Boardroom accountability, cross-border investigations, AI-enabled fraud, sanctions compliance and corporate crisis preparedness dominated discussions at the 2nd Edition of the India White Collar Crime Forum, organised by ETLegalWorld in Mumbai on July 3.
The 2nd Edition of the India White Collar Crime Forum was supported by the General Counsel Association of India (GCAI), with MZM Legal LLP, White & Brief Advocates & Solicitors, JS Held, MZM Analytics, Kroll, Trilegal, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., Agarwal Law Associates, Clyde & Co, Dow Jones, Kochhar & Co. Advocates & Legal Consultants, and JSA Advocates & Solicitors as supporting partners.
The day-long forum brought together leading general counsel, chief compliance officers, law firm partners, regulators, forensic specialists and risk professionals to examine how businesses can respond to an increasingly complex enforcement environment.
Moving beyond traditional compliance conversations, the forum focused on how organisations can prepare for real-time investigations, strengthen governance frameworks and build resilient legal and compliance functions amid rising regulatory scrutiny and technology-driven risks.
Setting the tone for the forum, Brijesh Singh IPS, Principal Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, cautioned that compliance gaps are increasingly exposing Indian companies to cross-border regulatory scrutiny and “jurisdictional overreach.”
He said governance can no longer be viewed merely as a domestic compliance obligation, as enforcement agencies across jurisdictions are increasingly leveraging data analytics, digital forensics and AI-driven investigative tools to detect complex financial crimes.
Singh urged businesses to move beyond checklist-driven compliance and invest in preventive governance, stronger internal controls and forensic preparedness to mitigate both regulatory and reputational risks.
Delivering the keynote address, Justice Abhay Thipsay, Retired Judge of the Bombay High Court and Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, reflected on the evolution of corporate criminal liability and underscored the need for a balanced legal framework that punishes wrongdoing without discouraging legitimate business activity.
He stressed that criminal liability should be based on demonstrable involvement and intent rather than designation alone, while calling for stronger compliance systems, independent oversight and sound governance practices that can withstand regulatory scrutiny.
Justice Thipsay noted that effective enforcement should distinguish between wilful misconduct and bona fide business decisions, ensuring that honest enterprises are protected while corporate misconduct is dealt with firmly.
Another key highlight was a fireside conversation featuring Senior Advocate Amit Desai, who stressed that the strongest defence against regulatory investigations begins long before an enforcement notice arrives.
In conversation with Chitra Rentala, Partner at Trilegal, Desai called on companies to institutionalise robust compliance systems, conduct regular internal training, establish dawn-raid protocols and empower in-house legal teams to respond effectively during regulatory action.
He observed that investigative agencies have become increasingly sophisticated, making preparedness—not reactive litigation—the cornerstone of effective defence.
The programme featured keynote addresses, special sessions and multiple panel discussions covering corporate fraud investigations, boardroom accountability, AI-powered financial crime, sanctions and export controls, cross-border enforcement, digital evidence, litigation strategy and the evolving role of general counsel and compliance leaders.
A recurring theme across sessions was the transformation of legal and compliance functions from advisory roles to strategic partners in enterprise risk management.
Discussions also underscored the growing convergence of law, technology and geopolitics. Panelists examined how AI-generated evidence, digital fraud, supply-chain vulnerabilities and cross-border investigations are reshaping enforcement strategies, requiring organisations to strengthen internal controls, whistleblower mechanisms, forensic capabilities and governance frameworks.
The forum concluded with a clear message that combating white-collar crime requires a proactive, multidisciplinary approach that combines legal expertise, technology, governance and crisis preparedness.
As enforcement agencies become faster and more sophisticated, organisations must move beyond compliance checklists and build resilient governance structures capable of preventing, detecting and responding to emerging threats before they escalate.
