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Akhil Bhardwaj

@akhilbhardwaj

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Legal & Contracts Leader | 18+ yrs | Tech & Procurement | Global Experience

India

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What I'm looking for

I seek a role that offers strategic challenges, opportunities for growth, and a collaborative culture.

I am a seasoned legal professional with deep expertise in managing end-to-end contract lifecycles, strategic negotiations, and legal operations for global organizations. With a strong footprint across IT, SaaS, PaaS, fintech, and professional services sectors, I’ve helped Fortune 500s and emerging startups navigate complex legal environments with ease and efficiency.

Having worked with Cisco Systems, State Street Bank and Trust, and Sirion, I have supported sourcing, sales, and procurement functions across Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. In my current capacity as an independent consultant, I actively partner with startups and high-growth ventures to:

• Build contract suites and scalable legal workflows from the ground up

• Provide expert-level review, negotiation, and risk mitigation of commercial agreements

• Establish legal departments and internal compliance frameworks for investor-readiness

• Train cross-functional teams (legal, HR, finance, delivery) in contracting and legal operations

• Support RFPs, vendor onboarding, IP/license management, and strategic negotiations

I’ve managed multimillion-dollar procurement portfolios, driven double-digit cost savings, and been recognized with awards like Cisco’s “Excellence Working Across Boundaries” and “Win Together”. My practical, tech-savvy approach, combined with legal rigor and business alignment, positions me as a trusted partner to global legal, procurement, and startup teams.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Contracting: SaaS, PaaS, software dev., licensing, cloud, supply chain, staffing, SOWs, NDAs

• Procurement & Vendor Management: RFP/RFQ, vendor selection, cost savings, negotiation

• Legal Tech & Tools: CLM automation, iProcurement, legal process improvement

• Regulatory & Compliance: Risk advisory, policy drafting, stakeholder training, audits

• Team & Project Leadership: Training, cross-functional collaboration, people management

• Start-up Legal Enablement: Legal department setup, contract frameworks, investor readiness

• Geographies: Extensive experience across Americas, EMEA, APACJ

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Legal Consultant

Current

Legal Consultant (Independent)

Feb 2023 - Present (2 years 5 months)

Provided expert legal consultation on diverse matters, including contract management, compliance, and risk mitigation. Advised clients on strategic legal approaches and dispute resolution.

Contract Management Negotiation Legal Advice Risk Management Compliance Legal Research

Senior Director - Legal

Sirion Labs India Pvt. Ltd.

Apr 2021 - Jan 2023 (1 year 9 months)

Led the legal department, overseeing global IT, licensing, and professional services contracts. Managed contractual disputes and provided strategic legal advice to senior management.

Global IT Contracts Licensing SaaS PaaS Contract Negotiation Legal Advice Team Management Automated CLM Tools

Asst. Vice President (Contracts & Compliance, Legal Support)

State Street Bank and Trust

Jan 2019 - Mar 2021 (2 years 2 months)

Managed contracts and compliance, providing essential legal support for banking and financial services operations. Developed and reviewed policies to minimize legal exposure and manage risk effectively.

Legal Support Policy Development Risk Management Financial Services Law Corporate Law Stakeholder Management

Contract Negotiator & Global Sourcing Commodity Manager

Cisco Systems India Pvt. Ltd.

Dec 2011 - Jan 2019 (7 years 1 month)

Negotiated global sourcing contracts and managed commodities, including a $120M USD spend for Offshore Development Centers. Achieved significant annual savings by optimizing supplier relationships and implementing value engineering initiatives.

Contract Negotiation Sourcing Commodity Management Supplier Management

Legal Professional

First Advantage Offshore Services Pvt. Ltd.

Provided legal support and managed contracts for offshore services, ensuring compliance with legal frameworks. Contributed to the efficient administration of legal processes.

Compliance Corporate Training

Legal Professional

Amicorp Management India Pvt. Ltd.

Handled various legal aspects of management services, focusing on corporate and contractual matters. Assisted in drafting and reviewing corporate documents and providing general legal advice.

Corporate Law Contract Drafting Legal Advice Compliance Risk Management

Legal Professional

Advantedge Global Services Pvt. Ltd.

Supported global services operations with legal expertise, including contract review and dispute management. Ensured adherence to legal standards across different geographies.

Contract Review Legal Compliance

Legal Professional

Brightleaf Corporation

Focused on legal solutions, likely involving contract abstraction and analysis for various clients. Utilized automated tools to streamline legal processes.

Contract Abstraction Automated CLM Tools Data Analysis

Legal Professional

Lexeva Legal Solutions

Provided legal solutions and advisory services, specializing in contract lifecycle management and legal process optimization. Assisted clients in navigating complex legal landscapes.

Contract Lifecycle Management Advisory Risk Mitigation

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

K.U.D.D.E (KA)

LL.M (Business Laws), Business Laws

Pursued advanced studies in Business Laws, gaining specialized knowledge in corporate legal frameworks and commercial regulations. Focused on the intricacies of business transactions and legal compliance.

Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.)

BA.LLB (Hons.), Law

Completed a comprehensive integrated law program with honors, covering various aspects of legal studies. Developed a strong foundation in legal principles, research, and analytical skills.