July 18, 2018:
The Interviewer, Vedangini Bisht is a 1st Year student of National Law University, Delhi. She is currently interning with LatestLaws.com.
Introduction
With about 24 years of experience, Mr. Bhumesh Verma (Managing Partner, Corp Comm Legal) is amongst the most recognised and leading Indian corporate law lawyers (consistently ranked in the ‘A List’ of the Top 100 Indian Lawyers by India Business Law Journal and in 10 Most Admired Indian Lawyers list by Insights Success).He was selected as a Chevening Scholar in 2000. Considered an authority on drafting, vetting and negotiating Corporate / Commercial Contracts, he has also authored 2 highly successful books on this subject.
He is a guest faculty with several law and management institutes, online legal education portals and for judging moot courts.
He also conducts training workshops for students and professionals on Contract drafting skills and corporate laws.
Q1. Tell us a little about your Childhood and Education?
Ans: I was born and brought up in Delhi, studied till my law degree in Delhi only. A very inquisitive student, by my estimation, I was an above average student fighting for 1st or 2nd position in my class throughout. I took up commerce stream in Class 11 and did graduation (B. Com. Hons.) from Delhi University. Ours was the first batch to undergo an entrance test at Law Faculty of Delhi University, spent wonderful 3 years in Campus Law Centre. Many of my classmates now are judges, senior advocates, seasoned bankers and so on.
Q2. Were you always passionate about taking up Law as a Career? And why Corporate Law specifically?
Ans: My curiosity, inquisitive and argumentative nature bore signs of a budding lawyer from an early age. There was no background in the profession (even till date there is no lawyer even in my distant family). I wanted to take a different path although the trend for bright commerce students 3 decades back was to pursue CA.
Since my schooling days, I was interested in trade, commerce and business subjects. I secured highest marks in accountancy. That passion continued even while studying law. My specialisation subjects were laws pertaining to Business Association, Labour and Tax.
To top it all, I got a chance to work with Ajay Bahl & Co. (now a part of AZB Partners) within a couple of months into my law practice, which was intensely and robustly into corporate taxes. As they say, the rest is history.
Q3. How do you look back now on your College life?
Ans: It was no different for me. My college life was as happening and exciting as it is with all of you. I was a Delhi-ite studying in Delhi University so I did not have a hostel or outstation life. However, with good friends, it was full of intense academic discussions and fun. There was hardly any new Hindi or Hollywood movie which our gang would not watch (sometimes even back to back shows). Amba, Alpana, Batra and Chankya theatres used to be our preferred hangouts since there were no malls then. Along with all this masti, however, my peer group was very serious about life and studies at the same time and none of them was into drinks, drugs or the like – it was very fashionable in those days.
Q4. What do you believe was the greatest struggle you overcame to reach the heights that you have?
Ans: I haven’t had any different struggle and I am at no particular height. Life is a struggle for all well-meaning, hardworking professionals. Having said that, coming from a non-legal background was the only handicap I may have had. So, I had to take stairs to reach where people with family background may get by an elevator – that’s the only difference. Ultimately, it is good if you are improving consistently, where you are compared to others doesn’t matter as much.
Q5. What are the three indispensable traits a Lawyer should possess?
Ans: I’d say at least 5 - humility to accept and understand, patience to work long and hard, eyes to read between the lines, solution-centric and no-shortcuts approach are indispensable qualities of a good lawyer.
Q6. In Today’s time when people are looking for interesting and overall-developing vocations, What can persuade them to take up a 9 to 5 corporate job?
Ans: Not many in the legal profession enjoy the luxury of 9 am to 5 pm timings. Litigation lawyers start their day very early and end late because they have to prepare strategy and pleadings as well as have meetings with clients. On the other hand, corporate practitioners nowadays are working so much with international clients. They have to work at odd hours to catch up with the clients and attend to urgent matters at times.
Those who are in-house lawyers have their own challenges with respect to timings and workloads. It is very different from being your own master if you are practicing independently.
Q7. Do you think writing is one of the important skills that law students should possess?
Ans: I feel writing is not one of the important skills, but probably the most important skill that a lawyer should possess. The importance of this skill cannot be underestimated. A lawyer can manifest his knowledge and the client’s case only through words – be it written or spoken. Therefore, unless there is clarity of thought, conviction and the skill of articulating your thoughts in words, no lawyer can succeed.
Q8. You are very active on the educational front of late.
Ans: People in academic as well as professional fields are well aware of the huge gap between academic and practical skills of law students. To bridge this gap somewhat, a lot of domestic and international law institutes as well as online educational companies have been approaching me for years to collaborate in imparting practical skills to students, given my vast experience. Since I am no longer associated with Big law firms, I can devote a bit more time now as I am out of rat race of billing hours, targets, bonus, etc!
I am happy to work only with serious institutions as I have very limited time.
Q9. We have heard a lot of compliments about your books and workshops from students.
Ans: I am humbled.
I feel the process of education should be enjoyed and imbibed, not thrust upon in terms of a one-sided monologue. That is why I emphasise on simplicity in everything, be it legal writing or classrooms.
My book on Contract drafting skills contains only practical knowledge, very simple things that no one actually cares about. However, if learnt and imbibed, these things will keep you in good stead.
As far as our workshops go, all students and professionals complain that they waste time in a monologue and learn nothing. In my workshops, there is practical knowledge with day to day life examples in a fun way – we make fun, crack jokes, talk about movies and so on. I have received compliments from students aged 18 years to professional aged 75 years – all saying that they had not attended an event like this and learnt many new things which no one imparts.
Q10. Is law as a career now appearing more lucrative to the youth than ever before?
Ans: Yes, indeed. The profession is much lucrative now. However, it is no cakewalk and the higher remunerative is commensurate with higher demand for professionalism, agility and efficiency.
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