Three young lawyers have started up a Delhi litigation boutique called KIAA LLP (Knowledge Information Acess Advocates), one-and-a-half years after its founding partner obtained an undergraduate law degree from the law school of Amity University Noida with two other partners who graduated half a year ago.
“We are striving to make it as one of the top tier law firm in India which is totally dedicated towards their clients,” said Karan Bindra, founder and senior partner, who graduated in 2010.
Co-founding partners are Kumar Ankur and Chayan Sarkar, who graduated last August.
Bindra had assisted advocate Himanshu Bajaj and Delhi-based IP law firm Intel Advocates, while Kumar and Sarkar had worked on lower court matters with advocate Pragyan Pradeesh Sharma and advocate Vijay Agarwal respectively since graduation.
The three have now rented basement space in Delhi’s Jangpura area and fitted it out with a law library and Manupatra among other things, and set up Knowledge Information Acess Advocates (KIAA) in December 2011.
“We wanted to have our own office. The firm was actually a dream for us,” said Sarkar, adding that he is the fifth generation of lawyers in his family. “We thought of it one day over a cup of coffee. That’s how KIAA came into existence. Initially we had never thought of this.”
Bindra added that apart from seeking parental assistance he invested all of his savings toward this venture.
A firm by any other name
In naming their law firm, the partners said that they wanted to be innovative yet conform to legal undertones. “So we have the knowledge, the information and the resources to assess,” said Bindra. “This was the main idea behind KIAA.”
Kumar clarified that the word “Acess” was not a spelling mistake but derived inspiration from a German company’s identical name.
The international image was also vital when deciding the structure, Bindra noted. “It is an LLP [limited liability partnership] company so we may get work through foreign routes. It gives you an advantage in terms of clients abroad.”
The LLP is not yet registered on the MCA website against the name Knowledge Information Acess Advocates LLP or KIAA LLP at the time of going to press, but Sarkar said that the process was ongoing.
Start-up diet
Bindra said that KIAA’s present clients consisted of three Gurgaon-based companies and a Singaporean company by the name of BIRD.
Sarkar added that the firm was also hopefully starting work with GMR. “We will be handling only two aspects – the contract of the labour and the part about building regulations,” he said, but added: “Nothing is concrete yet.”
Sarkar had been primarily dealing with lower court matters before setting up KIAA but said that labour law was good for building relationships. “If you look into the bigger picture it [labour law] gives you a lot of exposure. It allows you to have a good contact with trial courts as well as the corporate world.”
Sarkar added: “What we really dream of is having a pan-India kind of organisation - using your contacts and expanding in other parts of the country. Karan has a very good network in European countries and Singapore, so [this] will help [in] going that side. Litigation is my genre, so far as expansion is concerned.”
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As this field is very vast like an ocean and until and unless you wont work on your own and make mistakes till time you wont be able to learn proper tactics of this field. So I have my own vision on this aspect and I decided to open a law boutique in New Delhi and decided to have an LLP firm So this will give a good impact on foreign law firm who want to outsource work in India as LLP has limited liability for their partners and it is more secured company as compared to normal partnership or sole proprietorship firm. So this is what main idea behind KIAA. Once again thanks a lot for your good wishes and we promise to work even more harder to stand up to your expectations
Regards
Karan Bindra
jokes aside, best of luck.
as an aside - 'why the world is so bothered' - because your precious piece of news is on an online legal newspaper, mister brainy. the world doesn't actually care one way or another, if that makes you feel any better. you are just today's bakar-fodder. you are my two-minute respite from my insane job.
i did mean the 'best of luck' seriously though. :) best of luck.
'These comments really encourages'
'work even more harder'
'serve with full justice' (like really?)
'not doing only any business here'
'As this field is very vast like an ocean and until and unless you wont work on your own and make mistakes till time you wont be able to learn proper tactics of this field.'
' So this will give a good impact on foreign law firm who want to outsource work in India as LLP has limited liability for their partners and it is more secured company as compared to normal partnership or sole proprietorship firm'
'So this is what main idea behind KIAA'
'even more harder to stand up to your expectations'
Sir, I was of the humble opinion that basic English was a prerequisite to rendering legal advice. Before you make sweeping statements against 'national brutes' [...].
The little that I may understand of the market gives me a feeling that anyone who has read the article and followed up on the comments shall falter twice before even remotely considering your retainer.
