Organized Crimes
The Mindset of the Guilty in Conduc ng Organised Crimes
Conundrum of Reconfigura on The Need for Restructuring the Na onal Court of Appeal and its Crea on
Guruprasad Pal
A Rising Legend in India's Legal Landscape
Not e E dit or’ s
GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF LAW
Inthemoderntimesof2024,theworldisgetting increasinglycomplex.Ontheonehand,advancing technologieshavebroughttheworldtogethermore thanever,bindingitinonedigitalrealm.Ontheother hand,withconstantlocal,global,andgeopolitical tensionsescalatingatarapidpace,thelegalfraternity aroundtheglobeisemergingastheguardiansofthe universalprinciplesoflaw.
Asitisglobally,inIndia,too,thelegalarenais poisedforcontinuoustransformation.Withcertain legalmindsstandingoutfortheirexpertise,leadership,andinnovativeapproaches,itisnecessaryfora magazinelikeourstotakemorethannoticeand createacarefullycuratedlistof‘The5Most RecognizedLawyerstoWatchOutin2024,’who beingtrailblazersarefarbeyondthemererecognition oftheirlegalknowledge,talent,expertise,and acumen.Theyshowcaseacharacterthatpossessesan abilitytoadapttoarapidlyevolvinggloballandscape.
Also,aschange-makersandchangedriversinareas suchastechnologylaw,environmentalpolicy,human rights,andcorporategovernance,theirethical commitment,practicalsolutions,andmentorshipof thenextgenerationmaketheminspirationalidolsto watch.
Astheserecognizedlawyersareredefiningthe professionandsettingnewstandardsforexcellence andleadership,theworld,locallyandglobally,is takingcognizanceoftheselegalstalwarts.While enthusiasticallygoingthroughthefollowingpagesof thisexclusiveedition,youwillalsocomeacrosstwo opinionatedarticlesespeciallycraftedbyourinhouseteamsothatyoucanunderstandthedifferent facetsthatmakethesemostpopularlegalpersonalitiescreatingabuzzanddrivingapositivetransformationinthevastlegalsectorsoftheworld’smost populouscountry–India.
So,withoutfurtherado,let’sdiveintothefascinating storiesofInsightsSuccessIndia’schosenfewlegal professionalswhoarecontributingtobalancingthe scaleofjustice.
Read on!
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A READER LIVES A THOUSAND LIVES BEFORE HE DIES . . . THE MAN WHO NEVER READS LIVES ONLY ONE.
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Akshat Khetan
Commi ed to Passionately Promo ng Jus ce with AUCLs Logical Legal Solu ons
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Organized Crimes
The Mindset of the Guilty in Conduc ng Organized Crimes
Conundrum of Reconfigura on
The Need for Restructuring the Na onal Court of Appeal and its Crea on
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Featuring Brief Company
AUCorporateAdvisory andLegalServices (AUCL)
CyrilAmarchand Mangaldas
CyrilAmarchand Mangaldas
&Co
&Partners
AkshatKhetan, Founder
AshishNarang, LegalAssociate
BishenJeswant, PartnerEmploymentLaw Practice
Guruprasad Pal, Partner
ShivaniShenoy, Associate
AkshatKhetan'sbrainchildisAUCL,whoisa renownedcorporateandlegaladvisorwithdecadesof experienceincorporatedebtrestructuringand insolvencyunderhisbelt.
AshishisaCorporateLawenthusiastwithabrimmingpassionfor Finance,lookingtosynergizehispassionforthetwoandcreating anexcitingandfulfillingcareer.
BishenisaPartnerintheEmploymentLawPracticeofCyril AmarchandMangaldasandisbasedoutoftheBangalore office.
GuruprasadPalholdsthedistinctionofworkinginIndia’s oldestlawfirm,Little&Co.,asoneofthefourequity Partnersofthefirm.
With11yearsoflegalexperience,ShivaniShenoyisalegalAssociate atAZB&Partners,sincelastfouryears.
Little
AZB
GuruprasadPal Partner Little&Co.
Guruprasad Pal
A Rising Legend in India's Legal Landscape
Inthevastandever-changing worldscenario,onemustalways committoinvestingincontinuous personaldevelopmenttomaintain highstandardsofpracticeand ensurethatthe irmremains competitive.
Legacy is indeed a hallmark of recognition. It's a testament to the enduring impact and influence that anindividualleavesbehind.Legends,whetherinthe realm of sports, arts, or business, are revered for their exceptional achievements and contributions. And the legal profession is no exception. The legal niche is replete with legendary personalities who have shaped the course of law, justice,andsociety.
Fast-emergingintheleagueasthemostrecognizedlawyerto watch out for, Guruprasad Pal holds the distinction of workinginIndia’soldestlawfirm,Little&Co.,asoneofthe fourequityPartnersofthefirm.Inaprofessionwherethepast informsthepresent,Guruprasadunderstandstheimportance of honouring tradition while also embracing innovation. He believes that the legal industry must adapt to the changing needsofsociety,andheactivelyfostersacultureofcreativity and forward-thinking within his firm. By encouraging his collea
WelcometoIndia’sFirstLawFirm
Little & Co. is recognized as the first law firm in India, established in 1856 under the guidance of Mr John Pares Bickersteth and represented East India Company as the solicitors. Following its nationalization, it became the Solicitors to British India and maintained this role until India’s independence. After independence, it served as the SolicitorFirmfortheprovinceofBombayuntilitsbifurcation intoMaharashtraandGujaratin1960.Thislegacyspansover 167 years, a fact that Guruprasad Pal takes pride in as an equityPartnerofthefirm.
