The 12th Annual Grand Masters 2026 Series

K. VIJAYSHYAM ACHARYA

Head - Legal & Company Secretary, Redington

HIRANMAI RALLABANDI

General Counsel & Chief Governance Officer, India, WeWork

NATASHA WILSON

General Counsel, SUN Mobility

PRESEEDHA PREMNATH

General Counsel, Stellaris Venture Partners

DR. SONAL VERMA

Partner & Global Leader (Markets & Strategy), Dhir & Dhir Associates

VISHAL SAGAR

Partner, Trilegal

This session explores how General Counsels can reposition themselves as strategic architects in the boardroom – balancing governance, risk, leadership, and innovation.

• From Compliance to Strategy – How GCs can move beyond compliance guardianship to actively shaping corporate resilience and long‑term vision.
• Forensic Auditing as a Governance Lever – Using forensic tools to strengthen accountability, particularly in restructuring and M&A contexts.
• Boardroom Accountability – Preparing directors for evolving fiduciary duties and personal liabilities under shifting policy regimes.
• Anticipating Financial Crime – Designing proactive safeguards against white‑collar crimes and corporate frauds, rather than relying on reactive compliance.
• Navigating Enforcement Actions – Strategic approaches to investigations by ED, CBI, and SFIO etc.
• Beyond ESG – Interplay with board oversight, and long‑term risk management, extending the discussion beyond sustainability, stakeholder pressures, and reputational concerns.
• Outsourcing Partnerships – Redefining GC partnerships in addition to law firms – ALSPs, consultants, and technology vendors for holistic support.
• AI in Legal Operations – Leveraging generative AI and tools like contract automation, compliance monitoring, and predictive analytics without compromising governance.
• Legal Preparedness & Funding Readiness – Aligning contracts with investor expectations, stress‑testing risk disclosures, and embedding scalable compliance to ensure legally sound pitches.
• Cross-border Boardroom Dynamics – How GCs in India align with Global Governance Standards (UK Corporate Governance Code, US SOX)

SHREEKANTH KATTI

Head - Legal, Compliance & Data Privacy Officers, India, Merck Group

LAHAR APPAIAH

Counsel, IBM India

NEHA SACHDEV MUNJRAL

Director - Legal, United Breweries

Prashant Kataria

General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, Property Share

SAMBIT DAS

Head - Legal, Porter

This session explores the sweeping regulatory reset shaping India Inc. as it enters its next phase of growth. With new laws and enforcement regimes coming into play, how’s the road ahead?

• Data Governance Readiness – The enforcement phase of the DPDP Act reveals India’s preparedness for robust data governance, testing both corporate compliance and regulatory capacity.
• AI Governance – India’s MeitY Guidelines (Nov 2025) – Responsible innovation through trust, accountability, a governance‑first approach, encouraging sectoral adoption and consensus‑building.
• Global Data Transfer & Privacy – Reconciling India’s DPDP Act with GDPR, US privacy laws, and APAC frameworks.
• Competition Law in Digital Markets and Global Convergence – Settlements and commitments, a shift toward negotiated remedies vis a vis other global competition law regime.
• Global Capability Centers (GCCs) – Recognizing GCCs as strategic hubs for compliance, innovation, and risk management within India’s corporate ecosystem.
• Labour Code Implementation – Understanding how the new Labour Code reshapes workforce regulation, employment structures, and compliance obligations.
• AML Frameworks & FATF Alignment – Strengthening anti-money laundering frameworks in line with FATF expectations has become critical for financial integrity and global credibility.
• Capital Market Reforms – SEBI’s reforms are redefining IPO readiness and disclosure practices, demanding greater transparency and accountability from issuers.

