Incorporation Tips How to Open a Law Firm?
MOST RELIABLE
LAW FIRMS
Legal Tech-trends Technological Trends that the Indian Legal Space Should Adopt
2021
Mr. Vineet Aneja Managing Partner
ClasisLaw A Truly International Law Firm that Focuses on Timelines and Excellence
Vol. 06 Issue 07 2021
Editor’s Note THE TORCHBEARERS OF LAW AND JUSTICE
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ndia is a country where the citizens and governing bodies have high regards for law and order. The nation’s legal system is focused on maintaining order and in delivering justice. In this context, the leading law firms are leaving no stones unturned to ensure that they serve the clients with complete dedication and help them in winning their cases. With changing times and the advent of technology, these top law firms are embracing innovative ways to communicate with their clients and to discuss about various important things related to the concerned case. These law firms are trustworthy and ensure that no matter how difficult the circumstances are or how tough any case is, they always come up with a winning formula. They employ the most skilled lawyers who are the best at what they do. With an efficient workforce, they are able to swiftly complete the various cases they take up and ensure better results.
Ananda Kamal Das
ananda@insightssuccess.com
With the rise of the global coronavirus pandemic, it has become difficult to physically communicate with the clients. Hence, these firms are using digital means such as video conferences and instant text to ensure that they stay in touch with their clients without any interruption. These law firms have earned their reputation with their dedication and innovative manoeuvres through which they are serving their clients. They carry out in-depth research about the client and the case to ensure victory. Dedicated law firms of the country are consistent, organized, focused, and are sure about their approach and method of handling any case. These leading firms do not make false claims; rather they dig deeper, get into the bottom of the matter, and win the case with their focused and dedicated efforts. They do not focus simply on earning money and fame; they believe in helping their clients in winning the case in a convincing fashion. For these firms, the prime focus is to ensure that the client is satisfied with their efforts.
Hence, in this issue of Insights Success, ‘Most Reliable Law Firms – 2021,’ we shed the spotlight on the most renowned and promising law firms of India, who deliver their very best and ensure 100% success for the clients.
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ClasisLaw
A Truly International Law Firm that Focuses on Timelines and Excellence
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Legal Tech-trends
Technological Trends that the Indian Legal Space Should Adopt
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Incorporation Tips How to Open a Law Firm?
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Athena Legal
Providing a Full Range of Corporate and Dispute Resolution Service to the Clients
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Corrida Legal
Top-tier law firm providing cost-effective services
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Tripathi & Associates
Maintaining High Standards of Professional Responsibility in all its Engagements
16 Outstanding Law Firm Hitesh Soni & Associates Rendering Valuable Services on Numerous Legal Aspects
Editor-in-Chief Sumita Sarkar Deputy Editor Abhishaj Sajeev
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Managing Editor Darshan Parmar
JULY, 2021
Assisting Editor Ananda Kamal Das Contributing Writer Trishika Rokade
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Firm Name
Management
Brief
Athena Legal
Rajat Prakash Managing Partner
Athena Legal is a well-regarded, medium sized, full-service law firm based out of New Delhi, India.
Clasis Law
Mr.Vineet Aneja Managing Partner
Corrida Legal
Pushkar Thakur Managing Partner
Hitesh Soni & Associates Advocates High Court
Hitesh Soni Founder
Hitesh Soni & Associates advises clients on litigation risks stemming from business disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, amongst other services.
Kashinath Tripathi Prabhakar Tripathi Founder (Practising Law)
Tripathi & Associates and its versatile team of skilled lawyers practice law with a rare passion.
Tripathi & Associates
Clasis Law is a full service Indian law firm that is truly international in its experience and capability.
Corrida Legal has offices in Gurgaon and Mumbai and is well equipped to handle pan India legal cases though its advocate's network.
A TRULY INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM THAT FOCUSES ON TIMELINES AND EXCELLENCE
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WE VALUE THE TRUST AND BELIEFS VESTED IN US BY OUR CLIENTS AND PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS
MOST RELIABLE
LAW FIRMS
2021
Mr. Vineet Aneja Managing Partner
MOST RELIABLE
LAW FIRMS
2021
T
he leading law firms of today provide speedy services while upholding the law and following every regulation in the book. They make sure that their clients do not face any difficulty during the course of any ongoing case, along with ensuring that justice is served the right way. These firms also employ advanced technology and deliver quick services in an efficient manner. One such noteworthy law firm that delivers excellent legal services while maintaining international standards of quality is Clasis Law. Established in 2010, it is a full-service Indian law firm that is truly international in its experience and capability with offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. It has an established capability and operational ability to advise clients across borders through its vibrant network of international law firms located in all major international cities globally including in some of the most difficult jurisdictions in the world. Clasis Law's expertise within the firm spans a range of practice areas including corporate and commercial, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, regulatory & compliance, aviation & aerospace, banking & finance, insurance, retail, hospitality, infrastructure, real estate, and a lot more. The firm acts for a diverse Indian and international client base across a number of sectors. Clasis Law is recognized as a highly professional and process driven firm that has the necessary systems in place to provide hassle free services to the clients. The firm's clients range from Fortune 500 companies to SMEs and small businesses. It provides specialized services to international SMEs that choose India as their preferred investment destination. In a League of its Own Lawyers at Clasis Law have decades of experience in advising clients on various aspects of Indian law and jurisdiction. The firm has been recognized by many of its partners as a leading expert in its field. It has been
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WE HAVE A TEAM OF HIGH CALIBER PROFESSIONALS WHO POSSESS KEEN INTELLECT AND UNYIELDING INTEGRITY
acknowledged by industry peers for its in-depth expertise and know-how. Together with highly trained teams, the firm is able to provide clients with bespoke solutions and exceptional service. Its expert team of lawyers ensures that each client, no matter how big or small in size and operations, receives the best attention and services at all times. Why Clasis Law? Clasis Law provides a variety of facilities to its clients, which distinguish it from other law firms. It has a well-earned reputation for its legal expertise and has considerable experience in advising clients on complex cross-border transactions. The firm's clients and their business's success drive its practice. It provides dedicated, efficient, commercially-sound and results-oriented solutions to clients. Clasis Law values the trust and beliefs vested in it by the clients and professional contacts. It provides a dedicated service with an honest and direct approach in all its dealings.