Effectiveleadershipiscrucial indrivinga irm'ssuccess, fosteringacollaborative culture,andensuringhigh levelsofclientsatisfaction.
Additionally, the late Charles Grundy, one of the last survivingEnglishlawyersinIndia,hadaformativeinfluence onGuruprasad..
Guruprasad believes in a client-centric approach that emphasizespersonalizedserviceandtailoredlegalsolutions, fosteringlastingrelationships.Heemphasizesthatreliability is crucial in today’s environment, advocating for a personal philosophy that aligns with client-centric decision-making, buildstrust,andinspiresactionwithintheorganization.
Hehasadoptedagoal-centricapproachthatvaluescollaborationandteamworktoachievecommonobjectives.Inaneverchanging global landscape, he stresses the importance of continuouspersonaldevelopmenttomaintainhighstandards ofpracticeandensurethefirmremainscompetitive.
FortuneFavourstheChance-takers
There’safascinatingstorybehindGuruprasad’sentryintothe legalfield.Bornintoatypicalmiddle-classfamilywherethe expectations are to become an Engineer or a Doctor, and havingfailedtofulfilhisparents'dreams,Guruprasadentered the field of law by accident, though his father was also an advocate who switched over to a career in the Bank for permanentemploymentwithasteadyincome.
Having joined the legal education sector, Guruprasad excelled in his studies, ranking first among all three universities in Odisha in the year 1980. This achievement madehimeligibleforaNationalMeritScholarship,prompting his enrolment at Bombay University for his Master’s in Law (LL.M.), which he completed in 1982. His ability to navigate life in Bombay independently motivated him to pursueacareerinlaw
DrivingtheChange
The legal industry, traditionally known for its resistance to change, is now embracing technology at an unprecedented rate.Fromautomationindocumentationprocessesandcloud computingtoe-discoveryandartificialintelligence,legaltech isrevolutionizingthewaylawfirmsoperate.TheCOVID-19 pandemichasledtotheadoptionofvirtuallegalservicesand virtualhearings.
Guruprasadbelievesthatinvestingintechnologyandstaying informed of industry trends through publications and networkingisoneofthemanywaystoremainadaptableinthe ever-changing legal landscape. He is part of the advisory
boardofvariousmultinationalcompanies,advisingthemby integratingstrategiesonaday-to-daybasis.
Furthermore,today'sclientsaremoreinformed,empowered, and demanding than ever before, as they have unabridged access to a wealth of online information. There is also a growingnumberoflegalserviceproviders,andclientsareno longercontentwiththetraditional,opaque,andone-size-fitsall approach to legal services. Instead, they expect transparency, value, and customization from their law firms, which Guruprasaddeliverstohisclients.
After all, the legal industry is a service industry, and a onesize-fits-all approach does not work. Guruprasad recognizes the importance of adapting to the changing needs of clients and embracing technological advancements to remain competitiveinthelegallandscape.
TheBridgeofDiscipline
Effective leadership is crucial in driving a firm's success, fosteringacollaborativeculture,andensuringhighlevelsof clientsatisfaction.Guruprasadbelievesinsettingcleargoals to achievedesired outcomes. He emphasizes empowerment, delegation, collaboration, and trusting his team to handle
Intoday’stime,reliabilityand craftingapersonalphilosophy whichisinsyncwithclientcentricdecision-making, fosteringtrust,andinspiring actionwithintheorganization, areimportant.
assignedtasks.Whennecessary,heguidesteammembersto explorevariousapproachestoensureimpactfulresults.
Heassertsthatleadership,teambuilding,andclientsatisfaction are interdependent. Guruprasad has always nurtured a client-centric mindset, encouraging proactive communicationwithinhisteamandwithclients.Heiskeentoinstillthe valueofdiscipline,stating,“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.” He believes that while each individualcanmakeadifference,collectiveeffortscanbring about significant change, with client satisfaction being the ultimatepriority
TheScaleofLaw
The essence of the legal industry lies in bringing innovation and advancements to the niche. To balance legal limitations and client expectations, Guruprasad has always fostered a culturethatencouragescreativethinkingandinnovation.He supports new ideas and approaches that can enhance client servicesandfirmoperations.Guruprasadoftentellshisteam that while one may anticipate things, one should never assume, as it can be difficult for some clients to articulate preciselywhattheyseek.Therefore,itisessentialtoprovide thebestadvicetoobtainspecificinformation.
Balance is an essential component in every sphere of life, including law. Unless firms can balance client expectations andneeds,theyriskdispleasingtheirclients.Withthepower to make or break now shifted to clients, it has become imperative for firms to provide the highest level of client service.
