Speakers
Pallavi Shroff

Senior Partner, head of the Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff (AMSS) Competition Law

Senior Partner, head of the Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff (AMSS) Competition Law and Dispute Resolution and Arbitration practices, recipient of multiple awards and honors in a distinguished career spanning three decades, Pallavi Shroff wears her many accomplishments lightly and with grace.

Chambers Global ranking places her in Band 1 for Competition / Antitrust Law and Dispute Resolution and describes her as ''a doyenne of Indian competition law'' and ''a legal luminary with the brilliant acumen necessary to crack the most complex legal cases'' and the influential weekly, India Today, described her not too long ago as ''one of the 25 Superwomen of India''. A recepient of Euromoney Legal Media Group?s „Best Lawyer for Dispute Resolution in Asia?, Mrs. Shroff has been commended by The PLC Which Lawyer? as ''experienced in corporate disputes and with solid competition law experience primarily in support of a general corporate and commercial practice.'' These laurels commerate her as one of India?s top legal luminaries.

Her father is Padma Vibhushan Justice (Retired) P N Bhagwati, her grandfather the Late Justice N H Bhagwati; her father-in-law was the (Late) Suresh A. Shroff, who took the law firm co-founded by his father in 1917 and transformed it from a litigation-focused firm into the full-service firm with a pan-India presence. But it is a measure of Ms. Shroff herself when she says: ''In a world where role models are intricate to idolize, I have had the privilege of being personally mentored by two of the greatest personalities in my life … from [my father] I inherited humility and compassion … my father-in-law, who was an exceptional guru … taught me how to think, both ahead and laterally … he would often say, „You are as good as your last mistake?, which kept me focused and dedicated.''

Public Policy & Advocacy Mrs. Shroff was a principal advisor to Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the first ever Presidential Reference Matter, wherein the Supreme Court, rendered an opinion on the auction of natural resources, one of the most compelling rulings in India.

Mrs. Shroff was one of the founders of the new competition law regime in India and a key member of the high-powered SVS Raghavan Committee; an expert before the standing Committee of Parliament when the Act was being reviewed, and also whilst considering amendments to the Act. She was a key member of the Advisory Committee of regulations set up by the Competition Commission of India (CCI); member of the Committee set up by the Planning Commission to recommend national competition policy and approach for the 11th plan; member of the advisory committee set up by the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board on competition issues; and member, of the committee set up to formulate a national competition policy.

Mrs. Shroff was also on the committee set up to advise the Government of India on compliance with article 39.3 of the TRIPS. Mrs. Shroff has played a pivotal role in establishing India?s first „Zero Piracy Zone? for the state of Karnataka, and for developing an anti-piracy advocacy programme for the judiciary. Mrs. Shroff regularly advises Government departments and ministries on varied issues, including, multilateral competition policy and WTO-related strategy, on an on-going basis.

Thought Leadership Beyond the practice of law, Ms. Shroff engages actively in enriching online teaching and education material (for Practising Law Institute), a board member of the Institute of Law, Nirma University and the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Petroleum University. She is a regular speaker before bar associations worldwide and contributes frequently to leading international law journals such as PLC Cross-border Handbook on Competition & Leniency, PLC Dispute Resolution Handbook, and Euromoney?s Competition and Anti-Trust Review.

Notable Recognitions ''Pallavi Shroff heads the firm?s competition group and is ''spectacular''. She specialises in dispute resolution and is noted for her ''expert handling'' of arbitration and litigation matters, by Who?s Who Legal 100, 2014. Recognized in the C-SUITE WOMEN edition of BUSINESS WORLD titled „The Expert Arbitrator? and as one amongst ''The Professionals – High motivation levels, focus on goals and working for the greater good'' Best Woman Lawyer of the Year 2012 at the Legal Era Law Awards 2011-12.

Directorships Mrs. Shroff is presently a director on the boards of prestigious Indian companies, including Apollo Tyres; Trident Group; GE Capital Services; Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.; PTL Enterprises Ltd; Juniper Hotels Ltd.; Artemis Medicare and Artemis Healthcare Services. Mrs. Shroff is a trustee in the National Pension System Trust - PFRDA established by the Government of India on 23rd August 2003 to promote old age income security by establishing, developing and regulating pension funds, to protect the interests of subscribers to schemes of pension funds and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Beyond the Courts Mrs. Pallavi Shroff has not merely exhibited her excellence in the technical aspects of the law but has played a vital role in the management of the Firm. Mrs. Shroff is leading the strategic initiatives at the New Delhi Region of the Firm which are directed towards guiding the Firm in its next phase of growth and building an institution which is at par with global standards. In the past one year, Mrs. Shroff has been extensively involved in conceiving and designing client service delivery standards, partner development programmes at the Firm. Some of these initiatives aimed at augmenting client service delivery, include: • Strengthening the firm?s practice groups based on areas of specialisation thereby developing the capability to offer clients deeper expertise in focused areas • Defining and training all teams on minimum levels of client service standards, to be adhered to by all • Introducing client relationship management concepts, tool and processes to increase our focus on clients and their businesses Mrs. Shroff has also undertaken initiatives on strengthening the leadership training and mentoring culture of the Firm. The structured learning and training initiatives include: • a Professional Development Programme where speakers included experts from the Lex Mundi network. • Introduction of Legal Project Management tools and techniques as a method to enhance our commerciality. • Sabbaticals for higher education • Advanced Internship Program

An area which has always remained very close to Mrs. Shroff?s heart is improving workplace conditions for women and providing them equal opportunities for growth. Particularly in the past one year, she has been instrumental in introducing the following women friendly policies at the Firm; • flexible working hours option, including home-based work • extended maternity breaks • a crθche service as well as a concierge service that relieves the hassle of chores •?conducting various healthcare activities such as regular check-ups for eye and dental problems, osteoporosis, blood pressure screening and blood sugar testing, among others. • in-house Salon facility and Fitness Centre • women?s safety policy: Pepper spray and night cab facility provided. • sexual harassment policies and workshops at all levels As a result of such initiatives, the Firm has assiduously maintained gender equality, with an equal representation of women from the entry level to the equity partnership for the last 16 years.


Aruna Jayanthi
Ankhi Das
Harshbeena Sahney Zaveri
Neha Kirpal

Pallavi Shroff
Radhika Agarwal
Rama Bijapurkar
Renuka Ramnath

Vaishali Nigam Sinha
Zarina Screwvala
Zarin Daruwala
 


Moderators
Josey Puliyenthuruthel
Managing Editor, Business Today
Shweta Punj
Associate Editor, Business Today


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event details
Event Date - 13 August, 2014
Time - 2.30 onwards
Venue - ITC Grand Central, Mumbai
event sponsors
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