Ameet B. Naik Says Hybrid Hearings, Online Dispute Resolution, WFH, Increasing Shift to Digitalization for Consumer Goods & Films Are Key Trends—Ameet B. Naik, Founder & Managing Partner, Nai

Many Congratulations on winning the BW Legal World Global Legal Leaders Award for the year 2020. How was your experience interacting with the Jury and of the event? 

A large part of work satisfaction comes from the work itself. That said, awards and recognition make the journey more enjoyable. They come as a reminder that hard work always pays off well. Also, the fact that we were selected by such an eminent jury gives us validation and reassurance that the firm is on the right path. The award is surely a catalyst that fuels us further to continue striving for the best, year on year.

Rewinding time: please allow us a peek into your illustrious journey in law. Where did this journey begin, who were your mentors, and are there any goals that remain to be achieved?

My journey into the law began at home. My late father, Justice Bhimrao N. Naik was a former Bombay High Court Judge and a celebrated legal practitioner whose practice started in the District and Sessions Court. His practice took him to the Supreme Court of India as well. Since day one, he was my inspiration to pursue law and remained my unwavering mentor. It was him who encouraged me to not go down the traditional practice route and that paved the way for me to set up my own law firm, Naik, Naik & Co. Through the years, our practice has evolved into several fields, but our values have remained constant: securing justice for our clients and persevering through all matters with the utmost integrity. Today we are reckoned as market leaders in litigation, arbitration, media and entertainment, TMT and have a proven track record in the same. Our goals have grown as we have and I do not see any end limit to achieving goals, I believe they keep evolving over time.

What would you say has helped you emerge as a leader in your industry and what advice would you have for others who want to set off in a similar direction?

Our journey started with a specific focus on the area of Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) law and I would say we gained a considerable first-mover advantage in that sector. At the same time, we have grown and considerably strengthened other practice areas ranging from traditional practice in litigation, international arbitration, conventional IPR, corporate/commercial laws to evolving areas like sports and gaming, technology verticals (FinTech, EdTech, HealthTech), insolvency and restructuring. Therefore, our ability to adapt to change and move with the times has been a major asset in establishing ourselves. Furthermore, our approach to work has always been to view the problem from a commercially prudent standpoint. Our positive and solution-oriented approach has been intrinsic to us since day one and as a result, our oldest clients continue to place their faith in us.

Furthermore, the firm’s philosophy has always been to promote merit and enterprise. The firm has recently promoted Madhu Gadodia and Abhishek Kale, my two equity partners as Deputy Managing Partners. This step reinforces my belief that an organization as good as its people.

My advice to people would be not to look for substitutes for hard work and perseverance. Success does not come overnight and requires a lot of work, persistently and consistently. That being said, I’ve always maintained that “work comes to the worker”. If one performs their work with the utmost integrity and effort, more work will automatically come. Therefore, aim high, meet those targets and keep exceeding your own expectations. The rest shall follow.

How has the legal services industry transformed in the past year? What have been your key learnings from the year past and what are your predictions for the future?

The legal industry and the world have witnessed a complete disruption due to the onset of COVID-19. The key transformation over the past year has been to go digital and increasingly adopt the technology. This has reflected not just with our Courts but also across industries. For example, filmmakers have had to change their distribution strategy from opting for theatre releases as a first resort to now prioritising OTT platform releases. The pandemic has forced all of us to innovate and work a way around the myriad unexpected changes in the functioning of courts and clients. That has been a key learning for us - the ability to find solutions in the face of extreme adversity. It was the first time that we as lawyers could not rely on precedent as the situation was completely unprecedented! For the future, I see certain key trends such as hybrid hearings, online dispute resolution, work from home, and the increasing shift to digitalization whether it be for consumer goods or films. There is no going back to pre-COVID times, at least in visible near future. This is the new normal and the sooner we realise and adapt, we proceed and succeed, onward and upward.

What role can law/law firm/an individual play in making workplaces truly diverse and inclusive?

I believe law firms are increasingly taking steps towards gender inclusivity, to begin with. Increasing the representation of women lawyers across roles will definitely bring equality to the workplace. Our recent decision to confer the role of Deputy Managing Partner to Madhu Gadodia is our attempt to recognise talent and support that the industry needs more women leading from the front. That being said, the key criteria for making the workplace more inclusive and diverse is to hone talent and reward merit regardless of gender, orientation, ethnicity, religion, community and any other biases. I take pride in sharing that my firm boasts of members from diverse backgrounds and states across the country, which has brought great cultural diversity. At Naik Naik & Co., we are all united by the common values of hard work, perseverance, integrity and honesty. That is our philosophy and I believe the right step to take to facilitate a more diverse, inclusive and progressive workplace.

An experience, case or person that left a lasting impression on you.

Undoubtedly, a person who always had and will always have a lasting impression on me has to be my late father Justice Bhimrao N. Naik. He has had the deepest influence on me. Growing up, I would consistently and constantly see him go out of his way to resolve disputes. As a Judge, I’ve seen him adorn his commitment to the furtherance of justice as a proud badge. He was so indebted to his cause that even while facing several health complications, he would not rest until he did his absolute best. It is from him that I have learnt the virtue of integrity, honesty, perseverance (which is sometimes being a borderline workaholic!). These values have been ingrained into my being by my father. Throughout his years, he taught me the power the law holds and how it is the duty of the lawyer to serve his society. That has and will continue to define my own and my approach towards my practice, not just now but for generations to come.

What keeps you busy when you’re not working? Any favourite book or movie/series that you'd like to recommend to our readers.

When not working, I enjoy listening to music. The great quality of music is its dual ability to soothe your soul as well as bring out the inner child in you. I have grown up on R.D Burman’s music, one of my all-time favourites. Another artist whom I absolutely love is Amitabh Bachchan. His prowess and mettle as an actor shall remain unmatched. I catch his classics when I get the time and sometimes also groove to his tracks. I also enjoy reading. One of my favourite poets is Robert Frost and I encourage everyone to read his work. The philosophy of my life can be summed up in his quote “…two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” Indeed, this has made all the difference in my life!

Any other thoughts, message to our readers. What other than hard work is a mantra to success?

I would say the ability to stay relevant is a must. The legal and commercial landscape is continuously evolving and to stay relevant, one must not only keep up with the times but make an effort to constantly change, reinvent and experiment. The ability to unlearn and relearn is required to consistently upskill oneself in today’s world. This is not luxury, this is survival.