Our story starts with a realisation
The role of General Counsels is evolving and becoming increasingly significant in the context of business and economy. However, there is still an absence of recognition and regulation of the General Counsel profession in India, vis-à-vis the practice side of the legal profession.
To address this gap we formed a body, managed and spearheaded by General Counsels with a vision to:
- Create a distinct professional identity for General Counsels
- Institutionalise the in–house legal function as a separate specialised stream of legal practice.
Our Mission
01.
Serve as the leading voice and premier association for General Counsels in India.
02.
Advocate for the recognition of General Counsels’ professional contributions.
03.
Foster collaboration on common professional and business interests of General and In-house Counsels.
04.
Promote professional development through training and mentoring initiatives.
05.
Facilitate networking opportunities to strengthen the in-house legal community.
06.
Drive advocacy initiatives to support the evolving role of in-house counsel.
Our Goals
01.
Ensure recognition of the GC and in-house legal profession as a distinct and specialised profession at par with other legal practitioners in India. To this effect, GCAI will seek recognition of General Counsels under various laws and legislations in India, which will permit appearance, pleadings, and representations like those performed by an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961; a Chartered Accountant in practice under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949; a Company Secretary in practice under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980; and a Cost and Management Accountant in practice under The Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959.
02.
Ensure that GCs are allowed to appear as legal representatives of their employers in judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, as long as they possess the requisite qualifications.
03.
Develop a system of accreditation for recognition of GC services as outlined below:
a) Associate General Counsels – GCs having over 10 years of continuous work experience
b) Fellow General Counsels – GCs having over 15 years of continuous work experience
c) Senior General Counsels – GCs having over 20 years of continuous work experience
04.
Advance the highest ethical standards governing the practice of law in an organisation setting.
05.
Promote diversity and inclusion within the in-house legal community.
06.
Enhance awareness in the industry about the role and contributions of GCs
07.
Act as an influential body representing the interests of all GCs in India and make representations to the Central Government and State Governments on various proposed laws on behalf of various industry groups, including presentation of papers and views on important policy formulations on various legislations.
08.
Act as a common platform for all its members to share and disseminate knowledge. GCAI shall endeavour to create a knowledge bank with specific focus on impact of any change in law on the General Counsel’s office and changes in compliance requirements.
09.
Organise mentor-mentee programmes for younger members of the association on how to manage various aspects of their role including enhancing governance standards, compliances, and enforcement. Promote professional development through training sessions, networking opportunities and internships.
10.
Promote public and pro-bono service amongst members.
Our Goals
Ensure recognition of the GC and in-house legal profession as a distinct and specialised profession at par with other legal practitioners in India. To this effect, GCAI will seek recognition of General Counsels under various laws and legislations in India, which will permit appearance, pleadings, and representations like those performed by an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961; a Chartered Accountant in practice under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949; a Company Secretary in practice under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980; and a Cost and Management Accountant in practice under The Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959.
To strengthen the credibility of in-house legal professionals, GCAI aims to establish a structured accreditation system:
-
Associate General Counsels – 10+ years of experience
-
Fellow General Counsels – 15+ years
-
Senior General Counsels – 20+ years
This framework recognises expertise and fosters professional growth within the GC community.
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GCAI serves as an influential voice for General Counsels, representing their interests before the Central and State Governments. It actively contributes to policy discussions and legislative developments by submitting papers, viewpoints, and recommendations on proposed laws affecting the corporate legal landscape.
Through mentor-mentee programs, workshops, internships, and networking sessions, GCAI focuses on nurturing the next generation of legal leaders. It supports continuous learning and helps members manage key aspects of their roles, including governance, compliance, and enforcement.
GCAI is committed to upholding the highest ethical benchmarks in the practice of law within organisational settings, ensuring integrity, accountability, and professionalism among its members.
The association promotes a culture of diversity and inclusion across the in-house legal ecosystem, encouraging participation from professionals across all socio-economic backgrounds, regions, and genders to build a more representative legal community.
Our People
Independent Director, Legal/Corporate Consultant, Conflict Resolution, Arbitration, Mediation. Former General Counsel Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd
General Counsel, Sr Vice President Legal and Chief Compliance Officer – NEC Corporation
Our Partners
Dignitaries providing support to GCAI
Ranjan Gogoi
Hon'ble Mr. Justice
Arjan Kumar Sikri
Hon'ble Mr. Justice
CR Dua
Chairman, Dua Associates
Lalit Bhasin
President, Society of Indian
Law Firms (SILF)
Deepak Kapoor
Founder & CEO, Manupatra
Aman Abbas
Founder, LawWiser
Surya Prakash B S
Programme Director
DAKSH
Vidhi Madaan Chadha
Associate Professor, Dr. B R Ambedkar NLU Sonepat
Harish Narasappa
Co-Founder, DAKSH
Ritvik Lukose
Co-Founder & CEO, Vahura
Mahesh Agarwal
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Shubhashis Gangopadhyay
Dean, Indian School of Public Policy
Sajan Poovayya
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Gourab Banerjee
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Gaurav Dani
Founding Partner, IndusLaw
Mahaveer Singhvi
Jt. Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs
Suneeth Katarki
Founding Partner, IndusLaw
Basava Prabhu Patil
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Lavanya Behl
Co-Founder, LawWiser
Sukumar Pattjoshi
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Prof (Dr) Sudhir Krishnaswamy
Vice-Chancellor, NLSIU, Bengaluru
Milestones
December 16, 2021
GCAI launched its website www.gcai.in
August 10, 2021
GCAI launched its LinkedIn page has over 3600+ followers and counting
March 05, 2021
Launch of GCAI in Delhi in the presence of Hon'ble Retd. Justice Ranjan Gogoi