MOST RELIABLE
LAW FIRMS
2021
The firm prides itself on its team of high calibre professionals with keen intellect and unyielding integrity, providing an international service to clients. It provides the clients with access to legal advisors across borders and around the world in order to give them a seamless and integrated legal service. The Focused Frontrunner The person spearheading Clasis Law from the front is none other than Mr. Vineet Aneja, the Managing Partner and head of the Corporate Practice at Clasis Law and possesses around 25 (twenty-five) years of experience in a range of areas including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity, corporate advisory, employment, and compliance. Mr.Aneja's skill set includes a deep transactional understanding as well as significant industry expertise across industries as diverse as manufacturing, media,
medical devices, fashion, technology, telecommunications, infrastructure, hospitality, retail and financial services. Challenges along the Way Clasis Law started with a small office and a handful of clients and today it can boast of a plush office and a flourishing practice with many fortune 500 companies as its clients. Mr.Aneja states, “While working with other law firms, I felt, there were many decisions that were not taken or delayed by virtue of having to go through the corporate hierarchy or structure that were affecting my output”. Seeing the hierarchical structure, he had decided that when he will establish his own firm, he would conduct matters in a more transparent manner and appreciate everyone's opinion. All these aspects/factors led to the start of Clasis Law in 2010 and the rest is history.
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WE AIM TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE INSPIRED TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE
Mr.Aneja faced various challenges throughout the course of his stellar career. These include running a business and practicing law at the same time, surviving unhealthy competition, having less time in a day to meet the needs of clients, lack of resources, difficult clients to contend with, and stress and pressure to achieve targets and deliver results. Mr.Aneja states that these challenges will always keep coming. He also feels that he has learnt from his past mistakes and has tried to overcome these challenges in a consistent manner. Tackling the Pandemic Bravely The stiff challenges imposed by the current pandemic also have not stopped Clasis Law from achieving excellence and delivering the best client service. Mr.Aneja continues to focus on online and remote business development activities such as participating in webinars, conducting e-conferences on topical issues for certain jurisdictions, writing articles and contributing to publications, and partnering with organizations to sensitise the senior management of burning issues and upcoming laws.
Mr.Aneja opines, “It is important to understand, more than ever, that we are no one without the help and support of our team and people”. Towards this end, he strives to support and help his team navigate growth and reach their full potential. In these tough times, Mr.Aneja also continually tries to create an environment where people are inspired to be the best they can be. The firm conducts regular catch-up sessions on work and other than work matters to understand the problems people are facing both mentally and physically. Team Clasis Law believes that a lot of the planning for the future will depend on the graph the COVID-19 pandemic takes. Prominent Achievements of Mr.Aneja & Firm Throughout its journey of delivering justice and speedy services, Clasis Law & Mr.Aneja have made various noteworthy achievements. Some of the remarkable accomplishments are mentioned below: • Mr. Aneja was recognized by Lex Talk World 2021
as one of the Top 100 Legal Falcons.
• Clasis Law enlisted as one of the top law firms above
10 years of experience by Forbes India under the practice areas Corporate & Commercial, Labour & Employment & Insolvency & Bankruptcy. • Clasis Law was recognized by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2021 as a Recommended firm for Employment and Labour practice and listed for Corporate & Commercial and Insolvency practice areas. • Mr. Aneja was recognized by Forbes India Legal Power List 2020 as one of the Top Managing Partners in India. • Mr. Aneja was recognized by Forbes India Legal Power List 2020 as one of the Top Individual Lawyers in India. • Mr. Aneja was recognized by Asian Legal Business 2020 as one of the Super 50 lawyers in India. • Mr. Aneja was recognized as one of the top 100
MOST RELIABLE
LAW FIRMS
2021
lawyers in India, for three consecutive years, by India Business Law Journal's (Vantage Asia) A-List for the year 2020, 2019 & 2018. • Mr. Aneja was recognized as one of the leading corporate transactional lawyers in India – 2019 by Acquisition International. • Clasis Law received the recognition of The India Business 25 most Trusted Corporate Legal Consultants to watch in 2019 by Startup City. Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs Mr.Aneja states, “After keeping my nose to the grindstone for many years and inhabiting the desire to go independent, Clasis Law was founded in 2010 in New Delhi”. The circumstances that led him to take such a decision were the desire to move out of his comfort zone and to become an entrepreneur. The passion that he has for his work and the thrill to take independent decisions coupled with working independently gave Mr.Aneja the courage to move out and start Clasis Law. Mr.Aneja says that perseverance and the dedication to excel are the two main factors that have brought him this far. He advises budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the legal services sector that any organization/firm is nothing without its people. The most important decision that one makes as a leader is that which impacts the people/team and the people within the team. “We have a very open environment in Clasis Law”, says Mr.Aneja. People have the freedom to speak their mind without being judged. He also feels that in order to succeed in the service sector, the concerted efforts of each and every member is very crucial. Shaping the Future Marching ahead, Clasis Law plans to transform into the most preferred legal service provider bringing
together the best people to achieve the best results for clients. Further, Mr.Aneja has developed a keen interest in two relatively new practice areas - data privacy and white collar. He also wants to focus on fin-tech companies in the coming year. Mr.Aneja believes that the only way to succeed in the future is by adopting artificial intelligence in the legal arena, the use of which he plans to understand better in the near future. He also intends to focus on business development activities which include partnering with organizations to conduct round table conferences and sensitizing the senior management and companies on the sector specific laws, which furthers his vision of the past years. Towards this end, Mr.Aneja strives to drive support to help the lawyers navigate growth and reach their full potential. Furthermore, he wants to continue creating an environment where people are inspired to be the best they can be. Mr.Aneja wants to continue to strive to be both a coach and a cheerleader for Clasis Law's professionals when they take on some of the biggest challenges out there. Having completed a successful 10 years in 2020, Clasis Law and Mr.Aneja now look forward to having another successful decade. For more information contact at: vineet.aneja@clasislaw.com
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Hɪᴛᴇꜱʜ Sᴏɴɪ Rendering Valuable Services on Numerous Legal Aspects
T
he dedicated legal firms of today’s age uphold the law and pay proper attention towards delivering justice towards their client. They are committed towards quality and are loyal towards their customers. These law firms put their clients front and centre and focus on offering the best possible services.
