1.
Briefly share with us the legacy behind the firm's standing today
While I started my practice in the arena of Law in the year 1992, it was only after a lot of thoughtful
planning, I laid the foundation of Maheshwari & Co. in the year 2004. I always believed that in all
circumstances, a team of people under able leadership can achieve the desired goals in a more realistic
manner with less of personal hindrances. I believe that a strong legacy nurture the seeds consistently, so
that the seeds grow up into an evergreen tree in a structured manner which in turn set the
organizational targets for future performance. I always believe in setting a clear vision and targetof
where the firmcompany needs to go and how that larger organizational goals can be split into smaller
goals which lead towards the organizational target. The second important thing I believe is having the
right key people on my side who are equally concerned of the future goals with their consistent
involvement with the firm in meeting up the visions and targets and theywhich they are able to explain
to their further extended team about the path to be taken. The third is while taking key decisions for the
future perspective of the Firm I always believe in taking the decision democratically and making people
understand why a decision is taken. I believe that the team action and clarity of goals has led the firm
towards the expansion. The team at M& Co has really worked really hard to bring the firm to the level of
having PAN India presence and having International Desk atof Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and
other parts of Europe which, to marks the presence of the firm in the International Legal Service Sector.
2. Do you believe more in a family driven law firm path or any other format?
I am a firm believer of efficient productivity and service to the Clients. I believe in a format where the
best minds are filling up the ranks and taking up the task. Family driven Law firm or not, my perspective
is whether the employment which would be taken up by one of the family members has the required
diligence and understanding for taking up the matters which come up to the concerned firm. If not, then
it would be better for the person to gain some knowledge and experience and then prospectively
consider the option of joining the family law firm. Every firm has several specialized departments and for
each such department there is need of specialization having team of lawyers with specialization in a
particular domain area of law, therefore going by the hierarchical approach of subordinates having
various specialized departments is optimally a very good format for a law firm.
3. What are your views on the country's legal and regulatory landscape?
India witnessed a number of significant and substantive changes in law in the recent past. The changes
which are being legislated are due to the dynamics of the evolving interaction of social, political and
economical entities with each other. The judiciary as in the Vodafone case of 2012 pointed out the
lacunae in law which was later cemented by the legislation with regard to offshore capital acquisition
transactions. There were major changes in various arena of law including the landmark judgement of
apex court on Right to Privacy, regulatory steps taken by Reserve Bank of India for management of
stressed asset, introduction of GST, amendment bought in by the legislatures in the -extant FDI Policy,
labour laws, IP laws, companies Act, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Laws. There has been lot which has
been done to ease the complexities of doing business in India which has improved the global ranking of
India in terms of ease of doing business; however there is still too much which is required to be done on
the ground level. Consolidation of laws with respect to any industry, clarity with respect to the licenses
and permits in initiating any manufacturing unit, expedited disposal of matters with respect to
Companies at any judicial level are some of the areas which require urgent attention of the legislatures.
How do you see lawyers contribution in building the nation?
Formatted: Line spacing: single
Building a nation is fundamentally dependent on the foundation of good-governance that is controlled
by rule of law and therefore, I believe lawyers plays pivotal role in nation building by contributing to the
society by doing social work. Lawyers in-depth knowledge and problem solving ability can surely make a
strong contribution to the wide-ranging package of skills, which are needed to promote development,
advance democracy and uphold the rule of law worldwide. If I need to talk about myself, I have done
social work through Maheshwari Foundation which does tremendous amount of work in the Health and
Infrastructure Sector.
4. Do you think India will gain from the liberalization of the legal services?
India may gain abundantly from liberalising the legal services. It is not a point of argument that the
demand for Indian legal services in foreign transactions is immense or not. I would like to point out that
in the commonwealth countries there is a real time opportunity for our lawyers and legal practitioners
to excel. With a robust economy India is attracting a lot of investment worldwide, and thus this creates
the need to allow foreign lawyers to solicit their clients as well as companies incorporated in India. The
two way exchange will help immensely as their will be a better solicitation and legal advice available.
5. What are your thoughts on the entrepreneurship/leadership spirits in the legal services
sector?
Lawyers are deemed to garner entrepreneurship spirits. Great people from history who shaped our
futures—Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahrlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Lala Lajpat Rai, Dr. Zakir Hussain,
Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela— all were learned in law. It is not necessary that only people who are
learned in the law become entrepreneurs but some of the great men and womenleaders from history
shared this single attribute of holding a degree in law. As lawyers, the mindset and the dynamics of the
thought process is completely different which enables a sharpened sense of decision making which are
an asset when coming to entrepreneurial responsibilities. Successful lawyers can play a very pivotal role
in shaping the objectives of the legal services sector and carving out the route to success which sheer
brilliance and outright humility.
6. Up to what extent can technology enable lawyers in their profession?
Ans) Technology can saddle lawyers to success for a long time. As we witness the digitisation campaign
in full force in India, with the Govt. of India being the front runner, we have to accept the fact that being
tech-savvy is much likely a boon than a bane. With information soon becoming digitised and being called
data we must acknowledge that it will not only be beneficial to the lawyers but also their clients who are
much aware of their rights and remedies in comparison to the people from their preceding generations,
to clarify the ambiguity involved in the procedural aspects of law.
Automated responses, D.I.Y. forms, digital scanning, electronic evidences, etc. have to go a long way
shaping the infrastructure of the legal sector. The tech-savvy lawyers can reach out to a larger number
of people with optimum time management.
7. What are the various expertise areas that the firm has developed over the years?
Ans) The firm was primarily a litigation expertise law firm, being my background in litigation, I have
dealt with various high profile cases of important politicians, corporates and appeared for them in
various courts in India. However over the years, the firm has developed a good hold upon the Corporate
Law and Intellectual Property Law . With a dedicated team of associates sharing their theoretical and
practical know-how in the respective arena, the same has immensely benefitted the firm. The
specialisation in various fields including Mergers and Acquisitions, Foreign Collaboration, Corporate
Restructuring, IP portfolio management, Valuation services, Insolvency and bankruptcy advisory and
commercial litigation and arbitration helped the firm in diversifying in different sectors of law.
8. Going forward which other practice areas do you plan to build within the firm?
Ans) Other practice areas like Sports law and Cyber Law Medical law, would be my idea if I were have
given the opportunity to build a new area of practice for the firm. Having a PANpan iIndia presence it is
certain that such disputes do arise all over India. With the quality of professionals working with us it will
be an excellent opportunity to upgrade our law firm.
9. What according to you is a success secret as far retaining clients in this sector is concerned?
Ans) Over the years of our firm’s practise we have learnt that appreciation of work by the Client and
good turnaround time is an essence. The client appreciates to have a one point contact that is available
all the time for any urgent issues. We always try our best to attend to the queries of the Client and
address the issues at a shortest possible time frame. We are proud of our turnaround time. Secondly,
our fee schedule is very competitive. We believe in quality of service and we feel retaining of Client is
more important than anything else. Thirdly a well given advice from a seasoned expert of the area in
which the Client requires assistance is very much appreciated by Clients. The firm always tries to provide
the best advice to the client. Above all this we also stress upon improvising technologically with every
upgrade possible. We continuously have training sessions for our team members to keep ourselves
updated with the latest laws and technology to remain ahead of others.
10. Your advice for the Nnexgen lawyers of the country.
Ans) My advice for the Nnexgen lawyers is to become hard working, at the same time inculcating habits
of creativity for an efficient performance in this sector. Also apart from hard work, a young lawyer
should possess interpersonal relationship skills; always keep abreast with the latest laws and updates of
current affairs. A dull brain can never germinate geniuses.