Sneha Nanandkar Final Reworked 3rd

Summary

In this insightful interview, Snea Nandar, a seasoned Advocate and Solicitor with over 14 years of experience, shares her journey from a non-legal background to becoming a prominent figure in the legal field. She highlights the importance of mentorship and guidance from senior partners at Phoenix Legal, her role in handling high-profile cases, and the impact of her work in international arbitrations and cross-border transactions. Snea also emphasizes the significance of passion and purpose in choosing a legal career, offering valuable advice to aspiring lawyers on maintaining work-life balance and pursuing their interests.

Takeaways

• 😀 Snea Nandar is an accomplished lawyer with over 14 years of experience, known for her deep understanding of laws and representing high-profile clients in international and domestic arbitrations.
• 🌟 Snea is a first-generation lawyer in her family, inspired by her father, a forensic expert, and her mother, a social worker, to contribute to society and pursue a purpose-driven profession.
• 🔍 Snea's journey into litigation was accidental, but she has embraced it and found her calling in the legal profession, highlighting the importance of seizing opportunities and adapting to circumstances.
• 👥 Snea emphasizes the role of mentors in her career, particularly senior partners at Phoenix Legal, who have provided guidance, support, and helped shape her expertise in various legal fields.
• 🏆 At Phoenix Legal, Snea has been involved in handling complex cases in maritime law, insurance, banking, finance, real estate litigation, and white-collar crime, showcasing the firm's diverse and comprehensive legal services.
• ⏰ Snea stresses the importance of time in maritime law, particularly in ship arrests, and the need for thorough knowledge of jurisdiction and legal precedents in practice.
• 🏢 Snea discusses the impact of RERA (Real Estate Regulation Act) in Maharashtra, India, which has resolved many disputes for common people and improved the real estate sector, but also points out the need for better implementation and infrastructure.
• 🤝 Snea advocates for Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms like mediation, arbitration, and conciliation as effective ways to resolve disputes expeditiously and amicably, and highlights recent developments in Indian legal system favoring ADR.
• 💡 Snea shares personal insights on maintaining work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of mental health, contributing to social causes, and pursuing hobbies like singing to maintain a balanced life.
• 📚 Snea advises law students and new legal professionals to understand their motivations and passions early in their careers to avoid burnout and excel in their chosen fields, and not to trade passion for glory.

Q & A

What is the significance of mentorship in Sneha Nandar's legal career?

Mentorship played a pivotal role in Sneha Nandar's career, with senior partners like Mr. Savan Singh, Mr. Saket Shukla, and Mr. Goam Biker serving as pillars of support and strength, guiding her through her journey in the legal profession.

How did Sneha Nandar's family background influence her decision to become a lawyer?

Sneha comes from a non-legal background, but her father, a forensic expert, and her mother, a social worker, inspired her to contribute to society. Their work in social causes and justice motivated her to pursue a career in law.

What was the turning point for Sneha Nandar in choosing litigation as her field of practice?

The turning point was when she was sent to Bombay City Civil Court as a fresh college graduate. An honorable judge compelled her to argue a case, which she initially tried to avoid. This experience marked the day when litigation chose her, and she has not looked back since.

How does Sneha Nandar describe her experience with Phoenix Legal?

At Phoenix Legal, Sneha Nandar appreciates the guidance of senior partners and the opportunity to work on diverse legal matters, including arbitration, disputes, cross-border transactions, and white-collar crime.

What are the key areas of law that Phoenix Legal specializes in, according to Sneha Nandar?

Phoenix Legal specializes in Maritime and insurance law, coupled with banking, finance, real estate litigation, and catering to clients in India and abroad.

How does Sneha Nandar approach the representation of major shipping companies and financial institutions?

Sneha emphasizes the importance of expertise, analytical thinking, and an out-of-the-box approach to cater to these clients, ensuring timely and effective legal services tailored to their specific needs.

What challenges did Sneha Nandar face while handling maritime law cases, and how did she overcome them?

Time is of essence in maritime law, and challenges include understanding territorial waters and jurisdiction. Sneha overcomes these by being thorough with her knowledge, understanding precedence in practice, and staying updated with global impacts and evolution in the field.

How does Sneha Nandar view the impact of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) on the real estate sector?

Sneha sees RERA as a beneficial act that has resolved many disputes and provided clarity for common people who have invested in properties. It has improved the implementation of projects and addressed concerns regarding possession timelines.

What role does Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) play in the Indian legal system according to Sneha Nandar?

