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In an era where robust leadership is vital for success in the legal sector, India Business Law Journal recognises the rising stars of 含羞草社区 legal community. Katherine Abraham reports

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This year’s Future Legal Leaders are young lawyers who have climbed the rungs of the corporate legal ladder through their determination, decisiveness and commitment to client-centric solutions. Their client nominations bear witness to their ability to navigate complex challenges with innovative approaches.

Whether excelling at prestigious firms or steering their own practices, these lawyers have excelled in pivotal deals while delivering forward-thinking strategies and timely closures for their clients.

Sharp, multi-talented, driven and focused, these young leaders are carving out niches for themselves in a new future for the legal sector.

Timely guidance and accessibility

One of the prerequisites in the early part of a legal career is a clear understanding of the nuances of the profession.

Known as the “go-to person” for clients across the board, Rangam Sharma, counsel at Trilegal in Gurugram, earns high praise from Smeeksha Bhola, senior general manager at Brookfield Properties in Delhi. “Rangam’s strength lies in his strong grasp of the fundamentals and his comprehensive approach to regulatory issues,” says Bhola.

“He doesn’t just identify problems; he takes ownership of them, guiding us through both legal intricacies and the nuanced decisions that only come from seasoned experience,” adds Bhola, who believes Sharma is “always hands-on and readily available”.

Sherill Pal, senior counsel, privacy and data protection at Mastercard in Bengaluru, says: “One area that particularly impressed me was [Sharma’s] attention to privacy-linked issues during complex acquisitions.

“I have witnessed first-hand his skill in distilling complex concepts into actionable advice. His style of advising certainly goes a long way. I don’t have to sit and break it down for business teams.”

Yashodhara Bakliwal, an investment consultant at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in Hyderabad, commends Sharma’s ability to “navigate complex scenarios with clarity and precision”, with a “deep understanding of market dynamics and keen eye for detail”.

In a similar vein, Ankit Sinha, a partner at Juris Corp in New Delhi, is one who is always up for a challenge, receiving high praise from Malika Juneja, director, trade, finance at Citibank India in Mumbai, who describes Sinha an “extremely talented and knowledgeable” lawyer.

“His deep understanding of the regulatory framework in India and the nuances involved in structuring solutions have been instrumental in Citi being able to put together some of its market-first solutions,” she says.

Lovnesh Puri, executive director – coverage, liquidity from First Abu Dhabi Bank, shares that Sinha, who deals extensively in the financial services and regulatory practice, is “knowledgeable and supportive [with] deal executions, and guides very well through the local regulations and impacts on the business”.

Another young legal leader who is strongly recommended by her clients is Deepika Goyal, principal associate at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. “Deepika is a hands-on lawyer who, apart from being highly competent, is attuned to the needs of her client,” says Arun Madhu, head of legal at Nexus Venture Partners in Mumbai.

Client-focused, with a quick response

Among the key responsibilities shouldered by many of these young leaders is client-connect, client capture and client retention. Centring decisions around the client in a way that improves the chances of the client’s return with any future legal dilemmas is not easy, but the future legal leaders this year make it look simple.

King Stubb & Kasiva partner Prithiviraj Senthil Nathan, from Chennai, is highly appreciated for his client-centric approach. “He has always kept the client first anytime and every time, which makes him stand out compared to other legal colleagues,” says Ritesh Shetty, CEO of ACSYS in Bengaluru, who has known the partner for more than three years.

“We appreciate him going deeper and ensuring a quick response, which is essential for today’s business,” says Shetty. “His unwavering commitment to ethical practices and integrity is truly commendable. He also has this uncanny knack to convert legal complexity to simple business strategy, making it easy for all to understand.”

Omesh Puri, a partner at Anand and Anand in New Delhi, is an expert in trademark and copyright law with nearly two decades of experience. He receives appreciation from Harsimran Singh, senior manager, legal counsel and business partner at Diageo in New Delhi, who says: “Omesh has versatile knowledge and an effective skillset in trademarks practice. With a keen eye for details, Omesh has first-hand experience in handling prosecutions and enforcements of trademark, copyright and design.”

Pragmatic solutions

Pragmatism is almost always complementary to client retention. Being level headed under pressure requires a certain degree of patience to deal with the diverse needs of clients without compromising the firm’s relationship with the client.

Natasha Sethna, partner at Veritas Legal in Mumbai, is rated by Mukul Mathur, vice president at TPG in Mumbai, as “highly proactive, pragmatic in her approach and solution-oriented, keeping in mind commercial aspects of a situation”.

Sethna is an expert at M&A and has been part of the legal industry for a decade. “She comes across with gravitas and is effectively able to manage complex situations,” adds Mathur.

