The Architect of Legal and Compliance-Driven Innovation
Prem Choudhary
Head - Legal, Compliance & Secretarial
LGT Wealth India
I n today’s fast-paced business world, where nearly 7 out of 10 companies see regulatory hurdles as barriers to innovation, leaders like Prem Choudhary are stepping up to change the game. As the Group Head of Legal, Compliance, and Secretarial at LGT Wealth India, Prem is proving that governance and agility can go hand in hand. Over 17+ years, Prem’s visionary expertise has revolutionised compliance frameworks across fintech, non-banking, and financial markets.Prem’s career took off at the Bombay Stock Exchange, where he played a pivotal role in protecting market integrity through groundbreaking audit and surveillance initiatives. At Kotak Securities, he built robust compliance and anti-money laundering frameworks and fortified risk strategies. Later, at Kotak Mahindra Bank, he streamlined capital market compliance for key Business divisions, ensuring seamless alignment with SEBI and RBI mandates. But it was in fintech that Prem truly broke new ground. At ET Money, Prem led the charge in developing Tech driven systems and new age legal solutions showing the world how legal frameworks can be a catalyst for innovation rather than a roadblock. Today, at LGT Wealth India, he champions global and local framework to navigate multi-jurisdictional challenges, all while ensuring growth with integrity. In this exclusive TradeFlock feature, we delve into Prem’s remarkable journey, his gamechanging strategies, and how he’s shaping a new era of corporate governance—one that all businesses can aspire to.
How do corporate governance and legal innovation shape today’s business landscape?
I see the intersection of corporate governance and legal innovation as the ultimate power duo in today’s fast-paced business world. It’s about balancing accountability with adaptability— ensuring compliance with evolving regulations while embracing technologies like AI and ML. By tackling challenges like cybersecurity and cross-border compliance with innovative legal strategies, I believe Business can build trust, scale high, reduce risks, and create a solid foundation for sustainable growth. It’s not just about keeping up—it’s about leading the way.
How does your legal team foster growth and resilience, and what key changes have you introduced as a leader?
Leading the legal and compliance function has taught me that its role goes far beyond risk management—it’s about shaping the organisation’s ability to thrive in complexity. The best way to predict the future is to create it,’ and I’ve embraced this mindset by making the L&C team a cornerstone of growth and resilience. By introducing technology-driven tools and training in new age requirements, we’ve enhanced efficiency and reduced human error. Establishing a principles-based compliance framework and staying ahead of regulatory changes have enabled us to navigate challenges with agility. This approach ensures our legal function doesn’t just safeguard the organisation—it drives innovation and strategic growth.
What advice would you share with budding legal professionals aiming for leadership roles?
My advice to aspiring legal leaders is simple: don’t just master the law—master its application to business strategy. There is a saying – I also believe that a great legal leader minimises risk by aligning legal frameworks with organisational goals. Focus on simplifying complex legal concepts into actionable advice, gain diverse exposure in areas like governance and compliance, and embrace innovation. Most importantly, adopt a proactive, solution-driven mindset—leadership is about navigating uncertainty with confidence and clarity while driving growth.
How do you stay compliant without curbing innovation in a fast-changing regulatory world?
Navigating compliance in a fast-changing world is like walking a tightrope—you need balance, precision, and a vision for what lies ahead. For me, it’s about turning compliance into a catalyst for innovation, not a constraint. I firmly believe in the idea that, ‘Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower,’ and compliance, when handled with agility and foresight, empowers organisations to lead. By adopting a principles-based approach, I ensure regulations are interpreted flexibly, allowing innovation to thrive. Collaboration across legal, tech, and business teams is key, as is leveraging tools like regulatory sandboxes to test new ideas safely. With strong governance and advanced technologies, compliance becomes the foundation for bold and more responsible innovation and forward business directions.
What future trends in law and compliance are you most excited or concerned about and why?
What excites me most about the future of law and compliance is the transformative potential of AI-driven tools like automated contract management, AI-powered regulatory monitoring, and blockchain for secure recordkeeping. These advancements will revolutionise efficiency, accuracy, and scalability, allowing legal teams to focus on strategic decisionmaking and driving business agility. However, I’m also deeply concerned about the increasing fragmentation of global regulations. Managing compliance across conflicting jurisdictions, especially in areas like data privacy, is a growing challenge. The key is to adopt advanced technologies, anticipate regulatory trends, and embed compliance as a core business strategy to ensure governance and innovation thrive together.Â
'Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing,'
What areas do you aim to develop in your career, and how do you plan to achieve them?
In the next phase of my career, I’m excited to delve deeper into cross-border regulatory frameworks, advanced legal tech, and sustainability-driven compliance. As global markets grow more interconnected, mastering multi-jurisdictional laws like data privacy and ESG will be essential. I’m also eager to see integration of cutting-edge legal technology to enhance legal and compliance decisionmaking and risk management. To achieve this, I actively engage in thought leadership forums and collaborate with business and tech teams to ensure legal strategies keep pace with innovation and dynamic environments.
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