Nawneet Vibhaw is aiming to bring the environmental law practice and services in India up to international standards with his independent practice – Panchtattva Advocates.
Vibhaw has multiple career milestones under his belt, having served as a partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co and Khaitan & Co.
“The reason for starting my own specialised environmental law practice, Panchtattva Advocates, is the sincere desire to provide quality legal assistance in environmental matters to my clients, just like environmental law firms in the US and other countries do,” Vibhaw said.
With a passion for animals and nature during his college days, Vibhaw found himself among the very few at NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad interested in environment law.
Vibhaw secured a full scholarship and pursued higher studies in environment, energy and climate change in the US.
He then had a short but memorable stint as an environmental law professor and he authored three books on the subject. Vibhaw practised environmental law when it was still considered an uninteresting and lesser productive field, which led to him being labelled a visionary.
“Working with 含羞草社区 top-tier law firms has clearly fine-tuned my skills as a lawyer … and has given me immense confidence. The things I have learnt at these law firms has … shaped me as a professional and I hope I am able to put all of them to good use now,” Vibhaw said.
On the decision to go solo, he said, “It is not easy to step out of the comfort zone, which the large top-tier law firms provide but … it was my urge to be able to work with all my clients and friends … Going independent and setting up a specialised boutique practice makes you free from all kinds of conflicts. You are pretty much a free bird, out there to spread your wings.”
He added that he was excited that more young lawyers were interested in environmental law and many firms had established independent environmental law-focused teams, making it a mainstream practice area. Vibhaw has also seen the environmental law practice evolve from being considered a hobby to serious business.
He concludes, “Our environment needs good lawyers and quality advocacy. I am doing it out of my sheer interest and passion … Not just for our country but the world needs it more than ever.”
