Prof. Amar Kr. Sundram is an in house Senior Corporate Legal Professional having rich experience in Strategic thinking, formulation of operational guidelines and a business enabler to complex legal issues. He has worked with best of the Indian and Multinational business houses like DCM Shriram, Birla, TATA, AT & T, Reliance, Citi, Ernst & Young and Royal bank of Scotland (Natwest Group India).
A multifaceted professional with more than 23 years of corporate work experience, Mr. Sundram has worked as National Director (Legal) and General Counsel with Ernst & Young – India & Bangladesh, based at Gurgaon where Amar advised 470+ Partners across all service lines like Advisory, Transaction, Assurance, Taxation, FIDS, HR etc and handles 18000+ employees. He was deeply involved on large scale cross-border transactions and commercial contracts involving Global Clients as well as formulation of Global policies touching around contentious cross-jurisdictional legal issues. Mr. Amar led from the front on Corporate Governance, Compliances, Anti-bribery and corruption matters as well as large scale Fraud investigations involving multi-jurisdiction.
Has handled high stake international and domestic mediation and arbitration involving critical questions of law and multi-jurisdictional complexities. Mr. Sundram has also spear-headed high-stake litigations in different high courts of India, Supreme Court of India and courts in USA.
Mr. Amar has been instrumental in setting up a functional and effective Legal department in most of the organizations he worked in and has mentored many in-house counsels. A University Topper in LL.M from Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, Amar has gained wide exposure to legal issues in the business arena including Regulatory, Compliance, Taxation, Arbitration, Insurance, Financial laws, Employment laws, cross-border transactions, Government contracts, Power, Fraud Management, Criminal law, Corporate Fraud investigations, Issues of data privacy & client confidentiality, drafting / structuring, having interface with leading legal luminaries of India as well as top law firms of the country. Amar is also credited with many published articles in leading law journals, representing the organization in various Industry Forums and have been speaking in various legal seminars. He is also a founding member of the Indian Corporate Counsels’ Association (ICCA) (http://www.iccaonline.org.in/executive-committee.php)
In 2016 twice, Amar has figured among the Top 100 of India’s finest In-House General Counsels (“TRAILBLAZERS” – Published by ICCA and supported by Indian Ministry of Law & Justice as well as Ministry of Commerce & Industry) and again amongst Top 100 General Counsels Powerlist – from “The Legal 500 (inauguration by Justice A.K Sikri (Hon’ble Judge Supreme Court of India), Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad (Hon’ble Law Minister of India) and Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee (ex-Solicitor General of India). (http://www.legal500.com/assets/pages/cc100/2016/india.html) (http://www.livelaw.in/legal-500-unveils-inaugural-issue-gc-powerlist-india-amidst-star-studded-evening/
Led by Amar Sundram, General Counsel – EY India Region; EY India in-house legal team have been selected amongst the top 100 in-house legal team for 2017 by Legal 500, duly recognizing them amongst the most influential and innovative in-house counsel working in the region.
(http://www.legal500.com/assets/pages/cc100/2017/india-teams-17.html)
Amar has once again been selected amongst the top General Counsels of India in 2018 by The Legal 500 GC Powerlist: India 2018 – highlights the very best GCs and senior in-house legal counsel in India. (http://www.legal500.com/assets/pages/cc100/2018/india-18.html)
Amar’s legal team in EY was amongst the top 5 finalists for Asia Legal Awards 2019.
Recognizing his contribution in the field of Corporate Law and Strategic Planning and for his exemplary commitment in legal policy implementation and corporate leadership, he was conferred with the title of ‘Honorary Professor’ by Amity University, Haryana in the year 2019.
Amar has also been honoured as “Shining Star of Indian Legal Fraternity” in 2019 by CCAI (Corporate Counsel Association of India).
Amar’s Legal team in Royal Bank of Scotland (India) was declared the best in-house legal team for India – 2019 by Legal 500.
Amar was also declared as the Best General Counsel (Banking) – 2019 – by Indian National Bar Association (INBA) on 26th November, 2019 – Indian Constitution Day. Award given by Justice Rekha Palli (sitting Judge Delhi High Court).
Delhi Law Review – 1994 (“Offence of Rape: A Reflection of Recent Supreme Court decision”).
Souvenir on 2nd Annual conference (1995) on New Challenges and Dimensions of Personnel Management / HRM by national Institute of Personnel Management (“Indian Constitution & Human Rights”).
Annual Souvenir of Employers Association of Rajasthan – 1995 (“India, Industrialisation and Excise”).
Excise Law Times (1st August, 1998) “Budget 1998-99 – Amendment in Excise 35B – Was it necessary”.
Excise Law Times (15th August, 1998) “Refund of Modvat credit / Restoration of Modvat Credit”.
Excise Law Times (1st February, 1999) “Penalty in Modvat Cases – when to be imposed?”
Excise Law Times (1st August, 1999) “Khanbhai Esoofbhai case – An Analysis”.
Excise Law Times (15th August, 1999) “Rule 173 – The Position is settled”.
Excise Law Times (1st December, 1999) “Duty on empty containers – can we wait”.
Labour and Industrial Cases (February 2000) “Delinquent Workman and the right of representation”.
Industrial update Journal (July 2000) “Section 138 negotiable Instrument Act – Some Hard Facts”.
Excise Law Times (15th June 2000) “Justice delayed is justice denied”.
Lex Witness (April 2013) – “In House Counsel’s Dharma : Ways of Running the Legal Department like a Business Unit”.
Lex Witness (April 2014) – “Whistle blower’s Protection Act, 2011: The Long Road Ahead”.
Lex Witness (May 2014) – “Employment Fraud: This road leads to Termination”.
Lex Witness (June 2014) – “Corporate Social Responsibility – A New Beginning.
“Courting Mediation” (December, 2019) – India Business Law Journal.
Co-authored the book – “Data Protection Laws Demystified” (released in October, 2019) which addresses the issues of privacy and protection of data and laws surrounding it.
“India Unplugged” (March, 2020) – India Business Law Journal.