Mr. Bharat Gupta | Lead Counsel – Regulatory & Compliance, Grasim Legal & Compliance, Grasim Industries Limited (Aditya Birla Group)

Mr. Bharat Gupta is an accomplished legal professional with extensive experience in regulatory compliance, corporate governance, risk management, and legal advisory services. As Lead Counsel – Regulatory & Compliance at Grasim Industries Limited, a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, he advises on a wide range of legal and compliance matters impacting large-scale business operations.

Drawing from his professional experience in the corporate legal sector, Mr. Gupta shared valuable insights into recruitment expectations, internship performance, professional competencies, and the evolving demands of the legal profession.

Mr. Anand Prasad | Author, Legal Professional, and Public Policy Commentator

Mr. Anand Prasad is a distinguished legal professional, author, and commentator on issues relating to law, governance, economic policy, and institutional reform. Through his writings and public engagements, he has contributed significantly to contemporary discussions on the evolution of legal systems, economic growth, and societal transformation.

His book, Unshackling the Elephant: Transforming Indian Law, Culture and Economy, offers a thought-provoking analysis of the structural and cultural factors influencing India’s development trajectory and examines the role of legal and institutional reforms in unlocking the nation’s potential.

Mr. Pierrick Fillon-Ashida | First Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to India

Mr. Pierrick Fillon-Ashida serves as the First Counsellor at the Delegation of the European Union to India. In this capacity, he contributes to strengthening EU–India cooperation across a range of strategic areas, including education, research, innovation, and international partnerships. Through his engagement with academic institutions and policy stakeholders, he supports initiatives aimed at enhancing collaboration and fostering knowledge exchange between Europe and India.

Tax Professionals and Subject Matter Experts | PwC

The course was delivered by experienced professionals from PwC, one of the world's leading professional services firms. Through a combination of lectures, practical discussions, case studies, and industry perspectives, the resource persons introduced participants to key concepts and emerging developments in international taxation, transfer pricing, tax treaties, global tax governance, compliance frameworks, and jurisprudential foundations of tax law.

The sessions enabled learners to understand the practical application of legal and regulatory principles in international business environments while gaining valuable insights into professional expectations and industry practices.

Ms. Apoorva Vijh | Dual Qualified Attorney (India & U.S.A.) | Alumna, Batch 2013–2018

Ms. Apoorva Vijh is a dual-qualified legal professional admitted to practice in both India and the United States. As an alumna of Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA, she has successfully navigated the transition from legal education in India to professional qualification and practice in the United States.

Drawing upon her academic and professional experiences, Ms. Vijh shared valuable perspectives on international legal education, bar examinations, cross-border legal practice, career planning, and the skills required to succeed in competitive global legal environments. Her journey served as an inspiring example for learners aspiring to pursue international career opportunities.

Dr. C. J. Rawandale | Professor and Director, Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA

Dr. C. J. Rawandale moderated the discussion, guiding participants through an engaging exchange of ideas on global legal trends, emerging practice areas, and the competencies required for success in the international legal profession.

Ms. Alexandra Duță | External Account Manager, Marketing & Communication | Tilburg Law School, Tilburg, Netherlands

Ms. Duță shared perspectives on emerging legal disciplines within the European context and highlighted academic and professional opportunities available to students interested in technology law, human rights, and international legal practice.

Ms. Heather Lyn Miller | Assistant Director of LL.M. Programs | Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Ms. Miller discussed the growing significance of specialised legal education in emerging practice areas and outlined the skills and qualifications sought by employers in technology-focused and international legal sectors.

Ms. Jessica Brum | Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions | Georgetown Law, Washington, D.C., USA

Ms. Brum provided insights into the evolving legal profession, emerging interdisciplinary opportunities, and the role of advanced legal education in preparing future lawyers for global challenges.

Ms. Katherine Szymaszek | Manager for Recruitment & International Enrollment | University at Buffalo School of Law, Buffalo, New York, USA

Ms. Szymaszek discussed international legal careers and highlighted pathways through which students can position themselves for opportunities in specialised and rapidly evolving legal domains.

Ms. Sarah Dorner | Assistant Dean for Graduate Admissions and International Outreach | University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, Concord, New Hampshire, USA

Ms. Dorner shared insights into developments in intellectual property law, technology-driven legal practice, and the increasing importance of cross-border legal expertise in a globalised economy.

Ms. Sraavani Pere | Gen Next Education

Ms. Sraavani Pere moderated the panel discussion, facilitating engaging conversations between the panellists and participants. She guided the discussion across key themes relating to international legal education, admissions strategies, and career planning for aspiring LL.M. candidates.

Ms. Alexandra Duță | External Account Manager, Marketing & Communication | Tilburg Law School, Tilburg, Netherlands

Ms. Duță provided participants with an overview of legal education in the Netherlands, highlighting the academic strengths of Tilburg Law School, application procedures, scholarship opportunities, and the advantages of pursuing legal studies in Europe.

Ms. Heather Lyn Miller | Assistant Director of LL.M. Programs | Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Ms. Miller discussed the LL.M. programme structure, admissions process, student support services, and professional opportunities available to international students pursuing advanced legal studies in the United States.

