Advocate and Independent Legal Counsel, BGK Law Associates
Achiever's Success Story
Self-Belief And Hard Work Will Always Earn You Success
Dr. Gopalakrishnan Balakrishna, founder of BGK Law Associates, a boutique Law firm in Mumbai. Dr. Gopalakrishnan during his career has successfully played the role of Tax Lawyer to that of an Inhouse Counsel of India’s third largest Bank and thereafter serving the banking industries for approximately 29 years and getting back to set up a Law Firm with an intention to mentor young and restless minds in the field of Law.
Dr. Gopalakrishnan has approximately 40 years of experience in the field of Corporate Laws. He started its practise as a lawyer at a very young age with his Father and Guru who was a leading Tax Advocate. Thereafter in his urge to dwell deep into the field of Corporate Law, he shifted to Mumbai (‘Bombay’ as it was called) and joined the then Unit Trust of India (UTI), a statutory corporation having monopoly in mutual funds business with a rare combination of also functioning as a term lending institution. He joined UTI in the middle management.
With an introduction of the Consumer Protection Act coupled with the stock market mayhem due to Harshad Mehta’s scam, UTI’s master game scheme became a hit. Consequently, it also saddled UTI with thousands of cases alleging deficiency. Dr. Gopalakrishnan dealt the same efficiently and dealt most of the case out of court and amicably settled with the complainants.
When UTI started India’s first technology based Private bank to spurl the liberalisation introduced in 1991, Dr. Gopalakrishnan set up the Law Department at the then UTI Bank now known as Axis Bank. He rose in the said institution to lead the Law Department and was designated as the President and Head of Law Department, Axis Bank.
Thereafter after demitting his office from Axis Bank, his attention fell on the asset reconstruction company and he joined India’s first and then largest Asset Reconstruction Company of India Limited (Arcil) as Advisor Legal and HR.
His urge to do things differently and his out-of the box thinking attitude inspired and prompted him to take a plunge and set up a Law Firm, BGK Law Associates. His area of practise includes General Corporate, Banking and Finance, Corporate Law, Legal Documentation, Arbitration, Recovery and Litigation including appearing before High Court, NCLT, NCLAT, RERA, Consumer Forum, SAT, DRT, DRAT, etc.
His achievement and expertise are not limited to advisory or litigation alone. He is also a transaction lawyer and is involved in documentation and advising and opining on committee of creditors on various issues.
He has penned more than 50 articles and continues to do so in the field of banking and commercial law. He believes that one is bound to give back the society and therefore he shares the vast knowledge and experience which he has gathered from all these years of practice with the budding lawyers by acting as Guest Lecturer and a part time visiting faculty in many law schools and law universities.
His qualification includes B.A., LL.B., LL.M. and Doctorate in Law (Ph.D) and also Certificate Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School, , Conferred Honorary D.Litt in the specialized area of Law by the Commonwealth Voca1ional University, Kingdom of Tonga, Diploma in International Law, London School of Economics, Certificate course on Intellectual Property, Trademark, Copyright from IIPS, Executive MBA in Human Resources, National School of Business Management.
He believes that he has a long way to go and always optimistic in his approach and his aim is to find solutions to complex legal issues. And above all he is a highly motivated Leader who mentors the young generation. He believes that Success is in Teamwork.