India’s Finest General Counsel 2024

Legal Era recognized the outstanding contributions of General Counsels (GCs) in India at the prestigious India’s Finest General Counsel Awards 2024. The event celebrated excellence in two prominent categories: India’s Leading Finest General Counsels and India’s Leading Finest Legend General Counsels. A special segment highlighting a Powerlist of fast-growing GCs further emphasized their pivotal role in shaping the future of India Inc., showcasing the increasing influence and significance of GCs in the corporate world.

The esteemed ceremony was graced by the Hon’ble Mr. Birendra Saraf, Advocate General of Maharashtra, who added a distinguished touch by presenting the awards to the deserving honorees, marking a memorable milestone in the celebration of legal leadership. Here is the list of our decorated Awardees at the India’s Finest General Counsel Awards 2024.

Abhishekh Kanoi is the General Counsel & Company Secretary at PDS Limited. He has rich and diverse in-house corporate experience of over 16 years in Corporate Legal and Commercial Space across various industries like law firm, hospitality, manufacturing, automotive, media & entertainment, fashions and apparel industry and non-banking financial institutions with special reference to emerging technology and convergence. His wide array of specialisation includes Legal Affairs, Corporate Secretarial, IPO & Listing, Regulatory Compliances, RBI & FEMA Matters, Mergers & Acquisitions, Listing Compliances (India & Overseas Entities), Venture Capital Investments, Cross-Border and Domestic Transactions, Intellectual Property Rights, Copyrights, Media and Entertainment Laws. He has earned the Young Achiever of the Year award by Legal Era in 2021. He has helped to develop a new global legal and governance framework for the company while ensuring its overseas expansion is brought into line with this centralised approach.

Amar Kumar Sundram is the General Counsel - Senior Vice President (Legal) and Chief Compliance Officer at NEC Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. With over 25 years of experience in corporate legal affairs, he is a seasoned professional renowned for his strategic thinking and ability to navigate complex legal issues.

He has held prominent roles in both Indian and multinational business houses, including DCM Shriram, Birla, Tata, AT&T, Reliance, Citi, EY, and RBS (NatWest Group). His previous position as Head of Legal, Regulatory Affairs & Governance at RBS India involved overseeing NatWest Markets and serving on the India Ex-co and Risk Committee. At EY India, Amar advised 18,000 employees and over 470 partners across various service lines, including Advisory, Transaction, Assurance, Tax, and FIDS.

Amit Atre is the Head Legal Affairs & Corporate Secretary at Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd., he oversees the comprehensive management of legal and secretarial functions. With over 23 years of experience, his career includes notable roles such as Group Company Secretary at Thermax Limited, where he managed the secretarial portfolio, and Head of Labour and Employment legal portfolio at General Electric (GE) in India. He has also held positions as Corporate Legal Function Manager for Cummins South Pacific, Australia, and Corporate Secretarial Manager at Cummins India Limited, one of India’s leading listed MNCs.

Amit has a sound understanding of all laws and regulations including corporate, labour and environmental laws and regulations for the manufacturing environment. Hands-on experience in complete contracts management, managing litigations, legal compliances for setting up Green Field Projects, legal compliance management, labour laws compliance management, managing complete corporate secretarial affairs for large listed company, mergers & amalgamations, sale of business, advise on Anti Trust, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Export Control Laws – ITAR, EAR of USA, investigation of Whistle Blower complaints.

Amit Bhasin is the Chief Legal Officer and Group General Counsel at Marico Limited, where he is a key member of the Executive Committee. He oversees legal and corporate affairs for Marico’s operations both in India and internationally, and leads the company’s corporate social responsibility functions.

With over 19 years of experience in corporate legal, compliance, governance, and legal business partnering, Amit has a strong background in the consumer sector. Before joining Marico, he was with Hindustan Unilever Limited, where he managed numerous mergers and acquisitions, including the acquisition of GSK’s business. He also contributed to global networks focussed on competition law, governance, and compliance.

He is actively involved in advocacy for the fast-moving consumer goods industry, holding memberships in several industry organisations. He is a member of the FICCI FMCG Committee, Chair of the FICCI FMCG Committee for Legal Metrology and CCPA, and is also engaged with the Indian Beauty & Hygiene Association (IBHA) and the MCIA FMCG User Council.

Anil PM is the Head of Legal & Compliance at Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd. He has been associated with the Company since February 2017. Anil is a seasoned legal & compliance leader with around twenty years of rich experience having substantive exposure & expertise in most areas of laws, regulations, statutes, corporate governance, trademarks, service marks, intellectual property rights & more.

Anubhav Kapoor is the Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Chairman’s Office South Asia, at Samvardhana Motherson International Limited. He is responsible for intellectual property rights, regulatory compliance and corporate governance practices and policies for the entities of the Company in India. As an in-house counsel, he has 29 years of experience, which spans various industries including information technology, automotive, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, food, banking and insurance software and engineering. He has handled multifarious areas such as mergers and acquisitions, arbitration and litigation management, structuring large business contracts, intellectual property rights and global compliances. Passionate about innovation, he has assisted large corporates including Tata Technologies, Cummins, Domino’s Pizza India and Polaris in devising their intellectual property creation and monetisation strategies. Anubhav has also handled contracts and litigations involving complex IP issues, including during mergers and acquisitions, spin-out and joint venture deals. Having done his Master’s in Law from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, he did his MBA in Finance & Information Technology from the Institute of Management Technology.

Anumeha Soni is the Senior Director at Thermo Fisher Scientific, leading direct and indirect teams of around 25 people across more than 20 operational sites. She is a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and a certified Lean Six Sigma Green and Black Belt, as well as a Certified Compliance Specialist from Trace International, US. Before joining Thermo Fisher Scientific India, she gained experience at corporations such as General Motors, Becton Dickinson, DuPont, Alere, and Boston Scientific Corporation, where she handled various legal and compliance roles in India and the Asia Pacific region.

Arpita Sen is the Head of Business Legal and Associate General Counsel at Intel India. With over 25 years of experience as an attorney and over 20 years as a designated General Counsel and Compliance Officer, she brings extensive expertise to her role. She has held leadership positions as a trusted management advisor with required leadership skills for heading and managing a corporate legal, compliance and ethics function and also managing inter-company legal relationships. She also has expertise in providing strategic and practical legal advise, providing suitable legal options best suited for business/commercial strategy, being a trusted advisor, problem solver. Recently in 2021-2022, she led a USD 1.2 Billion divestiture of healthcare services of an Indian public listed company including appointing Big 5 counsel across 4 geos, heading the entire reliance based legal DD for the org, negotiating and finalising transaction documents and disclosures in a complex asset cum stock transfer deal. The List Co had upwards of 20 subsidiaries across the world.

Ashish Pandey is the General Counsel and Company Secretary at Luminous Power Technologies, a key player in the multinational energy conglomerate. With over two decades of experience in corporate governance, compliance, and legal affairs, he has successfully led complex legal transactions and played a pivotal role in ensuring the organisation’s regulatory adherence and governance standards. His expertise spans across corporate legal matters, compliance programmes, and ethics, where his leadership has significantly reduced legal risks and enhanced regulatory compliance. He has been instrumental in implementing comprehensive ethics and compliance programmes that have increased employee awareness and commitment to regulatory standards. His strategic approach has not only safeguarded Luminous Power Technologies’ reputation but also fostered a culture of transparency and accountability.

Over the years, he has collaborated with top-tier law firms, conducted meticulous due diligence, and navigated major corporate challenges, including managing high-stakes arbitration cases involving intricate contractual disputes. His crisis management skills, along with his ability to collaborate with boards and legal experts, have been key to delivering favourable outcomes in complex legal matters.

Ashish Chandra is the General Counsel at CoinSwitch, India’s leading crypto platform transitioning into a multi-asset wealth-tech superapp. With over 23 years of experience in the internet, tech, and Web3.0 industries, he has been instrumental in shaping the legal and regulatory landscape for some of the most influential companies in India. Before joining CoinSwitch, Ashish led the legal and regulatory affairs for WhatsApp in India, where he played a key role in building the e-commerce and fintech/payments business for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Throughout his career, Ashish has worked with major Indian and US companies, including Netflix, eBay, Reliance Jio, and Snapdeal. He has been recognised for his contributions to the legal field, receiving accolades such as “Young Achiever in the Indian Legal Industry” (2015) and “Best eCommerce Legal Team in India” (2016) from LegalEra. His team at CoinSwitch was also honoured as the “Unicorn Startup Legal Team of the Year” in 2022 by Legal Era.

He has been involved in significant deals and litigations, including raising $8 billion in VC/PE funding and handling complex internet-related legal challenges in India. His expertise extends to policy advocacy, where he has represented major corporations before regulators and policymakers to shape laws on e-commerce, digital payments, and data privacy.

Ashok Kumar P. is the General Counsel at ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel. An India qualified in-house lawyer having 18+ years experience with good commercial knowledge and flair for technology. His Areas of expertise include complex telecom & power infrastructure projects; Contract structuring, negotiation & finalisation; Contract-Risk & Claim Management; JVs, Consortiums and M&As; project financing, marketing & supply support, real estate, investment and exchange control; employment & immigration laws; other Corporate and Commercial Laws, with special focus on various models of Thermal, Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Bio-energy, transmission and distribution EPC contracts including FIDIC and Bespoke models.

