About

Anjali Mohan joined Sumitomo Bank in October 1996 as its first in-house counsel. Following Sumitomo Bank’s merger with Sakura Bank to form Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Anjali became the head of the combined legal department, before taking a regional role in 2008, when the department became responsible for supervising offices of the bank in the Asia Pacific region. Anjali is known for revolutionising the legal department at SMBC. This was achieved by ensuring real understanding of the business requirements, rather than merely giving legal advice in a ‘vacuum’. Anjali explains: ‘Besides reviewing contracts, there must be an understanding of the regulatory universe in which we operate and this should be reflected in agreements we draft or review. This has enabled the department to be seen as a true adviser to the business and helps to distinguish our role from that of external counsel’. In addition, Anjali is known for making her unit adaptable to the growing pace of change in the financial services industry in Southeast Asia by dedicating resources to keep track of the changes and working with internal stakeholders to understand how the new requirements could be implemented. Prior to moving in-house, Anjali spent four years at the Singapore based law firm Lee & Lee.