In the business and legal environment, leaders face various challenges and opportunities that shape their careers. The journey to success is rarely straightforward; rather, it is a rich blend of experiences, skills, and insights that foster personal and professional growth. This is especially true for those in legal and compliance roles, where adaptability and strategic thinking are crucial.
Madan Mohan K.R., the Director of Legal and Compliance and Member of the Executive Board at Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions India, shares his perspective on his career journey. He reflects, “Looking back at my career, I see it as a vibrant rainbow, formed by the refraction and reflection of sunlight through raindrops or mist.”
With over 35 years’ experience across various sectors—including law firms, pharmaceuticals, real estate, manufacturing, construction, engineering consultancy, and the EPC sector, particularly in oil and gas—Madan has developed a unique skill set. His combination of a management degree and a law degree enhances his understanding of business and legal matters, which is essential for informed decision-making.
As Director of Legal and Compliance, Madan advises on strategies to ensure that business operations comply with laws and regulations. He aligns these strategies while adapting them to local legal requirements, serving as a vital link with the leadership team on legal, regulatory, and compliance matters.
A Journey from Law to Leadership
Madan Mohan’s journey has included challenges and triumphs, shaping him into the professional he is today. His interest in law began in the early 1980s when he had the opportunity to work with a notable barrister, a rare experience at that time. Since then, he has never looked back. Throughout his career, he has been fortunate to have outstanding mentors who were eager to teach him.
After a couple of years at a law firm, Madan moved into the corporate sector. He became the Deputy General Manager and Head of the Legal Department at a multinational company, where he was the youngest person to hold the HOD position. This role provided him with valuable experience in various industries, including construction. Pursuing an MBA and a Leadership Course was one of his best decisions, as these programs strengthened his resilience and enhanced his communication skills and thought processes through case study learning.
With his combined degrees in management and law, Madan has developed a strong understanding of business and compliance. This unique blend allows him to support decision-making and act as a business enabler alongside top managers. However, he acknowledges that gaining acceptance from business leaders can be challenging for legal professionals unless they communicate effectively and adapt business enabler approach.
Transforming the Legal Department into a Business Partner
Madan Mohan emphasizes that the role of the Legal Department in a corporation has strengthened beyond simply protecting the company from legal issues and ensuring compliance. He notes, “The Legal Department is no longer just a protective and compliance-focused department; it also acts as a strategic enabler of innovation and growth.”
To fulfill this broad role, the legal team must actively engage with business operations, assisting the company in acquiring and executing projects. This requires legal professionals to take on frontline management roles and represent the company to customers. While they often prefer systematic approaches to processes and compliance, their true strength lies in finding innovative solutions that support business initiatives while collaborating with sales teams.
Legal professionals must be viewed as business partners, not just legal representatives, when interacting with clients. This perspective adds value to the business and fosters a culture where the legal team is recognized as an important commercial contributor.
Madan underscores the need to position the legal department as a strategic enabler throughout all business operations, ensuring compliance with local laws related to bidding, contracting, and ESG requirements. Successfully navigating these complexities requires balanced contracts, experienced stakeholders, and a capable team to address challenges in pricing, delivery, schedules, and regulations.
Leading Legal and Compliance in Global Business
As the Director of Legal and Compliance and Member of the Executive Board, Madan Mohan understands that multinational organizations—whether based in India or abroad—benefit significantly from a strong ethical and compliance framework because of their operations in multiple countries. However, it poses a challenge for the General Counsel to ensure compliance with the laws of each country in which the organization operates. This compliance culture must also be embraced at the corporate level to follow established guidelines effectively.
By doing so, the organization can enhance its overall benchmarking, leading to numerous advantages. These include becoming a more ethical and compliant company, attracting top talent, securing cheaper financing from banks, obtaining better and more affordable insurance coverage, and significantly improving the company’s sustainability efforts.
Aligning the company’s business goals with the relevant legal frameworks is essential. The challenge lies in ensuring compliance with various legal requirements and reporting obligations specific to each country where the company operates. This task can be extremely complex, requiring local experts who understand the legal landscape and resources capable of navigating these regulations. Additionally, it is crucial to have equally competent professionals at headquarters who can manage, leverage, and oversee these activities effectively.
Insights on Future Legal and Compliance Issues
As Madan Mohan looks ahead to 2025, the year is going to be far more challenging than what we have seen in 2024 and 2025 till now. Current global political and economic instability presents significant challenges to business activities worldwide, potentially increasing costs and disrupting ongoing and planned projects. We will need to manage those challenges. Higher tariffs on many products could raise costs, potentially disrupting or halting several ongoing or newly contracted projects.
Besides these wider challenges, the legal and compliance teams are focusing on important strategic priorities. These include adapting to new reporting requirements, ensuring compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, and addressing data protection concerns. They must also manage the renegotiation of contracts and navigate situations involving force majeure, which can lead to legal complications, such as contract suspension or termination.
The legal department landscape is transforming because of the influence of artificial intelligence (AI). While AI brings advantages, it also raises questions about reliability and sustainability.