Avantika Bajaj is the Vice President and Group General Counsel at Swiggy, where she oversees the company’s legal affairs, providing strategic guidance on business operations, commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance. Her role involves managing a wide range of legal matters to support Swiggy’s growth and business objectives.

Before joining Swiggy, Avantika was the Head of Legal at James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems in India. In this position, she handled legal strategies for strategic acquisitions, business development, and joint ventures. She also played a key role in managing technology incubation deals and content acquisitions.

Her previous experience includes serving as Vice President Legal at Star TV Network, where she managed legal affairs for the English cluster of channels, overseeing content acquisition for OTT and TV channels and handling high-value transactions across digital media, IT, and broadcasting.

Avantika’s career also includes significant roles at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and DSK Legal, where she specialised in cross-border M&A, private equity, corporate transactions, and strategic litigation.

Babu Rao, is the General Counsel of Bajaj Finance Limited. He is responsible for Legal and Secretarial functions of the Company.

He is a Senior Legal Professional having 25 years of wide range of experience in Banking Law & Practice, Corporate Laws, Capital Markets, SEBI, Tax Laws, Industrial & Personnel Management Laws, Intellectual Property Laws, Contract Laws, Securitization Act, Strategic Business Planning, Derivatives and Regulatory Compliance, Litigation, Mergers and Acquisitions.

He worked with companies like Citibank N.A. as Director Legal and Dy. General Counsel, Amarchand Mangaldas, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Unit Trust of India, etc.

Bijoya Roy is the Head of Legal, India and West Asia at Google. She brings over two decades of extensive legal experience across various industries and jurisdictions. Before joining Google, Bijoya served as the General Counsel (South Asia) at Pernod Ricard India. She began her career in Mumbai, where she worked with leading organisations such as Tata Housing, Asian Paints, and Kodak. In 2008, she qualified as a Solicitor of England and Wales and later joined Thomson Reuters, where she spent a decade in senior legal roles. Initially part of the EMEA team based in London, she was subsequently posted in Dubai, where she supported Thomson Reuters’ global emerging markets, including India, China, ASEAN, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and parts of Europe.

In 2019, she returned to India to take on the role of Group General Counsel at Flipkart, overseeing the legal department during a pivotal phase in the company’s growth.

Her experience has seen her manage teams spread across geographies, some large and in excess of 50 lawyers and some much smaller. During the course of her professional journey, she has specialised in European Competition Law, technology laws and litigation strategy. Thriving in complex environments, her professional journey has taken her from real estate to data and technology, e-commerce and the consumer industry.

Chetan Chopra is the Group General Counsel at TruKKer, overseeing legal operations across 12 countries. With over 18 years of comprehensive experience in both in-house roles and premier law firms, Chetan’s expertise spans industries such as E-Commerce, Technology, FinTech, PharmaTech, and FMCG. His career includes pivotal roles at Flipkart, United Breweries, OLA, and PepsiCo, as well as with law firms JSA and SAM Co.

At TruKKer, Chetan drives legal strategies aligned with business objectives, focussing on dispute resolution, compliance, and M&A. Previously, at Flipkart, he led the Legal division for the Online Marketplace, managing HealthTec, FinTec, TravelTec, Disputes, IP, and Nodal functions. Chetan is recognised for his pragmatic approach, handling complex investigations related to FDI, Anti-Trust, and Tax matters, and providing innovative legal solutions.

His experience extends to Anti-Trust laws, IP management, and contract negotiations. Chetan has also led cross-functional teams, providing legal support to various business verticals and enhancing legal awareness through training and policy formulation. Known for his strategic leadership, Chetan excels in delivering impactful solutions in challenging legal environments.

Debolina Partap is the General Counsel at Wockhardt, with extensive experience spanning banking, finance, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. Her responsibility includes all corporate legal work, M&As, IP management, licensing deals and litigation management, legal compliance, transactions management amongst others. She has widespread proficiency in advising top management on legal risks to the organisation as well. Her contribution to Covid-19 vaccine contracts is huge. Inclusion of her main accomplishments are, inter alia, successfully handling and concluding complex M&A structures and deals, settling complex financial cases and arbitrations filed against Wockhardt Limited, multi-jurisdictional arbitrations on commercial disputes and settling intricate derivatives suits filed against Wockhardt Group worldwide.

Wockhardt is a leading pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare provider, all combined. She takes care of legal issues concerning complex and composite global regulatory matters related to Wockhardt Group. She is one of the very few general counsels globally who tackle forensics and data analytics. International and national recognised legal organisations have bestowed several accolades to her and her team.

Deepak Acharya is the Group General Counsel at Aditya Birla Group. Deepak is a certified Corporate Trainer for various Corporate Training Programmes like Corporate Athlete, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Coaching for Success. A law graduate from the Government Law College-Mumbai, Deepak is a Fellow member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and also an Associate Member of the All India Management Association. Practicing for more than 25 years in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Industry, an experienced lawyer, Deepak has previously worked in various positions for The Procter & Gamble Company in India, Asia Pacific, Greater China, Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and African Regions. Earlier he was working as the Chief Risk Officer & General Counsel of Wipro Limited where Deepak was responsible for Legal & Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management, Enterprise Cyber Security, Global Data Privacy and Global Government Relations functions for Wipro Limited.

Deepak Jacob is the President Corporate Affairs & Group General Counsel at Dream Sports, with extensive experience in legal, public policy, and government relations. He has a proven track record as a strategic advisor to CEOs, corporate boards, and founders.

With deep expertise across multiple sectors, including Information Technology, eCommerce, Telecoms, Media, Entertainment, Sports & Gaming, as well as Real Estate, Commercial Laws, and Goods & Services Tax, Deepak has demonstrated excellence in leadership, collaboration, and communication. He brings a comprehensive understanding of business, laws, and regulations within these industries.

A highly skilled legal professional, Deepak excels in litigation management, mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, and regulatory, public policy, and government relations advocacy. His broad experience enables him to effectively navigate complex legal challenges while providing strategic guidance for business growth and success.

Diinesh Gupta is the Senior Vice President - Legal, CS & Compliance Officer at Radico Khaitan Limited, where he excels in managing corporate governance, legal, and compliance functions. With a distinguished career spanning diverse industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, telecom, real estate, and chemicals, Diinesh brings a wealth of experience in navigating complex legal landscapes.

His expertise includes corporate governance, where he ensures adherence to legal and regulatory standards, and legal & litigation management, where he handles intricate matters and provides strategic counsel. Proficient in fundraising, Diinesh has led strategic initiatives like IPOs and debt financing, engaging with investors to support business growth.

Divya Kumat is the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Company Secretary at Datamatics Global Services Limited. In her role, she leads all the legal and secretarial initiatives for more than 41 Group companies worldwide with the support of an able and efficient team. She has more than 23 years of enriching experience as Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. As Company Secretary of a listed entity, Divya has formulated and successfully implemented various policies like Contract Management policy, Insider Trading policy, Whistle Blower policy, Investor Grievance policy, Prevention of Sexual Harassment policy to name a few. Keeping pace with the digitally enhanced organisation, she championed a bespoke contract management system and automated contract management for the Group.

Dr. Mukul Shastry is the General Counsel at Cube Highways. He has 20 years of experience and is adept in Business Strategy (Commercio-Legal), Corporate M&A, IBC Processes, PPP Infrastructure projects, Claim management, Litigation management, Legal processes (both civil and criminal), Arbitration including International Commercial Arbitration, Compliance with RBI, SEBI & MCA rules & regulations, Trade & Competition Law, General Corporate Laws. He has previously worked with in In-House roles with organisations such as Welspun Group, Adani Group, KEC International Ltd. He has also worked with the RBI as Legal Counsel. During his stint at RBI, he has advised RBI on policy issues on topics spanning across Banking operations, Payments & Settlement Systems, and foreign exchange; drafted and vetted international contracts between RBI and foreign entities; represented and defended RBI in multiple forums - Tax authorities, Finance secretary, GoI, and Central Information Commission. He was also an adjunct member of RBI Faculty, conducting sessions for Bank officials on dealing with Legal and Regulatory issues in Banking & Finance domain. He is also Company Secretary for various companies.

Dr. Sanjeev Gemawat is the Managing Director & Group General Counsel at Essar Group, bringing over three decades of diverse industry experience across sectors such as metals and mining, cement, sugar, automotive, real estate, hospitality, and manufacturing. Known for his strategic business-oriented approach, he is a distinguished thought leader and corporate secretary with multiple professional qualifications, including Chartered Secretary (India and the UK), Chartered Accountant, Cost & Management Accountant, as well as a postgraduate degree in Law and a Doctorate in Insider Trading.

In addition to his corporate leadership, Dr. Gemawat is recognized as a speaker and author on various contemporary legal and industry topics, having presented at both national and international forums. He is also one of the founding members of the General Counsels' Association of India (GCAI), where he actively advocates for the statutory recognition of the General Counsel role in India. His dedication to advancing the legal profession and his extensive expertise make him a prominent figure in both the legal and business communities.

Dr. Vivek Mittal is the Global General Counsel at Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited (DRL), an NYSE, NSE, and BSE listed multi-locational global generic pharmaceutical giant. At DRL, he leads a team of about 75 lawyers and professionals covering a gamut of activities like domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, in-licensing, out-licensing, commercial agreements, domestic and complex cross-border civil and criminal litigation, arbitration, ethical and statutory compliances, data privacy, and data protection.

