IN-HOUSE INSIGHT: ESG and a GC’s Role in Encouraging Sustainable Business Practices
BY Anushree Saha |Over the past few years, businesses are increasingly gaining a conscience regarding the need to address sustainability-related issues. Owing to this newfound corporate awakening, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives have slowly transitioned from being beneficial add-ons to becoming business imperatives. ESG has become a focal point for investors, customers, suppliers, commercial partners, regulators, and other key stakeholders in the supply chain. Earlier this year, a report published by Morgan Stanley revealed that more than three-quarters of global investors are interested in sustainable investing, and believe that strong ESG practices can lead to higher financial returns.
Q&A: ‘This partnership aims to strengthen ties and promote legal cooperation’
BY Nimitt Dixit |Ajit Mishra is the founder and chair of the UK-India Legal Partnership (UKILP), which aims to bring about networking and closer ties between lawyers in the two countries. He explains his reasons behind setting up the UKILP, talks about why most UK law firms prefer to run their India desks from Singapore and Dubai instead of opening offices in India, and the industry view from within the country about the liberalisation of the legal market.
EXPLAINER: Disney-Reliance Media Mega-Merger Faces Antitrust Scrutiny
BY Nimitt Dixit |The proposed stock and cash media and entertainment mega-merger between Disney’s India business and Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance’s media unit Viacom18 is now in its final stages, with antitrust due diligence reportedly underway.
FORUM: Listen to the Client
BY Nimitt Dixit |A Thomson Reuters Market Insights research report has revealed that law firms conducting formal client feedback programs can earn nearly twice the share of a client’s external legal spend compared to those not engaging in feedback. Client feedback plays a pivotal role in helping law firms evaluate their performance, improve service quality, build strong client relationships, and differentiate themselves in a competitive Indian legal market.
Time Is Money
BY Nimitt Dixit |For decades, timesheets have been the bane of junior lawyers, as law firms almost uniformly use them to track productivity. But recent moves are seeking to make them less burdensome – as well as incentivise lawyers to complete them.
Law in the Time of Robots
BY Nimitt Dixit |Even as generative AI sweeps the globe, Indian law firms have been slow to embrace it. Those that have done, though, are encountering lower costs and shorter turnaround times. But as with any new technology, it’s critical that firms move carefully.
INDIA REPORT: Capital Times on D-Street
BY Nimitt Dixit |It’s been a record-setting year for India’s IPO market, and law firms have reaped the benefits, representing issuing companies and lead managers. And the party isn’t expected to end any time soon: Lawyers believe there is a lot more is to come in 2024 despite the upcoming general elections.
IN-HOUSE INSIGHT: A Lawyer’s Role in the Development Of The Web3 Industry
BY Subha Chugh |The Web3 industry, covering the wide ambit of blockchain, crypto, DeFi, and now vying to engulf AI as well, is notorious for functioning in the grey. Mass media often associates it with the black market, dark web, and scams.
Q&A: ‘we need to recalibrate our approach to competition regulation in the digital economy’
BY Nimitt Dixit |India’s top competition regulator, the Competition Commission of India, has been leading the charge to modernise the country’s laws to bring them in line with India’s ever-evolving digital business environment.
EXPLAINER: Could the listing of a not-for-profit revolutionise social sector financing?
BY Nimitt Dixit |SGBS Unnati Foundation, a Bengaluru-based not-for-profit organisation (NPO), became the first such entity to be listed on India’s social stock exchanges (SSE) just a year after the authorities allowed for such listings in order to promote a transparent and credible way for NPOs to raise funds
FORUM: What To Expect in 2024
BY Nimitt Dixit |The year gone by was a big one for the Indian legal market. The market opened to international law firms and disruptive technology-based tools and practices. More lawyers set up specialised firms, and in-house counsel got a lot more sophisticated. Continuous regulatory reforms promised new work as transactional lawyers looked to adapt to a global slowdown and a funding winter. Law firms say that 2024 will bring more investment in in-house capabilities, adoption of technology, focus on new laws like data privacy, and increase of sectoral and business knowledge.
A Rise in Domestic Patent Filings Signals Innovation-Driven Tech Growth
BY Nimitt Dixit |India has experienced a record year in terms of patent filings and grants as per the latest international and government indicators, signalling an increase in innovation-driven growth in the country, and a rise in demand for technically savvy lawyers.