Payal Chawla recently shared her motivations for founding JusContractus, an all-women law firm focused on arbitration and corporate law..Chawla mentioned surviving domestic abuse and facing pregnancy and motherhood discrimination from a large corporation, leading to an eight-year legal battle at the Supreme Court. "I am a lawyer with a Master's degree in Law from one of the top universities in the world. I belong to a select group of women privileged enough to enjoy steadfast familial support. I am an empowered woman in every sense, yet these injustices happened to me," she added..Chawla was speaking as part of a panel addressing the theme Bridging the Gender Gap and Access to Justice at the World Bank Conference on Justice and Rule of Law held at Washington, DC.Other panelists included Supreme Court of Peru judge Janet Tello and Chief Registrar, Judiciary of Kenya Paul Ndemo. The panel was moderated by Gender Director of the World Bank Group Hana Brixi..She said that although she initially founded the firm to ensure financial survival, her broader aim was to create wealth and empower other women who faced similar struggles and lacked support, resources and the means to fight back."I was aware that unlike me, others lacked support, resources, and the means to fight back. Most did not even recognise that what they are experiencing is abuse," she explained..Chawla said that when she founded the firm, she envisioned a workplace that resonated with her own experiences."When I founded my law firm, I envisioned a workplace that resonated with my own experiences and aligned with a shared vision. I sought colleagues who faced similar challenges and leveraged similar strengths. Women, in particular, came to mind.".She described the firm's structure, which accommodates the dual responsibilities of professional and domestic duties, allowing women to work from home and ensuring a supportive atmosphere to foster growth and development.Chawla also acknowledged the ongoing challenges of running an all-women business, including overcoming societal stereotypes, ensuring work-life balance, and scaling the business under Indian partnering restrictions for lawyers. However, she shared that JusContractus has been profitable and cash flow positive since its inception, even remaining resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic.Through her firm, she aims to bridge the gender disparity in the legal industry and inspire other businesses to replicate this model."My aim was to bridge the gender disparity in the legal industry in my small way, particularly in a patriarchal society like India. On one level, this is my way of giving back to society. More importantly, if I can inspire enough businesses to replicate this model, it would be my ultimate vindication against the challenges I've faced in my personal and professional life."
Payal Chawla recently shared her motivations for founding JusContractus, an all-women law firm focused on arbitration and corporate law..Chawla mentioned surviving domestic abuse and facing pregnancy and motherhood discrimination from a large corporation, leading to an eight-year legal battle at the Supreme Court. "I am a lawyer with a Master's degree in Law from one of the top universities in the world. I belong to a select group of women privileged enough to enjoy steadfast familial support. I am an empowered woman in every sense, yet these injustices happened to me," she added..Chawla was speaking as part of a panel addressing the theme Bridging the Gender Gap and Access to Justice at the World Bank Conference on Justice and Rule of Law held at Washington, DC.Other panelists included Supreme Court of Peru judge Janet Tello and Chief Registrar, Judiciary of Kenya Paul Ndemo. The panel was moderated by Gender Director of the World Bank Group Hana Brixi..She said that although she initially founded the firm to ensure financial survival, her broader aim was to create wealth and empower other women who faced similar struggles and lacked support, resources and the means to fight back."I was aware that unlike me, others lacked support, resources, and the means to fight back. Most did not even recognise that what they are experiencing is abuse," she explained..Chawla said that when she founded the firm, she envisioned a workplace that resonated with her own experiences."When I founded my law firm, I envisioned a workplace that resonated with my own experiences and aligned with a shared vision. I sought colleagues who faced similar challenges and leveraged similar strengths. Women, in particular, came to mind.".She described the firm's structure, which accommodates the dual responsibilities of professional and domestic duties, allowing women to work from home and ensuring a supportive atmosphere to foster growth and development.Chawla also acknowledged the ongoing challenges of running an all-women business, including overcoming societal stereotypes, ensuring work-life balance, and scaling the business under Indian partnering restrictions for lawyers. However, she shared that JusContractus has been profitable and cash flow positive since its inception, even remaining resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic.Through her firm, she aims to bridge the gender disparity in the legal industry and inspire other businesses to replicate this model."My aim was to bridge the gender disparity in the legal industry in my small way, particularly in a patriarchal society like India. On one level, this is my way of giving back to society. More importantly, if I can inspire enough businesses to replicate this model, it would be my ultimate vindication against the challenges I've faced in my personal and professional life."