TheGreenPioneerintheLegalParlance
Sustainability and environmental responsibility are crucial aspectsofthemodernera.Whenaskedhowhepromotesthese principlesintolegalandadministrativeparlance,Guruprasad saysthat,sofarasenvironmentalresponsibilityisconcerned, hewasoneofthefirstonestopracticeattheNationalGreen Tribunal (Western Zone) and the Principal Seat of the NGT He has taken up pro-bono cases regarding environmental degradationandadvisedonseveralhigh-profileenvironmentallawcases.
The law firm Little & Co. has achieved remarkable success. Whenaskedtohighlightatransformativeproject,Guruprasad says that each case is equally important; however, some are highlightsofhiscareer Hehasbeeninvolvedinseveralhighprofilelitigationsforgovernmentbodiesandwasinstrumental when the project finance phase in India was on the upswing.HewasalsocloselyassociatedwiththeEnroncase inIndiaandtheUK.
Today’sclientsaremore informed,empowered,and demandingthaneverbefore astheyhaveunabridged accesstoawealthofonline information.
EmbracingtheDigitalDynamics
Intherealmoflegalsystems,technologyplaysapivotalrole in enhancing efficiency Guruprasad shares that at Little &Co.,theyadoptedthelatesttechnologicaladvancementsin their day-to-day practices. Nowadays, even senior counsellorsusetabletsratherthanbulkybriefs.Similarly,theirentire officeisautomated.
They are further up-to-date with today’s technology and the latest laws relating to it, like the Digital Personal Data ProtectionActof2023.Theyhaveembraceddigitaltransformation. Aside from going paperless, the firm also actively advisestechnologycompanies.Itscoreethosrevolvesaround providing insightful guidance and operational resolutions across a spectrum of legal domains. From transaction advisory services to dispute resolution, Little & Co. prides itself on offering adept legal services that transcend the ordinaryandyieldimpactfulresults.
Challenges are inevitable. In the legal sector, leaders must counter them daily Guruprasad shared that recently, they were working on a Project Finance transaction for a leading FMCG client that was embroiled in a slander controversy. They had to be tenacious and dodge some issues, but in the end, everyone involved in the transaction was on the same page.
Little&Co.isthe irstlaw irminthecountry, establishedin1856asthe SolicitorsfortheEastIndia Company.
EqualityistheOnlyWayAhead
Genderequalityisabuzzword,especiallyinthelegalsector With theWomen’s Reservation Bill coming into the picture, Guruprasadsaysheseesachangecomingintheindustry.He believesthatinequalityanddiscriminationstemfrompeople's mindsets.Heassertsthatgenderinequalityaffectseveryone, includingchildren,women,transgenderpeople,andmen.He emphasizes that women's empowerment is essential for achieving gender equality By providing equal opportunities andensuringthatwomenreceivetheirrightfulshareofrights, organizations can not only attain gender equality but also contributetoavarietyofdevelopmentgoals.
He highlights that his firm, Little & Co., employs several women lawyers who are compensated equally to their male counterparts.
AnOptimumCounsel
Many young aspirants wish to enter the legal industry, for whomGuruprasad’sadviceispractical.Accordingtohim,the legalprofessionisaslowprofession,andittakesmanyyears todevelopagoodpractice.Moreover,onehastoworkfrom morningtillnightbecauseevenaftercomingbackfromcourt, one has to sit in their chamber and work. So, it is not for a person who wants a nine-to-five work-life balance. “Discipline is the key to the profession. No one can become a stalwart in this profession by winning one case or cracking one deal. One has to slog day in and day out. The concentrationshouldbetowardsoptimumworkandnottheoutcome,be
itfavourablejudgment/favourabledealormonetarycompensation/fees.”
Lawyerlifecanberoughsometimes,butitdoesn’tmeanyou shouldgiveup.“If you’ve found yourself in a legal career, it means you’re meant to do great things and positively impact theworld.Neverforgetthat!”
Finally,lookingtothefuture,Guruprasadsaysthatharmony isthekeyvisionheseesforLittle&Co.Helivesbytheruleof offeringpracticalsolutionstohisclients,whichisthedriving forceinhislegalcareer.
Organized Crimes
The Mindset of the Guilty in OrganizedConductingCrimes
Organizedcrimehasconstantlybeenconsideredone oftheclearestexpressionsofthewaysthrough whichcrimetranscendsbordersandaffects societiesonmultiplelevels,startingfromeconomic structureinstabilitytotheweakeningofanarea'slegal institutions.Organizedcrimerefersspecificallytohighly structuredandsystematicactivitiescarriedoutbygroups basedonmattersofprofitandpower Whatmakes organizedcrimedifferentfromasinglecriminalactisthe complexityofitsoperations,sometimesinvolvingseveral individuals,networks,andotherresources.Acoremindsetpsychologicalframeworkdrivesandmaintainsinvolved individualsinthelineoftheseoperations.
Ideally,theunderstandingofthemindsetofthose individualsengagedinorganizedcrimeisveryessentialto lawenforcement,psychologists,andpolicy-makers.This paperexaminesseveralpsychologicalfactors,motivations, andsocialinfluencesthatshapethemindsetofonewhois involvedinorganizedcrime.