Ms. Jessica Brum | Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions | Georgetown Law, Washington, D.C., USA

Ms. Brum shared insights into the graduate admissions process at Georgetown Law, including application requirements, personal statements, scholarship opportunities, and strategies for building a competitive LL.M. application.

Ms. Katherine Szymaszek | Manager for Recruitment & International Enrollment | University at Buffalo School of Law, Buffalo, New York, USA

Ms. Szymaszek addressed pathways for international students seeking legal education in the United States and highlighted academic, professional, and career development opportunities available through LL.M. programmes.

Ms. Sarah Dorner | Assistant Dean for Graduate Admissions and International Outreach | University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, Concord, New Hampshire, USA

Ms. Dorner discussed international student recruitment, graduate admissions, specialised LL.M. offerings, scholarship opportunities, and career pathways available to students pursuing legal studies in the United States.

Mr Aakash Sharma | Legal Counsel, Alpine Formula One Team

The session was conducted by Mr. Aakash Sharma, an alumnus (Batch 2013-18) and legal counsel, Alpine Formula One Team, an experienced professional in the field of Sports Law, who shared valuable perspectives on the scope of this niche area of practice. The resource person highlighted current developments, regulatory frameworks, and career opportunities for aspiring legal professionals.

Mr. Prakhar Deep | Principal Associate

Prakhar specializes in commercial remedies involving infrastructure, real estate development projects, supply contracts & business exit agreements related arbitrations & its ancillary litigation in High Court and Supreme Court of India.

He regularly advises and represents Indian and foreign clients in institutional arbitrations under the aegis of institutions such as the ICC, SIAC, LCIA, ICA and DIAC as well as in ad-hoc arbitrations having seat in India and abroad. The total sum involved in these disputes is in excess of INR 10,000 Crores / USD 1.3 Billion.

Some of the notable clients which Prakhar has advised and represented include GE T&D India Ltd, Reliance Construction Infra Ltd, Carrier Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Ltd., Aesseal Plc, Fresenius Medicare Pvt. Ltd, and major Govt. of India undertakings such as Ircon International Limited, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).

Prior to joining the Firm, Prakhar was part of the Arbitration Team of Link Legal India Law Services, New Delhi.

Mr. Nishant Doshi | Senior Associate

Nishant Doshi focuses on international and domestic commercial arbitration and ancillary litigation. He has represented various private and public corporations before various judicial fora and in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations in a wide range of disputes with respect to infrastructure and real estate industry, shareholders agreement, trademark license agreements, land acquisition etc. He also advises and appears in various commercial civil suits for recovery of money, seeking declaratory or injunctive reliefs, writ petitions, appeals and other misc. petitions before different judicial fora including the Hon’ble Supreme Court and various High Courts across India.

During his stint at SAMCO, Nishant has advised and represented a host of clients including Mr. Vikram Bakshi, Bakshi Holding Brahma Developer, IRCON, NHPC, BHEL, Jolen Inc., Carrier India etc.

Ms. Surabhi Lal | Senior Associate

Surabhi Lal is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution practice of the firm. Surabhi joined the firm in July 2016. Surabhi has represented clients in foreign seated and domestic arbitrations and commercial litigation.

She has represented clients in disputes across various sectors including energy, infrastructure, hospitality, and corporate disputes. She has also assisted in providing commercial and pre-dispute advisory to clients to assist them with litigation planning and strategy.

Ms. Avlokita Rajvi | Principal Associate

Ms. Avlokita Rajvi is a Principal Associate as Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, New Delhi and specializes in Dispute Resolution and Arbitration. In the course of her professional career, she has had exposure to various forums including the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity, New Delhi, the Debt Recovery Tribunal, New Delhi, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi.

She was also involved in consultations with the Ministry of Labour and Employment and Ministry of Home Affairs for certain advisory work. Her major work has been in areas of law like arbitration, corporate litigation, civil procedure, right to information, banking regulation, takeover regulations, electricity laws, consumer laws.

Mr. Samarth Madan | Associate

Samarth Madan focuses on domestic and international arbitration. He has represented and advised clients in complex arbitrations seated in India and abroad, conducted by arbitral institutions such as SIAC and ICC and ad-hoc tribunals. The subject matter of these disputes has included high value commercial contracts in a wide range of sectors including real estate, construction, oil and gas, energy and infrastructure, event management, etc. In addition to arbitrations, Samarth also appears in commercial litigation proceedings before the Supreme Court of India, High Courts and District Courts, often involving court-facing aspects of arbitration such as proceedings forinterim measures, setting aside of awards, enforcement of foreign awards, etc.

He has also advised clients on contentious issues, including under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, and the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 and assisted in formulating dispute resolution strategies. As a member of the Firm’s Arbitration Practice Group, Samarth has also contributed to the Firm’s policy initiatives by extensively advising the Confederation of Indian Industries on its representations before the Parliamentary Standing Committee to suggest amendments to the Mediation Bill, 2021, and to the Expert Committee constituted by the Government of India to examine the working of arbitration law in India.

