Nani Palkhivala’s Top 10 Secrets Of SuccessNani Palkhivala‟s Top 10 Secrets Of Success VELLALAPATTI SWAMINATHAN IYER Nani Palkhivala incredible professional success has inspired several generations of youngsters to improve their own performance & become better professionals. But how did Palkhivala achieve such great level of success? Yes, he was a genius with great intellectual ability but were there any techniques that he followed that we can emulate as well? The author investigates and reveals Nani Palkhivala’s top 10 secrets of success Nani Palkhivala was a genius and his incredible success as a lawyer has inspired many generations of youngsters. The law reports are full of cases where he has argued complicated points of law and his treatise “The Law of Income-tax” continues to be a best-seller decades after it was first written. So what was Nani Palkhivala‟s recipe for success? Are there any tips or techniques that we can emulate as well in our careers that will help us become better professionals? Nani Palkhivala was a stickler for time discipline. In his mind, he would allot the time required for the various tasks that he had to accomplish and ensure that they were done within that time. This strict adherence to time management made it necessary for Palkhivala to focus and concentrate on the job in hand and his ability to focus and concentrate made it possible for him to adhere to his self-imposed time restrictions Well, the new book “Nani Palkhivala: Courtroom Genius” reveals some incredible secrets of Nani Palhivala‟s success formula that can be adopted by people like you and me, with average intellectual abilities. (i) Thorough study of facts & research into law: To a casual observer, it appeared as if Nani Palkhivala had a quick glance at the brief, immediately absorbed its contents and was instantly ready to argue the entire matter extempore. This was a myth that Palhivala cultivated and even seasoned advocates were taken in by it. this may not be an entirely correct depiction of how Nani Palkhivala worked. the biggest constitutional matter ever argued in the Supreme Court.Iqbal Chagla. The other aspect of Palkhivala was that he would have read up the brief before the conference. However. When Palkhivala conducted a conference. Palkhivala‟s defense in the copyright infringement case that was foisted against him by Sampath Iyengar also reveals careful strategic planning and preparation and an approach that no chances would be taken against the opponent. Palkhivala speed-read the judgements and noted their citations on a chit of paper. Phone calls and other distractions were not allowed to disturb the proceedings. His questions on facts were precise and focused and he would keep a list of authorities that he would ask the instructing CAs to keep ready for the hearing. 10 days later. the reality was that he was very meticulous in studying the facts and researching the law. (ii) Focus & Concentration on the task at hand: Nani Palkhivala had the ability to focus and concentrate on the task at hand. recollects how he was briefed in a trust matter with Nani Palkhivala. Palkhivala would indicate the outline of the submissions that he proposed to make during the day and his team had to ensure that all the books and papers were kept ready. Anil Divan etc with clear instructions that they should scrutinize the research material and judgements and then brief Palkhivala in the night and morning. While Palkhivala gave the impression in conference of having just browsed through the papers. He did not believe in multitasking. Palhivala breezed in. This is best exemplified by Nani Palkhivala‟s preparation for the Keshavananda Bharati„s case. . pulled out the chit of paper and appeared to remember all the facts and principles laid down in the judgements cited by Chagla. one could see that his table was cleared of all other papers. as the matter was called out in Court. Do one job at a time and do it well was his motto. Each morning. eminent senior advocate. Only the brief and authorities required for the conference would be placed before Palkhivala. Chagla had a conference with Palkhivala and pointed out a few authorities on the subject. Palkhivala formed a team of top-notch Counsel including Soli Sorabjee. at least in important matters. what were the facts and what were the case laws on the subject. For him. he was very simple and down to earth. Iqbal Chagla described him as “a man of genius who never lost the virtue of humility. Palkhivala would get up from his chair. though gifted with incredible intellectual prowess. Vahanvati adds that this was not contrived . Palkhivala loved to paint a dark picture of what adverse consequences would follow if his interpretation of law as not accepted. So. Palkhivala‟s style was highly persuasive and his expertise of addressing large numbers of the public in the Budget speeches came in handy because Palkhivala instinctively knew what the listeners wanted to hear and gave it to them with a bit of rhetoric. (v) Courtesy to the Bench & the Bar: Palkhivala welcomed legal problems and complications. a tool of amusement and something that would refresh him Palkhivala was very endearing to everyone because. led everybody