In Conversation With Avinash Amarnath, Partner, Chandhiok & Mahajan | BW Legal World 40 Under 40

Many Congratulations on winning the BW Legal World 40 under 40. How was your experience interacting with the Jury and of the event? 

AA: I must admit that when I used to read about awards like this earlier, there was some sense of scepticism about the selection process. But interacting with the Jury and team of BW Legal World has changed my perception of these awards. The Jury was extremely attentive and glued in to all the recent legal developments and the team at BW Legal World was very well organised and thorough.

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

AA: Although I come from a family of lawyers, law was never thrust upon me. I chose law as a default option because I did not want to study science. I also had a lot of stage fright as a kid. It was in law school that I fought this fear while doing debates, moot courts and model united nations events and discovered that my true calling was arguing in court.

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?   

AA: I am not sure I deserve the term ‘leader’ yet. I think the basic and oft repeated mantra of setting aside the ‘I know it all’ attitude and constantly learning from everyone around you is one of the keys to success particularly in the legal profession. The other thing is to find a balance between working hard and working smart. While the demands of this profession are such that sometimes you need to be smart in knowing short cuts, there are certain things where there is no substitute for hard work and thoroughness. 

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?  

AA: Competition law is one of my chosen areas of specialisation. The Competition Act which was enacted in 2002 has been recently amended with several key provisions being added/modified. The most positive change for the industry from these set of amendments is the introduction of a commitments and settlements regime whereby businesses can either offer commitments to change their behaviour or settle the case by agreeing on a penalty amount. This would go a long way in ensuring that businesses avoid lengthy and at times, unnecessary investigations by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). At the same time, this would ensure that the CCI can utilise its resources more efficiently.

What are the top three trends that are going to rule the legal sector for the next five years?

AA: 1. I think we will start seeing a greater use of AI technologies although how much it can replace the human element remains to be seen.

2. The pandemic has made us realise that virtual hearings and virtual meetings are here to stay.

3. Finally, something that may not actually become a top trend but I hope it does is increased awareness and steps to address mental health issues in the legal fraternity.

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

AA: I have been very lucky to have several guides and mentors throughout my career so it would be unfair to name just one. Professor Richard Whish, QC – my guide and mentor right from the time of my LLM. Mrs. Pallavi Shroff, Mr. Naval Satarawala Chopra and Ms. Shweta Shroff Chopra who trusted me enough to hire me as a fresh graduate. Mr. Vinod Dhall and Mr. Ram Kumar Poornachandran who oversaw my evolution from a junior lawyer to a more senior position. Mr. Amit Sibal, Senior Advocate who has taught me everything I know about litigation. Mr. Anand Pathak, a guiding light in competition law and my current partners – Mr. Karan Chandhiok, Mr. Sujoy Bhatia and Ms. Pooja Mahajan.

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?

AA: I have always been a fan of the classics so would recommend that every lawyer must read ‘1984’ and ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell to understand how important the legal system is. My most recent read was actually a re-read of one of my all-time favourites, Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series.