Seema Kejriwal Jariwala: A Passionate Tax Law Professional
Seema Kejriwal Jariwala
Partner
Founded in 2010, and based out of New Delhi, BMR Legal Advocates is a boutique law firm efficient in the areas of Corporate International Tax, Transfer Pricing, GST, Customs & Trade, with expertise in policy, disputes and transaction advisory. Seema, a B.Com graduate with Chartered Accountant degree is a Partnerat the firm and is compositely leading the firm along the legal processes.
In a recently held interaction between the CEO Insights Editorial team and Seema, the Partner to BMR Legal Advocates shared some detailed insights about the Legal industry in India and her professional journey. She also delved deep into the niche approach taken by the firm.
Take us through your inspirational journey that led you to entering into the law practice industry and become one of the leading Partners at BMR Legal Advocates
I am a C.A. by qualification, recently started studying law, and I have been practicing Tax law as a C.A. for nearly 25 years now. I think what’s really inspiring is the practice of law holding the skill to interpret the language. I have a flair for the language and hence, interpreting the language comes naturally to me. When one studies to become a C.A., they not only get to learn the fundamentals of economics, accounting, and others, but also receive an all round exposure to better understand the underlying
factual pointers and that significantly helps with the interpretation of the Tax Law. Hence, doing C.A. and then using it as a stepping stone to practice tax law, I enter into the Legal industry. Over the course of my career, I have had varied experiences doing high core income tax (mostly for first 20 years) working at firms like Kalyaniwalla Mistry & Associates, as Manager, EY as Senior Manager, Unilazer Ventures as Director, and then becoming an Independent Consultant and now, leading BMR Legal Advocates as the Partner. Everyday there’s something new, it's something relevant to learning and it's very fact specific. Every time there's a fact, to go back to the books, to go back to the law, for every single case it's just amazing.
How has your professional growth journey been so far? What are the different facets of your personality/ leadership style that have helped the firm propel further in its growth journey?
I started my journey with Kalyaniwalla Mistry & Associates and that is when already loving to interpret and playing with words, I developed a liking for Tax Law. Marrying Law and facts to find a good solution for the clients there was the first defining professional moment for me. Later, when I was working at EY, I was a conduit to the US firms for nearly two years and this appointment helped me to grow as an individual, staying amidst multicultural people and environment in the US. Working as an independent consultant taught me the nittygritties of the work which in large organisations is just taken care of, and appreciate the importance of the basic onground processes. However, I felt the void of synergy that working with a high performance team brings, together with the need to meaningfully give back to the profession. Which is where BMR Legal with the mix of complex assignments, policy advocacy initiatives and academic research seemed like the perfect place for someone with my inclination towards all three.
I have had many learnings both technically and professionally. And, at the end of the day Law is about dealing with people, making the most impactful effect while artistically putting your point across
Our advice is more definitive and our clients appreciate our clarity of thought
How has your professional growth journey been so far? What are the different facets of your personality/ leadership style that have helped the firm propel further in its growth journey?
I started my journey with Kalyaniwalla Mistry & Associates and that is when already loving to interpret and playing with words, I developed a liking for Tax Law. Marrying Law and facts to find a good solution for the clients there was the first defining professional moment for me. Later, when I was working at EY, I was a conduit to the US firms for nearly two years and this appointment helped me to grow as an individual, staying amidst multicultural people and environment in the US. Working as an independent consultant taught me the nittygritties of the work which in large organisations is just taken care of, and appreciate the importance of the basic onground processes. However, I felt the void of synergy that working with a high performance team brings, together with the need to meaningfully give back to the profession. Which is where BMR Legal with the mix of complex assignments, policy advocacy initiatives and academic research seemed like the perfect place for someone with my inclination towards all three.
I have had many learnings both technically and professionally. And, at the end of the day Law is about dealing with people, making the most impactful effect while artistically putting your point across
in a palatable way and not just putting it across. I believe everything falls right with just years & years of experience, it helps one to learn to see through and understand issues faster. Whether you're interacting with the senior counsel,a judge, peers, or your colleagues what you say is just as important as how you say it. This dynamic shouldn’t fall apart .
In your opinion, what factors set BMR Legal Advocates apart from its contemporaries in the industry
BMR Legal Advocates is a small law firm by design and has a high performing culture. We are picky about the people we bring on board, and about the work that we accept. Intellectual stimulation is what drives us. We are a team of like minded people in the firm who bring over 100 years of cumulative experience on the table, assimilating the research and analytical skills. Our approach to a solution is holistic and we would give advice which is feasible from the entire regulatory landscape perspective. We don’t limit our work in that sense. Additionally, our advice is more definitive and our clients appreciate our clarity of thought.
Any challenges the firm went through affected by COVID and if yes what were those and how did you responsibly help overcome those?
Our work involves a lot of paperwork, so getting used to working electronically and seeing most things on screen was a big shift for us. But we seamlessly moved through this remote working situation by making little adjustments. However, my role is staying connected with people and since our teams are quite committed, I did very well supervising each with bare hindrance.
What is the roadmap ahead for your professional journey and company?
Personally, having enrolled in the Law degree I am currently pursuing it. I also plan to do a Ph.D. someday. We also have an education venture The Tax Guild, which are setting to help people in finance & law. So I'm hoping to be able to make an impact through that as well.Also, learning technology is something that I want to consciously work towards. I truly believe technology is an area no professional
can afford to ignore.
Seema Kejriwal Jariwala, Partner, BMR Legal Advocates
Experienced Partner with a demonstrated history of working in the Tax law Practice industry.
In your opinion, what factors set BMR Legal Advocates apart from its contemporaries in the industry
BMR Legal Advocates is a small law firm by design and has a high performing culture. We are picky about the people we bring on board, and about the work that we accept. Intellectual stimulation is what drives us. We are a team of like minded people in the firm who bring over 100 years of cumulative experience on the table, assimilating the research and analytical skills. Our approach to a solution is holistic and we would give advice which is feasible from the entire regulatory landscape perspective. We don’t limit our work in that sense. Additionally, our advice is more definitive and our clients appreciate our clarity of thought.
Any challenges the firm went through affected by COVID and if yes what were those and how did you responsibly help overcome those?
Our work involves a lot of paperwork, so getting used to working electronically and seeing most things on screen was a big shift for us. But we seamlessly moved through this remote working situation by making little adjustments. However, my role is staying connected with people and since our teams are quite committed, I did very well supervising each with bare hindrance.
What is the roadmap ahead for your professional journey and company?
Personally, having enrolled in the Law degree I am currently pursuing it. I also plan to do a Ph.D. someday. We also have an education venture The Tax Guild, which are setting to help people in finance & law. So I'm hoping to be able to make an impact through that as well.Also, learning technology is something that I want to consciously work towards. I truly believe technology is an area no professional
can afford to ignore.
Seema Kejriwal Jariwala, Partner, BMR Legal Advocates
Experienced Partner with a demonstrated history of working in the Tax law Practice industry.