Yet, Sir, I wish you all the best and hope that you do indeed prosper.
Quoting Karan Bindra:
Thanks for your wishes and yes off course we are very well aware with the Rules and Regulation of LLP in India and we have completed all the required procedure as it is well written in Guidelines of MOCA and for further to some confusion regarding the Batch it will be great if you could provide me with your email i will mail you all the details in brief.
Regards and thanks for your kind wishes
Do you seriously think that 'other law firms working as LLPs', is the legal answer to the query posed?
Business of Law is much different than Practice of Law !! Considering their present clients, I believe this firm will prosper in the coming future. Good Luck guys !!
Regards
I dont understand what people think of N-School they might be looking good for degree purpose and nothng else.
You certainly did not make it to NLSIU, Bangalore, your spelling and horrible grammar confirm. And your numbers are wrong too.
So, please try to act original at least, when you try to criticise someone.
Now you are on the side of 'overconfidence', Sir.
You would never know what a N-Schoolite can do. You are not even in the league. Anyway, all the best with your new venture.
And just to tell you what a N-Schoolite can do, Trilegal was founded by students solely from NLS. Do something as big, and then TALK. :)
Having clarified this, I generally don't disagree with what you are saying!
Sir, that is your opinion, an admission is when you admit an established fact, and the merit or demerits of your legal skills can never be admitted by you only opined by you or anyone else for that matter.
Its like me saying i admit that you are a bad lawyer, how can i admit something which i myself do not and cannot know to be true in all cases.
I think all of you should be commended for being brave enough for attempting to start a firm, but please do not be under any false impression that without the legal backing of your mommy, daddy and various uncles you will be able to do much in the beginning years.
So whether you are from the national law schools or not it is immaterial, the only material thing is can you provide the client the service that he desires, and if you are able to do so you will be successful, if you can't you won't be successful irrespective of your legal pedigree.
Save the chest thumping for when you have actually achieved something
You clearly dont know the background of the NUJS graduates who founded that firm... Each of them had 5-7 years of work-ex in top notch law firms and are extremely bright will brilliant work- ex. If not anything, they are NOT a bunch of lame ducks!
Sometime back there was an article in LI on how law firms scrapped LLPs based on "threats" of the Bar Council, While these "threats" and the validity of the same are in question, big law firms have backed off from LLPs as a structure. Is it wise for a start up to go to town telling the world that they are an LLP when big firms have chosen to play it safe on the structure?
Also, Chayan and the rest, at least get your spelling and grammar right before trying to dole out legal advice. All the best in any case.
Kian - there was nothing offensive about my earlier post in reply to 13. Not sure why you chose not to publish it. I'm not complaining though. Its completely your prerogative.
As a fellow law firm entrepreneur, congratulations, and remember one thing. Not a single person who is commenting on this page will be giving you a paisa for their work. What is more a lot of them simply live in the ivory cages of slavery in the big firms and have no idea of how, in fact, the business of corporate law works in India.
They send you news of split, as if necessarily its a bad thing, whereas some of them work for firms which are either breakaways themselves, or have split several times over.
So all the best guys, follow your dream, and do your best
Regards
K
The reasons will be that, via their interview with Legally India, they have clearly demonstrated that they lack both spelling/grammar skills and discretion (GMR..), two qualities vital to good lawyering. Worse, they also appear to lack calmness and grace in replying to even mildly critical comments. Hotheadedness and unsupported conceit? Signs of great immaturity.
Still, one chap says his father is a senior advocate, so I assume a minimal supply of work is guaranteed. Good for them.
I now suggest that we all return to our 'ivory cages of slavery'. These people are not worth our time unless they begin to show results.
23.2--29 (x24x) for motivating us in this venture and also by explaining things may be through examples or experience. As because at the end of our day we work as a team and we only carry positivity with us and leaves all the negativity behind us.
Let me tell you guys whatever you are saying some way or other this really motivating us towards pur goal.
Regards
Karan
When a partner shoots from his hips regarding KIAN vs KIAA (23.1/2), what is he going to do in a court or board room?
I guess these young lawyers are really living the dreams of many young lawyers who cannot for some reason expand their practice. May be du to any reason and we should encourage them and What my thinking says these guys on right track. It dosent matter weather you are from N-School or whatever. What really matter is what kind of person you are and what actually u can do.
I think these young group can do a lot what our old generation couldn't do it at their ages.
