Dr.Suman Kalani

Associate Professor & I/C Vice Principal, SVKM's Pravin Gandhi College of Law

suman.kalani@pgcl.ac.in

Introduction

Dr. Suman Kalani is an erudite academician and legal scholar, currently serving as the Associate Professor and Vice Principal (In-Charge) at SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law, Mumbai, India. She leads multiple specialized research centers, including the Centre for Corporate Laws and Intellectual Property Rights, the Centre for Conflict Resolution, and the Centre for Robotics, AI, and Technology Law. With expertise in Contract Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Cyber Laws, and Property Laws, Dr. Kalani is astutely engaged in teaching and research. She has conceptualized and developed various courses, seminars, and competitions addressing contemporary legal issues, demonstrating her commitment to academic innovation. Dr. Kalani holds a law degree from Government Law College, Mumbai, an LL.M. from the Department of Law, University of Mumbai, and a Ph.D. from SNDT University. Her doctoral research on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) is recognized for its trailblazing approach, including the development of an ODR model for consumer and family disputes. She has also done her Post Graduate Diploma In Human Rights from Department of Civics and Politics, University of Mumbai and Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Laws from National Law University, Hyderabad.She has authored course books on Business Laws and Intellectual Property Rights. Her passion lies in coordinating the themes between legal theory and practice, actively fostering industry-academia collaborations to provide students with real-world legal exposure. Entailing the administrative post she has contributed in providing mediation training at the grassroots level through various NGOs, furthering her commitment to access to justice and dispute resolution.

Education

Ph.D. In-Law from SNDT Women’s University – Topic: Online Dispute Resolution in India, a study of its Applicability, Acceptability, Feasibility
LL.M in Law of Consumer Protection and Law of Crimes from the University of Mumbai
LL.B from Government Law College, Mumbai
B.Com from Patker College, University of Mumbai
Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights from Department of Civics and Politics, University of Mumbai
Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Laws from National Law University, Hyderabad
Qualified UGC NET examination

Research & Grants

WRIC – ICSSR

2022

Mediation: A two-dimensional study of dispute resolution in India

University of Mumbai

2014

A study of Coding of Judgment – Grant Amount 15000

Publications - (Books)

Editor – Handbook on Artificial Intelligence and Law, published by ISAIL, 2020
Authored a book on Business Law for First Year B.Com (Banking and Insurance), published by Vipul Prakashan
Authored a book on Corporate Laws and Laws Governing the Capital Markets for Second Year B.Com (Banking and Insurance), published by Vipul Prakashan
Authored a book on Business Law for First Year B.Com (Banking and Financial Markets), published by Vipul Prakashan
Contributed a chapter titled “Transition to Online Dispute Resolution: A mechanism to curb transaction cost in access to justice”, published in the book "Law and Economics: Breaking New Grounds"published by Eastern Book Company having ISBN 9789351454625
Contributed a chapter “Law Teaching and Learning of Online Dispute Resolution Mechanisms” in Academic Leaders and Strategies of 21st Century, Eds. Meera Shanker and Anita Chawre – ISBN 978935529725

