A second-generation lawyer, Ms Heena Bilawala has been practising as an Advocate and Solicitor in the Mumbai High Court for the last 31 years and is also qualified to practise as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of England & Wales. Heena specialises in Banking, Commercial Law, Conveyancing for Commercial Property & Real Estate, Testamentary Matters (contentious and non-contentious), Trust Laws and Rent and Lease Arrangements, Heena believes in being leading her team by example and seeks to be an empathetic leader so as to keep her team motivated. Heena prides hereself to be a good interpersonal communicator and a Patient leader but with tenacity & flexibility whilst also having an insatiable appetite to improve with a creative, responsible and a dependable approach
BORN IN A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
Leadership and entrepreneurial spirit run in the genealogy of Heena. Her father, Mr S.K. Bilawala, established Bilawala & Co. in 1964 as a sole proprietor firm. In a decade and a half old young country, such entrepreneurial decisions were rare and courageous. Elaborating on how that decision has now spawned a legacy, Heena says, “It was a brave and daunting decision at thetime. Infact, his vision and his passion for the law inspired me to study the subject and qualify as a Solicitor as well. The legal profession is a part of our DNA and I am excited that my son, who is now a lawyer and my nephew, is also studying to be a lawyer, are the next generation that propose to take my Dad’s legacy forward”.
GENERATIONAL EVOLUTION OF LEADERSHIP
Heena admits that several lessons were passed down to her by her father, but she was an independent thinker to ensure the growth of the firm. “Growing up in a family with a father who was a lawyer-entrepreneur, discussing legal challenges at the breakfast and dinner table, gave me a wonderful insight into the profession. Through this daily osmosis, both my brother and I had no doubts on the profession we chose”, she says.
Today, Heena and her brother Ayaz have grown the firm from a small enterprise of 15 people to a reputed firm of over 75 persons. Heena herself handles a direct staff including 12 lawyers and 12 paralegals in the said firm. Heena is proud to state that all lawyers in her team are only women, as she understands the challenges thrown to women attempting to succeed in any profession including the legal profession.
Heena originally started out as a litigating Solicitor. Having been before various courts, helped her immensely to think on her feet, strategize effectively and thrive under pressure. This holistic experience helped sharpen her legal acumen which has held her in good stead over the years.
About 22 years ago, Heena spotted an opportunity and started out by helping Standard Chartered Bank (when it was the erstwhile ANZ Grindlays Bank) with their Home Loans and Loan against Property requirements. That industry then was at its nascent stages in the late 90s and early 2000s. The mortgage industry has since grown and she claims that she has grown with them and now she is associated with almost 30 banking and finance Companies as clients, helping and advising them on the marketability of the security, that is being offered. “Today, I can proudly say that I have helped several client, right from their inception to what they are today, with timely and appropriate advice”.
LEADERSHIP IS MEASURED BY INTEGRITY
To succeed as a leader, you need to steer your ship with integrity, according to Heena.Leaderswho demonstrate integrity, garner trust and respect amongst their colleagues. Heena adds that “Mere integrity is not enough and that needs to be supplemented with a personal touch”. Heena’s boutique firm strives to provide each of their clients with that very personal touch. Many years ago, Heena was scoffed atfor a conservative approach by a client who said “Heena, we are in the business of “money” and money is a risk, so allow us to take the risk”. Heena, though, stuck to her beliefs. She adds, “My view is very simple - after all, when her banking and finance company clients are dealing with public monies, they, both the clients and the public monieshave to be protected at all times and I consider it my utmost responsibility to provide this protection in terms of timely and strategic advice”. Heena strives to ensure that her clients’interests are not compromised in any manner whatsoever. “Being a lady lawyer and a leader is surely a job wrought with sacrifices and challenges, but again when you take up a commitment on behalf of someone, no matter your personal trials and tribulations, you have to sincerely fulfil the commitment, no matter what”, says Heena while describing her job and journey. She believes that no job is big or small and every job requires the same level of dedication and has to be done as well. Heena quotes that “I endeavour to lead by example and to inspire my team to do their best in every endeavour irrespective of the size of the assignment”
OVERCOMING LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES
