Elite League of Influential Leaders 2024_Profile

Sharma & Sharma Advocates & Legal Consultants LLP: A Narrative of Offering Top-notch Commercial Legal Solutions with Sidhartha Sharma at the Helm

In the intricate web of India’s legal sector, Sharma & Sharma Advocates & Legal Consultants LLP emerges as a vibrant thread, weaving a tale of innovation, transparency, and excellence. This is not just the story of a full-service law firm; it’s a saga of reshaping the legal sector with the goal of providing dedicated, efficient, commercially sound, and result-oriented solutions.

Under the supervision of Sidhartha Sharma, Founder and Managing Partner of Sharma & Sharma, the firm has become a beacon of legal solutions, offering a range of integrated global capabilities, including some of the world’s most active M&A, real estate, I & B Code, financial services, litigation, and corporate risk practices. Be part of Sidhartha Sharma’s quest—a journey marked by their unwavering commitment to getting relief for the clients and determination to come up with pragmatic solutions.

Shaping the Passion

Sidhartha began his career in 2001 as a Chamber Junior for one of the most eminent Advocate of the Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta, Mr. Justice Protik Prakash Banerjee, the late Hon’ble Judge of the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court, who was recognized as the BEST EMERGING LAWYER OF THE HON’BLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT. In 2006, he laid the foundation for Sharma & Sharma, Advocates & Legal Consultants. Since then, the firm has grown from its flagship office in Kolkata to New Delhi, Chandigarh, and Bhubaneswar, gaining tremendous popularity in the legal community.

The firm was founded in 2006 in a small chamber close to the High Court of Calcutta, specializing in labour and industrial laws as well as related fields of master-servant relationships. Later, the firm appeared in various courts and tribunals, such as the Provident Fund Appellate Tribunal and other forums designed to resolve disputes between master servants, and handled a variety of labor laws and service law-related matters.

In addition to his primary practice in labour and industrial relations and insurance laws, Sidhartha began practicing in corporate and commercial disputes, property law, company law, restructuring and bankruptcy matters, and other corporate advisory matters as his current clientele began to place their faith and trust in his abilities and acumen.

Soon thereafter, as Mrs. Priyanka Tibrewal joined the firm, the practice of the firm expanded from company, commercial, and corporate laws to criminal law, family law, and constitutional matters.

With over twenty-two years of professional experience, the amazing Sidhartha has successfully handled a number of notable cases. He often appears before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the Hon’ble High Courts of Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati, and Bilaspur, as well as the Hon’ble National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and the Hon’ble National Company Law Tribunal (Principal Bench, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Mumbai, Allahabad, Indore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Cuttack Bench).

The firm expanded its practice areas in mining laws and electrical laws, among other areas, in 2017 when it opened offices in Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar and added new partners. The firm opened an office in New Delhi in 2018 with able assistance of Mr. Arjun Asthana, Partner, conveniently close to the Hon’ble High Court, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, and the NCLT/NCLAT. The firm’s business areas and services have grown over time, moving from arbitration and dispute resolution to corporate advising, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory work.

Overcoming Obstacles Along the Path

Sidhartha Sharma has come to realize over the years that bridging the gap between business operations and legislative requirements is one of the major obstacles facing commercial and corporate lawyers in their line of work.

Even though the nation is home to many highly skilled lawyers, there is a substantial gap in how practically applicable laws and regulations are. “To give pragmatic options to its clientele and overcome such challenges, every corporate lawyer needs to be adept in economics and business operations in addition to sound legal knowledge,” according to the leading man.

Sharma & Sharma, Advocates & Legal Consultants LLP, has a devoted team of professionals that includes advocates, chartered accountants, company secretaries, professionals with expertise in business management, and engineers to understand and appreciate the operational and commercial aspirations and expectations of the clients.

The Key Inspiration Behind Sidhartha’s Decision

Being a second-generation lawyer, working in the courts, looking at voluminous documents, and spending long hours in the library were not new to Sidhartha. Since his early school years, he has always had a preference for the legal field and courtroom procedures. His father, Mr. Satyanarayan Sharma, is well-known in Kolkata as a labour law practitioner and the author of multiple publications on the topic. Mr. Anand Sharma, his elder brother and a senior partner at Sharma & Sharma, Advocates & Legal Consultants and Mr. Rishav Dutta, Partner, provided him with further motivation to pursue this honorable career path, which holds promise for making a significant impact on society as a whole.

