About

As head of the legal department for the retail arm of Phoenix Mills, Sabira Khadri has a varied portfolio of responsibilities. Overseeing the work of over 55 legal and leasing staff members, with 15 direct reports, Kadri’s day-to-day work includes among other issues, litigation, negotiation and legal training for the company. A legal professional for over two decades, Kadri has moved between private practice and internal legal roles, including major conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra from 2010-2012. After moving to her current role in April 2012, Kadri has played a part in a number of innovations within the department, most of which are aimed at improving efficiency. Among these, Kadri mentions the ‘introduction of documentation processes’, the ‘training and mentoring of each [team] member… through various training programmes’ and ‘streamlining the board approval matrix for negotiation and closure of contracts and agreements’, as having had an appreciable effect on the running of their legal function and wider business. When discussing personal career highlights, Kadri frames these in relation to the successes of her departments, an indication of her team-oriented focus. Among a range of accomplishments outlined, Kadri points to the complex transactions she has completed, mentioning that she ‘successfully negotiated and closed various high value contracts for companies’ over the course of her career. Kadri explains what she believes to be the specific challenge of in-house legal work: ‘As an in-house counsel you are expected not only ensure compliance but also to understand [the] business’ need to achieve target[s]’. Kadri’s insight has proved to be a valuable resource to her employers, and looks set to continue to be so in the future.