group of lawyers come under one roof, it becomes easier to solve your legal problems. There are many benefits that one can enjoy by recruiting a law firm. As it stands the center point of any business, one can get a lot of help here. Moreover, the lawyers deal with a diverse client base which makes them expert at their jobs. Every document that goes before the court and the client is a combined work of different specialists in a law firm. For instance, if one person is engaged in the research work,
another will further audit documents, and other team members will draft the conclusions of the same. Furthermore, sometimes attorneys may have conflicting opinions or approaches to dealing with a case. Hence, law firms arrive at an ideal strategy by deliberating with the entire team to determine the best course of action. It's easy to see that with a law firm, your individual case will have not just one or two, but multiple legal brains working on it to bring you the best possible outcomes! A good legal team under one roof producing quality of services and giving the best legal representation. What is more to ask? There are always added perks of approaching a law firm than an individual practicing lawyer. Though the reasons why law firms are standing out is because of their expertise and excellence in various sectors of law
Content Page
16 NVS & Associates N. V. Srinivasan Founder, and Chief Consultant
20 RSA Legal Solutions Shweta Jain Gupta
Advocate, CS, PGD in Corporate Laws and Management
26 Shrivastava Law Associates Anshuman Srivastava
Founder & Managing Partner
Abhijeet Srivastava Joint Managing Partner
30 SS Ahluwalia Mr. S.S. Ahluwalia
Advocate
40 Upscale Legal Rashi Anand Suri Founder & Partner
Cover Story
08 SS Law Firm Sudhindra Bhat Advocate
Articles
24 Leader's Perspective The Gig Econony in India - Employment Laws - By Rajeev Rambhatla
32 Must have apps Reinventing Better Productivity for Law Firms with Apps
18 Business Curative Techniques For Growth of Law Firms
36 Technology Technology Trends That Will De ine the Future of Law Firms
C O V E R S T O R Y
Sudhindra Bhat Advocate
SS Law Firm
Enhancing Efciencies with Innovation and Insight
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Our core values are excellence, integrity, respect, performance all bundled up in one law rm
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o live by the law is the duty and right of every citizen of a nation. Laws give people the system and structure necessary to live in a respectful way. They protect the rights of every human being and at the same time ensure that no one is being wrongfully treated. The legal framework of any nation reflects the social, political, economic, and cultural components of society. There would be Anarchy without a well-functioning legal and Judicial System. For transacting business and commerce, laws and regulations are needed, and more importantly, there needs to be a mechanism to enforce such laws and regulations. For instance, corporations cannot work without contracts between them and their employees, suppliers, shareholders, and other stakeholders. Indeed, in the absence of contractual agreements between them and their partners, there would be anarchy. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, such contracts have to be enforced as well since in the case of noncompliance or default on the contractual obligations, arbiters and judges are needed to adjudicate on them. More importantly, the legal and judicial systems have to be welloiled meaning that there must be speedier disposal of cases as well as fair and transparent mechanisms where due diligence is done and due processes are followed.
A Comprehensive Range of Services To solve all the legal issues be it civil scenarios or criminal cases of dishonour, or just obtaining consultation we have law firms working day and night. Everything needs legal intervention, and legal intervention raises the requirement for a legal expert. Law firms provide Lawmen to help the Laymen understand their legal rights. One such firm that holds the law above everything is Mr. Sudhindra Bhat's SS Law, a leading law firm that is empowering businesses and individuals with all professional law services with a personal touch under one roof. The firm specialises in criminal law, family and divorce, civil, IPR, personal injury, property, corporate law, arbitration, and mediation. Whether you are an MNC or a Suburban-based company or an individual with a bright idea, SS Law's commitment
to providing excellent service remains the same: combining technical excellence with commercial insight to provide the clearest of answers. SS Law stretches its limits to make sure the services they provide are consistent and timely. They follow protocols which allow them to manage their clients and new area of services. SS Law also provides advisory, training, and investigation services under Anti-Corruption Laws and White-Collar Crimes to corporations. It provides advisory, compliance, and litigation support services Trial Court, High court, and Supreme Court. In addition to that, SS Law firm assists clients in Immigration, during and after raids or investigations by Customs and Regulatory authorities like Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, etc. to take a view on key issues and options to deal with high-risk positions, briefing and debriefing of employees and discussions with authorities to close the case. Emigration and Family Law services are the latest addition to their diversified plethora of law services. The firm also intends to be the number one go to firm for insolvency matters which has seen a huge number of cases being filed since the IBC has come into effect. They also aim to further expand knowledge and practice areas in international arbitration, data privacy, competition, consolidated labour codes, etc.
