India's 10 Best Law Firms and Recommended Lawyers 2020

1. ISSUE - 05 | AUGUST 2020 INDIA'S 10 BEST LAW FIRMS AND RECOMMENDED LAWYERS 2020 MR. SUDHINDRA BHAT Advocate,SS Law Integrating Advanced Legal Insights for an EXCELLENT CUSTOMER-CENTRIC EXPERIENCE The Legal Enigmas of Becoming a Successful Lawyer The Impact of Coronavirus on the Legal Forefront Law Aspirants Dealing with COVID-19

5. Ones to Watch Law is one of the most sought after professions and becoming a lawyer fetches a prestigious position in society. Over these significant years, the legal system has undergone a paradigm shift with transformations and revision of laws and regulations. Based on community, politics, opinions, and the country's development reforms, the law firms have modified their offerings and are now becoming transparent and vocal about their choices. Today, a law firm is not just a collection of its partners, but it is a brand entity representing its presence with utmost stance and victories. All the partners have individual expertise in their respective fields and contribute their robust execution skills for the upliftment of a firm. The Business Brainiac presents a special issue “India's 10 Best Law Firms and Recommended Lawyers 2020”, which highlights the prominent law firms and exceptional lawyers delivering ace legal insights to clients around the globe. On the Cover, we have SS Law: A prominent professional service provider serving the clients with customized legal offerings. In the special category profiles, we have Concept Legal: A Global Platform providing Comprehensive, Innovative, and Solution-Oriented Legal Services and TPM Solicitors & Consultants: Pioneers in the field of Trade Remedies. The issue covers an exclusive Interview with Majmudar & Partners: A Renowned Law Firm leading the Legacy of Excellence. Also, the issue features profiles of key players like Amlegals: An Illustrious Law Firm delivering Holistic Legal Insights, Joachim & Janson: A World-Class Trusted Legal Advisor Safeguarding Law with Integrity and Excellence, PDS Legal: Offering a Myriad Range of Swift and Seamless Services in the Legal Fraternity, Vandana Shah: A Woman of Steel, Stance, and Substance. These partners are leaders and top-notch lawyers of the corporate legal fraternity, who are performance-oriented and path-breaking tycoons reigning with their thought-provoking leadership skills and diligent work ethic. With evolving times, the lawyers are marking their global presence and winning international recognition for their innovative perspectives and steadfast approach. Also, our in-house editor has penned down creative write-ups “The Legal Enigmas of Becoming a Successful Lawyer”, “The Impact of Coronavirus on the Legal Forefront” and “Law Aspirants dealing with COVID-19”.

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7. MASTHEAD EDITORIAL Dipali Patel Krishnai Khairnar,Sara Patel. Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor ART & DIRECTOR Art & Design Director Chetan Urunkar Ashish Thakare Swapnil Patil Visualizer Graphic Artist ISSUE - 05 | AUGUST 2020 INDIA'S 10 BEST LAW FIRMS AND RECOMMENDED LAWYERS ADVERTISING & PROMOTION Email : sales@thebusinessbrainiac.com Marketing Manager Rajendra Choudhary Piyush Kshirsagar, Harsh Patel 2020 Business Development Executive MR. SUDHINDRA BHAT Advocate,SS Law DEVELOPMENT Technical Head Technical Consultant Pankaj Hongekar Dhiraj Kate Integrating Advanced Legal Insights for an EXCELLENT CUSTOMER-CENTRIC EXPERIENCE The Legal Enigmas of Becoming a Successful Lawyer The Impact of Coronavirus on the Legal Forefront Law Aspirants Dealing with COVID-19 August 2020 WRITE TO US TO SUBSCRIBEBE ONLINE Email : info@thebusinessbrainiac.com TURN ON PAGE 20 CONNECT : SUBSCRIBE ONLINE Email: subscribe@thebusinessbrainiac.com thebusinessbrainiac.com Business Brainiac Business_Brainiac business_brainiac Business Brainiac

10. 36 38 42 44 36 AMLEGALS : An Illustrious Law Firm delivering Holistic Legal Insights Safeguarding Law with Integrity and Excellence 38 Joachim & Janson : A World-Class Trusted Legal Service Provider PDS Legal : Offering a Myriad Range of Swift and Seamless Services in the Legal Fraternity 42 A Woman of Steel, Stance, and Substance 44 Vandna Shah :

13. The Prestigious COVER STORY PROFILE

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15. E stablished in 2015, SS Law is a prominent professional service provider serving the clients with customized legal offerings in Family/Divorce, Criminal, Civil, IPR, Personal Injury, Property, Corporate Law, Arbitration and Mediation.It provides advisory, training, and investigation services under Anti-Corruption Laws and White- Collar Crimes to corporates. The firm offers advisory, compliance, and litigation support services Trial Court, High court, and Supreme Court. Additionally, it delivers assistance to 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. August | 2020 15

16. Areas of Expertise SS Law Firm has a specialized team of lawyers for handling cases in the following areas: • Litigation Criminal and Civil • Corporate Law • Family/Divorce • Auto Accident/ Traffic / Personal Injury • Property and Real Estate • Human Resources and Employment Law • Corporate and Commercial Law Incorporation of Entities Banking & Finance Capital Markets and Securities Law Corporate/ M&A Competition/ Antitrust Law • IPR- TradeMarks Domain Names, Copyrights, Industrial Designs and Patents • Education • Family Dispute Counseling • Arbitration • Taxation The Torchbearer of SS Law An altruistic personality, Sudhindra Bhat is a first-generation lawyer and the Managing Partner at SS Law. He is an expert having an extensive experience of over two decades has been bequeathed with innumerable legal and Business accolades. His qualification includes LLB, LLM, MBA, MFM, CFA, Ph.D. Sudhindra has been a legal and business consultant of leading Indian publicly traded companies, universities, and also of Indian subsidiaries of several Fortune 500 companies. He has been a legal counsel to Banks, Financial Institutions, University, apart from large and medium private enterprises in India and abroad. He offers both hands-on legal advice and overall strategic inputs while drafting and negotiating contracts for complex transactions to reflect the clients' interests at all times. He specialized in Litigation, Corporate Law, and Family Law. The firm's great partner and backbone Ms. Poli Borgohain have bagged benchmarks of excellence while inspiring and motivating the team to put their best foot forward to achieve maximum results. Abiding with integrity, Poli creates exciting possibilities that everyone can achieve together, working as a team. She appreciates the efforts of others and builds trust and fosters team collaboration. August | 2020 16

17. A Flourishing Journey every assignment and that's what differentiates it from the other players. Its ability to generate 'out-of-the-box' ideas and innovative solutions has earned respect and admiration over the years. It combines technical excellence with commercial insight. It's the ability to take the most complex questions and provide a clear answer. The firm identifies client confidence, recognition of quality work, and the growing dominance of India as a global powerhouse to be the key elements that would be driving SS Law in the future. The recent reforms and stringent policies laid by the Government have unlocked new vistas of opportunities for the industry. innovative, integrated, relevant, and solution-oriented legal advice, which is also cost-effective. The dedicated lawyers strive to understand the clients' needs and circumstances, to think independently, and maintain honesty, fairness, integrity, and professionalism. We put a world-class client experience right at the heart of what we do and the world's leading businesses can come to us with their most complex challenges. Under the leadership of Sudhindra, SS Law is the largest full-service law firm in Bangalore Karnataka -India, with over 25 lawyers, offices in India's key business centers. This was followed by a further period of exponential growth, including the launch of several new outstanding legal practice areas. The firm embraces this legacy, while also bringing its partners and associates together with a new blueprint for the future, based on a strong client- focused value system, a collaborative work culture, and a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach to problem-solving. Even after having amassed years of expertise, it considers itself as a learner in this domain and still refers to the basics for The Achievement's Corner The lawyers regularly speak in various fora and have credit, several publications in various national and international professional journals and magazines on Corporate-Commercial, International Arbitration, Litigation, Finance, and Business. The lawyers conducted various training programs for several Fortune 500 companies. For its excellent performance and proficient work-ethic, SS Law has nominated and received several awards since 2016. SS Law committed to consistently delivering quality. It can support a large and varied client base including Individual Client to domestic and foreign commercial enterprises, start- ups, the Governmental and regulatory bodies. That means providing timely, August | 2020 17

