What do sailing the seven seas for many months, learning Japanese from scratch and working at the top law firm in two different countries have in common? My guest Pavitra Iyer has done them all! If you believe there is only one path to being a top level lawyer, then her story will definitely show you otherwise! Pavitra will show you that truly anything is possible with her fascinating lawyer life as an M&A lawyer in both India and Japan.

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In this episode you’ll hear:

• How Pavitra overcame the expectations of her family to become a lawyer
• Her life changing experience of living abroad in London and studying at the London School of Economics & Political Science
• How Pavitra came to be working at one of the most prestigious law firms in India
• The fabulous life lessons from her mentor Zia Mody
• Why Pavitra left the law to sail around the world with her husband
• How Pavitra found herself in Japan and was hired at a top Tokyo law firm
• Being a parent and a high flying legal eagle in Tokyo
• Pavitra’s ideas for the future in her career
• Her favourite books and other fun facts

About Pavitra

Pavitra is a multi-jurisdictional transactions lawyer with over ten years of experience in leading law firms in India and Japan. Eight of these years were spent with one of the top Japanese firms, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto. Before relocating to Japan in 2010, Pavitra worked for the Mumbai office of AZB & Partners, one of India’s premier law firms. Her practice areas are M&A, Private Equity, Corporate Compliance and General Corporate Advisory.

Pavitra is admitted in India and as a Solicitor of England & Wales, in addition to being a registered foreign lawyer in Japan. Her core work involves advising clients on various aspects of cross-border investments. In Japan, this has largely taken the form of advising Japanese clients investing in India and overseas,  and advising on local compliance matters and other queries that arise in the context of doing business in India. Pavitra uses not just her legal skills and expertise, but also her first-hand knowledge of Indian culture and the related nuances that come necessarily bundled with doing cross-border business, to help her clients successfully implement their business needs.

Pavitra completed her undergraduate degree in law from the University of Pune and developed a love for corporate law during her post-graduate days at the London School of Economics & Political Science, where she graduated with a Masters degree in Corporate and Commercial laws.

Being a mother to a very active 4-year old, she says spare time is mostly a fond memory, but on the occasions that she can lose herself in a book, or her music, she is content.

Connect with Pavitra

LinkedIn

Website

Links

Bagus Bar https://www.bagus-bar.jp/english.html

Hannah Ken, Burial Rights: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Burial-Rites-Hannah-Kent/dp/0316243922

Khalil Gibran, The Prophet https://www.amazon.co.jp/Prophet-Kahlil-Gibran/dp/0394404289