When an executive-sponsored programme required rapid, large-scale updates across Balfour Beatty’s commercial contracts before year-end, Dilshaan Mohanaraj led the legal delivery model from design through execution. He aligned stakeholders across the business on a single delivery plan, setting the delivery cadence and sign-off thresholds. He also coordinated external counsel and deployed legal technology to scale drafting capacity while maintaining clear governance and quality control. The majority of updates were completed before year-end, with a defined plan for completing the remainder.

This combination of disciplined delivery and practical innovation has been a consistent theme throughout Mohanaraj’s career. Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, he practised for five years at WRMK Lawyers, a full-service firm in New Zealand. There, he advised on a wide range of commercial contracts, as well as corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions. He also developed contract templates and delivered training to strengthen capability across the team. This reflected an early focus on practical tools and knowledge-sharing that he would carry into his work in London.

Mohanaraj joined Balfour Beatty, the FTSE-listed infrastructure group, in late 2024 as Corporate Legal Counsel. He now advises the Group on commercial contracts and a range of corporate matters. Working collaboratively across Legal and the wider business, he translates legal issues into practical routes forward and helps colleagues work towards shared commercial objectives. He has since led the legal team’s support across the Group’s strategic supplier relationships. His work has included leading negotiations, refreshing contract suites and strengthening governance controls to improve risk allocation and support more resilient operational delivery.

Recognising that lower-risk matters were consuming disproportionate legal capacity, he designed a streamlined process for contracts falling below defined risk thresholds. This allows those contracts to proceed without legal review, preserving capacity for higher-risk matters. He is also introducing a structured process for requesting legal support, improving the quality and consistency of instructions provided to the legal team.

His focus on building lasting structures also extends to technology. He is internally recognised as one of the Group’s most active users of Microsoft Copilot. This reflects a broader interest in how AI and legal technology can reshape day-to-day legal practice. That commitment to strengthening the legal function also extends to mentoring junior colleagues across the legal team.

That record has earned Mohanaraj a place on the shortlist for Rising Star In-House Counsel of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2026. Since moving to London, he has progressed from delivering individual matters to helping shape how the legal function operates.