ADR, including mediation, arbitration, and conciliation, plays a crucial role in the expeditious and effective disposal of disputes. Sneha highlights the importance of these mechanisms in providing an alternative to traditional court proceedings, ensuring timely resolution and reducing the burden on the judiciary.

How does Sneha Nandar maintain a work-life balance given her demanding professional life?

Sneha maintains a work-life balance by meditating, contributing to social causes, and engaging in activities like singing. She emphasizes the importance of mental health and the support of mentors who encourage a balanced lifestyle.

What advice does Sneha Nandar have for law students and graduates embarking on their legal journey?

Sneha advises law students to understand their motivations and passions early in their careers, to avoid burnout and make informed decisions. She encourages them not to trade passion for glory and to solidify their knowledge before pursuing higher positions.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Mentorship and Legal Journey

The speaker expresses gratitude for the guidance received from senior partners at Phoenix Legal, attributing their support as a key factor in the team's success. Snea Nandar, a guest with over 14 years of experience as an advocate and solicitor, shares her background as a first-generation lawyer inspired by her forensic expert father and social worker mother. She discusses her initial aspirations to contribute to society and how her experiences with Viala & Company shaped her into an accomplished lawyer. The speaker invites Snea to share her story of becoming a lawyer and highlights her expertise in international arbitrations and commercial disputes.

05:02

🚢 Maritime Law and Client Representation

Snea Nandar delves into her journey into litigation, which she describes as accidental, and how she was influenced by the legal profession's potential for societal impact. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship in her career, particularly in choosing to become a solicitor and developing a comprehensive understanding of law. Snea outlines her current role at Phoenix Legal, a multi-service firm that caters to diverse clients, including those in maritime law, banking, finance, and real estate litigation. She discusses the challenges of maritime law, the significance of timely actions, and the importance of understanding both Indian and global legal impacts.

10:04

🏛️ Impact of RERA on Real Estate and ADR

The conversation shifts to the impact of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) on the real estate sector, with Snea highlighting its role in resolving disputes and providing clarity for common investors. She discusses the benefits of online hearings and mediation as alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, emphasizing their convenience and effectiveness. Snea also touches on her experience with ADR mechanisms like arbitration and conciliation, noting their importance in the expeditious resolution of commercial disputes.

15:04

🧘‍♀️ Work-Life Balance and Career Advice

Snea Nandar shares her approach to maintaining a work-life balance amidst her demanding professional life, crediting her mentors for encouraging this balance. She discusses the importance of mental health and personal interests, such as meditation and social causes, in supporting her professional performance. Snea also provides career insights for law students and graduates, advising them to identify their motivations early in their careers to avoid burnout and excel in their chosen fields. She stresses the importance of following one's passion rather than seeking glory or financial gain.

Keywords

💡Mentorship

Mentorship refers to a relationship in which a more experienced or knowledgeable person (a mentor) guides and supports the development of a less experienced or less knowledgeable person (a mentee). In the video, mentorship is highlighted as crucial for the professional growth of the interviewee, who mentions guidance from senior partners like Mr. Savan Singh, Mr. Saket Shukla, and Mr. Goam Biker, which has been instrumental in her career development.

💡Litigation

Litigation is the process of taking a case to court to resolve a legal dispute. The video's theme revolves around the interviewee's journey into litigation, which she describes as accidental but impactful. She discusses her experience arguing cases in court, which was a pivotal moment that solidified her passion for advocacy.

💡Legal Profession

The legal profession encompasses the roles and responsibilities of those involved in the practice of law, including lawyers, judges, and other legal experts. The interviewee's narrative is deeply rooted in her experiences within the legal profession, emphasizing the power and impact that lawyers can have on society.

💡Social Causes

Social causes are issues or movements aimed at improving societal conditions or advocating for the rights of certain groups. The interviewee's motivation to become a lawyer was inspired by her family's involvement in social causes, such as her father's work as a forensic expert and her mother's work as a social worker.

💡ADR (Alternate Dispute Resolution)

Alternate Dispute Resolution refers to methods of resolving disputes outside of the traditional court system, such as mediation, arbitration, and conciliation. The interviewee discusses ADR as a crucial part of the Indian legal system, emphasizing its role in providing expeditious and effective resolution of disputes.

💡Maritime Law

Maritime law, also known as admiralty law, governs issues related to the use of marine navigation and commerce, sea commerce, and seamen. The interviewee mentions her work in maritime law, highlighting the importance of understanding both the theoretical and practical aspects of the field, including the global impact and evolution of maritime regulations.

💡RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Act)

The Real Estate Regulatory Act is a law in India that seeks to protect the rights of consumers in the real estate sector and ensure timely possession of properties. The interviewee discusses the positive impact of RERA on the real estate sector, noting how it has resolved disputes and provided clarity for consumers.