Offering a Variety of Excellent Services Hitesh Soni & Associates currently advises clients on litigation risks stemming from business disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many immigrants facing immigration issues worldwide, and issues related to medical and healthcare negligence.
One such reliable law firm that provides lasting customer experiences, while following ethical means is none other than Hitesh Soni & Associates. It is known for its courtroom glimmer, which is based around powerful clients-centric moral framework, mutual ethic, and a strategic and panacea mind set. The law firm is proud of its potential, including in-house and international businesses, financial entities, private equity funds, venture equity funds, start-ups and government and regulation agencies, to provide its broad and diverse client base.
The firm has rendered its valuable services on varieties of legal aspects. Whether it is a small vendor or a big corporate house, it has always been there for them in the hour of their need. Amongst others, Hitesh Soni & Associates has represented and served some of its top clients which include big corporate houses having worth more than 1000 crores, associations, civil servants, pilots, and immigrants, and many more.
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Our Focus Is On Delivering Excellent Services To Our Clients Around
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It is dedicated to producing highquality results on a consistent basis. This entails offering prompt, creative, standardized, specific, and way to solve legal guidance that is also costeffective. The firm’s attorneys work hard to consider the clients’ interests and situations, to think differently, and to act with transparency, justice, dignity, and diligence with everything they do. Hitesh Soni & Associates also represent health care providers, pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, and health insurers in matters involving fraud, false claims, and other business-related wrongdoing.
The World.
Because of its experience in providing impactful service, the firm frequently collaborates with teams in litigations, intellectual property, and general litigation cases on trial themes, presentation, and strategy. Hitesh Soni & Associates had a ground-breaking start with the successful resolution of one of the most complex litigations, affecting various clients. Innovation in designing concrete legal strategies is one of the many reasons the clients turn to the firm for their legal needs. Hitesh Soni & Associates is capable of delivering detailed and unique solutions to its clients across a wide range of legal fields due to its ability, expertise, and resources. Amongst others, Hitesh Soni & Associates have active practice in the fields of corporate & commercial; insolvency & bankruptcy; healthcare & hospitality; litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution; international trade & customs practice; project infrastructure & energy; real estate; immigrations and white-collar crimes; service and labor laws; taxation and indirect taxations; and much more. Hitesh Soni & Associates has strong ties throughout different industries. However, the law firm’s primary emphasis is on the future – it wants to transform into a leading expert in legal matters and to deliver excellent services to its clients around the world.
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Outstanding Law Firm
Aꜱꜱᴏᴄɪᴀᴛᴇꜱ
Mr. Soni possesses considerable litigation expertise and has represented clients in company, criminal, statutory and civil litigation, maritime and utility disputes, income-tax, power and energy, customs, intellectual property rights, excise, and other indirect taxation.
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We Are Capable Of Delivering Detailed And Unique Solutions To Our Clients Across A Wide Range Of Legal Fields
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The Erudite Visionary The person responsible for the success of Hitesh Soni & Associates is none other than Mr. Hitesh C. Soni. He is an independent counsel is the Founder & Managing Director of the firm. He was born into a business family in Mount Abu and is wellknown for his transparency, efficiency, versatility, and ethical legal practice, as well as his excellent leadership skills. He holds a B.A. LL. B (Honors) degree from Jodhpur National University. Within a year of obtaining his law degree, he founded his own full-service law firm in Mumbai.
Mr. Hitesh C. Soni Founder & Managing Director
Overcoming Tremendous Difficulties Mr. Soni states that he is a fortunate fellow who had dreamt of becoming a lawyer at the age of 15. By the time he was in his first year of law, being completely unknown to all the sufferings and difficulties he would eventually face, he only wished to establish his own law firm in Mumbai. While pursuing his law studies, Mr. Soni also took up a permanent parttime internship, attending courts for the entire 5 years. Subsequently he shifted to Mumbai and established his own law firm. “It was a dream come to true for me”, says Mr. Soni.
