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Is there any particular point in your career where you would like to go back and give yourself some advice? At around five or six years qualified, I began to question whether a career in private practice was for me. As a tee-total, turban-wearing Sikh I was questioning whether it was possible to progress in a City law firm that was led by people that looked nothing like me and in an insurance market where lunchtime, afternoon and evening drinks seemed to be the key to successful marketing. I was fortunate enough to have partners in my team at the time who supported and encouraged me to keep at it but if I could go back now and give myself some advice it would be to trust in the skills I was developing and to be much more confident in pushing myself forward.
as well as spending time with fellow partners on the UK Board from other parts of the UK business.
good at science (“he’s not a natural scientist” a teacher once pointedly observed) or successful at sports (100% effort, 0% talent), I had a good work ethic instilled in me by my parents and a huge appetite for reading. My enjoyment of reading and arguing (whether in essays or at home) seemed to lead naturally to a career in the law, which I studied at Birmingham. I opted for the solicitor route and always knew that a contentious role would suit me best. I fell into insurance by accident rather than design, as the first litigation seat I was put into during my training contract was in insurance – I have not looked back since. Having worked at two international firms with small but reputable insurance teams previously, I belatedly realised that my practice is much better suited to a proper insurance firm, with Clyde & Co being the best place for me.
Are there any particular memories from your career to date that stand out?
I recall being asked by a group of clients to prepare them for a meeting with a particularly difficult opponent that was to take place without lawyers present – I was a mid-level associate at my previous firm at the time. The preparation requested by the clients required me to participate in a mock meeting, in which I would play the opponent and my brief was to be as challenging as possible. The mock meeting resulted in lots of raised voices and me interrupting the clients at repeated instances to make things as uncomfortable as possible. This was all very enjoyable in the moment, but a senior partner of the firm was in the meeting room next door, could hear raised voices and had recognised a number of the clients as they were leaving the meeting. He politely asked me why I was shouting at a large section of our client base and, eventually, I assured him that it was all in the interests of helping them. What’s your background, why did you get into law and why did you come to work at Clyde & Co? My parents came to England in the ‘60s as did many other Indian migrants at the time and, along with my grandparents, built a life here through hard work and perseverance. Without a university education themselves, they were always keen for my brother and I to attend university and have a profession. I went to state school and whilst I was not particularly
What do you try and bring to the UK Board?
How do you relax away from work?
I am trying to bring my own perspective to the UK Board as an individual; coming from a large extended family, this has often meant being in the middle of competing interests and “healthy debates”! I try to put that experience to use in my role on the UK Board, which is to say I try to consider things from as many perspectives as possible, listen to the concerns and interests of the other practice groups and UK offices, all with a view to arriving at solutions that drive the ongoing success and growth of the UK business. With my particular focus on Legal Delivery, I am working with Nick Roberts and his team to promote efficiency and consistency in the way we work, as well as to look for opportunities to innovate and set us apart as a UK business from our competitors.
I have a large family, a wonderful wife and three busy daughters. My weekends tend to be full of trips to visit family, helping out with homework, spectating at netball matches, operating as a taxi, and occasionally failing at whatever DIY task my wife has set for me. Whilst it may not always be relaxing, it keeps me occupied! I like to watch sports, I still enjoy reading (mainly historical fiction these days) as do my children so we have that in common, and we are a family of film-buffs. I am also official taste-tester for all of the baking that goes on in the house – a demanding role that I take very seriously.
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