Interview with: Shiv Mangal Sharma, Managing Partner

Shiv Mangal Sharma, Managing Partner at Aura & Co. and the current Additional Advocate General for Rajasthan, shares how his courtroom-first approach, deep government interface, and technology-driven innovation are shaping the firm’s next chapter.

 

What do you see as the main points that differentiate your firm from your competitors?

Aura & Co. distinguishes itself through a courtroom-first approach, driven by its deep engagement with public institutions and complex constitutional matters. As the current Additional Advocate General for the State of Rajasthan and Panel Counsel to the Government of India and Government of Madhya Pradesh, I bring frontline experience in shaping litigation strategy before the Supreme Court and various High Courts. Unlike volume-driven firms, our boutique model ensures hands-on partner involvement, precision advocacy, and custom legal solutions. Clients value not only our outcome-oriented litigation but also our discreet advisory for government-facing compliance and regulatory frameworks.

 

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

We foresee balanced growth across several strategic practice areas. Regulatory litigation, insolvency and restructuring, and public law advisory are seeing strong momentum due to evolving policy landscapes, stricter compliance requirements, and government reforms. There’s increasing demand for expert representation in matters involving environmental regulation, constitutional challenges, and administrative law. At the same time, sectors like real estate and infrastructure continue to require legal intervention due to complex land laws, urban development issues, and distressed asset transactions. We are also witnessing heightened client interest in preventive legal audits, compliance structuring, and tender-related advisory, especially from PSUs and institutions navigating public procurement and statutory obligations. Our multi-pronged litigation expertise allows us to support growth across these verticals effectively.

 

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

We’ve restructured the firm around cross-functional litigation cells—bringing together teams from real estate, insolvency, regulatory, and constitutional law to develop integrated case strategies. This has enhanced our ability to offer end-to-end legal oversight on multifaceted disputes. We’ve also formalized a senior counsel collaboration model for opinion benchmarking, which gives our clients added confidence in high-stakes matters, especially those involving public policy or PILs. This strategic realignment ensures each client benefits from both depth and diversity in legal thinking.

 

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Absolutely—and not just in operations, but in our mission itself. We’ve launched [www.elegal.solutions](http://www.elegal.solutions), a specialized digital platform that combines document automation, case tracking, knowledge management, and virtual consultation. This initiative is part of our broader goal to democratize legal access and enhance client control over their legal matters. Internally, we’ve adopted AI-based legal research tools, cloud-based filing systems, and secure virtual hearing infrastructure. Our clients now receive real-time updates and can collaborate with us remotely—bringing greater transparency, efficiency, and agility to every matter.

 

What makes your client relationships long-lasting in a competitive legal market?

Our strongest relationships are built on discretion, consistency, and an understanding that not every problem needs a public fight. Many of our clients—whether companies, institutions, or promoters—seek quiet, effective resolution rather than headline victories. We offer partner-led attention and stay involved through every stage, from pre-dispute strategy to final enforcement. This long-term view has turned one-off cases into decade-long associations where we serve as both legal advisors and strategic sounding boards.

 

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Yes—clients today expect their law firms to provide not only legal services but also foresight, discretion, and institutional strength. Over the next three years, we aim to consolidate our position as a premier litigation and advisory firm focused on constitutional law, regulatory disputes, and public-sector litigation. We plan to grow our technology-enabled services through eLegal Solutions, expand our pro bono efforts in PILs and access-to-justice matters, and deepen our involvement in government advisory. While we scale thoughtfully, we remain anchored in our core values—personal attention, ethical rigor, and outcome-focused advocacy.