About Chambers

The work

Instructions come in often as a notice. Bank has demanded repayment and threatens auction. Creditor has served a demand under the Insolvency Code. Builder has failed to deliver or has delivered something else than what was sold. Insurer has repudiated a claim on a basis nobody mentioned when it was taken. Government department has passed an order without listening to the person it affects.

All of these have a common pattern. There is a deadline running, there is an institution on the other side that has done this many times, and there is a client who is doing this for the first time. Work involves finding out what the record actually says, bringing it to the notice of the forum while the relief is still available, and explaining clearly what can and cannot be done.

Appearances have been made before the Supreme Court of India, the High Courts, and more regularly before the Debts Recovery Tribunal and its Appellate Tribunal, National Company Law Tribunal, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, National Green Tribunal and Central Administrative Tribunal.

How matters are conducted

• The advocate who receives the instruction is the advocate who will handle the matter.
• The nature of the forum, the relief available and realistic outcomes are explained before any document is filed.
• Fees are agreed in writing before work commences on the matter; court fees and disbursements are billed at actuals against receipt, and are not marked up.
• No commission, referral or retainer is accepted from any builder, broker or lender whose work may be scrutinised.
• If a matter can be settled, or an appeal should be withdrawn, that course of action is recommended even if it will earn the firm less.

The computing degree

I earned my undergrad degree in computer applications before law, and maintained an interest through a software business I part own. It is more than a decorative credential. Bank statements are printedouts from a machine which must be reconciled line by line. Evidence in recovery and consumer matters is increasingly digital first—a screenshot, a server log, or entire transaction history. Understanding how such documents are created, and how they can be wrong helps turn assertions into proofs.

Chambers and reach

Two offices and by appointment only so that someone will have read your file before you arrive rather than during your wait: Vaishali, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201010, and Dwarka, New Delhi 110075. There are also associated counsel in Prayagraj/Patna, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru & Pan India who handle matters in their regions. This means that if a matter is listed outside Delhi NCR, you will not need to retain a second set of lawyers or travel for each date.

Legal work is also done for clients overseas. Documents are exchanged electronically, and if something needs to be signed in India a limited power of attorney for specific acts is drafted instead of blanket general powers.