Dhir & Dhir Associates

ESG Advisory

Dr. Sonal is a well-acclaimed professional known for his work in regulatory and compliance programs over the past decade. He has worked with over 1800 clients in India and 61 globally, including the top three unicorns and numerous Fortune 500 companies.

His clientele spans across a wide range of industries, including:

• Automotive and OEMs

• Pharma and Life Sciences

• Manufacturing

• Chemical Industry

• BFSI

• Infrastructure and Utilities (including state-owned PSUs)

• e-Commerce and Fintech

• Diversified Conglomerates

Dr. Sonal has led multi-million-dollar mandates for pan-global accounts, offering clients deep insights into legal intricacies, potential risks, compliance impact, and proactive de-risking strategies. He began his career in-house at Barclaycard HQ in Northampton, UK, and later held a senior position at a leading Big 4 firm, specializing in legal risk transformation projects.

Enrolled with the Bar of Maharashtra & Goa since 2007, Dr. Sonal holds a Doctorate in Law and has pursued several advanced certifications, including:

• Harvard Mentor Program

• Strategy & Sustainability – IIM Bangalore

• Regulatory Compliance Specialization – University of Pennsylvania

• Data Ethics, AI & Responsible Innovation – University of Edinburgh

He currently leads India’s first ESG Practice at Dhir & Dhir Associates. At the intersection of business and law, he integrates legal counsel with technology to drive effective change management in the ESG transformation journey.

Dr. Sonal, along with Ms. Maneesha Dhir, co-authored “AI FOR GOOD – INDIA AND BEYOND”, a best-seller on Amazon India. He has also authored five other books, including:

• A Legal Guide to Capital Raising in the European Union (2009, available on Amazon-Mobipocket until 2016)

• Four academic law books for University of Mumbai (Mannan Prakashan) between 2000 and 2005

He serves on the Board of Studies for NMIMS School of Law (since 2014) and continues to contribute actively to academia.

Dr. Sonal frequently writes on ESG and his articles have been published by leading legal publications. A regular panellist and speaker, he often appears on various platforms, including the prestigious TED Talk, engaging in insightful discussions on law, compliance, ESG, and AI.

English, Hindi, Marathi

- IWIRC India - Member of Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa