Ashok Sharma, the founder and CEO of the Federation of Indian Corporate Lawyers (FICL), passed away on 2 October at the age of 73 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Sharma was one of the early champions of in-house legal professionals, having set up India’s first association for in-house counsel – the Indian Corporate Counsel Association (ICCA) – in 2010. He envisioned creating a platform for corporate counsel to come together, exchange ideas and form a common front with regards to issues faced by the profession.
He is survived by his wife Vandana Sharma, his son Rohan Sharma, daughter-in-law Manmeet Kaur and his daughter Garima Sharma, all of whom are practising advocates.
The ICCA held seminars and roundtables that were supported by the Department of Commerce and the Department of Legal Affairs, and attended by the most prominent names of the legal world. It also held the annual General Counsel Conclave in Goa, a popular event that GCs looked forward to each year.
“Mr Sharma’s passing is a big loss for the legal community,” said Rajendra Misra, the executive vice president and general counsel at Indian Hotels Company.
“He was a stalwart and a pioneer in the cause of in-house counsel, working tirelessly in this field. Our association began when he was leading the ICCA and then continued over the years at the Federation of Indian Corporate Lawyers, which he founded and was heading. Mr Sharma was a very warm and jovial person, always ready to help with a smile on his face. His absence will be deeply felt and his passing is a personal loss to me.”
Sharma parted company with the ICCA in 2019 and went on to establish the FICL, which organised events that were widely attended by some of the most important names of the legal fraternity. A recent FICL conference was addressed by Anju Rathi Rana, India’s Law Secretary, as well as Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia of the Supreme Court of India. In addition to events, Sharma was developing the FICL into a holistic platform that featured news, interviews and job posts on its website.
“I had the honour and privilege of serving on the advisory board of FICL along with Ashok ji,” said Preeti Balwani, the global general counsel of CRISIL.
“[He] was more than a mentor; he was a strong force of support and graciousness. His warmth, reassurance and grace were ever present in our interactions and I will fondly remember our work together in building FICL to be the voice of corporate lawyers in India. His legacy will live on through FICL and he will be truly missed.”
FICL established global connections in 17 countries through associations with the In-house Counsel Worldwide, Asia Pacific Corporate Counsel Alliance, and the African Corporate and Government Counsel Forum.
“His calm and positive demeanour will always be remembered,” said PM Devaiah, the managing partner of Starlaw Partners and former group general counsel at Everstone Group.
In his career spanning almost 50 years, Sharma worked at the public sector undertaking (PSU) MMTC Limited for 25 years and was the general counsel and chief general manager (law) when he stepped down in 2012.
“Ashok Sharmaji, was a friend, revered guide, and godfather to many within the PSU legal fraternity, and his passing away is a personal loss for all of us,” said Mahesh Sreenivsan, executive director/management services at RITES, also an Indian government enterprise.
“[He] was a towering figure in the field of the public sector legal fraternity, he dedicated his entire life selflessly to the well-being and advancement of the legal system, with a special focus on serving the interests of the CPSEs [central public sector enterprises].”
Sharma was actively involved in dispute resolution. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London) and was on the panel of arbitrators at bodies such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre; the Indian Council of Arbitration – Commercial & Maritime and the International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Sharma was a valued member of the editorial board at India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) and its sister publication Asia Business Law Journal. “Mr Sharma was a dear friend to our publications,” said Gautam Kagalwala, IBLJ’s editor. “He was always approachable which made his counsel very useful as he was gifted with immense knowledge and wisdom. He provided an important avenue for corporate lawyers to get together, which is essential for the exchange of legal ideas. His death leaves a void in India’s legal profession that will be difficult to fill.”
