Regulatory push: Law firms ramp up tech, media hiring

The regulatory and financing challenges in the telecom sector are also creating new opportunities

- Priyanka Gawande

Indian law firms are expanding their technology, media, and telecom (TMT) practices amid rising compliance requirements and regulatory disputes in online gaming, artificial intelligence (AI), data governance and telecom.

The race to hire senior partners specialized in TMT is fueled by the rapidly evolving data protection framework in India, increasing cybersecurity breaches, and tightening privacy norms at corporations. Law firms want to be prepared for cases arising due to sweeping regulatory changes, such as the promulgation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, in August. Many petitions challenging the constitutionality of the law, which bans all online games involving monetary transactions, have reached the Supreme Court.

Telecom sector's regulatory and financing challenges are also creating new opportunities. For instance, troubled Vodafone Idea sought government relief, while Reliance Industries' telecom and digital arm, Jio Platforms Ltd, is preparing for a public listing in 2026.