18. The Pandemic Times material available for free. With social distancing in place, the firms are rotating teams of lawyers in and out each day. This platooning strategy allowed the firm to maintain a presence in its offices while minimizing the chances for its attorneys to encounter the virus. It also offered scalable collaboration and presentation, designed for “anywhere access” and is well- equipped to handle the increased traffic as legal professionals conduct internal and external meetings, litigation teams work in concert to craft their arguments and write and submit briefs, and firm managers access and analyze their teams' workflow. Like the concept of remote lawyering. related meetings. Some district courts, criminal courts, and legal services organizations have held out closing or are going fully remote, but it may only be a matter of time before access to justice will come to mean online access – a change that will likely remain in some forms post-pandemic. Our legal team at SS Law is helping our clients to address the current challenges they face. The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing changes in the way the world (including the world of business) works to such a degree that the effects are sure to extend far beyond the current situation. In the legal world, there are currently a variety of responses in play. The Supreme Court postponed oral arguments for the first time since 1918, and many courts are also canceling hearings and non-case It prepared the attorneys and support staff to work from home and fully close offices in cities that have mandated it. The law firms proactively approached the needs of corporate clients and created cross-disciplinary task forces and released checklists and guidance for their clients, often making this Keeping pace with the On-Going Momentum The legal profession is a competitive one. These changing times can be exciting and dynamic, but with them comes a host of challenges. The major challenges include Globalization/ Competition, Low-Cost Legal Service Providers, New Lawyer Development, Technology, The Internet, and challenging clients. There has been a paradigm shift in how the legal industry works today than ever before. Earlier it was all about legacies of a family pursuing the profession, toiling long hours, sweating it out, and more. Getting some legal information which was a pain in the neck once, is now only a few clicks away. Technology is a boon for law professionals also, as they no longer have to hunt for their clients. The legal process has also become a kind of speedier than ever. Due to the changing economic times, there has been a constant effort by the legal professionals to find new ways to attain and retain their clients, ultimately making this sector more effective, efficient, accessible, and reliable. August | 2020 18

19. The SMART Approach The Upcoming Times that is, implementing change. Nothing awakens necessity more than a crisis. Now, the legal field is beginning to look beyond the urgency and immediacy of the onset of this crisis and trying to assess what comes next. It seems all but certain that any hope of a “V- shaped” recovery, ushering in a swift return to the “old normal,” is wishful thinking. It is in a liminal space, which is a transitional time between what was and what is next. During the last decade, countless predictions were made about the coming age of innovation in the legal industry, but there was only marginal incremental change. Once Sudhindra quoted, “Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future.” Something no one predicted is that it would take a global pandemic to finally usher in an era of actual innovation SS Law believes in nothing is impossible and our Mission is your Success. At SS Law firm, it focuses on SMART goals i.e. specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. Managers should consistently provide feedback and keep employees focused on their performance. Feedback acts as a reminder. Without it, employees get too caught up in their daily tasks and lose sight of the bigger picture. As we all know, the legal market is approaching a tipping point. By practicing SMART Goal and updating new technology, constantly validating the legal market, the firm will reach new heights. Other themes will deepen and accelerate trends in the legal marketplace. As the economy continues to weaken, there will be churn in corporate legal departments, leading to fractured relationships and opportunities for non-incumbents. As the demand for legal services lessens, supply will increase, leaving lawyers, and law firms that lack strong positioning and differentiation struggling to overcome perceptions that they're offering nothing more than a commodity. The number of innovations that can be hatched to address these and other developments is limited only by a law firm's dedication to strategic thinking. The task ahead is massive, but as with any difficult task, the only way to approach it is one step at a time. Few words of wisdom for young legal aspirants, “Certification is far less important than success, and certification doesn't guarantee success. Young aspirants prepare themselves, they have a real hard time when they begin their legal career. They have to concentrate on their general intelligence and knowledge of the law.” August | 2020 19

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21. THE SPECIAL CATEGORY PROFILES

22. E stablished in 2012, Concept Legal International is a Delhi based full-service commercial law firm, which provides cutting-edge specialization primarily in the area of real estate laws, corporate laws, general litigation, and Intellectual Property along with allied services. It has a single-window legal service involving litigation, dispute resolution, and interface with the plethora of regulatory frameworks promptly. August | 2020 22

23. The Leading Force behind the Law Firm A powerful lawyer is a key to the success of any organization. With an intellectual self and dynamic demeanor, Mr. Raghvendra P. Singh is a Leading Practicing Lawyer and Founding Partner of Concept Legal International. With a profound experience of over two decades, Raghvendra is a diligent seasoned lawyer dealing with legal matters across the globe. He is enrolled as a Member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators- London. He spearheads various fields of Law primarily focused on real estate practice, which includes due diligence reports for premises acquisition on lease and/or outright basis especially covering the area of Delhi, NCR, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Gujarat areas. Raghvendra has worked for various Public Limited Companies such as BLB Ltd, Kotak Mahindra Bank as In-house Lawyer for Real Estate and Corporate Advisory. He is an expert in providing end-to-end solutions to clients in real estate matters right from due diligence of properties, advising on commercial aspects including valuation of properties till the conferment of the title of properties including residential and/or banks and financial institutions on Internet Banking issues in India. commercial properties with the Registries and various Authorities His decades' long experience in litigation has successfully represented clients before various Courts and FORA and has handled the issues related to employer/employee relationship, service contracts and their enforcements, recovery cases, execution matters, matrimonial matters, family disputes, maintenance, domestic violence, and many others. He has also appeared before the Economic Offences Wing concerning the matters about commercial aspects and has vast experience in handling the matters about Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The firm acquires new heights due to increasing expertise in international commercial arbitration and intellectual property related to dispute resolution. It is responsible for handling the entire trademark portfolio of several leading companies from different parts of the world. The firm handles the patent portfolio of various multinational companies and the excellent team is well equipped to handle a diverse range of patent applications in various fields including computer sciences and biotechnology. Exceptional Specializations and Key Offerings Raghvendra has featured on several news channels and newspapers for his core area of expertise in real estate laws and regulations of the country. He has been featured on the news channel CNBC Awaaz, the video of which is available on YouTube. Concept Legal International specializes in several diversified areas of practice; these areas are not limited to Intellectual Property, Dispute Resolution, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Information Technology, Banking & Finance, Litigation, Advisory, Regulatory Compliance, Corporate and Real Estate laws. It has a dedicated team of specialists, who specialize in handling matters related to Real Estate Laws and Due Diligence. A Global Outreach Concept Legal International provides services to several Public Sector Banks on wide-ranging issues such as the drafting and reviewing of Corporate Documentation, Project Finance, and the deployment of Internet Banking facilities. The firm advises several August | 2020 23

24. The firm also focuses on advising and undertaking IT protocols for E- banking, payment systems for online transactions, and compliance with financial services legislation. 'CONCEPTLEGAL INTERNATIONAL' also undertakes litigation, mainly civil and criminal litigations of general nature in District courts, High Court of Delhi, High Court of Uttarakhand at Nainital, High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh, Supreme Court of India, Debt Recovery Tribunals, National Company Law Tribunal, Consumer Forums, Labor Tribunals, etc. strategies, linking agreements, strategic partnerships, collaboration agreements, and joint ventures. A Plethora of Services Concept Legal International provides advisory services to government, companies, and individuals on issues relating to intellectual property rights, legal compliance, and strategy to handle regular legal issues. The firm regularly reviews the law and regulations emerging on the national and international level in property management, enforcement and commercialization, and regulatory compliance. the field of World Trade Organizations, investment regime of India, real estate, energy infrastructure, aerospace, highways and seaways, road transport, biotechnology, and emerging issues in Companies Laws and Capital markets and advises the clients to cope with the changing legal atmosphere swiftly and with cost- effectiveness. The firm also advises and resolves the issues arising in the labor law regime and updates clients on the changing scenarios of labor legislation and regulations framed under it on a timely basis. The firm's key services in the Information Technology sector include advising, negotiating, and drafting contracts in connection with procurement and delivery of IT systems and services, outsourcing projects and managed services, software development and distribution, dispute resolution, joint ventures, and other strategic alliances, e-commerce and Internet-based businesses, data protection, privacy and security, project finance and other funding arrangements, intellectual In the area of Electronic Commerce, law and practice, the firm's services include advising on strategic alliances in the e-commerce field, establishment of e-procurement exchanges and multi-party trading arrangements, establishment, and operation of web sites, design, hosting and maintenance agreements, online terms of trade, data protection, and privacy issues, copyright protection and brand August | 2020 24

