Akhilesh Kumar Mishra, Head of Legal, Ramky Infrastructure

Due to the pragmatic developments brought about by technological advancements, evolving customer expectations, and shifting market dynamics across various industries, organizations now face a crucial need to align their business conduct with significant compliance and regulatory standards to ensure smooth functioning.

In this context, legal services play a crucial role in managing business effectively by adhering to compliance, mitigating risks, and achieving organizational objectives. Legal services are essential for navigating legal complexities, ranging from company formation to dispute resolution. Here, legal heads and advisors play a key role in assisting companies in overcoming business challenges.

Akhilesh Kumar Mishra, Head of Legal at Ramky Infrastructure, is one such leader who excels in providing comprehensive legal services to the company, facilitating end-to-end business operations, and establishing an effective legal framework.

Following three years of legal practice in both the district court and the High Courtat Delhi, he transitioned into the corporate sector, where he has held esteemed leadership roles in several prominent organizations, including Paras Buildtech, Purearth Infrastructure, Viridian Red Group, and Inox Wind. However, his initial foray into the corporate realm was with a real estate firm known as Central Himalayan.

Ramky Infrastructure is a prominent and well-respected leader in infrastructural development, and the Ramky Group is actively involved in different business diversification such as Environmental & Waste Management, Water management, Pharma & Life Sciences, Real Estate, including other sectors through its group companies. Overall, the company, with its presence in nearly 25 states across PAN-India, is also expanding its operations internationally to strengthen its footprint in international markets.

As the future development of the nation hinges on improving its basic infrastructure facilities, the infrastructure development industry is expected to experience a huge growth in the coming years. In respect to this, he states, “Ramky Infrastructure is a leading infrastructure company in the country, known for its strong internal culture and ethical practices.

Founded in 1994, Ramky Infrastructure has grown from humble beginnings to a thriving company with a turnover of of around 4,000 crores and thousands of employees. Our focus on ethical principles and a strong culture means that complaints are rare, and we aim to be among the top ten infrastructure companies in the country while tripling our turnover in the next five to ten years”. 

A seasonal legal expert with over 22 years of experience in heading the corporate legal services realm, General Counsel and mentoring aspiring or upcoming legal professionals

Effective Approach to Legal Challenges

Amidst the progressing globalization, as the demand for legal professionals has significantly increased due to the growing complexity of litigation, compliance, and contracts, Akhilesh is involved in leading end-to-end business strategies at Ramky Infrastructure. Being in the infrastructure sector, when a government tender is issued, he looks into reviewing the documents to ensure the terms align with the company’s policies and prevent unforeseen legal troubles after bid submission.

Once a bid is awarded, he oversees compliance with contractual obligations and other legal aspects coming in between. He even advises various departments, including business and finance and develops strategies to avoid legal complications. Additionally, he does manage litigation and general contracts, plan the legal strategies, coordinates with external counsel at PAN India level, reviews the pleadings, and ensures the timely filing of necessary documents in court. 

At Ramky Infrastructure, the legal department is a dynamic powerhouse, expertly led by Akhilesh and a talented team of dedicated legal professionals. They represent the company in court and collaborate with top external lawyers across India from the head office.

While external lawyers handle document preparation, in-house counsel ensures everything meets high standards before filing. The legal clerk manages the Management Information System, tracking cases and monitoring orders. This well-organized team enables Akhilesh to expertly navigate legal complexities at Ramky Infrastructure and its associate companies.  

Akhilesh handles various categories of cases at the company, including IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) cases, DRT (Debt Recovery Tribunal) cases, civil cases, and criminal cases, MSME cases, MACT cases, labor cases and arbitration cases etc.

For each type of case, he ensures to devise a specific plan while considering the cost of litigation and effective solution. “Managing the resources involved in following up on legal cases is crucial. This strategic approach allows us to determine the best course of action, based on careful review and assessment of the prevailing circumstances”, asserts Akhilesh.