Papers Published and Seminar Presentations

Presented a paper on "Player vs. Player: Innovating Sports Dispute Resolution with ODR Integration" at the National Seminar on “Sports Law: Shifting Paradigms” organized by Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad on 28^th-29^th June 2024
Presented a paper on “Unity In Diversity Through Feeling Of Oneness By Applying Profound Principles Of Upanishads” at the National Conference on Harmonizing Wisdom By Unveiling Swami Vivekananda's Teachings And Indian Knowledge System For Enhancing Quality In Higher Education organized by Thakur College of Science and Commerce on 6^th March 2024
Presented a paper on “Unconventional Marks: A critical analysis from lens of its commercialization” at the International Conference on ‘Commercialization of Intellectual Property Rights’ organized by CIPR & DPIIT-IPR Chair MNLU, Nagpur on 21^st October 2023
Presented a paper on “Sustainable Education – A Need of The Hour - Creating Education for Sustainable Development” at the National Conference on Sustainability of Conventional Education System and Adaptation of New Technology organized by Sahyog College of Management Studies on 16^th April 2022
“Legal Web for Digitalisation of Business” published in International Journal of Advance and Innovative Research, Volume 8, Issue 3(V), July – September 2021, ISSN 2394-7780
“Online Dispute Resolution – Some Perspectives” published in Journal of Legal Studies and Research, Volume 6, Issue 5 – October 2020
Presented a paper on “Waves Of Change In Legal Education Amidst Covid 19: Silver Lining In Dark Clouds” at the Two-Day Online International Conference on “Changing Dimensions in Post Covid 19 - Socio-Legal Issues and Challenges,” organized by the Department of Law, University of Mumbai and K.C. Law College, Mumbai on 20^th and 21^st May 2020
Certificate for Best Paper on “Economic Lens of Trademark Protection and Transgression” at the 7^th Innovation Summit and International Research Conference on "Flexibility in Business: Opportunities, Issues and Challenges" organized by Aditya Institute of Management Studies and Research on 23^rd February 2019
“Exploring The Fourth Institution In Dispute Resolution: A Mechanism To Solve Disputes Online” published in Research Dimensions – Special Issue, ISSN-0976-8564, April 2017
Presented on “Online Dispute Resolution – An Indian Perspective” at the Lightning Round of the Two-Day International Conference on “Equal Access to Information & Justice, Online Dispute Resolution,” organized by the ICC in Paris on 12-13 June 2017
Paper titled “B to B, B to C, C to C - Common to All is C to E: Contracts to Entrepreneurship: Practical Vis-à-Vis Critical Approach” published in ROOTS: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Researches, Vol: 4 No. 2, November 2017
“Socio-Legal Lens of Surrogacy Laws in India” published in International Journal of Legal Research and Studies, Vol 1 – Issue 1, October – December 2016
Presented a paper on “Play Room in Classroom: Use of Board Games to Teach Business Law” at the UGC-sponsored Multidisciplinary National Conference on “Importance of New Techniques and Innovative Methods in the Teaching-Learning Process” organized by Tolani College of Commerce in collaboration with the University of Mumbai, on 20^th & 21^st January 2012. Paper published in “Importance of New Techniques and Innovative Methods in Teaching Learning”, ISBN - 9789381801505
Article titled “Use of Cinema to Teach Law” published in the magazine One India One People, July 2014 issue
Presented a paper on “Customer Satisfaction in Legal Services” at the International Conference on Customer Satisfaction to Achieve Customer Loyalty organized by Center of Management Studies and Research, MIT College of Engineers, Pune on 22^nd and 23^rd March 2012. Paper published in International Journal of Engineering, Science and Research Special Edition, ISSN No. 2231 5535

Awards & Accomplishments

Featured as one of the eight amazing women in Shree Shakti – a book launched on International Women’s Day 2023 by The Emerging India Forum
Received the Best Presenter Award for the presentation on the topic "Automated Systems for Resolving MSME Disputes" at the ODR Policy Summit organized by SGT University in collaboration with CUTS International on 6^th April, 2024
Received the Outstanding Educator Award from the National Foundation for Entrepreneurship Development at the 12^th National Teachers Day Award on 5^th September 2021
Received Best Participant Certificate at the One Week Prof. N.R. Madhava Menon Refresher Course for Law Teachers titled “March of Law: Legal, Policy, and Institutional Challenges to Urban Governance in India: Towards Making Our Cities More Sustainable and Livable” organized by National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, in association with Bar Council of Kerala M.K. Nambyar Academy for Continuing Legal Education, Kochi, and Directorate of Municipal Administration, Government of Karnataka – June 2019
Received Certificate for Best Research Paper at the 7^th Innovation Summit and International Research Conference on “Flexibility in Business: Opportunities, Issues, and Challenges” organized by Aditya Institute of Management Studies and Research on 25^th February 2019
Secured Third Prize at Manshodhan – 2012, an inter-SVKM research paper presentation competition – Topic: “Organ Donation in India – A Gap Analysis of Giving for Living”

Positions Of Responsibility As Chairperson

Placement Committee since 2008 – ideated various initiatives under the Placement Cell
PGCL’s Centre for Conflict Resolution
PGCL’s Centre for Corporate Laws and Intellectual Property Rights
PGCL’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Technology Law

