A celebration of the exceptional legal achievements of general counsel and their legal teams. Manokamana reports
The In-House Counsel Awards by India Business Law Journal acknowledge and celebrate the strong performance of in-house counsel in the country. Our winning in-house counsel have served as guardians and go-to authorities on legal matters for their companies.
Whether it is a defamatory video about a company’s products, securing multimillion-dollar deals, or implementing a legal tech solution, our in-house counsel have shown their innovative skills and expertise with resolution methods and insightful courses of action. Reading about these accounts may make them look effortless, but at times these are herculean tasks that require plenty of precision and foresight.
The winners were nominated by other professionals in the industry – peers and practising lawyers alike who have worked with them and feel that the winners have done exceptionally well in the past year.
Nominations for this year’s In-House Counsel Awards were received in overwhelming numbers and detail. IBLJ endeavours to shine the spotlight on all general counsel and their teams that have not only had a stellar past year, but also left a deep impression among peers.
US consumer goods giant 3M 含羞草社区 general counsel and executive director, Priya Menon, was not only referred to as “one of the best out there”, according to Arjun Rajgopal, Bengaluru-based partner at Saraf and Partners, but also an all-rounder handling matters related to M&A, contracts, complex shareholders’ disputes, etc.
Praise also poured in for electronic manufacturing giant Dixon Technologies’ general counsel, Ashish Kumar, and LG Electronics’ legal leader, Rajiv Malik, for their excellent domain knowledge and leadership skills.
So, exactly what does it take to earn this praise, respect and admiration from peers and colleagues?
Team leader: Ritesh Khosla
General Counsel
The legal department at Culver Max Entertainment (formerly Sony Pictures Networks India) wins the in-house legal team award of the year. The team of 40-plus members is led by Ritesh Khosla, the general counsel of the organisation. The massive team is organised into different practice groups – distribution, licensing, digital, data privacy, sports, trademarks, anti-piracy, corporate functions, litigation, compliance, and standards and practices.
These divisions provide legal advice and handle risk management and business transactions, while supporting primary business functions such as production, distribution, licensing and sports, litigation management, compliance, corporate governance, IPR protection, employee relations and labour law, data privacy etc.
Some notable achievements of the team include defending its operations from an order of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal by obtaining a stay order from Delhi High Court.
In the matter, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had asked Sony and other channels to share detailed information of the content shared between its TV channels and streaming platforms. The team also procured high-value media rights from the Asian Cricket Counsel in a transaction that entailed several complex legal and business decisions to be made within stringent timelines.
The team also had to navigate complex data privacy regimes in the international jurisdictions of the EU, Australia, Singapore, Canada, the UK and US, and ensured compliance with them across all departments and employees. The team also identified and mitigated risks involved in the launch of a platform that hosted NFTs based on IP owned by the company, and published them for sale.
Sandhya Tolat is the GC of the year 2024-25. Working in the chemicals industry, Tolat’s expertise is required across diverse areas including but not limited to compliance, business risk, cross-border transactions and ventures, intellectual property, real estate, brand value, legal disputes, and contracts. Based in Mumbai, Tolat has been active in the industry for more than 20 years.
General Counsel
Aarti Industries
She also endeavours to cultivate in-house talent, encouraging smooth collaborations not just within the team, but with external counsel. “Sandhya is a dynamic general counsel who understands the commercial and business side of legal issues. This makes working with her extremely easy,” says Natasha Treasurywala, partner at Desai & Diwanji in Mumbai.
Tolat has contributed to multiple collaborations between Aarti Industries and other industry leaders in green practices and energy. Most recent of these is a joint venture between Aarti Industries and Re Sustainability and Recycling for plastic material recycling facilities.
Some of her other achievements in the past year include a first-of-its-kind complex joint venture with UPL for manufacturing speciality chemicals, two long-term supply agreements worth INR60 billion (USD685 million) each, a long–term strategic alliance for raw materials worth INR6 billion, adoption of technology for in-house operations of the team, and managing contracts related to clean energy.
Tolat graduated from Mumbai’s St Xavier’s College and then Government Law College before starting her journey at Aarti Industries at the beginning of 2021.
Simplifying the process
When dealing with law, there’s often no telling what the day might throw at you. Add to that the uncertainty of changing laws and regulations and the sheer bulk of work, and there is a lot to take in, much less execute.
