One of the aims of Law Middle East is to spotlight up and coming law firms in the region and share the career stories of interesting individuals.
Satinder Hunjan KC ticks both of these, with his illustrious career as a barrister in the UK while running a law firm, Vaishvik, in the UAE.
I caught up with him to find out more about his firm and future ambitions.
Vaishvik at a glance:
Leaders/department heads: 8
Office locations: 3 (Abu Dhabi headquarters, Dubai, London)
Practice areas: 11 (banking, capital markets, fintech, funds, insurance, foreign investment, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, aviation & maritime, media, IP & sport, dispute resolution)
Aishah Hussain: How are you able to continue your practice as a silk in the UK, as well as run a law firm in the UAE?
Satinder Hunjan: It has actually proven to be relatively straightforward—and fun! I think a major component of it has been that I am chairing the law firm and as it is an international law firm my involvement is based not only in the UAE but also in other jurisdictions. Added to that, the abilities these days to have remote connections and together with really enjoying working in different regions it has worked very smoothly indeed. Of course, I should add that it is always fantastic to be in the UAE with its great weather, food, and hospitality.
AH: Why did you decide to open a law firm? Were chambers, your chamber-mates and colleagues receptive to this?
SH: It was a careful process of thinking what was the best way to undertake high level work at an international level in the UAE. Following on from a lot of planning and taking soundings, it was clear that a different model was called for than a barristers’ chambers or a traditional law firm—that is what we have created at Vaishvik.
AH: You founded Vaishvik in March 2023. How is it going more than a year on?
SH: Since Vaishvik was founded, its progress has been phenomenal and no-one could have predicted this was likely to happen. In fact, I did not expect to be in this position in five years’ time. Indeed, things are progressing so quickly and the opportunities which Vaishvik has been given almost on a daily basis are very exciting and challenging but also, I believe, reflective of the expertise and sheer hard work that has been put in by those involved with the firm.
AH: Besides being barrister-led, what edge do you think your firm has over others in the region?
SH: I believe what has been really attractive has been the individuals involved in the firm and the approach of ensuring that clients can reach out to them on a very ready basis.
AH: Looking ahead, what direction do you want the firm to take, say, in the next year, by 2025?
SH: At the moment I dare not even blink, let alone think about the next year. My belief is that Vaishvik will simply continue to be on its accelerated path. It’s a very exciting journey. We are in a very exciting region with individuals who have key knowledge and experience as well as connections on the ground.
AH: You are headquartered in Abu Dhabi, with offices in Dubai and London. We are witnessing a flurry of law firms set up offices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Do you have any expansion plans?
SH: We already have a Saudi Arabia desk headed by a very impressive Saudi lawyer, Ezra Al-Sulamain. We also have huge connections on the ground in the KSA. Indeed, my colleague Naveen Agnihotri is currently posted in the KSA. Growth in the KSA is inevitable. However, as with being in the UAE, what is critical is to ensure that you are firmly connected on the ground. Therefore the presence is credible.
AH: What trends and opportunities do you see arising in the Middle East legal market?
SH: The legal world in the UAE and the surrounding jurisdictions are very exciting places to be.
In my view, the trends of the legal market very much follow the economic and social trends of the region—which is now a global base for opportunity—and that is precisely the position for the legal market.
AH: If you had to pick between the UK or the UAE, which would you choose, and why? What opportunities does each market offer to lawyers?
SH: The UAE legal market presents exciting and new global opportunities for lawyers. We are seeing exceptional candidates approach us regularly to join Vaishvik. The fact of the matter is that if you are a lawyer the region where you choose to work and live is not only a question of the work itself but also all that the region has to offer. I do not need to repeat the lifestyle opportunities that are available in the UAE region. On the other hand, in the UK, the legal market is more traditional and more suited to those who prefer cold weather!
AH: You take on general commercial work across a number of areas. What would you say has been your most memorable case to date, and why?
SH: At Vaishvik we deal with a very wide range of international and commercial work within a large number of specialist areas.
It’s always difficult to single out one matter which has stood out because there are so many that I could refer to. However, if there was one that stands out in my mind it is this one: For my part, the most interesting matter has been to deal with a sports tax issue where highly specialist advice was required within a short period of time which we, together with specialists, were able to advise upon. Ordinarily, it was a matter which the client may have expected would take months to consider, but we were able to deal with it over a matter of days.
AH: Finally, what advice would you give to those starting a career in law, for both aspiring barristers and solicitors?
SH: My views—not my advice—would reflect my own experience. When I started in law I was unclear as to whether or not I would have a career in law leaving aside whether I would be a barrister or a solicitor. The law is a great door-opener to many different types of careers and gives you a great footing. Ultimately, I became a barrister because I enjoyed being an advocate and the wide range of work which I was exposed to. I must say that I have just the same enthusiasm for that work as I did when I first started. Interestingly, I have ended up in the law in a place I could never have imagined in the early years—that is one of the great things about starting a career in the law which is that you will never quite know where it may take you in the end.