ProfitandPower:TheCoreMotivators
Basically,itisprofitandpowerthatmotivateorganized crime.Thoseinvolvedinsuchareoftenmotivatedbyhuge amountsofmoney-thesortsofmoneyoftengainedinillicit businessesintheformofdrugsmuggling,extortion,human trading,launderingmoney,ordealinginweapons.Here, powerisunderstoodnotonlyasfinancialbutalsointerms ofcontroloverterritoriesorpeopleorillegalmarkets.
Manypeoplefindtheappealoforganizedcrimemoreinthe long-termgainsofitspowerthanthequickmoneyitself. Thefeelingofomnipotenceoverbothcriminaland sometimesevenlegitimateinstitutionswouldcreatea perspectivewhereinmoralityisperipheraltofinancial gains.
Profits:Thebasisonwhichcriminalsexplaintheirillegal actionsisaprofit.Forcriminals,theirlawlessnessisjusta meanstoanend;theriskishigherforthepotentialvolume ofreturn.
Lustandmaterialism:Aman'spsychologicalwantfor materialwealthandanextravagantlifestyleoftendrives him;thismentalityisfurtherdrivenbytheswiftsatisfaction andtangiblesuccessesfromillicitincomes.
TheRationalizationofCrime
Organizedcriminalsoftenmakeuseofcognitive dissonance—apsychologicalprocessthroughwhichthey resolvetheillegalityandimmoralityoftheiractionwith theirself-perception.Thisrationalizationfreesthemfrom guiltandremorsewhilecontinuingtheirillegalactivity.
MoralRationalization:Narcotics,black-marketgoods,and otherillegalservicesparticipantsusesuchbeliefstojustify theiractionsastheyareseenasbeingindemandbysociety Theymaybeinterpretedasdoingnothingmorethanbeing abusinessmanorbusinesswomanratherthanacriminal, withtheirpersonalconsciencerationalizedbyascertaining thattheycreatenomoreproblemsthanarenecessaryfor themtosurviveandruntheirbusiness.
DenialofVictimhood:Inmuchorganizedcrime,indirect harmisdonetofacelessvictims,suchasmoneylaundering orcybercrimes.Criminalsmaydissociatethemselvesfrom thehumancostoftheiracts,convincingthemthatnobody getshurtbytheirbehaviororthevictims"deserveit.”
LoyaltytotheGroup:Organizednetworkcriminalsmay, alsoappropriateloyaltyasajustificationfactor.Groupthink mayleadtoasenseofobligationinwhichapersonfeels thatheorsheisdoinghisorherduty,byobservingacode ofconductorfollowingcertainunwrittenrules,whichare supposedtobeabovethemundanelevelofmorals.
GroupDynamicsandSocialInfluence
Groupdynamicsservetoplayanextremelystrongrolein theformationofmindsetsforthosedealingwithorganized crime.Mostly,criminalsfunctionaspartofclosely-knit organizationsoftenlinkedinsocialnetworkscharacterized bycomplexhierarchiesandloyalty.Forsuchanindividual, thecriminalgroupbecomesareferencepointformolding identityandvaluesoftheperson.
LoyaltyandTrust:Thegroupmustbeloyal,andloyaltyis establishedthroughritualsandexperiencesandshared purpose.Formost,itisquiteunimaginabletobetraythe group:thisgoesagainstnotonlybeingpunishedforsuch betrayalbutalsoviolatesthedeepsenseofbelongingmost peoplehavetothegroup.
Hierarchicalstructureandroledefinition:thehierarchical structureofacriminalorganizationoftenprovideseachof thememberswithadefinedrole.Thisismeanttomaintain orderbutgivesindividualscontrolovertheircircumstances andelevatestheirself-esteem.Muchlikeotherroles, enforcerstrategistorfinancialoperatorroleallhelpto reinforceapersonalidentitytiedtothesuccessofthe criminalenterprise.
NormalizationofCrime:Organizedcrimenetworksbuild suchanenvironmentthatthepracticeofcrimebecomes normalized.Theusualmoralandlegalboundariesare diluted.Committingcrimesbecomesaroutinebehaviourat timesexpectedinsuchplaces,andpersonquestioningor deviatingfromthisnormareostracizedandpunished.
RiskToleranceandThrill-SeekingBehavior
Thesearetypicallyindividualswithhighlevelsofrisk toleranceandhighlevelsofthrill-seekingbehavior Organizedcrimeischaracterizedbyhigh-riskoperations;in fact,theymayfaceincarceration,violence,orevenmurder. Formanycriminals,though,theadditionalimpetustocrime isthethrillinoperatingoutsidethelaw.
RiskasChallenge:Somearedrawntoorganizedcrime becausetheyfeedonhigh-riskenvironments.Indeed,the verynatureoftheactivityofevadinglaw-enforcement authorities,dangerousterritories,orhigh-stakesdeals providesapsychologicalthrillthatcanbecomeaddictive.
