“On a more human level, it’s refreshing to connect with people who genuinely understand the pressures and nuances of the GC role.”

An interview with Nitin Mittal, General Counsel – India Sub/Pacific Region and Company Secretary at Signify in India. 

How would you describe the state of the GC Community in your region? How has it changed since you first moved in-house?  

When I first moved in-house, the General Counsel community felt quite fragmented – there were great people doing great work, but everyone was operating in their own silos. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed completely. The GC community is far more organised, connected, and influential than it used to be.

We now have several strong platforms like GCIA, ICCA, FICL, and ACOS, which have become the backbone of this transformation. These organisations don’t just organise events or publish thought pieces; they serve as a collective voice for in-house counsel. They’re the bridge between GCs and policymakers, ensuring that our perspective as business enablers , not just legal advisors , is heard and considered.

One of the best examples of this evolution is the ongoing dialogue around legal privilege for in-house counsel. A decade ago, this might have been a quiet concern discussed within legal departments. Today, it’s a national conversation, with GC communities engaging directly with government bodies and even taking matters to court. That kind of advocacy and collaboration simply didn’t exist before. It’s a sign of maturity  we’ve moved from being participants to being shapers of the legal ecosystem. 

Why is expanding your network important to you? What kinds of connections or discussions would be most valuable to you?

For a General Counsel, having a strong and diverse network isn’t a luxury, it’s almost a survival skill. We operate at the intersection of law, business, and strategy, and every decision we make carries weight. Having trusted peers you can call, bounce ideas off, or seek perspective from makes a world of difference.

Often, the issues we deal with are complex – a merger in an unfamiliar jurisdiction, a tricky compliance risk, a sudden litigation crisis – and in those moments, your network becomes your think tank. Knowing who has faced a similar situation and learning how they approached it helps you make faster, more informed, and more confident decisions.

Beyond problem-solving, networking is also about staying current and inspired. The legal world is evolving rapidly – whether it’s new regulatory frameworks, ESG expectations, AI compliance, or digital contracting. Talking to peers helps you understand how others are adapting and innovating. And on a more human level, it’s refreshing to connect with people who genuinely understand the pressures and nuances of the GC role.

At the end of the day, we’re all trying to avoid reinventing the wheel – and networking ensures we learn from each other’s journeys rather than starting from scratch every time.

What do you want to achieve by collaborating with other GCs and senior in-house lawyers? Are there specific topics, challenges, or experiences you’d like to share or learn more about? 

Collaboration among GCs has become one of the most valuable aspects of being part of this community. I’ve come to realise that almost every challenge you face as an in-house lawyer , whether it’s navigating a new regulation, setting up a compliance framework, corporate re-organisation, digitalisation or dealing with talent retention, has already been faced (and often solved) by someone else.

By staying connected, we can learn what works, what doesn’t, and why. It saves time, reduces risk, and helps us all operate more strategically. I also think collaboration goes beyond sharing technical know-how; it’s about understanding broader shifts. For instance, how different companies are approaching data privacy, ESG, or cross-border transactions in an increasingly regulated world.

What excites me most is that collaboration today is more open and honest than before. GC forums have become spaces where people share real stories, challenges, and lessons , not just polished success narratives. That’s what makes the exchange valuable.

And of course, there’s another layer to it – talent. Collaborating with other GCs helps you benchmark your team structures, understand what makes certain organisations magnets for legal talent, and explore ways to keep your own team motivated and future-ready.

Ultimately, I see this growing GC network as a community of practice – one that thrives on collective learning, mutual support, and a shared belief that together, we can elevate the in-house profession to a whole new level.