In Conversation With Nishant Kulhari, Senior Associate, Indian Law Partners

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

I am Nishant Kulhari, a lawyer admitted to the Bar Council of Delhi. I hold a degree in LL.M. with specialization in Corporate & Financial Law from the Jindal Global Law School, Sonepat and a degree in B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) from the National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU) and have received a certification from the University of Washington, Seattle after attending the programme at the Centre for Advanced Studies and Research in Intellectual Property.

The change and evolution in the legal-political-social landscape generally around the globe, grappling with the emerging challenges of globalization in the advent of the new age technologies, and specifically in India, with the surfacing of cases like Satyam and 2G spectrum, in and around the years 2008-09, was the significant factor that fanned my inquisitiveness and drove me to try and understand the whys and hows of such matters and caused me to gravitate towards the study of law. 

The 5 years invested at NLIU have really come to shape and define me as a lawyer and as the human being that I am today. 

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

Given that there are already a number of National Law Schools in India now and even more private institutions offering legal curriculum, which are in addition to other State and Central Universities, with each of them imparting legal education based on their respective subordinate rules and methods, I believe “it is about time that the infrastructure of legal education in India be harmonized and institutionalized under the aegis of a national authority working preferably independently.”

Please tell us about your specialization and the array of work you handle in your current role? 

As a Senior Associate lawyer at my organization, my specialized focus is on corporate and financial matters and I have experience in advising on diverse matters with regard to civil and criminal litigation, alternate dispute resolution, intellectual property and wide range of assignments and transactions including regulatory advisory, joint ventures, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, cross border commercial transactions, labour and employment, competition (antitrust), insolvency and bankruptcy, capital markets, real estate, data protection and privacy and so on.

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

Very often I come across law students trying to chase a “tag”, and I have seen students not take up internships because they could not find an opportunity with a Tier-1 law firm or with a Senior Advocate. My recommendation to the law students would be to remain open to exploring multifarious opportunities that different organizations may have to offer. There are many organizations and lawyers who, it may appear that do not have a broad practice, but they offer significant learning opportunities to the interns and offer resources to guide and train them with hands-on practical work.

I would not recommend any law student looking for internship opportunities or a lawyer, fresh out of law school, to take a specialized practice approach in the inceptive years, as that may later come as an obstruction to becoming a wholesome and comprehensive lawyer.

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 do not believe that a masters degree in law is essential for building a successful career in the legal profession, however, it does have its merits and USP. I know many highly successful lawyers who do not have a master's degree in law, but they are leading legal experts in their practice areas.

I believe it boils down to everyone’s personal choices considering the specific career path and goals they aspire to achieve. I am of the view that academia is an integral part of the legal profession and one should never give up on continuous learning and knowledge building, whether or not that is supported by additional degrees or certification. As long as someone continues to practice the profession vis-à-vis real-world problems, the proficiency in the subject will keep increasing.

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? 

Thank you very much. It is an extremely delightful recognition and I will always be humbled by this accolade. I must thank the entire BW team, all of whom did wonderful work in organizing the event.

I believe that behind the journey of a person, there are many small incidents and contributions from, amongst others, mentors, family, and friends, which make someone what they are today. I am immensely proud of all the small but significant milestones that I have achieved in a short span of time and they could not have been possible without the constant support from my parents - Surendra & Vimal, my wife - Esha, my sister - Anmol, and my seniors in the profession - my organization’s (Indian Law Partners) Partners, Ms. Gopika Pant, Mr. Vineet Gupta and Ms. Kanika Premnarayen. They have always encouraged me to pursue more success in the profession and have always mentored and guided me in the professional journey and have always shown faith in me and my endeavours.

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

Well, I can name a few, but I think I will recommend two books here. The first book which I will recommend for everyone is “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey. The second book which I will certainly recommend for aspiring lawyers/ lawyers in making is “Before Memory Fades: An Autobiography” by Fali S. Nariman.