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Mr. Soni believes that one can start a business with money but cannot succeed in the legal profession through financial support. He adds, “In the legal profession, whether you're a second-generation lawyer or first generation, you have to prove your presence, which is only possible if you have legal mind, honesty, and consistency”. He says that things are even difficult if a person starts practicing in the India’s financial capital. However, Mr. Soni’s secret to overcoming postgraduate challenges was the idea that worked for him. He believed in the idea of attaining maximum
practical knowledge during law school, which was only possible with having vast and cogent knowledge. Tackling the Pandemic Efficiently Hitesh Soni & Associates initially started with preparing a blueprint for tech-driven practice while ensuring the safety of their resources, but gradually, these activities became a practice for them. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the firm has served justice through virtual platforms. “It is true that everyone in our lives is affected for one or other reason. In such uncertain times, it is often difficult for clients to decide
whether to proceed with legal recourse or to wait while risking their operations”, opines Mr. Soni. The firm has assisted its clients by providing strategic support while ensuring their maximum safety. Its operation was hampered at the start of the lockdown, but it was eventually restored; the office staff visited the office only when their physical presence was unavoidable. “Prior to the second wave, our high court was only functioning physically in such situations; people at the firm were required to attend office and court hearings. But we have been ensuring nocontact, such as for senior citizen clients and those who are at risk, and their signature and notarization of documents require physical attendance of clients, we have provided them homely service, many times segregated from the public”, states Mr. Soni. Words of Inspiration for the Leaders of Tomorrow While advising the gen next, Mr. Soni states, “If you’re into this profession only part time or for money, the legal profession is not for you”. He says that the legal profession tests patience and if individuals do not have one, this profession is not for them. Mr. Soni advises them to remain persistent in order to achieve their goals and to stay consistent to maintain their supremacy. He feels that the lawyers of the first generation now weigh a lot on their shoulders. Anyone who does not feel the pride and anticipation of the family members when they begin this long journey to become a lawyer should ask themselves if they can do it and make others proud.
Vaishali H., Associate 18 | JUNE 2021
Mr. Soni further adds that the lawyers of the first generation have independence. They have the freedom to ignite their way. No one
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Our Attorneys Work Hard To Consider Our Clients' Interests And Situations, To Think Differently, And To Act With Transparency, Justice, Dignity, And Diligence With Everything They Do.
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else in the family has led the way, but nobody else has expected how they practice with whom, what kind of law, or when. This provides the lawyers with the freedom to practice according to their interests, their performance concept, and the style of practice they choose to follow. It is difficult to be a lawyer of the first generation. However, there is wonderful freedom to discover and evolve.
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Technological
Trends Indian Legal Space that the
Should Adopt.
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n order to succeed in this digital age, the Indian legal sector has to modernize and embrace numerous technological innovations to deliver better outcomes. Larger firms are making huge investments in legal technology solutions to ensure that they make a huge impact in this highly competitive world. There has been a growth in adoption of digital technology in the recent months due to the global coronavirus pandemic, which has necessitated the use of advanced technology and telecommunications to maintain effective communications with the customers. The current legal industry is being revolutionized by numerous innovations such as virtual reality, 3D format, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and so on. This has led to greater emphasis on fulfilling the clients’ requirements and leading the evolution of the sector towards the so called legal-tech.
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Defining Legal Tech Legal tech is nothing but the technology that is transforming the way law is practiced. It is used to market or provide legal services in an efficient way. Legal tech allows law firms and clients to facilitate the legal exercise by minimizing waiting times and costs, while increasing productivity. Exploring the Dominant Technological Trends in the Legal Sector Now that we have acquired the knowledge of what legal tech is, let’s further explore how it will further evolve in the times to come and what are the key technological trends in the Indian legal sector. Artificial Intelligence If AI is used judiciously in the legal sector, it will bring a revolutionary effect and will help companies to maximize their profits. Many firms have already incorporated it into
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Legal Tech-trends
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their daily operations, and it has streamlined their processes and has significantly reduced their margin of errors. AI helps firms to allow personal injury cases to be litigated electronically. This reduces costs and speeds up customer service. AI assists the lawyers to simplify their tasks; it does not intend to replace the professionals themselves. The prime focus of AI is to provide lawyers with the necessary tools which can help them streamline their more repetitive tasks and give them more time to take care of other specialized tasks. Document Automation Although drafting of documents is a part of the day-to-day activities of a law firm, but it takes a considerable amount of time. In order to gain competitive advantage and to ensure efficient document management, law firms are increasingly adopting automated document writing software. This has helped in reducing time and efforts; a task which would take days to be accomplished, can now be completed in a matter of minutes. Automation enhances organizing methods such as data collection, reporting, daily tasks, and billing. This technology can be adapted as per the needs of the company; this may eventually translate to improved profitability and efficiency. Transcription Technology The current pandemic situation has led firms to conduct legal proceedings remote proceedings through videoconferences. Hence, it is essential that they are recorded to obtain a transcript. Legal transcription softwares can also help court reporters to expedite their work. This reaps results with 99.9% accuracy and omits various problems such as audio quality. It also provides the advantage of smooth transcription (from weeks to days, even hours). This saves a lot of time and money, in comparison to traditional methods. Dispute Analysis and Forecasting AI and Machine Learning tools are helping law firms to determine how cases can now be predicted with more efficiency. As per research, cases in which technologies have been used are far more reliable than human prediction.