25. The firm delivers effective and solution-oriented guidance on issues relating to corporate compliance scattered over a wide range of legislations and rules/regulations framed under them to enable its clients to operate in a hassle-free atmosphere so far the legal issues are concerned. The firm mainly operates in real estate, banking and finance institutions, capital markets, energy, foreign trade, hospitals & diagnostic centers, oil and gas sector, FMCGs. The firm provides complete legal structuring to the company/firm/LLP, essential assistance and advice in obtaining approval of FIPB/RBI/FTPB. It also offers regular imputations to doctors and diagnostic centers and hospitals on emerging law and provides advice and compliance- related services in the area of surrogacy, PNDT, medical negligence, professional indemnity, and regulatory interface with government departments and litigation arising out of these issues. Hague, Switzerland. This case is filed on behalf of the Government of India, wherein the firm is claiming from them damage which is the compensation of 190 crores INR from the Chinese Government for the spread of Covid19, which we consider as a man-made virus which has killed several Indians which is equivalent to genocide. “When we went to the international forum for this case we are not sure whether the court would accept our petition but we were very lucky that the court considered our points and have accepted the case and investigation will be going on in near months very soon”. A Potent Action With a tagline “legal team on your side”, the latest feather in the cap for Concept Legal International is the filing of a case against China in the International Court of Crime at August | 2020 25

26. I n an interview with Business Brainiac, Akil Hirani, the Managing Partner of Majmudar & Partners gave some insightful answers highlighting the influences made of his firm, proficient service offerings, founding ideals, winning prestigious honors, current and future perceptions. With extensive experience, Akil has spearheaded his legal legacy with par excellence and bestowed its clients with top-notch successful legal upshots. (27) years, is admitted in India, England & Wales and California (currently inactive), and oversees the firm's transactional, regulatory, and finance practice groups. Mr. A. K. Hirani, who has been in practice for over forty (40) years, is a specialist in banking and real property law. Mr. Rukshad Davar is a leading corporate/M&A partner with international deal experience at Jones Day's former Indian affiliate and heads the M&A practice group at the firm. Mr. Neerav Merchant is a highly recommended company/commercial and dispute resolution lawyer. Mr. Amrit Mehta has expertise in corporate/M&A, private equity, contract, and employment law. Mr. Fraser Alexander is a senior banking and commercial litigation lawyer. Mr. Ravishankar Raghavan is the counsel of the tax and private client practice. Mr. N. Raja Sujith is a foreign investment, corporate, technology, and employment law specialist, and heads the Bangalore office. We work with many large and medium-sized international and local corporates, banks, and funds. Today, in Kindly Brief Us about Your Organization. the Indian legal market, we are considered as a solid law firm, which does not compromise ethics. Our firm stands out for partner-led delivery of legal advice with a full focus on achieving the commercial or business goal. This coupled extreme responsiveness has made us a sought after firm for clients who need high quality and high-value services in tight timeframes. 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. Having offices in Mumbai, Bangalore and New York, and integrated network offices in Chennai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi, it services clients nationally and internationally. Majmudar & Partners' national team of close to one hundred (100) lawyers provides high-quality and seamless legal services. Most of our lawyers have international work experience and have been recognized as leaders in their field. We are structured on the lines of an international law firm, where each lawyer is on a partnership track. The best-known personalities of the firm are its managing partner, Mr. Akil Hirani; senior advisor and partner, Mr. A. K. Hirani; partner, Mr. Rukshad Davar; partner, Mr. Neerav Merchant; partner, Mr. Amrit Mehta; of counsel, Mr. Fraser Alexander; tax counsel, Mr. Ravishankar Raghavan; and Bangalore office partner, Mr. N. Raja Sujith. Apprise Us in Detail about Your Areas of Specialization. Inbound investments into India, corporate/M&A, restructuring, competition, securities, banking, and corporate finance, private equity and venture capital, fund structuring, tax, technology, media and telecommunications, employment, projects, infrastructure and energy, biotechnology, outsourcing, IP, distribution, real property, and disputes are the main practice areas of the firm. We are one of the few Indian law firms to have created an industry focus. We specialize in the following industries: (i) financial services and insurance; (ii) pharmaceuticals and life sciences; (iii) technology; (iv) manufacturing and industrial; and (v) consumer and retail. Describe the Journey of Your Organization Along with a Track Record in the Legal Market. Please incorporate by reference the points mentioned under 1 above. We have evolved from a domestic law firm to a sophisticated cross-border focused law firm in the last 20 years. Mr. Akil Hirani, who has been in practice for more than twenty-seven August | 2020 26

27. Tell Us about Your Organization's Achievements and Accomplishments. • Our managing partner, Mr. Akil Hirani, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame by Asia Pacific Legal 500, having been recommended as a Leading Individual within Corporate and M&A for the last 13 years. What Is Your Plan of Action to Tackle the Challenges in Terms of the COVID-19 Crisis, Changing Recent Trends, Market Players in the Legal Market? • The firm is the winner of the “2020 Indian Law Firm Awards” presented by India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) in the categories of “Insurance and Reinsurance” and “Labour and Employment.” The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented economic and social impact across industries, and the uncertainty will continue for some more months until an effective vaccine is found and mass-produced. • The firm is the winner of the “Lawyers Worldwide Awards Super Lawyers 2020” in the category of “Employment Law Firm of the Year – India.” What Is Majmudar & Partner's Difference in the Legal Market? • The firm is the winner of the 2020 Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award as “Franchise Law Firm of the Year in India” and also “Investment Structuring Law Firm of the Year in India.” • Majmudar distinguishes itself from its competitors primarily on service quality and professionalism. Majmudar's attorneys work closely with each client to understand the practical aspects of the client's business. In this way, legal problems are analyzed from a business perspective, and clients are given sound and practical legal advice and services. Majmudar & Partners is a technology- first law firm. This has helped the firm in seamlessly transitioning to a work from home environment. Having a very flat structure, the Covid-19 crisis has actually helped the firm's members bond very well across the board. • The firm is the winner of the Lawyers Worldwide Awards 2019 as “Banking and Finance Law Firm of the Year.” • The firm had also won the 2019 Corporate International Magazine Global Award as “Investment Structuring Law Firm of the Year in India” and the Corporate Insider's 2019 Business Excellence Awards as “Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year - India.” Majmudar & Partners believes that the Covid-19 crisis is actually a huge opportunity. Distress abounds and therein lies the potential for distressed M&A deals, which the firm is increasingly seeing. Technology and data privacy are becoming very important, and the firm's technology and data privacy practices are booming. The pharmaceutical, life sciences and the healthcare sectors are witnessing significant traction. Employment law is also a huge area, especially with layoffs increasing. Contract law advice also continues to be busy. • Majmudar's skills are particularly suited to the needs of those clients who demand speedy and specialized professional services. • Majmudar provides bulge-bracket services in a boutique setting and is a one-stop-shop for all legal requirements of clients and partner- led attention is given to every matter to ensure the thoroughness and detail that is required in complex transactions. • The firm is a winner of Finance Monthly Legal Awards 2019 in the category of “Insolvency & Restructuring – Law Firm of the Year – India.” • The firm is the winner of the 10th Annual GLE Awards 2019 in the category of “Investment Structuring Law Firm of the Year in India.” • A majority of Majmudar's partners have international work experience, and Majmudar is structured on the lines of an international law firm. As the firm is nimble and agile, and the firm's members are used to a multidisciplinary practice structure (as opposed to being super-specialized), the firm is coping very well in the crisis. The future trend in the law firm space will be that of nimble and agile firms, who can quickly give practical advice to clients. • The firm won the Silver Award for the “Best Indian Law Firm 2019” at the prestigious International Legal Alliance Summit & Awards event held in New York in June 2019. • Majmudar is one of the few law firms in India that has full-service tax capabilities and offers end-to-end advice on matters ranging from large complex M&A deals and complex litigations/arbitrations to the minutest of legal/operational issues. • Majmudar & Partners has been ranked in the Top 30 Indian law firms of RSG Top 50. August | 2020 27

