Leaders

In today's fast-paced business world involving detailed and complex corporate issues, the importance of the legal sector cannot be overstated. Corporate law, in particular, has gained significant prominence as business entities continue to grow and diversify across various sectors. Corporate lawyers have become indispensable partners, guiding organizations through the complexities of legal intricacies. One such notable legal partner is Rakshika Kaul Padora, who heads the legal department at Ampln Energy Transition. Armed with a bachelor's degree in law from Delhi Law University and boasting over 13+ years of experience in the legal sector, Rakshika’s expertise illustrates the pivotal impact of adept legal professionals on businesses.

Her strategic insights not only ensures that the business of Ampln grows, but also that the operations are run ethically and in full compliance with legal frameworks. She plays a fundamental role in helping her organization navigate through regulations, negotiate complex contracts, and effectively manage risks involved in high stake transactions. With this seamless blend of legal knowledge and business acumen, Rakshika provides expert legal support, which essentially mitigates risks and ensures smooth functioning of the organization with all compliances in place.

What are some important facets of your life & professional journey?

Born in a Kashmiri Pandit family, education was al-ways a priority. My family was one of those thousands who migrated from J&K in 1990s in the wake of growing terrorism in the State. In the initial years of our new life in Delhi, with ‘only some money to survive, and no mon-ey to spare’, I was nonetheless given decent education by my parents. After completing commerce degree from Sri Venkateshwara College, Delhi University, I obtained LL.B degree from Delhi University and also finished CS, and landed my first job at Rajinder Narain & Co., one of the oldest Law Firms in India. Being the first lawyer in my family, this was a significant achievement, but the challenges also lay ahead. The daily grind was not easy with travelling 60 kms, facing the challenges of odd hours, safety concerns especially in the wake of events like Nirbhaya, however, I was blessed to have received immense support from my seniors, which kept me going. I later moved to other law firms, before finally joining Ampln in 2017. Significant life changes also took place simultaneously, like my marriage, and the untimely demise of my father. Now, at Ampln, I can cherish and say I have found what I was searching.

Introduce AmpIn Energy Transition and your role as its Director.

We are India’s leading renewable energy transition plat-form. Headquartered in New Delhi with regional offices in Mumbai, Bangalore & Kolkata, AmpIn is run by an industry leading team of professionals and backed by leading institutional investors from Europe, Asia and North America. In my role, I am deeply involved in all aspects of the business, collaborating directly with the commercial team. This hands-on approach allows me to provide well-informed legal advice, essential for mitigating risks and ensuring organization's smooth functioning. My previous Firm experience has helped me develop a versatile skill set for heading the legal department, and understanding and cracking complex legal situations.

Share the challenges you face as a legal professional in today's business landscape and how you overcome them. In the fast-paced world we live in, change is constant and sometimes unpredictable. Lawyers not only need to be updated but in fact need to be one step ahead. With so many developments happening around, keeping oneself abreast of these changes sometimes becomes difficult. Being a lawyer today means staying well in-formed about the things around us, and expecting the unexpected. To navigate this ever-changing landscape, staying updated on not only legal developments but also global events and political changes is essential. A lawyer, who will not devote time to reading and remain-ing updated, will be redundant in future.

Tell us about your significant career achievements and your key to success.

My mantra for success is ‘Yad bhavam tad bhavati’ - you become what you believe. I was one of the initial members who joined Ampln, when we were just a small team of 20 people. Now, we have grown to 250 employ-ees with regional offices. This did not happen by sheer luck. It is a fruit of the tree which has been seeded, grown and continuously nourished by a collective team of people. I feel happy and contended to have been a part of this growth, specially helping the company raise millions of foreign investment, and can say that I work alongside visionaries. The achievements do not happen overnight; they were the result of small victories over the years.

How do you foresee India’s legal advisory landscape evolving and growing in the near future?

Our legal advisory landscape is on the cusp of signif-icant transformation. There's a concentrated effort to revamp our legal framework. This evolution is crucial, especially in accommodating the needs of our thriv-ing startup ecosystem. India, with its ambitious goals and substantial foreign investments, must ensure that its legal framework remains robust and adaptable. The aim is not just to keep up with the changing global land-scape but to lead it.

Advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs/ business leaders

My younger colleagues especially women in the profes-sion would do well to remember that they be rooted in confidence, gratitude, and patience. Believe in yourself, trust your instincts, and be thankful for the support you receive from others. Success is not an overnight phe-nomenon; it requires time, dedication, and zeal. Avoid the temptation to chase quick gains by job-hopping. It may work in the short-term but you may realise soon that you do not have any roots. Instead, invest your time in growing the organisation you are part of. Patience is your greatest asset; don't rush your journey.

Rakshika Kaul Padora, Director- Legal,  Ampln Energy Transition

Rakshika Kaul Padora is a seasoned legal professional with 13+ years of expertise, specializing in corporate law, project finance, cross-border transactions, and private equity.