💡Cross-Border Transactions

Cross-border transactions involve the exchange of goods, services, or capital between parties in different countries. The interviewee's work involves handling cross-border transactions, which requires a deep understanding of international laws and the ability to navigate complex legal landscapes.

💡Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance refers to the equilibrium between an individual's professional life and personal life. The interviewee emphasizes the importance of maintaining a work-life balance, mentioning activities such as meditation, contributing to social causes, and pursuing hobbies like singing to ensure mental well-being.

💡Burnout

Burnout is a state of chronic stress that can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion, often resulting from excessive and prolonged work. The interviewee advises law students to understand their motivations and passions to avoid burnout, highlighting the importance of making informed career decisions.

Highlights

Sneha Nandar, an advocate and solicitor with over 14 years of experience, discusses her journey into law and her role at Phoenix Legal.

Sneha comes from a non-legal background and was inspired by her father, a forensic expert, and her mother, a social worker, to contribute to society.

She emphasizes the importance of mentors and guidance from senior partners like Mr. Savan Singh, Mr. Saket Shukla, and Mr. Goam Biker at Phoenix Legal.

Sneha's decision to become a lawyer was influenced by her desire to have an empowering profession with a sense of purpose.

Her initial plan was to become a social worker or a forensic expert, but she was drawn to the impact lawyers can have in society.

Sneha's entry into litigation was accidental, stemming from an opportunity to argue a case in Bombay City Civil Court.

She discusses the role of mentors in guiding her to become an all-rounder in law and choosing to be a solicitor.

At Phoenix Legal, Sneha is involved in maritime, insurance, banking, finance, real estate litigation, and catering to clients in India and abroad.

The importance of expertise and analytical thinking in law, especially in maritime law where time is of essence, is highlighted.

Sneha shares insights on handling challenging cases in maritime law and the importance of understanding both Indian and global laws.

She views the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) as beneficial for resolving disputes and aiding the common man.

Sneha emphasizes the need for better infrastructure and execution in the implementation of RERA.

ADR mechanisms like mediation, arbitration, and conciliation are seen as the future of the legal arena, providing expeditious dispute resolution.

Sneha shares her personal interests, including meditation, social work, and singing, as part of maintaining a work-life balance.

She advises law students to understand their motivations and passions to avoid burnout and excel in their careers.

Sneha encourages new legal professionals not to trade their passion for glory and to solidify their knowledge before pursuing higher positions.

The interview concludes with Sneha's availability for connection via LinkedIn, her mobile number, and email for further engagement.