ThrillofOutsmartingtheSystem:Muchofwhatcriminals involvedinorganizedoperationsfindpleasurableisthe outsmartingoflawenforcementormanipulationof loopholesinthelaw Theabilitytobeonestepaheadofthe authoritiesbecomesabenchmarkoftheirintelligenceand competenceandservestoenhanceafeelingofsuperiority.
DesensitizationtowardViolenceandCrime
Inorganizedcrime,especiallywherethereareactivitiesin drugtrafficking,extortionorhumantrafficking,violenceis partoftheiroperations.Lotsofpeoplewhoareinvolved hereevengetaccustomedtotheuseofviolence;infact, theyseeitasanextensionoftheirworkratherthanan immoralact.
InstrumentalUseofViolence:Organizedcriminalsuse violenceasatooltomaintainpower,enforceloyalty,or eliminatethecompetition.Butrepeateduseofviolence onlymakesthishabitsuetoroutineandlessensensitiveness aboutitsimmediateconsequences.
PsychopathyandNarcissism:Insomecases,membersof organizedcrimemayactuallybeexhibitingpsychopathicor narcissistictendenciesthatreducetheirempathicpotential whileincreasingtheirtendencytoperceiveothersas instrumentsfortheirmeanstopowerandlucre.
EconomicandSocialPressures
Notallthepersonsinvolvedinorganizedcrimeare motivatedentirelyoutofgreedortheneedforthrill.Alot oftheelementthatdefinessuchpeopleisconstitutedfrom elementsthatleanmoretowardseconomicdesperation, socialpressures,orevenotherpsychologicaldrives.
PovertyandUnemployment:Forsome,povertyand unemploymentmakesorganizedcrimetheonlyfinancial possibility.Illegaleconomiesthenbecomeasourceofsome income-generatingopportunity,onefraughtwithpersonal danger.
SocialEnvironment:Insuchareaswheretheprevalent organizedcrimeleadstoitsacceptabilityamongthe communitymembers,thenchildrenbornandbroughtupin suchenvironmentsmayconsiderjoiningtheranksof organizedcrimeasameansofclimbingthesocialladder,
therebyinculcatingamentalitytowardsthisgroupwherein crimeisperceivedasalegitimateprofession.
Conclusion
Suchthinkingdoesnotrefertothesimpleonebecausethe motivationsmaybemultiple,andtheycouldinclude aspectsofgreed,power,rationalization,groupdynamics, levelofrisktolerance,oreveneconomicdesperation.In mostcases,itbecomespertinentforlawenforcersand policymakerstounderstandthistypeofmindsetin formulatingeffectivestrategiesagainstorganizedcrime. Whiledealingwiththerootcausesofthesepsychological drivers—beitbybettereconomicopportunities,robust legaldeterrents,ordismantlingcriminalnetworks—is essentialinreducingorganizedcrime'soverallinfluenceon thesocietiesofourworld.
Akshat Khetan
Commi ed to Passionately Promo ng Jus ce with AUCLs Logical Legal Solu ons
What are the most important hallmarks of the most recognized lawyers?Thosewhoareseekingjusticeorlegal resolutionalwaysfeelthattheirlegalrepresentativesmust becompassionateabouttheircase,listentothem,remain ethical,honest,transparent,andsupportive,andprovide themwiththatpeaceofmindassoonaspossible.
AkshatKhetan’spassionforpromotingjusticeandhis ownexperiencesmotivatedhimfromanearlyage.His interestinthecomplexitiesofthelawandhislovefor justicedrovehimtopursueacareerinlaw.Thechallenges andtriumphshehadencounteredreinforcedhiscommitmenttothelegalprofession.Thedifficultiesandsuccesses Akshathadstrengthenedhisdedicationtothelegalfield. Everyencounterhasmouldedhimintoanaccomplished professionalcommittedtoprovidinghisfirm’sclientswith logicallegalservicesbymeetingdeadlines.
AUCL:ALegacyofIntegrity,Innovation,andClientFocus
EachexperiencehasshapedAkshatintotheprofessional thatheistoday,drivenbyexcellenceandadedicationto servinghislawfirm,AUCorporateAdvisoryandLegal Services,akaAUCLsclients,withintegrity
Today,AUCL'ssuccessisbuiltuponafoundationof integrity,innovation,andunwaveringclientfocus.Thefirm iscommittedtodeliveringexceptionallegalsolutions tailoredtotheuniqueneedsofeachclient.
Withadeepunderstandingofclients'businessesand challenges,AUCLprovidesproactiveandstrategiclegal counsel.Thefirmfostersacollaborativeenvironmentwhere everyteammembercontributestodeliveringcomprehensivesolutions.
AUCL'sdedicationtobuildinglong-termrelationships basedontrustandtransparencyhassolidifieditspositionas aleadinglawfirminIndia.
Akshat'sVision:EmpoweringtheLegalProfession
Akshatbelievesinleveragingtechnologytodriveinnovationinthelegalindustry.ByinvestinginAIandadvanced tools,hesaystheycanenhanceefficiencyandprecision. Fosteringacultureofopencommunicationandcollaborationiscrucialtostayingaheadoftheevolvinglegal landscape.
