For Kanan Chawda, Partner at White & Brief – Advocates and Solicitors, the journey from law school to partnership has transformed the way she understands the legal profession. With over a decade of experience across dispute resolution, litigation, arbitration, NCLT, contracts, IBC, IPR and commercial matters, Kanan believes that the practice of law eventually becomes about much more than finding the right judgment or constructing the right argument. It is about understanding the client’s business, strategy and specific objectives—and making the law work for them.

Her work on high-stakes disputes has reinforced the importance of preparation. In complex matters involving extensive documentation and sensitive allegations, Kanan emphasises months of detailed reading, thorough due diligence and examining facts through different statutory and legal lenses before developing a strategy. She also draws an important distinction between traditional court advocacy and arbitration. In arbitration, final arguments are not simply a repetition of the case; they involve weaving the opening case theory together with the evidence that has emerged and demonstrating how that evidence supports the position before the tribunal.

For Kanan, evidence and strategy go hand in hand. In document-heavy disputes, she advocates repeatedly moving between the documents and the applicable law, allowing new connections and insights to emerge. Her approach to advocacy also adapts to the forum: understanding the temperament and expectations of the judge or tribunal can influence how arguments should be presented. Most importantly, she believes lawyers must look beyond the immediate legal victory and ask whether the outcome actually helps the client’s business. A favourable order means little if it does not ultimately advance the client’s commercial objective.

Her leadership journey has evolved alongside her legal practice. Even before becoming partner, Kanan was given opportunities to lead at White & Brief, teaching her to look beyond individual productivity and focus on the wellbeing, resources and readiness of her team. She continues to embrace technology and AI as tools for improving legal workflows while cautioning young lawyers not to outsource their thinking. Her philosophy is simple: keep learning, gain exposure to different people and matters, remain curious, and do the first piece of thinking yourself before asking technology to help refine it.

Key Highlights of the Koffee Conversation with Kanan Chawda

• Kanan’s transition from associate to partner changed her perspective from focusing primarily on law to understanding business, strategy and client objectives.
• She believes legal strategy must work for the client’s specific business and requirements—not simply produce a technically favourable legal argument.
• High-stakes matters require extensive preparation, months of reading, detailed due diligence and analysis of facts through different legal lenses.
• She sees a fundamental difference between court advocacy and arbitration, particularly in the way final arguments build upon the case and evidence already presented.
• Kanan describes an effective arbitration closing as a “blueprint” for the arbitral award, with the key points of the case clearly highlighted.
• In document-heavy disputes, she believes lawyers must repeatedly revisit both the evidence and applicable law to uncover important connections.
• Her courtroom approach includes observing the forum and understanding the judge’s temperament and expectations before presenting arguments.
• She encourages businesses facing significant financial or legal risks to seek appropriate professional advice early rather than waiting for problems to develop.
• Kanan stresses that lawyers must ask whether a favourable legal order will actually help the client’s business in the long run.
• Client confidence, in her view, comes from demonstrating that the lawyer understands the strategy, law and procedure and can confidently stand behind the approach.
• Her leadership philosophy includes taking care of the team, ensuring adequate resources and creating an environment where people can effectively handle their responsibilities.
• One lesson from senior lawyers that has stayed with her is “never stop learning”, including staying open to technology and developments beyond law.
• Kanan uses AI for tasks such as preparing lists of dates, matter synopses and initial assistance with legal work, while continuing to develop her prompting skills.
• Her advice to young lawyers using AI is to attempt the first draft or initial thinking themselves rather than expecting AI to do the “brain work.”
• For young lawyers entering litigation and arbitration, she recommends exposure to different people, matters, practices and perspectives rather than limiting themselves to one type of work.

▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube on The Koffee Conversation Show – The Emerging Lawyer and discover Kanan Chawda’s perspective on arbitration, strategic advocacy, leadership, AI and the future of law.

🎧 Listen to the complete podcast on Spotify: The Koffee Conversation Show – The Emerging Lawyer and hear Kanan Chawda share the professional experiences and personal lessons behind her journey from law school to partnership.