About

When Dutch multinational chemicals company AkzoNobel bought Imperial Chemical Industries in 2008, AkzoNobel India was formed with a portfolio of decorative paints, performance coatings and speciality chemicals. ‘The legal team is relatively new which together has successfully handled and is handling multiple jurisdictional issues, undertaking new responsibilities and resolving complex challenges with its hard work and integrity’, explains Sudhanshu Rai, head legal for India, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Another key senior figure in the team is Surabhi Agarwal who, as director of legal for Asia Pacific has responsibility for jurisdictions across the continent. The team of five lawyers and two administrative assistants has changed the nature of its interaction with business by implementing a global mandate of core and non-core contracts classified by value thresholds. ‘Now businesses are trained to handle their own contracts based on the prescribed legal standards and remain accountable for the same, therefore, bringing agility to the business’ decision making, cutting the red tapes by minimising rounds of approvals and generating strong camaraderie’, says Rai. In terms of transactions, the legal team’s achievements include the actively supporting and coordinating the setting up phase of AkzoNobel’s powder coating plant in Maharashtra, assisting the business in forming a joint venture partnership for a new line of chemical business in India with a well-known chemicals manufacturing company and the acquisition of a section of a well-known global Industrial Coatings business. ‘The team was extensively involved in closing the India leg of the transaction including local business assessments and valuations and business transfer of assets and manpower’, explains Rai. The team is also recognised for effectively handling a Competition Commission of India (CCI) enquiry, defending the trading interests of the company before the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties, successfully handling various critical HSE incidents and issues at factory premises. Despite its involvement in these, the legal team still found time to launch a compliance tool with 6,000 specific updated compliances applicable to the company, negotiate and execute contracts for various locations in India and Pakistan with power producing companies as part of AkzoNobel’s Green Energy Initiative; Helping the business implement new product regulations and conduct internal trainings on contract processes, ethics and integrity and antitrust. Summing up the team’s values, Rai says, ‘teamwork and interdependence along with recognition of an individual’s contribution is an integral part of our ethos’.