“What drives me is the variety and unpredictability of in-house legal work. No two matters are the same… that variety keeps me sharp”.
Could you share some insights into your background and how you came to join FLAG?
My journey with FLAG began before the rebrand — I joined as a Legal Intern with GCX India Services Limited in October 2021, which gave me an early window into the kind of complex, cross-jurisdictional legal work the organisation handles. What started as an internship quickly grew into something much more substantive. I was brought on as Junior Legal Counsel in April 2022, and over time, as the business evolved and rebranded to FLAG, so did my role — I moved into a Legal Counsel position in July 2025. So, in many ways, FLAG chose me as much as I chose it, and I grew into the organisation organically rather than arriving fully formed.
What motivates you in your role at FLAG, and how do you maintain your inspiration?
What drives me is the variety and unpredictability of in-house legal work. No two matters are the same — one day it’s working through a novation, another it’s managing the liquidation of dormant entities, another it’s untangling a difficult situation that arose from a procedural misstep. That variety keeps me sharp. The work consistently demands both legal precision and practical judgment, and finding the balance between the two is something I genuinely enjoy.
Is there a specific project or achievement at FLAG that you are particularly proud of?
A few things come to mind. The CLM initiative was a significant undertaking — systematically transferring and organising contracts into a centralised repository, which required careful attention to detail and has meaningfully improved how the legal function manages its documentation. Beyond that, I’ve been involved in the liquidation of dormant entities, novation’s, and service agreements — each bringing its own complexity. But one situation that particularly tested me was when an incorrect draft was inadvertently shared with a customer who had already reviewed it. Rather than being able to start fresh, every necessary correction had to be negotiated individually, which made for a prolonged and delicate process. Navigating that — maintaining the relationship, achieving the right legal outcome, and doing it all through careful negotiation over time — was genuinely challenging and something I’m proud of having seen through.
How do you approach challenges and overcome obstacles in your work?
My instinct is always to assess the situation clearly before reacting. The wrong draft situation is a good example — the immediate instinct might be to panic, but the more useful response was to map out exactly what needed to change, understand the customer’s position, and work through each point methodically. I try to separate the legal problem from the relational one and address both. I also believe strongly in not working in isolation when things get complicated — whether that’s checking in with my manager or working through an issue with other legal team members, the team here creates an environment where escalating or seeking input is seen as good judgment rather than weakness.
What role do your colleagues and team members play in your success at FLAG?
Team Legal at FLAG is genuinely collaborative and I think that’s what makes us collectively effective. Edward as General Counsel sets the strategic tone — the expectation that legal work must align closely with business objectives runs through everything we do. All the team members each bring distinct strengths, and we draw on those complementary perspectives across different matters. There is a lot of collective expertise across a broad range of legal and business issues, and everyone is very willing to share their experience with each other. That collaborative culture has directly shaped how I approach my work and how quickly I’ve grown.
Are there any mentors or individuals who have had a significant impact on your career here?
I’d start with Lisa Holewik, my manager during my internship and early years at the organisation. She shaped my approach to legal work by teaching me to think methodically — breaking issues down systematically rather than reacting instinctively. Her consistent generosity with her time and guidance set a standard I’ve tried to carry forward.
Colin Jacobi, my current manager and Deputy General Counsel, has further developed my perspective by helping me connect legal advice to commercial outcomes. Working with him has shifted how I frame issues — focusing not just on legal accuracy, but on what best serves the business.
Bhalindra has also had a strong influence. His measured, experienced approach to resolving complex issues has taught me the value of staying composed and methodical in challenging situations.
How has your role evolved since joining FLAG, and how have you grown as a professional?
I came in as an intern doing due diligence and research. I’m now advising senior leadership on sales and procurement contracts, governance, managing assignments and corporate activity, contributing to the CLM infrastructure, and negotiating through genuinely difficult commercial situations. The growth has been both technical and personal. Technically, I’m far more confident across multi-jurisdictional compliance, contract strategy, and risk mitigation. Personally, I’ve developed the ability to stay calm under pressure. I’ve also become much better at translating legal thinking into language that commercial colleagues find actionable and clear.
What advice would you offer to new employees or those striving to excel in their careers at FLAG?
Three things, genuinely. First, understand the business deeply — the more you grasp what commercial teams are trying to achieve, the more useful and trusted your legal input becomes. Second, embrace all types of work, including the structural and administrative. Something like building a contract repository might not seem glamorous, but it reflects an understanding of how good legal functions actually operate. And third, stay composed when things go wrong — because they will. Some of the most valuable learning I’ve had here came from navigating situations that didn’t go to plan. How you handle those moments matters far more than how you perform when everything is straightforward.