London: WYN Legal hosted a Diwali lunch on October 27 at Mint Leaf Lounge bringing guests together to celebrate South Asian heritage and raise awareness of its partners including the British Asian Trust (BAT) and Barclays.
Welcoming attendees, WYN Legal Founder and CEO Pranav Bhanot said the gathering marked the first time his firm had hosted a Diwali celebration on this scale.
“The reason why I think celebrating Diwali is so important is quite often when I find myself in court or at a meeting, I’m the only brown person in the room. I’m the only person of color quite often when we are in a mediation or a roundtable meeting, trying to resolve a dispute,” he said.
Despite the number of South Asian lawyers practicing in London, Bhanot said relatively few were present in the High Court and Supreme Court environments in which he worked.
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He pointed to South Asian representation in high street law firms but said that presence became less visible in senior court proceedings, boardroom disputes, and other areas of high-stakes legal practice. Working in those settings could feel isolating, he said, particularly when the lawyers, judges, and expert witnesses around him were predominantly white. That experience prompted questions about representation in the profession, he added, despite what he considered an ample pool of South Asian talent.
“When we launched WYN Legal, we wanted to set up a high-stakes litigation firm,” he added. “But it wasn’t ever going to be at the expense of remembering what our foundation was. And our foundation has always been our faith, our heritage, and our culture. And that’s why today is so important.”
Bhanot said the gathering offered more than an opportunity to share a meal and celebrate Diwali. It also provided a moment to recognize the lessons available across faiths and philosophies and consider how those values could be applied in the workplace and professional life.
“And that’s why I feel that today is so important,” he added. Bhanot expressed gratitude to his colleagues Mayur Shikotra, Binal Shah, Bhavdeep Kaur and others for their support.
BAT Chief Operating Officer Geetha Rabindrakumar said Diwali offered a reminder that even a little light could make a difference in darkness and that collective efforts could help build better futures for children and families across South Asia.
She said King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, founded BAT in 2007 alongside a group of South Asian business leaders who had achieved success in the United Kingdom. Guided by their heritage and values, they wanted to expand opportunities for disadvantaged people in South Asia.
Since its founding, BAT has reached more than 18 million people through its work in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, she said. Its initiatives span education, livelihoods, child protection, conservation, and mental health.
“We’re not defined by the programs that we run. We’re defined by the difference that we’re trying to make to people in those countries,” Rabindrakumar added. “As we approach our 20th anniversary year, we are really proud of how far we’ve come, and we’re really looking forward to the difference that we can make in the years ahead.”
She said BAT was established on a simple but “powerful belief,” that bringing diaspora members together with community organizations in South Asia, governments, and businesses could create sustainable, lasting improvements in people’s lives.
Rabindrakumar highlighted BAT’s KAWACH program, a 10-year initiative supporting vulnerable children at risk of harm and exploitation. The program works to prevent those risks, help children remain safe and in school, and give them opportunities to reach their potential.
“And I’ve been lucky enough to see that work firsthand in India myself,” she said.
India is home to more than 431 million children, Rabindrakumar said, with an estimated 172 million facing serious challenges, including poverty and barriers to education. For many, those circumstances can increase the risk of child labor, trafficking, or early marriage, she added.
“Since our current program began in 2022, we’ve reached over 1.2 million children. But behind every statistic is a child, a family, and a future that could look very different with the right support,” Rabindrakumar added.
She shared the experience of Ruksana, a woman from a village in Bihar who lost her husband during the COVID-19 pandemic and was left to support four children without a reliable income.
Ruksana found agricultural work that paid 200 rupees, approximately 1.50 British pounds, a day when employment was available. Work was often scarce, leaving the family struggling to meet basic needs and putting her children at risk of leaving school. Her three daughters also faced the possibility of early marriage, which Rabindrakumar linked to the limited choices available to families experiencing financial insecurity.
When the KAWACH team visited Ruksana, it worked with her to identify a sustainable source of income. She received 20,000 rupees to establish a small general store constructed from bamboo and other locally available materials.
Ruksana opened the store in January. She now earns twice her previous income, and all four children remain in school, Rabindrakumar said.
For Ruksana, the support represented “independence, dignity, and the ability” to provide for her family, Rabindrakumar said. It also allowed her children to continue their education and have more choices about their futures. Her family is among 292 households reached by KAWACH in Bihar.
“We work with families facing some of the most difficult circumstances, families with no savings, deep debt, and irregular incomes, whose children may already be working or be at risk of early marriage,” she added. “By helping parents build sustainable livelihoods and supporting children to stay safe when in school, we’re working to change the future for the whole family and the wider community.”
Sachin Lakhani, a vice president and senior business development manager at Barclays, said the bank supported WYN Legal’s work. He outlined Barclays Private Bank’s services for high-net-worth individuals, including wealth management and inheritance tax planning.
Lakhani also introduced the Asian Founders Program, saying it had reached 13 cities across the United Kingdom. Its inaugural awards ceremony took place in Leicester on September 11 and drew 250 Asian entrepreneurs, he said.
He discussed mentorship opportunities and access to funding through the Eagle Labs program and the Demo Directory. He encouraged attendees to make professional connections during the gathering and explore how Barclays could support their entrepreneurial ventures.
The event also featured a Kathak performance by Richa Srivastava.
