AI Magazine Issue 8 2018

32 Acquisition International - Issue 8 2018 Samvad Partners is a full service Indian law firm with five offices in key cities across India. Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution, Poornima Hatti provides us with a detail insight about the versatile law firm. amvad Partners is a rich mix of Indian lawyers who have practiced the law in India and abroad, giving their clients a global outlook from an Indian perspective. The firm has 14 partners and close to 100 lawyers and is growing from strength to strength. The firm has strong practice areas in dispute resolution, private equity, competition law, mergers and acquisitions, labour and employment and banking and finance to name a few. The firm services a range of clients – from startups who have over a period of time become unicorns, to established multinational manufacturing and tech companies with a footprint India. The firm also has a rich pro bono practice and often works regularly with local civil society groups using law as an instrument of social change. The firm has also advised government statutory bodies and represented them in litigation before Courts. When asked, what drives their success, Poornima said that every service provider needs to understand the perspective of what the client needs- culturally, strategically and commercially among other perspectives. A good lawyer needs to understand this. At Samvad Partners, the endeavor would be to see how the law provides a solution to what the client wants and help the client see the law as solution and not as an impediment to their strategic goals. It is therefore important that lawyers understand these objectives and also understand the client in this context. In a jurisdiction such as India, especially when the dispute resolution space can be fraught with complexities, determining these objectives are key, according to Ms Hatti. At Samvad, we spend Contact: Ms. Poornima Hatti Company: Samvad Partners Tel: +91 80 4268 6000 Office Address: 62/1 Palace Road Vasanthnagar Bengaluru 560 001 India Email Id: poornima@ samavdpartners.com Web Address: www.samvadpartners.com Rigorous Excellence S 1805AI05 a lot of time understanding the client needs and also our knowledge of the intricacies of the local jurisdiction help us move forward in achieving the client objectives. “We are also honest and upfront about what we think the outcome will be and that is also very important in any relationship” Ms Hatti said while being interviewed. When asked what challenges the Indian dispute resolution space is facing Ms Hatti said that in the Indian commercial dispute resolution space, all stake holders continue to be concerned about the slow pace of dispute resolution. It was pointed out that the government in India is aware and has recognized this- resulting in a slew of measures where new legislations have been brought in to resolve commercial disputes including in the arbitration, insolvency, establishment of commercial courts and alternate dispute resolution space. There has been an increasing focus on specialized tribunals that look to resolve corporate and commercial disputes which would hopefully ensure that enforcement of contracts in India would be faster and there is greater certainty in terms of the timelines involved. When asked what drove success, Ms Hatti stated that working hard is the key to any success. She noted that the team was important as well. Of course one has to ensure that one builds a good team that shares your vision and outlook for the client service as well as growth of the firm. We do understand that there are times that lawyers also need to be given time to do other things. Samvad has been recognized by lawyers across India as a firm that has a good work life balance as well as being one of the preferred places to work for women. In fact the partnership is majority women! In the coming years one hopes that their work continues to grow deep roots in India as well as overseas as Indian businesses expand their global footprint. “...one has to ensure that one builds a good team that shares your vision and outlook for the client service as well as growth of the firm.”