India Teams 2019 – GC Powerlist
GC Powerlist Logo

India Teams 2019

  • Industries

  • Powerlist

Accenture

| Accenture

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The team consists of 21 legal professionals in India. In addition,...

Aditya Birla Group

| Aditya Birla Group

Airbus Group India

| Airbus Group India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? Airbus in India has a strong presence across its three business divisions (commercial aircraft, helicopters, defence and space). The customer...

Altico Capital India

| Altico Capital India

Amazon

| Amazon

Anheuser Busch InBev, India (GCC)

| Anheuser Busch InBev, India (GCC)

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? Jahnavi Ravindranath manages the global in-house centres of Anheuser Busch InBev (AB InBev), the Global Capability Center (GCC) and Growth...

GC Powerlist logo as placeholder
Apac Financial Services

| Apac Financial Services

GC Powerlist logo as placeholder
Apollo International

| Apollo International

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance

| Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance

What are the most significant cases and/or transactions that your legal team has been involved with in the last two years? Regarding litigations, the team manages around 3,000 litigations across...

Barclays India

| Barclays India

Bharti Airtel

| Bharti Airtel

Bharti Enterprises

| Bharti Enterprises

Biocon

| Biocon

Boeing India

| Boeing India

What are the most significant projects that your legal team has been involved with recently? Boeing India legal plays a business enabler role and has been actively engaged in all...

Bosch India

| Bosch India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? Our legal team is structured to mirror the global matrix organisation...

Bridgestone India

| Bridgestone India

CG Power and Industrial Solutions

| CG Power and Industrial Solutions

Cisco Systems

| Cisco Systems

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? In keeping with the Cisco legal ethos, the Asia Pacific Service...

Citibank India

| Citibank India

Citibank India – Global Markets

| Citibank India - Global Markets

CLP India

| CLP India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? CLP India’s business saw significant changes and growth in 2018. In...

Cognizant

| Cognizant

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? The India and Asia Pacific legal team is headed by Narayanan T, senior vice president and general counsel – India...

Credit Suisse

| Credit Suisse

What are the most significant cases and/or transactions that your legal team has been involved with in the last two years? The India legal team deals with a wide array...

Danaher Corporation (Diagnostics)

| Danaher Corporation (Diagnostics)

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? Globally, the legal and compliance team at Danaher is divided by platforms (i.e. operating companies falling under the same function)...

DBS Bank

| DBS Bank

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The legal team at DBS Bank India Limited (DBIL) consists of...

Dell International Services India

| Dell International Services India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? Smita Priyadarshini is the senior managing legal director, for Dell Technologies...

Deloitte Shared Services India

| Deloitte Shared Services India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? Senior lawyers in the team oversee the provision of in-house legal...

Deutsche Bank India

| Deutsche Bank India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The team consists of five attorneys, one corporate secretary and two...

Diageo

| Diageo

Discovery Communications India

| Discovery Communications India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? Discovery Communications India prides itself with an “All-Women’s legal team”. The team is currently comprised of five members headed by...

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories

| Dr. Reddy's Laboratories

DuPont

| DuPont

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The legal organisation within the company has undergone restructuring globally and...

Feedback Infra

| Feedback Infra

Flipkart

| Flipkart

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? In order to best serve the needs of the company, the legal team at Flipkart is structured similarly to how...

GAIL (India)

| GAIL (India)

What have been the major external trends that have impacted your team’s work over the past two years? To strengthen the litigation mechanism in the company, the law department has...

GE John F Welch Technology Centre

| GE John F Welch Technology Centre

Can you explain how the legal team is structured and highlight senior individuals? The department is structured with the organisational head being the general counsel. Various verticals are managed by...

GE South Asia

| GE South Asia

Can you explain the structure of the legal team? GE in India is a conglomerate with diverse businesses ranging encompassing steam power, gas power, renewable energy, healthcare and aviation, and...

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals

| Glenmark Pharmaceuticals

Godrej Industries and Godrej Consumer Products

| Godrej Industries and Godrej Consumer Products

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? The corporate-legal team, comprising of 16 in-house legal professionals and four paralegal staff, caters to Godrej Industries (GIL), Godrej Consumer...

Harman International

| Harman International

HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corporation)

| HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corporation)

Can you explain how the legal team is structured? The in-house legal team has two verticals, corporate legal and retail legal. The corporate legal deptarment functions as a strategic and...

HDFC Life Insurance

| HDFC Life Insurance

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? The legal and compliance department is led by general counsel, Narendra Gangan who manages the department. The legal department has...

