Founded by Anshuman Shrivastava in 2013 with a vision to be a leading and trusted law firm, delivering reliable legal services across practice areas, Shrivastava Law Associates is a full-service law firm. It has offices in New Delhi, Bilaspur and Raipur. Shrivastava Law Associates offers a broad spectrum of legal services and specializes in litigation and arbitration, mines and minerals, environmental law, election laws, corporate and commercial advisory, commercial contracts, and business laws, labor and employment laws, real estate, telecom laws, consumer laws, intellectual property, and taxation. Following a proactive and innovative approach to serving the legal and business needs of clients, it strives towards delivering value.
Shrivastava Law Associates believes in providing genuine and wholesome services to clients by meticulously dissecting all issues involved and making an honest representation to uphold their best interests. The Firm has advised and represented various clients, ranging from leading politicians, Indian conglomerates, state-level corporate entities, banks, financial institutions, real estate companies, industrial houses, and private individuals. More of the firm’s dynamics are revealed in the interview given below by Anshuman and Abhijeet Shrivastava:
Brief us on how you have made an impact in the Indian legal sector through your services?Â
Shrivastava Law Associates is recognized for its Disputes (Litigation & Arbitration), Labour & Employment, Metals & Mining, Constitutional & Election Laws, Real Estate and Restructuring practice. Over the period of last 8 years, under the aegis of the founding partner, the partners of the firm have had more than 10,000 successful appearances for a couple of matters across various courts including the Supreme Court of India: and High Courts of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, Maharashtra, Chattishgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka, among others besides the appellate tribunals and other quasi-judicial bodies.
The Firm has an excellent team of experienced and qualified lawyers who integrate their skills to provide comprehensive legal advice and strategy on complex commercial issues, which meet client needs and expectations. The firm’s partners bring hands-on experience and approach to each assignment from a strategic perspective by understanding client objectives and by identifying potential issues that are likely to emerge. Its partner-driven practice ensures that each client enjoys a high level of personal service and has the advantage of discussing matters directly with a partner.
Brief us about yourself and your journey in the legal industry.Â
The Firm traces its roots in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where the idea of starting the firm was conceptualized. It has been an interesting journey for Anshuman, being a second-generation lawyer and having worked outside of India, to come back and set up his firm. At the Firm, with an extensive experience of a decade, he specializes in commercial advisory & litigations. His practice area extends to Commercial Contracts & Business Laws, Labour & Employment Laws, Mines & Minerals, Real Estate, Telecom Laws, Consumer Laws, and Administrative & Election Laws. An alumnus of Cardiff University (LLB) and University of Wales (LLM), he has represented around 100 + Clients ranging from Multinational Companies to professionals in various industries.
Some of his key matters include representing a leading business group in India for steel manufacturing business in various matters involving Constitutional, Commercial, Taxation, and Arbitration related issues, advised a Semi- Government company in suit for recovery, advised and represented a leading Real Estate group in India before the Supreme Court, advised Insurance Companies in State Commission and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission amongst many more.
Abhijeet Shrivastava is a Partner at Shrivastava Law Associates (SLA). At the Firm, he specializes in Litigation, Arbitration, and corporate practice areas. An alumnus of Jindal Global Law School, Haryana (LLB) and Durham University, United Kingdom (LLM); he is a home-grown litigator having successfully large companies, multinationals, business groups, PSUs and Government departments in the Supreme Court, various High Courts, and Appellate Tribunals & Judicial fora’s including NCLT, NCLAT, NGT, TDSAT, etc.
Abhijeet’s caseload involves cases with significant commercial sensitivity and reputational implications. Having successfully represented 100+ clients, he is often called upon for quick advice on challenging legal situations including those related to boardrooms. He has also done specialized courses in Corporate Law and Commercial Law from the London School of Economics. He is a Member of the Supreme Court Bar Association of India, Madhya Pradesh State Bar Association, Delhi High Court Bar Association, and International Law Association.