to the lift and made them feel so special. work was itself a source of pleasure. He enjoyed solving these problems the way ordinary people enjoyed solving crossword puzzles. it was very clear to the Judges on what propositions of law Palkhivala was advancing. Palkhivala would. Apart from an interpretation of the statutory provisions. Vahanvati also spoke of his experience with Palkhivala. a man of singular simplicity graced with unbounded warmth and kindness. open the door. when he was arguing the matter. Palkhivala did not regard work as „work‟ or as something that one had to do to earn a living while craving to do something else. (iv) Persuasive style of advocacy: Nani Palkhivala had a two-fold strategy to convince the Court of the correctness of his propositions. prepare written submissions or propositions that would act as an aide-de-memoire for the Judges.(iii) Well-thought out strategy before starting the matter: Nani Palkhivala would formulate his propositions well in advance of the hearing and compartmentalize the facts. a man of letters as much as of the law“. He always treated his clients and juniors with “unfailing courtesy” and when the conference was over. Palkhivala would get visibly annoyed and tense though he would not say anything. He caught his attention. A great man is one who is truly humble. Palkhivala would rush back to his Chambers for the next conference or to read up for the next matter. We could all see this in his budget speeches where his speech was full of quotations.but “came naturally to him. statistics and lots of other information that he would recite from memory and without a single scrap of paper before him. If the preceding matter took longer than expected. This strict adherence to time management made it necessary for Palkhivala to focus and concentrate on the job in hand and his ability to focus and concentrate made it possible for him to adhere to his self-imposed time restrictions. He caught his eye. He would walk into the courtroom just a few moments before his matter was expected to be called out. he would allot the time required for the various tasks that he had to accomplish and ensure that they were done within that time. he would busy himself with reading some other brief or case for opinion. (viii) Single-pointed determination to succeed: . he communicated with the judge. Humility was part of his psyche and he made people comfortable. He doesn‟t need to put on airs. to use Vahanvati‟s words. Palhivala‟s advocacy was unique in that. After finishing his matter. Palkhivala hated to come to Court early and to have to just sit and wait for his matter to reach. And he dominated his brain“. He doesn‟t need to throw his weight around“. He would also settle draft petitions and opinions in Court. (vii) Time management: Nani Palkhivala was a stickler for time discipline. (vi) Made complicated issues look simple and boring issues look interesting: Nani Palkhivala had the incredible ability of making his argument sound so simple and convincing that the Judge would be left spellbound. If Palkhivala did have to sit in Court. Palkhivala could also do something which no other person has been able to do: Make a dry and boring subject like the annual Budget look interesting and exciting – even for the common man. “when he addressed the Court. In his mind. Mehta. His masterful ability to focus and concentrate would have aided this trait of speed-reading. (x) Speed reading & continuous self-improvement: Palkhivala had mastered the art of speed-reading in which a person rapidly skims a page from top to bottom and assimilates all its important points. The secret of Palkhivala‟s unending reservoir of energy was that he never regarded these assignments as „work‟. It does sound odd that a person of such incredible intellectual ability should be interested in „self-improvement‟ books but these books were probably just an enjoyable distraction for him. he was a topper in everything that he did. (ix) Capacity for hard work: This was a natural corollary of Nani Palkhivala‟s high levels of motivation and strong urge to succeed.This trait can be seen amongst all successful person whether they be in the field of sports.30 am with Ravinder Narain. the well known advocate. So. For him. business or the profession. Palkhivala welcomed legal problems and complications.30 am with Bansi S. He enjoyed solving these problems the way ordinary people enjoyed solving crossword puzzles. Nani Palkhivala was no exception to that rule. The authors give examples of how Palhivala conducted a conference at 12. From childhood. Palkhivala did not regard work as „work‟ or as something that one had to do to earn a living while craving to do something else. They set goals for themselves and push themselves hard to achieve that. . and another at 3. The other aspect of Nani Palkhivala was that he was very fond of reading „self-improvement‟ books. especially those by Peter Drucker. Such people are highly motivated and self-driven. Palkhivala was ready. work was itself a source of pleasure. an eminent Chartered Accountant. willing and able at any time of the day (or night) to tackle legal problem. a tool of amusement and something that would refresh him.