Samarth has notably represented Facebook India in a lease dispute involving arbitration and related court proceedings, Invenire Petrodyne in an ad-hoc arbitration arising from a production sharing contract and a joint operating agreement and subsequent proceedings for setting aside of the award before the High Court of Delhi, Inter Ads Exhibitions in an ICC arbitration arising from a joint venture agreement and Hardy Exploration & Production in interlinked proceedings before the High Court of Delhi involving challenge to, and enforcement of, an arbitral award.

Ms. Vrinda Pareek | Senior Associate

Vrinda is a Senior Associate with the Firm’s Dispute Resolution Practice. She works across domestic and international arbitrations as well as commercial litigations. Previously, she has also worked with the Firm’s General Corporate, FinTech and Private Client Practices.

Vrinda represents and advises clients, both private and state entities, in commercial arbitrations and litigations. She has acted for Indian and foreign parties, in arbitrations seated in Delhi, Mumbai and Singapore, conducted under the auspice of institutions such as Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and in ad-hoc proceedings. She has also acted for clients before various forums including the Supreme Court of India; High Courts of Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Telangana; and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, besides others.

Her area of work extends to the construction and infrastructure industry, power sector including oil and gas, manufacturing sector, hospitality industry etc. She has worked on disputes and advisories arising from concession agreements, joint venture agreements, construction agreements, hotel management agreements and share purchase agreements.

Mr Tejas Karia | Partner, Head – Arbitration

Tejas Karia is a Partner with the Dispute Resolution Practice at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and also heads the Firm’s Arbitration Practice. His expertise spans across international and domestic commercial arbitrations, corporate & securities litigations, general corporate advisory and diverse aspects under the information technology law including data privacy and confidentiality.

Tejas has extensive experience handling a broad range of complex, high-value international and domestic commercial disputes and frequently advises clients across diverse industry sectors including oil and gas, real estate, construction and private equity, amongst others. He has represented clients in arbitrations before the LCIA, ICC, ICADR, ICA and SIAC, as well as the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts.

His well-regarded contribution to policy formulation across the arbitration domain endows Tejas with a deep understanding of issues that enables him to present solutions that deliver effective resolutions for his clients. Tejas has advised on the drafting of amendments to a number of key Acts including the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 and the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill, 2015. He has also been a part of the high-powered committee set up by the Government of India for institutionalisation of arbitration in India.

Chambers Global and Chambers Asia Pacific 2020, the prestigious directory quotes “Tejas Karia is becoming increasingly known for his arbitration work and is experienced in the representation of both domestic and foreign clients before a number of key regional arbitral institutions. Commentators speak of him as a highly active practitioner with “a very good disputes practice.” According to Chambers and Partners 2019, “Tejas Karia is a respected arbitration lawyer with substantial experience representing clients in joint ventures, shareholder agreements and private equity disputes.” Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2019 quotes, “Tejas Karia wins high praise from sources who note he is very knowledgeable about arbitration practice and always endeavours to meet the client’s demands“.

Tejas is also frequently sought by clients for his expertise on aspects of Information Technology Law relating to data protection, privacy and confidentiality. He has advised the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) for drafting amendments to the Indian Information Technology Act, 2000 addressing data protection provisions.

Mr. Sourish Mohan Mitra | Author, Columnist, Speaker, Lawyer, Career Counsellor

Mr. Sourish Mohan Mitra is a grateful alumnus of Symbiosis Law School, Pune with 15 years of hands-on experience in leading teams and managing in-house, consulting and law firm matters.

Mr. Sourish is regularly invited to contribute to leading national and international media, journals, websites etc. and has written over 100 articles on diverse topics ranging from current legal issues & social concerns to personal development & leadership excellence.

Mr Sourish was recently featured as a ‘Shining Star of Indian Legal Fraternity’ in the first edition of ‘Constellations’, an almanac of leading legal professionals, published by Corporate Counsel Association of India. He is recognized at #7 in the exclusive group of '30 People to Watch in the Business of Law in Asia in 2018', by Asia Law Portal, a leading Asian website on legal affairs.

Prof. (Dr) Bharat H. Desai | Professor of International law, Jawaharlal Nehru Chair and Chairperson of Centre for International Legal Studies in School of International Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Prof. (Dr) Bharat H. Desai is Professor of International law, Jawaharlal Nehru Chair and Chairperson of Centre for International Legal Studies in School of International Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Environmental Policy and Law (IOS Press: Amsterdam). Prof, Desai’s significant books in international law include: 1. Regulating Global Climate Change: From Common Concern to Planetary Concern (Amsterdam, Berlin, Washington DC: IOS Press, 2023; Editor); 2. Soil Law and Governance in India (Berlin: Springer Nature, 2023; Editor); 3. Sexuelle und geschleschtsspezifixche Gewalt im internationalen Recht, German Language Edition (Singapore: Springer Nature, 2023; Co-author); 4. Envisioning Environmental Future: Stockholm+50 and beyond (Amsterdam, Berlin, Washington DC: IOS Press 2022; Editor); 5. Sexual and Gender Based Violence in International Law: Making International Institutions Work (Singapore: springer Nature, 2022; Co-author); 6. Our Earth Matters: Pathways to a Better Common Environmental Future (Amsterdam, Berlin, Washington DC: IOS Press, 2021; Co-author); 7. International Environmental Governance e: Towards UNEPO (Boston, USA: Brill Nijhoff, 2014); 8. Multilateral Environmental Agreements: Legal Status of the Secretariats (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2010; paperback 2013); 9. Creeping Institutionalization: Multilateral Environmental Agreements & Human Security (Bonn: UN University-EHS, 2006); 10. Institutionalizing International Environmental Law (New York: Transnational Publishers, 2004).