28. renowned legal publications like Chambers Global, Chambers Asia Pacific, Asia Pacific Legal 500, IFLR 1000, and Asialaw Profiles. • Akil has been nominated by his peers and recognized in the Who's Who Legal 2020 edition as one of the thought leaders in the areas of banking, data (information technology, media, and telecoms), M&A and corporate governance. deals. He blends top-tier international skills with superlative Indian law acumen. His sector expertise is in financial services, insurance, and technology. His clients include Pelliconi, CIGNA, and many others. Where Is Majmudar & Partners Heading Towards? Brief Us about the Future of Your Organization. Majmudar & Partners has been in the trade for more than 75 years. It will continue to grow its key practices with lawyers of the right quality. Akil's key practice areas are corporate/M&A, finance, technology, tax, and funds. Having practiced for more than 27 years, he is more broad- based in what he does. This also emanates from having grown up in a legal environment in the 90s when the law firm market in India was very nascent and law firm sizes very small. He is routinely called upon by his clients to advise them on India's strategy, both legal and business- oriented. This work is immensely challenging and interesting. • Akil has won Legal Era's Young Achiever's Award in the past. About the Featuring Leader How Do You Align Your Organization with Your Vision and Mission? Enlighten Us about the Leader of Your Organization and His Influence Focused on Attaining Excellence. Frank discussions, transparency, and clear articulation of thoughts to all the stakeholders in the organization have helped me align the organization with my vision and mission. Managing partner, Akil Hirani, is one of India's leading lawyers and on par with India's eminent lawyers. In the Indian Lawyer 250, he has been described as “a prodigy” by sources who have tallied his achievements to date against his youth. He is admitted to practice in India, England, and California, and is one of the few Indian attorneys to have international qualifications in two major legal jurisdictions. He brings in more than 27 years of experience. Akil does public and private M&A including mergers, business transfers, and stock Recognitions : • Akil Hirani has been inducted into the Hall of Fame by Asia Pacific Legal 500, having been recommended as a Leading Individual within Corporate and M&A for the last 13 years! • India Business Law Journal has ranked Akil in the A list of India's top 100 lawyers in 2019, 2018 and 2017. • LexisNexis has ranked him in the Top 100 Legal Luminaries of India. Share a Piece of Valuable Advice to Legal Aspirants. The formative years in the life of a lawyer are the most important ones. Find a good senior and stay with him/her for a while until you learn the ropes. • Akil has been ranked as a leading lawyer for various practice areas by August | 2020 28

30. E stablished in 1999, TPM Consultants deals primarily in the field of international trade remedies. TPM assists domestic producers in India and in other countries, suffering from unfair imports in their domestic market, in availing the required protection in the form of anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, or safeguard measures. Furthermore, it also represents the interests of exporters and importers facing such investigations in India, or other countries. The organization has assisted Indian exporters facing investigations in several jurisdictions such as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, European Union, GCC, Indonesia, Korea, South Africa, and the USA. Over the last two decades, TPM has represented domestic producers, exporters, or importers in more than 700 trade remedial investigations. Apart from trade remedies, the firm also provides services in the field of non-tariff measures, trade policies, industry analysis, business consulting, indirect tax, and litigation. August | 2020 30

31. A Journey to the Forefront TPM Consultants has established its brand over the years and has experience of more than 700 investigations, which makes it not only the top firm in India but also amongst the most experienced firms in the field globally. With its team of more than 40 professionals including Lawyers, Cost Accountants, Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, Engineers, and M.B.As., it has marked its position with top-notch skills and competence required to provide a holistic approach to its clients. The Masterminds of Excellence Mr. A. K. Gupta and Mrs. Kavita Gupta are the Co-founders of TPM Consultants. Mr. A. K. Gupta, Managing Director – He is a Master of Management and Science from prestigious institute BITS - Pilani Rajasthan (Birla Institute of Technology and Science – Pilani Rajasthan). He is a member of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountant of India and All India Management Association. Before establishing TPM, Mr. Gupta was working as a Deputy Director in the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping trade remedies. and Allied Duties. During his tenure as a government bureaucrat, he found that there was a need for more legal consultants in the field of trade remedies to provide support to the Indian industry. Therefore, he quit his job with the Government and established TPM Consultants, as a firm exclusively engaged in trade remedies. Having worked in the field for over two decades, Mr. Gupta has established himself as a luminary in the field of Mrs. Kavita Gupta, Director – Mrs. Gupta is M.A. (Economics) from Rajasthan University. She worked in Punjab National Bank for 14 years before quitting her job to help run TPM. Mrs. Gupta is the backbone of TPM and has played a pivotal role in its growth and helping it realize its vision. August | 2020 31

32. Areas of Expertise customs policy and provides consultancy in competition law and policy. TPM is one of the first firms dealing exclusively in the field of international trade remedies. The term “international trade remedies” refers to anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard measures, which a country may invoke under the WTO Agreements, in case the domestic industry of the country is suffering due to imports into the country. The investigations for the imposition of such measures are quasi-judicial and involve the participation of all stakeholders including domestic producers, governments of exporting countries, exporters, importers, users, etc. Team Work: The Foundation of Success “Aim high and work hard to achieve your ambitions. In the road to success, there are no substitutes to hard work and commitment” India or third countries, as well as domestic producers in foreign countries in investigations in their country. For instance, the firm assisted the domestic industry in Egypt in seeking anti-dumping measures against imports from the USA. TPM believes in adding value and going one step extra for its clients. The USP that sets TPM apart from other firms is the passion the team has for their work, wherein each team member is deeply invested in ensuring the success of their work and its rich experience and unparalleled expertise. In this field, TPM has experience of dealing with industries from a wide range of sector including chemicals, petrochemicals, machinery, pharmaceuticals, electrical products, electronics, yarns & fibers, fabrics, cement, flooring & other construction materials, tyres, rubbers, fertilizers, paper, steel, copper, and many more. While the core specialization of the firm is trade remedies, it has also carved out a name for itself in the field of trade policy, non-tariff barriers, EXIM monitoring, and analysis. It also represents industries before the Government in matters involving The organization is widely known for its extensive experience in representing the interests of domestic producers in such investigations. In fact, in Indian investigations, TPM represents the domestic producers in about 80-90% of the cases on an average. It also represents the interests of Indian exporters facing such investigations in other countries. This has allowed it to maintain long-lasting relationships with the clients and become a brand entity in the field. Mr. Gupta believes that a firm can grow only when individual team members excel together. He believes in allowing individuals to set their own goals in line with the broader vision of the firm, and work towards them. Moreover, all team members are encouraged to take ownership of their work, which further encourages each member to achieve their potential. He believes that team spirit is one of the cornerstones of success. TPM also represents exporters located in foreign countries in investigations in August | 2020 32

33. Winning Prestigious Honors Indian industry in the first safeguard investigation for the imposition of quantitative restrictions in India. • CEO Magazine's “Consultants of the Year 2019”. • CEO Story's “10 Admired Companies to Watch in 2019”. TPM has helped pave the way in the evolving field of trade remedies. Some of its notable achievements are as under: The efforts made by TPM have also been recognized by some of the top business and professional magazines in India, and it has been featured in below: The Upcoming Steps Having already established itself as one of the highest-ranked firms in the field of trade remedies in India, TPM has its eyes set on replicating its success globally. The long-term goal for TPM is to expand its outreach by opening its offices in other countries. In the Indian landscape, the organization believes that there is still a need for trade remedial measures to reach every sector of the Indian manufacturing industry. For this, there is a need for generating greater awareness amongst the domestic producers. • TPM is empaneled on the DGTR Panel of Experts. • Insight Success's “Top 10 Most Valuable Law Firms in 2017”. CEO Magazine's “25 Fast- Growing Legal Consultant Companies in India” in 2017. • TPM has authored a book published by LexisNexis titled “A Handbook of Trade Remedial Measures – An Indian Perspective”. • • Business Connect's “Consultants of the Year 2019”. • In 2015, TPM represented the Indian industry in the first anti-subsidy investigation in India. TPM represented the Indian industry in the first finding issued in an anti- circumvention investigation of anti- dumping duties. • Additionally, it is also focused on achieving the same success in other fields such as that of non-tariff barriers, trade policy, and EXIM monitoring and analysis. This would allow it to provide comprehensive solutions to its clients in terms of international trade competition. • TPM is representing the Indian industry in the first bilateral safeguard investigation under an FTA. TPM is also representing the • August | 2020 33

