Pallavi S. Shroff’s journey in the legal profession is a testament to perseverance and resilience in the face of deeply rooted gender biases. When she started her career in 1981, the courtroom was a predominantly male space, with only a handful of women arguing cases. She recalls that while the environment wasn’t overtly hostile, it was undoubtedly challenging. Judges would often question her presence, assuming she was waiting for a senior male lawyer, and clients preferred her male colleagues over her for complex legal consultations. Despite these hurdles, Shroff carved her place as one of India’s top corporate litigators, bringing a unique blend of legal acumen and unwavering determination.
Her personal life reflects the challenges faced by working women who strive to balance professional aspirations with family responsibilities. Juggling roles as a mother, wife, and legal professional, she speaks of the unpredictability of her days, especially when her daughters were young and unwell. There was no fixed routine, only a constant need to prioritize what mattered most at any given moment. This balancing act, she notes, was made easier by the support of her husband, who treated her as an equal partner—not by pampering her, but by standing with her as a true companion.
Despite her achievements, Shroff is candid about the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership positions within the legal system. She highlights the fact that there is currently only one woman judge in the Supreme Court and emphasizes the need for greater representation of women at the High Court level to drive systemic change. According to her, many women either exit the profession too early or miss out on timely promotions, not necessarily due to bias alone, but also due to structural and timing-related issues.
To young women entering the legal field, Shroff offers practical and honest advice. She underscores the importance of commitment, stating that the legal profession is not suited for part-time engagement. Success requires consistency, determination, and a readiness to face challenges daily. She also acknowledges the existence of unconscious bias—not just among men, but among women too—and emphasizes the importance of training and awareness to combat these internalized stereotypes.
For Shroff, leadership is about presence and participation. She believes in leading from the front, working alongside her team rather than instructing from a distance. Late nights and shared struggles form the core of her leadership philosophy. Compassion and humility, she insists, are just as critical as authority. Respect, in her view, is earned not through dominance, but through empathy and the ability to uplift others. Through her journey, Pallavi S. Shroff exemplifies what it means to be a true leader—resilient, relatable, and relentlessly driven.
