JGLS hosts Panel Discussion on Careers in IP Law in collaboration with the International Trademark Association

The Centre for Intellectual Property Rights Studies (CIPRS) at the Jindal Global Law School, Sonepat (JGLS), recently organized a panel discussion on “Careers in IP law”. The event was organised in collaboration with the International Trademark Association (INTA). Three leading practitioners –Ameet Datta, Sujata Chaudhri and Rajiv Chauhan, visited JGLS and shared their experiences with the students..Ameet Datta, Partner at Saikrishna & Associates compared his experiences at a large full-service law firm and a boutique IP firm. Datta said, “Associates at IP boutiques frequently get an opportunity to work on a wider range of matters”. He also cautioned against the perception that ‘IP law was not as rewarding a field as corporate law’, believing this to be a short-sighted view. Giving students an example of the challenges that IP lawyers are confronted with, Mr Datta recalled how he once had to sue an email spammer, before a hesitant judge, by relying on tort law principles of nuisance!.The second speaker was Sujata Chaudhri, Partner at IP Gurus and a former equity partner at Cowan Liebowitz & Latman LLP, New York. Chaudhri explained the typical tasks performed by trademark lawyers, and how her work has seen her fighting wily counterfeiters in China and, more recently, preventing an Indian car designer from filching designs from a global car manufacturer. Ms Chaudhri also discussed the challenges of operating a young law firm in India and preventing employee attrition. Ms Chaudhri said, “We try to make our associates feel that they are an important part of the firm by seeking their opinion on billing rates, encouraging them to attend conferences, and exposing them to a wide range of work.” However, Ms Chaudhri admitted that it would take her firm a long time to match the salaries offered by large firms..Rajiv Chauhan, General Counsel and Vice President Legal Affairs (South Asia) at Pernod Ricard. Chauhan, who previously worked at Pepsico and Hindustan Unilever, gave students an insight into the world of in-house lawyers. He observed that, in recent years, in-house lawyers had begun to play a greater strategic role and were invariably a part of management committees. Mr Chauhan felt that there were abundant opportunities for IP lawyers seeking in-house roles, giving the example of his own company, which gives much attention to brand protection. Mr Chahan also said that most companies preferred to hire experienced lawyers than fresh graduates, although some large companies had training schemes for fresh graduates. On a lighter note, Mr Chauhan advised prospective interns at Pernod Ricard to be above the drinking age, lest they be asked to participate in scotch-tasting sessions..On the whole, the event proved very beneficial for students, with many gaining a better idea of how to plan their internships. The event concluded with a raffle amongst students, where the winner received a complimentary one-year INTA membership. .The above report was prepared by the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights Studies.