Head & Group General Counsel, Hdfc Bank
Search every verified Sudhir Jha interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a July 2025 interview, Sudhir Jha, Group Head and Group General Counsel at HDFC Bank, discussed his philosophy on law and leadership. He described a lawyer as "a sharp knife" and emphasized that lawyers should understand the industries they advise, which led him to pursue a master's in finance. Jha stated he does not believe in work-life balance but in "equilibrium," and credited his family for supporting his career and academic pursuits, including doctoral research in finance. He advised young lawyers to focus on enjoying the practice of law for several years and to read unrelated subjects for inspiration. Jha also reflected on the human aspects of legal work, recounting a difficult experience while handling a case at ICICI where he had to enforce a court order to take possession of a property, displacing workers and their families. He said such situations require a "total revolution" in how the law is applied, noting that "there are human aspects that come in which don't seem right when you're strictly following the law." Jha described his leadership style as inclusive, stating that "people make you a leader" and that he encourages even trainees to argue and express their views. He expressed a desire to be remembered not for his position but for being helpful to those in his life)Skip
“I always believed that a lawyer is like a sharp knife and if you're sharp enough you can cut everything that you want. That's how I moved on to finance.”
“Being a lawyer, you can't be just a lawyer. You should understand the area where you are advising. To understand that area better, you need to equip yourself with the basic knowledge and the tools. That is how I pursued my masters in finance.”
“One of the biggest saddest experiences I had was when I was handling De Motors at ICICI. You have all the powers and court orders to take possession, but when you enter, you see workers and laborers who have lost their jobs. You have to throw them out to take possession. This is where the conscience comes in, questioni...”
“In law, you can take a decision just by following the law, but there are human aspects that come in which don't seem right when you're strictly following the law.”
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