35. The High-Grade ARTICLES AND PROFILES

36. E The firm doesn't want to confine itself to one law or subject and aims to explore every area and create expertise in that. This makes it a one- stop platform, which is beneficial for its clients to come back again with varied kinds of legal issues and also imparts confidence in them. “To put clients at the heart of all we do, we engage and motivate exceptional people allowing them to do and think differently. We provide our clients as a team, with a joint focus on strategy, effectiveness, and dexterity. We believe in the Techno-Commercial-Legal (TCL) approach of working and we work as an extended legal team for the client”, adds the firm. international cases. stablished in 2005, AMLEGALS is a highly research-driven specialized law firm with offices in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Additionally, it also operates in 14 cities throughout India through the long term Associates, Affiliates, and Of-counsels. The firm has close international Associates in China, Singapore, UK, and UAE. The key strengths that the firm focuses on are pro-active research-based advisory, non-litigation, and highly research-based litigation. Any organization succeeds when the people working in it or for it are driven. He employs young talent, who are passionate about their field. He is the front runner when it comes to studying and comprehending new laws. His understanding of niche subjects is second to none. As a head of the family of AMLEGALS, “I strive to motivate the team in a direction which helps in the growth of not only the firm but also the entire team. I try to align the personal goals of my team with their professional goals”, adds Mr. Misshra. The key advice to all the legal aspirants is to keep the mindset, thought process, learning, and writing simple and aim for the simplest version. This will surely create sense out of every effort towards one's legal career. The Journey of Ascension Initially, the firm was known as Mishra Associates, which gradually re- branded itself as AMLEGALS in 2012 and is now working as a multi- disciplinary Specialized Law Firm. It has always worked with the vision of client satisfaction and getting the desired results while maintaining the ethics of this profession. The firm has been involved in landmark cases in IBC, has handled a plethora of domestic and international arbitrations, and several interesting orders under GST from various High Courts. An Icon of Steadfast Leadership A veteran personality, Anandaday Misshra is the Founder at AMLEGALS. He is a positive and ambitious person, who believes in the collective growth of the team. He's attentive and keen observant self and is driven when it comes to the application of strategy. Mr. Misshra is encouraging and supportive of all his young team members and allows them to implement and bring forward innovative and instrumental ideas. He acts in several national and Areas of Prowess AMLEGALS have a specialized team for Domestic & International Arbitrations, Goods & Services Tax (GST), Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC), Corporate & Company Laws, M&A, Employment & Labour Laws, Contract Laws, Commercial Laws, and more. August | 2020 36

37. Arbitration- Domestic & International asset transfer, joint venture, due diligence, etc. which also includes cross-border transactions. Mission Knowledge • Top 50 Legal Leader List, India, 2020- Legal Fund AMLEGALS believes that one should set out the finest strategic and innovative steps before and during arbitral proceedings for the best and desired results in an arbitration proceeding. It handles international arbitrations under rules of UNCITRAL, SIAC, and ICC regularly for numerous industries and sectors. The law firm has a dedicated group of prominent domestic and international arbitration specialists, with recognized and formidable advocacy skills. It handles high-value multi-jurisdictional commercial arbitrations in India. • Most Innovative Law Firm in India, 2019 - AI Contract Laws • Legal Fees Survey, 2019 - Indian Business Law Journal (IBLJ) The firm is a preferred choice by various companies in India and around the globe for legal vetting and drafting of different types of agreements. A Plan to Tackle the Pandemic Standing Tall Amongst All “We constantly deliver our expertise most proficiently and effectively, so our clients can strike the best possible balance between cost, quality, speed, and threat.” “Don't wait for opportunity but create one”, “Dream of success and work hard for it”. AMLEGALS has regularly helped its clients to sail through tough times as smoothly as possible, by constantly updating and releasing White Papers on its dedicated microsite covid19.amlegals.com. It has uploaded more than 65 White Papers on different sectors in the quest for bringing clarity on the impact of COVID and how one can tackle it. Goods & Services Tax (GST) Irrespective of the magnitude and scope of business needs and work, every client is given the attention that is needed and deserved. Rather than putting forward theoretical legal analysis, the firm offers specific strategies and advice required to get a deal done, resolve a dispute, or solve a business challenge. The firm looks forward to working with people who prosper in the environment, clients that believe in team-work, and demonstrate inventive, competent, responsive, pioneering, and dependable mind-sets. The firm is engaged in proactive advisory and litigation to handle all GST related issues for any company in India. AMLEGALS has a full-fledged experience to advice on Goods & Service Tax with the Founder & Managing Partner of the firm having a backing of experience of more than two decades in Indirect Taxation and has even authored a book on GST. The firm has released a series of astute analysis, practical FAQs, and concise guides to help identify and assess the key legal and commercial problems, how to mitigate risk at present, and in the future as well as the short and long-term regulatory and operational implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has held a series of 18 Webinars with participation from all over the country. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) The firm forte is IPR, wherein it not only advised but also successfully defended the intellectual property rights of its valuable international and national clientele. It understands the nerve of IPR and blends it with the nature of the business of clients to implement IPR strategically before the IPR Registration authorities, High Courts, and Supreme Court of India. The firm cherishes an environment of performance and provides brilliant and significant learning with a concentration on developing a fully- rounded team. By employing digital technology and alternative resourcing models, it assists the clients in staying at the forefront of up-and-coming opportunities and protects them from threats. The Futuristic Outlook “We are also looking forward to working with our counterparts globally. For the future, we are working on a major AI-driven product that will have a big impact on the legal industry.” Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) The firm is one of the leading and specialized IBC law firms in India with a committed team for IBC. It handles IBC matters in NCLT at Ahmedabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata. Mr. Misshra has also authored a book on IBC which is backed by Wolters Kluwer and will be soon published. Feathers in AMLEGAL's Cap AMLEGALS is dedicated towards the future and hence it works for new laws that will build India. It is a tech and research-driven law firm and hence it always aims to create effective mechanisms for a continuous increase of efficiency through resources available to ensure that reliance can be placed on it. • Notable Law Firm for "Commercial & Transaction" for 2020 - Benchmark Litigation • Notable Law Firm for "Dispute Resolution" for 2019 - Asia Profiles General Corporate and M&A • Top 10 GST Consultant Firm, 2019 - Insight Success The firm has profound knowledge and expertise in all areas of M&A practice including stock acquisitions, takeovers, • Legal Firm of the Year Award 2020 - August | 2020 37

38. E The Journey of Ascension stablished in 2002, Joachim & Janson is an Intellectual Property law office for Entrepreneurs looking forward to building their fortune or business around their valuable intellectual property assets. The firm solely ensures the protection of Brands, Business Names, Logos, Taglines, Inventions, Designs, Trade Secrets, Software, Literary, and Artistic Works. It has served more than 4500 entrepreneurs, which includes numerous multinationals, leading international and national law firms and individuals. The firm provides the right kind of support to an Indian business going pan India or is expanding to overseas markets, or an International corporation pursuing growth in India. It is well networked globally with leading IP & Corporate law offices in 180 countries. With the Tagline “Your Perfect IP Legal Partner”, the firm has become a preferred choice amongst all as it has built a strong foundation with its utmost legal offerings and cost-effective solutions. It uses the most comprehensive, technologically advanced, artificial intelligence-based, and intuitive legal research tools. Joachim & Janson is recognized as one of the best Intellectual Property law firms in Asia -Pacific region. The firm consists of a team of experienced Government of India registered Patent Agents, Trademark, Design & Copyright Attorneys, Start-up IP Lawyers, Patent Engineers, Business Development Advisors, and Consultants with 18 years of experience in handling several thousand IP matters. These experts maintain ultimate professionalism, responsiveness, accountability, and confidentiality in their ethos of work. The team is always committed to doing its utmost to justify the enormous trust that its clients have placed in them. August | 2020 38

