Women Empowerment might be the talk of the decade, but just talks don’t bring change. They need to be backed by efforts and action. Carrying forward the idiom ‘actions speak louder than words’ is JUSCONTRACTUS – that India’s first and only all-women-law firm was established. It is a corporate transactions and dispute resolution law-firm based out of New Delhi which began with a vision for women to be ‘rain-makers’. The firm’s idea is to be an example for the creation of women businesses run by woman that are able to provide superlative services to the community as a whole.
An Ignited Mind
Bearing the torch of change at the forefront is JUSCONTRACTUS’ Founder – Payal Chawla who has a distinguished legal career. The legal industry wasn’t exactly her first choice of a career as she recalls, “Going to law-school was driven by advice from my father rather than choice. But once at law-school, I knew, from the get-go, I had found my calling.” Now considered as a premier corporate lawyer across the country, Payal specializes in the areas of Arbitration, Commercial Courts and Insolvency. She has served as a legal counsel for some very prominent corporate companies and is known in the industry for drawing up robust litigation strategies.
Impressive Services
JUSCONTRACTUS is a full-services law firm that provides clients with comprehensive and efficacious solutions in a creative, innovative and result-oriented manner and in accordance with the clients’ business and/or litigation objectives. Primarily focused on disputes, it has an equally strong Corporate Law practice. They recently were involved in buy-out of Innov8 by OYO and have previously represented two selling shareholders in the Interglobe IPO.
The firm takes its corporate social responsibilities very seriously. It does a lot of pro-bono work for the poor and for the women. Payal is also the director of the Nani Palkhivala Arbitration Centre, a non-profit organization institutional arbitration body.
Accolades
Law is a difficult profession. It requires tireless hours and a gestation of 15 to 20 years before gaining credibility – amongst judges, peers, and clients. With Payal’s expertise gained over years and the team with a fire within to prove their worth, JusContractus’ journey has been an amazing one. Since inception, the firm has been recognised and facilitated by several awards:
- Rising Star of the Legal Profession 2018 – IBLJ
- Arbitration Law Firm of the Year India, 2018 – Corporate Live Wire Legal Awards
- Rising Star of the Legal Profession 2017 – IBLJ
- Amongst the Best firms to work with 2017 – IDEX
- Corporate Lawyer of the Year India for 2016 – Corporate Live Wire Legal Awards
Roadmap Ahead
Being an industry professional, Payal advises the neophytes, “To familiarize themselves with Intellectual Property laws, Shareholder Agreements and Share Subscriptions Agreements with particular regard to their rights and pitfalls – such as Drag/Tag rights, Call/Put options, reserved matters etc.”
As for the Firm’s future roadmap, she shares, “Our future aim is to continue to build on the trajectory we started – quality over quantity. We aim to provide the best in class service and to be India’s top corporate disputes firm.”