Referring to an ongoing transaction, Suresh Nagarajan, CEO of DB Power in Mumbai, says Sethna “is the partner leading this exercise”. Nagarajan believes that it is her “attention to detail and thoughtful approach” that is further assisting the deal.

“She has been a major support in the entire set up,” he says. “Her practical expertise and hands-on approach to achieve the best outcomes is what I truly admire. She is well experienced to understand the intricacies involved in complex matters, and has always provided us with clear, effective solutions.”

Saudamini Mattu, director at Reliance Abu Sandeep in Mumbai, says: “Natasha represented us in our first ever M&A deal for our brand, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. Her knack for diving into the details while also keeping an eye on the bigger picture allowed her to devise creative solutions to the deal. This blend of precision and perspective was a key asset in tackling complex challenges that came up repeatedly.”

Mattu highlights Sethna’s leadership, noting her ability to “foster collaboration and empower her team” while achieving successful outcomes. Praising her balanced approach, she remarks that Sethna consistently protected the company’s interests and addressed concerns with composure, effectively combining assertiveness and calm.

Tarun Bhalla, founder of Avishkaar, finds Rachita Nadig, a partner at Wadhwa Law Offices in Bengaluru an “unparalleled legal professional” in the corporate legal world. Bhalla has worked with Nadig on two deals and feels “empowered” by her decision-making and advice.

“Not only is she very good at what she does, her proactive support and keeping client interest at the forefront is what makes her indispensable,” says Bhalla. “Her ability to translate complex legal terminology into cogent arguments is what I respect her the most for.”

Vikram Raman, a senior impact investment professional at Schneider Electric in Singapore, has worked with Nadig on more than 10 deals in four years across India and Southeast Asia, and appreciates her “clear communication and forthright views”.

“Rachita has been engaged as external legal counsel with our Asia impact fund [Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia] since 2020-21,” he says.

“Rachita comes across as someone who is very thorough in her review and defends our fund’s position effectively in negotiations with potential investee companies. Overall, we are very pleased with the engagement and look forward to continuing the relationship as we scale our impact investing initiative.”

Echoing Raman’s thoughts is Saurabh Marda, co-founder and managing director at Freyr Energy Services in Hyderabad, who had received help from Nadig on a complex series B transaction that involved investors from different continents. He firmly believes Nadig is a “strong asset to Freyr”.

Siddhanth Sharma, director and assistant general counsel at Procter & Gamble in Singapore, commends Abhijit Mittal, founding partner of Legal Scriptures, whom he finds “agile and practical”.

Going the distance

One of the key features identified in these promising young lawyers was that each was willing to be a part of the daily grind, growing with the companies they work for.

Lagna Panda is a competition law and data privacy counsel at P&A Law Offices in Delhi, who played an instrumental role in the establishment and successful launch of Floating Canvas in 2017.

Recounting her timely legal assistance is Shakti Sahu, co-founder and creative director of Floating Canvas in Mumbai. “As first-time entrepreneurs trying to build an e-commerce service, my co-founders and I realised early on that we would be requiring an extensive set of legal contracts and documents. What set Lagna apart was … the insightful brainstorming sessions that she initiated while drafting these documents helped us tremendously in refining our business model and making it more robust and viable,” he says.

“This included end-user service agreements, licensing deals with artists, revenue-sharing models as well as privacy policies.”

Sweety Nair, director, human resources at PureSoftware in Noida, shares her experience with Arjit Benjamin, associate partner at Prosoll Law in Delhi. “One of Arjit’s standout qualities is his attention to detail and proactive approach to legal issues,” she says.

“He consistently goes above and beyond, identifying potential risks before they become problematic and offering clear, strategic advice that has been invaluable in our decision-making processes.”

Suhail Ahmed Khilji, a partner at Tatva Legal in Mumbai, specialises in the real estate practice. He receives glowing appreciation from Vicky Razdan, senior regional manager, construction finance at Bajaj Housing Finance in Mumbai, who says: “Suhail and his team are entrusted with due diligence and title report sharing for under-construction real estate projects.

“They always deliver within [the] timeline shared with them. Their solution-oriented advice helps us in closing transactions.”

These future legal leaders are building the legal landscape with adaptability, precision, and a commitment to customer-focused solutions. Their expertise spanning critical areas including corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, intellectual property and real estate make them indispensable advisers.

They excel at simplifying complex legal challenges, offering timely, actionable advice that aligns with commercial goals. Their proactive engagement and hands-on approach foster trust and long-term client relationships. Their leadership and strategic foresight position them as the “go-to” advisers.

As the profession evolves, these leaders are setting new benchmarks for legal excellence, blending traditional principles with innovative problem solving. Their ability to align legal strategies with commercial priorities, positions them as architects of the legal landscape.