Corporate law is a expertise field in law that focuses on issues like incorporation of companies, distributing the rights to shareholders and directors, certain secretarial aspects of established corporate houses, corporate deals and much more. Being a corporate lawyer requires one to tread on each of these aspects very carefully. With an ocean of opportunities in this field, corporate law has also posed its fair share of challenges to any one venturing.
Overcoming these challenges to raise a successful firm is Sameer Tapia, Founder and Senior Partner of Almt Legal, featuring for The Enterprise World’s this issue of The Most Influential Lawyers To Watch In 2022.
In this interview with Sameer Tapia, let us know more about his journey with the firm.
Kindly tell us about your journey since the inception of the company?
I was born and raised in Mumbai as also schooled and went to college. I moved to London UK, in 1996 and worked for a UK law firm. On 10th January 2000, I set up ALMT Legal which came to be the first Indian law firm to be set up in the UK. We have grown exponentionally over the past 2.5 decades.
Kindly brief us about the proactive founder/CEO of the company and his/her contribution towards company and Industry.
I am the founder and senior partner of ALMT Legal and the only named partner now yet with the firm. The firm has seen a lot of change in the growth and strength of the firm and I have been able to sail with it over the past two decades as also with the 2 year Covid period which affected not only us but the world at large !
We have now come out of that as well and we have been able to retain talent within the firm as also take more associates and partners.
Mention some of the awards, achievements, recognitions and clients’ feedback that you feel are notable and valuable for the company.
The firm has received a number of accolades over the years as also individuals and partners of the firm. The firm has over the past four years has always ranked in its corporate and litigation work which has been very notable and received the best firm award, litigation firm of the year award, the Whos Who legal work award etc.
Kindly share your point of view on the current scenario, major challenges, and opportunities of the Indian Legal Sector.
The legal sector has seen a sea of change when it comes to law firms and practices by individuals or GC. The profession is more challenging to take on, be a part of the firm as also be GC where you are expected to be able to give spot advise to the corporate or multinational and just that the law firms can endorse your advise.
With regard to law firms, the sense of loyalty has sailed away, there is no space for compassion or feelings. One has to be cutting edge competitive and above all bream with knowledge of law.
What are the major contributing factors behind your company’s success?
The hard work and perseverance of the partners over the years and the commitment and dedication of the associates at all levels, and the old guard of staff who have been with us over two decades. A big Thank you to them !
How do you motivate creativity and innovation in the workspace while maintaining a healthy work environment?
I for one has always believed in a work life balance. I want the associates as also partner to come each day to the office – for them wanting to come and give their solid hours of work rather than burning long hours and blending their home and work life balance together.
By giving them sufficient time post work ( ie reasonable working hours ) and weekends off ones efficiency is always higher as they come back the next day fresh and to crack on with the day and work. If one works long hours fatigue is bound to set in and they are not able to deal with their domestic or work issues. At ALMT we are compassionate and sensitive to individuals time off.
Share your experience and brief us about the tactics and strategies to build long term customer relationship.
We have always believed in brand recall, this being said that once a client comes to the firm – it becomes a client for life. We have them coming back to us for all their legal work and partake for and for their personal work, being private client work and practice as we call it.
We have been able to retain our top tier clients as also friends – We have been price sensitive as also firm in not sliding with our fees by giving huge discounts to bag work. We have a standard by which we go by and at some point have been able to give them value for their services – which results in satisfaction of the outcome of the matter.
How do you see the company and the industry in the future ahead?
The firm stands tall as mentioned earlier through its years of building an image and shape as also strength – given our growth and pattern. We have consolidated over the years and we continue to shine on even at 23 ! We all know that given the service industry we are in – it’s a personalised service and one needs to toil to keep and stay at the top. We strive to and hope to be there – right there at the TOP !
What would be your advice to the budding entrepreneurs?
I think as the years go by – budding entrepreneurship or building a firm or practice is only going to be more difficult and competitive. One has to be with the times and learn to adopt and curve different areas of practice and be with the need of the hour. WE all have to prepare for AI – artificial intelligence, which is creeping into human work and form of life. Wonder where it will end. ?!
As long as we are able to yet discriminate and decide from the heart when REQUIRED ! we will be ahead of the curve.
