With Viom Networks since 2012, I am heading the legal and regulatory affairs function of the organization. As India’s largest independent telecom infrastructure company, Viom Networks with about 43,000 towers is instrumental in maintaining the mobile communications connectivity in the country. Therefore, the role of the legal and regulatory affairs becomes even more important given the fact that each of our towers are in essence ‘establishments’ in their own right.
My role is not only strategic and advisory in nature but encompasses training and development as over the last four years we have evolved as a ‘Business Function’. Being the legal & regulatory head, I am also the custodian of all applicable statutory and regulatory compliances of the organization.
I have 25 years of extensive professional experience covering consumer durables, automobile, real estate, hospitality, telecommunications and service industries with international exposure especially in the areas of M&A, Intellectual Properties, Contracts, Litigation, Compliances, Service laws, Alternate Dispute Resolution and Due Diligence. I began my professional journey with Singer India Limited in 1988, and then I moved to Usha International in 1992 where I worked till 2007. Thereafter, I worked with a law firm and also provided independent advisory services to Usha International for almost four years and since 2012, Viom has been my cherished organization.
With the continuous transformation in the world, just from being the backroom support GCs are striving forward in making strategic decisions and adding to the bottom-line for the organization. General Counsels advise management on the legal and ethical aspects arising from day-to-day business activities within the specialty area of legal practice and allied functions such as human resource. In addition, General Counsels also assist with negotiations and communications with customers, external government agencies, representatives, outside counsels and law firms.
General Counsels are now being called upon to play a more important role in how businesses operate and are developing from being pure legal counsellors to business advisors. Our role is no longer restricted to legal matters alone but involves commercial decision making as well, especially in the area of risk analysis management. The increasingly cross-border nature of laws and regulations is adding new layers of risk & challenges to businesses and General Counsels are playing an even more active role.
We always prefer going to law firms for support which are business friendly. A good law firm should speak the language of a business lawyer and not like a legal consultant. If a good firm has the required expertise, then there is a match with what a corporate entity is looking for. Unsurprisingly, many firms focus on primary deliverables such as quality of work, technical expertise, and service standards. While extremely important, these factors do not provide in-house legal team with genuine differentiators. Other factors that corporate entities place immense value are virtually overlooked, they are diversity, offering retainers, thought leadership and use of technology. To derive the best, in-house legal team needs to work in close coordination with law firms and lawyers.
General Counsels are deadwood if they are don’t keep themselves updated. Therefore, continuous learning is imperative. The General Counsels operate as the nerve center of an organization. Willingness to be curious about what impacts the bottom- line and understanding the business area must and for that we have to keep ourselves with continued learning. The mode can be numerous, via use of technology, legal & business seminars, conferences, workshops, leading magazines, newspapers, journals, judgments and newsletters of some good law firms. The sources are numerous today, what is essential is the appetite for learning.
The role of the in-house counsel is evolving. An in-house counsel of the future will require an even more judicious blend of legal and business savviness. As an inhouse counsel you should be able to use your legal expertise and business knowledge to provide the most effective solutions. For those who are only interested in figuring out what you can and can’t do within the law, they would probably have to redefine their working style. A much broader mindset is need of the hour for General Counsels. And most importantly, you need to maintain the dignity of the profession. A General Counsel needs to display the highest standard of ethical practice & zero tolerance on integrity issues. This is a value which needs to be imbibed and enshrined from the beginning.
India earlier this month approved top telecom towers company ATC Asia Pacific to acquire majority stake in Viom Networks for ` 5,856.51 crores. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval to the proposal of ATC Asia Pacific Singapore for acquisition of 51 percent of shareholding in Viom Networks by way of transfer from existing shareholders. The approval resulted in a total foreign direct investment inflow of Rs. 5,856.51 crores into the telecom infrastructure of the country which will spur economic growth, besides fostering inclusiveness and equity.
Viom Networks has over 42,000 towers across India and it is present in all telecom circles in India, with 15 offices and a workforce of 1,400 employees. The company builds, rents, operates and manages telecom towers across India in addition to providing tower solutions to various downstream sectors.
Ahead of approval, global markets research firm Nomura said the ongoing consolidation among telecom companies implies that eventually four or five will remain. “This is positive for tower companies over the medium term – these telecom companies will be more active on rollouts, plus their contracts will also be more sustainable.” It said the tower companies are exploring new revenues sources – such as in-building and Wi-Fi.
Favourite Gadget – i-phone
Favourite App – Many – depending upon need
Favourite Automobile Brand – Renault
Favourite Writing Instrument – Montblanc
Favourite Holiday Destination – Desert terrain
Favourite Cuisine – Indian
www.grandmasters.in | 8 Years & Counting
www.rcls.in | 8 Years & Counting
www.itlegalsummit.com | 8 Years & Counting
www.bfls.in | 8 Years & Counting
www.maels.in | 8 Years & Counting
www.plcs.co.in | 8 Years & Counting
Copyright © 2020 Lex Witness - India's 1st Magazine on Legal & Corporate Affairs Rights of Admission Reserved