39. The Virtuoso thriving for Success services, Maintenance, and IP Litigation support across the globe. The firm offers commercialization /monetization services and conveyance services and also provides a hundred varieties of contracts, agreements, and notice drafting services. was invited to be listed in the Asia Pacific Legal 500. As per India Business Law Journal, April 2013 the firm was mentioned as one among the “50 Indian Law Firms That International IP Owners and Their Legal Advisers Should Know About” Many magazines have mentioned it as one amongst the "25 Most Promising IP, Copyright, Patent & Trademark Consultants in India -2016" and "Best Full-Service IP Law firm -India 2017" by Acquisition International Magazine, UK, and India's 10 Most Reliable Law Firms, 2020 and much more. “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see further”. A visionary leader, Anup Joachim is the Founder & Chief IP Attorney of Joachim & Janson. He is a highly motivated, result-oriented, empathetic, compassionate, fluidic, positive, and quality conscious person. Anup is always willing to try new approaches and ideas, has a vision for the future, and thinks about the firm's operational conditions. The vision and mission of the firm are to provide world-class Intellectual Property services to as many individuals and commercial organizations across the globe. As the Chief IP Attorney, Anup tries to make sure that his organization does not deviate from the determined goals and ideals. The Client-Centric Approach Joachim & Janson considers its client's business and their IP assets as its own. It thoroughly hears out its clients and delivers them with services suited to their requirements. It makes sure that no supervision or follow-up is needed from their end. The firm provides high-quality legal services that are at par with the best IP law firms and charges reasonable rates that can be afforded even by an SSI. The respected rates are the same for micro, small, medium to large entities. It also offers many innovative services that are not available from any other law offices in India or other parts of the globe. The firm bestows its clients with an all-in-one platform, which consists of a myriad range of legal services and insights. Overall, it offers over 45 different services for trademark alone helping the clients to get every possible service under one roof and get ahead of their competitors. A Take on the Pandemic Any organization can survive only by innovating and overcoming the challenges. There will always be speed breakers along the way, but craving the path through them is what makes one potential for the long run. The firm believes that Covid-19 has opened up new opportunities for them overall. With the world going digital people have become used to buying goods and services online and will prefer to do business online for a very long time, geographical limitations will be less. Understanding the need of the hour, it is getting ready to provide various services online. Words of wisdom for the budding lawyers, “If law students choose the right law firms for their internships, they will get to know various fields of law. They can choose what is best suited for them. What they learn in Law School is nothing in comparison to what is in practice. They should be willing to learn more, work hard even when nobody is watching and make good use of their time. If they are willing to help and give something of value that exceeds the expectations of their clients, they will be successful”. The Path Ahead Joachim & Janson is heading towards being the most reliable and trustworthy IP law office in Asia –Pacific region. It hopes that India will become a global innovation, manufacturing, and export hub in Asia in the next 10 years. By helping its clients, the firm aims to become a prominent name in Intellectual property in the world. Bagging a Bunch of Winning Titles Areas of Proficiencies Joachim & Janson provides Intellectual property services like Naming Consultation, Freedom to Operate search, World-wide patentability search, Registration, IP portfolio management, Watchdog Based in Cochin, Kerala, Joachim & Janson has been successful in providing high-quality intellectual property legal services to several thousand companies across the globe. The success rate has been over 80% during the last 18 years. By 2006, it August | 2020 39

40. L aw is undeniably one of the most important sectors in every country. In the times of pandemic, as individual's experience uncertainty and concern for the future, the Government upholds its stature and addresses the situation with a righteous approach. When the Government of India announced the 21 days lockdown, the entire population supported the Government's verdict and decided to fight back in the battle of coronavirus. The lockdown further saw many versions and is to date in existence concerning the given situation at bay. The citizens even though furious are now adapting to this new way of living and almost every industry be it small, medium, or large has sculpted its path ahead. The legal fraternity is also facing on-going damage due to COVID-19, the legal framework of every country is affected. There are multiple law firms today at the receiving end as they are hit hard by this pandemic. With trials on a break, the legal firms should articulate their work with new prevailing aspects and lawyers need to broaden their vision and be welcoming of different perspectives. August | 2020 40

41. Going the Digital Way marketplace, the firms will now have to embrace the new normal way of going digital and have an instrumental online presence. As the future is now virtual, law firms should make use of all social media platforms for their services and additional offerings. The lawyers are becoming tech- savvy due to the huge impact on the field of law. They are delivering their clients queries with utmost legal insights online. Also, as the legal field experiences new updates in the laws and regulations, it is imperative for advocates to keep their clients updated with the current modifications in their respective cases. Hence, keeping in touch with the clients and giving them information about the on-going scenario will assuage the process ahead. The pandemic has forced an exceptional switch to remote work, as every industry needs to have an online presence, the legal fraternity is also marking its territory in the digital space. As it is said, every problem has a solution and many times solutions come in the form of opportunities. However, the legal industry is abided to stick to traditional roots, the COVID-19 outbreak has enforced the use of technology in the legal system. The Supreme Court and High Court are now accessing technology to make the legal procedures easy, reasonable, and for prompt responses. It has been observed that in some Supreme Courts and High Courts some hearing of important cases is conducted virtually. Understanding the need of the hour, technology is playing a major part to equip the courts and ease the process of the legal proceedings. A systematic approach and a flexible plan will go a long way for every law firm. For any firm undergoing a massive transformation by turning to the online business, even though there are many disadvantages, just keep your eye on the advantages. Taking baby steps and teaming with the associates and experts of the field will be an added benefit for the law firms. While every industry is reviving its episode of grief, the legal fraternity should lift their socks and put their best foot forward to mark their territory in the market. Taking a chance at things will be a choice, but to fit in a given scenario will ultimately pay off. A Look at the Future after the Pandemic Ends The nationwide lockdown continues to date in several states and cities respectively. As the future seems unprecedented, the true effects of the situation will take years to disclose. To survive in the August | 2020 41

42. E Partner) in New Delhi, Vihang Virkarin Mumbai and Chetan Nagendra in Bengaluru. related laws and contractual matters. stablished in 2010, PDS Legal is a prominent full-service law firm with offices in five cities - Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Pune. Empowered to deliver high-quality and skilled legal services, it provides its clients with pragmatic legal advice and effective legal solutions to achieve their commercial objectives. It has a dedicated team of close to a 100 lawyers offering a plethora of legal services to clients, including on corporate and commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, taxation (direct and indirect), aviation, project financing, restructuring, antitrust law, and litigation/dispute resolution. Chetan Nagendra heads the practice in Bengaluru. Before joining PDS Legal, he was a partner at AZB & Partners and was also the former Associate General Counsel- the Asia Pacific at Facebook. He is a corporate lawyer with several years of experience across Asia, India, the UK, the US, and the Caribbean, and is licensed in India, UK, New York, and the BVI. Chetan is an alumnus of NLSIU, Bangalore, and Case Western Reserve University, Ohio. Probal has over two decades of experience in advising clients in corporate and commercial matters. He has acquired the memberships of the New York State Bar Association and Bar Council of Delhi. His core areas of focus include advising domestic and foreign clients on mergers, acquisitions, private equity investments, cross-border deals, JVs, and real estate transactions. He has led teams in a large number of domestic deals, including mergers, demergers, acquisitions, and has built a notable general corporate advisory practice. In the last few years, he has also been actively involved in providing strategic advice in matters of shareholder and commercial disputes, as well as in the area of economic offences. He is also recognized as a notable corporate law practitioner. The Core Strengthens of Expertise The firm is led by a group of 12 Partners and Associate Partners, with recognition and rich experience spanning across India. The versatile experience of the team is an added benefit, which is focused on the importance of delivering legal services efficiently, swiftly, and keeping the interests of its clients intact. To ensure quality, all engagements are led by a partner. This also ensures the sharing of knowledge and experience in a variety of sectors and consistent delivery of pragmatic and commercially-focused legal advice. The lawyers of PDS Legal have represented clients on various M&A and corporate transactions including all types of domestic and cross-border deals. The firm has advised clients on a variety of domestic and transnational transactions involving sale and purchase of shares and other securities by Indian/ multinational entities and private equity funds. It is regularly engaged by clients for structuring transactions (including advising on exit mechanisms and internal restructuring strategies), conducting legal diligences, drafting transaction documentation, and many more. As part of its M&A practice, PDS Legal has acted for Monsanto, Tata Capital, GlaxoSmithKline, State Bank of India, United Technologies, Escorts Limited, Excel Industries, Supreme Vihang Virkar is recognized as a prominent corporate, commercial, and aviation law practitioner. He has advised clients on a variety of domestic and multinational transactions which involved aspects ranging from mergers and acquisitions, commercial laws, securities laws, anti-trust regulations, asset and business purchases, private equity funding, and security sales and purchases. Vihang also regularly advises airlines, banks, and aircraft financiers and OEMs on aviation- The Golden Trio PDS Legal is a partnership firm and the corporate law practice is headed by Probal Bhaduri (also the Managing August | 2020 42

