General Counsel
Penguin Random House
India
I have over 23 years’ PQE, with an ideal mix of corporate and disputes experience (civil as well as criminal).
After spending over 18 years in practice, I joined an in-house leadership role in September 2021. I am currently the General Counsel of Penguin Random House India, part of the Bertelsmann Group, a global media conglomerate. I advise senior management and contribute to strategic decision-making on all legal and reputational risks affecting the business. I manage all commercial contracts, disputes, and have steered the company through some high-stakes litigations. I handle M&A transactions and help transition target companies into the system. I oversee contracts and compliance with a wide range of local and foreign laws, including data protection and AI related issues.
Prior to this in-house role, I had a private practice and was also associated with law offices of certain counsels (who are now Senior Advocates and a High Court Justice). I have wide experience in litigation and arbitration. I started my litigation career in intellectual property law, then branched into electricity regulatory work, civil litigation (writs, civil trials and consumer complaints), white collar offences and arbitration. From 2015 to 2021, I served as Additional Public Prosecutor, High Court of Delhi representing the Delhi Police, handling cases relating to serious crimes.
On the transactional side, in my role as a practicing lawyer, I have also advised various power project developers on drafting and negotiations of power purchase agreements, EPC contracts, O&M contracts, project financing, and equity investment.