Corporate India is undergoing a subtle but significant transformation. The role of the General Counsel (GC)—traditionally confined to managing risks from the back office—is now moving decisively into the frontlines of business execution.
According to a report by The Economic Times, legal strategy is no longer limited to compliance; it has become central to mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, supply chain planning, and market expansion. As a result, many GCs are now transitioning into roles such as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Business Unit Head, and even Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The Drivers of Change
Experts say three key forces are pushing this shift:
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Rising Regulatory Complexity: Increasingly intricate tax, corporate, and securities laws demand executives with strong legal acumen.
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Faster Compliance Cycles: Businesses must now respond to regulatory changes in real time, making in-house legal leadership invaluable.
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Heightened Scrutiny: With regulators closely monitoring governance and disclosures, legal expertise has become indispensable for leadership.
“Legal leaders today are strategic partners. Boards look up to them for advice on governance, compliance, and crisis management, which are indispensable when running operations,” said Shweta Vora Sheth, Vice-President and Head of Compliance Recruitment at Vahura.
Recent Examples
The trend is already visible across India Inc:
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Jolly Abraham was appointed MD and General Counsel at True North.
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Raju Dodti transitioned into the role of COO at L&T Finance.
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Siddharth Sharma, a former lawyer, was promoted to CEO of Head Digital Works in May 2025.
Such moves signal that legal expertise is no longer siloed, but instead is being leveraged to drive organizational strategy and growth.
Global Influence, Local Momentum
While this evolution has long been visible in global markets, especially in the United States, it is now becoming increasingly prominent in India.
“Boards worldwide have recognized that legal risk management is at the core of sustainable business. In India, this realization is now accelerating the elevation of GCs into leadership positions,” said Dr. Sanjeev Gemawat, MD and Group General Counsel at Essar Group.
What This Means for India Inc
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Governance at the Core: With ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards shaping investment flows, legal professionals provide the expertise to align strategy with governance.
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Risk-Resilient Leadership: CEOs with legal backgrounds are seen as better equipped to navigate crises and regulatory challenges.
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Talent Transformation: The corporate ladder is now more accessible to professionals outside traditional finance or operations backgrounds.
The rise of GCs into the corner office underscores a quiet revolution in Indian boardrooms. As compliance, governance, and strategic execution become inseparable, India Inc is acknowledging what global corporations learned years ago: the future CEO may very well come from the legal desk.
