Read, Observe, Learn And Be Thorough—Adity Chaudhury, Partner, Argus Partners

How and when did you know becoming a lawyer was your life’s true calling?

It was my mother who always wanted me to become a lawyer and encouraged me to take up this profession. I too was interested, and once I became a student of this subject, I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was no looking back from there.

Would you please tell us about your specialisation and the array of work you handle at your firm?

My primary focus area is Mergers & Acquisition (including distressed M&A under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code). I also handle matters relating to corporate insolvency & restructuring, corporate governance, merger control and shareholder disputes.

As a new age lawyer, what to your mind is the one thing in the current legal ecosystem at the Bar, Bench, or in the Law Firms that needs our attention.

There is a need for more emphasis on technology and digitization. While we have progressed a lot in this area and especially the pandemic forced us to accelerate some initiatives, in my view there is much more that can be done in this area. Another aspect is the mental health and well-being of lawyers. This profession can get very stressful and it is important for law firms to be mindful of the mental well-being of their lawyers.

Many Congratulations on joining the BW Legal World Elite 40 Under 40 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. Joining the BW Legal World Elite 40 Under 40 Club of Achievers 2021 is a humbling experience. Patience and hard work are the two things that have helped me in my career. For those starting in this field, I would just like to say – read, observe, learn and be thorough.

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

George Orwell’s Animal Farm and 1984. Also, some of Leo Tolstoy’s works have left a lasting impression on me.

While it is encouraging to see the increase in statistics of women in law and leadership roles, would you say things have become easier, or does the way to the top continue to be a journey through labyrinths and mazes for women?

I definitely do not think that the way to the top is a journey through labyrinths and mazes for women in corporate law firms. There is no longer a glass ceiling. With determination and hard work, I believe that a woman can reach the top in a firm. At the same time, I cannot be blind to the fact that often times circumstances in the family/ society may not be favourable for a woman and some may be forced to drop out of the workforce for a variety of reasons. Hence, support from family and society is very important.