Interview with: Akil Hirani, Managing Partner

Managing Partner Akil Hirani outlines the philosophy of the firm and explains how the firm is adapting to client needs. (e.g. CEO James Smith explains how the firm is adapting to clients’ changing needs)

 

1. What do you see as the main points that differentiate Majmudar & Partners from your competitors?

At Majmudar & Partners, we differentiate ourselves through a combination of specialized expertise, client-centric service, and a deep understanding of the Indian legal landscape.  Our firm stands out for senior partner-led delivery of legal advice with a full focus on achieving the client’s commercial or business goals.  Our team’s agility and proactive approach allows us to navigate complex legal challenges efficiently, delivering results with speed and precision. In addition, our commitment to integrity and ethical practice underscores every aspect of our service, fostering long-term trust and partnerships with our clients.  Our firm has built a stellar reputation in the market for its unique business model of not chasing every dollar.  The firm competes among the leading law firms in India only because of its focus on quality v. quantity.  These aspects along with extreme responsiveness have collectively made us a sought-after firm for clients who need high quality and high value services in tight timeframes.

 

2. Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

In the next 12 months, we foresee continued growth in several key practice areas.  The conclusion of the general elections and continuity of the Indian government is likely to promote India’s image as a reliable and growing market for investment.  Therefore, we anticipate fresh impetus in foreign investment related corporate law and mergers and acquisitions work.  Additionally, we also foresee growth in our technology law practice with a focus on data privacy and cybersecurity. The evolving regulatory landscape and increased digital adoption in India are driving demand for robust legal frameworks to safeguard data and mitigate cybersecurity risks.  Further, we believe that sectors such as pharmaceuticals, fintech and e-commerce will propel growth in commercial transactions and regulatory compliance.  Our firm is poised to leverage our expertise in these areas, offering strategic counsel that aligns with emerging legal requirements and safeguards our clients’ interests in an increasingly digital economy.

 

3. What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

In the past year, we have strategically increased our technology adoption to elevate our client service standards.  We have also adopted flexi-work and other similar policies keeping in mind the needs of our younger lawyers.  These measures have fostered greater job satisfaction and morale, which, in turn, has translated into more focused and productive work on client matters. At the same time, we understand the importance of maintaining reliable and efficient operations that our clients trust.  Given this, we have also prioritized stability and continuity in our existing processes.  For instance, the firm’s partners conduct weekly training sessions on various areas of the law to keep its lawyers abreast of global best practices.  These training sessions helps our lawyers develop technical and soft skills.  Lastly, by further optimizing our internal workflows in the past year, we’ve achieved quicker turnaround times and improved cost-effectiveness.  These dual efforts, i.e., embracing new technology while strengthening our foundational processes, underscore our commitment to delivering exceptional client experiences.

 

4. Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Yes, technology is playing a significant role in transforming how we interact with our clients and the services we offer to them.  In recent years, the firm has upgraded its technology infrastructure with state-of-the-art cloud technology and is a digital first law firm with an active social media presence and initiatives.  Moreover, technology has expanded the scope of services we can provide. We leverage legal research databases, AI-powered analytics, and digital collaboration tools to deliver more insightful legal advice, conduct thorough due diligence, speed up contract drafting and manage complex transactions with greater precision. These advancements not only improve the quality and speed of our services but also empower us to offer innovative solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of our clients.  That said, as we continue to embrace technological advancements, we remain committed to balancing innovation with the personalized, client-focused approach that defines our firm.  Our goal remains to combine innovation with reliability, ensuring that our clients receive the best of both worlds, namely, cutting-edge solutions and steadfast support.

 

5. Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

Currently, we are advising a Fortune-15 company and one of the largest healthcare insurance and ancillary services providers in the US, on various issues pertaining to its Indian health insurance joint venture, including in relation to infusion of additional funding in the joint venture company.  The insurance sector is highly regulated, and there are many regulatory nuances that have to be analyzed.  Our prompt, nuanced and efficient advice has taken into account not only the regulatory requirements but also our client’s commercial needs.  This approach has allowed our client to formulate a clear path to achieving their goals and significantly add value to their business.

 

6. Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Yes, clients are increasingly seeking stability and strategic direction from their law firms.  At our firm, we prioritize building enduring partnerships with our clients by offering them stability through consistent, reliable service and strategic direction through proactive legal counsel that anticipates their needs and challenges.  Our partners have deep business knowledge on the workings of key industry sectors, including, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals, technology, automotive and chemicals.  Therefore, the client receives well-thought out and comprehensive advice on the transaction taking into account sector-specific nuances.  In addition, we focus on the key considerations of the client from a business standpoint, as opposed to trying to negotiate on issues that are of not much importance to the client.

Looking ahead, we envision our firm continuing to grow as a trusted advisor and partner to our clients. We aim to expand our capabilities in key practice areas, further enhance our technological infrastructure to better serve our clients’ evolving demands, and deepen our industry expertise. Our commitment to delivering exceptional client service will remain at the core of everything we do, ensuring that we not only meet but exceed our clients’ expectations. Ultimately, we see ourselves positioned as a leading boutique law firm in India known for our innovation, reliability, and dedication to achieving favorable outcomes for our clients.