In addition to his existing role Global General Counsel, Dr. Mittal is also designated as DPO of DRL, he also oversees IPR, employment laws, regulatory issues, and corporate commercial advisory among others.

Dr. Mittal has a very diversified and successful multi-industry career spanning over 23 years with the latest stint being at Danaher Corporation, where he was Regional Counsel - METAI for Diagnostics Platform, Head of Legal at Lupin Limited and has been instrumental in critical roles at Reliance, Radico Khaitan, IndiaBulls, Caparo India and Mount Shivalik.

Dr. Mittal has been recognized and honored with multiple accolades from prestigious institutes. He is a regular speaker at such events and places. On the academic background - he is a Ph.D. in commerce, a member of ICSI, a post graduate in commerce, and a graduate in law.

Garima Nahar, General Counsel at Jio, distinguishes herself as a highly regarded corporate lawyer, accumulating over two decades of invaluable experience in the legal domain. Presently, she holds the position of General Counsel at Jio Finance Limited. With extensive expertise in diverse banking and financial transactions, Garima, a gold medallist from the National Law Institute University, Bhopal, seamlessly blends a robust academic foundation with her practical acumen. Garima’s professional journey boasts key roles, including General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Chief ESG Officer at J.C. Flowers ARC and Eight Capital, General Counsel & Chief ESG Coordinator at IIFL Finance, Senior Group Head at ICICI Bank, and Foreign Counsel at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York. Her multifaceted expertise and remarkable achievements firmly position her as an outstanding professional in the dynamic landscape of corporate law. In her current role as the General Counsel at Jio Finance Ltd., Garima continues to enhance her well-established track record of excellence.

Hemant Kumar is the Group General Counsel at Larsen & Toubro Limited, bringing extensive expertise in strategic advisory, board management, enterprise risk and compliance, complex transactions, litigation, cross-functional leadership, change management, public policy, and government relations. He adeptly combines a global mindset with strong execution skills to drive business growth in challenging regulatory environments.

His prolific career encompasses high-profile roles that have deepened his domain knowledge of corporate laws in India and provided him with a comprehensive understanding of legal frameworks across jurisdictions, including the USA, England, Australia, Africa, France, and the Middle East. His international exposure and extensive travel for assignments have enriched his understanding of global legal practices. He has handled prominent cases, including those involving Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, and notably served as the defence counsel in the Bhagalpur Blinding Case. His previous senior roles include positions at State Bank of India, Steel Authority of India, JSW Steel, Reliance ADAG, and Essar Group. Additionally, he has contributed to academia as a faculty member and paper-setter for diploma courses in Safety Engineering.

Hemant Rajora is the Chief General Manager (Legal) at the Indraprastha Gas Limited, where he provides strategic legal leadership and oversees the company’s legal and compliance functions. Hemant brings over two decades of experience in the energy sector, with a proven track record in legal advisory, regulatory compliance, and risk management.

Before joining Indraprastha Gas Limited, Hemant served as the Head of Legal and Compliance at Adani Total Gas. His role involved managing complex legal issues and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. Prior to that, he was a Senior Manager - Legal at GAIL (India) Limited, where he was responsible for legal oversight and compliance across the organisation.

Hemant also served as a Law Officer at NTPC Limited and as Counsel at the Law Offices of AS Chandhiok & Law Firm, where he focussed on legal practice and advisory services.

His expertise spans business strategy, management, project management, litigation, and program management. Hemant is known for his ability to navigate complex legal landscapes and provide innovative solutions that align with corporate goals and industry standards.

Hrishikesh Chitnis General Counsel at Mahindra Logistics Limited brings over two decades of extensive experience in corporate legal affairs. In this role, he leverages his deep expertise in managing complex legal matters, including commercial contracts, labour law, competition law, and international trade sanctions, to drive the company’s strategic and operational success. He has built a distinguished career by guiding major corporate organisations through intricate legal landscapes. His previous positions at leading companies such as TATA Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Fiat India Automobiles, and Mahindra Two Wheelers have honed his skills and provided him with a comprehensive understanding of various legal challenges and opportunities. At Mahindra Logistics, he focusses on delivering practical legal solutions that are aligned with business strategies and ensure seamless corporate operations. He is pivotal in integrating ethical practices into business processes, maintaining compliance, and fostering a culture of integrity and collaboration. His proficiency in multiple languages enhances his ability to navigate diverse cultural landscapes and conduct effective negotiations. Dedicated to upholding the highest standards of legal excellence, he continues to contribute to the robust legal framework that supports Mahindra Logistics’ growth and global success. His leadership drives the company’s commitment to ethical practices and strategic legal management.

Isha Rathnam is Vice President - Legal Affairs (CLO) for South Asia and Networks - Emerging Markets Asia at Lionsgate South Asia. In this role, she oversees legal operations across the region, offering strategic counsel on Intellectual Property, Media, and Commercial Law.

Throughout her career, she has held significant positions including Director of Legal Affairs at Lionsgate and Lionsgate Play Emerging Markets, Partner at K Law, and Senior Manager of Legal & Business Affairs at Reliance Broadcast Network Limited.

She is highly skilled in Intellectual Property, Corporate Law, Licensing, and Copyright Law, which enables her to effectively manage complex legal challenges within the media sector. Her deep understanding of the industry and strategic legal insights make her a key leader in navigating the complexities of media and entertainment law.

Jagriti Bhattacharyya is the General Counsel at Pine Labs, where she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the company’s legal and compliance functions. Her responsibilities include guiding Pine Labs through complex legal landscapes and supporting its strategic initiatives.

Jagriti’s extensive experience includes her previous role as Chief Counsel for South Asia at Thomson Reuters, where she managed a broad range of legal issues, including key transactions and international arbitrations. This role continued with Refinitiv following its acquisition by Blackstone and later by the London Stock Exchange Group.

Before her tenure at Thomson Reuters, Jagriti worked at Citibank as Senior Vice President and Vice President & Associate Country Counsel, focussing on the launch of innovative financial products and providing legal support to the Treasury function. She also held the position of Senior Legal Counsel at ICICI Bank, handling corporate legal matters.

Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to corporate governance and diversity, actively leading women’s networks and contributing to diversity initiatives in her previous roles.

Kaizad Adi Hazari is the Group General Counsel at The Chatterjee Group (TCG). He specialises in Business Advisory, Corporate M&A, Structuring and Business Strategy. He has handled high stake Litigations and Commercial Transactions including managing Regulatory Matters for different industries, Managed Intellectual Property Rights, Corporate Governance, Secretarial, Compliance & Corporate Affairs. He handles complex matters globally on Anti-Trust Law, Patents, GDPR & Data Privacy, Sanction Controls, Statutory Compliance, PCA & ML, FCPA/UK Bribery Compliances and Investigations by regulatory agencies. Kaizad has held key positions like President & Global Head Legal, Compliance, IP & Corporate Affairs for Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Joint President - Head Legal with Hindalco Industries Ltd, General Counsel – South Asia for GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Raymond Group as Group Head Legal, Asian Paints, ICICI Ltd and was with Mulla and Mulla and Craigie Blunt and Caroe. He was also with HDFC Ltd for their Stressed Asset Fund.

Kanaiya Thakker is the SVP - Head Legal for the Natural Resources Business at Adani Enterprises Ltd. With a successful 9-year tenure at Holcim India (Ambuja Cements Ltd.), Thakker achieved significant milestones in high-stake litigations, including CCI, sales tax, environmental issues, and potential M&A. At Adani Enterprises, he oversees the Legal function for the Natural Resources business, which includes integrated resource management, coal mining and trading, cement and aggregates, iron ore, copper, bunkering, and ATF.

Kanika Shah Wadhwa is the Head of Legal at Haleon, where she leads the legal department and provides strategic legal guidance. Based in Gurgaon, Haryana, she oversees Haleon’s legal operations and ensures regulatory compliance.

Prior to her role at Haleon, Kanika was the General Manager - Legal at GSK Consumer Healthcare India, where she managed legal affairs and supported strategic decisions. She has also served as Senior Legal Counsel at InterGlobe Aviation Limited, handling legal matters in the aviation sector, and as Corporate Manager - Legal at Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited, overseeing legal functions across various business operations.

Kanika’s career includes experience as a Sr. Executive - Legal at Bharti Airtel Limited, where she managed legal issues for the telecommunications company.

Kanika’s extensive experience in legal leadership and regulatory compliance underscores her expertise and contributions to corporate law.

Kaushik Mukherjee is the President Legal (Head of Legal Corporate Affairs) at Sammaan Capital (formerly Indiabulls Housing Finance). He is a corporate lawyer and senior in-house counsel with diverse experience across practice areas including capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, structured finance, real estate project financing, restructuring, and corporate and securities advisory and disputes. Kaushik has been a capital markets and public M&A partner with leading Indian law firms including Shardul Amarchand and JSA Law, amongst others. As an inhouse counsel, Kaushik’s repertoire includes structuring and execution of commercial transactions. Additionally, he oversees all regulatory matters ranging from simple advisory in relation to compliance to strategising (with external counsel or otherwise) in connection with investigations and disputes. He has regularly advised on queries raised by the Reserve Bank of India and the National Housing Board in relation to periodic inspections conducted by such regulators. Kaushik has multiple publications under his name including a National Stock Exchange (of India) publication on corporate governance (as a special advisor), apart from authoring articles in leading financial dailies.