Akshatisalsopassionateaboutempoweringwomeninlaw
Thestereotypeofwomenlawyersbeingconfinedtofamily anddivorcelawisoutdated,sayshe,addingthattheyare committedtocreatinganecosystemthatrecognizesthe diversecapabilitiesofwomenlegalprofessionals.By providingopportunitiesinvariouslegaldomains,AUCLis breakingdownbarriersandempoweringwomentoexcel.
The economic policies should be inclusive and growth-oriented, emphasizing that profit and income are not ends in themselves, but variables that contribute to the crea on of meaningful value for all members of society.
Founder AU Corporate Advisory and Legal Services (AUCL)
Akshat Khetan
AFar-SightedLeaderintheLegalProfession
Akshat'sleadershipischaracterizedbyaforward-thinking approachandacommitmenttocreatingamoreinclusive anddynamiclegalprofession.Hestronglybelievesthat thereshouldbemultifacetedperspectivesinaddressing businesschallenges.The360-degreeapproachthought processfacilitatestheimplementationofmanagerial, operational,strategicandorganizationalreforms,enabling clientstorealizetheirobjectives.Akshathasafirmopinion thateconomicpoliciesshouldbeinclusiveandgrowthoriented,emphasizingthatprofitandincomearenotendsin themselvesbutvariablesthatcontributetothecreationof meaningfulvalueforallmembersofsociety
CreatingClient-FocusedInnovation
Theessenceofthelegalindustryliesinbringinginnovation andadvancementstotheniche.AtAUCorporateLegal AdvisoryServices,Akshatandhisteamblendinnovation withtraditionallegalprinciplestobalancelegallimitations andclientexpectations.Theirapproachstartswithunderstandingeachclient'suniqueneedsandindustry.This enablesthemtotailorlegalsolutionsthatalignwiththeir goalswhileensuringcompliance.
Theyinvestincontinuouslearningandstayupdatedon legaltrends,technologicaladvancements,andregulatory changes.Thisempowersthemtoofferinnovativesolutions andabledadvicethatmeetsmodernchallengeswithout compromisingonlegalintegrity.
Theircultureofcollaborationandcreativityfostersfresh ideasandinnovativestrategies.Byencouragingopen dialogue,Akshatandhisteamofexpertsanticipate potentiallegalhurdlesanddevelopproactivesolutions.This dedicationallowsthemtodeliverexceptionalvaluetotheir clientswhileeffectivelynavigatinglegalconstraints.
DeliveringCutting-edgeLegalSolutions
AUCLhasachievedremarkablesuccess.Akshatensured thattheyhaveincorporatedadvancedtechnologiessuchas blockchainfordocumentsecurityandAIforautomated compliancechecks.Thisinitiativenotonlyexemplifiesour commitmenttolegalexcellenceandinnovationbutalso significantlyimprovedtheirclient'soperationalefficiency andcompliancestandards.
OnestandoutinitiativeisAUCL’spioneeringworkinthe digitaltransformationoflegaldocumentationforamajor clientinthetechindustry Throughthisproject,Akshatand histeamdemonstratedtheirabilitytodelivercutting-edge legalsolutionsthataddresscomplexchallenges,reaffirming theirdedicationtoprovidingexceptionalvalueand fosteringlong-termclientsuccess.
Today,jurisprudencegoesbeyondthephysicalrealm, transformingduetoaspectslikedigitalandvirtualadvancements,whicharenecessities.AkshatacceptsthatArtificial Intelligencehasrevolutionizedvariousindustries,andthe legalsectorisnoexception.Theemergenceofdata-driven technologies,coupledwithadvancementsinAIand automation,issettochangelegalpracticessignificantly. AI’scapabilitytoautomaterepetitivetasks,suchas documentreviewandcontractanalysis,offerstime-saving andcost-effectivesolutions.
Moreover,AIempowerslawyerswithdataanalysisona scale-boundhumancapacity,enablingthemtomakebetterinformeddecisionsbasedonhiddenpatternsandinsights.
AUCL:NavigatingComplexity,DeliveringResults
InthedynamicandoftenunpredictablerealmofIndia’s legalsector,AUCLhasconsistentlyfacedandsurmounted variouschallenges.Onesuchinstancestandsout,demonstratingAkshatandhisteam'sexceptionalresilienceand commitmenttoequity.Duringaparticularlycomplex insolvencycase,theirclient,aprominentmanufacturing company,wasonthebrinkofliquidationduetooverwhelmingfinancialdistressandlegalentanglements.
Thestakeswerehigh,andthefutureofnumerousemployeesandstakeholdershunginthebalance.Akshatandhis team,undeterredbythemagnitudeofthechallenge, approachedthesituationwithunwaveringdedicationanda deepsenseofresponsibility.Employingacollaborative strategy,theymeticulouslyanalyzedeveryaspectofthe case,leveragingtheirdiverseexpertisetocraftacomprehensiveresolutionplan.Theiremphasisonequityensured thatallparties,includingcreditors,employees,and shareholders,werefairlyrepresentedandtheirinterests safeguarded.Throughrelentlessnegotiation,strategic litigation,andinnovativesolutions,theynotonlysavedthe companyfromliquidationbutalsosetaprecedentin insolvencyjurisprudence.Thisexperienceunderscoredthe profoundimpactofresilienceandequityinlegalpractice, reaffirmingtheircommitmenttonavigatingadversitieswith integrityandtenacity.