A smart way of dealing with this was implemented by Rajiv Malik, general counsel at LG Electronics, through a companywide legal awareness newsletter that covers compliance matters, IP rights and contractual obligations.
Another way is, of course, through leveraging the benefits of technology. Madan Mohan Kunnathele, director of legal and compliance and member of the executive board at industrial gases company Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions India, has digitised workflows and simplified compliance management processes, improving efficiency in the organisation.
A similar practice was implemented by Ojasvita Srivastava, the general counsel AMEA at security solutions provider Securitas. A firm believer in digitisation of legal processes to manage scale and compliance, she implemented a complicated legaltech solution across 13 of her company’s entities in Africa, Middle East and APAC.
Rajendra Misra, general counsel at Indian Hotels Company, led the adoption of Ernst and Young’s technology platform to overhaul the organisation’s compliance processes. This allowed the legal and compliance teams to transition to a more agile and integrated system that automates compliance tasks, tracks regulatory requirements in real time, and improves transparency across operations. This initiative enhanced efficiency, reduced risk and empowered the team to focus on strategic priorities.
Another example of simplify processes was Daimler India Commercial Vehicles’ senior manager ? legal, Bopaiah NP’s development and implementation of contract templates that reduced negotiation time by impressive margins while securing favourable terms in areas like liability, quality control and IP protection.
Company goals paramount
Focusing on matters in a strong business-oriented manner is one of the top skills of a general counsel. That skill was observed in Rakesh Rai, general counsel at Aditya Birla Finance, by Mumbai-based Ashish Pahariya, a partner at DSK Legal. “Rakesh brings to the table a wealth of both legal and business acumen, which makes his strategic business advice highly appreciated and regarded by the management,” he says.
Another example is Priyam Singhvi, the general counsel and compliance officer of elevator company Schindler India, who, according to Kriti Kaushik, a partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas in Delhi, is excellent at the integration of business and legal ideas that meet broader company goals. Sanjit Nagarkatti, a partner at Economic Laws Practice in Bengaluru, observes that Daimler’s Bopaiah has a “proactive and business-focused approach to the legal issues within his organisation, and tries to solve these in a manner in which all his stakeholders are aligned with his thought process”.
Being at the top of your game is also a no-brainer to be included in this company, and Ishita Sharan, vice president and head of legal at National Asset Reconstruction Company, is exactly that. Pahariya, at DSK Legal, says she has played a pivotal role in various corporate insolvency resolution processes, achieving resolutions that emerged as the best mechanism to protect and monetise business value.
Nishant Prasad, the chief compliance and legal officer at investment startup Wint Wealth, has to don many hats as part of his role. Whether it is devising the best investment strategies, developing company products, contributing to marketing or the conventional legal role of navigating complex legal environments of contracts, banking and capital markets regulations, Prasad does it all.
Navigating a complex legal arena is most synonymous with litigation. Both LG Electronics’ Malik and Zydus Wellness’ head of legal & compliance, Santosh Mane, are well versed on this complexity as steadfast protectors of their organisations’ IP. Mane handles this complexity within India and also on a global scale, and has pursued and won defamation lawsuits against social media influencers.
None of this is possible without exceptional subject matter knowledge and experience. A clear example of this is Gauri Rao, deputy director – legal of Gates Foundation’s India office. “Her exceptional proficiency, profound knowledge and strategic approach towards the organisation’s goals make it efficient for external counsel to work on the desired outcomes,” says Vaibhav Kakkar, senior partner at Saraf and Partners in Delhi.
Pillar of the team
The awardees this year in this area are skilful team leaders who guide and support their team towards success – look no further than Tech Mahindra’s global general counsel, Vineet Vij. Ulrich B?umer, partner at Osborne Clarke in Cologne, observes him to be a great mentor to all his teammates, supporting them unconditionally.
“Vineet is a first-rate general counsel and has been in this role for many years,” says B?umer. “[He is] an inspiring leader, and top-notch lawyer and deal broker, who knows all the tricks of the trade. Vineet managed his extremely large team exceptionally well, and also is the master of the boardroom.”
Surjendu Sarkar Das, advocate-on-record at the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi, shares some praise for LG Electronics’ Malik: “I believe Mr Malik has been able to lead the team with his utmost calibre and dedication, which in turn has propelled the company to manage its affairs in regulatory and litigation spheres in an effective manner.”