paralegals, firms can deal with different internal questions they face and also improve response time and efficiency. However, we should always keep this in mind that virtual paralegals cannot replace humans, but they can help in answering the most recurring questions repeatedly. This will, in turn, help the firm to spend more time on the tasks that require their urgent attention. Virtual Legal Practice The recent technological advancements have also given birth to virtual law firms. These are the firms where expert legal professionals operate virtually from their homes or offices. They focus on providing services to their clients remotely through technological means. These law firms have the same legislation as any other traditional firm. However, the lawyers can be independent consultants rather than employees or partners. Cloud Migration Cloud migration is one of the most popular trends and the majority of industries are opting for it. Cloud solutions have increased by more than 20% by 2020 and they not only provide custom legal solutions, but also assist law firms in protecting their databases and in meeting the needs of the customers any time and any place. Mobile Applications In today’s tech savvy age, law firms realize that people spend most of their time in front of their phone screens. Accordingly, law firms can take advantage of this trend and launch their own specialized mobile app. This may help them to widen their reach and attract more clients. Moreover, mobile apps can also help firms to access essential case-related information remotely through various custom applications. In today’s age of cut-throat competition, law firms in India have to embrace advanced technologies and methods to stay relevant. They need to keep a track of all the recent developments in the field of law and technology so that they can communicate with their clients efficiently, offer excellent services, and ensure swift delivery of justice. - Ananda Kamal Das
Virtual Paralegals Virtual paralegals, or chatbots have been used not only by the legal sector, but also different other sectors, to increase operational capacity of internal corporate teams, and to enhance communication with the customers. With virtual
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Most Reliable Law Firms | 2021
Athena Legal Providing a Full Range of Corporate and Dispute Resolution Service to the Clients
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he most reliable law firms leave no stone unturned to provide justice to the ones in need. They uphold the law and aim at providing excellent client services. These law firms put their clients front and center and provide opportunity to every employee to learn and grow. Established in 2012, Athena Legal is a leading law firm based in New Delhi with both pan India and global presence through its network and associations with lawyers and law firms. The firm provides a comprehensive range of corporate, intellectual property, and dispute resolution services. It has established itself as one of India's fastest growing legal firms with a wide and eminent client base which includes both domestic and international clients. The firm has constantly worked at addressing the clients' needs by providing specialized resolution mechanisms while upholding the highest level of integrity and commitment. The diverse and dynamic team of Athena Legal focuses and strives for constant improvement with a goal to provide the best services to the ever-increasing clientele. Each member of the firm strongly believes that justice should be accessible to all. In an endeavor to give back to the society, it undertakes significant number of pro-bono cases each year. Delivering a Plethora of Excellent Services Over the years, Athena Legal has provided comprehensive services ranging from corporate and transactional advisory to litigation and intellectual property laws. The firm has significant experience and presence in the Supreme Court of India, High Courts of various states of India, NCLT, NCLAT, National Consumer Forum, and various state and district forums. Athena Legal has assisted and facilitated an Indian
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conglomerate to be a successful resolution applicant with respect to a Section 7 application, filed by a creditor whereby seeking declaration of insolvency against a debtor, under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 having the resolution plan for an amount of Rs. 4,300 crores. Further, in regard to a very significant judgment with respect to injunctions against a certain published book, the firm succeeded in obtaining a post-publication injunction ordered by the court in favor of a client with portions of the said book being held to be prima facie defamatory and as a result were struck off by the court from being published further as a part of the book. Athena Legal also broke new ground in the field of social media and intermediary liabilities by way of succeeding in obtaining a judgment for taking down of certain content off social media portals on a global level. The firm takes pride in taking up pro bono cases. The firm has successfully represented many under trial convicts in Tihar jail, who, either were not being represented in the most appropriate manner or did not have the means to hire a lawyer. “It always is a moment of pride for us when we are able to get an innocent person, the justice they deserved”, states team Athena Legal. Astute Leadership The person taking Athena Legal to greater heights is none other than Rajat Prakash, the Managing Partner. He is equipped with international experience from his time with leading firms like, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Washington), Mayer Brown (Brussels), Amarchand & Mangaldas, and Suresh A Shroff & Co. (India). Mr. Rajat has been decorated with multiple awards including, the Rising Star in recognition of Achievement & Excellence by Legal Era 2015-2016, Mahatma Gandhi Samman by The NRI Welfare Society of India, House of Lords, London, U.K. in September 2016, and the 'Visionaries of Uttar Pradesh' award.
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We emphasize on achieving excellence and perfection
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Rajat Prakash Managing Partner
Adopting Technology in the Legal Space Mr. Rajat is of the opinion that technology has stirringly revolutionized the work culture of hitherto conventional law offices. He is particularly impressed with solutions like Citrix, which allow the workforce to access their office systems from home- without compromising on data security. “Leading the way, our firm has a dedicated IT team, which has played a pivotal role in ensuring that physical accessibility does not come the way of smooth execution of day-to-day operations of the firm”, states Mr. Rajat. This has not only enabled the firm to work efficiently, but has also minimized rote tasks, thereby enhancing overall productivity.
insolvency or bankruptcy, thereby failing to make payments, etc. Due to delay in clearance of payments to the firm for its legal services, Athena Legal ensured that salaries were released regularly to the employees and to further ensure that all necessary essentials as well as medical assistance was provided to the employees and their families. It further changed its working regime to a work-from-home model thereby adopting the new virtual concept to ensure legal services are provided to its clients even during lockdown as it is the best mode to ensure the safety and well-being of the employees and their family members.
