“The law is what it is- a majestic edifice, sheltering all of us, each stone of which rests on another,” said the world-renowned English novelist and playwright John Galsworthy once. While American television writer, producer, and educator, Jeff Melvoin said, “The law is not so much carved in stone as it is written in water, flowing in and out with the tide.”
Etching their ripples on the white stone of aeons, colourfully vibrant times flow like rivers, enriching us with the oceans of eternity. As the legal landscape evolves, today, one law firm emerges amidst the changing streams of Indian judicial waters and outshines others for its unparalleled expertise and commitment to excellence: WhiteStone Legal glows as the preeminent and most promising law firm to watch in 2024. Renowned for its comprehensive counsel in corporate and commercial matters, WhiteStone Legal is dedicated to delivering strategic and practical legal solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of its clientele.
Ritesh Anand, the visionary Founder and exemplary legal leader, says, “At WhiteStone Legal, our core ethos revolves around providing insightful guidance and operational resolutions across a spectrum of legal domains. From transaction advisory services to dispute resolution, our firm prides itself on offering adept legal services that transcend the ordinary and yield impactful results.”
As a corporate attorney, Ritesh’s practice covers regularly advising and structuring both domestic and cross-border (inbound as well as outbound), M&A/Private Equity transactions, Joint Ventures, corporate restructuring, Slump Sales, etc. where his scope of work includes drafting, negotiating and finalizing; term sheets, definitive agreements/transaction documents, ancillary agreements, assisting on pre-closing and post-closing obligations, due diligence and related regulatory/corporate compliances.
Ritesh also regularly advises on ‘Software as a Service’ arrangements with a special focus within the health-tech, insure-tech and cybersecurity sectors.
Ritesh adds that in the realm of transaction advisory, he and his league of legal stalwarts serve as trusted advisors to both investors and investee companies, navigating the complexities of private equity and venture capital transactions. With a global network spanning multiple jurisdictions, WhiteStone Legal possesses the expertise to adeptly guide, structure, and oversee cross-border deals, ensuring seamless execution and optimal outcomes for our clients.
Ritesh also has extensive experience in various infrastructure and renewable energy projects in the railways, healthcare, PNG, airports, highways, solar power, wind power and mining sectors. He has drafted and advised on concession agreements, EPC contracts, PPAs, SSSHAs, bid documents, O&M contracts and project development issues/disputes.
In its dispute resolution practice, WhiteStone Legal showcases a specialized prowess in handling a diverse range of cases. From shareholder disputes and insolvency matters to corporate governance, employment and labour disputes, intellectual property conflicts, technology, data protection, and media disputes, the firm’s legal team brings forth a depth of knowledge and skill to effectively address multifaceted legal challenges.
Ritesh states, “Our commitment to excellence, coupled with a keen understanding of the intricacies of the legal landscape, sets us apart as a law firm poised for distinction in 2024.”
At WhiteStone Legal, they endeavour to remain at the forefront of legal innovation, consistently providing high-calibre legal counsel that meets the dynamic needs of their clients in an ever-evolving global business environment. “As we navigate the complexities of the legal arena, WhiteStone Legal stands as a beacon of unwavering dedication, setting new benchmarks and emerging as the top contender in the realm of legal excellence,” said Ritesh when he spoke in an exclusive interview with Insights Success.
The highlights of the discussion are given herein.
Sir, as a trailblazer in the legal world, could you take us back to the beginning of your journey? What motivated you to step into this field?
I have always been a person who is detail-oriented. I like to dig deep and reach the core of every concept that I come across. As a kid, my mother also encouraged me to read, and I always found solace in books. That is what fascinated me about the law. Every practice requires both depth and breadth of knowledge that engages you for hours. The field intersects and impacts all business structures, technology and economics, making it an ever-changing sandbox.
WhiteStone Legal has emerged as one of India’s promising and leading law firms. Could you share the guiding philosophy that has propelled your organization’s success?
It’s a common saying in our profession that you know a lawyer’s worth if he is in a courtroom or a boardroom.
This saying has always stayed with me. I started WhiteStone Legal with no safety net but a vision to deliver the best possible legal advice in this country. I live by this rule every day, and being in a boardroom and offering practical solutions to my clients drives me to fulfil my dreams.
The legal landscape is continually evolving. How do you ensure that WhiteStone Legal remains adaptable and ahead of industry trends, providing innovative solutions to your clients?
While managing a law firm, it is important to keep sight of continuously evolving technology that can help support your practice. As our clients continuously push the envelope and develop new technology or systems to enhance output, it only makes sense that their advisors take the same approach.
Your leadership style is often recognized as an inspirational force behind your firm’s achievements. Could you shed light on your approach to leadership, team building, and client satisfaction?
The best form of leadership flows from example. I expect nothing from my team that I would not do myself. Having an organized mindset with a clear focus to push yourself further on the next action that you can take sets the tone and culture for the entire team.
