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Women Achievers

Flying

high

According to research published last Sherina Homa Petit
year by 'The Lawyer' magazine, only
18.6 per cent of partners across the UK’s Sherina began her official legal career eager to stay on in London and secure a
top 20 law firms are women. at Government Law College in Mumbai position at a law firm. My parents, who
– an institution where she went on to wanted me back to start practice with
Sherina Homa Petit is one such woman being elected as one of a handful of my dad, made it very clear at the time –
and that too an Indian - who at a young female presidents of its student council. “either you get into a firm in the top 10 or
age, has made it to being invited to join Sherina’s first day at law school was also you come back home, and there were no
the partnership in the London office, of her first day at work with her father. Godfathers”. It was extremely difficult to
one of the world’s largest global law firms, This is where her love for international get work experience at an international
Norton Rose Fulbright. This is no small arbitration developed. Sherina qualified law firm in those days but after putting in
achievement as it is not hard to see that as an Advocate on the Rolls of the Bar countless applications, finally Linklaters
the legal profession in general is still very Council of Maharashtra and Goa in 1999 (a firm in the top 5 and considered part of
male dominated. and then went on to do her LL.M. at Kings the “magic circle” of law firms) called her
College London. for an interview and Sherina negotiated
Sherina has a wide range of experience a quasi-training contract in project
in all key aspects of dispute resolution As Sherina puts it: “I was lucky enough finance with them. This was the start
specializing in international arbitration to have the best set of parents, who gave of her legal working career in London.
in a broad range of industries including me roots and then – as difficult as it was From Linklaters, Sherina moved on to
energy, trade, transport, infrastructure, for them - wings. After coming from a the London office in the international
pharmaceuticals, commodities, finance very sheltered background in Bombay, it arbitration department of Shearman &
and other industries. She represents was exciting to be out in the world and Sterling (a top US headquartered global
clients across the globe including in to learn to struggle on my own. I was law firm) and finally in 2009 to the
Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa in London office of Norton Rose Fulbright.
a wide variety of arbitration proceedings
including before the London Court of
International Arbitration (LCIA) and the
International Chamber of Commerce
(ICC). In addition to representing clients
as counsel in arbitrations, Sherina
regularly sits as an arbitrator. She also
has significant experience in Alternative
Dispute Resolutions, high court litigations
and regulatory investigations.

Sherina’s love for the law began when she
was in school and when she would hear
her father and grandfather both leading
Solicitors in Mumbai discussing issues. “I
used to really look forward to the school
summer holidays when my father would
take me to his office. He always sounded
immensely intelligent and I was intrigued
at how authoritatively he would speak and
clients would listen with respect. “That’s
when I decided - I wanted to be just like
my dad”.

62 SynergyZ December, 2014