Prominent legal consultants in india.

2020 | Vol.-08 | Issue-01
PROMINENT
LEGAL CONSULTANTS
IN INDIA
Dr Mohan Dewan
Principal
LAW FIRM OF THE MONTH
O.P. Khaitan & Co
GAUTAM KHAITAN
Managing Partner

Editor’s Note
f justice delayed is indeed justice denied, let’s
Italk 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
SPEEDING UP
THE JUDICIAL
PROCESS

their communication, negotiation and social skills
to help see the parties see and reach a viable
solution.
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.
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,
a leading lawyer and dealmaker who is also a
frequent author and speaker on M&A and
corporate laws.
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.
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.
Sneha Sinha

Law Firm of the Month
CXO
O. P. Khaitan & Co
Delivering Practical
Legal Solutions for the
Modern Dynamic Business
Expert’s Viewpoint
Biometric Face Reader
Attendance With Thermal
Temperature Screening
R. K. Dewan & Co.
Delivering Exemplary Legal
Services Globally
08
30
20
Cover Story

Law Street
A Go-to firm for all
Your Legal Needs
UKP Legal:
‘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
The New Normal
Understanding the
Dynamics of Team
Barriers in a Global
Team
C O N T E N T S
26
34
44
32
Articles
Interview with Insights Success
Evolving with time
Bringing the Right
Organizational
Change
40

Copyright © 2020 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd., All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success. Printed and Published by Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Follow us on : www.facebook.com/insightssuccess/ https://twitter.com/insightssuccess
Cover Price : RS. 150/-
RNI NUMBER: MAHENG/2018/75953
Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal
Managing Editor Sneha Sinha
Publishing Control Team Shruti P. Jambhale
Quality Assurance Team Abhishaj Sajeev
Contributing Editor Anmol Preet Singh
Art & Design Head Amol Kamble
Associate Designer Asha Bange
Art & Picture Editor Priyanka Rajage
Co-designer Deepanjali Jena
Sr. Business Development Manager Megha Mishra
Business Development Manager Nandan Deshpande
Business Development Lead Tejswini Whaval
Business Development Executive Kaustubh Datar
Technical Head Pratiksha Patil
Technical Specialist Amar Sawant
Digital Marketing Manager Amol Wadekar
SME-SMO Executive Atul Dhoran
Circulation Manager Tanaji
Insights Success Media Tech LLC
555 Metro Place North, Suite 100,
Dublin, OH 43017, United States
Phone - (614)-602-1754
Email: info@insightssuccess.com
For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com
Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Off. No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk,
Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017
Phone - India: +91 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85
Email: info@insightssuccess.in
For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.in
Corporate Ofﬁces:
sales@insightssuccess.com
AUGUST, 2020
We are also available on

R. K.
COVER STORY
Dr Mohan Dewan
Principal

. 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.
PROMINENT
LEGAL CONSULTANTS
IN INDIA

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.
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 cost-
effective 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 trans-
border litigation across all tiers of the judiciary. RKD also

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
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
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 Mohan Dewan
Principal
Dr Niti Dewan
Head of Patents &
Business Development

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.

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
• Establishing & implementing
institution-wide IP policies
• Establishing corporate IP cells
IP Policy
• Filing international registration for
Indian owners
• Responding to objections of the
national offices
• Opposition proceedings
• Post registration services
Madrid Protocol
Patent Fields of Expertise
• Paints & Coatings
• Cosmetics
• Agrochemicals
• Materials science
Chemical
Life Sciences
• Pharmaceuticals
• Biotechnology & Biochemistry
• Biologics
• Vaccines
• Medicine & medical equipment
• Medical devices
• Alternative medicine
• Nutraceuticals & supplements
• Civil engineering &
Architecture
• Aeronautical engineering
and defence
• Process equipment
• Industrial & Chemical
engineering
• Textile engineering
• Packaging technology
Engineering
• Information Technology
• Electronics &
Telecommunication
• Electrical, power &
Transmission
• Alternative Energy
• Automotive & Mechanical
• Complex tools and machinery
• Metallurgy
Computer Implemented Inventions
Nanotechnology Robotics & Articial Intelligence
Internet of Things
Interdisciplinary Technologies
• Filing international registration for
Indian owners
• Responding to objections of the
national offices
• Opposition proceedings
• Post registration services
Madrid Protocol
• 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
Trade Marks and Service Marks
IP Valuation
•Technical •Legal •Commercial

