The Indian IP and Legal industry have been a male-dominated sector for years. For years, the sector has seen a huge boost in terms of opportunities, clients, and more lawyers choosing the practice. Pooja Acharya, Director, H K Acharya and Company is one of those diligent and hardworking leaders, who irrespective of her background in Science, chose the legal sector as a professional career. Her continuous hard work and effort to stay updated with the ever-evolving sector has made Pooja a well-known name in the male-dominated IP law sector. In an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur, Pooja shares her responsibilities at H K Acharya and Company, what keeps her abreast of the ever-evolving IP Law sector, and much more.

Shed Some Light On Your Early Educational And The Prior Industry Experience. What Motivated You To Venture Into The Field Of Law And Specialize As An IP Law Professional?

After my early education at Kendriya Vidhyala, I did my  graduation from St. Xavier’s College, Ahmadabad, and then my  Master's and Law from Gujarat University. I love communicating with people and at 21 years old, always wanted to go for an off-beat profession. My science background as well as the art of advocacy motivated me to venture into the legal fraternity. As an IPR law professional, I offer solutions based on my academic knowledge and temperament. I also provide equitable solutions regarding branding, expanding a business by putting myself in the shoes of their targeted consumers.

Give Us A Brief Overview Of H K Acharya And Company. In Your Opinion, What Are The Evolutions That Are Going To Take Place In The Indian IP And Patent Advisory Industry In The Near Future?

H K Acharya & Company is a boutique IP service provider offering services in prosecution, litigation, and  oppositions proceedings in every domain and sector of intellectual Properties. We proudly serve various fortune  500 companies in India and abroad. Serving for 45 years with an employee strength of more than 200 including intellectuals, lawyers, doctorates, experts from various fields of engineering and pharmaceuticals, we are one of the most prominent IP offices in India and are fondly known as the HK family.

Since its inception, the Indian IP fraternity has come a long way. As compared to the time we began our journey, I see more agility, more adaptability, and more awareness in the IP industry today. From Patent Prosecution to grant, litigation and judgments, and all other procedures falling under it have been streamlined, available online, making the whole process more user-friendly. The increase in the number of IP filings in India itself shows that we have evolved as an industry together and are serving at par with the IP offices abroad.

What Are The Various Roles & Responsibilities That You Currently At H K Acharya And Company? What Are Some Of The Most Challenges That You Had Faced And How Do You Overcome Them?

As the Director, my roles and responsibilities at H K Acharya and Company include addressing clients' issues and matters of a highly technical nature alongside administering the office. I prefer to meet my clients personally for understanding the matter at hand to openly discuss and then advise accordingly in the most rightful manner. The most challenging aspect of the job has been keeping myself abreast of the latest trends and developments in the IPR regime. Going through Litigation matters, conducting Court hearings by myself daily helps me stay updated.

What Have Been The Most Significant Milestones That You Have Achieved So Far? What Has Been The Driving Force Behind Your Successful Journey As A Professional?

Whether big or small, each of the milestones achieved by me along with my team has been very significant for me. Since we address our profession as a “Practice”, learning and experiencing new challenges are very important. For me, getting invited as a speaker and member for both private as well as government organizations and being considered a recognized name as a Women Entrepreneur and also in the field of IPR which is mostly a male dominating sector itself is a milestone. There is a long list of people, who are dear to me, are my guiding force behind this journey, especially my husband who is also an IP Professional, my family, and everyone in the HK family.

How Do You Keep Yourself Abreast Of The Evolutions Occurring Within Your Respective Field Of Work? Any Bits Of Advice To Young Women And Girls Aspiring To Become Business Leaders And Entrepreneurs In The Future?

Since Knowledge is the key, we conduct periodic knowledge sessions in our office for all the professionals to keep them updated on the various developments in every aspect of law. Even taking some extra time for learning, going through the daily developments by perusing the new judgments that are being passed by various courts, and researching the issues help us stay updated. Further, we are also thankful to the IP Office India and IP divisions at courts for conducting various stakeholders' meetings and taking inputs from the professionals like us into consideration.

The advice I would like to give to young women and budding entrepreneurs is not to be afraid of challenges. You learn the quickest and the best when you are put through a challenge. In such situations, there will be many options for you to quit or change your path, but just stand still, let it come through, and wake your inner fighter up. Don’t forget, you are a born Durga!

Pooja Acharya, Director, H K Acharya & Company

After an academic background in Science, Pooja Acharya chose IP legal sector as a professional career and her consistent hard work has made her one of the successful lawyers in a male-dominated IP legal sector. Apart from her role as the director at H K Acharya and Company, Pooja has been using her knowledge and experience in IPR law and legal matters to help her clients with IP-related issues.

•Educational Qualification: M.Sc., LL.B, •Educational Qualification: M.Sc., LL.B, PGDIPR

•Services Provided By Firm: Boutique IP services; Advocates, Patents and Trademarks Attorneys, Copyrights, Design, Licensing, Cyber Laws, IP Litigation, IP Valuation, IP Commercialization, IP Due Diligence, Domain Name Dispute Resolution, Corporate Laws, Geographical Indication.