Prof. Desai has mooted proposals for United Nations Environment Protection Organization (UNEPO); Revival and Repurpose of the UN Trusteeship Council (UNTC) with a new mandate for environment and the global commons (both in an invited talk on 15 January 1999 at Legal Department of the World Bank, DC) as well as, International Environmental Court (IEC). These cutting edge ideas have been published in journal of international repute such as: 1. “The Repurposed Trusteeship Council for the Future”, Environmental Policy and Law (Amsterdam), Vol. 52, No. 3-4, PP. 223-235, 2022; 2. “ICTs as the new Environmental Sentinels”, Environmental Policy and Law, Vol. 51, NO. 1-2, PP. 121-134, 2021; 3. “THE QUEST FOR A UN Specialized Agency for the Environment”, The Round Table (London), Vol. 101, No. 2, pp. 167-179; April 2012; 4. “UNEP: A Global Environmental Authority?” Environmental Policy and Law, Vol. 36, No. 3-4, pp. 137-157, 2006; 5. “Revitalizing International Environmental Institutions: The UN Task Force Report and Beyond”, Indian Journal of International Law (New Delhi), Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 455-504, 2000. Prof. Desai’s ideas and proposal have received accolades in official communications (2019-2023) from the President of the 73rd UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Office of the President of the Human Rights Council as well as the Prime Minister of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Presidents of Brazil, France and the Russian Federation. Prof. Desai has been consulted by the Indian Prime Minister’s office, the Union Ministries of Environment & Forests and Ministry of External Affairs as well as inducted as a member of the Official Indian Delegations to various inter-governmental negotiations.

Prof Desai initiated and coordinated knowledge initiatives such as the Making SIS Visible as a ‘think tank’ (2008- 2013) and the four partner (JNU, Jammu, Kashmir and Sikkim) InterUniversity Consortium on Himalayan Cryosphere (2012-2020).

Ambassador Kalarickal Pranchu Fabian | Professor, Indian Society of International Law

Ambassador Fabian Served in Indian Foreign Service from 1964 to 2000 when he retired as Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to UN in Rome. Earlier he was Ambassador to Finland and Qatar, apart from serving as Acting High Commission in Canada during the Blue Star Operation, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination, and the Kanishka booming.

As Joint Secretary (Guld) Ambassador Fabian was the focal point for the evacuation of about 1,76,000 Indians from Kuwait and Iraq in 1991. He witnessed the 1979 Revolution in Iran as Counsellor in the Embassy there.

Sincere retirement, Ambassador Fabian has published the following books: Common Sense on War on Iraq; India in the 21st Century; Diplomacy: Indian Style; The Arab Spring That Was and Wasn’t.

Ambassador Fabian is a Professor at Indian Society of International Law and a distinguished visiting faculty at Symbiosis Law School, Pune.

Mr. Rupesh Sharma | Sr. Vice President, Umano Healthcare (United Biotech group) Delhi | Meditation Trainer with Heartfulness Institute

Mr. Rupesh has been a pharmaceutical business leader for the last 25 years and has been associated with a diverse range of Business Development leadership responsibilities with reputed pharmaceutical organisations.

From the last seventeen years, Mr Rupesh has worked in the top management roles with reputed pharmaceutical companies such as USV Ltd, Apple Therapeutics Limited and Lark Laboratories India Limited. His current Assignment is Senior Vice President with United Biotech group, Delhi. And is responsible for all operations of the 100% subsidiary Umano Healthcare Pvt Ltd.

Mr Rupesh is a pharmacy graduate from Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar.

Mr Rupesh has been a heartfulness practitioner since 2014 and Heartfulness Trainer since 2018. He is a Delhi State Coordinator for Heartful Campus initiative of Heartfulness Education Trust and Facilitator with Heartful Communications. He has conducted approx. 100 workshops with various corporates, NGOs, Hospitals, Govt. offices on science of meditation, compassion & empathy, Happiness, Heartful habit series, Heartfulness Enabled leadership Mastery etc. He strongly believes in the heart centered approach in every sphere of life.

Mr Chandra Shekhar Patil | Senior Manager, NTPC Limited | Meditation Trainer with Heartfulness Institute

Mr Chandra Shekhar has completed B.Tech. from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in 2003.

Mr Chandra Shekhar has worked in multinational corporations at Mumbai, Delhi (2003 to 2006). He has been working with National Thermal Power Corporation Limited since 2006. He is Sr. Manager (Renewable Energy) | Greater Noida.

