4 Decades of Legal Devotion
‘Unwavering dedication’ is what defines veteran lawyer Noshir Kumana. A practicing Solicitor with an experience of 41 years in civil disputes, arbitration, commercial law, co-operative law, real estate law, and Rent Act, he has appeared before various courts in Mumbai as well as High Courts at Bombay, Calcutta, Chennai, Jaipur, Delhi and Supreme Court.
He has handled arbitration matters pertaining to insurance, financial services, commercial disputes, and real estate for over 12 years as Sole Arbitrator as well as a member of Arbitral Tribunals along with retired judges of various High Courts and Supreme Court. He’s a Member and Arbitrator on the panel of London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA, Asia Pacific) and a Paneled Arbitrator for Centre for Online Resolution of Disputes (CORD).
Based in Mumbai, India, Noshir joined the legal profession completely by chance. “After I finished my graduation in BSc (Hons) Chemistry, my cousin who was a practicing Advocate at that time recommended that I peruse the legal profession. Accordingly, I obtained my LLB degree in 1981. I then joined the Solicitors firm of Vinod Mistry & Company as an assistant Advocate, where I signed Articles and passed my Solicitors Exam in the first attempt as a rank holder in April 1983. On passing the Exam, I joined the reputed Solicitors firm of Matubhai Jamietram & Madon as an Assistant Solicitor. During my tenure there, I gained valuable experience thanks to the help and guidance provided to me by the senior Partners of the Firm who trained and nurtured me, enabling me to sharpen my skills in drafting and handling various branches of Civil Law. I left the firm in November 1985 to start my independent practice in the name and style of Kumana & Company as Sole Proprietor till November 1989, when I joined the corporate company Crompton Greaves Ltd. in their legal department. I left Crompton Greaves in May 1995 and restarted my independent practice which I am continuing till date.”
Honesty, integrity and devotion to his profession have been the driving force of Noshir’s life. Never one to consider his profession a business, he has endeavored to give honest and correct advice to his clients all through his career.
He’s been equally diligent about learning and updating his knowledge. “I sincerely believe that knowledge is power. Law is always changing and evolving, therefore, if I do not keep updating my legal knowledge, I will not be able to do full and proper justice to my clients. I think this is the main strength that has contributed to my success in the profession.”
Sharing his weaknesses, he adds, “As a human being, I have made mistakes in my life and career, however, I have always learned from my mistakes and endeavored never to commit them again. During my long stint in the legal field, I have also encountered failures. Yet, I have never let them pull me down, instead have followed the principle – ‘Try and try again and you will succeed’. The help, guidance and support of my seniors and mentors has been a major factor in my success.”
Noshir’s expertise and commitment has seen him receive various national and international honors. Most recently in October 2022, he was awarded the Lex Falcon Singapore 2022 Award in recognition of his contribution to the Legal Fraternity for great knowledge, innovation futuristic spirit and approach. During his tenure as Sole Arbitrator, he passed several awards, some of which were challenged before the High Court, however, not a single award passed by him has been set aside.
With such a distinguished career spread over four decades, what is the secret of Noshir’s continued success? He tells us, “As a practicing Solicitor, time management is very important for me. I have always been able to maintain a balance between my professional and personal life, thanks to the co-operation and support of my wife and son who have inspired and encouraged me to outshine myself. For me, work is worship. During working hours, I do full justice to my clients by utilising my expertise to provide them quality service. However, once I reach my residence, I make it a point to spend quality time with my wife and son. Throughout my career, I have made it known to my clients that unless there is a dire emergency, I will not be working on Sundays as I devote Sundays to be with my Family.”
As our conversation comes to a close, Noshir draws on the wisdom of his experiences and leaves us with a significant message for our readers: “Always be true to yourself. Always let your conscience be your guide. Be honest and devoted to whatever you do; don’t let failures put you down; keep trying and you will succeed.”