ALPA SOOD

Director - Legal, India, Marvell Technology

GITANJALI MIRIAM MATHEW

Associate Partner, Saikrishna & Associates

HARISH CHANDRAN AVARONNAN

Head Of Intellectual Property & Licensing, India, Novonesis

KARTIKAY SINGH

Senior Associate, ADP Law Offices

POOJA KHEMANI SHARMA

Head - Patents, Infosys

This session explores IP frameworks, monetizing innovation, and alignment with evolving global policy landscapes, while preparing for disruptive technologies & regulatory challenges.

• AI‑Generated Works & Ownership – Preparing for global debates around authorship and ownership of AI‑created content, including overlaps with data governance and contracting.
• DPIIT Licensing Proposal (Dec 2025) – Mandatory blanket licensing model “One Nation One License One Payment”; statutory royalties for creators etc.
• DPIIT Designs Act Reform Consultation (Jan 2026) – Modernizing Design Protection for a Digital & Global Economy?
• Global Patent Strategies & R&D Alignment – Evolving patent portfolios to support competitiveness, innovation pipelines, and national R&D priorities.
• Cross‑Border Licensing Agreements – Ensuring licensing structures withstand multi‑jurisdictional scrutiny and remain enforceable across diverse regimes.
• Trade Secrets Across Borders – Safeguarding proprietary information in mobile, cloud‑driven environments where data leakage risks are amplified.
• Monetizing IP Portfolios – Exploring models to convert patents, trademarks, and designs into tangible revenue streams through licensing, securitization, and spin‑offs.
• Leveraging Global IP Treaties – Harnessing international treaties (TRIPS, WIPO, bilateral trade agreements) to expand market access and strengthen competitive advantage.
• Copyright & Design Protection – Addressing enforcement gaps in copyright and design law, particularly in creative industries and consumer products.
• IP Valuation & Disclosure – Building frameworks for accurate IP valuation and aligning with investor expectations and disclosure standards.
• Technology Transfer & Ecosystem Incentives – Strengthening tech transfer mechanisms and leveraging government R&D incentives to foster commercialization through startups and collaborations.

VINOD KUMAR BHASKARAN

Head - Legal, Arcolab

AAKANKSHA MUNJHAL

Partner, Saikrishna & Associates

AMIT ANAND

Director - Legal, Adobe

DHARA DOSHI

Head - Legal, Decathlon

DR. JAYARAM RAGHUNATH

Professor & Dean, School Of Law, Mahindra University

SALONI AGARA DWARAKANATH

AVP & Head - Legal, India, Apex Group Ltd

SUDHEER S.V.

Senior Director - JAPAC Legal (India, Japan, Australia & ASEAN Region), Salesforce

This session examines how dispute resolution mechanisms and contracting are evolving to deliver efficiency, credibility, and competitiveness, while AI, technology and institutional reforms redefine the future.

• Litigation Trends – Reviewing how commercial courts, case management reforms, and judicial capacity are shaping litigation efficiency alongside ADR.
• Mediation under the 2023 Act – Assessing whether mediation is gaining traction across industries as a cost‑effective and time‑efficient alternative.
• Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2026 – Evaluating whether the proposed reforms can finally tackle systemic delays and strengthen arbitral credibility.
• IBA Guidelines 2026 – Understanding how updated disclosure and conflict standards will reshape arbitral practice and party expectations.
• Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) – Examining how ODR platforms can expand access to justice, reduce costs, and integrate technology into mainstream dispute resolution.
• AI & Evidence Law – Exploring how AI generated records, algorithmic contracting, and machine verified data are reshaping admissibility standards and dispute resolution practice.
• Contracting & Dispute Prevention – Highlighting how robust contracting practices—clear dispute clauses, risk allocation, and digital contracting tools—can prevent disputes and streamline resolution.
• Third‑Party Funding – Exploring the regulatory debates around permitting third‑party funding in arbitration and litigation, and its impact on access to justice.
• Cross‑Border Enforcement – Identifying strategies to ensure effective recognition and enforcement of international arbitration awards in India.
• Global Treaty Alignment – Assessing India’s positioning under conventions such as the New York Convention and the Singapore Convention on Mediation.