Rajesh Sehgal, a partner in the energy, infra and ESG vertical of Dentons Link Legal, has joined Adani Power where he will serve as the chief legal officer – energy.
Prior to Dentons Link Legal, Sehgal was the head of legal & regulatory compliance for India and the Asia-Pacific at Trina Solar until January 2023.
Sehgal told India Business Law Journal: “The role is much bigger in terms of portfolios [compared to] Trina though I was heading the whole of the APAC, but with a limited mandate for the downstream project development team including [in] acquisition and project development.
“At Adani, I have a chance to look after all other energy verticals that I am aware of due to my prior experience, which includes thermal, M&A, project development, renewables, transmission and litigation strategy.”
Sehgal brings 25 years of extensive legal experience to the Adani group. His expertise includes cross-border energy assets acquisitions, renewables, infrastructure, project financing, environmental law, natural resources, risk management, contracts, due diligence, litigation strategy and global compliances.
Speaking about the motivation for his new role, Sehgal said “The Adani group is at the forefront of India’s green energy transition and playing a crucial role in meeting the net zero goal by 2050.” He added that after spending almost five years in Singapore while at Trina Solar, he thought this was perhaps “the best conglomerate” to work for and support the “nation-building agenda towards energy transition”.
Sehgal has previously worked as senior legal counsel at Sembcorp Industries, and partner and head of the infra, project finance and natural resources practice at Fox Mandal. In addition, he served with the British High Commission in India as senior adviser – legal services supporting its trade and investment arm.
Sehgal has straddled both sides of the fence working in-house and at law firms. In this regard, he believes that given his “global networking and experience” and having worked in multiple jurisdictions, he would prefer to look at a future in a more fruitful in-house role given that the “legal imperatives remain the same” in both capacities.