Facing the Pandemic Efficiently
Current Scenario of the Indian Legal Space
Team Athena Legal believes that the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact has affected every industry adversely, with some businesses going completely under and others bringing new working styles and patterns to better adapt to a new way of living. In this scenario, law firms have also had their business negatively affected with closure/limited functioning of courts, clients facing loss of business,
Mr. Rajat states, “In my opinion, any assessment of contemporary Indian legal services market would be incomplete without an obligatory reference to words such as: transformation, innovation, wide spread adoption of technology, adaption, and automation. These words not only reflect the current legal market mood but also accentuate how deeply the legal world, as we knew it; has been transformed”.
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In light of the evolving COVID-19 situation, businesses in some sectors have suffered sharp declines in volume and revenue, and the current circumstances have become more conducive for mid and small-sized law firms, as larger firms during these times have had to resort to cost-cutting, and in general have higher legal fees, and therefore many clients have gravitated towards mid-sized and small-sized law firms. He further adds, “In just over a year's time, the COVID-19 crisis has brought about decades of change. The industry which had long been accused of being averse to change- is today seeing widespread adoption of so-called 'internet systems. This has virtually transformed every single aspect of the India legal landscape, be it the client market; the law offices; the court-rooms; our existing models of knowledge management, information management; legal procedures etc. In fact, with anticipated advancement in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), legal landscape is bound to witness further transformation”.
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Words of Inspiration Mr. Rajat states that entrepreneurs or start-ups aspiring to venture into the legal-service sector must focus on having a specialized business structure and must gain considerable knowledge in the field while keeping a close eye on the needs of their clientele and developments happening therein. Once an enterprise has been set up, its intellectual properties such as trademark, design, patent, trade secret and likewise must be protected so as to give a competitive edge over other market players. He further states that it is pertinent to be noted that law is no longer only about litigators. The demand for legal services is on a continual rise even after the market for legal firms became stagnant and thus, it must be exploited to its full potential.
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Incorporation Tips
Open a Law Firm? How to
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f you are an entrepreneurial enthusiast freshly graduated out of law college, the thought of opening your own law firm must have definitely crossed your mind. Law firms are a booming business in the legal world and opening your own law firm is the most popular start-up in the industry. As exciting as the idea sounds, there are certain attributes that you need to consider if you are planning to open your own law firm. In the following article, we will try to explore some of the factors that you need to consider before opening your law firm. Ownership and registration of the law firm – the very first aspect to consider before opening a law firm is its ownership. There are three types of ownerships in the domain namely, Sole proprietorship, Partnership, and Limited Liability Partnership. Choose the type of ownership according to your needs. The next crucial step is obviously the registration of the law firm, there is not much to consider if you are opening a Sole Proprietorship or a Partnership because there is no legal binding for running those type of businesses but if you are considering opening a Limited Liability Partnership then you must closely look into the registration process and other formalities. Costs and expenditures – setting up any type of business will need you to thoroughly consider all the monetary aspects of the it. Like any other business, law firms also need money for various costs to set up, like the
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infrastructure, the library and books, salaries, etc. Apart from that there are hard expenditures like Court filing fees, witness fees, laboratory fees, deposition expenses, and medical record expenses. Soft costs like copy costs, faxing costs, postage costs, legal research costs, and electrical data storage costs need to be considered. Financial projections – financial projections like monthly balance sheets, cash flow predictions, and client and sales forecast are important to know the scale of your law firm business. Financial projections will also help you with things like funds coming from loans, you will have to show your lender how you are planning to utilize the funds and how you are going to pay them back. For these purposes you need to have your financial projections in place. Business plans and financial projections go hand in hand as they help you show that your company is financially stable and running in profit. Your area of practise/expertise – before opening a law firm you need to consider what areas of the field you are going to practise in. Initially this will help you form a grip into your business and then you can slowly expand the areas in which you function. This will help you build a referral network in the business and not make you a competition to everyone. It also allows you gain experience and excellence in your area of choice. Taking up any case that comes to your door will result in shabby work.