Mr Chandra Shekhar has been a Heartfulness Trainer since 2013.

Mr Akshay Nagpal | Founder, SageCounsel | Meditation Trainer with Heartfulness Institute

Mr Akshay is a senior corporate lawyer and currently founder of boutique legal practice and mediation service called SageCounsel. He has been a partner at national law firms like Saraf and Partners, L&L Partners and J. Sagar Associates and Associate General Counsel at IndiGo Airlines.

Mr Akshay has done his LL.M from Columbia University School of Law, New York and has professional experience of around 18 years. He is dual qualified to practice, in India and New York Bar.

Mr Akshay has been practicing Heartfulness meditation for more than 11 years and is a Heartfulness trainer.

Mr Akshay is a visiting faculty at NALSAR conducting a Heartfulness based self-development course and a practical M&A: Nuts and Bolts course.

Mr Rohan Rohatgi | Managing Partner and Founder, RSR Legal

Mr Rohan Rohatgi is a Partner at RSR Legal, Advocates, which specializes in Intellectual Property Laws, Media and Entertainment Laws, Sports Laws, Technology, E-Commerce and Data Protection Laws, as well as general litigation, arbitration and transactional matters. Mr. Rohan has been practicing for over 15 years in India and has handled cases relating to trade mark infringement, copyright infringement, designs infringement, defamation, right to privacy, anti-suit injunctions, arbitrations, writ petitions, consumer disputes among others. He regularly appears before the Delhi District Courts, High Court of Delhi, Supreme Court of India as well as other District Courts and High Courts in India. He also advises Clients on prosecution and enforcement of their Intellectual Property Rights, as well as regulatory issues relating to E-Commerce, and providing transactional support. Over the years, Mr. Rohan has attended various domestic and international conferences, as well as delivered talks/webinars in conjunction with the Chambers of Commerce, the Intellectual Property Office and CIPAM to educate the police officials, university students as well as companies about Intellectual Property Laws. He has also delivered numerable webinars on varied topics relating to Artificial Intelligence, Traditional Cultural Expressions, Trade Marks, among others. Mr. Rohan was the Chair, INTA Indigenous Rights Committee (2022-23). He is enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi, and is a member of the Delhi High Court Bar Association.

Ms Meera Chature Sankhari | Co-Founding Partner - Jupiter Law Partners, INTA Board of Directors (Member)

Ms Meera is a Co-Founding Partner of Jupiter Law Partners, & heads the Trade Marks, General IP & IT Divisions of the firm. She has over 23 years’ experience in IP & the IT laws. She leads an experienced team, who manage large portfolios, including those of the Fortune 500 companies. Ms Meera’s specific expertise lays in: Trademark, copyrights & design prosecution, IP Transaction & Advisory, IT, Data Protection & Privacy, IP Conflict & Dispute Resolution. Ms Meera is currently a Member of the Board of Directors, International Trademarks Association (INTA). She has been recognized across platforms, including: WTR 1000 2024 – Prosecution & Strategy (Silver band), WTR 1000 2024 - Recommended Individual for Transactions, Recognized amongst the Top IP Lawyers in India in 2023 by Asian Legal Business, WTR 1000 2023 - Prosecution and Strategy (Silver band), 2024 Women Leadership Award - Law Services at the 2nd Edition of “Women Who Lead National Consortium”, supported by the Govt. of India & Govt. of Maharashtra, Top 100 Individual Lawyers - India Forbes Legal Powerlist in association with LegitQuest. Ms Meera’s involvement in INTA Activities include Co-chairing the INTA project “Recession & IP”, a Member of the INTA’s i) Annual Meeting Project Team; ii) President’s Audit Committee, & iii) the Trade Secrets Committee.

Mr Rajiv Malik | Dy. General Manager Legal – LG India

As an experienced Legal Counsel and sought-after speaker, Mr Rajiv brings over 20 years of expertise in the legal field, specializing in litigation, contract management, Data Privacy, Anti-trust issues and compliance. Throughout his career, He has made significant contributions to the success of LG Electronics, where he has been instrumental in navigating complex legal challenges and ensuring legal compliance. With his in-depth understanding of legal principles and extensive experience in litigation, Mr Rajiv has successfully handled numerous cases, employing strategic and persuasive advocacy to achieve favorable outcomes. As a qualified Company Secretary, Mr Rajiv possess a strong grasp of corporate governance and compliance, which enables him to help organizations adhere to legal obligations and mitigate potential risks. He is dedicated in promoting ethical practices and ensuring that businesses operate within the boundaries of the law. Mr Rajiv understands the complex legal challenges surrounding technology, data protection, and financial matters, and he is committed to helping organizations navigate these critical areas successfully. With his experience and passion for public speaking, Mr Rajiv is frequently invited to speak at conferences, seminars, Legal Conclaves and corporate events. He is having a unique talent for simplifying complex legal concepts and engaging diverse audiences with practical insights and actionable advice.