• 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
Litigation
Alternate Dispute Resolution
Designs
• 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
• Business transfer
• Technology transfer
• Assignment, licensing,
franchising
• Software development
Other Services
• Joint venture
• Confidentiality &
nondisclosure
• Employment
• Vendors, distributors,
manufacturers
• 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
Corporate Services
IP Training and Education
• Conducting workshops and seminars for law
students, corporations, trade associations,
government entities
• Lecturing at law colleges, engineering colleges
and universities
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
Social Media Enforcement
Internet Domain Issues
• Inspection & scrutiny of IP portfolios
• Preparing comprehensive reports

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 IPAwareness
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 ace-
Mohan 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 well-
connected in many
countries, which
helps us a lot.” -
Chambers & Partners
Asia-Pacific 2017

Subscribe Today
CORPORATE OFFICE
Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Off No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk,
Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017.
Phone - India: 020- 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85
USA: 302-319-9947
Email: info@insightssuccess.in
For Subscription : www.insightssuccess.in
Cheque should be drawn in favour of : INSIGHTS SUCCESS MEDIA AND TECH PVT. LTD.
Stay in touch.
Subscribe to Insightssuccess Get Insightssuccess
Magazine in print, & digital on www.insightssuccess.in
www.insightssuccess.in

Gautam Khaitan
Managing Partner
www.insightssuccess.in20 | August 2020

O. P. Khaitan & CoO. P. Khaitan & CoDelivering Practical Legal Solutions for
the Modern Dynamic Business
For 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.
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.
Meet the Dealmaker
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
advising clients on M&A and other corporate matters.
His clients recognize him as practical and solution-
oriented.
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
The firm has established
an excellent reputation for
its value-based proactive,
pragmatic, and innovative
legal advice.
““
www.insightssuccess.in 21| August 2020

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
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.
The Firm’s
paramount
concept of
“Client
Satisfaction” is
the backbone of
“
“
www.insightssuccess.in22| August 2020

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 learning-
for-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.
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.”
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.
We take a fresh
perspective on
situations, exploring
whether there are
better ways of
delivering practical and
commercial solutions.
“
“
PROMINENT
LEGAL CONSULTANTS
IN INDIA

A Go-to firm for all Your Legal Needs
Law Street
awyers or attorneys, as we
Lcall 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
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

INTERVIEWWITHINSIGHTSSUCCESS
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. 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.”
Mr. Anshul Sharma
Founder

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 COVID-
19 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.
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, co-
operative 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

Biometric Face Reader Attendance
With Thermal Temperature Screening
The 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 touch-
less attendance, as the pandemic is bringing the focus
back on hygiene.
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 finger-
based 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
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
• 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.

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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Expert’s Viewpoint

Research 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.
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
Understanding the Dynamics of
Team Barriers
in a Global Team

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
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.
The New Normal

In 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
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
THE STEREOTYPE
MINDSET OF ‘LEGAL
SUIT IN COURT
WILL TAKE YEARS
TO FINISH’ IS
NOW CHANGING
FOR THE
CLIENTS
“
“
‘CRUSADERS IN BLACK CAPES’
THE GO-GETTER TEAM STRIVING FOR
CLIENT SATISFACTION AT EVERY STEP

Rakesh Umarani
Founding Partner
Harish Kumbhar
Founding Partner
Vaniti Pandit
Founding Partner
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.
“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 takes-
his comfort is all that matters.” says
Vaniti Pandit, the Founding Partner
who completes the partner’s team of
UKP Legal.
“
“
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
INTERVIEW WITH INSIGHTS SUCCESS

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.”
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.”
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

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

Bringing the Right
ORGANIZATIONAL
Change

Evolving with time
Avoiding 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 well-
considered 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.
w tssuccess.inww.insigh 41| August 2020

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.
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
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
change can also contribute to identifying areas that need
additional tweaking and examination.
Keeping an Eye out for Hurdles
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.

Zia Mody
AZB & Partners -
Founder & Managing Partner

An Iconic Woman Winning her Way through Law & Life
popular writer, William Arthur Ward, once said, “If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”
ALet 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
Interview With Insights Success

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

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.

Prominent legal consultants in india.

Prominent legal consultants in india.

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (19)

Similar to Prominent legal consultants in india.

Similar to Prominent legal consultants in india. (20)

More from Merry D'souza

More from Merry D'souza (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Prominent legal consultants in india.