Chief Legal Officer | Fourth Partner Energy
Shujath Bin Ali
Chief Legal Officer | Fourth Partner Energy
Career Biography
Shujath Bin Ali is the chief legal officer of Fourth Partner Energy, India’s leading renewable-energy solutions platform offering on-site and off-site solar, wind, hybrid, battery-storage and EV-charging infrastructure. He has been steering the company’s legal, compliance, governance and risk architecture, guiding large transactions, regulatory engagement and enterprise-risk strategy to support its next phase of growth in clean energy.
Previously, he served as global general counsel and chief compliance officer at Re Sustainability Limited, a KKR-backed global environmental-management enterprise. In that capacity, he led the legal and compliance, corporate governance and secretarial, ethics and risk management functions and was a member of the ESG Committee, Risk management committee and DEI Council. He developed an integrated Governance-Legal-Compliance-Ethics-Risk (GLCER) framework, strengthened global compliance systems and introduced the Care4Compliance initiative, which became a benchmark for building ethical and accountable corporate culture across international operations.
Earlier, Shujath held senior leadership positions with PAREXEL International, International Paper India and Deloitte US-India. His cross-industry exposure to pharmaceuticals, information technology, manufacturing, professional services, energy and environment has enabled him to manage complex assignments involving mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, regulatory investigations, high-value commercial contracts and policy advocacy. Across these roles, he has built high-performing legal teams, implemented digital tools for compliance and contract-lifecycle management, and promoted the use of analytics for proactive risk control.
As a leader, Shujath’s approach combines legal precision with strategic insight. He focuses on designing agile contracting models that balance risk and opportunity, embedding governance and sustainability principles into every business decision. His recent work includes advising on cross-border renewable-energy ventures, large-scale infrastructure transactions, and regulatory matters. He continues to guide the transition of legal departments from support functions to strategic enablers of business growth and stakeholder trust.
Shujath is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and a graduate in Commerce and Law. He holds a Master’s degree in Law specialising in Alternate Dispute Resolution and International Commercial Arbitration, and has completed executive-education programmes in Strategy, General Management and Leadership from Harvard University, Indian School of Business and National Law School of India University. He also serves on professional and policy bodies including the CII National Committee on Legal Services, CII ESG & Energy Conservation Sub-Committee, FICCI Telangana Executive Council and the ICSI ESG & Sustainability Board, ICSI AI Taskforce.
Shujath regularly speaks at the national and international conferences and presents white papers for professional journals on topics relating to Mangement & Leadership, Law, ADR, Ethics, Compliance, ESG, Sustainability, Governance, Risk & Compliance Management, Artificial Intelligence, Legal Technology, Leveraging Digitial Technology.
Widely recognised for his contributions to corporate law and compliance, Shujath has been listed among India’s Top 100 General Counsels by The Legal 500 (2016, 2018), Business World (2020–2022) and Forbes India (2020), and honoured as a Distinguished Legal Mind of India by LegalEra (2022), One of Finest General Counsels of India in 2023 2024 & 2025 by LegalEra.
His professional philosophy is rooted in building legally resilient, ethically grounded and strategically agile organisations, where governance is not a constraint on ambition but the foundation of sustainable growth.
What are the most significant cases, projects and/or transactions that you and/or your legal team have recently been involved in?
As global general counsel and chief legal officer, I have led and overseen a wide spectrum of legal, compliance, risk management and governance matters across multiple jurisdictions. These include managing complex commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, large-scale infrastructure contracts, strategic investments, arbitrations, and regulatory proceedings. My role has also involved guiding sensitive litigation, structuring long-term land acquisition frameworks, and resolving high-value disputes through negotiation and institutional arbitration.
I have designed and implemented enterprise-wide ethics, compliance, and risk-management programmes that strengthened governance culture and operational resilience. I have been deeply involved in shaping ESG-linked legal frameworks, embedding sustainability and transparency principles into business decisions. A key priority throughout has been to build a strong, technology-enabled legal team capable of delivering strategic and operational support to the business while maintaining integrity, agility, and global best practice.
How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?
Periods of uncertainty demand clarity, speed, and composure from the legal function. My approach is to anticipate risks early, create decision frameworks, and maintain transparent communication with leadership and stakeholders. I focus on strengthening contractual resilience through dynamic clauses, scenario planning, and risk-mitigation protocols that allow agility without compromising governance. The goal is not only to protect the organisation in a crisis but to enable continuity, trust, and readiness for the next phase of stability.
How general counsel can foster ESG and compliance culture?
Culture follows conduct from the top. A general counsel fosters ESG and compliance by linking them to leadership goals and performance metrics, making them shared responsibilities. Embedding these principles into governance and daily decision-making builds credibility and resilience. The GC’s role is to act as a strategic, ethical leader, establishing board-level frameworks, ensuring data transparency to avoid greenwashing, and promoting collaboration across functions. By anticipating regulatory shifts and encouraging continuous learning, the legal function transforms ESG from a policy obligation into a core business value that sustains trust and long-term shareholder confidence.
Has artificial intelligence had a meaningful impact on how your legal team works?
AI has transformed the pace and precision of legal work. Automated clause analysis, document review, and compliance dashboards now enhance speed, accuracy, and visibility, allowing lawyers to focus on negotiation, strategy, and judgment. I view AI as augmentation, not replacement, balancing efficiency with human context and ethical oversight. The next phase is predictive governance, where data-driven insights help anticipate risks and shape decisions before issues emerge, making the legal function both proactive and future-ready.
Looking forward, what trends do you foresee in the legal landscape over the next 5–10 years that companies should prepare for?
The legal landscape will be reshaped by three defining forces: rapid technological integration, new regulatory frontiers, and evolving service models. Artificial intelligence will automate research, analysis, and compliance, demanding fresh ethical and data-governance frameworks. ESG, data privacy, cybersecurity, and energy law will emerge as key growth areas, reflecting global sustainability and digital-economy priorities.
Furthermore, energy law will be a critical and dynamic area, driven by the global transition to renewable sources, climate change litigation, and the legal challenges associated with new energy technologies and infrastructure projects
The profession will shift toward multidisciplinary, tech-enabled teams that blend legal, analytical, and strategic skills. Success will rest on agility, ethics, and collaboration, qualities that position general counsel as trusted advisors navigating complexity with digital fluency and moral clarity.
What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about? Why is this?
I am deeply passionate about mentoring and developing future professionals. Over the years, I have invested time in teaching, writing, and sharing practical insights on governance, ethics, ESG, and leadership through professional forums and academic institutions. I believe knowledge gains real value only when it is passed forward. Serving on various industrial and professional committees (ICSI, CII, FICCI, GCAI, FTAPCCI, IAMCH) and contributing to industry dialogues allows me to shape policy thinking and strengthen collective standards of practice. My motivation has always been to help others grow with integrity, clarity, and purpose, creating a more ethical and informed corporate community.
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Senior director- legal and risk management and company secretary, India compliance officer | PAREXEL International – India
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Senior director- legal and risk management and company secretary, India compliance officer
PAREXEL International – India
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