Spearhead of the Organization Being a lawyer is not merely a vocation. It gives an individual the power to bring justice and discipline in the society. For this, one must have a strong sense of responsibility, be unbigoted, and dedicated to the profession. Dr. Bhat is that one person. The Forerunner of SS Law— one of the leading law firms in India — Dr. Bhat has been offering legal services for about three decades. Till now, he has empowered and helped hundreds of individuals and businesses with several law services. The Multifaceted Master Dr. Bhat's exceptional expertise comes from years of experience and high qualification. To be the best in his field, he made sure his educational experience becomes rich and vast. Today, he not only holds a Bachelor in Law and an MBA but also an LLM, MFM, CFA, M.Phil. and PhD. His multifaceted education has shaped him into one of the most respected lawyers in the country. He now specializes in criminal law, family/divorce, civil, IPR, personal injury, property, corporate law, arbitration, and mediation. His organization SS Law also provides advisory, training, and investigation services in Trial Court, High court, and Supreme Court. But this all-rounder approach is not the only USP of his organization. Dr. Bhat understands the trust his clients
put in him and makes sure that the team devotes its time to find the best solutions with a personal touch. He has provided quality legal support and services to various clients ranging from different sectors including Outsourcing and Offshoring Industries, Information Technology and Services, Banks, Financial Institutions, Insurance Companies, Real Estate, and Builders and Developers. Sudhindra Bhat has the experience of being legal and Business Consultant of major Indian publicly traded companies, Universities and also of Indian subsidiaries of several Fortune 500 companies. He regularly speaks in various fora and has to his credit, a number of publications in various national and international professional journals and magazines on Corporate-Commercial, International Arbitration, Litigation, Finance and Business. He conducted various training programme for several Fortune 500 companies. Sudhindra Bhat is considered a thought leader and his opinions on topical and commercial-legal disputes of national importance are regularly quoted in national importance are regularly quoted in national dailies and recognized and received several awards nationally and internationally.
The 10 Highly Recommended Law Firms 2022 11
The success story of Dr. Bhat does not stop here. He is also known for his expertise in finance and business, which he keeps sharing through his books like Security Analysis and Portfolio Management by Excel Publication new Delhi, Corporate Financial Management by Excel Publication new Delhi, Management Accounting by Excel Publication new Delhi, and Financial Service. He has prepared more than 23 study material for different University and Training. He has served in board positions in Indo- Italian Chamber since 2010. He is a member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has held different position in several organisation since 2004. He has also won corporate awards for his remarkable business acumen and exceptional
work. Banking on values staying ahead in the legal field is one thing but staying ahead while adhering to values and ethics is commendable. Since the beginnings of his career, Dr. Bhat promised himself to do his work with integrity and loyalty. No matter what the case was, he did not leave his values. Now, these two are the touchstones by which he runs his law firm. Another thing that highlights Dr. Bhat's commitment to his profession is his Pro-BonoWork initiative. Through this initiative, he offers legal services to people from low-income groups and minorities. With these values and philosophies, Dr. Bhat has created a team of lawyers that are not just exceptional at their job but also possess a strong character. A driven leader in a competitive industry legal practices in India have seen a dramatic change over the past few years. People can easily get legal advice within a few clicks. This has increased the competition in field by many folds. However, this competitive and dynamic environment is nothing but an exciting challenge for him. In fact, Dr. Bhat hopes the change keeps happening as it gives him the opportunity to help more and more people. The satisfaction that comes from happy clients encourages him to continue his profession and keep making a difference in people's lives. However, it would be an error to not mention the hardworking team at SS Law. SS Law is a strong proponent of Teamwork; they are some of the most dedicated lawyers, including, Ms. Poli Borgohain high court advocate holding degrees such as BA (in English) LLB, LLM, P. Jaganathan, who is a high court advocate holding degrees such as LLB, MA, MBA, MMM, and ML. Usha has completed her LLB, MA, and ML, and is serving as an advocate. The team also consists of Veerabhadrappa P, an advocate holding degrees in B. Com, LLB, and MBA., Ms. Ashawari Behara an advocate holding degrees in BA LLB, Nagraj B, is a BA, LLB degree holder who also works as an advocate for the company and other team members of SS Law are Mr. Ravish, Mr. Seetharam,
Ms. Poli Borgohain Advocate
Mr. Alvin De leon, Mr. Mohammed Zubair, Dr. Ranganath, Mr. Ashok Kumar, Ms. Flavia Agnes, Mr. Shankar Narayan Rao, Ms. Megana M, Gallo, Advocates. Glorious Citations Mr. Bhat has a bag full of achievements that he has picked up along the way in his career. He has handled high stake corporate clients and HNI's cases. On top of that, every year he makes it a point to do some cases which need legal help completely free of cost. He has been awarded more than Five times for different achievements. Mr. Sudhindra has solved unsolved tough cases through Arbitration and mediation. He is the author of five books and a corporate award winner. He is well known for his top Academic as well as Industry experience with rich knowledge of Law, Finance, and Business. Just as when you start turning a wheel, initially you get a lot of resistance, but once the wheel starts rolling, the going gets smooth. While SS Law has comfortably set itself as a wellestablished law firm, they had to overcome several hurdles. Increased competition and difficulty acquiring new clients and pressure to become more specialised were the set of challenges that SS Law faced in the initial years. This was further exacerbated by the fact that consumers are demanding subject matter experts rather than a jack of all trades service provider. In the legal space, that means both personal and corporate consumers would rather spread their legal needs across multiple specialised firms on a need-by-need basis instead of partnering with one firm who can ostensibly do everything. As SS Law battled through these challenges, a new group of challenges emerged; clients expecting a lot to get done at very low rates. This is something that is very recent, and the driving force behind this is the introduction of cheap, DIY legal services that are causing the cost expectations and the perceived value of legal expertise of the clients to plummet. Another aspect is that more firms are presenting transparent pricing online and in person, forcing practices to compete on price for the first time.