Mr Girish Bhatia | Senior Associate, RNA, Technology, and IP Attorneys

Mr Girish Bhatia has around 6+ years of experience in Intellectual Property Rights and Media & Entertainment. He has advised clients from different sectors like FMCG, Electronics etc. on various aspects including but not limited to Consumer Protection Laws and Packaging and Labelling Laws. Mr Girish has strong understanding of business requirements and have opined businesses on extent of rights of the company that can be secured under intellectual property laws. He engaged in business development and also active participant in contributing towards policies and initiatives. In the recent times, he has taken webinars on topics like Importance of Registration of Brand as a Trademark and Non-Fungible Tokens & IP. Also, he has adjudged different national level competitions. Over and above, Mr Girish conducted various INTA Unreal Campaigns in different schools and universities in order to spread awareness among youth towards counterfeit goods. Further, he has been appointed as a member of Expert Panel of Centre of Legal Research and Studies and Lexpert Assist.

Ms Drishti Kardam | Associate, Fox Mandal & Associates LLP

Ms Drishti comes with an experience of 4 years and has worked with several IP boutique firms, which has helped her understand the nuances of various IPs. She is a member of the IP team at our Bangalore office. Her specialisation lies in Trademark – prosecution and enforcement, and designs. Ms Drishti handles FMA’s design portfolio and has assisted many businesses in protecting their designs under the relevant Acts. She also handles the firm’s foreign IP portfolio and has experience dealing with the IP laws of several countries throughout the world. With Fox Mandal, Ms Drishti has also forayed into IP due diligences and audits and, as a result, advised various businesses on ways to streamline and expand their IPs. She is an avid reader, orator, and shares her views through writing on topics of law and social observations.

Mr Abhijit Narayan, Foreign Counsel, Head of India Desk for Continental Europe, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Mr. Abhijit Narayan is a New York and India educated lawyer. After completing his LL.B from Delhi University, he pursued LL.M in corporate laws from the pNew York University School of Law. Thereafter, he worked as a corporate lawyer at J. Sagar Associates, a top tier Indian law firm, focussing on legal issues relating to M&A and commercial matters.

In 2012, Mr. Abhijit relocated to Germany and worked with Hengeler Mueller, a premier German law firm for over 6 years. During this time, he also did a secondment with Slaughter and May, a Magic Circle law firm, in London. For almost 5 years now, he has been working with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, a US headquartered global law firm which was set up in 1863. The firm has approximately 1400 lawyers spread across offices in the USA, Europe and Asia. He splits his time between offices in London and Germany.

Mr. Abhijit heads the firm’s India Desk for Continental Europe and regularly advises clients on India related matters across different sectors.

Mr. Shiv K Bimal | Alumnus (Batch 2005-10) | Director, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. USA

Mr. Shiv is currently based in New York and works as a global employment tax head at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. He leads and makes strategic decisions on behalf of the company on tax issues in connection with employee benefits and executive compensation, worker classifications, employment tax reporting and withholding obligations, and tax controversies matters across the globe.

Mr. Shiv graduated from Symbiosis Law School, Pune in 2010. After his graduation, he worked as a ‘Law Clerk’ at the Supreme Court of India. Thereafter, He moved to the USA to pursue LL.M. from the George Washington University on full scholarship (Thomas Beurgenthal Scholar). Prior to joining Regeneron, Mr. Shiv worked at a big law firm and a big four organizations in the US.

During his spare time, Mr. Shiv follows his passion for sports and enjoys playing cricket, golf, and spends quality time with his family.

Mr. Tejus Chauhan | Alumnus (Batch 2010-15) | Director, South Asia, ICC Arbitration & ADR, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Singapore

As the Regional Director for South Asia based out of Singapore, Mr. Tejus focuses on assisting companies, counsels, and investors the region understand how they can resolve commercial disputes by raising their awareness about ICC’s Dispute Resolution Services.

In his role, Mr. Tejus advises on arbitration proceeding protocol, especially ICC Arbitration, organizing capacity building and informative events, promoting ICC’s dispute resolution services, and connecting with regional players to forge relationships that connect ICC with users and businesses. Tejus is also an avid promoter of opportunities for young practitioners and leads ICC’s Young Arbitration and ADR Forum (YAAF) in South Asia.

Mr. Tejus earned his law degree in India from Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA. Upon graduation, he worked as an associate with a law firm in the disputes and TMT practice. Prior to joining ICC in Singapore, he has also worked as the Deputy Director - Arbitration for ICC in India and with the forensic and dispute advisory services at a Big Four audit firm.

Mr. Pravir Singh Srivastava | Legislative & Policy Advisor, Parliament of India | Alumnus – SLS NOIDA - Batch 2010-15

Mr. Pravir Singh works as a Legal, Legislative & Policy Consultant to Members of Parliament across party lines. He was the Chief Advisor (Legislative & Policy) at the Office of Mr. Rajeev Satav, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from 2017 to 2019.