HDFC Property Ventures (HPVL)

| HDFC Property Ventures (HPVL)

Can you summarise the role of each legal team member? The legal team of HPVL is headed by Rajeev Kumar, senior vice president – legal, who has about 20 years...

Hinduja Group

| Hinduja Group

What recent developments in India have impacted your company and the team the most? Our group company in India has been impacted by recent regulatory changes in relation to corporate...

Hindustan Unilever

| Hindustan Unilever

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? At HUL, our operating model is designed to deliver faster decisions....

ICICI Group

| ICICI Group

IIFL Finance

| IIFL Finance

IndiaRF

| IndiaRF

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? IndiaRF is an investment manager that looks to invest in distressed...

Infosys

| Infosys

Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS)

| Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS)

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? We are a young and dynamic team of approximately 17 lawyers...

ISS Facility Services India

| ISS Facility Services India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? The ISS India legal team comprises of 12 talented individuals based at the ISS India corporate office in Mumbai. The...

Jacobs Engineering

| Jacobs Engineering

Johnson & Johnson

| Johnson & Johnson

KKR & Co.

| KKR & Co.

Kotak Mahindra Bank

| Kotak Mahindra Bank

How would you introduce the legal team to our readers? The legal team of Kotak Mahindra Bank is a one-stop shop for all legal requirements of a financial services conglomerate...

L&T Construction

| L&T Construction

L&T Financial Services

| L&T Financial Services

Lupin

| Lupin

What are the most significant activities that your legal team has been involved with recently? A bird’s-eye-view of the broad level of activities include: •M&A and JVs: Documentation/ Negotiation of...

Mahindra Rise

| Mahindra Rise

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The Mahindra Group legal team, comprising of 47 lawyers, provides assistance...

Marico

| Marico

What are the most significant projects that your legal team has been involved with in the last two years? In March 2017, Marico invested in the start-up ecosystem by acquiring...

Maruti Suzuki

| Maruti Suzuki

Max Life Insurance

| Max Life Insurance

Microsoft India

| Microsoft India

Mondelēz International

| Mondelēz International

More Retail

| More Retail

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? Legal head Gopal Naik is the most senior lawyer in the...

MRPL

| MRPL

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The legal heads at each location report to the general manager...

Mylan Pharmaceuticals

| Mylan Pharmaceuticals

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

| National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The legal team has two clear divisions, namely, the contracts team...

Nestaway Technologies

| Nestaway Technologies

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The team is based on a hub and spoke model with...

Nexus Ventures Partners

| Nexus Ventures Partners

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? We have a very simple structure as we have only two members in the team. The vice president – legal,...

Nuvoco Vistas

| Nuvoco Vistas

Can you explain how the legal team is structured and highlight key individuals within the department? The Nuvoco legal team is a close knitted team headed by general counsel Sandeep...

OLA (ANI Technologies)

| OLA (ANI Technologies)

Oriflame India

| Oriflame India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The team is structured to support the business markets and global...

OYO Rooms

| OYO Rooms

P&G

| P&G

PayPal

| PayPal

Petronet LNG

| Petronet LNG

Piramal Capital & Housing Finance

| Piramal Capital & Housing Finance

Piramal Group

| Piramal Group

Can you describe the legal team’s structure and its key individuals? The Piramal Group, led by Ajay Piramal, is one of India’s foremost business conglomerates with a global footprint. The...

Raymonds

| Raymonds

RBL Bank

| RBL Bank

RBS Services India

| RBS Services India

Can you highlight the key individuals and their role within the department? Amar Sundram (head of legal, corporate governance and regulatory affairs) is managing legal affairs for RBS India, RBS...

Refinitiv

| Refinitiv

Rivigo

| Rivigo

Schaeffler

| Schaeffler

What challenges has the team faced when covering multiple jurisdictions in the region? Challenges with regard to multiple jurisdictions are mainly conducting business ethically in compliance with anti-trust laws as...

Schindler India

| Schindler India

Siemens

| Siemens

Snapdeal

| Snapdeal

Société Générale Global Solutions Center

| Société Générale Global Solutions Center

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The Bangalore hub of LeMANs (Legal Master Agreements Negotiations Team) is...

Standard Chartered

| Standard Chartered

Star India

| Star India

Sterlite Power

| Sterlite Power

Sun Life India Service Centre

| Sun Life India Service Centre

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The legal team at Sun Life, India is structured as follows:...

Syngenta India

| Syngenta India

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? Syngenta India is the mothership company in India and in the...