Transcripts

I think there are very few people who

have guidance and support from their

seniors and at Phoenix legal we have

senior Partners like Mr savan Singh Mr

saket Shukla and Mr goam biker who are

our pillars of support and strength no

wonder team at Phoenix is Soaring

Heights and very happy to be part of

this team

hello and welcome everyone to our new

super lawyer YouTube Interview we are

today here with very esteemed and

knowledgeable snea nandar welcome snha

and thank you for agreeing to give this

live interview to us I would love to

introduce her as The Advocate and a

solicitor with extensive experience of

more than 14 years she is well known in

the fraternity with a deep understanding

of laws s also has represented several

high-profile clients in international

and domestic arbitrations commercial

dispute and crossborder transactions I

would request her to take the podium and

tell us how and when she decided to

become a lawyer and that to such

accomplished one welcome snea and thank

you once again thank you thank you for

having me over I come from a non-legal

background I the first generation lawyer

and in my family we've always been

encouraged to to contribute towards the

society right from childhood I was

motivated and inspired by my father

who's a forensic expert he dealt with

several sensitive and high-profile cases

and uh that kind of inspired me to look

into social causes and contribute

towards them my mother's a social worker

and has also worked for the better M of

special kids so I always wanted to be in

a profession which is not only

empowering but gave me a sense of

purpose and my horizons were further

broadened when I joined my articles with

viala and Company and since then I think

with a enriching experience of 14 years

I continue to contribute to this

profession as well as to the society

whever I can and whichever form so we

would like to also learn about the role

of mentors and their guidance in your

life because as you entered the field

how did you decide to become a

litigation lawyer my journey into

litigation has has been an accident I

would say I plann to be someone who was

a social worker like my mother or a

forensic expert like my father but when

I realized the power that legal

profession has and the kind of impact

that women can have in society as

lawyers I decided that I want to be a

lawyer and I think when you choose law

you have multiple options nowadays you

can go into Niche areas like marathan or

IPR or you can practice as a criminal

lawyer or you can choose litigation and

I was fresh out of college and my senior

sent me to Bombay City civil court and

an honorable Judge impelled Me and my

other opponent to argue a particular

case I distinctly remember both of us

trying to Riggle out of the situation

saying that we will call our seniors and

we will tell someone else to argue it or

maybe we can seek an adjournment like

every Junior does I mean it's memorable

but it's was scary at that point of time

and I'm really really grateful to that

honorable Judge and my senior I would

say for that opportunity because that is

the day when litigation chose me and I

have not looked back amazing story so

with this kind of extensive background

involving litigation and especially

dispute resolution and that TN shipping

and variety of Niche areas of law we

would request you to walk us through the

kind of moments the pivotal moments

which are definitely there in your

career that has solidified your passion

for this kind of advocacy and to get

that particular feel for this Niche

Fields my foray into the legal

profession has been not deliberate the

landscape was wide and I would say it

was a Natural Evolution Guided by all

the legal stws I have been lucky to have

mentors who have guided me and they

trained me to be an allrounder even

choosing solicitors was something which

my mentors help me to choose and I would

say that as a lawyer we all know that

okay fine you are supposed to know law

but its implementation has to be coupled

with an outof boox thinking it has to be

tailor made for the client's requirement

it has to be coupled with the right

place right time analytical thinking and

only that is when you can I think as a

lawyer deliver to the client

satisfaction so uh I started my career

with Mr viala after that I ventured into

the corporate world with classes law and

hence on I am with thingss legal today

which is a multi-service firm and we

cater to all sort of clients in India

and abroad so I think I've been very

lucky to have this kind of guidance

throughout my career and very grateful

for that for the trust of my seniors

while you were talking about Phoenix

legal I would request you to walk us

through the kind of things which you do

at that particular firm and your current

role there also while representing these

major shipping companies and financial

institutions how do you cater to such

clients if you can share that thought

process also it'll be very beneficial

for our Learners Phoenix legal is right

now under the leadership of legal stws

like Mr Sak shla Mr goam bhik Maritime

and insurance coupled with banking

Finance real estate litigation are the

areas where Phoenix legal caters to CL

in India and abroad time is of ense when

it comes to Maritime I would say so no

matter which field it is there's no

shortcuts in law but yes expertise is

something which is required coupled with

analytical thinking and outof boox

approach so I would say that at Phoenix

legal I have been lucky to have these

kind of mentors at the same time we have

that kind of exposure where we cater to

multiple clients right now we have been

catering to clients in arbitration and

disputes as as well as cross border

transactions we also have several

clients in white color crime and we are

catering to these clients I would say

that as on date I'm handling these

matters at Phoenix legal so when you are

discussing about Maritime laws and when

you are working with Phoenix legal how

have you catered the clients from such

Niche fields and the kind of challenges

that you have faced we would request you

to share if possible some of the

challenging cases that you have handled

and if you can share some learnings as

well for our Learners too so that they

can also try and think about picking

such a niche field definitely as I

mentioned earlier when it comes to

Maritime laws time is of ense so when it

comes to a ship arrest you need to know

whether you are within the right

territorial Waters I just handled one of

the consumer matters with my partner

where the core question was whether

jurisdiction within which the claim has

been filed is correct so I would say

that if you you intend to choose

maritime law or Insurance sector you

need to be thorough with your nativities

you need to not only know your theory

but also the Precedence in the practice

area and I would definitely recommend

someone who intends to take maritime law

or Insurance to understand not only the

impact of Indian laws but also the

global impact and the evolution that has

been taking place you also have been

very active in r tribunal and have

handled many significant cases before n

and many other courts how do you view

the impact of Raa on the real estate

sector and what improvements would you

suggest or would you expect in near

