In Conversation With Devika Menon, Senior Associate, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas And Co

Tell us a bit about yourself. What made you choose a career in law? And how was the experience of studying law? 

As a kid, I wanted to pursue a career in medicine, but as I grew older, I was more inclined towards a career in either law or journalism. While it was difficult to choose between the two, when the time came, I went with my gut and decided to apply for the 5-year law program. I would be lying if I said that I was sure about my choice at the time, however, the 5 years I spent at ILS Law College, Pune made me realise that law was indeed my calling. I passed out of ILS in 2014 and was a university rank holder throughout my 5 years of law school. My time at ILS was an enriching one, as I not only had the privilege of being mentored by some of the most experienced faculty in this country but also got the opportunity to pursue diploma courses and participate in national-level moot court competitions. What really stood out about ILS is that we were not pressured with assignments and deadlines and were given the independence and flexibility to decide how we wanted to shape our professional journeys.

After working for a few years with a law firm, I went back to study law at the National University of Singapore. Being a masters program, the curriculum and assignments were intensive, however, my prior work experience equipped me to understand the practicalities of what I was being taught.   

 If you could suggest one reform in the legal education system, what would it be?

“In my opinion, the introduction of mandatory internship programs in the legal curriculum would greatly benefit law students when they start practice.” Internships are not easy to secure, and a lot of law students still don’t have access to practical legal training. As is the case with any other profession, it is important for young lawyers to be able to connect their classroom knowledge to real-world experience and the right kind of practical training and guidance early on will equip students to transition smoothly into practice.

Please tell us about your specialization and the array of work you handle at your firm?

I am working as a Senior Associate and a member of the general corporate practice group at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., focussing on mergers and acquisitions and private equity investments. I advise financial and strategic investors on inbound and outbound investments, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, company laws, securities laws and foreign investment laws. I have advised several global private equity funds and multinational corporations in their investments in India and overseas, and have advised on some significant and innovative deals in the healthcare and electric vehicles sector in India in the last financial year. 

What advice would you give law students seeking the best internships in their area of interest?

Rather than focusing on the tier/banner of the firms, focus on the partners and the teams you want to work with, after researching and understanding the nature of the work they do. Ultimately, it’s the partner and the team you select that will transform your internship experience, and it’s important that you are professionally and culturally aligned with them and their expectations. 

In your opinion, what are the top three emerging practice areas for young lawyers?

I believe data privacy, cybersecurity and environmental law are some of the emerging practice areas.

Is a masters degree in law important for a successful career in your desired practice area? Have you done your LL.M, if yes, please mention the specialization and college or your future plans of further studies or other important certifications useful for lawyers in this age and time, if any. 

I completed my LL.M in Corporate and Financial Services Law in 2018 from the National University of Singapore. The LL.M has played a crucial role in shaping my skill sets and making me the professional I am today. I encourage young lawyers to pursue the LL.M after a minimum of 2-3 years of working, as this will prepare you better for the program which is quite intensive and competitive. The chances of getting into premier law schools is also higher if you have a few years of work experience. The LL.M program will open you up not just to a global network but also to a very distinct and enriching legal training environment. To add, universities these days offer a varied range of courses which may not be available for undergraduate students. The LL.M also lets you pick courses which may not be part of your core specialization. For example, at NUS, I took courses such as Transnational Terrorism and International Laws, which were entirely off-subject from my specialisation but were of interest to me. 

Many Congratulations on joining the BW Legal World Elite 30 Under 30 Club of Achievers 2021. What to your mind has helped you get to where you are and what advice would you have for others who want to set off in a similar direction?

I am extremely thrilled and humbled by this recognition, as it’s a huge professional milestone for me. A lot of hard work and the willingness to learn and excel even when the going gets tough has brought me this far. For all the young readers out there, my advice is don’t box yourself into one practice area very early on in your career. Try out different practice areas and see what you feel most passionate about before taking up a specialization. Other than that, all I want to say is work hard, read as much as you can and develop an eye for detail. These are traits that will take you places and help you become a better lawyer.