Kumar Sambasivan is a General Council Member at Ayana Renewable Power and a corporate generalist attorney with substantial in-house legal experience, providing pro-active support on high value infrastructure projects, contracts and negotiations, corporate governance, mergers and acquisition, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, dispute resolution and litigation. He specialises in high value contracting, contract management, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, dispute management, intellectual property.

Lakshman Singh is the General Counsel at Siemens Gamesa, where he leads the legal department, overseeing all legal and compliance functions for the company’s operations in Chennai. His role includes managing legal strategies for a range of business activities, from acquisitions and transactions to compliance and risk management.

Prior to joining Siemens Gamesa, Lakshman served as the Head of Litigations at Larsen & Toubro. In this position, he managed corporate legal functions, including litigation, acquisitions, and new business ventures such as e-commerce and data centres. His leadership extended across multiple legal disciplines, supporting the company’s diverse and complex business environment.

Lakshman also held the position of Chief Manager Legal at Siemens, where he was responsible for legal and compliance matters within the Power & Gas and Power Generation Services divisions. Earlier in his career, he worked as Manager Legal & Contracts at Alstom Projects India Ltd., where he handled various legal and contractual matters.

With a strong background in energy, legal compliance, and corporate governance, he has built a robust career.

Lakshmi Menon Nair is the Director and Head of Legal - India Geo at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. She is a General Counsel with both global and local experience, known for providing practical, outcome-oriented advice to technology companies ranging from medium-sized enterprises to large Fortune 500 companies. She has advised on complex crossborder commercial transactions, technology laws, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, employment laws, data protection laws, intellectual property laws, trade laws, insurance laws, antitrust issues, dispute management, facilitated corporate secretarial matters, corporate governance, real estate laws, environmental laws, business code of conduct issues and risk/compliance management. She has experience managing large and small agile teams with a focus on driving excellence and elevating performance by creating an inclusive environment for team members. She is a member of several Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ERGs in her present organisation and drives strategic initiatives for these groups.

Manjaree Chowdhary is the Sr. Executive Director and General Counsel at Maruti Suzuki India. With over 25 years of experience, she leads a team of 50 experts, working closely with the Board, the CEO and the Leadership team. She provides legal and compliance support in a dynamic regulatory and risk environment at Maruti Suzuki India, a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan. Manjaree has worked across South Asia, US, ANZ, and Japan in diverse industries like Industrial, Manufacturing, Auto, Healthcare, Power and Services. Skilled in strategic advisory, listed entity management, complex transactions, dispute resolution, enterprise risk, compliance and public policy, she has led industry initiatives including the formulation of a Voluntary Code of Ethics adopted by the National Healthcare Federation of India. At Maruti Suzuki, she has successfully led change management through incremental steps. With a Masters in Law from the University of London, Manjaree made a mid-career shift from academics to law, beginning her legal career at a leading Indian law firm and moving in-house to General Electric before joining Maruti Suzuki as its first woman General Counsel.

Manoj Gujaran is a seasoned Corporate Compliance, Legal, and CSR professional with over two decades of experience. He brings a wealth of expertise in NBFC compliance, company law, listing regulations, corporate governance, legal drafting, due diligence, restructuring, CSR, intellectual property rights, and human resources. An award-winning Chief Compliance Officer and legal strategist, Manoj has recently embarked on an entrepreneurial path as an independent consultant, helping organizations navigate regulatory complexities while fostering sustainable growth and innovation.

With extensive experience across financial services, media, and multinational corporations, he has a proven track record in ensuring regulatory adherence, managing corporate restructuring, and championing ESG and CSR initiatives. In his previous role as Chief Compliance Officer at Poonawalla Fincorp Limited, he led key compliance initiatives and developed impactful CSR strategies. His deep understanding of RBI guidelines, digital lending, and strategic investments further underscores his comprehensive approach to corporate governance.

Mayur Vasani is the Head - Legal, Southern Asia, Director & CS India at Kenvue. In this role, he oversees the legal and compliance functions across Southern Asia, ensuring regulatory adherence and guiding the company’s strategic legal initiatives.

With over two decades of experience, Mayur brings extensive expertise to his current position. He previously served as the Legal Director for Johnson & Johnson’s Consumer Health division from 2010, also holding the role of Member of the Board of Directors, which underscores his proficiency in corporate governance and legal management.

Before joining Johnson & Johnson, Mayur was the Taxation Manager and Company Secretary at SABIC, focussing on indirect taxation, tax law, VAT, and transfer pricing. At DuPont, he served as Corporate Manager - Indirect Tax, further enhancing his skills in tax management and regulatory compliance. His comprehensive skill set includes expertise in indirect taxation, tax management, VAT, transfer pricing, and corporate governance.

Mohit Kapoor is the Executive Vice President and Head of Legal at SBI Card & Payments Services. He is a dual-qualified lawyer with varied experience in litigation and corporate matters, spanning multiple industries and geographies. Having begun his career practising at premier law firms, he has handled a variety of matters ranging from indirect tax, consumer, antitrust, intellectual property and product liability laws, while engaging and working extensively with India’s senior-most counsels. He then successfully transitioned to more transactional and advisory roles by gaining rich experience working at different organisations including foreign law firms, global insurers, international HR consultants, leading banks, and NBFCs. He has more than three decades of experience and has held various responsibilities in various organisations and has been exposed to a variety of experiences including providing timely and costeffective legal support to businesses against aggressive schedules and budgets, liaising with the Board of Directors, shareholders and regulators. Currently, He heads the legal department of India’s largest pure-play credit card issuer - SBI Card, providing strategic, legal, regulatory and commercial support as a member of the Senior Management Team.

Nagendra Pal Goel is the Executive Director-Legal & Company Secretary at Ingram Micro Private Limited, the largest global IT distribution and ITES company, where he is responsible for managing the legal and secretarial portfolio for South Asia. With over two decades of experience, Nagendra is a well-recognized professional in corporate law, known for his expertise and strategic approach in handling complex legal matters across diverse sectors. In addition to holding a degree in Commerce and Law graduate from the University of Delhi, he is also a Fellow Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Nagendra specialises in Corporate Law & Governance, Company Law, Contracts, Compliance & Business Ethics, Litigation & Employment Law. His experience also extends in the fields of Banking and Insurance & Economic laws.

Joint Venture, Mergers & Acquisitions & Greenfield Projects are his passion and an integral part of his successful career.

His career spans over 24 years during which he has worked with several diverse industries like FMCG, B2B, Beverages and even been a part of the Chemical, Pharmaceutical & Manufacturing industry. He has been employed in various capacities in both multinational and Indian companies, like Jindal Photo Limited, Valvoline Cummins Limited, Ashland India Private Limited & ISP India Private Limited.

Naveen Raju is General Counsel and Executive Vice President at Mahindra & Mahindra and a member of the Group Executive Board. In his role as General Counsel, he leads the in-house legal team and provides assurance on legal and regulatory compliance across the Group’s global businesses and operations.

He has over two decades of experience working with leading Indian private sector companies including ACC, Crompton Greaves and Reliance Industries Limited. He moved to Mahindra in 2014 and has been instrumental in creating core internal competencies, integrating the legal function with group businesses and promoting greater adoption of technology.

He is a Director on the Board of Mahindra Logistics Limited and its affiliate companies, Mahindra Automotive North America Inc. and other group entities.

In his professional capacity, he is a member of the Board of Directors at the Association of Corporate Counsel, which is the world’s largest in-house counsel community with over 40,000 members across 85 countries. He is also co-chair of the legal affairs and IPR committee at the Bombay Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Navita Chaubal is the General Counsel & Sr. Director at Target. She is a solution-focussed legal & compliance professional with 26+ years’ rich experience in overseeing daily legal & compliance functions pertaining to regulation and standards. She is adept at understanding business operations & needs, mentoring teams to align with business requirements, conducting audits, verifying operational efficiency, evaluating internal control systems and recommending ways of improving internal controls. Navita is proficient in managing legal groups/teams, Knowledge Management, legal project, investigating various cases and maintaining records. Focussed and hard working with proven capability in discovering critical legal points in complex litigation and ability to easily grasp complex situations. Rich exposure of working with international clients/teams in SE Asia, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, USA, UK, China, Austria, Belgium, Spain, etc. Skilled in managing multiple projects simultaneously ensuring compliance. She has strong analytical, problem-solving skills coupled with relation building skills with internal/external bodies & excellent negotiations skills.

Neera Sharma is the Group General Counsel & CEO at Sistema Smart Technologies Limited. She is a University of California, Los Angeles, alumni and an experienced chief of legal with a demonstrated history of working in the telecommunications, real estate and IT industry. She is skilled in negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, legal compliance, complaint management, litigations, arbitration, and dispute resolution. With over 24 years of experience, she has worked with several start-ups and developed teams from scratch while handling multiple responsibilities. As a member of the Board of Directors, she has always played a role that goes far beyond her position as a legal adviser. Neera has been working closely with senior business leaders to develop corporate strategies across the region and acts as company representative in discussions with the government, the regulators and other stakeholders to help influence the policy decisions. She has been recognised as one of the leading senior counsels of India. Neera is praised and has been awarded for her strong leadership skills and the ability to build business models that take into account complex legal outcomes. She is credited for being an excellent communicator with strong negotiation skills and having leadership qualities and analytical power.

Nishant Nayan is the Head of Legal and Compliance at Panasonic Electric Works, bringing over 18 years of expertise in M&A, contracts, compliance, litigation, and risk management. His qualifications include an LLB from Delhi University, a Company Secretary (FCS) designation, and a Global EMBA-PGPMAX from the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad.

