PALLAVI SHROFF, managing partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., remembers an incident that took place in 1986-87 as one of the turning points in her over four-decade-long legal career. Seven years into the profession, then dominated by men, she had to represent as the lead solicitor in the Allahabad High Court in an important matter.
However, due to a surgery ahead of the hearing, Shroff had to decline. The client, says Shroff, chartered a flight for her to go to Allahabad. “It was a turning point, simply because it was an acceptance of me as a professional, acceptance of my capabilities and the faith the client had in me.”
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. handled a lot of key cases last year. “The biggest is RIL acquiring Disney’s India business,” says Shroff, adding, regulatory approvals are in process.
“We also did deals for Apollo Hospitals and for several PE funds,” she adds. On the arbitration side, Shroff is handling the Sony-Zee Entertainment case. — Ashutosh Kumar