Tata Realty

| Tata Realty

How is the legal team structured? The legal department is based out of the corporate office in Mumbai. The legal team is mainly divided into teams that handle litigation, contracts...

Tata Sons

| Tata Sons

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) India

| The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) India

How would you introduce the legal team and its role within the organisation? HSBC is one of the world’s largest international banking and financial services organisations with origins in India...

The Indian Hotels Company

| The Indian Hotels Company

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? The legal function at IHCL is led by Rajendra Misra, executive...

The Times Of India Group

| The Times Of India Group

Times Innovative Media (A Times Group Company)

| Times Innovative Media (A Times Group Company)

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? The legal team led by Shardendu Kumar has been structured as a cohesive unit having five in-house lawyers, each handling...

Times Internet

| Times Internet

How is the legal team structured? The legal team consists of the head legal, general manager, chief managers and managers. Legal work across various businesses of the company are allocated...

Turner International India (A WarnerMedia company)

| Turner International India (A WarnerMedia company)

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department? A small legal team comprising of highly motivated attorneys who oversee...

Uber

| Uber

UltraTech Cement

| UltraTech Cement

Vedanta

| Vedanta

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured? The legal team at Vedanta has a total strength of around sixty talented lawyers spread across twelve business units, headed...

Vodafone India

| Vodafone India

Volkswagen Group Sales India

| Volkswagen Group Sales India

Can you explain the roles of team members within the department? I have five other lawyers in my team and one paralegal: a brief profile of each is given below:...

Volkswagen India

| Volkswagen India

Can you explain some of the regulatory challenges faced by legal team in working for a leading multinational in automobile sector? Automobile MNC companies have been experiencing many policy changes...

Wadia Group

| Wadia Group

Wipro

| Wipro

WNS

| WNS

Yes Bank

| Yes Bank

Zydus Wellness

| Zydus Wellness

Since first being published as The Corporate Counsel 100, The Legal 500’s GC Powerlist series has grown exponentially since its beginnings in 2013. It started by covering four of the world’s most established legal markets, and whilst the core objective of the publication – highlighting the most capable, outstanding and innovative in-house counsel in a jurisdiction – has remained the same, the reach and scope of the GC Powerlist has since become almost unrecognisable. Now present in a vast array of jurisdictions and with a portfolio of 70 unique editions, the GC Powerlist series has gone from strength to strength and has firmly been established as the “go-to” title that assesses and features leading corporate counsel across the globe.

Not content to rest on our laurels, we at The Legal 500 are evolving the GC Powerlist series even further, deepening our commitment to ensuring not only the widest geographical coverage, but to highlight and explore issues and challenges at the forefront of the minds of leading in-house lawyers. Therefore, this and future editions of the GC Powerlist will have a very different look to their predecessors. Instead of profiling individual counsel or in-house legal teams, more incisive insights from in-house thought leaders on the topics of the day will be featured throughout our new look GC Powerlist publications.

This new look entails the publication of Q&A transcripts regarding legal and business challenges, comment pieces on specific industry or regulatory affairs, more detailed analysis as to where the market is heading and content related to soft-skills, work ethic and business relationships that general counsel utilise. This new format will not only provide more thought leadership and insight, but provide more clarity on what is driving legal business forward in each market that we cover.

This brings me to India. I have personally covered the Indian in-house legal market for almost five years, which has allowed me to become familiar with the deep pool of in-house legal talent that exists across various industries and levels of seniority within the country. Whether it’s facilitating key company projects, adopting the latest technology to drive efficiencies or adjusting to new laws and regulations such as GDPR and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the country is brimming with in-house lawyers and teams who seamlessly adapt with the latest international business developments.

It was my pleasure to speak to and extensively interview India-based counsel spanning Fortune Global 500 companies, domestic business titans and organisations at the cutting edge of technology and the future of work, each with their own priorities and challenges. I would like to thank our sponsors – CMS, L&L Partners, Vahura and Blackstone Chambers – as well as our knowledge partner India Business Group for supporting this publication. I’d also like to thank our extensive network of law firm partners and in-house counsel in the region whose opinions we canvassed during the course of the research phase. Of course, feedback is valuable and welcomed, so if there are any comments or suggestions please feel free to get in touch with these.

Last but not least, I would like to congratulate all those featured in this year’s list. Their selection means they have been identified as legal teams who are amongst the standard bearers of the in-house legal profession, and as specialists who confront and manage commercial and legal challenges in a way that marks them as market leaders. They are not only talented legal teams, but instrumental partners to and crucial components of their respective organisations, demonstrably helping them drive success and move business forward.