Nishant is highly skilled in strategising corporate transactions, managing complex legal and compliance issues, and serving as a business partner and enabler. His experience covers M&A leadership, joint ventures, foreign technology transfers, corporate litigation, dispute resolution, arbitration, and regulatory compliance. He has effectively managed board governance, listing compliance, and manufacturing compliance for both Indian and international group companies.

Panduranga Acharya is the General Counsel at Zepto. He is a seasoned legal professional and a veteran in the e-commerce industry, known for his solution-oriented and a great decision maker. He has led complex transactions and highly performing teams in his career. His vast experience on sectoral regulatory issues is outstanding. Panduranga has built high performance teams and has demonstrated great legal leadership in various organisations. Panduranga is a Law graduate from Bangalore University. After a brief period of court practice, he worked for various corporations. He carries 18 years of post-qualification experience as inhouse counsel and has been associated with Mobile Store, Videocon, Vodafone, Flipkart, Swiggy and CarDekho Group. His core competence includes, M&A Transactions Advisory, Business Structuring, Regulatory Compliances, Policy Advocacy and Real Estate Transactions. He is a regular speaker on diverse legal topics and has been co-chair for FICCI Online Food Aggregator Working Group and currently Executive Committee Member, e-Commerce Law Section at INBA and member of CII National Committee on Regulatory Affairs.

Parag Mathur is the Group General Counsel at PhonePe, bringing over 24 years of extensive expertise in Legal, M&A, Regulatory, and Compliance domains. His role at PhonePe involves providing substantial legal support for new business launches. He is also responsible for spearheading major projects like redomiciling PhonePe to India from Singapore, orchestrating the USD 1 Billion Funding Round, Insurance Broking, Stock Broking, Payments and NBFC -Account Aggregator licenses, including other connected registrations and sublicenses to enable digital distribution of financial products and services on PhonePe.

Through his engagement with the NITI Aayog, the Government of India, and financial regulators, he has helped drive regulations that support the use of Aadhaar-based OTP for onboarding in 2016, as well as video KYC, digital verification, and penny drop for non-face-to-face onboarding. These regulations have evolved over the past five years to allow for paperless and presence-less customer onboarding.

As a Fellow Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and a law graduate, Parag has accumulated a wealth of experience through key roles in well-established organisations such as Modi Corp, Polar Software, Bharti Airtel, and ING Life Insurance.

Parvatheesam Kanchinadham is currently the Corporate Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (Corporate & Compliance) at Tata Steel. His most significant responsibilities include advising the Board on Governance and ensuring that the Members of the Board are ably equipped with resources to discharge their fiduciary duties and corporate governance practices. Kanchinadham is also responsible for the Compliance Function of Tata Steel and the legal requirements of the company in the areas of Governance, Anti-trust, Corporate Actions and New Ventures. He also has oversight responsibility of the legal and governance matters of Tata Steel’s Investment in Subsidiaries, Joint Ventures and Associate Companies in India and Overseas. Prior to joining the Tata Group, he served as the Corporate Secretary and Chief Risk & Compliance Officer of Infosys. At Infosys, PK was responsible for the Governance, Risk and Compliance function (including compliance with SEC Rules and Regulations). Kanchinadham also serves as Member of the CII National Committee on Financial Reporting and on the CII National Committee on Regulatory Affairs’.

Pooja Bedi is the Chief Counsel for BU India at Mondelēz International, bringing over 20 years of extensive legal experience to the role. She specialises in mergers and acquisitions, complex multi-jurisdictional transactions, contract negotiations, and government relations. Her expertise also includes sensitive litigation, intellectual property protection, and legal tech and operations management.

Before joining Mondelēz International, Pooja was Head of Legal & Compliance for the Indian Subcontinent at Philips, where she built a best-in-class legal, compliance, governance, risk, and CSR function. Her previous roles include Associate Counsel at Argentum Law, Legal Director at JUUL Labs, managing legal and compliance affairs for India, Southeast Asia, and parts of EMEA, and Legal Compliance & Corporate Affairs Director at AB InBev India & Southeast Asia. She has also served as Senior Manager at Pernod Ricard India and Company Secretary at Tips Industries Limited.

Pooja has received several accolades, including the Women in Law Excellence Award by Legal Era in 2021 and the Rising Star - “Under 40” In-House GC by Legal Era in 2017.

Poornima Sampath is SVP & Chief Legal Officer at Tata Digital. Previously, she was working with Tata Sons as Vice President - Group Legal. She has also worked with Intel Capital as Senior Attorney, where she spent a few years handling legal matters across a diverse portfolio of venture capital investments in India, Asia-Pacific and the United States. Prior to Intel Capital, she worked at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in New York, focussing on M&A, private equity and restructuring matters. Poornima is admitted to practice law in New York, India and the United Kingdom (non- practicing solicitor).

Prateek Sharma is the Director - Legal & Compliance at Fractal, where he leads legal and compliance functions. In this role, he oversees critical aspects of legal operations and regulatory adherence. Previously, he was the Lead Legal & Compliance at Fractal, focussing on due diligence and project management.

Prateek’s career includes significant roles at major organisations. At CRISIL Limited, he served as Associate Director, managing various aspects of legal and compliance work. He also held the position of Senior Legal Counsel at InterGlobe Enterprises, where he was involved in leadership and stakeholder management. His early career included roles as a Legal Manager at ICICI Lombard and as a Contract Management Specialist at Accenture.

He holds an LLM in International Business Laws from the National University of Singapore and a B.A. LL.B (Hons) from National Law Institute University, Bhopal. His expertise encompasses contract management, stakeholder management, and legal compliance, positioning him as a key figure in navigating complex legal and regulatory environments.

Pujarini Guha Maulik, SVP Legal and Privacy Head, InMobi has over 20+ years of experience as an in-house counsel, currently she heads a team of 22+ in-house lawyers and privacy practitioners. InMobi is present in about 13+ countries with business in 100+ countries and she oversees the legal and privacy portfolios across the board. Her exposure in InMobi has been diverse starting from setting up a team from scratch to establishing robust processes towards Corporate Governance. Currently, she is the presiding member of its Privacy Committee (CIPM certified). Prior to InMobi, she worked with Infosys and DRL

Rabindra Purohit is the Head of Legal, Compliance & Company Secretary at NIVEA India. As a seasoned Corporate Lawyer and Company Secretary, he brings over two decades of experience working with in-house legal teams at multinational corporations. His career began as a Senior Associate at Lexport Law Firm, followed by roles as Senior Manager Legal & Company Secretary at Bharti Delmonte Foods and Deputy General Manager Legal & Company Secretary at Vodafone, where he managed legal matters including litigation, tax disputes, intellectual property protection, and corporate affairs.

In his current role, he oversees the company’s legal, secretarial, and compliance functions. His expertise lies in de-risking business operations, driving compliance, navigating complex transactions, handling disputes, protecting intellectual property and brands, managing cross-border transactions, and ensuring robust corporate governance. He is also skilled in crafting legal frameworks and partnering with businesses to unlock strategic growth through legal tech, creativity, and collaboration.

Rajbeer Sachdeva is the President, Group Legal at JK Organisation. He was previously the Senior Executive Director and Group General Counsel at DLF Ltd. and, prior to that, worked as the Global Head of Legal at Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. He has extensively worked in the domain of Mergers and Acquisitions, Competition & Antitrust laws, Real Estate Transactions, Intellectual Property and Trademark matters and Arbitrations in India and abroad. He has also been dealing with various matters relating to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, after successful acquiring a Company under CIRP from NCLT. He is an alumnus of Delhi University with an LLB and LLM and has about 32 years of experience as a Corporate Lawyer. He views the role of a Corporate Lawyer as an advisor to business teams on various intricate matters and legal tasks should be completed meticulously and with precision. The emphasis should be to effectively handle the transactions and litigations after taking into account the business perspective which is utmost important for taking a final view and to provide solutions to the business team. The role of the Corporate Counsel is a strategic and the advice given to the business team must be practical and business-oriented.

Rajiv Chandan is the Chief General Counsel & Company Secretary at Tata Chemicals Limited. He is a corporate lawyer and a Governance Professional. He has a masters’ degree in Commerce and a Law degree from the University of Mumbai. He is also qualified Company Secretary from The Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Rajiv is with Tata Group since 2007 and he is a Key Managerial Person in Tata Chemicals Ltd and designated as Global General Counsel & Company Secretary. Being a member of Management Committee, he heads the Legal, Corporate Governance, Compliance and Company Secretarial functions of the Company headquartered in Mumbai and its subsidiaries based in India, America, UK and Africa. Rajiv has over three decades of experience in the areas of Legal, Regulatory, Compliance, Corporate Governance and Mergers & Acquisitions including cross-border His experience is spread across diverse industries and sectors, including paper, automobiles, logistics, cement, chemicals, FMCG and fertilisers. Rajiv is also representing his company in various Legal affairs committee of industry bodies such as CII, FICCI and BCCI.

Rajiv Malik is the Dy. General Manager at LG Electronics India, where he manages the legal team for the company’s Noida manufacturing subsidiary. With over 20 years of legal experience, he specialises in litigation, contract management, data privacy, anti-trust issues, and compliance. He holds an LLB from Delhi University and is a qualified Company Secretary. Additionally, Rajiv has pursued further education in Cyber Laws from Amity University and AI & Law from Lund University.

