With over 9 years of experience in corporate law and a specialised focus on data protection and artificial intelligence, Saswati Soumya Sahu is an accomplished legal expert in GDPR compliance, AI ethics and technology contracts. Her educational background includes a BBA LLB from Symbiosis Law School and certification in AI Ethics from the University of Helsinki.
She has a proven track record in drafting and negotiating complex agreements and policies, including GDPR addendums and commercial agreements. Saswati’s publications on cutting edge topics like competition law in the ad tech market and the impact of privacy regulations further showcase her thought leadership in this domain. Her unique mix of academic excellence and professional expertise positions her to deliver innovative legal solutions that foster business growth while ensuring compliance.
Tell us about your time at law school. What would you consider were your pleasant experiences during your time there?
S. Soumya Sahu: As I reflect on my law school journey, I can’t help but smile at the rich tapestry of experiences that shaped my path to becoming a privacy & AI specialist.
My time at law school was transformative, particularly when I discovered my passion for technology law. I remember the moment – attended the summer school organized by the Franklin Pierce Centre for Intellectual Property on the birth of the internet and emerging technologies. The Professor, a former policy professional in the Federal Communications Commission, challenged us to think about how traditional legal frameworks would adapt to artificial intelligence. That class became my intellectual sanctuary, where we debated AI personhood’s philosophical implications and wrestled with complex data protection.
One of my most cherished experiences was attending the ITech Law Association, which brought together tech industry leaders, privacy advocates, and legal scholars. Participating in such events reinforced my passion for legal scholarship in the tech space. Relationship building is crucial. These lead to opportunities that are not publicly advertised. These networking efforts taught me that sometimes the best opportunities come through meaningful professional relationships rather than formal applications.
Another highlight was being adjudged an Internet Scholar by the University of Geneva, which allowed me to engage with thought leaders and gain international exposure in digital rights and data governance. These experiences not only shaped my academic journey but also laid the foundation for my career in data protection and AI regulation. Law school was a time of rigorous learning, but these milestones made it particularly memorable.
Looking back, my time at law school was not just about academic excellence but also about building lifelong relationships and developing a well-rounded perspective that continues to guide me in my legal career. Every challenge was an opportunity to help shape the legal framework for technologies that would transform society. Those years laid the foundation for my commitment to helping organizations navigate the complex intersection of innovation and privacy protection.
What do you feel is the key to securing good internships as a law student?
S. Soumya Sahu: Drawing from my experience, both as a former law student and now as a partner specializing in privacy and AI law, securing meaningful internships comes down to a strategic blend of passion, preparation and authenticity.
The approach that worked particularly well for me was focusing on the emerging introspection of technology and law. When most of my peers pursued traditional corporate law internships, I deliberately sought opportunities with firms and organizations working on cutting-edge technology challenges. This unique angle made my applications stand out.
I’ve always believed that strong academic performance builds credibility, but what truly sets a candidate apart is their ability to demonstrate curiosity, adaptability, and initiative.
Strategic specialization is key. For instance, I focused early on data protection regulations and AI governance frameworks while everyone was still familiar with national information technology laws. This specialization helped me land an internship with pioneering firms like erstwhile Amarchand Mangaldas Suresh & Shroff and the Law Offices of Nandan Kamath & K&S Partners.
Second, practical initiatives matter immensely. During my fourth year of law school, I presented a paper on net neutrality, analyzing the regulatory responses of various jurisdictions, including India & a blog on the regulatory landscape of cyber forensics. This demonstrated a genuine interest in the field and gave me something concrete to discuss during interviews.
Third, being open to different experiences helps build a versatile skill set. Some of my most insightful internships were in unexpected fields, where I developed transferable skills that later proved invaluable.
Lastly, persistence and professionalism matter. Following up on applications, demonstrating a willingness to learn, and making the most of every opportunity can pave the way for meaningful legal experiences that shape a strong career foundation.
What I have learned and what I now share with law students, is that securing good internships is not just about grades, its about demonstrating genuine passion for your chosen field and taking initiative to develop expertise in emerging areas of law.