Hat's off to them
No offence but you guys need some perspective - on the practice of law, on the Indian legal market and on life - perspective can often make or break a career.
Sarkar, its mot enough for your Mom and Dad to be behind you (of course, they would be - even if they were not Sr Advocate/Sr Prof). The question is: will your attract new clients based on your competence/experience/ability to inspire confidence?
The simple question which LI needs to answer is, there are so many partnerships being formed everyday - why have they chosen to cover this particular one? Do they have a policy on what "start up" news will they cover and which start ups not to cover? Does it have to be students from particular colleges only?
Lastly - why does LI not require an email id for posting a comment - something which even a a website like rediff requires? At least the Partners of KIAA are man enough to identify themselves and respond to criticisms but the poor guys should at least know the email ids of those attacking them.
Could the real LI please answer these queries?
In response to your questions.
1. We generally try to cover almost every start-up we hear about which is interesting. We like start-up law firms because think they are an important facet of this market. So, if you are starting a law firm, please do get in touch with us and the odds are good that we'll cover.
2. We don't ask for email IDs for several reasons: people are generally quite worried about commenting from work and/or losing their job, etc; if you make email addresses compulsory, most just enter fake addresses anyway. The only option would be to force everyone to create Legally India accounts before commenting, but that would also prevent open discussion.
Hope this answers your questions somewhat?
Best wishes
Kian
I though am no convinced with your answer to question 2. If people are making comments out of fear that they may be thrown out of their jobs - why should they make such comments in the first place. What kind of comments would make one lose their jobs? They should have the guts to at least be identified by an email id. Secondly, even if fake addresses are entered, your readers will at least then know how seriously to take comments by someone who has time enough to create an email id like " ". The point being, the comments on LI would have less vitriol and would invariably lead to a more serious discussion - rather than mindless gossip and attacks.
But obviously - I think the real answer is that keeping it a totally open forum is what makes it more fun. You should then step up and say it in as many terms rather than cloak it with reasons like people commenting from work or losting their jobs.
Thats my take. I think you are playing a great role in chronicling the Indian legal sector - something that has never been done - but if you could do it in a style which does not encourage anyone and everyone to make hateful comments - that would be better. Just my two cents.
Aside this - I think you and LI are onto something really amazing. Your book when you turn 50 plus would be a most interesting read!
On comments, we've gone through a bunch of variations in the past. If you forced people to comment under their own name, 99% of lawyers would not comment. Most are quite worried as what is associated with their name, and how their boss or client would look at it. Also they will make up random names adding more headache.
If you forced commenters to use an email address and this was published on the site, you'd have a huge spam and privacy problem.
And what I actually meant was that judging by experience, many people would just enter random/fake email addresses like if they didn't feel like providing a real one. Cross checking whether an account etc exists is technologically more complicated and bothersome to readers.
And yes, ultimately it would drastically reduce the number of comments, which would not be so much fun.
I'll admit there are many many reasons for the same thing :)
Best wishes
Kian
Prachi Srivastava, the new young LI recruit is from Amity Law School. These guys surely are her batch mates/friends.
And thus, they got covered. Hurray!
Simple fundas!
First of all, Prachi's alma mater should not (and does not) come into this.
Second, I was first contacted by the KIAA partners. Third, Prachi did not know any of the KIAA partners before covering this story.
On top of all of the above, Prachi graduated from Amity Delhi, which is part of Indraprastha (IP) University. The KIAA partners are from Amity University Noida, which is an autonomous university not affiliated with IP University or Amity Delhi. The only link is by name.
However, none of these points should really matter except for the first - LI will always retain its independent editorial judgment and neither Prachi or I would try to run a story merely based on our respective alma mater.
Best wishes,
Kian
Moreover, I don't think LI reporters would indulge in any form of biased reporting.
I think this is really an inspiration article for all the cowards who think that if they cant work on their own so no one else can also perform well in this field. I think legallyindia has done a comment able job by publishing this article as this will give boost to many young lawyers who always want to work on their own but due to this negative aspect they couldn't.
I am also a lawyer practicing in Delhi with a esteemed law firm and I am in fully support of the Legallyindia and this KIAA the upcoming law firm.
Best wishes
The best defense? make some money, get some deals done and that will shut everybody up.
Then again....
You guys should work on your grammar.
Good Luck
(Knowledge Information ACESS Associates)
Or was a 'c' redacted from the original spelling for numerological purposes?