In his role at LG Electronics, Rajiv oversees key legal functions, including intellectual property rights (IPR), alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and competition law. His extensive expertise extends beyond his corporate responsibilities; he is a respected speaker at industry conferences and seminars, where he provides valuable insights into legal and compliance matters.

Rajiv’s qualification as a Company Secretary enhances his understanding of corporate governance and compliance, enabling him to help organisations adhere to legal obligations and manage potential risks effectively. He is dedicated to promoting ethical practices and ensuring that businesses operate within legal frameworks, contributing significantly to the company’s legal and compliance strategies.

Rajiv Mohapatra, Vice President, Global Legal Compliance at Mastercard, is a dual-qualified banking and finance lawyer with over 23 years of experience in leadership roles across the banking and finance industry. He has advised boards and management of major corporates and global MNCs, including Vodafone, HSBC Bank, and CitiFinancial, on various legal and regulatory issues. Specialising in managing legal risks, regulatory and corporate affairs, corporate-commercial litigations, legal recovery, compliance, and public policy, Rajiv currently serves as the Global Head of Legal Compliance for money transmission products at Mastercard, overseeing with ‘at his current role he oversees’. Rajiv also has experience in private practice before the High Courts and Supreme Court of India. He is a life member of the Bar Association of Odisha, India, and a former member of the International Bar Association, London.

Roopesh Jain is the Deputy Vice President at Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited. With over 25 years of experience in legal, compliance, and taxation matters, he has served as General Counsel for leading companies across diverse sectors, including consumer durables, pharma, oil and gas, construction, and finance. Roopesh has a strong background in contract management, commercial litigation, statutory compliance, corporate governance, ESG, and risk management. He is a commerce and law graduate and is also qualified as a Company Secretary and Cost & Management Accountant.

Based in Ahmedabad, Roopesh has a proven track record of successful partnerships with businesses, demonstrating expertise in Contract Management, Drafting, Review & Negotiation, Commercial Litigation, Statutory Compliance, Corporate Secretarial, Corporate Governance, ESG, Risk Management, and Joint Venture relationship management.

Sachin Kalra is the Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at HT Media Limited (Group). Having pursued his Master’s degree from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune, he completed post-graduation and joined as a faculty of law with the same university. Soon, he decided to take up law as a career and became a practicing lawyer in litigation. Subsequently, he specialised in corporate law and intellectual property rights law. In his prior assignments, Sachin headed and represented the legal functions of Bharti AXA, Bharti Retail, Samsung (South-West Asia), Vodafone India. He possesses a wide experience of handling a diverse range of legal matters in different industries including insurance, telecom, FMCG, retail, real estate, electronics, consumer durables, education and media. With a penchant for research and a love for academics, he continues to hold a keen interest in interacting with and tutoring law students on a wide array of subjects beyond the rote learning of textbooks. As a General Counsel, Sachin has been bestowed with several prestigious awards.

Saikat Sarkar is the Global General Counsel at Eicher Motors Limited, overseeing the legal function for a company with over USD 1.25 billion in net revenue. With over 25 years of experience, he has held significant roles across diverse geographies and sectors.

He has worked with Hindustan Unilever Limited and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (HCCB), where he managed legal functions across major Indian cities. He was also General Counsel for Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Myanmar, based in Kuala Lumpur, before relocating to Bangalore.

His expertise includes Corporate and Business Operations, Contract and Commercial Laws, Anti-Trust/Competition Law, Litigation, Intellectual Property Rights, Corporate Governance, FCPA, Ethics and Compliance, and more. He is known for his strong leadership, team collaboration, and effective stakeholder management.

Sameer Chugh is the Chief Legal Officer at Games24x7. With over 26 years of experience, he leads the company’s legal, compliance, and secretarial functions. He holds a degree in Law from Symbiosis Law College, Pune. He has also completed the Masters in Marketing Management from SIMS, Pune followed by MSc in Telecom Business from UCL, London, UK. Sameer has worked with leading Indian Law Firms including Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas & Kochhar & Co. He has worked as the India General Counsel with companies such as NCR Corporation, BT Group, Essar Group and Cummins. He was the Director – Legal & Regulatory for Bharti Airtel before taking over as the Group General Counsel of Bharti Group.

Sameer Karekatte is the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Zuno General Insurance Ltd., with extensive experience with varied business environment in multiple Industries, Leading Corporate Legal Function for over a decade, Core functional experience include Public Affairs, Extensive Litigation, Legislative Advocacy, Regulatory Structures, Corporate Re-structuring, Project Negotiations, Competition Law & Anti–trust framework, Arbitration, Industrial & Employment Laws, Reality & Estate Transactions, IPR Policy and Litigation.

Sameer's expertise extends to conflict management, commercial corporate contracts, and devising effective legal strategies. He is proficient in intellectual property protection, civil, criminal, and constitutional laws, as well as banking, insurance, and other regulatory compliances. He has a strong track record in structuring and managing legal organisations and business interfaces, making him a valuable asset in navigating complex legal landscapes.

Sameet Gambhir is the Sr. Vice President & Group Head - Legal at UFLEX Limited. A Senior Corporate Legal & Risk Management professional and Company Secretary, he has around 30 years of industry experience. He was previously the Vice President (Corporate Law) & Company Secretary at DCM Shriram Ltd. His expertise includes Regulatory & Corporate legal matters, Corporate Governance & Compliances, Corporate restructuring, M&A, RBI & FEMA matters, SEBI Regulations, Risk management, IPR matters, brand protection, data privacy issues, due-diligence, and investigations ESG, Industrial & labour Laws, Contracts & Agreements, litigations. He also carries vast experience in Corporate Secretarial matters including handling Board meetings, Committee meetings and shareholders meetings. He is the Co-Chairman of the Corporate Affairs committee of PHDCCI and also a member of National Committee on Regulatory Affairs of CII. He is also a member of Board of Study of GD Goenka Law School.

Sandiip Chaudaury is the Group General Counsel at Suzlon Energy Ltd, one of India’s largest renewable energy companies with a significant international presence. In this role, he oversees legal, regulatory, and compliance matters, managing a diverse team of lawyers across various verticals. Sandeep provides crucial advice and guidance to senior management and board members, focussing on mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiation, and safeguarding the company’s interests in strategic disputes.

His expertise extends to handling large-scale litigations and arbitrations, complex transactions, and legal budgets. He is dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of the in-house legal team and has extensive experience with US FCPA regulations, having conducted numerous training sessions and investigations. Additionally, he has managed significant international litigations and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) matters.

With a career beginning at a prominent law firm, Sandeep has held various legal roles in major corporations such as Walmart, Coca Cola, Baxter, UPL, and Lafarge Cement. His strategic legal leadership at Suzlon involves strengthening internal governance policies, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring comprehensive legal compliance across the Suzlon Group.

Sanjeev Sachdeva is the General Counsel at Elan Group, a prominent real estate group with presence in commercial, retail and high end residential developments. Elan Group is a majestic group and has a philosophy of delivering what is promised. The allure of Elan’s elitism and refinement has earned the Group many patrons. The partners and patrons are an integral part of its success story.

Prior to his engagement with Elan Group, he was working as a Senior Partner with the law firm MINE & YOUNG - Advocates & Legal Consultants, New Delhi focussing on real estate, corporate laws and infrastructure. Earlier, Sanjeev Sachdeva has held the position of GC and Head Legal of Emaar India.

Head Legal of Emaar India. He has more than three decades of experience in spearheading legal services to companies and firms in the real estate and infrastructure development sector.

Sanjit Kaur Batra is the Group Vice President Legal and Legal Head at Cummins India, where she oversees the company’s legal, secretarial, and compliance functions. With a diverse career spanning the corporate and social sectors, Sanjit brings extensive experience from roles at DuPont, where she served as APAC Counsel and Legal Head for South Asia, and the U.S. Government’s USPTO’s international IP policy office in South Asia. Her background includes work in private practice and as a litigator, focussing on cross-border M&A, divestitures, restructuring transactions, corporate governance, anti-trust, and intellectual property. Sanjit also contributes to policy advocacy through various industry association committees in India.

Sanjukta Kulkarni is the Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel at LTIMindtree Ltd. She is also a member of the Management Council and Risk Operating Committee at LTI. She has diverse experience in leading deal negotiations of several fifty plus million US dollar commercial contracts across US, Europe, Australia and Middle East while heading as deputy of Legal function at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, TCS eServe, Capgemini India and Tech Mahindra. She has well over 25 years’ experience of managing legal activities at large MNCs while holding leadership positions. She is a double Master’s degree holder from Stockholm University in Sweden and Aberdeen University in UK. Over the course of her career, she has advised management on several matters related to compliance, employment law, government investigations including interactions with US Department of Justice and Indian law enforcement officials such as CBI, litigation including managing US class action suits, advised on whistle-blower investigations, formation of JVs, mergers and integration activities, Data Privacy breach management and general policy matters including on rebadging employees in Europe, India and Middle East. She has keen interest in mentoring teams and has also been a speaker at several legal industry forums.

Santosh Parab is the General Counsel at L&T Finance Limited, with over 28 years of experience with expertise in varied domains – retail, wholesale, and banking finance, borrowings & treasury, mergers & acquisitions of entities in the financial sector, equity raising, private equity, litigation, recovery, and resolution.

