Experienced Legal Consultant

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Public policy consultant and qualified lawyer, with experience in applied research, advisory positions, and program management.

I’m Sumathi Chandrashekaran

● Collaborated with and advised senior judges; policymakers; bureaucrats; regulators; domestic and foreign NGOs; and multinational private sector conglomerates.
● Addressed questions of systemic risk and legal compliance in a wide range of areas, including intellectual property, financial regulation, and technology-related laws.
● Skillsets include policy research, drafting laws, cost-benefit analysis, survey design.
● Research interests in evidence-based policymaking, and law and economics, and their impact on regulatory architecture and legislation.

Email

sumathics@gmail.com

Phone

(+91) 9873503219

Time Zone

Indian Standard Time

Education

Master of Public Affairs (dual degree)

2008

Sciences Po Paris

Master in Public Policy (Dual Degree)

2008

LKYSPP, National University of Singapore

Bachelor of Laws

2004

Faculty of Law, University of Delhi

Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) English

2001

Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi

Experience

Independent Consultant – Law and public policy

2019 – Present

Clients include strategic advisory firms, law firms, domestic and international arbitrators
Advised on policy and regulation of India’s payment processing infrastructure
Analysed foreign-owned private sector education in India, including on state-specific regulatory issues and tax implications of expropriation of profits
Devised knowledge creation, communication and management system for a full service Indian law firm, handling a portfolio of global clients
Analysed India’s position on international taxation regimes, and on emerging proposals around distribution of tax revenue by multinational enterprises across geographies.
Developed strategic, impact assessment and communications framework on the future of justice reform in Thailand and southeast Asia for Thailand NGO

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi
Senior Resident Fellow – 2016 -2018
Associate Fellow – 2018 – 2019

Led multidisciplinary cross-functional teams studying all aspects of the Indian judiciary
Established and managed the Justice, Access, and Lowering Delays in India project to advance research and pilot innovative solutions in court functioning.
Engaged with judges, senior policymakers, court staff, funders and other thought partners around data and tech-enabled solutions for modernization of the Indian judiciary.
Conceived and undertook first-ever baseline survey / census of infrastructure of all (650+) district courts in India, which directly informed nationwide judicial infrastructure reform.
Advised and provided research support to the Indian Supreme Court on the future direction of central selection of subordinate judges across the country.
Designed implementable policy and process reforms directed at caseflow management, judicial appointments, performance evaluation of judicial officers, and delay reduction.
Enhanced monitoring, evaluation and learning metrics of performance data and supported migration to e-court systems.
Built from scratch a law and economics research database and library in the organisation to inform future research and policy advisory.
Authored reports and opinion pieces on ICT enablement in courts, including staffing, data collection, automation, and interlinking of judicial, investigative and prosecution bodies.
Secured and managed endowments for policy and legal research from leading philanthropists and trusts.

Law Commission of India

2015

Identified experts for strategic engagement on issues discussed by the Commission.
Developed position papers based on strategic and expert inputs.
Coordinated and managed expert and review meetings of the Commission, including agenda setting, rapporteuring, and research support.
Drafted reports and draft legislation for Commission reports on issues such as investment policy, public sector corruption, family and custodianship rights.

National Institute of Public Finance & Policy

Legal Consultant – 2011 to 2014

I
Proposed overhaul of financial sector legislation, regulation and architecture as core research team member to the government-appointed Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC).
Drafted proposed 400-clause Indian Financial Code superceding 70+ existing legislations to holistically regulate the Indian financial sector.
Managed multi-disciplinary teams of lawyers, economists and statisticians studying financial sector regulation and reform.
Developed discussion papers for stakeholder consultations, and coordinated and rapporteur for expert group committee meetings.
Engaged with senior policymakers, bureaucrats, and regulators, in central government Finance and Law Ministries and regulatory and other government institutions on regulatory and governance reform.
Designed and taught training modules on law and finance, for bureaucrats, university students and teachers.
Undertook training in legislative drafting from former First Parliamentary Counsel of UK.

Obhan & Associates

Associate/ IP Lawyer 2009 to 2011
Provided strategic guidance on intellectual property protection to multinationals and conglomerates on entering new markets and product segments globally
Managed the firm’s entire trademark and design portfolio and team
Engaged in transactional, litigious and advisory services

Position	Institution/Committee	Period
Adjunct Fellow	CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition	2016-17
Consultant with :	Justice Shah Committee on	2015-16
	– Talent in Public Sector Banks, Finance Ministry
	– Dispute on Gas Blocks in KG Basin
	– Direct Taxes, Finance Ministry
Consultant	Confederation of Indian Industry	2008-09
Journalist	Press Trust of India	2005-06

My Work

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