Ms. Ashawari Behara Advocate
Ss Law battled these hurdles with a brave face. As they combated with SS law experienced a much deserved rising growth graph. They witnessed fast-paced growth when the firm acquired a lot of talent through lateral joinees of partners from different practices and practice areas. The firm grew tremendously fast and since 2018 the firm has never looked back. Started with humble three clients now SS Law has grown to 250 plus new corporate clients and, coupled with the in the retail litigation area, contributed about 70% growth compared to previous years. The Success Formula SS Law believes in overcoming all odds and moving mountains when it comes to providing justice to their clients. Their attention to detail
The 10 Highly Recommended Law Firms 2022 13
regarding the requirements of clients and assessment of the situation is remarkable. Their services include drafting of deeds and agreement services, pro bono work, intellectual and property rights, immigration, arbitration and taxation, among other things. What separates SS Law from its competitors is that, even after having years of experience, it still considers itself as a learner. This approach enables them to generate 'out of the box' ideas and innovative solutions. Future advocates and litigators must remain up to date on changes in case law, legislation, regulations, and the industry. They must apply their critical thinking and evaluate how these changes will impact their client and relevant industries, and creatively offer the best and most appropriate solutions and advice for them. Every good lawyer must possess these qualities deemed essential if they wish to succeed: good communication skills, judgement, analytical skills, research skills, people skills, perseverance, and creativity. The firm encourages young professionals to aim to be the best as it will help them in their endeavours. Facing difficulties is a part of life, but one must not lose hope. Being persistent always pays. The law is static, it is the Lawmen that need to be fluid. The future is set, and it is now
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What makes our rm stand out is our excellence combined with commercial insight which allows us to take the most complex questions and provide the obvious answers
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THE GIG ECONOMY IN INDIAEMPLOYMENT LAWS
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he rapidly expanding gig workforce is steering towards greater economic growth internationally. Due to the demographic dividend of a 50-crore labor force and other factors such as rising urbanization, and speedy adoption of technology, India has been the next frontier of this revolution. Even in the aftermath of Covid-19, the gig economy has continued to create millions of employments and maintain community bonds, indicating its durability and promise. The gig economy has an impact on our GDP as well as business practices. The Gig Economy is a marketplace for temporary contract workers who are recruited and fired on an asneeded basis. They are used in businesses where human services must be offered through a webbased platform. Platform owners act as intermediaries for service providers and the agents that offer the services. Amazon, Ola, Uber, Zomato, and Swiggy are a few examples of such platforms. Platform providers are intermediaries who receive a fee from both the service provider and the customer.
OPPORTUNITIES A rise in the usage of technology and the influx of modern-day technology in this digital era has caused an exponential growth of the gig economy. Each task or assignment completed by workers or independent contractors is reimbursed, and this concept is at the heart of various applications, that utilize this contingent workforce. Many corporations compensate their partners i.e., drivers, delivery executives, or other personnel, on a daily/weekly/monthly basis for the work they manage to accomplish as per the policies. Furthermore, the availability of “cheap labor” in India allows corporations to reap the majority of the benefits of employees. People of all ages and backgrounds can now work in several industries thanks to the gig economy. In light of this, let us take a legal look at the situation. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS 'Definitional' Change and Impact To begin with, the Code on Social Security, 2020 has clearly distinguished between gig work,
24 The 10 Highly Recommended Law Firms 2022
platform worker, and unorganized worker. Gig worker has been defined as “a person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of traditional employer-employee relationship.” The formal registration of gig workers was necessary because the concept encompasses a vast number of temporary workers. Additionally, as an effect of defining 'gig workers' under the Code of Social Security, 2020, the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, can govern gig workers in India, since they generally work under the ambit of 'work performed by outside contractor'. Thus, employers may be required to follow the provisions of this act, including the welfare and health standards to offer canteens, first aid, and other essentials to employees. Registration Process and Benefits The Code also requires gig workers to register on an online portal or at a facilitation center to receive benefits under the Code, as specified by the Central Government. However, this
Leader’s Perspective
registration is subject to 4 conditions. They are: 1. The person must be 16 years of age or above. 2. The person should have worked for a minimum of 90 days in the last 12 years. 3. The person should submit an electronic self-declaration on the Central government website 4. The person should apply for registration, with all the relevant documentation. Once these conditions are fulfilled and the application has been approved by the Central government, the gig worker would be entitled to various benefits such as Accidental insurance, Life and disability cover, Health and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rajeev Rambhatla heads the Hyderabad office of King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys. He focuses primarily on commercial litigation, consumer litigation, arbitration, company law and regulatory issues. He has considerable experience in dealing with complex litigation matters and has been a recommended counsel for many multinational corporations doing business in India and abroad. Rajeev primarily woks with institutions, private equity funds, PSU's, banks and multinational companies. He also acts for a number of Indian companies, particularly in the context of high-profile commercial litigation and dispute resolution.
LOOKING FORWARD Businesses & Corporations are benefitting from the gig economy as they can accommodate temporary workers as per client/operational requirements. This helps them reduce administrative and regulatory costs associated with full-time or permanent staff. This is especially true when the business strategy does not necessitate the hiring of permanent workers. In such cases, both parties are free to explore solutions that meet their requirements in this reasonably symbiotic partnership. They focus their efforts on making contacts and building relationships with their respective populations at the same time. Furthermore, abolishing customary long-term employment agreements with employees would minimize the strain on the organization. The new ideas would help to create several modest jobs that are properly governed by labor standards and offer people social security. Before making any definitive comments, it is critical to observe how these enterprises are regulated and whatever government programs are in place to help those who work in the gig and platform economies
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Company Name
Key Person
Majmudar & Partners
Naina Krishna Murthy
https://www.majmudarindia.com
Founding Partner
K Law
Akil Hirani
https://www.klaw.in
Managing Partner
NVS & Associates
N. V. Srinivasan
https://www.nvsassociates.com
Founder, and Chief Consultant
RSA Legal Solutions
Shweta Jain Gupta
http://www.rsalegalsolutions.com
Advocate, CS, PGD in Corporate Laws and Management
Anshuman Srivastava Shrivastava Law Associates https://shrivastavalaw.com/index.html
Founder & Managing Partner
Abhijeet Srivastava Joint Managing Partner
S. K. Srivastav & Co
Satish Kumar
https://srivastavandco.com
Founder
SS Ahluwalia
Mr. S.S. Ahluwalia
ssachambers.com
Advocate
SS Law Firm
Sudhindra Bhat
sslaw.co.in
Advocate
India Law Alliance
Anupam Dighe
https://www.indialawalliance.com/
Founding Partners
Upscale Legal
Rashi Anand Suri
https://upscalelegal.com
Founder & Partner
Company Description Established in 1999, Krishnamurthy & Co. (K Law) is a full-service law firm with offices in Bengaluru, Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai. Majmudar & Partners (formerly Majmudar & Co.), established in 1943, has evolved into one of India's premier law firms representing the who's who of banks, companies, and financial institutions. NVS & Associates is one of the leading legal service providers in India, offering a full range of legal services with outstanding dedication and commitment in providing innovative end-to-end solutions to corporate clients. RSA Legal Solutions is a leading law firm in the field of Indirect taxation vis. GST, Customs, Excise, Foreign Trade Policy, Service tax, VAT and FEMA Shrivastava Law Associates (SLA) is a Delhibased full-service law firm that specialises in litigation, administrative and regulatory law, infrastructure, arbitration, insurance, intellectual property rights, mining, environmental law, and corporate documentation. Since 1985., S.K. Srivastav & Co handles all legal matters, concentrating on business, Commercial, Corporate, Arbitration and International subjects. Chambers of SS Ahluwalia is a chamber litigation practice based out of New Delhi catering to all legal issues with experienced High Court Lawyers. SS Law Firm is a full-service law firm that offers a comprehensive range of legal services in a wide range of areas with an able team of attorneys and solicitors. India Law Alliance was established in 2004, and is a full-service law firm with offices in Mumbai and Delhi. Upscale is a legal advisory that provides workable legal advice to clients in matters relating corporate, real estate, employment issues etc.
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Reinventing Better
Productivity
for Law Firms with Apps
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legal mobile app can work wonders for law firms in terms of managing the relationships with their clients, sending legal updates, providing remote assistance to clients, promoting own business, and advertising. Applications designed for lawyers enable legal professionals to switch from physical presence in the law office to remote work mode instantly.
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