Prior to joining L&T Finance, he worked with IDBI, IDFC, IDFC Bank, and Altico Capital in different roles across the legal function. He has played a pivotal role in all major milestones achieved during his tenure with previous organisations, including obtaining banking licenses, managing acquisitions and divestments of various financial entities, overseeing mergers of banks with NBFCs, and working on resolution plans, among others.

Saugata Chakravarty is the Chief Legal Officer at Grasim Industries Limited (Aditya Birla Group). With nearly 22 years of experience in corporate transactional law, he brings deep expertise in legal, corporate affairs, governance, and risk and compliance.

In his role at Grasim, Saugata oversees the legal management of diverse business units, including Pulp, Fibre, Textile, Chemicals, Epoxy, Insulator, B2B E-commerce Building Solutions, and Renewable Energy, both in India and internationally. His responsibilities include advising on strategic market approaches, navigating legal and regulatory issues, and analysing the impact of legislative changes. As a permanent invitee to the Board and Management Committee meetings, he plays a crucial role in providing strategic insights and advocacy on evolving legal frameworks.

Saugata leads a team of approximately 38 legal professionals, dedicated to managing legal and contractual risks and building a high-performance team. His expertise encompasses business partnership, executive management, policy advocacy, strategic legal advisory, and the negotiation and management of complex agreements, including project concessions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and shareholder agreements.

Shagoofa Rashid Khan is an Independent Consultant at the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). She brings over 26 years of experience across private equity, acquisitions, strategic initiatives, corporate and commercial laws, compliance and ethics advisory, audit, and finance. She began her legal career at Nishith Desai Associates, where she eventually headed the real estate funds practice. She has held significant roles, leading legal-compliance functions at Kotak Investment Advisors Limited, IDFC Alternatives, and Tata Sons’ Group Legal Team. She also headed the Investment Funds practice at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. Most recently, she served as Group General Counsel and Head of Corporate Affairs at National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL). Currently, she is an Independent Consultant to NIIFL.

She has been a member of various working groups and committees constituted by SEBI and IFSCA. She was also a member of IVCA’s Executive Committee (2022-24) and is a member of the Regional Advocacy Committee, APREA. Shagoofa was named General Counsel of the Year at the 5th Annual Legal Era Women in Law Excellence Awards (2023).

Sheel Sinha currently serves as General Counsel for India & South Asia at Jones Lang LaSalle(JLL), a multinational real estate services company and manages legal, compliance, and ethics verticals. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and Bachelor of Laws from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University (2002). Sheel is an enterprising leader & planner with a strong track record of 21 years in streamlining legal operations, invigorating businesses, heightening productivity, and improving systems & procedures in senior-level legal assignments in contentious, transactional, and regulatory compliance domains. Prior to joining JLL, he held positions as Director and Associate General Counsel at PwC India, where he managed legal issues for the firm across all service lines and Associate Vice President at SBI Card (then GE-SBIJV) where he had a diversified role in managing legal affairs of two distinct entities apart from being a participant in larger Generic Electric India legal leadership.

Shelly Kohli is Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at United Breweries Ltd. she is a corporate lawyer with over 20 years of experience, having worked both in private practice and in-house lawyer in senior management roles with large global corporations like General Electric, Unilever. She is a dual qualified lawyer enrolled to practice in India and the State of New York, USA. In her current role, she leads the legal and compliance function of United Breweries Limited and is a part of the Management Team. UBL is listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange and is a part of Heineken Group. In this role, she is responsible for all legal and compliance matters, including corporate, litigation and intellectual property across geographies. She is a strategic legal adviser to the Board and Senior Management of the company.

Shujath Bin Ali is the Global General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at Re Sustainability Limited. A graduate in Commerce and Law, he has done Masters in Law in Alternate Dispute Resolution & International Commercial Arbitration. A Fellow Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, he has attended executive education programmes on strategy, general management and leadership from Harvard University, Massachusetts, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, and National Law School, Bengaluru. He was also a member of Toastmasters International and led various initiatives in the development of leadership and communication skills for professionals and students. Shujath served as Senior Director-Legal, Risk Management & Company Secretary and Compliance Officer at Parexel International–India, providing strategic corporate legal advice and operational legal support for India operations. Prior to that, he was a Senior Legal Counsel & Corporate Secretary for International Paper-India. He worked as Associate Vice President-Legal & Corporate Secretary for Deloitte US-India offices and has overall 21 years of experience in the areas of governance, compliance, risk management and corporate, commercial and employment laws. He is credited for working in diverse industries like pharma, information technology, professional services and manufacturing.

Smitha Chandrashekaraiah is the Director-Legal at Harman International and has worked across various sectors including but not limited to logistics, IT, healthcare, asset finance and audio/visuals in the Asia Pacific Region. She is a trusted advisor to the top management covering a broad spectrum of legal and compliance practice - strategic advisory, Board Management, risk and compliance management, structuring and negotiating complex commercial transactions, M&A, litigation, external counsel management and talent development. Core strength/focus in the areas of Privacy, Employment, General Corporate/Commercial, Contract Negotiations, M&A, and Corporate Governance.

Somya Agarwal is the Vice President - Legal, Secretarial, and Compliance at Fractal Analytics, where she utilises over 20 years of experience as a lawyer and company secretary to provide strategic legal counsel and compliance solutions. At Fractal Analytics, a leading global provider of artificial intelligence and analytics solutions, she aligns legal and business objectives to drive optimal outcomes for the organisation and its stakeholders.

Somya’s expertise encompasses transaction documentation, contracts, litigation, joint ventures, acquisitions, and board/shareholder matters. She has successfully managed numerous funding rounds, contributing to the company’s journey to becoming a unicorn and overseeing the acquisition of various international brands. Her role also involves pioneering legal restructuring initiatives to streamline corporate actions, optimising efficiency through legal process automation, and enhancing global compliance solutions for cross-border entities. She has previously served as Head Legal and Company Secretary at Ginger Hotels and Publicis Groupe, and as Assistant Vice President-Legal and Company Secretary at NourishCo Beverages Limited.

Sonal Basu is the General Counsel at Lloyds Technology Centre India. Previously, she was the head of Mindtree’s legal, regulatory, and integrity functions. She has nearly twenty years of experience in the field of information technology. In her current role, she provides strategic counsel to the Board and management, across global markets and is also a champion of diversity and inclusion initiatives. Sonal regularly speaks at various reputed forums and educational institutions including IIM Bangalore and has been a faculty member for a seminar course on ‘Cloud Computing’ at the National Law School, Bangalore. Sonal has also co-authored a write-up on ‘Bitcoins’ and ‘Data Science to Drive Good Governance’ which were published in international journals. Sonal, an active volunteer with an NGO that emphasises the importance of children’s education, holds a BLS, LLB degree from Government Law College, Mumbai and a post-graduate diploma in Intellectual Property Rights Laws from the National Law School of India University. She has a Master of Laws degree in Corporate and Commercial Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She has also completed her executive leadership program from Cornell University, USA. With several articles authored by her on IT and outsourcing to the credit.

Sormistha Ghosh is the Group General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer (Senior VP - Legal & Secretarial) at Strides Pharma. A competent lawyer from India, she served as a consulting lawyer for almost a decade before taking up in-house roles with global MNCs. Sormistha has been associated with Strides Pharma Science Limited for over five years now. In her current role at the group level globally, Sormistha looks after the functions of legal, secretarial, compliance and enterprise risk management. It enables her to exercise equal efforts for strategy, operations, collaboration, risk management and creating a legal centre of excellence. It brings in value to the Group operations as board member of the US entity (a material subsidiary outside India), where board members consist of independent director also. Acting as the Chief Risk Officer, Sormistha is responsible for the Risk Management Committee and the Board of Directors for reporting pro-actively all risks identified for the corporation globally.

Srivals Kumar is an Advocate & Corporate Legal Consultant with over 25 years of extensive experience in the legal field. He has held key inhouse counsel roles at notable companies such as Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices, Star TV, Mumbai International Airport, Flipkart.com, Rustomjee, and Sunteck Realty Limited. Currently, Kumar provides expert legal advisory services as an External Legal Consultant, offering strategic guidance across a wide range of legal matters. During his distinguished corporate experience, he has adeptly handled issues ranging from Contracts, Statutory Compliances, and Litigation to Business Advisory for operations and business teams. He has provided legal and regulatory insights on day-to-day issues, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex legal landscapes. His work spans highly regulated sectors such as Telecom, Media, Airports, and Real Estate, where he has tackled numerous challenging issues with expertise. His contributions to the legal field have been widely recognised. He was named one of the “Distinguished Legal Minds of India 2022-23” by Legal Era and received the “Policy & Regulatory Lawyer of the Year” award in 2020 for his outstanding achievements. In addition to his consultancy work, Kumar is a regular speaker at industry forums and legal seminars and serves as a guest faculty member at leading law schools and universities across India.

Suchita Saigal is the General Counsel at Cleantech Solar, she joined the Company, a leading provider of renewable energy to corporations in Southeast Asia and India, in February 2021 as the Assistant General Counsel to head their India legal team. In December 2021, she was promoted to Acting General Counsel (India and SEA) and in March 2022 she was confirmed as the General Counsel (India and SEA). Suchita has 12+ years’ experience in top tier law firms across jurisdictions and leading power companies. She advises on transaction structuring, acquisitions, project development, project financing, litigations and disputes, and other operational matters. Suchita started her career as a trainee lawyer at Clifford Chance, London, and thereafter, joined its Energy and Infrastructure practice as an associate, advising on key crossjurisdiction financings and acquisitions, including the acquisition of the biggest residential solar rooftop portfolio. Subsequently, on relocating to India, Suchita worked with the Projects practice in JSA and Trilegal. In 2016, she moved in-house to join the CLP India (now Apraava Energy) legal team.

