'Remote working is here to stay, requiring employment issues to be addressed differently.'—In Conversation with Suraj Singh, Head Legal, Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd
Suraj, at the very outset, many Congratulations on featuring in BW Legal World’s General Counsel 100 list for the year 2020.
I am happy and proud to have been featured in the BW Legal World’s General Counsel 100 list for its fairness and the way the entire award ceremony was conducted.
What do you attribute your success to? What would you say has helped you emerge as a top General Counsel in your industry?
I think ‘I was in the right place at the right time’. When I passed out of law school, there were hardly any in-house jobs but as the economy opened up and with MNCs setting up their offices in India, I could see the growth and demand for in-house counsels over the years. It was during this time that I moved from litigation to in-house roles, and it was a smooth climb thereafter. And if you are passionate about helping your clients in the business, coupled with a good understanding of the legal risks, you will emerge as a top GC naturally.
What advice would you have for others who want to set off in a similar direction?
Enjoy your work, be passionate about the law and remember that your paycheque comes from the business.
Would you please share with our readers the array of work you handle at your organization? What is your in-house team size, and would you please allow us a little peek into your routine at work?
I am a member of the senior leadership team and provide strategic legal advise on regulatory issues, employment, compliances, contracts, privacy etc. I am responsible for complete legal support to the Company, ranging from managing contentious matters, contractual arrangements to handling regulatory matters and advise on employment issues. My day is never the same though I spend the first hour catching up with my emails and planning my day. There are some easy days and some long days. but there’s never a dull day in a GCs life.
What have been your key learnings as the legal gatekeepers of your company from the year past and what are your predictions for the future?
The pandemic has thrown up a lot of legal issues that we never expected in the past. Remote working is here to stay, and the employment issues (working hours, discipline, harassment etc) arising in a different environment need to be addressed differently. The top management is now looking more towards legal advice on a host of issues, viz., whether we can ask employees to undergo covid testing, take vaccines, attend office etc. The role of in-house counsel is bound to rise in future, with so many changes in the years to come.
One significant legislation or decision of the top court that has been a welcome change or has been rather mistimed in your opinion.
There is definitely a need to revisit some of the legislation in view of the changes brought in by the pandemic. For eg., the mandatory requirement of a creche facility for every establishment employing 50 or more employees under the Maternity Benefit Amendment Act may not be relevant when the employees are working from home. Similar changes are necessary in the Labour Codes as well.
An experience, matter, or person that left a lasting impression on you.
My 2 years stint at JNU, Delhi, where we argued, debated, and dabbled with ideas and books, has left a lasting impression on me. I still recall those late-night discussions, candlelight processions against injustices around the world, and heated dialogues with faculty members and even politicians who came to our campus.
What keeps you busy when you’re not working? A favourite book or movie/series that you'd like to recommend to our readers.
I am catching up on my reading and watching movies, especially since I am not able to step out. I have been watching ‘House of Cards and other series on Netflix. I also signed up for remote 1:1 workout sessions and the best part is that I am able to have all my meals of the day with my family.
