Leaders

It's no secret that historically, women have faced more restrictions than males when it comes to actively engaging in the economy. Inequities between men & women remain across regions & income levels, manifesting as salary disparities, unequal opportunities for advancement, and unequal representation in key decision-making. In recent decades, there have been aspirations for more gender equality, as well as a greater emphasis on closing the gender wage gap. Even while enormous progress has been made in this area, there is still a significant paucity of women in leadership positions.

Namita Chadha, Co-Founder of Chadha & Co and a Delhibased attorney, is an excellent example of a woman who has risen in a male-dominated sector despite professional impediments. Looking at her excellent professional trajectory, it is safe to assume that she has established herself as a leading lady in a man's world. "There is no replacement for hard work, perseverance, continuously producing great quality, & at times, being unrealistic in your expectations. Furthermore, a little luck never hurts anyone, however as someone once remarked, the harder I work, the luckier I become", Namita comments. The firm specializes in advising foreign companies from over 31 countries & across industries doing business in India on their India entry, structuring their entry, establishing their Indian operations and all legal and regulatory matters that impact them after they have commenced their operations. Today, Chadha & Co is reputed for its high quality, practical, proactive and cost.

Take us through your early educational journey and prior industry experience that you bring to the table. What motivated you to foray into the field of corporate and commercial law?

As a young girl, I had natural negotiating & debating skills. Having a lawyer father naturally enhanced my talents, and my intrinsic ability to persuade my parents. This was combined with my combative personality which led me to choose this profession. I always knew that I had the confidence to dream big, to become a successful professional, & to live my life that can make a difference in the lives of others. The profession of law appeared to be the answer to this search, with power, money, and glamour in the offing and appearing to be attainable. I owe a lot to my teachers for shaping my profession, who encouraged & led me at every stage of my student life & thereafter.

As I entered an already competitive and saturated legal market, I saw that the needs of international corporations doing business in India were likely unmet. This sparked the idea for me to start my own business. We were lucky that a renowned Japanese company chose to engage us after a few days of establishing our organization. My perseverance & 'never say die' attitude, combined with my neverending efforts, certainly paid off, and I now own a highly successful law firm, Chadha & Co.

What are some of the most pressing challenges that you face as the founder and how do you successfully tackle them?

I have always taken obstacles that came in my way as challenges. It has never been simple for me to situate myself in a male-dominated and slightly gender biassed profession. Clients were sometimes prejudiced not just against the competence of female lawyers, but also against newcomers who had not yet established the reputation of the big boys. Long work hours due to drafting and preparing for impending proceedings or client meetings beyond court hours have prompted many female lawyers to leave the profession. Rather than becoming intimidated and backing down, I chose endurance and resolve to face such challenges. Also, when I started my career, there were relatively few accomplished female lawyers who could serve as role models and mentors. Another big difficulty was the inevitable irritation caused by poor pay in comparison to the long working hours that characterise the early years of a lawyer's career in India.

What are the expertise that you bring to the table?

I have over 27 years of business and commercial law experience. Multijurisdictional litigation and dispute resolution, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory concerns, competition law, white-collar crime and commercial fraud, labour & employment, compliance, & anti-bribery issues are among my areas of competence. We have been successfully advising big international corporations with operations in India on a variety of issues. Further, I contribute expertise derived from a synthesis of skill sets drawn from my former experience as a General Counsel & Compliance Leader, as well as the law firm's extensive experience in providing efficient legal solutions to businesses.

What have been some of the most significant milestones that you have achieved so far in your professional journey? What has been the driving force behind your success as a business leader?

It is critical to have and display a strong commitment to your job. Successful women really like their profession, the intellectual stimulation it gives, & the chance to collaborate with other successful individuals. To stay relevant with the ever-changing market dynamics, you must be willing to make sacrifices such as working long hours, investing time to study and build skills, making time to network, & being involved in the community. It is also critical to maintain a positive outlook on the future and to cultivate the ability to be resilient & bounce back when things go rough.

"It has never been simple for me to situate myself in a male-dominated & slightly gender biased profession. Rather than becoming intimidated & backing down, i chose endurance & resolve to face such challenges"

Drawing from your experience as a successful business leader, what would your advice be to young women & girls who also aspire to become business leaders & entrepreneurs in the future?

One can study a variety of skills to help you succeed in your job. Rather than attempting to develop all of them to the same level of brilliance, concentrate on honing one or two 'hip pocket' qualities that set you apart from your peers. These could be your problemsolving ability, interpersonal skills, or communication abilities. If these skills are useful to your organisation and profession and have been fine-tuned, your talent will help you get noticed & then climb the professional ladder.

Work burnout is a genuine issue in the legal profession. Women are at a considerably higher risk than men since they have to cope with a lot more. Domestic pressures and gender bias might bring you down if you are unable to deal with them. Having a technique for de-stressing and unwinding can help you cope with the most difficult moments. A solid nighttime routine can also be a pleasant boost for people who work in a high-pressure, demanding  job.

Namita Chadha, Founder & Managing Partner, Chadha & Co

Namita is the founder & managing partner of chadha & co. She is a lawyer with 27 years of experience in corporate & commercial laws. Her areas of expertise include multijurisdictional litigation & dispute resolution, mergers & acquisitions, regulatory issues, competition law, white-collar crime & commercial fraud, labour & employment,compliance, anti-bribery issues.