Sudipta Ghosh is the Head of Legal, Real Assets at EAAA Alternative (formerly Edelweiss Alternatives Asset Advisors). In this role, she is responsible for establishing and leading the legal department to support platforms investing in critical infrastructure, such as roads, real estate, InvITs, and a pioneering climate fund. She plays a key role in advising on complex legal matters related to large-scale investments and developments in the real assets sector.

Prior to this, she was General Counsel at Apraava Energy Private Limited, one of India’s largest foreign-owned power companies. During her tenure, she was actively involved in advising the company on a wide range of legal matters related to conventional and renewable energy projects, with a particular focus on wind and solar energy projects in India. Her expertise spans project document drafting, negotiating offtake agreements, and executing both conventional and non-conventional power projects.

Her extensive career also includes significant roles at two prestigious law firms in India – Trilegal and Amarchand Mangaldas. She has handled a broad range of domestic and international financing for infrastructure projects, including power projects and airports. She has varied experience and keen interest in project financing.

Sumeet Singh is the General Counsel & Head - Corporate Strategy, BharatPe. He is a seasoned legal professional with 10+ years of experience across leading law firms including AZB & Partners, DSK Legal, and Amarchand Mangaldas. Sumeet brings a deep understanding of legal, compliance, regulatory, and structuring aspects of multiple sectors including non-banking financial, retail, e-commerce, FMCG, digital media, and technology. Having joined the erstwhile Amarchand Mangaldas Suresh A. Shroff in 2013 from AZB. Sumeet has actively represented some of India’s biggest e-commerce, retail entities, financial companies, and start-ups. Recently, he was part of the core team advising Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, in its acquisition of the entire retail & wholesale and logistics & warehousing business of Kishore Biyani’s Future Group.

Sunei Kapur is the General Counsel at O2 Power, a role he has held since 2020. With over 12 years of experience in the legal field, he has developed a notable focus on the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors. Prior to joining O2 Power, he was with ReNew Power as DGM - Legal, and began his career at HSA Advocates as a Senior Associate. Sunei holds a B.SL LLB degree from I.L.S. Law College. His career is distinguished by significant contributions to legal strategy and support within the renewable energy space, demonstrating strong expertise in managing complex legal matters in both infrastructure and energy sectors.

Susheel Jad is the President & General Counsel for AGP City Gas Pvt Ltd, bringing over 30 years of legal expertise across various fields. He has managed litigation in multiple courts, tribunals, forums, regulators, and statutory and administrative authorities. His extensive experience spans consumer law, labour law, arbitration, mergers and acquisitions, taxation, insolvency, land acquisition, regulatory work, and due diligence. Notably, Susheel has handled high-stakes international arbitration matters under the ICC.

Before joining AG&P, Susheel held significant senior roles. He served as the Legal Head at Indraprastha Gas Limited for 15 years and at National Fertilizers Limited’s Vijaypur Unit for another 15 years. In these roles, he successfully navigated various regulatory challenges, including playing a crucial role in setting aside the network tariff regulations of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

Tulika Jesrani is the General Counsel at Kimberly-Clark (India). She brings over 17 years of experience in the FMCG, Pharma, and CPG sectors. Prior to joining Kimberly-Clark in 2020, Jesrani served as Associate General Counsel for L’Oréal, India and Bangladesh. At Piramal Healthcare Limited, she played a key role in structuring and negotiating transactions. She began her legal career at DSK Legal Associates and Crawford Bayley & Co, handling litigation in real estate, banking, and commercial disputes. Jesrani holds certifications in Competition Law and IPR and was awarded the “Women in Law Excellence” at the Annual Legal Era Awards in 2021.

Vandana Seth is the Vice President, Legal at Tata 1mg. With more than 11 years of experience, Vandana’s profile is a combination of a law firm role, an in-house role and a consulting firm. A lawyer as well as a CS, Vandana is an excellent team worker who joined Themis Associates (a boutique law firm based out of Bangalore) in 2011. Her role at Themis was to lead a team for handling the pre- and post-actions related to funding transactions. Working for more than 50+ successful VC and PE transactions over a span of 3 years, in the same profile, Vandana worked on a lot of automation projects like compliance management, Term sheet automation, Nominee director training and related compliance automation and so on. A go-getter personality who believes in converting impossibilities to possibilities, Vandana presently heads the legal, secretarial and compliance verticals of TATA 1MG Group. Her job focusses on managing the entire legal, regulatory, compliance, secretarial, fundraising, IPR and certain operational aspects. Vandana, who was awarded as ‘Women in Law Excellence Awards,’ 2021, instituted by Legal Era for Recognising Leadership, Innovation, and Achievements of Women Lawyers, completed her course in Company Secretary in 2010. Vandana has been awarded with 40 under 40 Rising Star Awards 2021 by Legal Era.

Vinayak Mishra, General Counsel at Lightspeed India Partners Advisors, graduated from Hidayatullah National Law University. He began his career as a corporate lawyer specialising in M&A, PIPE, and PE transactions. His interest in early-stage investing led him to represent prominent venture capital investors. Driven by a passion to contribute to India’s startup ecosystem, he transitioned from a major law firm to establish his own practice and later set up a law firm with like-minded entrepreneurs to support VCs and VC-backed companies.

Vineet Vij is serving as the Group General Counsel of Tech Mahindra. Leading a team of 100 passionate and business-focussed lawyers spread across the globe with presence in India, US, Mexico, UK, Netherlands, Israel, and so on, Vineet and team is responsible for taking care of the legal and regulatory aspects to support the organisation’s growth in due compliance with applicable laws that involves supporting multibillion cross-border commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, disputes and litigations, global compliances, legal policy and regulatory, IPR, strategic legal support with the overall responsibility to safeguard the legal & business interests of the company and its principal officers. As part of the overall department structure, the legal teams of group companies worldwide, namely, Comviva Technologies, Born Group, Target Group, Tech Mahindra Business Services, LCC also work under Vineet’s supervision and guidance. Vineet has worked for over 27 years at established IT, ITeS, Engineering, Banking & NBFC corporations. As an independent practitioner, he has also worked across variety of practice areas including Commercial and Contract law, Litigation and Dispute resolution, Cross-border M&As, Global regulatory compliances, Financial and Banking laws, Real estate SEZ and STPI regulations, Company law, IT, Data protection, Privacy, Cyber and IPR laws, Criminal law, Telecom, Arbitration, Employment, Bankruptcy, Competition and Indirect tax laws.

Vivek Tyagi is the General Counsel at Adidas India Marketing Private Limited. With over 22 years of experience in litigation, compliance, and strategic legal management, he has a proven track record of successfully overseeing legal operations for major organisations such as Samsung India Electronics Limited, DIAL – GMR Group, and Indiabulls Group.

In his role at Adidas India, he is responsible for ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards while driving strategic legal initiatives to support business goals. Vivek is skilled in developing and implementing legal strategies, managing litigation, and mitigating risks. His expertise spans across litigation management, compliance and regulatory affairs, risk management, and team leadership, all of which contribute to the company's robust legal framework.

His leadership, strategic thinking, and exceptional communication and negotiation skills have made him a key figure in managing complex legal matters. His approach focuses on fostering collaboration, navigating regulatory challenges, and providing innovative legal solutions that align with Adidas India's business objectives.

Yogesh Wadhwa is the General Counsel at Hyundai Motor India Ltd. With an experience of 20 years in legal profession and a mix of in-house and law firm roles. He has established various businesses, negotiated and closed M&A transactions, collaborated with diverse stakeholders, and managed complex litigations. His expertise also covers Government Relations and Public Policy, having supported these functions at General Motors.

His career spans work in India, South Asia, and the Middle East, with significant experience in the Manufacturing and Oil & Gas sectors. He has worked with prominent MNCs such as General Motors, Renault, and Nissan, as well as Halliburton and Cairn Energy.

Zameer Nathani is the Group General Counsel at CarDekho Group. He is an LLB, LLM (Civil, Corporate, Criminal, Customs, International Laws), PLD (Harvard Business School), Executive MBA (NMIMS), and has certifications in IPR, Electronic Commerce and ADR from WIPO, United Nations, M&A (Harvard Business School), Private Equity (London Business School) and US IP Laws (Stanford University). Zameer started his practice in 2002 and was a law firm attorney for reputed corporate like Eureka Forbes, LG Electronics, TCL India, Motul Oils, Ginger Hotels, Kale Consultants Software UK, Johnson & Johnson, Johnson Diversey and other multinationals from the US, UK and Asia Pacific. He joined the corporate world, becoming the Associate Vice President of Reliance Entertainment – Digital Businesses to head the legal affairs globally for all the digital businesses (gaming, e-commerce and OTT platform). Thereafter, he became Head- Legal for Balaji Telefilms (Public Listed), a renowned production house for TV serials, movies & OTT, reporting to Founder and MD Mrs. Shobha Kapoor, followed by becoming Director – Legal for the iconic clothing brand Raymond (Public Listed) to head the legal team for retail, manufacturing, FMCG, real estate, engineering, aviation etc. under the brand Raymond, Park Avenue etc.