43. Group, Deutsche Bank, eBay, Hindustan Unilever, Greaves Cotton, Gujarat Apollo Industries, etc. erstwhile Partners, Tarun Gulati, was recognized for his expertise in litigation and designed as a Senior Counsel. restructuring of conglomerates, acquisitions of small and mid-size companies, leveraged buy-outs, and many more. It has also been advising clients on the renegotiation of contracts, invocation of force majeure provisions, etc. Bestowing Distinctive Legal Insights The firm provides high-quality work at fees that are not prohibitive. It has a state-of-the-art IT set up which enhances its offerings to clients. It believes that the emerging technology-based economy requires tech-savvy, business-savvy, network- savvy lawyers and it continues to incorporate these skill sets in the team members through its knowledge and training programs. The firm also has a robust aviation practice and regularly advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters including asset acquisition (commercial/ private aircraft and helicopters), aircraft/ engine leasing, financing, insurance-related matters, aircraft and helicopter charters, repossession actions, dispute resolution, money claims, arbitration, enforcement of foreign claims in India, etc. The team has advised leading clients including Go Airlines, Jazeera Airways, Air France, and Bhutan Airlines, private aircraft owners such as the Sahara group, Cadila and GVK; banks such as DVB Bank, Deutsche Bank, Nord Bank; and lessors such as BBAM and Alafco. It has been more connected with its clients in these economically trying times and is adding value to their business. While some of these interactions may not generate revenues for them in immediate terms, it believes these will lead to strengthening client relationships and generating a more robust pipeline of revenue in the coming months. The Future Graph PDS Legal is a solution-oriented law firm constantly aligning its existing processes and investing in technology to automate manual processes. This has enabled lawyers to accord more time for client interaction, enhanced research capabilities, and efficient delivery of legal services. Hence, it stands apart by providing high quality and solution-based legal advice at fees that clients do not find exorbitant. PDS Legal continues to grow by adding practices and capabilities. In its growth journey, it intends to expand its presence in other states in India by way of lateral hires and acquiring niche law practices. The next few years are about reinforcing the brand, continuing to provide top-quality advice to clients, and ensuring that it stands at the top. The tax team regularly represents and advises clients on direct and indirect tax matters, involving a wide spectrum of laws such as income tax, excise, customs, service tax, value-added tax, central sales tax, local body taxation, and goods and services tax. The firm has significant experience in handling all types of litigation matters at every level of the judicial hierarchy and alternate dispute resolution proceedings such as arbitration and mediation matters. Apart from its settled presence in the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts, clients have recognized its competence in tax and regulatory laws and engaged the firm to appear on their behalf in specialized tribunals and before statutory authorities across India. The Winning Moments PDS Legal has been recognized and ranked by various international publications and league tables, such as Legal 500, Experts Guides, Asia Law Profiles, IAE Aviation Law, for its expertise in various areas of law. The Partners, Probal Bhaduri, and Vihang Virkar have been included in the list of 'ranked lawyers' for India in (a) M&A and Corporate Law and (b) Aviation respectively by Chambers and Partners. As the firm invests more in technology, it expects to increase the per-person revenue generation without compromising on the quality of its deliverables and advice. In the future, it will continue to expand in the number of lawyers, revenues, and profitability while maintaining its core principles of integrity, hard work, and quality. The Pandemic Outbreak The team has handled litigation cases involving direct and indirect taxes, corporate law, foreign exchange, foreign trade regulations, competition laws, environment, labor, electricity, banking, property, telecommunication, and international and domestic arbitrations. The breadth of its team's competence is reflected in the involvement in many landmark cases reported in law journals in these specialized fields. Recently, one of its The COVID-19 crisis has taught PDS Legal to be digitally enabled and flexible in the way it serves its clients. Given its tech-savvy approach, it has been able to integrate this aspect to meet client requirements efficiently and effectively. While certain areas of practice (such as capital markets) are not doing well given the current situation, there has been a lot of activity in the distressed assets space, August | 2020 43

44. I n the journey of life, many individuals experience hardships, which shatter them to the core but also become a large part of their existence in the longer run. So, what is it that keeps one going when everything falls apart, is its strength, confidence, or resistance? Well, it might vary from one to many, but above all, it's the seed of Courage, which once planted inside blooms into a flourishing tree for long decades. One such powerful and inspirational story that exemplifies courage is of Vandana Shah, a woman of steel, who fought against all odds to reach the top of the pyramid. A Sneak Peek of the Journey and settling down in a 'good' family. Over time, she tied the knot, it was an arranged marriage and she thought she had it all when she finally met her Prince Charming, – a scion of a rich, renowned family. However, it didn't take long to see all her hopes reduce to pieces and finding herself in an emotionally abusive relationship. The abuse, assault, heartbreak, and betrayal added new layers of trauma and began to close off her own-self. lost everything, but my dreams are alive and look at me – I AM ALIVE. That alone makes me a billionaire”. To New Beginnings As Vandana grew up, she started making her way through this world. She was a young cheerful and positive person having an applauding sense of humor, which retained her even in adverse situations. Her motivated and fun self was indeed inherited from her family, as she belonged from an Armed Forces background. Her father, an Indian Air office Force Pilot fought three wars and used to assuage his wife's fears about going into battle by saying, “Don't worry, only two things can happen to me – either I'll live or die. Nothing more.” “You can forget your pain if you help others overcome theirs.” Vandana joined a law college to become a fully trained lawyer, the basic idea was to understand the nuances of law better and not let women be taken for a ride by lawyers. That single event led her to take the first step by forming a support group for divorced, abused and separated women called 360 Degrees Back To Life. The idea behind starting the group was to provide non-judgmental support to those going through a divorce. It turned out to be India's first such group that provided a positive perspective to rebuilding lives even while going through a relationship breakdown. The new family wanted a certain image of an ideal daughter-in-law, which Vandana did put up with for a long while. As the taboo about divorce had her making a go at her marriage at any cost, right from agreeing to see a counselor to even agreeing to sign apology letters on stamp papers. And then came the night that changed it all. After a particularly bad bout of vitriolic abuse, she was thrown out of her marital home with a mere Rs. 750. The bahu of a respected family was out on the streets with nothing. But even as she stood with tears streaking her cheeks, she thought, “I may have Vandana's first blow came in her early twenties when she lost her parents to cancer. Being orphaned at an early age did bring its share of grief, but she continued with her education, exploring her talent, and discovering life. After a few years, the familiar pressure started of getting married August | 2020 44

