How is the In-House Counsel Role Evolving?

The modern in-house counsel is no longer just a legal advisor; they are a strategic partner, a problem solver, and an integral part of the business. This episode of "The Counsel's Code" explores this evolution with Sagnik Ghose, a legal leader who has navigated some of the most dynamic industries in the modern economy.

Meet the Speaker: Sagnik Ghose

Sagnik Ghose is a seasoned legal professional with over 18 years of experience. He is the Ex-Director of Legal at Swiggy, one of India's leading online ordering and delivery platforms.

His career is a masterclass in versatility, with roles across diverse sectors. He began at a full-service law firm before moving in-house, holding key counsel positions at companies like IBM India, FactSet, Mahindra Comviva, United Spirits (a unit of Diageo), and the gaming company Moonfrog Labs.

Beyond his corporate roles, Sagnik provides pro bono legal services to micro and small startups, and he is the founder and investor in "Those Woof Guys," a startup focused on dog nutrition and food.

Key Insights from the Conversation

How did you get into the field of law? What drives your passion for it?

For Sagnik, a legal career was a "happy coincidence," not a family tradition. With a doctor for a father and engineers as uncles, he was the first in his family to enter the field. He chose to give law a shot to avoid becoming a doctor and, by chance, got into one of India's premier law schools, the National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata.

His passion didn't come from a long-held dream but was discovered through practice. He found it in the "intricacies of what law can do" and, more importantly, in the "value system I bring to the table which will help my in-house clients succeed with their business ends."

How did you tackle the first 90 days in various new roles?

Sagnik intentionally chose to "broaden his horizons" by working across different sectors (IT, fmcg, hyper-growth) rather than specializing. Because of this, his "first 90 days" philosophy is critical. He stresses that in any new role, you must "drill down into the very basics of what the business is [and] how does it generate money."

He emphasizes that "everything goes back to sales," and an in-house counsel's "number one role is to understand how sales works." This proactive approach—understanding the business fundamentals—is what separates a strategic partner from a lawyer in a "reticent role" who just waits for agreements to review.

How did you work & support the internal stakeholders at the CXO level?

Sagnik points out that the traditional view of legal as a "cost center" is long gone. Today, it's the norm for legal counsel "to have a seat at the table as far as operating plans are concerned." He is no longer "relegated to the back end."

He supports CXOs by being "progressive"—sitting in on product and marketing meetings to "drill down granularly" and spot legal challenges (like competition law or marketing compliance) before they become problems. His mindset is to be a "facilitator" and a "problem solver" who helps the business execute its plans, not a roadblock.

Notable experiences, and challenges you faced as a in-house counsel?

Sagnik's diverse career has presented unique challenges. At IBM, a "behemoth" in the IT industry, the challenge was finding "newer ways of generating revenue." At Diageo, it was navigating the "taboo subject" of alcohol in India—balancing the promotion of "responsible drinking" with a complex social and regulatory fabric.

At Swiggy, the challenges are different still: managing the "highly contentious issue of the gig workers," ensuring platform neutrality, and navigating the legal complexities of a "complex" hyper-growth company.

What principle do you follow & how do you maintain a work-life balance?

Sagnik rejects the idea of "work-life balance" as a "concept of the past." He strongly advocates for "work-life integration." He argues that in a modern, hybrid work model, life and work are fluid.

"Your parents can fall ill anytime, your child can fall ill anytime," he says. You can't just relegate life to Saturdays and Sundays. The goal is to have the flexibility to "work whenever you can work and whenever you need to take an off, you should be in position to take the off." In short: "Your life should not stop because you are at work and your work should not stop because you have to attend to life."

As a founder of “Those Woof Guys”, how has your passion for dogs influenced your entrepreneurship journey & professional life?

Dogs have been an "integral part of my life for over 20 years" and a "permanent source of strength." For him, starting a pet wellness company was a "no-brainer." His corporate experience at startups like Swiggy gave him the "entrepreneurial mindset" and a "customer backward" problem-solving approach.

This journey has come full circle. Running his own business has given him a "businessman come a lawyer" perspective, allowing him to better understand his internal clients' pressures and goals in his corporate legal role.

How do you see the role of an In-house counsel evolving? What business skills should one acquire?

The role is evolving to demand a deep "understanding [of] the revenue cycle" and an "investor mindset." Sagnik emphasizes that lawyers must understand the "go to market" (GTM) challenges of a product, not just its legal components.

This business context, he argues, is precisely what separates a high-value lawyer from a machine. It's the "human intelligence" to know how a legal decision impacts the business that AI cannot replicate.

What are your views on AI? Is it a threat or will it assist the legal fraternity?

Sagnik is clear: "it is going to assist the legal fraternity." He believes AI will decimate "legal process outsourcing" jobs (like basic template comparison), as those tasks are easily automated.

However, for a "seasoned lawyer who depends upon his intellectual abilities to be able to provide very sharp incisive decisions," AI is not a threat. It is a powerful assistant. AI is for collecting and collating information; the human lawyer provides the "business context" and "human intervention" to apply that information wisely.

What are your views on CLM software? How has your experience been?

He views Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) as "very, very important" for any legal team. While "90-9S% of contracts don't go into dispute," a CLM is essential for managing the 5% that do, preventing "badly managed contracts."

A CLM creates "institutional memory" by extracting key data (start dates, end dates, liability terms) and making it available at "the click of a button." This is crucial for new counsel getting up to speed and for startups needing to navigate "complex legal and compliance landscapes" where one "regulatory nightmare" can end the company.

Any guidance or suggestions for the upcoming legal counsels?

Sagnik's number one piece of advice is to "network." But not just to collect contacts. He means "sit down and talk to the legal luminaries." He calls GCs "fascinating individuals" because they must "straddle... very complex roles" across business, product, finance, and HR.

His advice: "Seek out these individuals and seek time from them... They have been extremely humble, extremely nice, willing to share their knowledge... take notes and use that in your day-to-day life."

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.