What were the challenges you came across when you decided to start a venture that catered to the legal services sector?Â
Even though a second-generation lawyer, setting up a law firm had its inherent challenges of expectation, building a successful law practice without compromising on ethics and values. Relationships can only help to some extent but results and perception do matter. Hence, it required a lot of hard work and dedication to build the practice bit by bit. Thankfully, our hard work and dedication were equally matched by the commitment of the team and the staff, ensuring we remain ahead of the curve despite relatively being new to the industry as a firm.
Taking into consideration, the current pandemic, and its impact on global economies, how are you driving your firm to sustain operations and ensuring the safety of your employees at the same time?Â
The lockdowns during Covid-19 have deeply affected the lawyers, particularly the litigators. Besides, setting up a fully functional virtual office for our team and the clients, we have also ensured a regular client engagement program and a work from home policy for our staff. With office records being digitized and DMS being implemented, we have ensured the accessibility of documents and our availability for the clients. our clients needing support with employment contracts, HR policies, and new compensation structures. Our knowledge initiatives to keep our clients remain abreast with Covidrisk assessment (related to business) and their effective mitigation was appreciated by our clients and prospects.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the legal services sector?Â
Client-focused approach and Integrity go a long way. Always keep yourself updated at least in our profession.
Where do you envision your firm to be in the long run and what are your future goals?Â
Success is very relative and to us it includes a lot of things besides the size and turnover of an organization. The Partners of the Firm envisions creating a legacy that is revered for its professional conduct, social awareness, and integrity, giving back to the community and contributing to the betterment of society.
What could be the future landscape of the legal sector in India? Would the adoption of eCourts be successful?
Indian legal sector is going through a sensitive phase, like any other sector, it is trying to revive from the after-effects of Covid-19. While lawyers, judiciary and the allied legal systems are gearing up and slowly embracing technology and virtual modes of operation, the uncertainty is still there. While the corporate lawyers have acquainted themselves to operate in virtual mode like their clients, it is heartening to see the progress in the adoption of e-courts.
It is true that despite efforts being made to develop and enhance the use of technology, challenges related to basic infrastructure and internet connectivity divide, still persists across states and district courts. Adequate data speed and data volume are basic needs that are not uniformly available across the country. This creates a disparity in accessing eCourts systems and services. The foundation ode courts are based on a digital platform to enhance access, amplify existing capacities, and improve the efficiency of the overall judicial administration system through simplified procedures.
Given that most judicial processes and procedures evolved in the pre-digital age, it is critical to examine whether such processes continue to remain relevant in a digital age or can be simplified and transformed to better serve justice. Existing processes must be re-evaluated and re-designed (if need be) for conformity and be made more efficient using technology to enable courts to deliver services not previously conceivable.
Select Key Matters Handled:Â
- Secured significant relief for the clients before the Supreme Court of India in a loan moratorium issue, whereby compound interest was arbitrarily charged by banks on those who availed moratoriums on loans during the covid-19 pandemic.
- Secured significant relief for the Home Buyers of Jai Prakash Limited (JAL) on the issue of disbursement of Rs. 750Â Crores (which was deposited by JAL) before the Supreme Court of India.
- Successfully represented a renowned politician of a reputed political party before the Supreme Court of India on the issue of admissibility of electronic records under Section 65B of the Evidence Act.
- Represented a retired public servant before the Supreme Court of India on the issue of obtaining prior sanction of the Governor for initiation of departmental inquiry and got the said issue referred to a larger bench for consideration.
- Assisted and represented a major Newspaper Publishing House before the Supreme Court in contempt proceedings arising out of implementation of the Majithia Wage Board Recommendations for minimum protection of pay and social security to Journalists throughout India.
- Represented and assisted a major global Chartering Company in Arbitration against its shipping disputes with Steel Authority of India, a Maharatna Corporation of the Government of India, arising in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis of 2009.
- Successfully represented and assisted in a matter pertaining to initiation of criminal proceedings for evasion of Stamp Duty before the Supreme Court of India.
