Beyond the bar: A Legal Leader’s Insights ft. Anubhav Kapoor

In this episode of "The Counsel's Code," we are joined by Anubhav Kapoor, a distinguished legal leader with nearly three decades of experience across diverse global industries. He shares his journey from an aspiring doctor to a top General Counsel, offering deep insights into managing large teams, navigating complex litigation, and why a "solution mindset" is the key to in-house success.

Meet the Speaker: Anubhav Kapoor

We are thrilled to feature Anubhav Kapoor, the General Counsel and Senior Vice President at the Motherson Group. His 27-year career has seen him in key legal and secretarial roles at major corporations, including Tata Technologies, Cummins India, and Domino's.

Mr. Kapoor is a highly recognized and decorated legal professional, having received numerous awards, including the BW Legal World Top 100 General Counsel of India (2024), the GC Powerlist India (2024), and the World's Leading IP Strategist (IM300) for five consecutive years. His expertise spans complex negotiations, corporate governance, M&A, and global litigation.

Key Insights from the Conversation

What inspired you to pursue a career in law?

Mr. Kapoor's journey was unconventional. Coming from a middle-class background with no lawyers in the family, his first ambition was to be a doctor, which later led him to become a chef. The real turning point came in the early 90s during India's economic liberalization. His uncle, a Company Secretary, inspired him with his company's successful IPO.

This led Mr. Kapoor to pursue the Company Secretary course. His inspiration for law, however, came from a visit to the Delhi High Court. He was captivated by the "glamour and the power" of the profession and the unique "well" architecture of the building. An IP litigation case he observed, where an injunction brought a business to a "standstill," showed him the immense power of law, and IP became his "first love."

How has your experience been working with various industries?

With a 30-year career spanning IT (15 years), manufacturing (10 years), and food/pharma, Mr. Kapoor's experience is incredibly diverse. The key lesson he learned early on was that business leaders "look at you for solutions, they don't come to you for problems."

He found success by avoiding "legalistic" jargon and focusing on two key things:

1. Business Understanding: "You are inside the business." He makes it a point to go to shop floors and sit in operations meetings to truly understand the company's challenges.

2. Solution Mindset: He sees the in-house counsel's role as breaking down problems to find solutions, acting as a "conscious keeper," and, most importantly, gaining the "trust of the senior management."

Some tips on managing large legal teams?

Mr. Kapoor's process is methodical. First, he emphasizes that a legal leader must understand the "business goals of the company" by engaging directly with senior management and participating in strategy discussions.

Second, you apply a "legal lens" to those business goals to create clear objectives for the legal department.

Third, you "percolate" those objectives to the team, "telling them in very simple language how does this our role help" the company. He's a "very strong believer" in the principle that "what gets measured gets done," so he converts these goals into concrete "actions and KRAs" to ensure alignment and accountability.

How do you manage litigation across sectors?

While his career started in a procedural Company Secretary role, Mr. Kapoor's legal passion began with watching litigation. He learned the "real art of litigation" much later in his career when he managed over 700-800 litigations for a company closing its operations.

He learned that litigation isn't just about having good lawyers; it's also "about how you present your case and how you write your pleadings." This experience taught him strategy, negotiation, and dispute resolution, and he now "enjoys litigations more than the other work" he does.

Any tips on how to manage compliance?

Compliance is a subject close to Mr. Kapoor's heart, born from the challenges of working for IT companies with vast geographical footprints, lean teams, and language barriers. He became an early adopter of technology to solve this.

He implemented an "automated mechanized compliance system" with detailed checklists and dual-language support across 13 countries. He stresses that while technology is the best way to solve compliance, it's not enough on its own. The "tone from the top" is the most critical part; without leadership's commitment, even the best system will be "extremely difficult."

What are your views on AI in the field of law?

Mr. Kapoor is a passionate advocate for technology. He sees AI as a significant tool to "reduce your cost" and "improve decision making," especially given that legal departments are always "constrained on resources and budgets."

He believes AI can take over the "grunt work" like research, first-pass contract reviews in a CLM, and suggesting alternative clauses. He also sees massive potential in M&A for due diligence and in AI assistants to handle "low-level queries," freeing up lawyers' time. He also notes that lawyers must understand AI to combat the new wave of AI-driven cybercrimes.

Advice to aspiring lawyers and law students?

Mr. Kapoor jokes that he often learns from the new generation (Gen Z), who "want results faster." Given this, his "singular advice" is to cultivate a "positive attitude."

He acknowledges the frustration and mental health issues that can come from high expectations. He advises young lawyers and students to "be patient and work towards their goals," because "without a positive attitude, nothing makes any meaning."

Rapid Fire Round

In a quick-fire round, Mr. Kapoor shared his immediate thoughts. The word "contracts" brings "consensus" to mind. Success for a legal leader is "humility," and his favorite legal phrase is "ignorance of the law excuses no one." His most inspiring cases are Kesavananda Bharati (basic structure) and Puttaswamy (privacy). The one skill law school doesn't teach is "empathetic communication." Justice means "fairness," and the best advice he's ever received is "don't give advice unless asked for." He prefers "courtroom drama" to boardroom strategy and unwinds with "music" and "sometimes cooking."

About "The Counsel's Code" Podcast

"The Counsel's Code" is your go-to podcast for exclusive interviews with top legal executives. Discover the strategies they've employed to cultivate their careers, excel in their positions, and emerge as true leaders in their organizations.

Throughout our discussions, we delve into the challenges of leadership and how these accomplished professionals manage the pressures that come with it. Our mission is to provide valuable insights and support for in-house counsel, fostering mutual growth and development.

Tune in for engaging and enlightening conversations with legal leaders who share their experiences, wisdom, and advice, creating a community where in-house counsel can thrive together. If you want to get featured, contact marketing@volody.com.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the podcast, Volody, or any current or former employers.