In Conversation with Diya M. Kumar: Building a Career at the Intersection of Law, Fashion, and Luxury

Ms Diya M. Kumar is a distinguished legal professional and the founder of Legal Luxe, a boutique law firm specialising in fashion law, luxury and intellectual property law. Her academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in Commerce, followed by a bachelor’s in Law from O.P. Jindal Global University, where her passion for the legal field truly took shape. She went on to pursue an LLM in Intellectual Property Rights at the University of Cambridge. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she holds a Diploma in Fashion Law from Enhelion and has also served as a Law Professor at O.P. Jindal Global University, where she mentored and engaged with young legal minds. With her pioneering work in the niche field of fashion law, Ms Kumar is widely recognised for bridging the gap between law, fashion and luxury.

Interview questions

1. Kindly tell us a few words about yourself for our readers.

I am a lawyer who found her calling at the intersection of law and fashion, two worlds that do not often sit side by side. After studying Commerce and Law in India, I pursued my LLM in Intellectual Property Rights at the University of Cambridge, where my fascination with fashion law became more than just an academic interest. Today, I run Legal Luxe, a boutique law firm dedicated to fashion, luxury and IP law. Alongside practice, I have taught law, mentored students, and built platforms like Your Fashion Law Guide to demystify fashion law for a wider audience. In short, I wear many hats, but they all revolve around one thing: making law accessible, creative and impactful.

2. You hold a Diploma in Fashion Law and are now the Founder of Legal Luxe, a boutique law firm specialising in fashion and intellectual property rights (IPR). What inspired you to create a firm in this niche, and how has the response been so far?

The inspiration came from a mix of curiosity and frustration. When I first stumbled upon fashion law, there was hardly any structured conversation about it in India. I wanted to change that narrative to show that fashion law is not just about luxury brands but also about protecting creativity, addressing counterfeits, sustainability, contracts and digital innovation. Legal Luxe was born out of that vision. The response has been both encouraging and humbling, clients are realising that their creative assets need legal protection, and young lawyers are curious about carving out careers in this space. It feels like I am working at the beginning of something that is only going to grow bigger.

3. Your journey has been a mix of academia, practice, entrepreneurship, and content creation. Which of these roles has been the most challenging, and which has been the most rewarding for you personally?

Each role has tested me differently. Academia was rewarding because I got to engage with sharp, young minds who constantly pushed me to rethink my own perspectives. Entrepreneurship has been the most challenging, running a boutique firm means you are simultaneously the lawyer, manager, strategist, and sometimes even the marketing team. But also, it is been deeply fulfilling because it allows me to create something on my own terms. Content creation, meanwhile, has been the bridge, it connects law with a wider audience and keeps the field approachable. Personally, the most rewarding part is seeing how these different roles complement each other and make me a more holistic lawyer.

4. You have also taught as a Professor at O.P. Jindal Global University. How did teaching shape your perspective on the law and the way you approach your work today?

Teaching law was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. It taught me that clarity matters. If you can explain a complex legal concept to a student who is hearing it for the first time, you can explain it to anyone. That lesson has stayed with me in practice too. When I am drafting a contract or advising a client, my aim is always to make the law simple and actionable. Teaching also reminded me that learning is a two-way street. I learned as much from my students as they did from me, and that curiosity and humility continue to guide how I approach my work today.

5. Fashion law is still an emerging field in India. What challenges have you faced in carving out a practice here? How do you see the future of fashion law evolving in the Indian legal landscape?

The biggest challenge has been awareness. Many people do not realise they need a fashion lawyer until something goes wrong, whether it is a counterfeit issue, a dispute with a collaborator, or a problem in their supply chain. A large part of my work has therefore been about education as much as practice. That said, I see this field evolving very quickly. India is one of the fastest-growing fashion markets in the world. With sustainability regulations, the rise of digital fashion, and the global fight against counterfeits, fashion law is going to move from being a niche to being a necessity. I am excited to see young lawyers play a big role in shaping that future.

6. What habits or qualities do you believe have contributed to your success? What role do you envision for young lawyers in shaping this emerging domain over the next decade?

If I had to pick, I would say two things really shaped my journey: reading and resilience. I have always loved reading, and that habit has been a blessing in law because staying updated and curious is half the battle. The second is resilience. Life never goes exactly the way you plan. In my case, I had always imagined myself in academia. I loved teaching and thought that was my path. But somewhere along the way, through content creation and practice, I found myself creating my own version of academia, educating people in a different format.

That is why I believe it is important not to be too rigid about the path you set for yourself. The law, and life itself, will surprise you. Circumstances will not always align with your plans, but if you are willing to mould yourself, stay persistent, and adapt, you will still find your way to something meaningful.

As for young lawyers, the next decade in fashion law belongs to them. They will be drafting influencer agreements, handling intellectual property (IP) for digital fashion, addressing sustainability laws, and maybe even advising on artificial intelligence (AI)-generated designs. My advice is to stay curious, stay flexible, and not be afraid if your path looks different from what you once imagined. Sometimes the detours take you exactly where you are meant to be.

7. Fashion and law are often seen as two very different worlds. What keeps you motivated to stay at the intersection of both?

Because that is where the magic happens. Fashion is all about imagination, and law is about protecting that imagination. I love being able to translate creativity into something tangible and secure. What keeps me motivated is knowing that my work helps designers, brands, and creators feel protected while they focus on creating. And honestly, working at this intersection never gets boring. And it is never monotonous, one day I am advising on contracts, another day I am tackling counterfeits, the next I am decoding digital fashion. It is endlessly dynamic, and that energy keeps me inspired.

8. Lastly, for young lawyers who wish to enter niche fields like fashion law or start their own boutique firms, what advice would you give them to build credibility and gain clients?

Start by being genuinely curious and knowledgeable. Read, research, and keep yourself updated because clients can always tell when you know your subject. Do not be afraid to start small. Draft a contract for a local designer, help a startup register its trade mark, or write about legal issues in fashion. These small steps slowly build your portfolio. Credibility also comes from consistency. Show up, deliver, and communicate with integrity. Building a niche firm takes time but remember that every big brand once started with just one loyal client. Build that trust, and your niche will build itself.