ETLegalWorld hosted the 3rd edition of The Economic Times Global Legal Awards 2025-26 on 14th March 2026 at Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai, uniting law firms, in-house legal teams and legal innovators. The event celebrated innovation and excellence, highlighting those who reshaped law through technology, sustainability, deal-making and governance.
The awards featured a rigorous, transparent, jury-led evaluation that recognised transformative work in legal strategies, compliance, and AI-driven efficiency. It served as a key platform for knowledge exchange and networking among general counsels, managing partners, legal tech leaders, policymakers and thought leaders.
The ET Legal team initiated the call for nominations. Submissions were then handed over to our knowledge partner Ernst & Young (EY) for a rigorous check. Once qualified, the entries were shared with the jury for deliberations.
The Grand Jury comprised Justice Dipak Misra (former Chief Justice of India), Justice Uday Umesh Lalit (former Chief Justice of India), Dev Bajpai (Advisor, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) Formerly, Whole Time Director Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)), Justice B. N. Srikrishna (Former Judge of Supreme Court), Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri (Former Judge of Supreme Court), Justice S. L. Bhayana (former Delhi High Court judge) and Dr. Pinky Anand (Former Additional Solicitor General at the Supreme Court of India).
The Jury included Amar Gupta (Joint Managing Director, JSA Advocates & Solicitors), senior advocates Amit Desai and Zal Andhyarujina (Bombay High Court), Aditya Sondhi (Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India), Darius Khambata SC (Senior Advocate, Bombay High Court), Abhimanyu Bhandari (Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India), Pratap Venogopal (Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India), Karuna Nundy (Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India), Rajeev Uberoi (Former General Counsel and Group Head Legal & Compliance IDFC), Lalit Bhasin (Chairman, SILF), Dr. Raghavender GR (Senior Consultant IPR Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) and Dr. Amar Pattnaik (Lawyer and Former Member of Parliament).
- In-House Legal Team of the Year – BFSI (Insurance): Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited.
- Tourism & Hospitality: The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL).
- Artificial Intelligence (AI Services & Solutions): Wipro Limited.
- Energy: Suzlon Energy Limited.
- BFSI (Consulting, Research, Ratings, Data Analytics): CRISIL Limited.
- E-Commerce: Rapido.
- Real Estate: DLF Home Developers Limited.
- BFSI (Banks): Axis Bank Limited.
- Automobile & Auto Components: Samvardhana Motherson International Limited.
- ESG & Sustainability Solutions Providers: Lenovo India Pvt. Ltd.
- BFSI (NBFCs): Aadhar Housing Finance Limited.
- Information Technology & Telecom: HCL Technologies Limited.
- Information Technology & Telecom (International): Tata Communications Limited.
- Co-working & Shared Spaces: WeWork India Management Ltd.
- Pharma: Ajanta Pharma Limited.
Law Firm Practice Areas
- Excellence in Capital Markets: JSA Advocates and Solicitors.
- Shipping & Maritime Law: Bose Mitra & Co.
- Arbitration and Dispute Resolution: S&A Law Offices.
- Deal Advisory: ThinkLaw Advocates.
- Employment: BCP Associates LLP.
- Insolvency & Restructuring: RRG Associates.
- Mergers & Acquisitions: JSA Advocates and Solicitors.
- Real Estate: CNS Juris.
- Banking & Finance: JSA Advocates and Solicitors.
- Tax: Reina Legal LLP.
- Antitrust & Competition: JSA Advocates and Solicitors.
Individual Awards
- Gen AI Legal Tech Entrepreneur: Sandeep K. Rajput, IIFL Finance Limited.
- General Counsel (Above 40): Jatin Jalundhwala, Adani Enterprises.
- General Counsel (International): Troy D. Reynolds, Tata Communications.
- Rising Star – Law Firm: Utkarsh Kumar, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
- Rising Star – In-house: Swastica Goswami, Rimini Street India.
- Legal Academician: Dr. Gagandeep Kaur, UPES.
- Managing Partner – Female: Poornima Ranganath, Law Assist.
- Managing Partner – Male: Ravi Singhania, Singhania & Partners LLP.
- Corporate Lawyer (Above 40): Kartik Jain, JSA Advocates and Solicitors.
- Corporate Lawyer (International): Biswajit Chatterjee, Hogan Lovells.
- Excellence in IPR – Individual: Safir Anand, Anand and Anand.
- Excellence in Litigation – Individual: Vijay K. Singh, SA Law Offices.
- Excellence in Tax – Individual: Bhupender Singh, Artham Law Chambers.
Special Awards
- Law Firm of the Year: Trilegal.
- International Law Firm (India Practice): Hogan Lovells.
- Boutique Law Firm: ElpeeCo.
- Regional – Mumbai: Rajani Associates
- Hyderabad: TLH Advocates & Solicitors
- Delhi: Amicus Legal
- Calcutta: MCO Legals
- Bengaluru: Law Assist.
- Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession & Rule of Law: Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India.
- Lifetime Achievement: Zia Mody, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of AZB & Partners.
The award winners were felicitated by Dr. Lalit Bhasin, Justice A.K. Sikri, Justice B.N. Srikrishna and Zal Andhyarujina and Darius Khambata.
