THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

SONIPAT, JANUARY 29, 2026

 Innovation must walk hand in hand with ethics if artificial intelligence is to meaningfully transform the legal profession, said Cyril Shroff, Managing Partner of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Chairperson of the Cyril Shroff Centre for AI, Law and Regulation, while delivering a Distinguished Public Lecture at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) . Speaking on the theme “Law, Leadership & Legacy: Redefining the Indian Legal Profession for a Changing World,” Shroff placed India’s constitutional values, national identity and commitment to the rule of law at the heart of the global conversation on leadership and technological change.

Emphasising India’s civilisational ethos and its path of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Shroff said the country has a unique opportunity to stand apart amid global turmoil by remaining anchored to the Constitution, strong domestic institutions and democratic values. He observed that while the world is witnessing a decline in respect for constitutional and international legal frameworks, India continues to function as a resilient democracy with working courts and robust institutions, which together safeguard freedom and societal stability.

Reflecting on India’s journey, Shroff described the Constitution as not merely a legal document but a way of life, echoing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision. He noted that while political freedom was achieved in 1947 and economic freedom gained momentum in 1991, the coming decades will be defined by how firmly India upholds the rule of law, builds economic resilience and secures technological sovereignty. With the global order increasingly divided into competing spheres of influence, he said AI capability, technology and sovereignty will play a decisive role in shaping nations’ futures—an insight that motivated the establishment of the Cyril Shroff Centre for AI, Law and Regulation.

Looking ahead to India@2047, Shroff called for a modern, innovative and globally competitive legal profession aligned with India’s aspiration to become a developed nation. He shared how reforms within his firm, including new career tracks and inclusive partnership models, helped modernise professional structures. Today, he noted, AI is already transforming legal practice, demanding continuous learning, adaptability and an innovative mindset to respond to new laws, regulations and commercial realities.

Shroff underlined that ethics must remain the foundation of this transformation. He stressed the need to use technology to improve access to justice, streamline dispute resolution and separate administrative inefficiencies from the justice delivery system. He also pointed to the lack of alignment between academia, the private sector and the state as a key reason India lags in true innovation, urging deeper collaboration to address the ethical, legal and societal challenges posed by AI.

Sharing her reflections, Paridhi Adani, Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, highlighted the immense possibilities emerging from meaningful collaborations through the Cyril Shroff Centre. She said JGU is building a legacy for a new India, and the Centre is especially timely in responding to the urgent need for thoughtful engagement at the intersection of technology, law and regulation.

Welcoming Shroff, Prof. C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, described him as a transformative force in India’s corporate and legal landscape. He said the enduring partnership between JGU and the Shroff family has led to the creation of a unique, multidisciplinary initiative in the form of the Cyril Shroff Centre for AI, Law and Regulation, which has grown rapidly since its inception and is poised to shape global conversations on AI governance.

Shroff also addressed the importance of gender balance in the legal profession, noting that more than two-thirds of his firm’s workforce comprises women, many of whom hold leadership roles. Calling upon young lawyers to modernise and disrupt traditional practices, he urged them to prepare the profession for the future as India emerges as one of the world’s leading economies.

The lecture underscored the evolving interface between AI, law and regulation, the role of the Cyril Shroff Centre in shaping global research and policy on AI governance, and the critical importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in addressing AI’s growing influence.

The session concluded with introductory remarks by Prof. Padmanabha Ramanujam, Dean, Office of Academic Governance and Student Life, and an introduction to the Centre by Professor Sidharth Chauhan, Director of the Cyril Shroff Centre for AI, Law & Regulation.