In his current role, Mr. Pravir is responsible for handling the Parliamentary, Policy & Political advisory related matters for Members of Parliament. In his previous assignment he has assisted Mr. Satav on making interventions in Parliament during Question Hour, Zero Hour, Rule 377, debates on important bills & drafting of Private Members Bill. A few of the notable Private Members Bill drafted by his office include All India Services (Amendment) Bill, Amendment of Article 148 & 324 of the Constitution etc. Mr. Pravir has also assisted Shri Rajeev Satav in his role as AICC I/C for the State of Gujarat.

Mr. Pravir was selected for the prestigious LAMP Fellowship in 2016-17 & worked with a Member of Parliament from Bhartiya Janta Party.

Mr. Pravir is an alumnus of Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA (Batch 2010-15) & holds degrees in Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Laws (BBA. LL.B.). He has completed Master of Laws (LL.M.) with specialization in Constitutional & Administrative Law from Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar.

Mr. Prayank Jain | Special Assistant to the CEO, Council on Energy, Environment & Water | Alumnus – SLS NOIDA - Batch 2012-17

Mr. Prayank works at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) in New Delhi as Special Assistant to the CEO. In his current role, he manages international collaborations and stakeholder relationships, supports the Council's government and industry relations in India, and contributes to research initiatives in public policy, geo-engineering governance, net-zero targets, and youth advocacy. His expertise includes climate governance, environmental justice, migration and human security. He specialises in international negotiations and processes, non-profit strategy, and higher education.

Mr. Prayank has been a consultant for non-profit organisations in US and India, including the Fletcher School, Namati, UNITAR, Congress of Nations and States, Green Pro Bono, and Jan Sahas. Prior he was with the International Advocacy team at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in Delhi.

Mr. Prayank as a mooter has represented Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA at national and international moot court competitions. The most notable achievements during such participation include: Best Memorial at World Rounds of Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Competition, 2015 (Geneva), Second Best Memorial at World Rounds of Stetson Environmental Moot Court Competition, 2017 (Florida, USA).

Mr. Prayank is an alumnus of Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA (Batch 2012 -17) & holds degrees in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (BA. LL.B.) and holds a Master of International Law (LL.M.) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the USA. He also holds a diploma in Comparative European Law from ISIL, New Delhi.

Mr. Karan Gulati | Research Fellow, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy | Alumnus – SLS NOIDA - Batch 2015-20

Mr. Karan is a Research Fellow at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. He was a part of the team that assisted the Ministry of Corporate Affairs with the research and drafting of the Company Law Committee Report.

Prior Mr. Karan held positions at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) and the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), where he worked on regulatory governance and judicial administration. He has also written for the Leap Blog and has been an occasional columnist for the Indian Express, the Times of India, and the Quint.

Mr. Karan is an alumnus of Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA (Batch 2015-20) & holds degrees in Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Laws (BBA. LL.B.).

Ms. Shruti Shreya | Program Manager – Platform Regulation, The Dialogue | Alumnus – SLS NOIDA - Batch 2016-21

Ms. Shruti is a digital rights lawyer & a public policy researcher managing the Platform Regulation vertical at the Delhi-based Tech Policy Think Tank called The Dialogue. At The Dialogue, Shruti is engaged in conducting multimethod research on varied legal and policy issues including social media regulation, online safety, privacy & data protection. Shruti also leads the engagement initiatives of The Dialogue collaborating with grassroots women & child safety NGOs & state institutions to deliver sensitisation programs on online safety & digital rights for marginalised communities.

Ms. Shruti has authored op-eds for leading Indian dailies and has been invited to multiple national and international expert stakeholder consultations alongside luminaries in the digital rights space.

Ms. Shruti is an alumnus of Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA (Batch 2016-21) & holds degrees in Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Laws (BBA. LL.B.). She was awarded the Late Jayatee Deshmukh Gold Medal for the most outstanding performance across all undergraduate programs of the Symbiosis International University.

About the Moderator:

Mr. Pranav Bhaskar Tiwari | Empowerment Program Specialist, Internet Society | Alumnus – SLS NOIDA - Batch 2015-20

Mr. Pranav serves as an Empowerment Program Specialist at a global non-profit the Internet Society where he works to nurture the future champions of the Internet. In his previous avatar, he managed the Program on Platform Regulation & Encryption Technology, & co-lead projects on Future of Work, Online Safety & Privacy at a Delhi-based Think Tank The Dialogue.

Mr. Pranav is an alumnus of Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA (Batch 2015-20) & holds degrees in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (BA. LL.B.). He received the V.K. Krishna Menon Gold Medal for his academic excellence in International Law and Diplomacy at the Indian Society of International Law.

Mr. Pranav has published doctrinal and empirical research in diverse areas like Governance, AI-Ethics, Human Rights, Constitutional Law, International Humanitarian Law & Education Policy. A former Early Career Fellow (2021) and a Youth Internet Governance Fellow (2019), hosted by the Internet Society, Pranav has been actively advocating for an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy internet.

Mr. Anil Lale, General Counsel, Viacom18 Media Private Limited

A lawyer by profession and a post graduate in Media Laws from the National Academy of Legal Studies & Research, Mr. Anil is responsible for managing the entire legal team which enables all business streams at Viacom18. He leads a strong team of lawyers spanning across functions such as litigation, contract negotiations & structuring, IP management & protection and advisory services to the network’s five lines of business.

