India 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
President (legal) and general counsel | Hinduja Group
General counsel, chief of legal, corporate governance, compliance, risk and internal audit | Biocon Biologics
General Counsel - Sr. Vice President Legal and Chief Compliance Officer | NEC
General Counsel,Chief-Regulatory Affairs and Company Secretary | Generali Central Insurance
Board member, group general counsel and company secretary | Boeing India
Executive director, legal and corporate affairs and company secretary | Hindustan Unilever
Senior Vice President, Contract Closure Group | HCL Technologies
Director, General Counsel India | Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Head of Legal and Compliane, South Asia and International (covering LATAM, AME, APAC, Europe (other than home countries) | Airbus
Managing director, legal for India and government and regulatory relations lead | Barclays Bank
Sr Director, Legal (Asia Pacific & Japan, Service Provider) & General Counsel (India/ S Asia) | Cisco Systems
General counsel (head legal and regulatory) | AMPYR Energy
Deputy General Counsel | Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Senior vice president - legal | Reliance Industries
Senior Vice President and General Counsel | Brookfield Properties
Group Vice President- Legal & Legal Head- India | Cummins India
President, Head Legal – Wealth Management and Capital Markets | 360 One WAM
Executive General Counsel, Regional General Counsel and Ethics and Complaince Officer - India and APAC | Capgemini
Group General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer | Aditya Birla Group
Company secretary and senior vice president legal | Adani Group
Senior executive director and general counsel | Maruti Suzuki India
Company Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | Tata Steel
General counsel, and compliance officer - India and South Asia | Schindler India
General Counsel, Company Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer | Kotak Mahindra Investments Limited
Group risk and compliance officer | PI Industries
On behalf of Legal 500, I am delighted to introduce the GC Powerlist: India 2025.
This edition highlights the general counsel and in-house legal teams who play a crucial role in shaping India’s corporate and legal landscape. Through our research, we spoke with professionals who not only provide expert legal guidance but also influence strategy, drive transformation, and support business growth.
We were thrilled to receive a large number of nominations from India-based law firms and in-house teams, reflecting the country’s vibrant and engaged legal community. Across India, general counsel are increasingly moving beyond traditional advisory roles. They are central to navigating complex regulations, enabling innovation, supporting governance and compliance priorities, and guiding their organisations through periods of rapid change. The GC Powerlist: India 2025 celebrates those who combine deep legal expertise with leadership, vision, and tangible impact.
Managing uncertainty and building resilience is a common theme. As Vinay Bhagawan, Head of Legal and Compliance, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, explains:
‘The real test of a Legal function’s value often comes during periods of instability or crisis (…). My approach has always been rooted in three principles: calm, clarity, and coordination.’
A complementary perspective comes from Kunal Rajpal, Assistant General Counsel, Wells Fargo International Solutions, who emphasises a structured approach to disruption:
‘Managing legal matters during periods of instability requires a structured and proactive approach that balances compliance, continuity, and strategic risk mitigation.’
Technology and transformation also feature prominently. Harshdeep Arora, Senior Vice President, Contract Closure Group, HCLTech, highlights how digital capability is reshaping legal teams:
‘AI has evolved from a promising concept into a strategic enabler at the heart of our legal operations.’
ESG, ethics, and organisational culture remain central to the in-house mandate. As Vinay Bhagawan notes:
‘It is no longer just about ensuring legal compliance or managing risks; it is about shaping the organisation’s moral compass.’
And for Rashna Mistry, General Counsel, Tata Projects, integrity is the anchor in all circumstances:
‘Winning is never pursued at the cost of integrity; our commitment is to conduct every matter legally and transparently.’
Taken together, these perspectives highlight the strengths of India’s in-house legal community: resilient, strategically minded, and forward-looking. Legal teams are increasingly doing more than managing risk; they are helping shape business strategy, informing key decisions, and delivering measurable impact.
The GC Powerlist: India 2025 reflects this shift across the country’s legal community: from risk management to strategic influence, from technical advice to business impact, and from individual contribution to collaborative excellence.
We are pleased to present this year’s GC Powerlist: India, recognising the legal professionals who are shaping the future of corporate law while connecting local insight with global influence.
On 1 September, Legal 500 unveiled the third edition of the GC Powerlist: East Africa, in partnership with leading African law firm ENS. Hosted at the Sankara Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, the event brought together many of the region’s most accomplished in-house lawyers to celebrate a distinguished community of legal leaders shaping the future of business across East Africa.
The evening opened with welcoming remarks from Giulio Tomassi Galanti, Business Development Manager at Legal 500, who highlighted the importance of recognising the dynamic growth and increasing sophistication of the East African legal market. He also reflected on the rigorous research and selection process behind the GC Powerlist series, congratulating this year’s honourees for their exceptional contributions to both the legal profession and the organisations they serve.
Following this introduction, Mahesh Acharya, Managing Partner of ENS Kenya, addressed the audience to commend the individuals recognised in the 2026 edition.
The launch of the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 proved a fitting celebration of the region’s leading in-house legal talent. The evening showcased the depth of expertise, influence, and innovation within East Africa’s corporate counsel community, while reaffirming Legal 500’s commitment to recognising and championing its achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this year’s research process and to ENS for once again partnering with Legal 500 to provide a platform that honours these outstanding legal professionals.
On Thursday, 3 September, Legal 500 will host the second launch event celebrating the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. Building on the success of the Nairobi launch, the event will bring together many of region’s most accomplished in-house counsel and senior legal leaders to recognise their achievements and celebrate the continued growth and influence of the region’s corporate legal community.