To meet these growing challenges and achieve the company’s objectives, the Legal Department must redefine its approach. By re-evaluating how problems are defined, the department can uncover solutions that may not be immediately apparent to others in the industry, a vital strategic shift for navigating the complexities ahead.
Creating a Culture of Compliance
Madan Mohan believes that a culture of compliance is primarily driven from the top. The leadership team’s tone and behavior set the standard for how employees think and act within the organization. Additionally, compliance culture is influenced by the societal norms and practices of the region. For instance, in many parts of the corporate world, practices like “gifting and freebies” are common while it can be perceived as a way to influence decisions. While these customs have historical roots, they can also lead to corruption if not managed carefully.
To cultivate a compliance-driven culture, it is essential to implement a comprehensive Code of Conduct (CoC). This code should address the unique challenges of having a multinational workforce operating in diverse geographical areas. It should include detailed guidelines on issues like anti-bribery, antitrust, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG).
Moreover, establishing a professional team dedicated to conducting regular awareness training programs is crucial. This team should also monitor and ensure the effective implementation of the codes and guidelines. By fostering an environment where compliance is prioritized and understood, organizations can create a culture that adheres to legal standards and promotes ethical behavior among all employees.
Trends Shaping the Legal and Regulatory Landscape in 2025 and Beyond
- Increased Focus on Ethics and Compliance
- Adapting to rapid Regulatory Changes
- Challenges in AwarenessNeed for Regular Updates
- Robust Training Protocols
- Effective Tracking Systems
As the business landscape develops, it is clear that ethics and compliance will become increasingly important in the coming years. One of the major challenges facing organizations will be keeping the implementation teams of various business verticals informed about regulatory changes within the industry. These changes are occurring rapidly, and any training, monitoring, and control measures must be regularly updated to accommodate these developments. These changes can stem from various factors, including technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, and emerging risks. Navigating this dynamic environment requires proactive strategies and tools for staying informed and compliant.
To effectively manage these challenges, organizations need to establish a robust training protocol that ensures implementation teams thoroughly understand the processes they must follow to comply with regulatory requirements. While systems or tools can help track compliance, it is essential to focus on how these activities are carried out in both the letter and spirit.
Building a Strong Legal Team Through Strategic Leadership
Madan describes his leadership style as a blend of strategic and transformational approaches. He develops strategies that align with the long-term and short-term goals of the company’s vision. However, when the necessary resources are unavailable within the team, it becomes essential to transform the team to ensure successful execution.
For instance, Madan Mohan has set a dual goal for the Legal Department: “Ensure no new legal cases or litigation” while also striving to “Achieve a zero litigation status for the company.” These goals require distinct skill sets. The team focused on preventing new litigation must excel in contracting, negotiation, and communication, while the litigation team needs expertise in navigating courts and legal disputes. Madan Mohan’s leadership is crucial in driving these outcomes.
Another example of his leadership is the creation of an Entity Risk Map and a Corruption Risk Map. He, in the past, taken this initiative by identifying risks, implementing mitigation measures, and monitoring their execution. The aim is to establish a governance system respected by banks, financial institutions, and government bodies, which helps to reduce corruption risks and strengthen the company’s sustainability and credit rating.
Analyzing the corruption risk map involves identifying weaknesses, proposing mitigation strategies, and developing awareness programs, making it vital to create a tailored analysis methodology for the business’s specific needs.
Open Letter for Legal Professionals and Compliance Leaders
Dear Future Legal Professionals and Compliance Leaders,
As you embark on your journey in the legal and compliance fields, I would like to offer you some key advice that can help shape your career.
First and foremost, focus on building your knowledge base. Stay ahead of trends and be open to change. While having a strong understanding of the law is essential, it is equally important to master the fundamentals of business. A lawyer or business professional who can effectively navigate the intersection of law and business will be in the best position to succeed.
By understanding both the law and the business you can take a more comprehensive approach to problem-solving, make informed decisions, and ultimately achieve your business goals.
Adapting to and aligning with the business environment is crucial for your success.
Sincerely,
Madan Mohan K.R.
5 Key Takeaways from Mr.Madan Mohan’s Journey in Legal Industry
- Legal and compliance roles are becoming strategic: Madan’s journey shows how legal and compliance professionals are no longer just about mitigating problems. They are now important partners who help businesses grow and succeed by finding creative solutions and ensuring ethical practices.
- Understanding business is crucial for legal success: Having both legal and business knowledge, like Madan, with his law and management degrees, gives law professionals a distinct advantage. It helps them to make better decisions and communicate more effectively like business leaders.
- Overcoming challenges builds strong leadership: Madan Mohan’s experience highlights how facing tough situations and finding solutions strengthens leadership skills and builds confidence not only within the legal team but also at the management level.
- A strong ethical culture starts at the top: Creating a company where everyone follows the rules and acts ethically begins with the leaders. Their actions and words set the tone for the entire organization. Clear guidelines and regular training are also essential for building this culture.
- The legal field is constantly changing: Looking ahead, legal and compliance teams need to be ready for new challenges like global instability, changing regulations, and the rise of AI. They need to be adaptable and find new ways to approach problems to help their companies succeed.
