The Legal profession is a highly challenging and demanding one, and one which is not predominantly pursued by women. Litigation is the path chosen by even less women simply for the fact that it is very arduous. Hima Lawrence, co-founder of VH Law Chambers has broken all these barriers and much more. Being one of the few women in India to start their own law chambers, she is making heads turn and inspiring first generation lawyers. She is a woman who has donned many hats and gained varied and impressive experiences leading her to become an outstanding role model for upcoming lawyers.

Here are some highlights from our interactions with her.

What would you say about your special expertise as a legal professional ?

I practice before various courts in Delhi with a focus on corporate-commercial litigation and arbitration. My practice is primarily before the Supreme Court of India and I am a qualified Advocate on Record. I am also a dispute resolution practitioner and have successfully solved many commercial disputes without opting for a contentious proceeding. As a legal practitioner, it is most important to understand your client’s needs, earn their trust and use your legal acumen to help them get the relief they desire with minimum stress.

Take us through your early educational journey and prior industry experience that you bring to the table.

After completing my primary education in Kerala, I went to pursue an education in Law from Symbiosis Law School, Pune.

Graduating in the top 6 percent I received the Advocate Ram Jethmalani Scholarship Award for scoring the highest marks in Law of Evidence. Thereafter, I went on to pursue Masters in Law from New York University (NYU) School of Law, New York. I am also qualified to practice law in the State of New York, US. I started my career as a specialized litigator engaged in Intellectual Property litigation before the Delhi High Court. I moved on to the role of an in-house attorney in a major Indian IT company advising and negotiating on high value and cross-border corporate-commercial transactions. Upon returning to litigation, I chose to focus on corporate commercial litigation and arbitration.

What motivated you to establish vh law chambers? Tell us about the underlying idea behind the litigation chamber and some of its most unique features.

After working as a lawyer for over nine years, I decided to start carving a niche for myself in this incredibly demanding but rewarding profession. VH Law Chambers was founded as a result of my ambition to be an arguing counsel. One of my motivations for starting a boutique chamber practice rather than a law firm was that I wanted to always be available personally for my clients and provide them with topnotch legal advice, whether it be regarding strategy, pleading drafting, or courtroom advocacy.

Tell us about the various roles & responsibilities that you shoulder as the cofounder of vh law chambers. What are your primary focus areas?

Running one’s own chamber also involves a lot of administrative tasks, however, the primary focus area remains practice of law. Advising clients in potential disputes, leading the litigations, presenting the brief before a senior lawyer when a client demands their high stakes case to be handled by a senior advocate, all form part of the job.

What are some of the most pressing challenges that you encounter as an advocate? How do you successfully mitigate these challenges?

One of the biggest difficulties in the job of a litigator is managing one's time and each day can bem unpredictable. To be a successful advocate, mental and physical agility is also crucial. I mitigate these challenges through planning, delegation, and organization. My accomplishment has also been aided by the assistance provided by other lawyers, staff, and my family.

What has been the driving force behind your success as a professional? What would your advice be to young women and girls who also aspire to follow your footsteps ?

Every time I am able to effectively interpret a legal provision with a novel nuance, everytime I am acknowledged by the court as a competent counsel and am able to resolve my client’s dispute effectively, is a milestone. The driving force behind my efforts is the dream to be a successful first generation lawyer/ litigator. My advice would be to look up to your predecessors in your field, and get inspired by their passion, persistence and determination. Success comes through long hours, and fighting against all odds. However, never forget that every journey is unique and so is yours.

Hima Lawrence, Co-Founder, Vh Law Chambers

Hima is an accomplished legal practitioner qualified to practice law in India and in New York, US. After pursuing the primary law education from Symbiosis Pune, she pursued a Master’s in Law from the NYU School of Law. Upon return, she worked as a litigator, following which she took on corporate jobs, before finally returning to litigation. Through these experiences, she has gained a wide array of knowledge which makes her so successful in her field.

Educational Qualification:

• B.S.L. LL.B.(Symbiosis, Pune), LL.M. (NYU School of Law, New York)

Bar Admissions:

• India & New York

Headquarter & Other Office Locations:

• New Delhi, India

Legal professionals you admire:

• Former Associate Justice of Supreme Court of the United States, Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg

• Senior Advocate, Indira Jaising

• Founder & Managing Partner, AZB & Partners, Zia Mody