Number of lawyers you want to work with – this is an important consideration when it comes to opening a law firm. You can easily decipher this question once you decide what areas of the field you are going to operate in. This task becomes easy after you consider your costs and expenditures for the firm then it becomes evident how many lawyers you can hire, what their roles and responsibilities will be, how much salary you can offer, and how many lawyers you need in each area of specialisation. Trademark registration- registering trademark for your law firm name will help you establish a firm foot in the industry. It will protect your law firm name and will also eliminate the possibility of other firms using confusingly similar names to divert future clients. If you have a federal trademark name in place it will give you an additional leverage in the field to gain more clients and successfully run a profit churning business. Build a law firm website – As marketing law firm services in India is not legal, you might want to consider creating a simple website for your law firm. It will help you build instant credibility and people can easily look you up on the internet if you are being referred to a client by your referral network. Having a website that can showcase your experience and highlight your area of expertise will help you in securing future clients. - Trishika Rokade
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Top-tier law firm providing cost-effective services
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urgaon-based law firm, Corrida Legal, equipped with a corporate office in Mumbai is providing the muchneeded top quality law firm experience at amenable rates. Not a surprise given the law firm is spearheaded by Pushkar Thakur, an ex-AVP, Fortune 500 investment bank, who has ventured into the sphere of firm practice with the intention of providing top quality legal services to clients but at correct rates. Pushkar dons the dual hat of a corporate lawyer and litigator, with his cross-functional experience straddling general corporate advisory and high-stakes litigation. In the corporate and commercial sphere, he has extensive experience advising on end-to-end corporate law and operational matters in addition to PE/VC investments, acquisitions & strategic buyouts. He has advised clients across a series of civil, commercial, and criminal matters with a focus on and white-collar crimes, consumer, and real estate disputes. Corrida Legal has a close-knit team and are experts in Corporate Laws, M&A/PE/VC, Litigation, Employment Law & Data Protection. Their energy, positivity, and passion for their craft enable strong client relationships and make a law firm that is solid and grounded. The value propositions they bring are honesty,
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creativity, and innovation apart from the most suitable and appropriate technical responses. The client's needs are met with efficiency with the best mix of lawyers and personnel for each client. The word 'Corrida' stands for 'bullfight' in Spanish, which constitutes the company's motto where the vision lies in protecting clients legally whilst keeping their core principles intact. 'Honesty', 'Hard work' and 'Diligence' are the foundation of the firm. The mission is to provide high quality corporate legal and compliance solutions to clients, while also ensuring costeffectiveness. Corrida Legal sticks to core areas of expertise in order to provide clients with top quality services. Distinguished Services Offered by Corrida Legal Corrida Legal provides end to end corporate law advisory, in addition to assisting on a range of commercial matters and providing contract drafting expertise to its clientele. The firm advises on complex transactions and day-to-day issues on compliance with Companies Act, 2013 and other corporate and commercial laws. Corrida Legal has specialists in Civil and Criminal Litigation, IPR, Tax, Statutory Compliances and Registrations, Employment and
Labour Laws, Technology and Media Law, Data Privacy and POSH related advisory. Having a myriad of specializations allows Corrida Legal to obtain a diverse set of clients across the legal spectrum. They comprise IT/ITES, FMCG, banking, aviation, construction, real estate industry, ecommerce and start-ups across industries. Journey of the Eminent Leader Mr. Pushkar Thakur, a corporate lawyer and litigator is an alumnus of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. He brings forth a unique blend of law firm and inhouse experience, having worked with leading Indian law firms including Kochhar & Co, being an ex-Assistant Vice President at Nomura, in addition to working with and leading the legal teams at Drake & Scull International and Emaar India. As an arguing counsel before various Courts at Mumbai and Delhi NCR, Pushkar has represented corporates such as EMC (now Dell), International Air Transport Association, Lumata Digital, Rae Bareilly Allahabad Highway Private Limited across a range of commercial and criminal matters. He is well versed with complex www.insightssuccess.in
given that I have been associated with several corporate majors in the past. This helps us stand out from other law firms and make our own space,” said the acclaimed lawyer.
Having a blended experience of both law firm and in-house work, Pushkar saw a poor rate of work delivery by smaller law firms. Mostly such law firms would either give poor quality work or would delay matters. With the intention of changing this and the vision of putting forth a law firm that offers top quality legal services in Delhi NCR and Maharashtra, the firm Corrida Legal was set up by Pushkar.
Coping with the Pandemic
Pushkar is a team player and a sports enthusiast. He was the captain of his University's basketball and volleyball team. He is an awardee of the Best Sportsman of the University and Sporting Colours for his University. Pushkar also writes and has won the fiction writing competition at West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences for his piece, “Injustice in Justice”. Challenges Faced Like every law firm, Corrida Legal faces competition from a variety of law firms, which are fairly reputed, established and have been practising in the same area of law for several decades. Hence, the firm focuses on ensuring that its services stand out as unique, in terms of bringing highly specialized solutions at value-based pricing. “Corrida Legal also believes in stepping into the shoes of clients,
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Despite the pandemic, the firm remains active and is willing to take upon any opportunities it is presented with. However, given legal work is driven by corporate actions, it cannot be denied that the pandemic has slowed the process of new transactions and recovery actions by corporates.
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Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbor to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough” – Abraham Lincoln
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mandates, having advised a consortium of more than fifty international airline companies including Lufthansa Airlines, British Airways and United Airlines in matters including civil recoveries and white-collar crimes.
The team at Corrida Legal has shifted its employees to operate on a work-fromhome model wherein all the work is performed remotely. The team follows the same rules for its interns, who are also paid a healthy stipend of INR 5,000 per four weeks to ensure financial assistance during the pandemic.
Mr. Pushkar Thakur Corporate Lawyer and Litigator
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legal services to corporates at affordable and accessible rates and to expand across different cities in India. Current Industrial Scenario of the Indian Legal Space
Advice to Budding Entrepreneurs Any young lawyer, before starting his/her own endeavour must first gather sufficient training and expertise working under any such lawyer, organisation or firm in a similar capacity. This would help that individual gain market knowledge, information on clientele, as well as the nuances which guide business in the legal service sector. Vision and Future Goals Corrida Legal envisions to become the go-to and affordable law firm for Indian and International corporates. Its aim is to become a reputed Indian corporate legal venture in Corporate Law advisory, governance and contracts, civil and criminal litigation, Mergers and Acquisitions, Employment Law, Intellectual Property and Data Protection. The firm aims to provide high quality
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The Indian legal space has suffered a setback since the closure of courts has affected the operation of legal recoveries and disputes throughout the nation. This has also become an opportunity for the Indian legal space, which was predominantly offline, to explore several online mediums of conducting the same work performed in an offline medium. These include, but are not limited to, Court hearings, arbitration processes and even law school education having to operate through video-communication services such as Zoom, Google Meets and Microsoft teams. The shift to online medium has been advantageous to some, but heavily disadvantageous to others. The significant gap in digital literacy in our country has also affected the Indian legal space and those with a lack of technological know-how, or internet resources having been significantly disadvantaged.
