In the contemporary legal landscape, leadership is often defined by legacy or aggressive expansion. However, Sushila Ram Varma, who is the Chief Legal Consultant and Co-Founder of The Indian Lawyer & Allied Services, has built her career on completely different values: accessibility, ethical rigor and persistent courage. Her journey from growing up with a business focus in Darjeeling to running a Law Firm reflects a shift in how legal services can be delivered and led. She has been awarded several awards, both national and international and has appeared on the cover pages of several magazines and is a known face in the legal fraternity.
Foundations of Nature and Entrepreneurship
Sushila’s foundational approach to leadership was shaped by her childhood in Eastern India. She grew up in a business-oriented family in Darjeeling, where entrepreneurship was not just a career path but a fundamental aspect of daily life. This upbringing, closely connected to the resources and values of nature, instilled in her a deep respect for order and sustainability that later became her professional ethics.
Initially, Sushila intended to use her legal studies simply as a foundation for a career in business management. However, the subject matter itself proved far more compelling than she anticipated. Her father, who believed that a solid understanding of law was essential for any business leader, encouraged her to continue. What began as a strategic stepping stone evolved into a lasting commitment as she recognized how profoundly legal structures shape people’s lives, businesses and society as a whole.
A Legacy of Mentorship and Discipline
Sushila’s professional development was shaped by the high-stakes legal environments in Delhi and Mumbai. For over thirty years, she has tackled a wide range of work, including advising Indian and foreign clients, handling transactional and corporate work, litigation, mediating disputes and managing both domestic and international arbitration. This diverse portfolio was built under the guidance of the most respected figures in Indian law.
Sushila often mentions her influential mentors, such as Late Shri Ram Jethmalani and Late Shri Arun Jaitley, as well as advocates like Mr. Harish Salve. She considers Mr. M. S. Ganesh, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court, as her main “professional guru”. From him, Sushila learned that meticulous preparation and uncompromising standards are the non-negotiable pillars of a successful practice. These early exposures taught her courtroom discipline and strategic thinking, giving her the essential skills to lead an organization that successfully connects legal theory with real-world business demands.
The Evolution of The Indian Lawyer & Allied Services
When Sushila co-founded The Indian Lawyer in 2011, the mission was simple: to remove the fear associated with seeking legal help. She began as an online legal platform, believing that accessibility would empower people.
As the work expanded, Sushila realized that clients needed comprehensive, end-to-end legal support. That is how The Indian Lawyer & Allied Services evolved into a full-service, PAN-India law firm that has a global presence. The founding principles have remained constant: reliability, responsibility and resourcefulness.
Alongside active legal practice, Sushila has also extended her mission of legal awareness through digital channels. She manages The Indian Lawyer Blog (https://theindianlawyer.in/blog) which focuses on knowledge-sharing and a YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@theindianlawyerlegaltips) dedicated to legal tips. For her, these initiatives are essential for mentorship and ensuring access to justice remains central to the Firm’s identity. She also feels that there is a huge gap between the common man and the law and endeavours to bridge this gap by sharing knowledge in simple and understandable language, thereby allowing the common man access to law and legal justice.
Overcoming Barriers in a Male-Dominated Field
Entering a male-dominated profession in the 1990s presented significant hurdles for Mrs. Sushila, particularly as a first-generation lawyer, without relying on family connections in the field. She however did not allow anything to intimidate her and continued with a clear-cut goal of finding her place in the legal world.
To navigate these challenges, Mrs. Varma relied on what she describes as “courage” and “resilience”. She views setbacks not as endpoints but as opportunities to grow through uncertainty. Her approach to leadership emphasizes that obstacles are inevitable and the difference lies in the persistence applied to overcome them. By maintaining an unwavering commitment to honesty and hard work, Mrs. Sushila built a reputation for credibility, ethics and trust.
Current Strategy and Future Vision
In her current role as Chief Legal Consultant, Ms. Varma oversees legal strategy, complex advisory matters, quality control, mentorship and the long-term vision of the Firm. “We are currently expanding our model through structured negotiations, compliance audits, contract management services and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, enabling clients to avoid disputes rather than merely react to them”. She remarks.
Ms. Sushila sees herself not only as a lawyer but as a custodian of ethics, culture and responsibility towards clients, young professionals and society. She also views herself as a leader, guiding young professionals to better their lot and that, in turn, will raise the bar of the Indian legal profession.
Ms. Sushila envisions the Firm becoming a globally recognized Indian Law Firm known for trust, ethics, innovation and impact. Her role is increasingly focused on mentorship, thought leadership and institutional growth.
Resilience as a Personal and Professional Standard
Maintaining a balance in such a demanding role is achieved through a combination of discipline and family support. Sushila credits her Husband and Co-Founder, Dr. M. Shrikanth Varma, as her primary support system. For her, work-life balance is not a passive state but a result of structured routines and a clear sense of purpose
She maintains that the most important quality for any leader is honesty in intention. Women leaders continue to face stereotypes and bias, but self-belief, discipline and resilience help overcome these barriers. According to Sushila, leadership is not about competing with others; it is about competing with oneself every day and bringing out the best.
Advice to Aspiring Women Leaders and Entrepreneurs
Sushila’s advice to aspiring women in the industry is direct: do not wait for external validation. She encourages women entrepreneurs to treat failures as lessons and to understand that leadership today is not merely about entering existing spaces, but about reshaping them to fit a new vision of ethics and service.
The journey of Sushila Ram Varma demonstrates that leadership in the legal sector is defined less by traditional entry points and more by the persistence to reshape the industry from within. She has successfully managed to make complex legal details accessible, offering clear and straightforward advice.
Discover more exclusive interviews at Carina Wessels: Leading with Resilience and Purpose in the Governance and Impact Landscape