Emerging Industry Trends

Artificial intelligence and digital tools that enable lawyers to divide up their studies and reach more in-depth findings are becoming more and more popular. According to Sidhartha, artificial intelligence is a rapidly expanding field that has great promise for organizing and resolving backlogs of cases in Indian courts. However, the same is in a nascent stage in the country, and its application in the Indian judicial system would definitely inculcate and increase confidence in the judicial system.

In Sync with the Latest Tech Advice

Sidhartha places a strong emphasis on being up-to-date on legal developments. A specialized knowledge management team ensures that every member of the company is updated in real time on the most recent advancements in the legal industry. Additionally, the company has fostered a culture of ongoing learning in which all team members gather once a week to share ideas and opinions.

Sidhartha’s Take on Resilience and Adaptability

It is crucial to recognize that staying up-to-date with innovations and their relevance is essential for survival in a fast-moving, dynamic sector. Continuous learning and skill enhancement are vital for success in such a dynamic industry.

Nurturing a Positive and Productive Workforce

Sharma & Sharma (Advocates and Legal Consultants) believes in investing in its people. They treat their associates and staff members as one family and ensure that they are able to maintain a work-life balance. They are committed to giving young people the chance to succeed, and they work hard to give them the resources they need to succeed both professionally and in other spheres of life.

The leading man strongly puts a high focus on professionals’ ongoing education. Sharma and Sharma publish a monthly newsletter to keep its members in line and up-to-date with the latest judicial pronouncements and amendments to the law. Additionally, Sharma and Sharma support and promotes its associates to take part in a variety of seminars, workshops, conferences, etc. with the goal of fostering knowledge development and idea exchange.

Remarkable Awards and Achievements

As the Sharma & Sharma saga unfolded, it received numerous awards and accolades along the way. The accolades, including Managing Partner of the Year by the Economic Times, Legal Awards 2023, The Most Recommended Law Consulting Firm to Watch—20 “Most Recognized Law Firm of the Year 2023” by Insight Success, “Most Recognized Law Firm of the Year 2023” by Knowledge Review, and “Most Recommended Law Consulting Firm to Watch – 2023” in the Indo Global Entrepreneurship Conclave 2023 stand as testament to Sharma & Sharma’s unwavering commitment to excellence.

Planning for a Growing Future!!

As the Sharma & Sharma Sage continues, he further plans to grow his expansion and adopt innovative software that keeps track of the deliverables by the professionals, thereby keeping track of productivity. By implementing such software, they shall not only maximize productivity but also keep a check on the health of the professionals. It has come to their knowledge that several unfortunate incidents have taken place due to work pressure, and the Sharma and Sharma firm aims to invest more in healthcare for their professionals.

Mohit Uppal: Visionary Journey in Transforming Airport Journeys and Elevating Travelers’ Experience

In the fast-paced corporate world, where the spirit of entrepreneurship thrives, trailblazers like Mohit Uppal emerge as an embodiment of expertise, knowledge, and excellence.

Mohit Uppal is an accomplished and seasoned professional with over twelve years of enriching expertise in various domains, including airports, e-commerce, agribusiness, digital marketing, and startup banking. As the Partnerships Lead at HOI, Mohit oversees the introduction and management of cutting-edge digital solutions that improve passenger happiness and the traveller experience at several Indian airports.

As a pioneer and leader in the realm of brand engagement and business growth, Mohit Uppal has revolutionized the branding space and made a substantial impact on the expansion of businesses. With an illustrious 12+ year work history, equating to 78,840 hours, 3285 days, and 3000+ coffee conversations with clients and partners, the visionary leader has actively worked with more than a thousand startups, developed strategies, facilitated more than 450 brand partnerships, and made significant contributions to the expansion of businesses—often under tight financial constraints.

Mohit finished his B.Tech. in automobiles in 2009 and commenced his professional career. During a six-month internship at Udaipur-based Maruti Suzuki Dealership, he realized this wasn’t his calling. Driven by his passion, he relocated to Delhi to pursue further education, starting an MBA program at the NIILM School of Business in February 2010

Mohit worked part-time jobs, handed out flyers, and even posed as a brand model for at many expos and exhibitions to make ends meet. The pivotal moment occurred when he joined Gurgaon-based BrandAppz, a digital consultancy company, in 2012. Within a year, he joined Value 360 India, Delhi’s most trusted PR firm, to kickstart their digital arm. The turning point in his career occurred in 2016, when he joined a new television series called “The Vault.” Through this project, he was able to become more familiar with the nuances of angel investing, venture capital, and private equity. The performance was aired on Times Now and ET Now with over 5,000 submissions, further fueling his passion for startups.

