In Conversation With Kanika Arora, Partner, Advani and Co

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

Having been raised in the Middle East and then pursuing my LL.B. and LL.M. in Oil & Gas Law from the University of Reading, UK, I’ve had a multi-cultural and diverse experience of being at law school. What attracted me the most to pursue law school in the UK was the excellent research levels at the universities, and opportunity to interact with budding lawyers from across the globe. We had numerous seminars, workshops, moot competitions, and social events, which just broadens horizons to curate a budding lawyer not just as an ideal legal professional, but also as a well-groomed corporate professional. I knew it right from high school that studying law was my calling, which was quite an experimented move, since I am a first-generation lawyer. Today, being working with one of the leading arbitration lawyers in the country, I am affirmative that I made the right choice by not only pursing the legal profession, but to decide to practice in India where the market is so dynamic, and the learning curve offered is just what a young lawyer looks forward to.

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

One of the major difficulties that I had faced when I moved to India was having my foreign legal qualifications recognised here and to be able to continue practice here. There is a set of examinations that an Indian citizen with foreign law qualifications needs to pass to become eligible to practice in the country. However, one may find the process of completing these examinations extremely unorganised and tedious, and the rules for the same are simply scattered and not well-defined. In order to encourage more students to continue practice in India, and to open doors to Indian citizens that have studied from abroad, the process of qualifying in India must be a lot more streamlined and a system has to be put in place for the same.

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

Advani Law is a specialised dispute-resolution law firm, primarily engaged for high-scale arbitrations. Majority of our engagements pertain to the construction, energy and infrastructure sectors. Heading the Delhi office of the firm, I am actively involved in all arbitration and litigation engagements, especially those pertaining to the Delhi jurisdiction. I also look after the business development at the firm and have represented the firm at various conferences within India, Dubai, New York and Paris.

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

There is only one word: hustle. The time that you have as a student is never going to come back. This is the time where you can maximise your bandwidth to its optimum potential and really strengthen your learning curve. Intern as much you can, research as much as you can and most importantly, network as much you can. There is nothing better than face to face interaction with professionals of the industry and sector that you want to work in.

What are your thoughts on the future of arbitration in India?

The arbitration landscape of India has improved tremendously in the last decade or so. Today, we are on the path of becoming a highly sophisticated arbitration hub for the Asian market, which consequentially, opens doors for foreign investors keen on operating in India. Whilst we are at a challenge to match standards set by Singapore and London, I see no reason why that would not be attainable within another decade. The Courts in India are embedded with a pro-arbitration ideology, and with the right regulatory reforms, India will progress in the right direction.

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. If no, please share your views on why LL.M is not the answer to mastering a subject. 

I have completed by LL.M. in Oil & Gas Law from the University of Reading, UK and I am also in the process of completing my Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from the Swiss School of Business & Management, Geneva. Completing an LL.M. programme definitely adds value in the longer run, but only if one choose to really specialise in a certain sector instead of doing a general LL.M. Having a specialisation plays an extremely critical role for future career opportunities.

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?

The aspect that I consider the most important for any young lawyer is to have a good mentor, who teaches you not just how to be a good lawyer, but to be a good business person, a good student, and therefore, even a good teacher to your juniors. It’s a culture that flows from one lawyer to another, and eventually, within the entire firm. Building a good team, in this sense, creates an efficient and effective work environment which in turn produces best possible results.

As a final note, would you please recommend to our readers your favourite book that left a lasting impression on you?

The Quotable Tycoon by David Olive