future I would say that Maharashtra has

been lucky to have Vera act because that

has resolved many disputes many

headaches for a Layman because for a

common man who has invested his hard-

earned money into a project or his dream

home home I would rather put it that way

everything revoles around it and ends on

that so having disputes with Builder

having Redevelopment projects going on

where to implement whether I will get

possession of that particular flat or

home within time all these questions

have been answered once rera has been

put in practice so I would say that rera

has taken care of most of the queries

problems and hurdles for a Layman and it

has evolved over the period of time its

implementation has been amazing amazing

execution is an area of course where we

need more procedence more hard

implementations execution is where a

common man gets stuck I've got an order

but then what do I do after that how do

I do it rather and one important and

beneficial thing is that wherea hearings

are online so it's much more convenient

for a Layman to attend it to see what's

happening there's also a option of going

for a mediation if the client wants to

go for and settle it in an amicable

manner so I would say that impact of era

has been immense in the field it has

been really really useful for the Common

Man and as on date I would say that we

need more faith and a better

infrastructure when it comes to

implementation at the execution level

amazing so the kind of experience and

the track record that you have you also

have extensive experience in ADR

alternate dispute resolution how do you

see its role involving or evolving in

the Indian legal system and with the

recent developments especially

concerning commercial disputes when it

comes to alternate dispute resolution I

would say that it was implemented in the

first place to ensure that there is an

expeditious yet effective disposal of

all the disputes that are arising as on

date as we have heard Justice delayed as

Justice denied so alternate dispute

resolution mechanisms like mediation

arbitration conciliation give you view

that way out where you can within a

limited fixed period of time or in an

amicable manner resolve it between the

parties when it comes to arbitration we

have had developments and amendments in

the past which is why within a year Max

to Max the prescribed allowed extension

period we can resolve our disputes via

arbitration we do have institutionalized

arbitrations which are really effective

in India as well as in abroad in fact I

have personally handled many of the

domestic and international arbitrations

so arbitration and conciliation and

mediation would give you that way out

where you need not worry about the time

span where you can be assured that an

impartial person is dealing with your

matter and at the same time you have

expeditious disposal of your dispute so

yes this is the future I would say of

legal Arena and people should definitely

opt for these meanss before taking it

like even the amendment in the

commercial Court act right now I would

like to highlight it says that before

taking your matter to goard you need to

opt for mediation and if it doesn't work

out then you go for a legal case so that

is really helpful when it comes to a

legal person as well as a Layman this is

a very good development and India is

progressing towards it wow so with your

busy professional life the one which you

are discussing I would request you to

also share your hobbies and personal

interests which you pursue in order to

make sure that you have a work life

balance in professional and personal

sense both I would say that as a legal

professional our life starts and ends

with law but yes with this era that we

are working in where mental health has

been of crucial importance not only for

your personal life but also when it

comes to your legal professional

performances so I tend to balance my

life and as I said I've been extremely

lucky to have always worked with such

lawful or with such mentors who have

always encouraged us to have that work

life balance so even at times where I

understand that I have to work late

hours I do go home and I do meditate for

a little bit of time I also like to

contribute on my weekends towards social

causes as I said my family has been big

on giving back to the society so working

with NOS or working with orphanage or

when it comes to making normal Layman or

women aware of their rights I contribute

wherever I can singing is something

which I enjoy I not learned it maybe

after a period of time I will do that

absolute versatile personality today we

are interviewing SN thank you so much

for sharing such amazing reviews about

your personal and professional work life

balance considering this kind of

experience in your professional life and

your personal one where you learned so

much we would request you to share some

of your career insights as well for our

La students and law graduates or the

ones who are going to Embark their new

legal Journey the kind of complexities

that you may have gone through what

would be your suggestion to them and how

they can make a name for themselves like

you have already done I think this is of

utmost importance and it's the crucial

question when it comes to choosing a

particular area of law field as a law

student if I have to go back 14 years

back and I have to choose I would would

advise my younger self that in this era

of mindless her mentality where uh

people do not understand what drives

them what motivates them and we randomly

choose areas of practice this ultimately

leads to burnout so as a law student or

as a legal professional who's just fresh

out of college I would say that you

should determine in your first three

years what drives you what motivates you

do you enjoy the vibrancy of the court I

you comfortable being the center of

attention in the court and arguing a

matter or are you comfortable drafting

your documents and doing the advisory

this is of crucial importance because

that will help you move forward make

informed decisions and at the same time

you can also excel in your career

because the burnout levels in any

profession I think are result of a

non-informed and if the decision is not

well taught only then can it lead to

burnout levels so as a law student

understand what drives you what

motivates you so that you can have that

passion to move forward and I think the

key is not to trade your passion for

Glory not to run behind money once your

foundation your knowledge is solidified

that is when you know that you can take

a higher job I think that's the evolving

Trends and the developments that

distract you but you never never should

trade your passion for Glory thank you

so much SN for such insightful interview

best part is you are so multi-talented I

don't think interview can cover that up

but yes we looking forward to hearing

more and more from you and snea is

absolutely reachable via her LinkedIn

through her mobile number which is

available on LinkedIn as well and on

email you can connect with her she's in

Mumbai and she is an absolutely

multi-talented multifaceted Advocate and

thank you SN once again for accepting

our invitation to appear here it has

been a wonderful interview today thank

you so much thanks M thank you so much

thank you for having me over