The corporate and commercial legal world is an intricate web of complex business laws, complicated judicial procedures, and intensely daunting industry Acts, rules, and regulations. Further, to keep pace with the changing constant of time, everything in this realm keeps evolving, sometimes slowly; however, at times like the pandemic, quickly and dramatically.

A person looking for some semblance of simplicity in the quagmire of hard documents’ paperwork and the cesspool of newly adopted smart online courting might feel like a confused character searching for their way through the highly challenging sci-fi-like mesh, akin to a bamboozling science fiction film.

In the ever-looming maze of mind-numbing legalities, Matrix Law is helping everyone in finding out simplest solutions to all their business issues. Thus, it has become the most trusted business legal advisor.

Established and guided by Sunny Sablok, the Founder, Matrix Law–a boutique corporate and commercial law firm–offers end-to-end legal solutions to corporates and individuals on general corporate advisory, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity and investments, banking and finance, capital markets, fund formation and investments, technology and media, infrastructure, real estate and dispute resolution.

Sunny is a corporate lawyer with a deep interest in M&A, capital markets, VC investing, and private equity. He has a successful track record in advising start-ups as well as listed corporates across various industries in India.

Sunny shares, “As an advisor to senior executives, board members, founders and CEOs, I work closely with business teams, legal teams and stakeholders to align and implement their business and corporate goals by providing accurate, sound and solution-oriented legal advice.”

A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law from the Government Law College, Mumbai, Sunny has 15+ years of experience in the field of corporate law, focussing on everything from M&A to general corporate advisory.

In an interview with CIOLook India, Sunny briefly spoke about his journey, ambitions, goals, and plans regarding Matrix Law to simplify corporate and commercial law for his current and future clients. The highlights of the enlightening discussion are given herein.

Tell us about your journey into the legal space.

The motivation and the ability to serve clients and help them navigate through their complex issues seamlessly have always been there. During graduation, I actively participated in societies and moot courts. It gave me further insights into envisioning my own future. After graduation, I joined Vaish Associates, Advocates, as an Associate. There, I used to assist in advising clients on raising capital from international markets using a combination of the FCCB and GDR instruments.  My experience there in Capital Markets, Infrastructure Project Finance, and General Corporate Advisory substantiated my decision to aid corporates and individuals further in business legalities.

After that, I worked as a Senior Associate at AZB & Partners. There, in M&A, I advised on Securities and Corporate Law issues related to corporate law requirements, takeover codes and other securities laws issues. And also worked in Banking and Structured Finance by assisting in advising clients on various issues arising under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and other allied laws, advising on the foreign exchange regulations pertaining to investments/transactions in the banking sector, and advising on legal and regulatory issues in relation to asset reconstruction. Further, in the Capital Market domain, I assisted in advising clients on pre- and post-legal compliances/obligations of the issuing company under the disclosure and investor protection guidelines, conducting legal and due diligence of issuing companies prior to the filing of the offer document/prospectus with the SEBI, ROC and the stock exchange, and advising clients on insider trading regulations, delisting guidelines and other allied laws framed by the SEBI from time to time.

Afterwards, I worked as a Senior Consultant in London, UK, again in the Banking and Structured Finance domain by providing advisory services to non-banking financial companies, including issues related to the applicable capitalization norms, registration requirements etc., assisting in advising banks on various issues relating to corporate guarantees, securitization of receivables, discounting and financing options, and advising housing finance companies in transactions relating to securitization of housing loans.

Furthermore, I became Deputy Manager at Delloite Haskins & Sells and honed my skills in the Private Equity and HR laws domains. Then I joined Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (Times Group) as a Chief Manager working in M&A, Private Equity, and Joint Ventures/Commercial Collaboration domains before opening up my own firm Matrix Law in February 2015.

Please tell us about your firm Matrix Law in detail.

Being a boutique corporate and commercial law firm offering end-to-end legal solutions to corporates and individuals, Matrix Law focuses on providing commercially sound and pragmatic legal advice while ensuring regulatory and statutory compliance. We offer clients a constructive approach to fulfilling their targets and strategic business objectives.

We work closely with each client to understand the practical aspects of their business.  This way, the firm can analyse clients’ problems commercially and provide practical advice and services. Matrix Laws skills are particularly suited to the needs of those clients who demand quick and specialized professional services.

Our spectrum of experience encompasses advising on general corporate advisory, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity and investments, banking and finance, capital markets, fund formation and investments, technology and media, infrastructure, real estate etc.

We have co-operative arrangements with various Indian and International law firms and membership with Indian and International organizations. We leverage such networks swiftly to the advantage of our clients.

What kind of services do you provide to your clients? What are your USPs?

We are a boutique corporate and commercial law firm serving clients across all industries and sectors. We have a strong practice in mergers/acquisitions, VC funding, private equity, transaction, business restructuring and intellectual property rights.

What kind of challenges have you faced while entering the legal space?

Marketing a law firm is the biggest challenge while running a law firm. Getting the initial set of clients is the difficult part. Since advertising is restricted for lawyers, most work comes from word of mouth. Presently a lot of law firms use newsletters, articles and other knowledge series in order to drive business.

What is the technological impact on the legal industry, and how are you adapting to it as an individual and a firm?

Technology has played a pivotal role in the legal industry in the last couple of years. With the advent of technology, lawyers have access to the software and products that are helping law firms in going through documents, doing research and utilizing all CRM platforms for billing and timekeeping etc. All of this is helping law firms save time and get more work done in the process.

What would you like to advise the young generation of legal enthusiasts?

There is no substitute for hard work, honesty and integrity. Choose your area of interest as early as possible and be a subject matter expert in that area.

Where do you envision your firm to be in the long run, and what are your future goals?

Our goal is to be the preferred law firm for clients who are looking for sound, pragmatic and timely legal advice with a solution-oriented approach.