Jacobson Leadership Program in Law and Business Scholar
Nordlicht Family Scholar in the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship
How did you get interested in studying the law?
My path to law emerged through my work at the intersection of economics, business strategy, and policy. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree from NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), I worked as a strategy consultant at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, where I collaborated with accomplished lawyers from the US and Europe on introducing Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles (SPACs) to the region and on setting up an IPO fund. At the same time, I was separately working with Professor David Chekroun [at ESCP Business School in Paris] on scholarship on corporate governance and legal reform, which we published over the summer before law school. That experience solidified my interest in legal writing and comparative legal analysis.
Tell us more about your journey from NYU Abu Dhabi to NYU Law.
Being a “senior member of the mission”—NYU Law President Emeritus John Sexton’s endearing term for NYUAD alumni—profoundly shaped my path to NYU Law. I often think of this transition as playing another octave on the proverbial piano—a metaphor I first encountered during NYUAD’s candidate weekend in February 2014. At NYUAD, living and studying alongside classmates from over 80 countries taught me to bridge differences while contributing my unique perspective to shared goals.
My year at NYU Stern in 2016 sparked my love for New York City’s dynamism as the world’s financial capital. After four years in business and policy, I sought a specialized pathway combining law and business on the global stage. The Jacobson Law and Business Program at NYU Law was the perfect fit, offering both partnership with NYU Stern and proximity to Wall Street and the United Nations. Bleed Violet!
You also have a twin sister who is also studying at NYU Law. What has that been like? How have your experiences been different or similar?
Having my twin sister Megha at NYU Law has been incredible! We even achieved identical LSAT scores—a fact that still amuses us. While she dreamed of becoming a first-generation lawyer since we were 13, she deferred for personal reasons, putting me a year ahead. I joke that she owes me restitution since I was counting on her outlines, but now she gets to use mine!
One semester, we both took Income Tax—she with Professor Daniel Hemel and I with Professor Daniel Shaviro [Wayne Perry Professor of Taxation]. Studying together revealed how different faculty perspectives can illuminate the same subject matter, allowing us to learn fundamental concepts from two of the country’s leading tax law scholars. We both worked as editors on the Tax Law Review in different years with Professor Mitchell Kane [Gerald L. Wallace Professor of Taxation]. Our shared background of four-plus years in professional experience and mutual interest in cross-border transactions as transactional lawyers has created many parallels in our journeys, including another shared course on Delaware corporate law.
There have been amusing moments socially, too—some LLM students I know from my courses mistook Megha for me in the Hayden elevators and attempted to discuss drag-along rights from Professor Maurizio Levi-Minzi’s cross-border M&A class with her, only to discover she’s a 1L whom they hadn’t met before!
Tell us about your experience in the Jacobson Program and as a Nordlicht Scholar at the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship.
The Jacobson Law & Business Scholar community has become a cherished part of my NYU Law experience, from dedicated networking events with faculty and guest speakers to our memorable 1L spring break trip to Rio de Janeiro. As a 3L, I’m currently immersed in the year-long Jacobson capstone seminar with Florencia Marotta-Wurgler [Boxer Family Professor of Law] and Professor Gerald Rosenfeld. Our sessions involve dynamic discussions on cutting-edge legal and business topics—from Florida real estate and entertainment industry sync rights to private equity in the NFL and healthcare, my focus area.
The Nordlicht Scholarship has similarly enriched my experience through meaningful connections with faculty and researchers at the Grunin Center. Professor Deborah Burand, a true force of nature, has facilitated fascinating discussions about the evolving landscape of social entrepreneurship and impact investing—areas I previously engaged with through strategy projects in other parts of the world.
What do you most like to do outside of class? What’s your favorite way to spend a day in New York City?
New York City never fails to surprise—and if you ever find a quiet moment, there’s always karaoke, coffee, or dogs to fill it! My weekdays often include runs along the Pier, peaceful reading sessions by the Washington Square Park fountain, and exploring new cafes in the Village or hunting for the perfect cannoli in Nolita. Weekends are reserved for adventures (and longer subway rides): discovering Manhattan’s farmers’ markets, venturing to Jackson Heights for thukpa, or meeting Columbia Law friends—yes, that small law school uptown—in Harlem for Ethiopian cuisine. I make it a priority to experience the city’s cultural scene a few times each month, from art galleries and film festivals to flea markets with friends. And for anyone who hasn’t tried social dancing in the city yet—especially West Coast Swing—I highly recommend it!
Growing up in India instilled in me a deep appreciation for food and festivals, which New York celebrates in abundance. While the St. Patrick’s Day parade in March and December’s SantaCon and holiday markets are particular favorites, this past year brought a special celebration: “Diwalloween”—a combined Diwali and Halloween parade, followed by a soul-stirring kirtan jam at the Bhakti Center on the Lower East Side.
Posted January 15, 2025. This interview has been condensed and edited.