Involving legal professionals in business at early stage is essential to avoid future complications and litigation. Many companies wait until after disputes arise, fearing legal concerns will hinder progress, but this approach can lead to significant issues later on. Akhilesh understands this and mentions, “We develop a strategy to review documents and identify weaknesses in the opposing party's position.

This helps us determine potential counterclaims or legal actions while covering all court levels for flexibility and settlement opportunities. For business proposals, we focus on legal implications, recommending modifications to reduce risks. We hold stakeholder calls to discuss future repercussions and provide briefings to the board, along with concise PowerPoint presentations that outline risks and necessary actions”.

Leadership in Corporate Team Management

Akhilesh believes that in-house legal counsels play a vital role in today's business landscape. Unlike external attorneys, they work exclusively for a single organization, providing dedicated legal expertise while maintaining a deep understanding of the company's operations, culture, and strategic objectives. The most effective in-house legal counsels have evolved beyond simply providing legal advice to becoming true business partners. They balance legal risk with business objectives, helping companies navigate complex legal environments while still achieving their strategic goals.

As the Head of Legal, Akhilesh is committed to ensuring every member of the legal department feels recognized and valued. He prioritizes mentoring each team member by assessing their strengths and creating tailored professional development plans. For instance, when a team member regularly attends court and manages around 20 cases each month, Akhilesh takes the time to meet with him afterward to discuss relevant legal points and applicable laws.

He patiently clears up any misunderstandings and prepares him for the next stages of the cases, encouraging thorough reading to identify potential weaknesses. Akhilesh realizes that in-house legal counsels and their valued team members serve as the first line of defense for any company, likening them to the Border Security Force, while external lawyers come in later as a secondary line of defense, supported by the expertise of the in-house team.

Akhilesh coordinates with external lawyers too, discussing their contacts and topics to better understand expectations, he ensures to provide valuable assistance to his colleagues. While reviewing and drafting documents, he identifies key issues in contracts, such as terms that may harm the company's interests, potential future complications, gaps between business needs and legal requirements, and alignment with company policy. Precisely, he views in-house legal counsels as facilitators of business progress, not obstacles.

Akhilesh’s leadership philosophy centers on uplifting individuals while respecting their professional needs, recognizing that this is crucial for fostering employee satisfaction. He is of the opinion that a lack of knowledge does not define someone's potential, instead, he strives to empower his teammates to learn and grow. By sharing significant judgments from the High Courts and Supreme Court that relate to their work, Akhilesh enriches the team's collective understanding and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. 

Background & Future Aspirations

Akhilesh grew up in Sugaon, a historic village in East Champaran, Bihar, known for its role in freedom struggles and the Satyagraha movements led by Mahatma Gandhi. Overcoming early challenges, he has established himself as a leader in the legal industry, holding a B.A. in History, an LL.B. from Delhi University's Campus Law Center, and an LL.M. in Business Law. In 2023, he was recognized as a Chief Legal Officer by CEO Insights magazine and featured in Lex Witness. Akhilesh frequently appears as a legal expert in the Hindi newspaper Navbharat Times too. He excels in chess and enjoys outdoor sports like cricket and volleyball.

Akhilesh not only had a good educational career but a professional one too, earning recognitions for his work. With accolades like the Best Achievers Award from Viridian Red Group, furthermore he aims for higher roles in legal leadership and aspires to empower his village through legal education and affordable services for the under privileged.

Advice to Aspiring Corporate Legal Counsels

In-house legal positions are increasingly attractive to attorneys seeking meaningful work, better work-life balance, and freedom from billable hour requirements. Securing these roles requires careful planning and skill development. Successful in-house lawyers see themselves as business partners with legal expertise, focusing on practical solutions that balance risk and reward. To stand out in a competitive market, attorneys should cultivate business acumen, industry knowledge, and practical legal skills. By following this approach and remaining flexible in their career journey, they can effectively transition to in-house legal counsel.