The legal services industry is currently undergoing significant shifts that are impacting the way firms operate. Adapting to these changes is essential for firms to stay competitive in the industry. A notable change is the growing integration of technology in legal work, which helps align services with client requirements for cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency. The leaders in this industry play an essential role in the process of modernization and ensuring a seamless transition.
Gladys Daniel, Partner and Managing Attorney at DANIEL & GLADYS is one such leader in the legal services industry. She is committed to delivering impactful work and adopting innovation. Gladys has the necessary skills to lead the firm and provides specialized legal services to her clients.
Victories in Courtrooms
Gladys is an experienced IP lawyer who has been practicing since 2000. She graduated from Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai, and has represented her university in international moot court competitions in Vienna, where she achieved the semi-finalist position.
Working alongside her father, Mr. Daniel, and a team of lawyers, Gladys has made significant contributions to the field of IP law in India. She has successfully handled cases for clients from various reputable assisted senior counsels in important cases addressing the evolving landscape of intellectual property law.
Now, Gladys is the principal legal counsel at DANIEL & GLADYS. She is known for her expertise in handling high-profile litigations and has represented clients in the Madras, Delhi, Bombay, Kolkata and Ahmedabad High Court, and Supreme Court, securing favorable outcomes. Gladys also guides and supports her team members, promoting a collaborative and motivated environment.
Serving Diverse Clients
Daniel & Gladys specializes in handling various matters related to Patents, Trade Marks, Designs, Copyrights, Geographical Indications, and Domain Names. The firm works with reputable companies in India and around the world to manage the international filing and prosecution of Patent and Trademark applications for clients.
The firm is known for its expertise and personalized service, offering a blend of sophistication and responsiveness. It serves a broad range of clients, including national and multinational companies and research institutions, who seek to protect their Intellectual Property Rights in India.
With a team of professionals in Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Electronic, Mechanical, and Electrical patent law, Fast moving consumer goods, Food Industry, the firm is well-equipped to meet diverse client needs. Additionally, the firm’s members hold technical and legal qualifications, enabling them to handle complex matters such as drafting specifications and prosecuting applications in the Indian Patent Office.
Quality meets Affordability
DANIEL & GLADYS specializes in offering high-quality legal services in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The firm is known for practices with exceptional standards and effectiveness, all provided at a competitive price. Furthermore, the firm is confident that the legal services it provides for intellectual property rights are unmatched in quality and affordability.
Meeting Customer Needs
Gladys reflects on the significant changes in India’s intellectual property (IP) field over the past 25 years. During her legal career, she has observed a notable shift towards digitalization, with online filings and virtual hearings becoming more prevalent.
As a founding member of DANIEL & GLADYS, Gladys recognizes the importance of adapting to these advancements and staying up-to-date with IP law. The firm has successfully adopted these changes, ensuring exceptional legal services for its clients. The firm’s commitment to excellence and continuous learning has helped it build strong relationships with clients who value their knowledge and dedication.
Digital Transformation in Law
The digital transition has been incorporated by DANIEL & GLADYS, with court filings, intellectual property office procedures, and hearings now taking place online. This move to digitalization has brought about positive changes, particularly in intellectual property law.
The adoption of digital processes has resulted in a more efficient approach to filing cases and handling legal matters. This has not only saved time but also reduced costs for the clients. The technological advancements have been well-received by both lawyers and clients, as they appreciate the improved efficiency and convenience that digitalization brings to the practice of law.
Reaching the Next Level
Established in 1973 by her father Daniel, a first-generation lawyer, DANIEL & GLADYS has faced various challenges along the way. Among those, the main challenge was taking the firm to the next level. In Chennai and across India, a competitive landscape filled with accomplished IPR practitioners, staying updated on the latest legal developments and market changes is crucial and requires continuous dedication from Gladys and her team.
Building Success Together
“We provide counseling, support, and excellent financial and medical benefits to our team. They are committed to Daniel & Gladys’ vision and growth, and they give their best efforts.”—quotes Gladys.
DANIEL & GLADYS is a committed group of legal professionals who have upheld the firm’s reputation for the past 50 years. The team consists of experienced lawyers and paralegals, many of whom have been with the firm for decades. DANIEL & GLADYS’ success is not dependent on any single individual but on collective hard work and team dedication, each contributing to the firm’s ongoing success.
Strategic Expansion
DANIEL & GLADYS is devoted to maintaining high ethical standards and achieving excellence in the legal field. The firm has experienced an increasing demand for intellectual property (IP) protection services, including registration and litigation in various global jurisdictions. Through strategic partnerships with firms worldwide, DANIEL & GLADYS has expanded its reach and secured IP registrations for clients in 117 countries, including the USA, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the Far East.
Handling cases with proficiency on a global stage, DANIEL & GLADYS remains committed to delivering comprehensive legal services and aims to gain further recognition as a powerful legal entity across India and the world.
Keys to Women’s Entrepreneurial Success
Gladys advises aspiring women entrepreneurs to pursue their goals with determination and perseverance. She emphasizes the importance of consistency and hard work, noting that success often comes to those who persist without giving up. Gladys encourages women to keep moving forward toward their goals, believing that success will come through their dedicated efforts.
Women’s Corner-
1. As a woman leader, what has been the biggest challenge in your career? Have you ever confronted any gender-related barriers?
Ans: I’ve been practicing law for the past nearly 25 years. Gender bias has been few and far between. I brush them off as exceptions and don’t dwell on them. For the most part, I am proud of the clients and the courts that have provided me the ground to thrive and grow in the practice of law, which I love and am passionate about.
2. How do you ensure women’s inclusion and empowerment in your organization?
Ans: I am certainly biased in hiring women at my firm. Most of my paralegals and juniors are women. I think it is my duty to the sisterhood to encourage women to grow in the legal profession which to date is largely male-dominated. We have a great team of women at our firm.
I think as a girl boss, I’m able to be more understanding when my team calls me to say that they are unable to come to the office because their child needs vaccination, their father-in-law is sick or they have to take a few months off for pregnancy/baby delivery. I think as a woman leader, I provide a more understanding environment for women with their peculiar challenges to grow to their full potential.
3. What is your definition of feminism?
Ans: I think that God created men and women differently. No two people are the same. But I firmly believe in the deeming fiction of equality. Equal pay for equal work can have no compromise. I believe that women provide significant contributions at the workplace and it is unfortunate that they are not adequately compensated for their services, overlooked for promotions, and generally undermined during discussions. Though the scenario is changing, we still have miles to go before we achieve equality as guaranteed in the Constitution of India.
4. Whom do you look up to as a source of inspiration and why? (you can name any woman leader that inspired you)
Ans: I look up to several strong women in my life like my mother and grandmothers. They were great influences in my life. Apart from them, I must mention my senior, Mrs. Nalini Chidambaram. I practiced law at the office of Mrs. Nalini Chidambaram, Senior Advocate, from 2000 to 2005. Her dedication, hard work, and firm belief in the courts and the practice of law have had a profound influence on my life. She is the yardstick by which I constantly measure myself.
5. Beyond the cabin, how do you ensure a perfect work-life balance?
Ans: I work hard and I also indulge myself in quality time with my family and friends over the weekends and during vacations. I love to travel, and I travel with my family. I have visited over 30 countries and the list continues to grow. I love to eat out and shop. I believe that good planning and prompt execution with dogged determination to meet deadlines will ensure that there is no sacrifice on the homefront.