I am a regular reader and often find criticism directed against you to be borne out of personal biases and say so in my comments. But, in this case, I fail to see why this story is worth mentioning. I am not discounting the venture merely because they are from a lesser known law school. This is a case of a few people with nothing commendable in their track records yet coming together to try their hands at practicing law. They may or may not succeed. I hope they do. But at present this is hardly news! Moreover, many of the responses purporting to be from partners of this entity give me the impression that this firm will not create news for some time to come.
Then again, who knows? Maybe they'll be the Zuckerbergs and Saverins of law firms in India :p
But I implore you not to mindlessly argue with these immature individuals so as to hamper your own intellect and ruin the impression of LI on potential readers by unintentionally sensationalizing such drivel.
People of the likes of the Hon'ble Senior Partner and his Partners will always have the last word because since stupid people tend to shout longer and louder than people who have acquired wisdom and judgment, ignorance generally prevails.
Some excerpts by Perry Marshall(a random dude on Google)which would apply to this case -
At any Hooters restaurant, on any given day and at any given time, there's a guy in there who thinks the waitress is attracted to him. Did you see that, Bill? She's hot for me. Did you see how she was looking at me? I'm tellin' ya, she's gonna give me her phone number, just you see, Bill..
Uh-huh. Yep. Sure Steve, I think she really does like you.
(Reality is no match for a good fantasy.)
OK, so what's the point? The point is, stupidity is cheap and plentiful. With stupidity, your options appear to be endlessly open. Enticing possibilities, immediate, apparent, as though you could just…
Wisdom is scarce and expensive and usually involves up-front commitments.... you just have to watch both stupid and smart people thrashing around in the mosh pit of life and begin to discern the difference-
1. Stupid people proudly step forward and identify themselves immediately and react to comments (like our esteemed Senior Partner and his hon'ble esquires.
2. Foolish decisions have immense appeal and obvious benefits with easy-looking terms.
3. Wise people research history and read original sources. Fools check on the latest buzz.
4. The wise make time to do things right the first time. Fools never have time to do it right the first time, but somehow they find the time to do it over again… and again... and again.
5. When wise people get criticism from another wise person, they ask, "Hey, is there anything else I should know?" Fools mouth off to the coach when he tells them to do their pushups.
6. Fools think only of the immediate benefit; Wise men think three or six or ten chess moves ahead and consider the long term consequences.
I don't know that anyone can just sit down and teach you to be wise. You can't go to a seminar and acquire this vital 21st century skill in an exciting, star-studded weekend getaway. However, you can:
1. Become aware of the distinction and begin thinking about it and noticing it - because vital lessons are literally everywhere in your life, quietly shouting to you to be noticed and absorbed.
2. @Kumar Ankur who seems saner among the lot- Associate with wise people, and distance yourself from people who always seem to be screwing up their life with bad decisions.You can't fix them anyway.
3. Seek and accept sound advice, even when it's uncomfortable, negative or embarrassing.
3. Disregard the raucous shouting, the flattery and surface level buzz, and tune into the quiet, calm voice of reason.
Having said all of that, I would have had much more respect for the KIAA partners if they simply acknowledged the fact that they are inexperienced. But then follow it up with an explanation as to why they would still do great. For example, "Yes, we are an inexperienced lot. But, we are currently partnering with XYZ law firm to get us through the first two years of our partnership on a best-friend basis. After which, we will emerge as blah blah. XYZ law firm will provide us with the administrative and legal support which is necessary for any new-age law firm. blah blah." Obviously, this is not a fully thought of response, but it is to make a point that criticism almost always has some foundation in reality and the "wise" identify and respond that reality.
They key is to tell the nay-sayers that while inexperience is a huge obstacle to overcome, there are currently plans in place which will see the firm through its initial phase of highs and lows and will set the firm up to success.
KIAA - take healthy criticism and see if you can introspect. After introspection, see if you can address the core of the issue (after all the extra-padding is taken away). If you still don't come up with plausible answers, it might be time to re-think.
Final point - Kian and LI are known for their integrity and they have created a forum where biasless expression has found a good home. LI has taken the suspense and surprise out of daily legal happenings in India and brought them to the general user's doorstep. So, to suggest that LI has been anything but gracious to these lads in brining this story forward is just short of ridiculous. Having said that, I will urge LI to vet these stories further and attempt to bring "news" that really has a chance to stand the test of commenters.
