Inside the mind of a legal head with Shaili Bhandari

The modern legal professional is an "accidental lawyer," a data privacy expert, and a strategic business partner all in one. In this episode of "The Counsel's Code," we sit down with Shaili Bhandari, a legal leader who has built a global career at the intersection of law, technology, and data privacy.

Meet the Speaker: Shaili Bhandari

Shaili Bhandari is a seasoned law professional with over 15 years of experience across multiple industries. She currently serves as the Head of Legal at Everest Group.

Her dynamic career began in the Delhi High Court and includes experience with international law firms like Clifford Chance, as well as in-house roles at top corporates like ExxonMobil, American Express, and EY. As a cross-functional expert, her specialties include global commercial contracting, data privacy, and security. She has led the privacy function globally, defining and driving global privacy strategies.

Key Insights from the Conversation

How did you get into the field of law?

Shaili calls herself an "accidental lawyer." Hailing from a family of professors in Bihar, she was "instilled deep" with the idea that she had to "go for PCS exams or UPSC exams and become an IAS officer."

Law was her "Plan B." However, once she entered law school, the "dimensions opened." She recalls, "I had never taken civics so seriously before I got the hands on... Constitution of India." She "started liking the subjects," and by the first semester, she had "frankly ditched UPSC" to focus seriously on law.

Can you share your journey as a legal professional?

Shaili feels "very fortunate" about her journey. She has gained experience from nearly every angle of the profession: international and domestic law firms, civil and corporate litigation, and in-house roles at top-tier companies like American Express, EY, and now Everest Group.

"The best part of my journey has been people," she states. "More than the books can teach you is... the people you work with can teach you."

What drives your passion and motivates you?

"It's every day you have... new challenges on your desk," she explains. "It's a new adventure." She thrives on the fact that her role is not predictable and enjoys tackling the novel issues that are "thrown in front of me every day."

How do you tackle the initial 90 days in a new role?

"I think first 30 days are more crucial than the 90 days," Shaili says. She compares it to being a fresher in a new school. In a legal team, you are "at your best," but you're also joining a team that is "already so much overburdened... they were waiting for you." The initial period is about integrating quickly and starting to add value.

What challenges did you face? How did you overcome them?

The primary challenge for in-house counsel is often "interdepartmental." She notes that for many organizations, "revenue... weighs more... than compliance." Compliance often falls to the "last three or four" on a list of 10 high-priority items.

This creates a challenge when, for example, a high-revenue deal also carries significant legal risk. The business side may want to push forward, seeing the risk as "foreseeable but... not happening." The challenge for counsel is that "we are not the decision makers," and you must navigate this by influencing and advising, rather than just approving or denying.

How do you effectively negotiate a contract?

Shaili finds that "contracting... becomes complex if it is multiple jurisdiction[s]." When negotiating international contracts, you must "learn about the international law, there's no other way." This includes understanding how different legal systems interpret key clauses like limitation of liability and indemnity.

She gives the example of data privacy, which is taken "very lightly" in India compared to Europe, where even sharing a phone number can be a breach. A key challenge is agreeing to a foreign governing law and not knowing if your "activities are aligned with that particular jurisdiction's... law." A seasoned counsel who has "faced these challenges" knows the risks, while a new lawyer might not see them.

What are your views on data privacy? How to mitigate risk?

Data privacy is a "very, very core competency" that requires a deep "investment [of] time in learning." Shaili emphasizes that it's a "very good marriage of law and technology." A privacy counsel cannot just know the law; they must also "learn the technology."

She points to the concept of "privacy by design," which requires lawyers to understand the technology well enough to "assess whether a technology has this or not." She concludes, "I don't think there has been any shortcuts with regard to privacy."

How did you adapt to different technologies as a lawyer?

Technology is crucial, and Shaili identifies Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) as "the most helpful tool for a corporate lawyer." She argues that "a company who doesn't have CLM has so much administrative work," often requiring dedicated resources for manual tasks.

She's used CLM and finds it "saves a lot of time." The only challenge she sees is ensuring the provider is "updated with the security requirements."

How do you view the role of AI in the legal sector?

"I use it," Shaili confirms, and she does not see it as a "threat to lawyers as such." She views it as a "very good assistant." She notes that while AI can help with tasks like contract review, "a lawyer's work is very nuanced."

"Judgments, the experience that you give to a client by... humanly talking... cannot be replaced with AI." She believes AI might impact "very junior level roles," but the core functions of a lawyer are safe.

What advice would you give to the young lawyers?

For young lawyers looking for a corporate career, Shaili advises they should be prepared for:

1. Diligence and Commitment.

2. Continuous Learning: "Be ready to continuously learn and improve."

3. Tech-Savviness: "Be updated with the latest technology," because corporates are always adopting new tools.

4. Be a "Jack of All Trades": "Don't say no to anything." She recalls thinking she'd never need Excel, but "eventually I learned Excel."

What advice would you give to parents considering a career in law for their children?

"I would say to all parents that law is one of the noble professions in India for sure." She notes that it has "gone international," offering global opportunities. More than that, she feels it gives professionals a "very good growth trajectory" and a "level of maturity to see the world [that] is very different." She believes it's "very important" for the cultural changes India needs that "more and more... kids should move to learning law."

Rapid Fire Round

In a quick-fire round, Shaili shared her immediate thoughts. The word "contracts" brings "new relationship" to mind, and her favorite legal phrase is "diligence." The biggest myth about in-house lawyers? "That we don't know law." The one skill law school doesn't teach is "interpersonal skill." The best advice she's ever received is "if you upgrade your skills, money will run after you, so don't run after money." She believes "work ethics" are the most important value a lawyer should have, as their work is so time-sensitive. She manages stress by taking a pause and watching "something which is not serious" and prefers "boardroom strategy" over courtroom drama. Her success mantra? "Keep learning every day, like a student."

About The Counsel's Code

"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.