You freelanced as a Fractional General Counsel for over half a decade. How do you think freelancing shaped you as a professional?
S. Soumya Sahu: Freelancing as a Fractional General Counsel for over half a decade was a transformative experience that shaped me into a highly adaptable, business-oriented legal professional. Unlike traditional in-house roles, freelancing required me to navigate multiple industries, work with diverse stakeholders, and manage legal risks across different business models simultaneously. Looking back, it was like being a legal architect, building solutions across diverse business landscapes while specializing in the intricate world of technology regulation.
One of the biggest takeaways was the ability to provide pragmatic, solution-driven legal advice. As a freelancer, I wasn’t just offering legal opinions; I was expected to act as a strategic partner, aligning legal frameworks with business objectives in fast-paced environments. This honed my ability to think commercially while ensuring compliance and risk mitigation.
One day I would be helping an ed tech company navigate GDPR compliance, and the next day, advising a prop-tech startup on privacy by design principles. This variety was invaluable. It helped me develop a holistic understanding of how different organizations approach data protection challenges.
Working with startups, mid-sized firms, and multinational clients exposed me to various legal challenges, from contract negotiations and regulatory compliance to crisis management and dispute resolution. It pushed me to develop strong problem-solving skills and a keen sense of prioritization.
Freelancing also refined my client management skills. Since I operated independently, building trust and maintaining long-term relationships was crucial. Understanding each client’s unique needs and delivering tailored legal solutions helped me establish a reputation for reliability and strategic insight.
Ultimately, freelancing made me a more well-rounded professional, equipping me with the skills and confidence to take on a leadership role. I leverage these experiences to drive value for my clients and mentor younger lawyers in developing a business-centric approach to legal practice.
What also really shaped was the entrepreneurial mindset I developed. As a freelance GC, you are not a lawyer but a business partner. My experience taught me to think beyond legal frameworks and consider the broader business context, a perspective incredibly valuable in my current role as a partner.
The autonomy of freelancing also honed my judgment. As the primary legal advisor, you learn to make confident decisions in complex situations. The pressure to provide practical, risk-balanced advice in such situations strengthened my decision-making capabilities.
Freelancing also taught me the value of clear communication. When working with multiple clients, each with different levels of legal understanding, you learn to explain complex privacy and AI regulations in accessible terms. This skill has provien invaluable in building strong client relationships at our firm.
The experience gave me deep insight into the tech industry’s evolving needs. By working closely with innovative companies, I developed a forward looking perspective on privacy and AI regulation that now helps me anticipate our Client’s future challenges.
Freelancing was not just about providing legal services; it was about becoming a trusted advisor who could navigate the intersection of law, technology, and business. These years shaped me into a more versatile, business-savvy lawyer, which is significant to my current role as a partner focused on privacy and AI law.
What do you feel are the essentials skills for a competent in-house counsel? How can one cultivate these over time?
S. Soumya Sahu: Drawing from my experience both as a former in house counsel and now as a partner specialising in privacy and AI law, I believe the essential skills for a competent in house counsel form a unique mosaic that goes beyond traditional legal expertise. The most crucial skills for a competent in-house counsel fall into several key categories:
Firstly, a strong in house counsel must think like a business partner, not just a lawyer. This means, understanding company’s business model, revenue stream and strategic objectives, being able to evaluate risk in a commercial context, not just legal and speaking the language of business and translating legal concepts for non-lawyers. Business acumen is crucial. I learnt this first hand while helping tech companies navigate complex AI regulations. Understanding the business impact of legal decisions is vital. To cultivate this skill, I would recommend regularly engaging with business units to understand their objectives, taking business courses or getting certifications in relevant areas and reading industry publications and following market trends.
Secondly, strategic thinking is another cornerstone skill. In house counsel must anticipate legal challenges before they arise. While working with AI companies, I developed a framework for evaluating emerging privacy risks in new products. This kind of forward thinking approach can be developed by creating risk assessment frameworks, participating in strategic planning sessions and studying competitor approaches and market developments.