AttheForefrontofaPivotalMoment
Ongenderequality,Akshatsaysmorethanabuzzword;at AUCL,theyarecommittedtofosteringaninclusiveand diverseworkplacethatpromotesit.Theyactivelyrecruit, mentor,andpromotetalentedwomenlawyers,ensuring theyhaveequalopportunitiestoadvanceandlead.The Women’s Reservation Bill marksapivotalmomentfor genderequalityinIndia,anditsimpactonthelegalsectoris expectedtobesubstantial.
Akshataddsthattheybelievethatdiversityenhancestheir abilitytoprovideinnovativeandcomprehensivelegal solutions.Bychampioninggenderequalitywithintheir firm,theynotonlyadheretoethicalprinciplesbutalsoseta benchmarkforthelegalindustry,drivingpositivechange andfosteringamoreequitablefuture.
Manyyoungaspirantswishtoenterthelegalindustry Akshat’sadviceistoapproachtheircareerwithdedication, curiosity,andintegrity.Focusonbuildingastrongfoundationinlegalprinciplesandcontinuouslyseektoexpand yourknowledge.Embraceeverylearningopportunity, whetherit'sthroughinternships,mentorship,orfurther studies.
Cultivatestronganalyticalandcommunicationskills,as theyarecrucialinthisfield.Beproactiveinnetworkingand buildingrelationshipswithindustryprofessionals,asthese connectionscanprovidevaluableinsightsandopportunities.
Mostimportantly,maintainapassionforjusticeanda commitmenttoethicalpractice.Thelegalprofessionis demandingbutimmenselyrewardingforthosewhoare drivenbyagenuinedesiretomakeapositiveimpact.Stay resilient,adaptable,andopentonewchallenges,andyou willfindsuccessandfulfilmentinyourlegalcareer.
DrivingtheFutureRevolution
Lookingtothefuture,Akshat’svisionforAUCLiscrystal clear Accordingtohim,thelegalindustryisundergoinga profoundtransformationdrivenbyrapidtechnological advancements,shiftingclientexpectations,andincreasing globalcompetition.Aslawfirmsnavigatethisevolving landscape,it'scrucialtostayinformedaboutthelatest trends,challenges,andopportunitiesshapingthefutureof theprofession.
Whetheryou'reaseasonedattorneyoralegalindustry professional,understandingthesetrendsisessentialfor stayingaheadofthecurveandpositioningAUCLforlongtermsuccessthroughuncoveringthestrategiestheywill havetothriveinthisdynamicandever-changingindustry, heconcludes.
The Need for Restructuring the National Court of Appeal and its Creation
Nocountry'sjudicialsystemcanbemoreaptthan beingthecornerstonesofdemocracyfordelivering justiceandupholdingconstitutionalvalues.When growingdemandsaremadeuponthejudiciary,thevery structureandefficiencyofitgetmostextensivelytested.In mostcountries,includingIndia,talkofrestructuringthe NCAortheNationalCourtofAppealledpeopletowonder whetheritwasnecessary,possible,andwhatthatinitself wouldimplyintermsofthejudicialrolethatwouldbe accordedtothisintheinstitutions.Thisreflectionelaborates onthecomplexitiessurroundingthereformoftheNCAand why,essentially,restructuringtheNCAcouldbecrucialfor amoreefficaciouslegalframework..
TheCaseforaNationalCourtofAppeal
ANationalCourtofAppeal,oftenviewedasan intermediateappellatecourtbetweentheHighCourtsand theSupremeCourt,wouldbeprovidedforinmany countriesduetothebacklogofcasesfacingtheSupreme Court.InIndia,theSupremeCourthasatremendous amountofcaseload,andmostofthecasesbroughtbeforeit arenotconstitutionalinnaturebutratherrun-of-the-mill appeals.Thisaccountsformostofthebacklogs.
DivisionofthecaseloadthroughpreparinganNCA,to disposeofgeneralappealsattheNCAlevelandreserve
constitutionalandimportantlegalmattersfortheSupreme Court.Thiswillalsoaidindirectingthehighcourt preciselytowarditsoriginalmandatetointerpretthe Constitutionandmattersofnationalimportance.
Currentissuesthatarepromptingrestructuring
Amongthemisthecoercingofjudicialreformandonesuch creationistheNCA,thatemergesonmanycriticalissues.
Themajorreasonforrestructuringisthatthereisahuge backlogintheSupremeCourt.Thecasessometimesdragso muchthatthecourtisoverburdenedwithcasesranging frommonetarydisputes,whicharequitepettyinnature,to verycomplexconstitutionalissues.Thecourthardlygives priorityincasesthatrequireimmediateconstitutional interventionwhenthereisinadequatetimeandresources.
DilationoftheroleoftheSupremeCourtinthe Constitution:TheSupremeCourthasgradually metamorphosedintoacourtofappealforalltypesoflegal disputes,therebylosingitsoriginalfunctionastheactual protectoroftheConstitution.ThereorientationoftheNCA aimstorepositiontheSupremeCourtbackonthepedestal asaconstitutionalcourt.
