About

Aditi Jha joined LinkedIn, the business-oriented social networking service, in 2016. Prior to joining the company as general counsel (India) and member of the Indian leadership team, Jha worked at other top companies including ITC, Johnson & Johnson and law firm Nishith Desai Associates. During her career Jha realised that she would specialise in the technology sector, taking a sabbatical between 2010 and 2012 to complete a LL.M in Law Science and Technology at Stanford University. A forward thinking lawyer, at ITC Jha designed and executed a project that digitalised all intellectual property records of the company. Her credentials are well respected in the industry due to her ability to win several significant cases filed by or against the company, such as trademark infringement cases. Jha has also led on transactions and acquisitions and purchase of assets, which have been of strategic value to the company. During her time at Johnson & Johnson, Jha helped set up new manufacturing units, as well as playing a part in other global projects covering antitrust law, regulations governing e-commerce and big data. Now in her role at LinkedIn, she is proactively involved in business strategy not just implementation. Jha sums up the importance of in-house counsel in today’s business environment by saying: ‘Businesses expect GCs to be true business partners – people who are approachable, collaborative, prompt but thorough, use language that is understandable, brainstorm and provide solutions instead of just stating the position in law, understand the business, products, market forces and who are not afraid to challenge the status quo but while still staying within the four corners of what is legal, ethical and right‘. In her current role Jha supports the LinkedIn business on all legal and compliance issues across India, such as structuring and negotiating enterprise contracts, advising on employment, data privacy, telecom, anti-trust, and anti-corruption laws and policies. Excited by the new role Jha said: ‘It is an interesting time to be in LinkedIn India, which is the only LinkedIn office outside of the US to have all functions including amazing plans for product and R&D. We are also engaging with the government on key projects such as “Smart Cities” and “Make in India”’. In the near future, Jha looks set to play a key role in implementing Microsoft’s purchase of LinkedIn in India in a deal worth approximately $26bn.