The same mindset also translates when it comes to delivering services to your client. As has been said by multiple legal practitioners in the past, you know you have done a good job on the last assignment for a client when they entrust you with the next one.
The essence of the legal industry lies in bringing innovation and advancements to the niche. How does WhiteStone Legal strike a balance between legal limitations and client expectations?
All companies like to grow their business and develop innovative ways to do so. Sometimes, those ways are regulated by law. I believe in being honest with my clients concerning what is achievable while staying on the right side of the law. Practical solutions must always stand the test of a conservative interpretation of the relevant legislation. I do not believe in advising my clients, which may benefit them in the short run, but create legal or operational hurdles at a later stage.
Sustainability and environmental responsibility are crucial aspects of the modern era. How do you promote these principles into legal and administrative parlance?
At WhiteStone Legal, we take sustainable and environment-friendly practices very seriously. Taking the help of digital advancement, we encourage everyone at the firm to adopt the paperless practice, and the younger lawyers are more adaptable to this approach. While we understand that documentation is essential, we support storing files in digital formats instead of hard copies, doing our bit for the environment. Today, an organization in the digital space is as important as an organization within the physical space, and the lack of it can greatly impact the agility of an organization as well as its carbon footprint.
WhiteStone Legal has achieved remarkable success. Could you highlight a transformative project or initiative that showcases your commitment to legal excellence and innovation?
We pride ourselves on structuring and negotiating excellent deals for our clients. Whether it be on behalf of funds looking at venture capital opportunities or Indian founders seeking to raise capital, we ensure we bring value to each aspect of the transaction.
There is a special sense of achievement when we can preserve controlling interest amongst founders across multiple investment rounds in the start-up space. You would typically see a significant dilution of founders’ management rights through the various stages of raising capital, which have much more significant ramifications during the long run. To help our clients through such processes, we prepare a clear roadmap on valuing such rights from the get-go to avoid tricky or adverse situations down the line.
In the realm of legal systems, technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing efficiency. How does WhiteStone Legal leverage technology to optimize services and stay ahead in a digital age?
We are implementing robust systems to become a ‘paperless’ law firm. As our clients engaged in the technology sector are continuously innovating their systems to increase efficiency vis-à-vis their product offerings, they prefer and expect their service providers to enhance their service levels to match them. For instance, contract management/standardization tools help reduce the cost and time to execute, manage, and amend basic contracts. We advise our clients and provide inputs when developing or engaging such systems to ensure they have the correct tools for covering all bases.
As a leader in India’s legal sector, your firm has likely faced its share of challenges. Could you share an instance where your team’s resilience and ingenuity triumphed over adversity?
Running multiple transactions/deals parallelly for separate clients can lead to numerous tricky situations where time management is as valuable as the quality of deliverables. These instances called for the firm to develop and implement internal SOPs so that we could achieve timelines and maximize output.
Today, jurisprudence goes beyond the physical realm, transforming due to digital and virtual advancements that are necessities. How do you address these critical factors in WhiteStone Legal’s service offerings?
Aside from contract management tools and going paperless, our firm also actively advises technology companies developing, reselling, licensing or otherwise providing products and services using a suite of emerging technologies, AI engines, etc. As strategic legal advisors, we ensure we understand our clients’ products in depth so that we can offer additional value while dealing with complex issues or transactions.
Gender equality is a buzzword, especially in the legal sector. With the Women’s Reservation Bill coming into the picture, do you see some seismic shift in the legal sector, too? What is your firm doing in this regard?
I believe in the opportunity being given to everyone, irrespective of gender. That said, I acknowledge that the legal profession has been male-dominated, but in recent times, that is changing. We have many firms that have female lawyers running the show. In fact, my wife is a very successful lawyer, leading the team in the corporate law firm she works for. Looking at lawyers like her gives me confidence that gender equality will not just be a buzzword, but the state of affairs. Let us take further inspiration from the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Many young aspirants wish to enter the legal industry. What is your advice to them?
I advise young aspirants entering the legal industry to have the fundamentals of laws in place. I come across various interns and students who take up this profession without having much interest or knowledge about it. Hard work goes a long way, and there is a shortcut to success.
Looking to the future, what is your vision for WhiteStone Legal? How do you aspire to continue making a significant impact on India’s legal landscape?
As India continues to evolve, so does its regulatory landscape. Businesses continue to innovate and find new ways to provide their goods and services, so it is natural for the legislature/regulators to adapt and address new structures and issues and govern. This intersection will always call upon legal advisors to provide practical solutions. There, I see myself and my firm operating and making a meaningful impact going into the future.
For more information, please Email: ritesh@whitestone-chambers.com or Phone: 91+ 9871430117, or visit the office at
WhiteStone Legal, A-150,
Defence Colony,
New Delhi, 110024.