Similar observations are made by Pallavi Banerjee, a partner at Trilegal in Delhi, about Goldman Sachs’ executive director, legal, Shaswata Dutta. “He has a unique ability to bring out the best in others, nurturing junior team members’ growth through encouragement and hands-on learning,” says Banerjee.
Rahul Rai, a Delhi-based partner at Axiom5 Law Chambers, says that Daimler India Commercial Vehicles’ head of legal and compliance, Vinay Bhagawan, demonstrates a similar approach towards managing his team. “Vinay fosters an environment of innovation by actively promoting open communication, encouraging experimentation, and prioritising team collaboration,” he says.
Vani Mehta, regional general counsel – South Asia for aircraft components manufacturer GE Aerospace, leads her team “in tough situations and challenging times … [through her] in-depth subject knowledge and great business acumen,” observes Pallavi Puri, a partner at DMD Advocates in Delhi.
Shilpa Sachdeva Bhullar, group risk & compliance officer at agrochemicals manufacturer PI Industries has, according to Vikram Shroff, a Mumbai-based partner at AZB & Partners, combined her business and legal acumen to keep her team and other members of the organisation at the front and centre of all work.
Tech holding company Info Edge 含羞草社区 general counsel, Kapil Chaudhary, is another attentive leader who not only assigns responsibilities effectively, but also ensures that the assigned member understands their role and how it fits within broader organisational priorities. Vaibhav Bhardwaj, a partner at Khaitan & Co in Delhi says Chaudhary has “built a strong legal team that makes collaboration with external counsel much smoother”.
Soft skills
Apart from the keen edge of business acumen, the best in-house counsel must exhibit skills of effective communication, interpersonal skills, empathy, etc., in order to collaborate successfully with other industry professionals.
Megha Agarwal, a partner at Khaitan & Co in Mumbai, observes that Jitender Tanikella, principal – legal at National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, has exceptional interpersonal skills that foster a collaborative and supportive environment. “What sets [Jitender] apart is his genuine ability to engage with all levels of team members staffed on the matter from my firm, including younger associates, and guide them with clarity and patience,” she says.
PI Industries’ Shilpa Sachdeva Bhullar is also highly regarded for her communication skills, people orientation, strategic mindset and strong execution that make her the go-to-person for top management and the board, says Delhi-based Prasenjit Chakravarti, a partner at Khaitan & Co.
Pooja Mahajan, managing partner at Chandhiok & Mahajan in New Delhi, describes Aarti Joshi, director of legal, corporate ? India at global data centre company Equinix, as “a pleasure to work with … always polite, even with the junior-most members of the firm … She is a team player.”
It is always important to make your team members and colleagues feel seen, heard and comfortable while working. Vikram Rauthan, senior manager – legal and compliance at Bharti Airtel, observes that Tech Mahindra’s global general counsel, Vineet Vij, embodies this. “His open communication style and active listening have created a great working environment where everyone feels valued and heard,” says Rauthan.
Sharp, prompt and clear communication also make Sunsure Energy’s general counsel, Devika Chadha, “excellent in her dealings with the management, counterparty or external counsel”, according to Avinash Khard, a partner at DSK Legal in Mumbai.
The same is observed for investment firm Fidelity International’s head of India legal and APAC company secretariat, Ameet Nayak, whose ability to build authentic relationships is one of his defining qualities. Suyash Srivastava, a partner at DSK Legal in Delhi, recollects: “I distinctly remember our first interaction, where he not only took the time to understand my professional background but also made an effort to connect personally, instantly putting me at ease.”
Arindam Ghosh, a partner at Khaitan & Co in Mumbai, shares similar thoughts about Soumyadri Chattopadhyaya, general counsel of digital trade finance company Drip Capital. “His remarkable communication prowess allows for effective negotiation not only with law firms, but also among his team, management, regulators and external counterparts.”
Creating the right balance is key, and this is what Himavat Chaudhuri, general counsel at TV service provider Tata Play, achieves and maintains, according to Rajat Sethi, a partner at S&R Associates in Mumbai who shares that Chaudhuri is knowledgeable and straightforward, with excellent leadership skills. He adds that Chaudhuri has the requisite skillset to ask the right questions and find a balanced solution in tricky situations.