Then, he moved to RBL Bank as the youngest employee to oversee the startup banking portfolio for North India, building on his prior expertise. He formed commercial and strategic alliances with co-working spaces, incubators, accelerators, and government agencies during a two-year period, which led to the creation of a startup banking portfolio.

As the Partnership Head at Hoi, his role is centred around cultivating and leading strategic partnerships, integrating innovative features through seamless onboarding of partners, sourcing and promoting exclusive offers, facilitating efficient onboarding of airport concessionaires, and ensuring streamlined end-to-end service delivery for an enhanced user experience.

Overall, Mohit’s journey has been amazing– from founding a digital vertical to managing partnerships and marketing for “The Vault” and Hoi.

Mohit’s Distinctive Leadership Approach

Mohit found that in the fast-paced world of technology, effective leadership includes cultivating a culture of ongoing education, creativity, and flexibility. Maintaining agility and growing approch is crucial for navigating a constantly growing landscape.

Sharing more about his leadership, the magnificent man said, “Adapting my leadership style has been crucial in changing between roles. I identify the need for change by assessing the unique challenges and dynamics of each role. Whether it was at OkCredit, RBL Bank, or Hoi, adjustments involved tailoring his leadership approach to align with team goals, leverage strengths, and address specific challenges.”

Crafting a Collaborative and Innovative Workspace

Creating an environment that values experimentation, teamwork, and ongoing learning is essential to developing a dynamic mindset.

He encourages open communication, celebrates innovative ideas, and provides opportunities for skill development. Building a team that welcomes change involves taking steps like identifying adaptive behaviours and implementing cross-functional projects.

Finding the Optimal Balance between Adaptability and Innovation

Balancing stability and innovation requires a strategic approach. He establishes a stable foundation by ensuring clear goals, effective processes, and a supportive work environment. In addition, he supports an innovative culture by providing time for creativity, cultivating a risk-taking environment, and rewarding progressive processes.

The Significance of Mentorship for Mohit

Mentorship has played a pivotal role in his career journey. Engaging with experienced individuals provided insights, shared experiences, and strategic advice. He actively sought guidance to navigate challenges, broaden perspectives, and accelerate professional growth. Now, he aims to pay it forward by mentoring others in the tech and startup community.

The Latest Industry Trends—At a Glance

The IT and startup landscapes have evolved dramatically over the last 15 years, which is evidence of how dynamic the market is. Crucial developments include the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the introduction of cloud computing, and the rise of e-commerce. Among the most important trends, e-commerce’s prevalence has emerged as one of the most noteworthy, particularly for small business entrepreneurs. This trend has reshaped the way businesses operate, emphasizing digital presence and customer-centric approaches.

India has emerged as the 3rd largest ecosystem for startups globally, boasting over 1, 12, 718 DPIIT-recognized startups across 763 districts of the country as of October 3rd, 2023. This growth signifies the vibrancy and potential within the Indian startup ecosystem.

The COVID-19 pandemic, while causing a historic contraction in India’s economic growth in 2020, showcased the resilience of startups. Innovations in technology and research, coupled with strategies to build more sustainable and revenue-oriented businesses, demonstrated the adaptability of the startup community. Whether it was setting up coronavirus testing laboratories, streamlining domestic logistics, or integrating technologies swiftly, Indian startups led the charge in innovation.

Edtech, content, SaaS, healthcare, fintech, and e-commerce have witnessed significant behavioural shifts toward fully digital solutions. Deep tech, addressing challenging problems in AI and satellite/space technology, is experiencing rapid growth. The Indian founder and venture ecosystem for 2024 is poised to be an exciting space.

What Lies Ahead for Mohit Uppal and His Career ?

The leading man aims to stay ahead in the dynamic landscape of sales, marketing, and partnerships by consistently updating his skills. This entails keeping up with the most recent developments in emerging technologies and digital marketing, as well as honing his interpersonal and negotiation abilities.

In addition, he hopes to establish a work-life balance that will enable him to succeed in his career aspirations while also making time for his hobbies and personal life. This will involve mentoring younger members of his team by imparting his expertise and experience.

On the professional front, Mohit aims to lead strategic initiatives that contribute significantly to the growth of the businesses he is associated with. This entails finding and seizing new business opportunities, cultivating intelligent alliances, and optimizing sources of income. He envisions progressing into an executive-level leadership position. Where he can drive overarching business strategies and influence decision-making processes.

He is also planning to spearhead innovative campaigns that not only elevate brand visibility but also showcase the organization’s commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends and contributing to the expansion of a business into global markets. This entails creating and upholding global alliances, understanding various market dynamics, and customizing sales and marketing plans for various geographical areas.