Faculty Coordinator & Courses Designed

Certificate Course in Securities Law conducted in association with Bombay BSE Institute Limited
Certificate Course in Mediation – 40 hours
Certificate Course in Corporate Governance
Certificate Course in Intellectual Property Rights
Certificate Course in Technology Laws
ODR Simulation Tournament

Conferences, Seminars, Symposiums Coordinated

Organised National Seminar on SEBI Laws, August 2024
Faculty Coordinator for Annual Event – Shastrartha – A Legal Philosophical Discourse since 2007. An event where 12 luminaries from varied fields are invited to share their rich experiences
Organised Make for Justice Conference in collaboration with AGAMI – August 2024
Organised various subject-specific symposiums on Contract Laws, IPR, and Property Laws by inviting industry experts
Organised Technology Law Conclave 2019 in association with Technology Law Forum – a 6-panel discussion featuring eminent individuals from industry and the legal profession
Faculty Convenor of Competition Commission of India’s Regional Workshop on Competition Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions hosted in collaboration with PGCL
Organised various workshops and short courses in addition to the above-mentioned events
Faculty Convenor for various competitions organized by the college
Initiated collaboration with various regulatory bodies, law firms, and NGOs

Invited As Resource Person And Chairperson

Invited as guest at Dalmia College of Commerce and Economics to conduct a workshop on Intellectual Property Rights on 2nd February, 2024
Invited to judge the 7th edition of the Online National Negotiation Competition organized by Society for Young Advocates and Researchers (SYAR India) in collaboration with Khaitan & Co, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, J. Sagar Associates, Dentons Link Legal, and Presolv360 on 30th September, 2023
Invited as resource person to deliver a session on "Cyber Laws" in India at SIES Graduate School of Technology on 17th September, 2022
Invited to deliver a guest lecture on Intersection of Law with Various Professions at Pralhadrai Dalmiya College of Commerce on 23rd September, 2022
Invited as a resource person at the India–Australia Partnership on AI, Quantum and Critical Technologies Workshop hosted by Maharashtra National Law University on 2nd December, 2023
Invited as a resource person on "Cultivating Competencies for Global Legal Excellence" at the 18th Biyani International Conference hosted by Biyani Group of Colleges on 30th November, 2023
Invited as a resource person on "IPR Protection for Startups" by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) on 22nd May 2022
Invited as a resource person at the Short-Term Course organized by UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, Rani Durgawati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur, MP on playful interaction for well-being
Invited as a resource person on "IPR and Human Rights – Issues and Challenges" at Refresher Course on Human Rights conducted by UGC-HRDC, University of Mumbai in February 2020
Delivered keynote address on "Fashion and IPR" at the State-level Seminar on IPR conducted by SIES College of Commerce & Economics IQAC, March 2019
Guest speaker for a ‘Koffee Conversation on Intellectual Property Rights: Know your IPR’ organized by Lions Club in association with My Taxguru on 25th June 2021
Delivered a talk on the Information Technology Act at the National Webinar on "Legal Aspects of Business" organized by Department of Commerce, Sree Sankara College, Kerala in association with ICAI on 7th September 2020
Delivered talk on "Lock and Key for Intellectual Property: Legal Framework for its Protection" at webinar organized by Directorate of Research and ECE Department, Manipal University, Jaipur on 11th November 2020
Guest session on Intellectual Property Rights for faculty by IQAC of Gurukul College of Commerce on 25th February 2020
Chaired technical session on the Economic Aspect of Diversity and Inclusion at the National Seminar organized by SIES College of Commerce and Economics on 18th February 2019
Keynote speaker on “Fashion Industry and IPR” at State Level Seminar on IPR organized by S.I.E.S College of Commerce, Sion West on 7th March 2019
Panelist at WI-WDC Panel Discussion on Women Security and Safety at Sardar Patel Institute of Technology on 8th April 2019
Resource Person at National Conference on Intellectual Property Rights held at Vivek College of Commerce – 2018
Resource Person for Technical Session on IPR at a workshop on Business Laws for Law Teachers organized by Narsee Monjee College of Commerce, Mumbai on 5th February 2015