Rajesh Jha, an expert lawyer headed Legal & Compliance for South Asia, ASEAN & AMET (Africa, Middle East, Turkey) at Reckitt, a purpose-led organization, which he joined in 2007. Reckitt operates in Health, Hygiene & Nutrition sector. He looks after brands like Dettol, Disprin, Moov, Gaviscon, Durex, Neurfan, Clearasil’s Harpic, Lyzol, Veet, Enfamil to name a few.
Rajesh led the acquisition of Paras Pharmaceutical managing within Reckitt’s fold,having a scale of OTC drugs, which helped in building Reckitt Healthcare portfolio. Rajesh also led the sale of personal care business to Marico and helped with the contentious dispute with TTK Group which is Reckitt’s JV Partner, bringing Durex & Kohinoor within RB fold. Rajesh has chaired many corporate restructurings, including the formation of Joint Ventures in the Middle East.
Rajesh has been a part of legal action that has allowed him to help settle the law, in India related to indirect and direct taxation, including tax benefits under Section 80IC of the IT Act, CE Act and VAT laws. Reckitt, in 2015, was the first one to triumphantly challenge, the extent of DPCO, 2013, role & responsibility of NPPA, in connection to Price Control issues. Reckitt’s action, under Rajesh, allowed him to settle the law of disparagement, in the field of IPR protection, inclusive of the disparagement action of the Competitor.
An LLBand a Masters in History, from the University of Delhi, Rajesh began his career in 2000, with Corporate & Litigation practice with one of the most reputed Law Firm, in Delhi. During this period, he was not only involved in 1st two big divestments of Govt of India – Hotel Corporation of India (Centaur Group) and India Tourism Development Corporation (Ashok Group) but also appeared in most of the High Courts of India representing various big Corporates.
Till date, he is involved in setting new boundaries every year for himself and for the legal team of Reckitt as well.
"Take ownership, be strategic partner and lead from the front"
Acclaimed to have a mix of corporate & litigation expertise and an in-depth understanding of laws, Rajesh is a successful lawyer shaping and sharpening strategies for successful acquisitions. Rajesh believes that the role of an in-house counsel is not to adopt the status quo, but to question the accepted boundaries firmly within the 'four corners of law' since in-house counsel is a strategic partner to the business and can help it to develop. According to him, a successful lawyer has to maintain the compliance standard including a constitutional challenge to statutes/ delegated statutes.
