Neel Chatterjee on Khurram’s Quorum
and The Indie Guide to Building Your Legal Network is just $1
This email goes out to 2,230 South Asian legal professionals. That’s almost 100 more members since the last issue.
Neel Chatterjee on Khurram’s Quorum
"Partner and Very Handsome Man". Not what you expect to see on the business card of a high-stakes technology trial lawyer. But it's one of the surprising ingredients in the Stew of Neel.
In this 2-hour conversation, I dug deep into Neel Chatterjee's story to learn about how he thinks about opportunities, relationships, and decision-making. Neel shares his best tips for client development, career decisions, and navigating technology and legal changes.
I worked with Neel at Goodwin, and he was one of the first partners I interviewed with. We did it at NAPABA in the lobby of the hotel the conference was at. He was swarmed by a motley crew of lawyers, and he was loudly telling everyone that I was going to join his firm. It felt special.
I'm one of many lawyers that's been influenced by Neel. I learned a lot about him in this conversation. I hope you'll enjoy it.
The Indie Guide to Building Your Legal Network is just $1
I'm going to hear from the bean counters for this, but this week The Indie Guide to Building Your Legal Network is just $1.
I beat the street in law school to break into biglaw. I met about 200 lawyers for coffee, lunch, you name it. The other students made fun of me for how often I was in a suit. It paid off.
That's when I discovered a hidden edge in the practice of law. I was never going to be known for legal acumen or working long hours. But I knew how to invest in a legal network.
A legal network is the ultimate cheat code to practice. It's how you can find:
1. a support system to test ideas and overcome obstacles
2. career opportunities at firms, government, and in-house
3. business development to gain control over your practice
Over the years of practice, I refined my techniques to build relationships with peers and mentors in other firms. I lateraled to an AmLaw 20 firm through relationships with co-counsel and their clientele. And I went to a non-target school where I didn't even graduate cum laude.
I wrote The Indie Guide because it bucks the narrative that success is about the right credentials and "doing good work". And I wrote it to meet resourceful lawyers who are investing in themselves.
This 47-page guide is a distillation of everything I learned on how to build your legal network. Usually $10, this week it's $1. Available here.
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Khurram’s List
I run Freshwater Counsel, a recruiting agency. To discuss a move you’re considering or a hire you’d like to make, contact me.
I’m working with my former firm Goodwin on these key searches:
Life Science Corporate Midlevel Associate: join a Band 1 practice and work on the highest-stakes life science transactions. NYC.
IP Litigation Associate: represent growing tech companies in bet-the-company disputes - trade secret, patent, and more.
Employment Midlevel Associate: represent growing and large-cap tech and life sciences companies in high-stakes disputes and compliance matters.
NEW Antitrust Associate, all levels: this is a rare opportunity to build out the antitrust practice at a premiere private equity and M&A firm.
A leading plaintiff’s discrimination boutique is looking for 2-3 junior/midlevel associates.
Moving from biglaw to an elite litigation boutique? Let’s discuss these clients that are hiring.
Several AmLaw 50 firms are looking for Knowledge Management Attorneys - leverage your biglaw training in a business role at a top law firm.
Pani Cooler Jobs
The mission of Pani Cooler is to build direct connections between South Asian lawyers. A key part of that is getting South Asian lawyers hired and promoted. The below roles include contact information for your colleagues. Reach out to these lawyers in a manner consistent with the goals of building community on this platform. Apply for any roles listed on the website, as available.
In-House
Saumya Manohar: Saumya is General Counsel at Public.com. Saumya’s team is looking for a Chief Compliance Officer.
Mehul Shah: Mehul is Head of Patent and Standards Legal at Juniper Networks. Mehul’s team is looking for an IP Attorney.
Vineet Shahani: Vineet is General Counsel, Policy and Corporate Development at Mill. Vineet’s team is looking for a Product Counsel to be lawyer #3 at a startup tackling the environmental impact of food waste.
Ajay Sharma: Ajay is Senior Corporate Counsel at Amazon Lab126. Ajay’s team is looking for a Corporate Counsel, Devices.
Vijay Bondada: Vijay is VP, Energy & Environmental Law at Con Edison. Vijay’s team is looking for a Sr Attorney.
Government
Raj Parekh: Raj is the First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). EDVA is looking to hire an Appellate Unit Chief, a highly coveted position in the U.S. Attorney community.
Rahul Rao: Rahul is Deputy Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition. The FTC is hiring antitrust attorneys for several positions throughout the entire Bureau of Competition.
Hiral Mehta: Hiral is Deputy Chief at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York. The U.S. Attorney's Office is looking for an Assistant U. S. Attorney.