Adv. Maitreyi S. Hegde is a seasoned legal professional practising before the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Kerala since 2015. She is the Founder and Senior Partner at NyaayanishthaLegal Associates, leading litigation and advisory work in constitutional law, service law, civil and criminal matters, and public interest cases.
She was part of the legal team in the landmark case that struck down Section 497 IPC (adultery law), which marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of personal liberty and gender equality jurisprudence in India. Her prior experience includes working at Vakilsearch.com and serving as an Associate at Kaleeswaram Raj and Associates for six years.
She also advises on public health law, regulatory compliance, and animal protection law, having recently completed the Ahimsa Fellowship in animal rights and policy. A multilingual professional, Ms. Hegde is fluent in English, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Hindi, with working knowledge of Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. She is the founder of Nyayanishta, the first Kannada online law magazine, and a published writer and speaker on legal awareness and reform.
Adv. Olivia Leela Jacob studied at Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram, and commenced her legal practice under Adv. Aruna A. Her early experience has given her a strong foundation in administrative law and a practical understanding of the functioning of administrative institutions and proceedings.
She has a keen interest in Constitutional Law and is particularly drawn to questions concerning the exercise of public power, constitutional governance and administrative accountability.
Olivia brings a strong sense of discipline and order to the office. Her drafting skills are one of her particular strengths, marked by clarity, precision and careful attention to detail. Her sound understanding of legal procedure is equally valuable to the professional pursuits of the office, enabling the team to approach complex matters with greater structure and procedural clarity.
Her combination of substantive legal interest, meticulous drafting and procedural understanding makes her an integral part of the firm’s litigation practice.
Adv. Navaneeth Gopan graduated with a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) from Bharata Mata School of Legal Studies, Aluva. During his legal education, he gained extensive exposure to litigation practice across the High Court of Kerala, trial courts, tribunals and the Supreme Court of India through his internships. His experience includes working on civil, criminal and constitutional matters, as well as matters involving the State and public authorities.
He interned with several established litigation chambers, including the offices of the Additional Advocate General for the State of Tamil Nadu and the Director General of Prosecution, as well as with an Advocate-on-Record before the Supreme Court of India.
Navaneeth has a particular strength in litigation strategy and overall case preparation, shaped by his experience across different courts and forums. His inclination towards trial advocacy, especially at this early stage of his professional career, is a distinctive quality among young lawyers. It reflects his willingness to engage deeply with the process of litigation, beyond research and drafting alone. Navaneeth’s contributions support NLA from the foundational level.
