India Inc's top law officers no longer greying veterans

A quiet revolution is reshaping the legal leadership in India's top corporations. The traditional image of the general counsels (GC), seasoned legal veterans in their late 40s or 50s, is giving way to a new breed: young, agile, and tech-savvy legal leaders.

- Priyanka Gawande

The average age for firsttime GCs has dropped to 35-42 years, compared to the late 40s or 50s seen five to seven years ago, according to data shared by legal consulting and talent management firm Vahura.

The data suggests a 3x rise in general counsel searches, especially from high-growth and transformation-focused.companies.

The driving force behind this is the rise of founder-led startups, investor-backed ventures, and tech-first companies.

These businesses demand legal leadership that can keep pace with their speed, scale, and strategy. Their preference is clear: sharp, younger GCs who are agile, digitally fluent and commercially attuned.

"New-age businesses are looking for GCs who think like operators, not just lawyers," says Karl Fernandes, senior partner at legal search and consulting firm Vahura. "There's a strong preference for agility, digital fluency, and cultural fit-especially when the legal head is working closely with young founders or investor boards." The shift is more pronounced in fast-growing sectors like fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, digital commerce, and climate-tech.