In Conversation With Arush Khanna, Partner, Numen Law Offices| BW Legal World 40 Under 40

Many Congratulations on winning the BW Legal World 40 under 40. How has been your initial reaction after joining the elite club of BW Legal World 40 Under 40 Lawyers and Legal Influencers? How was your experience interacting with the Jury and of the event?

AK: Getting this recognition was extremely gratifying for me. Having been a part of the audience and having applauded so many of my friends and colleagues over the last three editions of the BW Legal Awards, it feels great to have finally joined the ‘elite club of ‘BW Legal Word 40 Under 40 Lawyers’.

Truth be told, I was a little nervous before my interview with the Jury. Considering the stature and eminence of the members, I wouldn’t say the nerves were unjustified. The Jury was extremely well briefed with the profiles of the candidates and I was asked some pointed questions covering my areas of practice. Fortunately for me, my candidature was shortlisted for the award. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Jury.

Please walk us through your journey in this field of law? When did you first realize that law was your life’s calling?

AK: I will take the liberty of answering the second part of the question first.

There was never a burning desire or a childhood ambition to become a lawyer. In fact, even during my days at law school I never thought that I would end up practicing law, let alone starting my own practice. It is only after I had graduated and started practicing that I realized my passion for the profession.

As for my journey, I started my career with Karanjawala & Co. in 2012, followed by a three-year stint with Mr. Sanjeev Anand, Senior Advocate, Delhi High Court. The tutelage and the experience gained from these two places have been great benefactors in my journey. This eventually inspired me to start my own law firm, Numen Law Offices, which I co-founded with three of my colleagues.

Who according to you has been your guide and mentor in this illustrious journey as a lawyer?

AK: The term “illustrious” is too lavish an appraisal for a young lawyer like myself. My journey is very much a work-in-progress. If I have to name a single person as my greatest source of guidance and mentorship, it will have to be my grandfather, Dr. Lalit Bhasin. Even after 61 years at the bar, he radiates a childlike energy and passion for the profession (touchwood). There is so much to learn from him every time I meet him.

Apart from Dr. Bhasin, I consider Mr. Sanjeev Anand, Mr. Raian Karanjawala and Mr. Prashant Kumar as my mentors who showed and continue to show faith in my abilities, having also played a big part in honing them.

Please help us understand the practice areas you deal in and the diverse array of work you handle? Which industries does your practice cater to mostly and which sector of the economy does your advisory service cover?

AK: My docket of work largely consists of commercial disputes, with a key focus on Arbitration, Real Estate, Projects and Insolvency. Apart from representing my clients before various courts and tribunals, I am also consulted for pre-dispute strategizing, risk assessments and legal opinions, which is equally thrilling and enriching.

As we speak, most of my work caters to the Real Estate and Infrastructure Sectors. I also do a lot of work for the Hospitality and F&B Sector.

We have seen a spate of legislative changes in recent years that have been monumental in reforming India's legal framework across all sectors. Would you please highlight a recent development concerning your practice area that has positively impacted the industry?

AK: In March of 2023, the legal services sector in India witnessed a watershed development. The Bar Council of India notified its Rules permitting foreign lawyers and law firms to practice in India (in accordance with the Rules). Ours is the last major services sector to have embraced the concept of globalization in its true sense. Whilst the current text of the Rules leaves a lot to be clarified and/or amended, our profession could no longer have afforded to remain insulated from the wider world and therefore, I see this as a welcome move.

Do you believe that AI and Technology will supersede the lawyering skills in the coming times, especially with the recent hype around ChatGPT and other AI softwares?

AK: I believe AI and technology have and continue to play an (r)evolutionary role in so many facets such as judicial administration, access to justice and legal drafting. However, in my view, they are only performance enablers meant for better efficiency and cannot subsume the entire skillset a lawyer brings to the table.

A good (disputes) lawyer should be a surgeon in office and an artist in court. Tech can at best provide better tools and resources for the surgery and artistry. The modus of good lawyering is undergoing change and those who keep abreast (or stay ahead of the curve) will continue to remain relevant.

 What are you doing if not lawyering? What are your hobbies in general?

AK:This question has inspired me to develop some hobby(ies) outside of my life as a lawyer. That being said, I love watching cricket and spending time with my family during my downtime. I don’t intend to preach what I don’t practice, but I urge all my younger colleagues to develop and pursue some hobby or passion outside of their profession.

As a parting note, would you please recommend a favorite book that left a lasting impression on you? What has been your most recent read?

AK: As all-time classics, I would surely recommend “Nani Palkhivala: Courtroom Genius” authored by Late Mr. Soli Sorabjee and Mr. Arvind Datar. This biographical account of India’s most famous jurist is a must read. Then there is “Roses in December”, an autobiography of Justice M.C. Chagla, the longest serving Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and one of India’s finest statesmen.

A recent book I read was on the life of Justice Syed Mahmood titled ‘Colonial India’s Dissenting Judge’. It’s a fascinating account of the first Indian Muslim to be appointed as a High Court Judge and chronicles, the triumphs and tragedies of his life in a very captivating manner.