CMS

CMS logo

CMS is delighted to support the 2019 edition of GC Powerlist: India Teams. Now in its fourth year, the GC Powerlist publication is an important showcase for the talent and achievements of in-house legal advisers in India, and we at CMS are proud to have been associated with this since its inception.

India continues to be the fastest growing large economy in the world. The IMF has predicted that India’s GDP will grow by 7.2% in 2020. This extraordinary level of growth clearly brings economic benefits – and also presents new demands for GCs.

Complicated, as always, by international political risks and constant technological evolution, companies are exposed to more and more challenges. They are reliant on their in-house lawyers to help manage risks, build their resilience and protect their reputation. A consequence of the growing outward focus of Indian corporates is that GCs are having to be mindful of the domestic legal framework and consider the implications and effect of their advice at home and in foreign jurisdictions. AI is opening up transformational opportunities for organisations, but at the same time poses unique risks for companies, governments and society as a whole. These opportunities and legal risks present a wide range of ethical, legal and regulatory challenges, which GCs and in-house lawyers must now be mindful of.

During our more than 20 years of advising on India-related deals and disputes, we have had the pleasure of working and interacting with many of those featured in this year’s GC Powerlist. Whether on inbound or outbound investments, regulatory investigations, disputes management and resolution, or capital markets-related work, we have seen their creativity, business-acumen and commitment first-hand.

Many congratulations to all those included in the GC Powerlist: India Teams 2019.

Luthra & Luthra

Luthra & Luthra logo

‘We are all made of stars’. Carl Edward Sagan, in his popular work Cosmos, famously stated the fact that the carbon, nitrogen and oxygen atoms in our bodies, as well as atoms of all other heavy elements, were created in previous generations of stars over 4.5 billion years ago. Inexhaustible energy of interconnectedness that emerges from our universal link to spiritual source and to each other inspire us to build our relationship on trust, service, confidence and mutual respect for all the other beings.

These learnings from Mr. Edward Sagan’s Cosmos engulfed my mind when I was asked to put down my thoughts for the GC Powerlist 2019.

I am in awe of the stellar line-up. The accolade and inclusion in the list, I believe, has been bestowed upon well deserving professionals, who have, indeed, reached astronomical heights in their individual careers. I congratulate the GC Powerlist team, to have undertaken this delicate task of selecting a few of the leading in-house teams, who have made the list this year.

Over the years, my colleagues and I have worked with them, across them, against them and for them. Looking back at my many experiences, I must admit, and acknowledge, the onerous task they are entrusted with and it is impressive, to say the least, how professionally they have conducted themselves and have stood their ground, to keep the interests of their respective organisations, above all else.

It is often said, though in jest, that private practice lawyers shift to in-house roles, as a lifestyle choice. The choice is triggered by the fact that they cannot handle the heat that comes with working as an external advisor, juggling several clients and deliverables, simultaneously. However, I beg to differ. While it is true, that we, as private practitioners are spent, burning the midnight oil and dipping in and out of several deals/transactions at any given time – we only remain advisors to our clients, whereas, the ownership of any advice/decision, lies with the general counsel, thus, figuratively speaking, it can become their legacy or the reason for their voluntary retirement and that, in my view, is actually quite a lot of heat to handle.

Fortunately, a GC’s voice commands the respect today that it always deserved. GCs are seen as the essential elements in the success of any business, because it is their advice which affects the functioning and operations of companies, which in turn has a significant impact on the bottom line.

They are the torch-bearers who continue to pave the way for young aspiring lawyers, encouraging them to scale new heights, plunge into uncharted territory and master the unknown, for there are no defined guidelines of the challenges they face, in discharging their duties.

For my friends here, who unfortunately, missed a mention this year – please remember, that Rome was not built in a day. You will get there, with your perseverance, dedication and a relentless zeal to excel.

Heartiest congratulations, again, on behalf of L&L Partners, as well as, the entire fraternity – together, we all wish each of you, continued success and many more accolades and accomplishments.

Counselect

Counselect logo

Vahura is proud to have supported GC Powerlist: India for the first three editions. This fourth edition, we pass the baton to our newest venture – Counselect – a unique secondment offering that owes its existence to the innovation and agility of in-house legal counsel. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate every general counsel and their teams, recognised in this GC Powerlist. It is wonderful to see this appreciation of your important work and ingenuity.

The role and complexity of the in-house legal function has been rapidly increasing. Here are some interesting data points and trends from our surveys and research.