Mr. Anil started his career as a litigation lawyer and has appeared before trial courts, High Courts and various tribunals across states in India. At Viacom18, he has been instrumental in setting up international distribution of channels and syndication of content across the globe. He also led the establishment of rights management system for the company.

Having been part of the media industry for over 13 years and being part of various streams of media, Mr. Anil brings a 360-degree understanding of nuances of media laws and businesses which enables growth and ensures best practices. He is a member of the regulatory committee of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation.

Mr. Anil started his journey in the Media & Entertainment industry in 2006 with the television distribution JV of Sony and Discovery and was involved in regulatory compliance, litigation, advisory functions, drafting and copyright protection. He has holistically overseen the legal mandates in the media sector working in all domains of the sector including television distribution, television content production, Movie production and distribution, news, music, digital, consumer products and live events. Prior to joining Viacom18, he was the Group General Counsel for Zee, managing legal for their entertainment and news businesses globally. Mr. Anil defines himself as an explorer and loves to tread the path less travelled. He is an avid biker and you can find him riding from the sunrise on Sunday mornings. He is also a movie buff and an adventure sports enthusiast.

Mr. Saurabh Taneja, Legal Head, Headout Inc.

Mr. Saurabh is Head of Legal, Headout. Prior he has worked as ‘Head-Legal, Zomato; Associate Director, MakeMyTrip, Deputy Manager Legal, Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd.; Legal Manager, Parsvnath Developers Ltd.; Legal Counsel, Star TV Network.

Mrs. Ranjana Adhikari, Partner, IndusLaw

Ms. Ranjana is a partner in the Firm’s Mumbai office. Her forte has been to advise clients on Media & Entertainment (including gaming) and IP, technology and ICL matters. She has been involved in many complex cross-border transactions including structuring and documentation for cross - border joint ventures, technology collaborations, international commercial contracts, licensing agreements etc.

Ms. Ranjana has been particularly advising several new-media clients, broadcasting, digital rights, social media platforms and film companies. This includes drafting and negotiations of content licensing agreements (both episodic and film), original film and episodic production deals, brand endorsement arrangements, music licensing strategy for India, etc. One of the interesting areas which she handles for clients is helping clients put in place self-regulation policies for content intensive business models. She also advises gaming operators including several top global and domestic poker, fantasy and sports betting, casual and social gaming businesses on their India-related activities. Apart from transactional work, she is also integrally involved in domestic pre-litigation strategies, litigations, and international commercial arbitration matters (like before LCIA) in a range of sectors and industries including M&E.

Ms. Ranjana has been recognised as leading lawyer in the Chambers and Partners Global Guide (Gaming & Gambling) & Asia Pacific Guide (Gaming & Gambling) since 2019, RSG reports and has won awards for excellence in gaming laws. She is a member of the prestigious International Masters of Gaming Law, an organization of elite lawyers from all over the world focusing on gaming laws. She is also an active member of the Association of Media Entertainment Counsel, US.

Before joining INDUSLAW, Ms. Ranjana co-headed the Media & Entertainment and Gaming Practice Groups and a senior leader of the Technology Media and Telecom Practice Group at Nishith Desai and Associates, Mumbai.

Mr. Bharadwaj Jaishankar, Partner, IndusLaw

Mr. Bharadwaj co-leads the Intellectual Property Practice at INDUSLAW. He has over 13 years of enriching experience in the field of Intellectual Property Rights involving protection, enforcement and commercialization of Intellectual Property assets.

Mr. Bharadwaj’s past work experience involves stints with some of India’s leading Tier-1 Intellectual Property boutique law firms. In his last professional commitment, he was the IP and Innovation Counsel for one of the world’s leading FMCG organization, responsible for Intellectual Property and Innovation legal issues for the APAC region. In his time with the law firms, he has been actively involved in some precedent setting judgments passed by various Courts in India. He has also advised a diverse range of clients on various aspects of IP rights, as well as on related areas including information technology law, internet law, contract law and general commercial law. In particular, on behalf of the Government of India, he has successfully led and coordinated a team comprising law firms across 50 countries for protecting and enforcing rights for one of India’s landmark and renowned Geographical Indications.

Mr. Bharadwaj supports clients on various IP matters including protecting and enforcing IP assets. His practice also involves conducting IP due diligences and audits, as well as advising on IP structuring in corporate and commercial transactions. He often consults on a wide range of IP commercialization issues for clients across various business sectors including technology, media, FMCG, manufacturing, e-commerce, software and finance. Bharadwaj also advises on protecting IP rights through the Internet, as well with customs.

Mr. Bharadwaj is a visiting faculty at a leading law university in India, and also regularly speaks at various national and international conferences on diverse IP topics. He is currently an active member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and is part of INTA’s Internet Committee. He is also a regular contributor of articles for national and international publications. He is also a recommended lawyer by Legal500.

Outside work, Mr. Bharadwaj is an avid Ultimate Frisbee player and enjoys listening to old school rock music and loves travelling.