AccesstoJustice:Thegeographicaldistancemostcitizens arefromtheSupremeCourtofmostcountrieslimitsaccess tojustice.AnNCAwouldgivelitigantsanotherlayerof recourseonappealwithoutbeingrequiredtoapproachthe SupremeCourtforeverymatter.Thiswouldalsoenhance accesstojusticeamongstcitizenswholivefarawayfrom thecapitalcenter.
JudicialEfficiencyandDelays:Latejusticeisnojusticeat all.ItisbyrestructuringandestablishinganNCAthatthe judicialsystemcouldfunctionefficiently,suchthatcases wouldbehandledmorepromptlyandjusticedelivered withoutunduedelays.
TheProblemsofRe-alignment
WhilethecasesforrestructuringtheNCAarequite attractive,challengesinitsformationandoperationalization donotseemfaraway:
ConstitutionalAmendments:ANationalCourtofAppeal demandsconstitutionalamendmentsespeciallybecause, likeIndia,theConstitutionoutlinestheroleandjurisdiction oftheSupremeCourt.Ittakestimeandfacespolitical resistance.
JurisdictionalComplexity:Thequestionofascertaining clearjurisdictionbetweentheSupremeCourtandHigh CourtsconcerningtheSupremeCourt'sandHighCourts' appealsisveryknotty.Inrestructuring,ithastobe maintainedthattheNCAdoesnottreaduponthe jurisdictionsoftheSupremeCourtwhileeffectivelydealing withappeals.
ResistancefromLegalandJudicialCommunities: Undoubtedly,thejudiciaryrestructuringwillcausea considerablestirwithinthelegalcommunity.Manyfeel thatthecurrentsystemshouldbefurtherreformedrather thanhavingonemorelayerofcourts.Theyarguethat judicialcasemanagementalongwithdigitization,along withbetterappointmentprocesses,wouldbenefitmuch morethananewappealsbody.
CostandAdministrativeBurden:Establishinganewcourt systemis,byitself,suchanextremelycostlyand administrativelyburdensomeenterprise.Theinfrastructures tostaffsetupcoulddetergovernmentsfromtakingupthe initiative.Moreimportantly,duplicatingwhatalreadyexists withoutsolvingtherootcauseofthedelaymightprove counterproductive.
PossibleAdvantagesofNCA
Despitethedifficulties,reformingNCAmaybringalotof benefitstothejudiciary:
RelieftotheSupremeCourt:Itsroutineappellatecasesmay bedirectedtotheNCA,sofreeingtheSupremeCourtto concentrateonmattersofconstitutionalvitalimportance, therebymakingitworkbetterandabetterqualityof jurisprudence.
TimelyJustice:Itwouldmeanquickerresolutionofcases withreconfiguration.Thejudiciarymayproviderelieffrom thebacklogbystreamliningtheprocessaswellasmaking surethattheSupremeCourtdoesnotgetoverloaded.
Specialization:ANationalCourtofAppealmaypavethe wayforamorespecializedfocusonappellatematters, whichcanleadtowardmoreuniformorconsistent interpretationoflawthroughoutthejurisdictions.
BuildingBackthePrestigeoftheSupremeCourt:Ifthe NCAisreconstructedalongconstitutionalandnational lines,thenitwillhelptoreconstructbacktheprideofthe SupremeCourtfrombeinganover-burdenedcourtof appealratherthanthehighaltarofconstitutionalism.
InternationalPrecedentsforRe-Structuring
CountriesliketheUnitedStatesandCanadahave establishedjudicialsystemsinwhichtopcourtsreacha decisiononconstitutionalorissuesofgreatimportonly; otherappealsaredispensedbyappellatecourts.IntheU.S. forexample,CircuitCourtsareappellatecourtsformost caseswhiletheSupremeCourthearscasesofnational importanceonlyselectively.Ithasthereforereducedthe workloadontheSupremeCourtsomuchthatitcanfocus itseffortsonthedevelopmentofconstitutionallaw
Goingbythis,countriesconsideringtherestructuringofthe NCAmightgetsomethingtolearnfromtheexamples aroundtheworldtofashionasystemthatattainsefficiency withoutcompromisingconstitutionalrights.
Conclusion
Thereisindeedatwo-foldbasisfortherestructuring requirementoftheNationalCourtofAppeal:increased strainsonmodernjudicialsystemsandtheneedtokeep constitutionalintegrityintact.WhilethecreationofanNCA couldsolvemostoftheproblemsbesettingthecurrent system,italsothrowsupquiteasetoflegal,administrative, andpoliticalissues.Thus,whiletheideaofanNCAhas beenlongdebatedatleastincountrieslikeIndia,the decisiontotakethesteptowardsitsformationmightbea majorjudicialreformmove.Howeveritneedstobedone withutmostcareintheimplicationsfortheoveralljudicial structureandaccesstocourts.
ItmaybethatrestructuringtheNationalCourtofAppealis anessentialpiecetowardsholdingupajudicature,ifatall effectiveandmoreaccessibleandconstitutionallyaligned.
