Team size: 25

What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have been involved in over the past year?

NYKAA is India’ leading e-commerce and Direct to Consumer (D2C) destination with omnichannel (online and offline) presence in beauty and fashion verticals. Since businesses and operational issues of NYKAA cuts across various sectors – FMCG, e-commerce, technology and retail, the legal and regulatory function at NYKAA manages diversified issues, involving dynamics of these sectors and beyond. I have been engaged in various types of work ranging from M&A and joint ventures, commercial contracts, disputes and litigations, regulatory and compliances, IPR’s, corporate governance, board and company secretarial to whistle blower, risk management and CSR.

Based on your experience, what is the key to collaborating successfully with business partners?

In my view, there are five key aspects of successfully collaborating with business partners — commercial acumen, communication management, sense of urgency, problem solving approach and timely decision making. The ability to build on strategic issues involved whether financial or otherwise and ability to relate to ‘big picture’ in each matter or situation can earn high respect of business stakeholders. Moreover, even the ease of approach and humility in tackling with business stakeholders can create differentiation for lawyers.

India is an economy that is rapidly growing and expected to be one of the powerhouses of the 21st Century. How do you see the role of GCs there changing in this environment?

Given the high growth and innovative business environment in India in the last decade, and India’s emerging leadership on global business platforms, the role of the general counsel has significantly evolved. There are 4-5 key trends ahead which will shape future growth for general counsel and will importantly test their ability to adapt to these demands apart from their traditional role – public policy influencers, governance professional, strategic litigator, geo-political regulatory dynamics, adept in regulatory investigations and even ability to appreciate ESG issues.

What is a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about, and why?

I regularly participate in industry forums as a speaker to share my knowledge and experience which can benefit younger professional colleagues. Given my experience in digital businesses over years, I have participated in multiple industry platforms to contribute on evolving digital regulatory landscape in India. I am also passionate about giving back to the profession, so whenever I have the opportunity, I mentor younger colleagues including those who aspire to be general counsel.

Are the effects of AI on the legal world overplayed, or underplayed?

In my view, there is too much hype in the legal world on issues and effects of AI. AI is certainly a powerful technology, and it is and will continue to revolutionise how we conduct our businesses and even how we live our lives in the future. However, technology-related issues have been there for a while (older business models have been disrupted so much in last decade so there are deep learnings); therefore, legal and regulatory issues of AI can be predicted and managed by analysing cross sections of AI effects with current tech and non-tech regulations such as IPR laws, data regulations and criminal laws.