Diageo-owned United Spirits appoints Games24x7’s Sameer Chugh as new legal head

Mumbai: United Spirits Ltd, a company owned by the world’s largest spirits maker, Diageo, appointed Sameer Chugh as General Counsel for India, effective December 1, 2026, the company said in a regulatory filing.

The company also said in its stock exchange filing that Shobana Nikam, executive vice president and general counsel, has tendered her resignation from the services of the company with effect from the end of business hours of October 31, 2026.

“Sameer Chugh has over 30 years of experience in legal leadership across highly regulated sectors, with expertise in corporate governance, M&A, litigation, regulatory matters and commercial transactions,” said the company in an exchange filing. “He joins the Company from Games24x7, where he serves as Chief Legal Officer/ General Counsel,” the company added.


An alumnus of Symbiosis Law School and UCL (University College London), Chugh began his career at law firm Singhania & Co. in 1996 and later joined Kochhar & Co. He joined NCR Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. as legal counsel and later moved to BT India Pvt Ltd and BT PLC. In 2008, he joined the Essar Group and moved to Cummins India in 2011.

In 2014, he moved to Bharti Group, where he rose to Group General Counsel and led legal strategy across multiple businesses and geographies.

He was a partner at law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and later joined Games 24X7.

“Sameer is clear-headed and driven,” said a senior executive who worked with Chugh. “He combines a pragmatic, deadline-driven approach with a problem-solving attitude, which was a real asset.”