Balance is also what Pooja Gupta, deputy general manager (legal) at two-wheeler EV company Ather Energy, has mastered. “Her ability to strike the delicate balance between protecting her company’s interests and fostering a co-operative approach with the other side is commendable,” notes Agarwal, at Khaitan & Co.
A partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co in Bengaluru, adds that Gupta “co-ordinated between six different investors and their counsel, lenders and other stakeholders, all while maintaining an impeccable degree of professionalism and never losing her temper. This is a remarkable trait in internal counsel and one that cannot be underestimated.”
Arjun Sinha, a partner at AP & Partners in Delhi, observes that InfoEdge’s GC Kapil Chaudhary communicates clearly, sets realistic expectations, and is open to solutions that balance legal considerations with business needs.
Staying open to different views is a quality that Gautam Shahi, a partner at Dua Associates in Delhi, appreciates in Mukul Shastry, general counsel at Cube Highways and Transportation Assets Advisors. “As an external counsel, I have appreciated Dr Shastry’s openness to feedback, willingness to consider alternative perspectives, and commitment to delivering high-quality results,” says Shahi. “It’s a pleasure to work with someone who shares our passion and consistently demonstrates as well as demands excellence in his work.”
Significant contributions
Excellence as a quality for in-house counsel includes ensuring no regulatory oversight occurs to hamper their organisation’s operations, especially during important moments and ahead of significant milestones. At times, it is about rolling up the sleeves and getting things done, as Akil Hirani, a partner at Majmudar & Partners in Mumbai observes with Saguna Vaid, general counsel at Interglobe Aviation.
Aarti Joshi, at data company Equinix, for example, played a critical part in closure of the company’s investment in India, helping integration of its global and Indian businesses.
Swati Sharma, head of legal at logistics company Ecom Express, enabled logistics in e-commerce while enduring the challenges of employment disputes involving delivery personnel, ensuring adherence to labour laws across jurisdictions, outdated logistics laws, high-volume consumer complaints, last-mile delivery legalities, and cross-border compliance.
Complexities in regulation are not new for National Asset Reconstruction Company’s Ishita Sharan, who has been instrumental in achieving her organisation’s purpose through purchasing large bad loans from banks and achieving their long-term resolution. As part of this, timely and efficient legal assessment, diligence with stressed accounts, and negotiation of assignment documents with selling banks/institutions are all crucial time-bound tasks at which Sharan has continually excelled.
Where bank-related regulatory navigation is concerned, Ujjivan Bank’s group legal counsel and head of legal, Srikumar Vadake Varieth, successfully obtained a licence for the bank to transition from being a non-banking financial company to a small finance bank, and then bringing it public via IPO.
Another feat in successful navigation of banking regulations belongs to the entire legal team of fintech company Slice, which is headed by Bhawna Sangwan, chief legal and strategy officer. The team successfully obtained all necessary regulatory approvals for the merger of Slice with North East Small Finance Bank, a first-of-a-kind transaction where the RBI approved the merger of a fintech platform with a full-fledged banking company.
RMZ Corp’s director ? shared services (legal), TN Sharad, spearheaded some of the largest recent transactions in the real estate sector including a joint venture with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, divestments to Keppel Land, and a joint venture with Prologis.
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund’s senior vice president, Manali Singhal, showed her exceptional skills to ensure deals like development of various airports in India by GMR Airports were successful.
Parag Mathur, group general counsel at digital payments company PhonePe, has been instrumental in the recent launch of Indus Appstore, an app marketplace developed entirely in India and launched to compete with existing app stores to offer a competitive platform and pricing module for Indian app developers. As is evident from these outstanding efforts, some of the milestones are not just significant for the organisation, but for the entire country.
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Methodology
India Business Law Journal’s In-house Counsel Awards are based on nominations, references and qualitative insights gathered from various in-house counsel and legal professionals globally.
The nomination process involved an accessible form on our website and was extensively promoted on social media. A wide array of participants, including in-house counsel, lawyers from Indian and international law firms, and other India-focused professionals actively engaged in casting their votes. This step was coupled with reference checks conducted by the editorial team at India Business Law Journal.
All in-house counsel in India automatically qualified for consideration in the awards, fostering inclusivity. There were no entry fees or any other requirements to participate in the awards.