Communication is perhaps the most critical skills. I remember simplifying legal requirements for a development team – they ley was focusing on practical implications rather than legal theory. To enhance communication skills, practice explaining legal concepts to no legal audiences, develop clear, concise writing habits and learn to create effective visual presentations of legal concepts.
Project management abilities are increasingly important. Modern in house counsel often juggle multiple initiatives simultaneously. During my time, managing privacy compliance projects, I found that structured approaches to task management were essential. This can be improved by taking project management courses, using project management tools and methodologies and learning from experienced project managers.
Strong relationships across departments help you understand business needs. I found that regular informal regular check ins with different teams were as valuable as formal meetings. To build this skill, network within the organisation, participate in cross functional projects and seek mentorship opportunities.
These skills are not developed overnight. They require conscious effort and continuous learning.
Law schools often focus more on litigation and law firm roles as part of their curriculum and career guidance. Do you think students miss out on key GC opportunities owing to lack of awareness?
S. Soumya Sahu: From my vantage point as someone who’s navigated both traditional law firm practice and in-house roles before focusing on privacy and AI law, I can say unequivocally that there’s a significant awareness gap about GC opportunities in law schools.
I remember sitting in career guidance sessions where the narrative was predominantly about litigation or joining prestigious law firms. The rich landscape of in-house opportunities, particularly in the technology sector, was barely mentioned. It’s like having a map where entire territories are left uncharted.
This bias creates what I call the “traditional trajectory tunnel vision.” Students often don’t realize that some of the most exciting legal work happens inside companies, especially in emerging fields like AI and data privacy. For instance, when I served as GC for tech startups, I was at the forefront of shaping privacy policies for cutting-edge AI applications – the kind of work that wasn’t even contemplated in my law school curriculum.
The gap is particularly pronounced in the technology sector. Law schools rarely discuss how GCs in tech companies need to be versatile professionals who understand not just legal frameworks but also technical concepts and business strategies. I’ve seen brilliant students who would excel in such roles simply never consider them because these opportunities weren’t presented as viable career paths.
What’s especially concerning is that this awareness gap affects diversity in the legal profession. In-house roles, particularly in growing tech companies, often offer more flexible work arrangements and different types of challenges that might appeal to students who don’t see themselves fitting into the traditional law firm model.
From my current perspective as a partner, I often meet young lawyers who express surprise when they learn about my in-house background. They’re fascinated by stories of helping companies navigate privacy regulations while scaling their AI products, or developing compliance frameworks for emerging technologies. These are opportunities they wish they’d known about earlier in their careers.
I believe law schools need to broaden their career guidance to include, real-world exposure to in-house counsel through mentorship programs, courses focused on technology law and business strategy, internship opportunities with corporate legal departments and guest lectures from GCs, especially those in innovative sectors.
The legal landscape is evolving rapidly, particularly in fields like privacy and AI. It’s crucial that law schools adapt their career guidance to reflect these changes and ensure students are aware of the full spectrum of opportunities available to them.
I do believe students often miss valuable GC opportunities due to limited exposure in law school curricula. This creates several blindspots for students, and provide a limited understanding of the strategic business role that modern GCs play, misconception that in house roles are “less prestigious” or just for later career moves and underestimation of the intellectual challenges and variety in the GC work. As a result, students often overlook excellent early career in house positions that could offer direct exposure to business strategy and decision making, faster development of commercial acumen and opportunity to shape legal and business strategy.
I actively encourage our junior associates to consider in-house opportunities when they align with their skills and interests, rather than viewing them solely as an exit option. The modern GC role requires a unique blend of legal expertise and business acumen that deserves more attention in legal education.
Recently you have transitioned into a Partner role at ANB Legal- what excites you about the Data Protection and AI sector?
S. Soumya Sahu: What truly excites me about the Data Protection and AI sector is its dynamic nature and profound impact on shaping our digital future. Having recently joined ANB Legal as a partner, I find myself at the intersection of innovation and regulation during one of the most transformative periods in legal history.