departments and top law firms of India to innovate themselves technologically. Top corporate firms are looking at making investments in the prospect of Artificial Intelligence natural language processing (NLP), and robotic process automation (RPA). Many corporate legal departments are also substantively involved in addressing business continuity and cyber vulnerabilities. The Government is attempting to provide some respite to the sector via introducing changes under legislations. It created certain relaxations in the insolvency law to provide debtors a chance to survive the pandemic and repay their liabilities when situations turn favourable for all. On the other hand, the conflagrations between India and China amid the pandemic has made Indian government seeking to firewall Indian companies from Chinese capital by curbing 'opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions' of several corporate entities, including those in the corporate legal domain. As a firm, Corrida Legal has not retrenched any workers and is making extra efforts to ensure financial independence to its officials as well as its interns in these testing times.
Dynamics of Corporate Law Amidst Covid-19 COVID-19 has forced several changes within the Corporate Legal scenario. For starters, the pandemic is encouraging corporate legal
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Tripathi & Associates Maintaining High Standards of Professional Responsibility in all its Engagements
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he most reliable law firms provide timely services with sheer dedication. They embrace technology and emphasize on diversity. These dedicated law firms manage talent efficiently and deliver justice, while upholding the law. One such renowned law firm which tackles every case passionately and with high level of commitment is none other than Tripathi & Associates. Established in, 1990, the firm handles every case with responsibility and dedication.
Kashinath Tripathi, Founder
Tripathi & Associates is a full-service law firm committed to proficient brilliance, personal and high-quality support, and effective solution solution-oriented advocacy. The firm’s approach is simple, direct, and uncompromising pursuit of resolution and results for its clients. Team Tripathi & Associates believes that its client’s success is eventually its own. Tripathi & Associates strives to maintain the highest standards of professional responsibility in all its engagement. A Law Firm that tackles every case passionately with high level of commitment (technology at its backbone) makes it simpler to bring direct resolution, result and deliver justice for its client yet upholding the law. A full service professional law firm committed to proficient brilliance, personal and high-quality support, and effective solution-oriented advocacy in low turnaround time. Specialization:Tripathi & Associates offer a plethora of excellent services spanning through various fields. The firm also practices in the all major high courts of India, district courts of all major cities, session’s courts and lower courts & Tribunals.
Prabhakar Tripathi Manager & Associate
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Tripathi & Associates has surely visualized the complexity in the (law) chain and specializes in handling Criminal Cases, Immigration, Customs, Matrimonial & Money Recovery Suits. www.insightssuccess.in
Most Reliable Law Firms 2021
The firm provides the best and top expert legal advisory, assistance and help for NRIs in matters arising out of Indian matrimonial/ divorce/ family laws. The team advises and practices international and Indian family/ matrimonial/ divorce litigations arising out of Mumbai courts jurisdictions to minimize courthouse litigations and resolve complex matters via personal mediations, conciliations, and Hon’ble courts legal processes and disputes resolutions with systematic legal approach, counsel, and advisory. Tripathi & Associates specializes and advises on disputes resolution, statutory matrimonial laws/divorce laws/ family laws and the implications of the criminal laws with major areas of international divorce laws and matrimonial and divorce litigations. It also provides assistance on cases arising out of personal laws pertaining to divorce/ matrimonial laws, dispute resolutions, and child custody cases regards conflict of laws and issues arising out of private international laws. The firm ensures that the client is best advised on every possible aspect of Indian and complex issues of trans international divorce/ matrimonial laws, child custody, and women’s rights and litigations. One of the Best Law Firm having great experience in handling the cases relating to Foreign Nationals:Top and best expert legal advisory, assistance, and help for foreign nationals in matters arising out of any type of criminal activities regarding passport, visa, immigration, custom, bodily injury, cheating, fraud, narcotics, and so on. Its team has great experience of working with the foreign nationals visiting to India from different countries, who have somehow got involved in criminal cases. Tripathi & Associates has provided fruitful services to the foreign nationals on the immediate response by visiting the police station, embassy, and further proceeding with the matter in the court as well as visiting the foreign national in prison for discussion of their case and guidance. Lawyers of Tripathi & Associates are affiliated to the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa. The firm covers most of the major cities of India for handling cases in Metropolitan Magistrate Court, District/Session Courts as well as Hon’ble High Courts & Apex Court.
foreign nationals from different countries such as USA, UK, Canada, Finland, New Zeeland, Taiwan, China, Cameroon, France, Iran, Italy, South African Countries and the counting goes on. The firm provides various services to foreign nationals; • It provides legal consultation to the foreign nationals visiting to India, so that they can be familiar to Indian law • Specializations are in criminal cases related to immigration, passport, visa and such other type of criminal activities related to narcotics, bodily injury etc. as well as all type of documentations works • It has the experience of representing various foreign nationals • The firm can provide legal aid to the deserving cases of foreign nationals, which are recommended by their embassy Unique Services For Foreign National visiting to India TRIPATHI & ASSOCIATES with their amazing experience in handling the cases for foreign nationals & NRIs visiting India have taken initiatives and about to start a special program for Foreigners & NRIs in the name INDIAN LEGAL HELPS (ILH), wherein just by registering on the Mobile App, the clients can get Legal Consultation and the same is about to be launched by the end of Year, 2021.
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Tripathi & Associates and its versatile team of skilled lawyers practice law with a rare passion
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Offering Excellent NRI Advisory:-
The firm had experience of handling criminal cases for www.insightssuccess.in
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