45. To top it all, she has been awarded 'The 'Best Lawyer in India' and her work in the social forefront got recognition with The KarmaVeer Puraskaar. Penguin which has been launched by the Hon'ble Attorney General of India Mr. Mukul Rohatgi and the Hon'ble Chief Justice of Mumbai High Court, Mr. Mohit Shah. It has been endorsed by Padma Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh, Member of Parliament, Lord Meghnad Desai, and it looks at divorce through a humorous lens. Ex-Files is now a part of the Judicial College syllabus. Simultaneously, Vandana decided to fight for justice – her own divorce battle. It turned out to be a long, tumultuous, frustrating battle that was to end only after nearly a decade. Her friends, well-wishers, and the group members had always got her back in this race of her exceptional freedom. The decade had taken a toll but it had also enriched her in many ways. She fought this battle alone since she lost her parents before she got married and rose to victory. Serving the Society Vandana's life philosophy of 'It is better to elevate ourselves than bring down another' has helped her to rebuild her life and become an Iconic Role Model. She is committed to women's empowerment and strives to bring a change in the world through law and writing. She has transformed the lives of over thousands and the chain of change keeps spreading through the healed members themselves and though the problems are immense, the 'can do' spirit that defines Vandana is being shared by her group members as well. She is the Divorce Law Consultant for Priyanka Chopra's new film Firebrand, directed by Aruna Raje Patil, currently trending on Netflix. She is also the founder of Divorcekart –India's first legal app to provide 24/7 lawyer on call- has been covered extensively by the BBC, Times of India, Mumbai Mirror to name a few. The next milestone in her life was a book based on her own experiences as well as of the support group members. The book was titled 360 Degrees Back To Life – A litigant's humorous perspective on divorce. Unlike other write-ups on this topic, Vandana decided to take a lighter look at the entire issue, offering advice and even handy tips on handling the drama that follows a divorce in a middle middle- class society. Her work as a social entrepreneur has been lauded by Gloria Steinem, the world's foremost feminist who has endorsed her previous book. She has also translated a book written by the Jain Saints. Vandana has also been empaneled as a senior attorney with the National Commission for Women (NCW). She states her plan of action for COVID-19, “I am already online and have been answering the queries online. We were doing about 100 queries a day. You have to be online and we are the first in the game to do so. See my Facebook page-40,000 likes and more. We are ahead of the curve”. The book fetched her lot of recognition. Not only was it covered extensively by the local and international media, it even impacted others' lives. Even today, she gets urgent emails asking for the book and her advice. Her work has been lauded both by the national as well as international media. She has been a panelist frequently on BBC, NDTV amongst others, and at various Literary Festivals. Currently, she is contributing as a regular columnist on Law/Women Empowerment for Huffington Post India, Huffington Post America, and Savvy and contributes about 20 articles a month for them under her by-line. She is also an occasional contributor for BBC. Her work and inspirational life story are featured in the bestseller KARMA KURRY written by Jeronimo Almeida, BBC, Humans of Bombay, Your Story, and The Hindu amongst others. The book was launched in India by none other than lyricist Javed Akhtar, who lauded Vandana's efforts and said, “It is only the courageous that can look with humor at the black areas of their life.” There have been knowledge sessions around the book at the US Consulate and the UK High Commission along with interactive panel discussions. It was even launched in Oman in the international market. A Take on the Future Sticking to her roots of Integrity, Vandana has marked her territory by conquering the moon and becoming a prominent face worldwide. This lively, benevolent, and affirmative woman quotes “it's better to look at life half glass full”. Her goals for the future are clear in her mind – to increase the activities of the group by increasing its presence in more areas of India, to have alliances with production houses for documentaries and talk shows based on the problem of divorce in India. It looks like there will be yet another twist to the 360-degree turn and let's see where that thrilling adventure goes. The Woman of the Hour She was one of the finalists, selected among 3,00,000 people for the Lead India campaign, initiated by The Times of India group to select leaders for the future. She also got involved in an NGO that promoted a United Nations endorsed technique of environmental management. Today, Vandana is an award-winning Divorce Lawyer, Author, Columnist, and Social Entrepreneur. The documentary 'Invisible Women of India' was made by BBC, which was broadcasted worldwide on International Women's Day. She is also the author of the bestseller 'Ex Files', the story of her divorce-published by August | 2020 45

46. T he pandemic is forcing massive transformations and to an extent, the consequences are beyond upside down. Almost every country, sector, and industry is affected by the virus and as this continues, everyone is fighting their own battles to combat the current situations. With the Indian economy already under pressure, the crisis increases rapidly as the Government extends lockdown to end this pandemic. Coming to the legal forefront, multiple responses are facing an outbreak, one of them is the legal education for budding legal candidates. August | 2020 46

47. Impact of COVID-19 on Legal Education legal insights. As the legal profession is based more on practice and less on bookish knowledge, students need to learn to develop their skills and mindset. Also, the law students have to become a part of multiple internships to gain enough practice to complete their LLB course. degree comes with multiple expenses and is around 3 to 5 years. So, if any respective student has already completed 2 years of their law degree, then completing the degree will be instrumental for the longer run. Dropping out mid-way will be chaotic and leave the student uncertain about their career. So, the best option for the existing time could be to continue the legal education and be updated with the legal field. Education is one of the major keys to a successful career in any respective field. With all sectors currently adapting the digital approach, universities and colleges are currently conducting online sessions to keep up with the studies. However, the law schools are undergoing a number of changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As legal education has always stuck to traditional methods, its processes and hearings find it difficult to switch the virtual way. Studying law is more about practical knowledge than theory, as the students have to be in courtrooms after their graduation. However, with this pandemic situation, it has become difficult for law students to pursue an internship as many firms are not operating and the open ones are trying to battle the current condition to bounce back and gain momentum for the future. Hence, the legal aspirants should mark their online presence and be updated with the transformations happening in the legal field. They should constantly strive to brush up their skills and also learn the technical parts to be hand in hand with the times. There are multiple seminars and classes conducted online, which are free of cost and are held by experts of the legal fraternity. These lessons are beneficial for legal aspirants as these professionals have dealt with many challenges and can help them overcome similar trials. Hence, to keep up with the present state, one has to be well-aware and always put their best foot forward with the prevailing times. Keeping up with the Existing Times The Bar Council of India states the rules and regulations for legal education, which is followed throughout the entire country. With the law aspirants turning to online education, legal professionals should also make the best use of all the online platforms. There are many legal candidates, who are looking forward to joining a legal firm or even start their practice in associations by becoming a partner, right now the best way to move forward with it is to take one step at a time. For a trainee, starting an internship with a legal firm will be an excellent head start to gain some On the other hand, the communities with low-income, far-away locations, and various conditions are anticipating legal education in the future. With this, the question arises: does a legal career still be the right choice? To this, the experts give their insights, as to why students from various communities should pursue legal education even with the given conditions. Becoming a lawyer is expensive; the August | 2020 47

48. E very country has a legal system, which is defined by its set of laws, processes, and entitled bodies. This system explains the rights and responsibilities to be obeyed by the public and private organizations legitimately. The intermediary between the legal system and the citizens is the lawyer managing the legal procedures of the concerned. Law is one of the most complex professions, where anyone allegedly misleading it is announced for sentence. Hence, with the multiple reputed law firms existing, the residents are directed with the legal matters and further proceedings. These leading law firms are led by lawyers, who overtime have gained ample experience bagging victories now and then to become successful. However, the question arises what makes a lawyer successful? Is it the number of cases won or the revenue generated annually? There can be one too many factors, but here are some of the most common, yet important traits to be considered for the longer run: August | 2020 48

49. Working around the Clock more to the eye that all lawyers need to comprehend for a win-win situation. So, thinking creatively and blending it with an innate analysis of what one can see, hear, and read is a perfect match. Also, many times, the lawyers get to a point of dead- end, where disappointments lie, hence craving one's path with their creative and analytic capabilities rather than opting for the traditional methods is lucrative ultimately. To summon this up, there are various traits necessary to be a successful lawyer and a wide range of other skills like acceptance of failure, maintaining integrity, persistence, and most importantly an unbiased outlook, which all together contribute to be a good lawyer. Also, this is an excellent opportunity for lawyers to expand their network by exchanging information with their consecutive lawyers in various areas of practice. Well, for many professions, there are long hours of work to be put in, but law certainly demands to burn the midnight oil as many times clients expect the lawyer to be available and easily accessible continuously. There is no fix no. of hours per week fixed for any lawyer, especially those who are working at a prominent position in the firm. To be able to build a successful career for years to come, every lawyer has to initially put in day and night of work. Communication is an Asset Every profession needs a particular skill set, for lawyers it is communication. As this profession is ruled by speaking, every lawyer has to be quick to answer and be combative with a pragmatic approach. Being rational and profound about their conservations, the lawyer has to strike an upper hand at communication. Lawyers need exceptional communication skills for being competent speakers and also listeners. Listening with thorough attention without interrupting and performing with courtesy will add value to your demeanor of a good lawyer. Attending CLE Seminars One of the many reasons as to why lawyers need to work overtime is also because they have to learn the changing dynamics of the legal system. CLE stands for continuing legal education, which is conducted through seminars to bestow the lawyers with valuable legal insights. For every lawyer, maintaining their legal license is required, hence a certain number of CLE hours each year should be attended. These sessions are conducted by the experts of the legal field, who share their prized experience and practice. The Creative and Analytical Approach A creative personality will always shine bright in a roomful of others, be it for any profession, being different is unusual yet rewarding at the end of the day. There is always August | 2020 49