There are plenty of internal and external forces that can throw obstacles in your path, but a true leader always rises upto the occassion. With changing times, the types of challenges leaders face also change, but leaders are dynamic and resilient. Heena speaks about how she manages her professional challenges and is also grateful to her family for supporting her always, “Lawyers provide service and like in any service industry, it is gruelling. There are long hours that one has to keep, to ensure timely service and deliverables to the clients. Apart from the deadlines and timely deliverables, I need to keep abreast with the changing laws, to be able to provide appropriate advice”. Heena quotes a statement made in 1929 by United States Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, “The law is a jealous mistress and requires a long and constant courtship. It is not to be won by trifling favours, but by lavish homage”. She adds, “In fact, this is one of the very first lessons I learnt when I started my journey as a lawyer”
A NEVER – ENDING LEARNING PROCESS
Heena says that leadership is a process of constant learning and self reflection. One has to lead and learn every day. Every small and big endeavour is a step to becoming a more successful leader. Heena too took on several such endeavours at the beginning of her career to get a more rounded understanding of her profession. “I wanted to understand ‘the other side’ of the profession i.e. the role of an in-house lawyer vis-à-vis a lawyer in a private practice”, she says, adding that the experience proved invaluable as it helped her in building a bridge between business and legal processes. Explaining how she implemented it in her career, Heena adds, “It helped me understand the importance of, being a business partner and a business enabler, rather than rely on armchair lawyering. As a partner of a law firm, I consider it critical to understand my client's business needs and to create structures through a solution-driven approach which helps them achieve their goals within the legal framework and tight timelines”.
As the conversation veers towards her professional approach and working style, Heena says, “I take a practical and commercial view in my approach but keep it well within the realms of the law. Mostly in private practise, you tend to specialise in specific practise areas. My field of specialization, is banking,property and corporate commercial matters and its evolution.
The commercial mindset that Heena developed working with her clients helped her increaseher client base, whilst continuing to work closely with their inhouse legal teams, almost as an extension of their team. She sums up the invaluable importance of this experience by saying, “Each of the companies that I worked with was very unique and my work experience helped build a strong foundation of being a lawyer with a commercial solution-focused mindset”.This journey has helped forge several relationships and friendships which are ever lasting, she adds.
THE PRICE OF LEADERSHIP IS CRITICISM
Aside from her banking and real estate work, some other domains that Heena has worked in include Power and Natural Gas in the Middle East, Shipping in the UK and a variouscorporate conglomerates across the world. In her over-three-decade-long journey, Heena has taken the accolades and brickbats in her stride, without compromising on her self-worth. The best leaders, Heena says, are clear and concise, and let their work speak for them. “”Every client comes with their unique issues and I try to ensure that I do not let any of them down”, she says, adding that “making a conscious effort to walk the talk is one of the most critical factors in a good leader’s life. Also whilst women are making headway in every field, nonetheless they have to walk that extra mile to prove for their metal or their work to be taken seriously. At the end of the day, being a lawyer is tough and a Leader is tougher, and challenging but also extremely gratifying and satisfying to help shape decisions and lives”
LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS Independent Thinking in Growth
While inheriting valuable lessons from previous generations, leaders must also exhibit independent thinking to drive growth and innovation. The ability to steer their endeavours towards expansion and reputation enhancement underscores the importance of blending tradition with innovation in leadership.
Integrity as a Leadership Pillar
Integrity forms the cornerstone of effective leadership, fostering trust and respect among colleagues and clients alike. Commitment to upholding ethical standards in professional endeavors demonstrates the significance of integrity in garnering credibility and reliability as a leader.
Resilience in Overcoming Challenges
True leaders exhibit resilience in navigating through internal and external challenges. Perseverance in managing professional hurdles underscores the dynamic and resilient nature of leadership, where adaptability and tenacity are paramount for success.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation
Leadership is a continuous learning process, requiring leaders to adapt and evolve with changing circumstances. A proactive approach to learning and diverse experiences exemplify the importance of continuous self-improvement in leadership development.
Acceptance of Criticism and Self-Validation
The journey of leadership often comes with criticism and challenges, but true leaders remain steadfast in their convictions while embracing constructive feedback. The ability to handle criticism with grace and maintain professional integrity highlights the importance of self-validation and resilience in leadership.
