By Lancelot Joseph. Executive Editor, Business India

Dressed in a sharp suit, Abhijit Joshi, the 55-year-old founder-managing partner, Veritas Legal, has just stepped out of a meeting with a prominent industrialist family. It is a surprise that Veritas Legal is among the few big-ticket law firms that have chosen not to have multiple offices across the country, despite having the option to. Joshi explains that operating only from Mumbai has been a conscious decision. “We started about a decade ago with just four members and grew to 20 in five months,” says Joshi. “In a country of 1.7 billion people, numbers should not and cannot be an issue. But numbers cannot come at the cost of quality.”

Joshi’s journey as a lawyer began in 1992 with the firm Amarchand Mangaldas. “Back then, we got to do a lot of firsts – the first power project, the first cola war and the first large-scale infrastructure project, among others. With liberalisation and markets opening up, we had to apply our minds as to which law would apply to the situation at hand. It was a gratifying experience,” he says. 

After spending considerable time at Amarchand Mangaldas, he moved to AZB and rose to the position of CEO in 14 years. Having gained immense experience at both the law firms, Joshi was bitten by the entrepreneur bug. “A friend of mine told me that, as professionals, we do not take risks and invest in our own skill sets. That’s when I decided to jump off the corner office.  I got many job opportunities, but decided to create something of my own. I was 46 and it was already getting late!” he says.

Always the one to set new norms, Joshi was clear that the firm would not be named after him, unlike most other major law firms.  The goodwill does not belong to him, but to the firm.

Over the years, the firm has grown exponentially, in terms of the work they do. Joshi believes that there is a resurgent need for generalists. Just like a physician, who can evaluate the patient’s body as a whole, there is a need for experienced lawyers, who are able to evaluate different eventualities and anticipate matters, while solving a problem. The firm has often been approached in cases, which are critical even from parties who are not regular clients.

In-depth knowledge

The long list of illustrious clients Veritas advises, includes Vageesh Gupta, MD, Partners Group. Speaking in a personal capacity, Gupta says: “Veritas under Abhijit’s leadership has been a trusted advisor for several years. Together, the team brings to the table in-depth knowledge of law, with innovative and practical handling of complex issues. I have found this to be rare.”

Anupam Mittal, founder & CEO, People Group, and a Shark Tank judge, says: “The entrepreneurial mindset, along with the professional approach that Abhijit and team bring to the legal profession, is unparalleled. I sleep better knowing they got my back.”