Legal budgets

India Inc’s legal costs have risen 56.73% in the five year period 2013 to 2018. Corporates with a market cap of over Rs. 5000 crores reported an average annual increase of 33%.

On methodologies adopted, 23% of GCs reported that they followed a top-down approach, 42% preferred a bottom-up approach, and the remaining 35% followed a combination approach. An interesting observation is that 58% of the GCs that follow a top-down approach adopt the incremental budgeting methodology.

In-house teams that follow the bottom-up approach saw an average increase of 22.87% in their overall legal budget when compared to 10% and 16.66% increases shown by teams that follow a top-down approach and combination approach respectively.

Only 9% of GCs, have creative talent models (such as secondments) as a component of their legal budget.

Legal tech

Only 37.5% of the GCs have technology as a component of the legal budget.

There is a high correlation between the adoption of technology and the efficiency of legal teams. GCs who consider their teams to be highly efficient also use five or more technology products on average. It’s not only access to technology here that is key, but that such technology is frequently used.

30% of companies that have a market cap of over Rs. 5000 crores, have an annual expenditure of INR 1 crore and above on legal tech.

Companies that have a legal tech budget of INR Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 50 lakhs have an average legal team of 30 to 50 members.

71% of the GCs are open to experimenting and working with legal tech start-ups to implement and explore technologies that may prove beneficial for them.

Future trend: legal operating models and new roles

With increased scope and complexity, the importance of legal operations is coming to the fore. We see a greater interest from GCs in studying and adopting new legal operating models. We expect to see new roles being created for specialist legal operation professionals with technology, data analytics and project management experience. The chief of staff, office of general counsel, position is another role that we expect to see evolve especially for global general counsel roles.

It is an exciting time to be an in-house counsel. Every team featured in this GC Powerlist represents the best of our profession and is an inspiration to others. Kudos to you all for the important role that you play within your organisations and beyond. Congratulations once again, and best wishes for the future.

Blackston Chambers

Blackston Chambers logo

Blackstone Chambers congratulates all of the in-house lawyers recognised in The Legal 500’s GC Powerlist India Teams 2019.

Blackstone Chambers is a leading set of barristers based in London. Members of Chambers offer exoertise in the international arena acrossa range of specialist areas, including, arbitration, commercial litigation, financial services, public & regulatory law and international law.

IBG

IBG logo

India is the second largest country in the world by population, the world’s largest democracy and the largest English speaking nation in the world.  It is a vibrant, diverse and rapidly expanding nation, predicted to be in the top three global economies by 2030. The Government of India has placed a significant  focus on the reform agenda and ongoing relaxation of the limits of foreign direct investment to some of India’s core sectors such as airlines, retail, railways and construction continues to attract significant foreign investment.

India’s  performance in the latest World Bank’s “ease of doing business” rankings made a historic jump, moving from 130th to 100th  position  overall.  Such developments strengthen India’s position as a global investment   destination  and encourage greater opportunities for domestic and international business. India recognizes FinTech as a major  priority for  the development of its financial and digital infrastructure, based on recent  in-country reforms  such as demonetization of Indian currency  and implementation of fiscal reforms.

The flagship Indian initiatives of Make in India, Digital India, Skill India  and Smart India (amongst others) have been widely promoted to invite foreign investment and innovation.   Against this overall positive outlook,  the  legal  industry is vitally important in the development  of economic growth and partnerships  within India on a domestic and global level. Through our collaborative work with  the Indian legal profession, we  continue  to   facilitate a diverse range of business opportunities between the UK, EU and India markets.

The India Business Group is delighted to support  the  GC  Powerlist India for  the fourth consecutive year as Knowledge Partner to The Legal 500 for the Indian market. On behalf of IBG’s entire  team, I extend our hearty congratulations to all of the general counsels included in the top 100 3nd wish them every success for the future.

Jones Day Hong Kong Roundtable 2024

The Legal 500 was thrilled to join a selection of top Jones Day partners and a hand-picked group of 15 the most prominent GCs in Hong Kong for a freewheeling and no-holds-barred discussion on geopolitical risk management at a time of global transition. Steve Brogan, managing partner of Jones Day from 2002-2022 flew over to lend his considerable expertise to the discussion, as did Partner-in-Charge Hong Kong Joelle Lau. Joining them to give expert briefings on the topics of the day were partners Peter Wang, Dr Qiang Xue, James Fidler, Samuel Ngo and Charles Chau. The conversation moved from sanctions and counter sanctions, to the increasing pre-eminence of the Asian economy, to the philosophy of the rule of law in times of crisis.