The sector is experiencing what I like to call a “perfect storm” of opportunity and challenge. We’re seeing rapid AI advancement colliding with evolving privacy regulations, creating complex legal puzzles that require innovative solutions. For instance, I recently advised a client on implementing large language models while ensuring compliance with data protection requirements – the kind of multifaceted challenge that simply didn’t exist a few years ago.
What particularly energizes me is the opportunity to help shape emerging legal frameworks. We’re not just interpreting established law; we’re actively participating in its evolution. When I work with clients on AI governance frameworks or privacy impact assessments, we’re often addressing scenarios that haven’t been explicitly covered by existing regulations. This requires creative problem-solving and forward-thinking approaches.
The sector also presents fascinating ethical dimensions. Recently, I’ve been deeply involved in discussions about AI bias and algorithmic transparency. These aren’t just theoretical legal issues – they have real-world implications for how technology will impact society. Being able to help clients navigate these waters while maintaining both innovation and ethical responsibility is incredibly fulfilling.
Moreover, the global nature of data protection and AI regulation creates an exciting international dimension to our work. The interplay between different jurisdictional ,approaches from the EU’s comprehensive GDPR to emerging AI regulations in various countries, requires us to think globally while acting locally.
The rapid evolution of AI technology means we are constantly encountering novel legal questions. For instance, a challenge such as privacy implications of AI driven credit scoring system would not have existed five years ago. This constant evolution keeps us innovating in our legal approach.
At ANB Legal, I’m particularly excited about building a practice that bridges technical expertise with practical business solutions. We’re not just providing legal advice; we’re helping clients architect their digital future while respecting fundamental privacy rights and ethical AI principles.
With the launch of ChatGPT, Deepseek AI and other foundational models, do you think India is falling behind in this sector?
S. Soumya Sahu: This is an important and nuanced question. While it’s true that companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and DeepSeek have captured global attention with their foundational models, I believe India is carving its own unique path in the AI ecosystem. Rather than falling behind, I see India positioning itself differently in this space. What’s particularly interesting is India’s approach to AI development. Instead of focusing solely on large language models, many Indian companies are developing specialized AI solutions for specific sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and financial services. Our massive tech talent pool, particularly in IT services, gives us an edge in AI implementation and adaptation. However, developing a large language models requires substantial computing infrastructure and data resources. The private investment and research ecosystem built in India has significantly benefitted the companies.
The regulatory landscape in India is also evolving rapidly. With the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the ongoing discussions about AI regulation, India is creating its own framework that balances innovation with responsibility. In my practice, I’m seeing increasing interest from clients in understanding how to leverage AI while complying with these emerging regulations.
India’s strength lies in its vast talent pool and unique use cases. While we might not be seeing India-based ChatGPT competitors, we’re witnessing innovative applications of AI in areas like, multilingual natural language processing for India’s diverse linguistic landscape, AI solutions tailored for rural development and financial inclusion and Healthcare AI adapted to India’s specific medical challenges.
Recently there has been a lot of talk on the need for a work-life balance, especially the legal profession which is infamous for excessive working hours. Where do you stand on the subject?
S. Soumya Sahu: I find myself at the intersection of two rapidly evolving fields – one that demands precision and diligence, and another that champions innovation and efficiency. In this dynamic landscape, the conversation around work-life balance has never been more relevant, especially within the legal profession, which has long been characterized by its demanding hours and relentless pace.
Traditionally, the archetype of a successful lawyer has often been synonymous with long hours and constant availability. However, I believe that this myth is not only outdated but also counterproductive. The legal profession thrives on critical thinking, creativity, and strategic problem-solving qualities that are best nurtured in an environment where individuals feel balanced and fulfilled.
