CEO Insights Magazine

In any firm, the Chief Legal Officer holds a pivotal role, ensuring adherence to legal regulations and mitigating risks. They safeguard the organization's interests while navigating complex legal landscapes. One such adept professional is Kunal Sachdev, Head of Legal, Risk, and Compliance at Lightnet Group. Kunal's journey exemplifies the importance of legal expertise in today's dynamic business environment. Initially aspiring to pursue other professions, Kunal's trajectory shifted towards law after encountering the profound impact of legal documents on commerce during his studies at the University of Adelaide. His fascination with banking and finance law propelled him through diverse projects, deepening his understanding of global regulatory frameworks. Joining regional law firm DFDL further honed his skills, illuminating the nuances of banking systems across multiple countries. Kunal's journey highlights the indispensable role of legal professionals in shaping organizational success amidst evolving regulatory landscapes. Let's hear more from him in this one on one interaction. 

Please discuss your proficiency in advising organizations on policy adjustments and how your past experiences are leveraged to deliver tangible value to the business.

Organizational policies are often generic templates sourced from law firms or crafted by specialized departments. They may lack tailored solutions for internal controls, complicating comprehension and implementation with dense legalese. One-size-fitsall policies designed for larger firms can overwhelm smaller ones. Simplification is key. Ask: Is this policy effectively written and easily implementable? Would an intern grasp its significance and impact? Does it burden employees administratively? Lengthy policies, especially in multilingual environments, risk being overlooked. Critical policies like data protection and anti-bribery necessitate more than dissemination; they demand a corporate culture rooted in legal compliance. Annual training sessions with quizzes reinforce the importance of these issues for both organizational integrity and business continuity.

How do you share your expertise to empower your team to reach their fullest potential, and what measures do you take to ensure equitable workflow and progress across all projects?

In my role as Group Head of Legal and Compliance at my current company, overseeing the largest team comprising around 16 individuals globally, mentoring and developing their skills is a significant aspect of my responsibility. Conducting one-to-one sessions with each team member, I've found that empowering them with freedom is crucial. This means avoiding micromanagement and fostering a supportive environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth. During their initial 4-8 weeks of employment, I provide hands-on guidance, ensuring their drafting and review standards align with expectations. Effective project management is essential for managing such a large team. We utilize ASANA, an automated workflow tool, streamlining tasks from various departments. Each team member has the autonomy to choose tasks, ensuring a balanced workload. Monitoring task allocation enables me to intervene if any member is overwhelmed, redistributing tasks as needed to maintain equitable workflow and progress.

When faced with legal challenges within an organization, what strategies would you devise to strengthen its legal defense?

Transitioning into a role previously held by another individual entails inheriting pending or existing issues, along with defenses and safeguards not of your design. It's crucial to mitigate legacy risks while pinpointing vulnerabilities through a comprehensive audit encompassing policies, employment agreements, settlements, ongoing cases, regulator interactions, and the organization's overall legal and compliance approach. Addressing immediate concerns first, such as quick-fix changes, fortifies initial defensive measures. Subsequently, categorizing issues by short, medium, and longterm resolution timelines facilitates prioritization. One-on-one sessions with team members aid in identifying their specific legal interests, allowing for tailored project assignments that align with their career development goals, fostering motivation and creativity under supervision.

Share your leadership style with us. What principles or methodologies guide your approach as a leader?

Leadership encompasses diverse approaches aimed at advancing work and fostering team morale. In the legal and compliance domain, trust emerges as the linchpin of effective leadership. It operates in a reciprocal manner - I entrust my team, and in turn, they place their trust in me. While performance metrics offer quantifiable measures, assessing organizational trust remains challenging. To nurture trust, I empower my team by nurturing their expertise and aligning tasks with their preferences in the payment sector. I afford my team with autonomy, enabling remote work where possible while ensuring timely deliverables. In my role as the Group Head of Legal and Compliance I am also always available to function as a support resource for any inquiries they find daunting. Reciprocally, my team's trust in me is bolstered by my availability for work-related queries, task assistance during heavy workloads, advocacy for their positions when challenged by other departments, presenting a unified front, and maintaining transparency regarding timelines, expectations, and discussions with senior management.

What is your future career destination, and what advice do you have for aspiring legal professionals seeking future opportunities?

The future for me is uncertain. Five years ago, I aimed for partnership at a law firm, but now, I see myself in the in-house community of a technology or fintech company, or perhaps leading my own law firm. I've realized that happiness in the legal field comes from working with the right people and organizations that prioritize mutual interests. As for advice, trust the process and focus on delivering exceptional work, even if it means specializing in a particular area for several years. Choose a specialty you're genuinely interested in, rather than pursuing what sounds impressive to others. 

Kunal Sachdev, Group Head - Legal & Compliance, Lightnet

Kunal, a seasoned legal and compliance expert, boasts over a decade of experience in navigating the financial and legal sectors. He has provided strategic counsel to global financial giants like IFC, Goldman Sachs, and Western Union, steering them through Southeast Asia's regulatory complexities. Recognized in Legal 500's GC Powerlist, he spearheaded Lightnet's legal and compliance efforts, establishing from scratch a comprehensive global compliance framework, overseeing a global portfolio and enhancing departmental productivity.