The concurrent business times seem like a constantly confusing maze. Every entrepreneur’s core desire is straightforward: to create a successful experience while maintaining their peace of mind by emerging from this muddle triumphantly. Unfortunately, this clarity is under constant threat from the dense complexity of law and compliance. Businesses seeking global expansion or developing efficiencies in their contribution to national growth are hopelessly ensnared in a frustrating web of regulatory challenges to gaining focus and momentum. This era of legal complexity required a paradigm-shifting answer – a guiding hand to cut through the noise.
Stepping into this void is Shilpa Sharma, Founder and Managing Partner at Counsel & Council, a visionary who refuses to accept legal burden as inevitable. Her mission is to restore that elusive peace of mind to the business community.
In her own resonant words, she articulates the core ethos of her firm, “When clients come to us, we know that above everything else, they are looking for that peace of mind to do what they do best: successfully running their businesses. And that’s what we offer to them. Becoming their friends in all their legal needs for life.”
Shilpa is more than a legal advisor; she is a Pillar of Justice-2025, transforming the legal function from a necessary evil into a genuine partnership. She is the strategic leader who ensures that the nation’s most audacious entrepreneurs can devote their energy entirely to innovation, comfortable in the knowledge that their legal footing is impenetrable. Her mission is to create certainty in an uncertain world, and she is therefore the ultimate supporter and friend to every company on their journey to success.
Discovery of Purpose: From Summer Job to Legal Calling
Shilpa’s entry into the legal profession was, by her own admission, “somewhat unexpected.” After completing her English literature exams, she was simply seeking a summer job when she landed a position assisting a distinguished tax lawyer. Watching him operate was a revelation. She was immediately fascinated by his ability to make every case interesting, expertly interpreting and applying complex laws to guide his clients.
This firsthand observation sparked a deep and unexpected interest. She felt she had discovered her true passion. She chose to pursue a law degree concurrently while continuing to work alongside him, mastering the intricate details of legal practice. “It felt like I had discovered my true passion. The rest, as they say, is history.” This mentorship and practical immersion became the transformative engine that propelled her into the legal field.
Guiding Philosophy: Solutions, Integrity, and Happiness
As one of India’s transformational legal leaders, Shilpa’s success is rooted in a guiding philosophy that transcends mere legal precedent. Her key principles are: staying true to her values, relentless learning, and focusing on solutions.
She embraces the truth that in a rapidly evolving field, adaptability is paramount. For her, practicing law is not about simply quoting legal sections; it’s about finding practical, real-world solutions to a client’s business challenges using the law as a tool. “My guiding philosophy is simple: serve others with integrity, keep learning, and always strive for excellence in everything I do.”
She firmly believes that success is measured not just by personal achievement, but by the positive impact she makes and the strength of the lasting relationships she builds.
Ahead of the Curve: Innovation and Digital Service
Recognizing that “law must be stable, but it must not stand still,” Shilpa ensures that Counsel & Council remains adaptable and ahead of industry trends. She invests heavily in continuous education—reading, attending seminars, and engaging with experts.
The firm’s most significant innovation lies in its operating model: working primarily online. After the initial in-person meeting, all non-litigation work is handled remotely, utilizing seamless digital platforms like Teams and Zoom. This approach drastically reduces overhead costs and eliminates the need for hourly billing. “We offer more value for money with flat-fee arrangements, allowing clients to save on legal costs while still receiving high-quality legal and business solutions within agreed timelines.” By leveraging AI-based solutions and embracing the flexibility of remote work, Shilpa has created a model that boosts team productivity and delivers efficient, innovative, tech-driven services.
Leadership as Friendship: The Power of Long-Term Value
Shilpa’s leadership style is characterized by a commitment to building lasting relationships, both internally and externally. She leads by example, showcasing integrity, hard work, and genuine passion. She genuinely regards her clients as “friends for life.”
This approach creates a powerful, self-sustaining growth loop: when clients transition to new roles or companies, they consistently return to Counsel & Council. “When you take care of clients like this, the relationship grows naturally. There’s no need to ‘sell’ your services; it is word of mouth and all about the value you bring and the trust you build.” For her, networking is not a transactional pursuit but an opportunity to build a community based on trust and mutual respect. By treating clients like friends and delivering practical, result-driven solutions with integrity, Shilpa ensures loyalty and long-term partnership.
Tech Acceleration: The Super-Powered Assistant
Shilpa’s commitment to efficiency means technology is paramount at Counsel & Council. She leverages AI-driven tools for fast legal research and document automation, treating technology like a “super-powered assistant” that saves significant time and resources. Communication is streamlined through secure, cloud-based platforms like Teams and Zoom, offering clients easy virtual consultations and saving travel costs—”like having a lawyer in your pocket.”
By combining legal knowledge with these technological tools, the firm drastically reduces repetitive work, optimizing processes. “By combining our legal knowledge with technology, we streamline processes, reduce repetitive work, and offer more efficient solutions… time is money. So we save both!” For Shilpa, staying ahead isn’t just about adopting tools; it’s about making legal practice smarter, faster, and more effective.
Resilience and Innovation: The Tech-Enabled Triumph
Shilpa’s leadership was profoundly tested during a complex, high-stakes merger involving a tech start-up that was suddenly threatened by a supplier’s lawsuit. Recognizing that traditional litigation would destroy the merger’s timeline and cost the client millions, she engineered an inventive escape: “tech-enabled mediation.”
Instead of a drawn-out settlement fight, she leveraged AI to model potential outcomes and used Virtual Reality (VR) simulations to show both parties how their dispute would play out over five years in a rapidly evolving market. This immersive experience highlighted the self-defeating nature of the litigation. The result was a swift, out-of-court settlement that saved the merger.
“Resilience isn’t just about weathering the storm; it is about leveraging the tools at our disposal, thinking outside the box, and transforming a potential setback into an opportunity for innovation.”
This case cemented her philosophy that legal leaders must adapt the resolution process to the changing business landscape.
The Vision for the Future: Confidence and Commercial Sense
For aspiring legal professionals, Shilpa offers a grounded antidote to the glamorous but inaccurate depiction of law found in TV series like Suits: “do not go by a herd mentality.” She advises immersion through multiple internships, attending court hearings, and speaking to experienced lawyers to truly identify their interests. The formula remains hard work and destiny.
Her vision for Counsel & Council is anchored in three C’s: Confidence, Competence, and Commercial Sense. Her mission is to cut through legal complexity and deliver solutions that are practical and efficient, using AI and automation to provide quicker, cost-effective service. “We are also committed to making legal services accessible to everyone… we aim to make the law work for you—not the other way around.” Shilpa Sharma’s goal is to ensure that legal challenges are seamlessly transformed into growth opportunities for every business.
For further assistance, please connect with Shilpa Sharma, Founder & Managing Partner of Counsel & Council, via:
~Phone: 9820072954, 9820070950.
~Email: shilpa.sharma@counselandcouncil.com.
~Website: www.counselandcouncil.com.