Our profession involves significant responsibilities. Our clients depend on us during critical moments, whether a substantial transaction closing or a time-sensitive litigation. Meeting those obligations sometimes requires intense work periods. This shows that sustainable, high-value performance & energised lawyers consistently produce better quality work and demonstrate more decisive judgment. The goal is to deliver excellent client service while maintaining health, relationships, and passion for the profession. This approach enhances our value to clients by ensuring they have access to sharp, focused professionals who can provide their best counsel.
What is your go-to strategy when you get stuck on a complex problem?
S. Soumya Sahu: Alright, picture this: I’m wrestling a particularly thorny data privacy issue, maybe something involving AI-driven facial recognition, GDPR compliance, and the right to be forgotten, the kind of legal puzzle that makes your brain feel like it’s doing the tango. When I hit that wall, here’s my multi-step “Unstick-ification” process, designed to unlock even the most stubborn legal logjams:
Phase 1: The “Brain Dump & Brew”
The Digital Vomit: I unleash a torrent of thoughts, ideas, and half-baked theories onto a digital whiteboard. No filter, no editing, just pure, unadulterated brainstorming. It’s like excavating an archaeological dig – you never know what treasures (or red herrings) you might unearth.
The Tea Catalyst: Armed with a steaming mug of artisanal tea, I step away from the screen. Sometimes, a change of scenery or a few minutes of mindful sipping is enough to dislodge the mental roadblock.
Phase 2: The “Sherlock Holmes” Method
The Deconstruction Zone: I dissect the problem into its component parts, examining each element in isolation. What are the key legal principles at play? What are the relevant precedents? What assumptions am I making? This granular approach often reveals hidden nuances and overlooked angles.
The “Expert Echo Chamber”: Time to tap into the collective brilliance of my colleagues. I bounce ideas off fellow partners and even junior associates. Fresh perspectives are invaluable in breaking through mental barriers.
Phase 3: The “Out-of-the-Box Odyssey”
The Analogy Adventure: I search for analogous situations in other fields – perhaps a similar ethical dilemma in medical ethics or a parallel technological challenge in cybersecurity. Sometimes, reframing the problem in a different context can spark unexpected insights.
The “Reverse Engineering” Revelation: I imagine the ideal outcome and then work backward, mapping out the steps required to achieve it. This “goal-oriented” approach helps me identify potential pathways and overcome perceived obstacles.
Phase 4: The “Incubation Station”
The Subconscious Soak: If all else fails, I simply let the problem simmer in my subconscious. I engage in unrelated activities – go for a run, listen to music, or even indulge in a bit of mindless entertainment. Often, the solution will materialize unexpectedly, like a bolt of lightning during a summer storm.
The “Morning After” Epiphany: With a fresh perspective and a well-rested mind, I revisit the problem the next day. More often than not, the solution is now glaringly obvious, like a neon sign pointing the way forward.
So, there you have it – my slightly unconventional, yet highly effective, strategy for tackling complex problems. It’s a blend of analytical rigor, creative thinking, and a healthy dose of tea-fueled madness. And who knows, maybe one day it’ll be immortalized in a legal textbook as the “Unstick-ification Method” – a lawyer can dream, right?
- What advice do you have for young law students?
S. Soumya Sahu: As you embark on your journey in law school, set ambitious goals for yourself and envision where you want to be. As Stephen Hawking rightly said, “ One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it. “Besides dreaming big, it is essential to remain open to new experiences. Law is a dynamic field with numerous opportunities that may not align perfectly with your initial plans. Also, remember the saying” You do not know when your preparation will meet opportunity.”
Every class you take, every networking event you attend and every skill you develop can play a crucial role in your future success. By being proactive and engaged, you position yourself to seize unexpected opportunities when they arise. Law school can feel like a grind, but it’s important to remember why you chose this path in the first place. Find what sets your soul on fire ! Be curious, be bold, and never stop learning. The legal profession is changing rapidly, and the future belongs to those who are willing to adapt and innovate. The law isn’t always black and white. In fact, it’s often fifty shades of legal gray. Embrace the uncertainty, cultivate your critical thinking skills, and learn to argue both sides of an issue persuasively.