At the outset let me say you are doing a great job with Legally India you do have a target audience and law students are a majority part of the same, albeit most who carry the cross of their institution a little to personally. (To all of you, guys it does not matter where you went to law school its what you do post that matters.)
To the lads at KIAA congrats for growing a set and taking the plunge, you may sink or you may swim but at least you gave it a shot. I wish you the best.
Now back to Kian : for whom I have an observation/question and hopefully he take this constructively. do you not think the real story here was missed?
It might have been better to ask these young lads when they had informed you of the launch as to how an LLP was practicing law? Furthermore did the Delhi High Court or the Supreme Court (I presume these guys will practice here and not the Tis Hazari courts) accept their registration as Advocates on Record in their present form as a law firm and thereby recognize the rights of an LLP t engage in the practice of law. Given that you had covered the story as to how the larger firms had concerns visa-vis' how a corporate body could engage in the practice of law as also the then and present uncertainty as to the tax treatment given to drawings in the hands of partners a paragraph or to clarifying this issue following up on this would have been the real story. If such registrations had been accepted a comment from the BCI would have in order as to what the position is. This could of course have all been done without putting KIAA at the eye of the storm, if that was a concern (though frankly they appear to be lads who would love the attention and press fall out :)
Given I have been away for the past year I might have missed any classificatory follow up story in this regard if so I do apologize for being critical it may just be the crappy cold weather in London and would welcome you directing me to the link in the archives.
If not a follow up story would be welcome.
Maybe you missed this story on the topic, which was quite interesting:
www.legallyindia.com/201112092439/Law-firms/law-firm-scraps-llp-after-illegal-threats-from-delhi-bar-council-chairman
I think that one is sort of in limbo right now, but there is clearly a bit of uncertainty about the treatment of LLPs.
We will try to follow up and keep you posted.
Best wishes,
Kian
The BCI's reaction as to how the High Courts are recognizing LLP's would be the juiciest part for all of us to read. It would also in all probability result in a High Court taking a view and putting things to rest. Do not mean to direct the story but I guess there are a lot of us who want to bring clarity to the issue.
1. First of all, great step, nothing beats having your own venture.
2. Agree with most of what you said.
But its important to remember that:
1. what matters at the end of the day is your experience, hard work and knowing what you do;
2. never underestimate yourself. virtues like knowledge and hard work don't come with brands.
3. Dont overestimate yourself. Just becoz you have started your venture, you do not become senior. It has to be earned, whether working for someone else or yourself.
4. Dont chew more than you can eat. its important to know what you cant do and what you can. Take up those assignments which you can execute effectively and efficiently and say no to those for which you are really not upto the mark. Experience is progressive not aggressive.
5. Most of all, have fun doing what you do.
Down the line of time, these you will gain some experience and hopefully, will be able to have a reasonably good practice either with KIAA or with some other firm (or may be a career in a completely different field). However, there will be a day when you will get up in the morning and regret your childish behaviour on this website which will stay itched as part of the never fading cyber memory. Google never forgives nor forgets. Would be a good retriement day story to narrate to your juniors when you retire.
Strive for one's ambitions and drive to follow one's dreams are rare gifts which all successful people have. However, successful stories are all made of actions and not words. None of the Zuckerbergs, Tatas, Jobs and similar others ever went out banging the gong of the incredible ambitious steps they were taking early in their life and trying to silence or wisdom feed the world with their incredible efforts. Trying to bask in the glory of a plan to fulfil one's dreams is the same as still dreaming (however, slightly more naïve).
You should have left it as a news and exploited the glory of publicity you received on LI (even if it was negative from a few corners). All responses and commenting from you just shows the sheer inexperience which is generally the core criticism of your efforts.
I am sure things will work out great for you all. Just direct your effort judiciously and feel the success, don't mouth it.
Regards
Garry
I dont know what to say here....
Haha
Bravo guys!! Truly inspired
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Really? And a Legal Eagle at that!?
This is a nice development in the Indian Legal Industry. I have not seen such a bold step in India much. Its more apparent to see such bold decisions in places like U.S, where I practice as a lawyer. Good going guys and come on India you cannot be so backward in your approach by speaking so ill about these chaps. Good going mates! I think start looking for work outside India, the west really wants such firms to do their Indian part of the business.
Fantastic article by Li and best wishes to KIAA
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