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Can you share what inspired you to pursue a career in law, particularly focusing on criminal law and white-collar crime?

I would be honest to confess that law was not my first choice. Initially, I did not aspire to become a lawyer, considering the inherent expectations that come with being a second-generation lawyer. For all the years I was growing up, I had observed my Father from close quarters, putting his soul into the profession and it seemed overwhelming at that time. I also deeply admired all my teachers in school and realized the power of academics in shaping an individual’s life. Therefore, I was inclined towards being an educator and I started pursuing Bachelors in Commerce from Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, thinking that would be my path. The course got me deeper insights into the ecosystem of commerce, and some of the subjects including contracts, commercial law, and taxation piqued my interest. With this new-found interest, law as a subject started pulling me towards it and after a discussion at home, I finally took the plunge to pursue law. You can say it was a ‘what you seek is also seeking you’ moment for me!

During my tenure in law school, I developed a profound affinity for criminal law, a passion that led me to delve deeper into its various facets. The background in commerce had anyway sharpened my faculties in the field of economics and financial matters, which finally led to my focus gravitating towards white-collar crime. This was also the field where I could get the best mentor in my father who is renowned for his impeccable body of work in this area. I couldn’t have asked for more. So here I am, not where I thought I would be, but definitely where I am meant to be. Turns out, the unexpected detour into law was exactly what I needed.

With such a diverse range of clients, including high-ranking officials and business ventures, could you elaborate on how you navigate the complexities of representing such varied interests in the legal realm?

Building and maintaining trust across such a broad spectrum of clients requires more than just legal expertise; it demands a holistic understanding of their background, career trajectory, growth challenges, aspirations, and most importantly the circumstances in which they approach you. The law and its applicability will remain the same, what is differentiating factor in any particular case is the legal strategy, the court craft and the merit in your advocacy when you’re representing a client in the court of law. For me, each client mandate deserves its due attention because while we may be dealing with many clients, for clients we are the only one they have chosen over other service providers. Empathy, prioritization of clients’ needs and giving them an experience that addresses their concerns are the other important aspects that go beyond legal acumen. Effective communication and ethical integrity are other two areas where I would never compromise. All my clients are personally informed by me even for the smallest of updates. This is my way of showing them my respect and that they are not one more ‘case’ in our file. Ethical integrity comes from the moral compass that guides my decisions and actions.

In the aftermath of the Paris Olympics, India’s celebrated pistol shooter, Manu Bhaker, found herself at the crossroads of a challenge far away from the shooting range. Having bagged two bronze medals, Manu became a sensation and the face of numerous brands eager to ride the wave of her success—with only one twist—without her permission. Reports emerged that her image had been splashed across congratulatory posts on social media, with no consent from Manu or the agency managing her.

These unauthorized endorsements didn’t sit well with her team. An Economic Times Report suggests that Sports marketing agencies like Baseline Ventures and IOS Sports & Entertainment have issued legal notices to various brands on behalf of sports personalities PR Sreejesh and Manu Bhaker. In 2021 also, Baseline Ventures, which was the marketing agency for badminton player PV Sindhu, sent legal notices to 20 brands that used her name and pictures in ads to congratulate her on winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

In times where digital marketing strategies evolve rapidly, brands increasingly engage in “moment marketing” – a practice of capitalizing on trending events, particularly in sports, to promote their products or services. Congratulatory posts for sports stars like Neeraj Chopra and Manu Bhakher have become common, but they also raise important questions regarding the legal boundaries of publicity and personality rights. While such posts may seem innocuous, they can potentially violate the athlete’s publicity and personality rights. In this article, the author examines whether such practices infringe on the rights of athletes.

The right to publicity empowers individuals, especially celebrities like athletes and sportspersons, to control how their name, image, and other personal attributes are used commercially. ‘Publicity Rights’ aren’t specifically defined in Indian laws, but over the course of the evolving jurisprudence on the subject, several courts have recognized it as an extension of the Right to Privacy. Similarly, ‘Personality Rights’ are not explicitly codified in statutes, but have been recognized by courts under the Right to Privacy and the Right to Publicity, both of which are extensions of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Further, aspects pertaining to personality rights can also be found under the Copyright Act, 1957.