Cyril Shroff, IIM Ahmedabad join hands to launch leadership academy for General Counsels

Cyril Shroff, managing partner of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, one of the country’s largest law firms and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Cyril Shroff – IIMA GC Leadership Academy to launch an executive education programme for general counsel, as the role continues its shift from legal adviser to enterprise strategist.

The initiative, described by its founders as a philanthropic venture rather than a commercial one, will combine IIMA's case-based teaching methods with CAM's expertise on the evolving demands placed on in-house legal leaders.

The academy will concentrate on four areas: boardroom and enterprise leadership; the integration of finance and strategy into legal decision-making; preparedness for artificial intelligence and other emerging technology risks; and international peer networking among senior GCs.


“Great professions are shaped not only by individual excellence, but by institutions that endure. The Cyril Shroff – IIMA GC Leadership Academy is a deliberate step towards institution-building for the legal profession and long-term stewardship of the in-house counsel community,” said Cyril Shroff. “The role of General Counsel has moved from legal advisory to enterprise leadership, with responsibilities spanning governance, strategy, technology, risk and business transformation. Through this leadership Academy, we hope to build a globally relevant platform that prepares the next generation of General Counsels to lead with judgement, capability and purpose,” he added in the release.

The development comes as general counsel at large companies are increasingly expected to sit close to the centre of corporate decision-making, taking on responsibilities that extend well beyond contract review and litigation oversight to include risk management, technology governance and boardroom strategy. The release states that the executive education tailored specifically to that shift has so far been limited, according to the academy's founders.

“This partnership and the academy signify our shared commitment to foster leadership for global institutions at the intersection of law, business, and governance,” said Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA. “By focusing on core priorities such as enterprise leadership, finance integration, and technological readiness, we aim to equip legal counsels with the knowledge and tools they need to excel in their roles,” he added.

Paridhi Adani, Founder Family and Partner (Head – Gujarat), Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, said, as expectations from legal leaders continue to expand, the Academy will provide a platform for GCs to broaden their perspectives, build enterprise leadership capability and participate in a globally positioned learning community.

IIMA, founded in 1961, is ranked first among Indian institutions in the government's National Institutional Ranking Framework for 2025 and counts more than 47,000 alumni. CAM employs more than 1,500 lawyers, including 250 partners, across nine offices spanning India, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.