Mr. Tushar Kumar is an advocate based in New Delhi. Mr. Kumar is adept at Commercial Litigation and Arbitration and had been associated with various reputed law firms across Delhi.
Q 1. You have represented clients from various industries including those from Media and Telecommunications and Healthcare. What has your wide array of expertise taught you?
A. Being a first-generation lawyer, I learned that in an industry that is brimming with competition, the biggest challenge and priority is client satisfaction. The paramount strategy to retain quality clients for an independent first-generation lawyer is delivering results in a manner as cost-effective as possible. A result-oriented approach always goes a long way in every professional’s life. Personally, my practice is based upon three vital pillars which are honesty, integrity and dedication. Another thing I learned is that it is pertinent to always remember that there is no substitute whatsoever to hard work. Lastly, a mindset to never settle is what young lawyers must adapt to.
Q 2. Was becoming a lawyer always a part of the plan or did you think of Judiciary or Politics?
A. Legal Practice and Politics are the two progressive stages in my career map. I have started my journey as a lawyer, I intend on practicing for the next twenty years or so and subsequently would love to serve my country by being a part of the political system. The reason for the same is that laws teach us how to behave properly and inform us of the rules we all must follow. So first, we need to know what a law is, who makes the laws, and how laws are made. Imagine that you and your family are sitting down to play a game. First, you would need to know the rules. Someone in your family would read the rules of the game aloud. Then, you would clearly understand how to play. The rules, just like laws, tell us how to play fairly and how to make sure that everyone is treated in the same way. Politics is exciting because people disagree. They disagree about how they should live. Who should get what? How should power and other resources be distributed? Should society be based on cooperation or conflict? And so on. They also disagree about how such matters should be resolved. How should collective decisions be made? Who should have a say? How much influence should each person have? And so forth. For Aristotle, this made politics the ‘master science’: that is, nothing less than the activity through which human beings attempt to improve their lives and create the Good Society. Politics is, above all, a social activity. It is always a dialogue, and never a monologue.
Q 3. Link Legal India Law Services was acknowledged as the 3rd law firm with respect to deal value by PE Top Legal Advisors. As a former Associate, how do you feel about it?
A. As a law student, I interned with many law firms and lawyers and I confidently say that Link Legal was the best amongst them all. This was the main reason I was very keen on kick-starting my career with them. Thanks to Mr. Abhishek Sharma, Partner at Link Legal. A mentor and a dear friend as he is, I was able to gain hands-on work experience in Litigation and Arbitration at Link Legal. Under the aegis of Mr. Sharma and Mr. Sarojanand Jha [erstwhile Partner at Link Legal, presently Founder & Managing Partner of Vedanta Legal], I learned the pivotal aspects of Litigation for which I shall be ever thankful to them and Link Legal. As far as their mastery in the field of PE Advisory is concerned, in my opinion, the work quality and results at Link Legal are unparalleled and second to none.
Q 4. How far do you believe in building connections in the field of Law?
A. Networking is at the very foundation of all business development activities. As a business development tool, it requires some understanding. You can’t expect to attend an occasional cocktail party and consider networking. Networking is maintaining regular contact with people for the ultimate purpose of developing business. It is the sincere and constant effort to help others, anticipating that you will, in turn, be helped. Effective networking involves defining possible contacts, determining your networking purpose, developing a plan of action and committing the time and energy necessary to produce meaningful results. However, building new relationships is difficult. Lawyers must clearly define who they would like to have as new clients and then develop a complete listing of their current and future network of contacts. A lawyer’s network is a group of people who may, over time, refer business to them or become clients themselves. Consider yourself the “gardener” in maintaining business relationships. Gardeners know strong growth requires constant care. Only through long-term commitment and vision will a beautiful garden flourish. Business relationships will prosper with diligent care and nurturing. If unattended, they too will wither away. Attorneys who recognize the value relationships will take the time to manage and nurture those relationships and ensure a successful practice. One can never stop managing their network. Even well-developed networks can deteriorate within a year if they are not properly maintained.
Q 5. What recommendations and suggestions would you make to an aspiring lawyer wishing to pursue Litigation?
A. a) Don’t doubt yourself! Of course, you should ask questions when you have them, but you should also have faith in your education and intellect. You have the training, you passed the bar, and you are just as much an attorney as a partner who is 30 years in practice. Own it!
b) Own your mistakes. You’re going to spend the rest of your life trying to convince people they should take your word for things. It’s easier to convince people you’re right if they’ve learned you will admit it when you’re wrong.
c) Take ownership. Act like you are the only person responsible for the project and treat it as if you are preparing the final product for submission. If you take ownership of your assignments, you will succeed.
d) Prioritize self-care. Ensure that you have developed positive coping mechanisms. Take intentional time for yourself every day—be it hitting the gym, meditation, yoga or a walk outside the office.
e) Never burn your bridges! People leave workplaces all the time—and encounter each other at different stages of their careers.
f) Find what works for you. Remember that the mountains of advice everyone is eager to give you is filtered through the lens of their own experience. Identify what brings you joy in the workplace, and work with your seniors and mentors to build on those experiences.