Ep 111: Lessons from Ola's Former GC: Leadership, Risk, and Reinvention

Aug 21, 2025

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In this episode of The Abstract, Tyler Finn sits down with Rohit Kumar, former SVP and General Counsel at Ola and a seasoned in-house leader. Rohit reflects on his journey from corporate law firms to building scalable, tech-driven legal teams in high-growth companies. He shares insights on embracing legal technology early, managing global litigation, navigating regulatory challenges, and shaping team culture. From career pivots inspired by Charlie Munger to implementing CLM solutions ahead of the pandemic, Rohit’s story is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and leadership in the evolving legal landscape.

Read detailed transcript: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-111

Topics
Introduction 00:00
Rohit’s early career journey: choosing law and working across India and international firms 02:04
Moving from law firm life to in-house: time, control, and motivation 04:40
Adapting to in-house culture, stakeholder management, and leadership mindset 06:47
Early adoption of legal tech and compliance solutions at UPL 10:09
Pandemic-driven adoption of CLM and collaboration tools 15:21
Transitioning from traditional enterprises to founder-led tech companies and scaling Ola’s legal team 19:50
Leadership evolution: building teams, specialized roles, and creating a strong culture 22:58
High-stakes legal challenges: managing litigation and settlement strategy in Ola’s UK class action case 30:28
Regulatory complexities: two-wheeler taxis and navigating government pushback in India 37:20
Contracting efficiency: blockers to CLM adoption, improving processes, and scaling efficiency 42:37
Rapid-fire Questions 48:13

Connect with us:
Rohit Kumar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-kumar-5153715/?originalSubdomain=in
Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn
SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft

SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more.