Staying Sharp And Humble In Law and Business Are Key To Success. Syamsul Adzha, Lawyer At Messrs Syamsul Adzha, Advocates & Solicitors, Shares
Syamsul Adzha has spent more than two decades in the trenches of Malaysian civil litigation. From the Magistrates’ Courts to the Appellate Courts, he has handled a wide range of cases that touch on everyday lives. Today, he runs his own firm, Messrs Syamsul Adzha, Advocates & Solicitors, where he balances the roles of lawyer, business owner, and mentor to younger lawyers.
Beyond the courtroom, Syamsul is a father of four, a husband, and someone who has found joy in writing and sharing stories about law and life. He is also a biker who loves long rides across Thailand, a cyclist who still chases younger riders on Strava, and a loyal Manchester United fan who understands both heartbreak and hope.
In this conversation, he reflects on lessons from the courtroom, resilience in business and life, and the passions that keep him grounded as a lawyer and solopreneur.
Tell us, who is Syamsul Adzha in your eyes?
Syamsul Adzha is, first and foremost, a lawyer who has spent more than two decades in the trenches of civil litigation. I see myself as someone who has grown through the courts of Malaysia, from the Magistrates’ Courts right up to the Appellate Courts, handling a wide range of cases that touch on real people’s lives.
I am also a solo practitioner who took the leap to run my own firm, Messrs Syamsul Adzha, Advocates & Solicitors. That step made me not just a lawyer, but also a business owner, a mentor to younger lawyers, and, many times, a student of resilience.
Outside the courtroom, I am a father to four children, including a pair of twin boys, and a husband. I have also discovered the joy of writing and sharing stories. What started as a personal outlet has become a way of reflecting on the law and on life itself.
I am a loyal Manchester United fan, despite the heartbreaks that have tested my loyalty in recent years. When I am not working, you will usually find me on my motorcycle exploring new places, especially across Thailand, or on my bicycle chasing younger cyclists on Strava, still pushing myself as if I were their age.
After years in legal practice, you’ve seen conflict, negotiation, and resolution at the highest stakes. What lessons from the courtroom do you think entrepreneurs and solopreneurs can borrow when dealing with their own business disputes or negotiations?
One of the biggest lessons from the courtroom is that preparation is everything. You cannot walk into a trial without knowing your facts, your documents, and your strategy. The same applies in business. Whether you are negotiating a contract or resolving a dispute, the more prepared you are, the stronger your position will be.
Another lesson is that listening often matters more than speaking. In court, the best advocates are not the loudest. They are the ones who pay attention to what the judge and the other side are really saying. For entrepreneurs, that means listening to clients, partners, and even competitors. You will pick up insights and leverage that you cannot get by talking alone.
And finally, I have learned that disputes are not always about winning. I believe in resolving disputes through mediation. Litigation, unless truly necessary, only complicates matters that can often be resolved in other ways. Most cases end in settlement. The best outcome is usually the one that allows both sides to move forward. For business owners, the same principle applies. Protect your interests, but never lose sight of the bigger picture, which is growth, reputation, and long-term relationships.
Practising law often requires working independently while carrying the weight of responsibility for your clients. As a solopreneur, how do you personally balance that pressure with staying sharp and grounded?
The pressure of carrying a client’s case alone can be heavy, but I see it as part of the privilege of being trusted with someone’s problems. To manage it, I rely on discipline and routine. Staying sharp means being prepared, managing time, and giving each case the attention it deserves.
Balance comes from family and the things I enjoy outside of work. I am a Manchester United fan, a biker who loves long rides across Thailand, and a movie lover who enjoys getting lost in a good story. I am also a music lover who enjoys many genres, especially rock. My friends call me “Rock.” And since university, I have been crazy about Top Gun, which earned me the nickname “Mave.”
Cycling keeps me active and clears my head after long days in court. These moments away from the law give me perspective, and they make me better when I return to work. At the heart of it, I stay grounded by remembering that law is about people. Behind every file is someone who has placed their trust in me, and that sense of responsibility keeps me focused and humble.
Entrepreneurship, much like law, can be unpredictable and sometimes unforgiving. You’ve described yourself as someone who stays humble and keeps moving forward. What role does resilience play in sustaining a long career or business, and how can people cultivate it?
Resilience has been the thread running through my career. In law, you lose cases, face setbacks, and deal with disappointments. The same is true in business. What matters is how you respond. Resilience is not about pretending things are easy. It is about accepting challenges, learning from them, and showing up again the next day.
One of my favourite quotes comes from Rocky Balboa: “It’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” That line has stayed with me because it captures what resilience really is. Life, whether in law or entrepreneurship, will hit you hard. You will be knocked down by failure, rejection, or even your own mistakes. What defines you is whether you keep moving forward despite the hits.
For me, resilience comes from perspective. My family, my faith, and the hobbies I enjoy outside of law remind me there is more to life than the outcome of one case or one deal. That perspective makes it easier to move forward when things do not go my way.
For others, resilience begins with small habits. Be consistent, prepare well, and surround yourself with people who keep you grounded. Over time, those habits build confidence that you can face whatever comes. That is what keeps a career or a business alive for the long term.
