The experience left a powerful impression that eventually steered the Halfords IP star into IP law
Aparna Watal was given an up close view as to how the law worked as a child when her mum challenged a state university over employment rights - and won. The experience showed Watal the power of the law, and combined with her love of science, led to a career in IP law.
In the first part of this interview, the head of Halfords IP's trade marks and domain names practice talks receiving support from superiors when she found out she was pregnant with her daughter, and why she loves the city of Philadelphia.
What made you choose a career in law?
As a kid, I watched my mum take on the state university in a legal battle for her employment rights and she won. My early teenage years were kind of a blur of court documents, proofreading affidavits, listening to lawyers craft arguments, and being shuffled in and out of legal chambers between school and tuition classes. All of that really left a deep and, thankfully, positive impression on me. Her victory didn’t just change the course of her life, it set a precedent for other professors across all state universities and that was huge at the time. Even as a kid I grasped the impact of that one decision. It showed me the power of the law and made me believe (naively, perhaps) that the law was the great equaliser. From then on, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer.
But my path wasn’t linear. I was also a science kid, endlessly curious about how things worked. So I studied chemical engineering first, before turning to law. When it came time to choose my legal specialisation, intellectual property felt like the perfect intersection. I now specialise in trade marks, domain name disputes, and copyright.
What's your favourite part of the job?
Helping creators and entrepreneurs protect what they've built. It's a bit of detective work, a bit of strategy, and a whole lot of storytelling - all in the service of turning bright ideas into something lasting.
What in your opinion has been the most memorable event of your career to date?
Without a doubt, it was when I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter right as I was preparing to put my hand up for the next elevation at work. The timing was…complex. I was torn. Should I disclose my pregnancy or wait until the decision is made? Would a promotion mean I’d be biting off more than I could chew? Would I be able to do justice to the new role?
I am a fan of being radically candid, so I decided to share the news with my supervising partner. He was incredibly supportive, but what was most memorable and still remains so for me is what happened next. One of the very senior male partners, who I’d only done very limited work with and who didn’t have kids himself, heard about the news. When he saw me the following week at our firm’s retreat, he walked across the room and gave me a huge hug and congratulated me - right there, in front of everyone.
It might sound small, but it meant the world to me. In that single, spontaneous gesture of support and warmth, all my doubts, fears, and anxieties melted away. I felt seen - all of me, with my growing bump I was so conflicted about hiding. I felt enabled. And I felt like I didn’t have to choose between ambition and motherhood. I’ll never forget that moment. It taught me that culture isn't about policies… it’s about people. Kindness is all it takes to make a difference - a smile, a check-in, a hug.
If you could relive one day in your life, which day would it be and why?
If I could relive one day, it would be any day from our family vacation in Philadelphia last year. I met my now husband in Philly and the place is very special to us. We packed so much joy into those days exploring museums, feasting on incredible food, hiking, biking, and soaking in the energy of the amazing city.
