Mr. Bharat Vasani Conferred with the Harvard Law School’s Professional Excellence Award

In yet another international accolade for the Tata group, Mr. Bharat Vasani, Chief, Legal & Group General Counsel, Tata Sons has been conferred with the Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession’s (CLP) Award for Professional Excellence. Mr. Vasani has been heading the legal functionat the Tata group for more than a decade. He has been recognized by the CLP as one of the many distinguished lawyers who are making important contributions around the world.

CLP is the world’s leading academic institution for conducting research and teaching about the rapidly evolving global legal services market. The awards were given out at a special dinner organised around a theme related to CLP’s research,The Changing Role of the Global General Counsel, held on May 10, 2016 at the Lincoln Center Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse Suite, in New York City. Anelite group of General Counsels who have helped to set high standards both within their organizations, and for the profession as a wholewere honoured at the dinner. CLP also presented their research on General Counsels in India, Brazil, and China.

Commenting on the award, Mr. Bharat Vasani said, “My sincere thanks to CLP for conferring me with this prestigious award. It is indeed a delight to be recognised by an elite institution. I have always believed that convergence in the areas of corporate laws, commercial laws, competition laws and investment laws is feasible and achievable. This is the reason which peaked my interest with regard to the General Counsel Survey, and I wish the entire team the very best with their research.”

This award is designed to recognize lawyers who have made a significant contribution to advancing the ideals of the profession in their chosen field. Given Mr. Vasani’s years of experience, he has the unique benefit of having seen the sector evolve into the important position it commands today. His experience exemplifies everything that the award duly celebrates.

The dinner was attended by leading lawyers, academics, and policy makers. Prof. David B. Wilkins, Lester Kissel Professor of Law, Vice Dean for Global Initiatives on the Legal Profession, and Faculty Director of the Center on The Legal Profession, Harvard Law School, presented the award to Mr. Vasani.

About the Tata group:

Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising over 100 independent operating companies. The group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission ‘To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust’. Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture. In 2014-15, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $108.78 billion. These companies collectively employ over 600,000 people. Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors and shareholders. There are 30 publicly-listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of about $116.41 billion (as on March 31, 2016). Tata companies with significant scale include Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Chemicals, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Teleservices, Titan, Tata Communications and Indian Hotels. (www.tata.com)

About the Center on the Legal Profession’s Award for Professional Excellence

This is the Center’s highest award on a group of general counsels who have been instrumental in redefining their critical role and who exemplify the highest standards of the profession. This award is designed to recognize lawyers who have made a significant contribution to advancing the ideals of their profession in their chosen field. Some distinguished recipients honored previously by this award are Mary Ann Hynes, the first female general counsel of a Fortune 500 company, Regina Pisa, the first female Managing Partner of an American Lawyer 100 law firm and Roberta Cooper Ramo, the first female president of the American Bar Association and the American Law Institute.