The role played by General Counsels within companies has evolved drastically. Having shifted to an increasingly strategic role in the executive suite in India, GCs today not only act as functional experts but also as business partners to the CEO and board. An up and coming GC in the Indian landscape is Suhani Singh. Having started her legal career at Ernst & Young as a legal associate, she has successfully worked her way up since then, gaining expertise and experience in private equity and domestic law firms.

Suhani joined logistics firm, Delhivery as a General Councilor in 2015. Since joining the company, she has been credited with supporting company’s growth. Under her leadership, the company has rebooted its post-Covid strategies and delivery networks. She provides advice to the company on commercial contracts, employment concerns, legal strategy, internal investigations, regulatory issues, and complex negotiations.

An excellent team leader, Suhani’s inherent desire to solve problems allows her to identify proactive solutions to mitigate risks and improve the company's business. She was also named in the Legal 500's 'GC Powerlist 2018' list of India's top 100 inhouse lawyers.

The Women Entrepreneur Team got an opportunity to have a conversation with Suhani and learn about the role she plays within the company, her expertise and the experience that she brings on to the table.

Introduce us to Delhivery. What are some important features about your expertise as a legal professional?

Delhivery is India's largest and fastest-growing fully-integrated logistics services player. The company provides a full suite of logistics services such as express parcel transportation, PTL, and TL freight, cross-border, supply chain, and technology services.

I believe I work well as a team player with an inherent desire to solve difficult problems with large scale impact. I work with challenge conventional thinking, open and collaborative platform approach, and create a meritorious environment with a broad sense of ownership while ensuring ethical practises which also resonates with the ethos of our company.

I am a problem solver and do so by collaborating with multiple teams and my peers. I aim for perfection in every task undertaken towards achieving the common goals of Delhivery. I have an innate ability to identify proactive solutions to eliminate and/or mitigate risks and advance the business of the Company and ensure attention to detail and research.

Take us through your early educational journey and prior industry experience. What motivated you to venture into the realm of law?

My schooling was entirely in Dehradun. I completed my law degree from Symbiosis Law School, Pune and joined AZB & Partners, New Delhi. While legal and commercial teams often have conflicting views, however, with reasoning, logic and legal strategy we work towards the interest of the company keeping in mind the commercial requirements of the company yet being legally sound.

Among many reasons, having some fine role models in the field of law motivated me the most. I was so much interested in Political Science and it seemed to fit well with my career choice and luckily once I started practising law I realised how much I enjoyed it.

“Though technology is doing wonders in legal landscape, i still believe technology cannot replace human thinking and risk mitigation”

How has the legal advisory landscape evolved in India recently? What are the various roles and responsibilities that you currently shoulder at Delhivery?

GCs are increasingly playing a strategic role in the executive suite in India, not only as functional experts but also as business partners to the CEO and board. This expanding role is common in technology companies and startups, where a still-developing legal landscape is trying to keep up with non-conventional means of doing business.

As the GC of Delhivery, I look into every aspect of commercial-legal matters including analysing complex corporate transactions, private equity deals, M/A deals, reviewing contracts, dispute management, establishing smooth functioning and better management, streamlining & standardisation of processes, effective utilisation of time & resources & focus and discipline towards achieving the set targets. My role essentially involves collaborating closely with different departments/ teams to ensure compliance and reduced legal liability in every department by setting practical SOP's and legal strategy in place. As in-house counsel, our role is not limited to look into the legal aspects of transactions only; it is a combination of commercial-legal law.

What have been some of the most significant milestones that Delhivery has achievements under your leadership?

The handling of the pandemic from a legal and business perspective is one of the significant milestones I would like to emphasize on. The fundamental shift we saw is that there was an increased demand for hyperlocal delivery, which has now become an essential part of our business and lives of the common man. Post covid we rebooted our strategy and delivery network to cater to the essential retailers and manufactures especially in FMCG and pharmacy segments. Apart from the business structuring we ensured no layoffs and at the same time formulated policies to help our off role and on role employees tide through the tough times.

The legal team has helped the company set up standardised contracts, impart regular training for various departments and keep them updated with strategy and commercial legal requirements. We ensure smooth functioning and better management, streamlining & standardisation of processes, effective utilisation of time & resources, focus and discipline towards achieving the targets. We align these with the very fundamentals and ethos of the company.

How do you keep yourself up-to-date with the periodic evolutions occurring in the industry and the tech world? What would you advice women aspiring to become business leaders or entrepreneurs?

Though technology is doing wonders in the legal landscape, I still believe technology cannot replace human thinking and risk mitigation. I ensure to use technology to the extent required and where the risk liability is low. The pandemic has also increased the dependency of technology on our systems. I keep myself updated and ensure where possible will incorporate such tech additions in to our systems.

To all the women out there, don't shy away from responsibility and liability. Goal is to collaborate in order to safeguard the company's commercial & other interests at large. Keep in mind the cultural ethos of your brand. Challenge conventional thinking. Adopt an open and collaborative platform approach.

Suhani Singh, General Counsel, Delhivery

Suhani has been credited with supporting company’s growth. She provides advice to the Company on commercial contracts, employment concerns, legal strategy, internal investigations, regulatory issues, and complex negotiations.