Debolina Partap: 'Advocatin' For A Healthier World
Debolina Partap
Senior Vice President Legal & Group GC
A Gold Medalist in masters of law, Debolina commenced her professional career as an advocate in 1990, specializing in commercial and constitutional law. Her first corporate stint was in the banking industry with IDBI Bank, wherein she caught eyeballs with several iconic judgments in her favor over course of 13 years, especially in South India. In 2006, she joined Wockhardt Ltd. A plethora of lawsuit wins and more than 100 awards later, Debolina today is one of the pillars of the organization in the global arena.She is responsible for all corporate legal activities of the company, including M&As IP & Litigation Management, legal compliance, transactions management, and real estate transactions, among others. She also advises top management on legal riskspertaining to the organization. It’s no wonder that Debolina’s most significant achievements are around settling complex financial cases and arbitrations filed against Wockhardt Limited, complex multi jurisdictional arbitrations on commercial disputes and settling intricate derivatives suits filed against Wockhardt group globally. Debolina is also one of the few general counsels globally who handle forensics and data analytics not to mention her tremendous contributions to Covid-19vaccine contracts amidst the pandemic.
In an exclusive interview with CEO Insights, Debolina tells us about her latest endeavors with Wockhardt.
What inspired you to venture into the legal industry, and what motivates you today?
My greatest inspirations have been path breaking leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. The very fact that in law, one gets to benchmark new beginnings in political as well as social systems of life and first of its kind in corporate transactions and structuring. The pursuit of law also sets new milestones in developing and esta
blishing a society where ethics is finally upheld.
How would you define Wockhardt Limited as an organization and its current position in the industry?
Wockhardt is a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology organization providing high quality medicines to make the world healthier. It is India’s leading research based global healthcare enterprise with relevance in Pharmaceuticals& Biotechno logy, and a chain of advanced Super Specialty Hospitals.
Wockhardt is a business in transition. New and innovative business models are in motion to make the most of emerging opportunities. Today’s new drive for growth permeates every mindset, process, and techno innovation within Wockhardt.
At Wockhardt, we are looking at new ways of thinking, new ways of working, and new ways to touch people’s lives.
Headquartered in Mumbai, India, Wockhardt has full fledged operations in the USA, UK, Ireland, and UAE. It also has its marketing presence in emerging markets of Russia, Brazil, Mexico Vietnam Phili ppines, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Nepal, Myanmar, SriLanka, Mauritius, Lebanon, and Kuwait.
On the other hand, Wockhardt’s CSR arm Wockhardt Foundation, has touched more than three million lives through its various medical and social programs and initiatives in a short period. The Foundation is a movement for human values, social awareness, and social development. Wockhardt aspires to create a healthier world.
What’s the success mantra that constantly helps you arrive at positive outcomes?
My approach as an inhouse counsel has always been solution oriented. Further, I have given a lot of importance to the people issues, be it a problem, a transaction, or litigation. I always concentrate on the issues the people or group face rather than focusing on the problem or transaction. This helps have a 360 view of the issue andreach the win win end.
Being the Group General Counsel, how do you plan to apply your exceptional under standing of this domain to take Wockhardt to the next level?
I want to take Wockhardt Group to a pedestal where the organization has bench marked its intellectual properties & systems and processes
How would you define Wockhardt Limited as an organization and its current position in the industry?
Wockhardt is a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology organization providing high quality medicines to make the world healthier. It is India’s leading research based global healthcare enterprise with relevance in Pharmaceuticals& Biotechno logy, and a chain of advanced Super Specialty Hospitals.
I always concentrate on the issues the people or group face rather than focusing on the problem or transaction. This helps have a 360 view of the issue and reach the winwin end
Wockhardt is a business in transition. New and innovative business models are in motion to make the most of emerging opportunities. Today’s new drive for growth permeates every mindset, process, and techno innovation within Wockhardt.
At Wockhardt, we are looking at new ways of thinking, new ways of working, and new ways to touch people’s lives.
Headquartered in Mumbai, India, Wockhardt has full fledged operations in the USA, UK, Ireland, and UAE. It also has its marketing presence in emerging markets of Russia, Brazil, Mexico Vietnam Phili ppines, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Nepal, Myanmar, SriLanka, Mauritius, Lebanon, and Kuwait.
On the other hand, Wockhardt’s CSR arm Wockhardt Foundation, has touched more than three million lives through its various medical and social programs and initiatives in a short period. The Foundation is a movement for human values, social awareness, and social development. Wockhardt aspires to create a healthier world.
What’s the success mantra that constantly helps you arrive at positive outcomes?
My approach as an inhouse counsel has always been solution oriented. Further, I have given a lot of importance to the people issues, be it a problem, a transaction, or litigation. I always concentrate on the issues the people or group face rather than focusing on the problem or transaction. This helps have a 360 view of the issue andreach the win win end.
Being the Group General Counsel, how do you plan to apply your exceptional under standing of this domain to take Wockhardt to the next level?
I want to take Wockhardt Group to a pedestal where the organization has bench marked its intellectual properties & systems and processes
to a zenith with zero tolerance for short comings and non-compliance.
What would be your advice to the budding leaders in litigation?
Sometimes, it’s good to move away from the rat race and rest for a while to progress and grow in life. Unlearning is important. All this helps in knowing the strength of the competition. So the next relay comes as a surprise, and you can put your organization ahead of everyone.
Debolina Partap, Senior Vice President Legal & Group GC, Wockhardt
An award winning counsel, Debolina is a Gold Medalist in masters of law and boasts close to three decades of experience in banking, finance, pharma, and healthcare. Her first corporate tint was in the banking industry with IDBI Bank, wherein she caught eyeballs with several iconic judgments in her favor, especially in South India. In 2006, she joined Wockhardt Ltd. A plethora of lawsuit wins and more than 100 awards later, Debolina is one of the pillars of the organization in the global arena. She has been thrice awarded the ‘Women General Counsel of Year Award’ by renowned legal associations and congress. Today Debolina is responsible for all corporate legal activities of the company, including M&As, IP & Litigation Management, legal compliance, transactions management and real estate transactions, among others. She also advises top management on legal risks to the organization. Debolina is also one of the few general counsels globally who handle forensics and data analytics, not to mention her tremendous contributions to Covid-19 vaccine contracts amidst the pandemic.
Hobbies:Abstract Sketching.
Favorite Cuisine:Indian
Favorite Book:Bhagavad Geeta
Favorite Travel Destination: Auroville
Awards & Recognition:She has won over 100 awards from renowned legal
associations and congress. This includes:
•Outstanding Achievement In House award in 2016 by Legal Era
•Leadership Excellence award for continuous growth in 2017-18 by Legal Era
•Outstanding contribution towards the Indian In house Legal community by ICCA
(Indian Corporate Counsel Association) in 2018
•Woman General Counsel for the year’ 2018 by Indian National Bar Association
•Legal World TOP 100 General Counsels’ by BW Business world &exchange4media
•Best InHouse Counsel at Individual Level under healthcare & Life sciences category by IBLJ (India Business Law Journal)
•Powerful Women in IP India 2021 by WIPF (World IP Forum)
•Best Leading Lawyers 2022 by WIPF (World IP Forum)
•Coffee Table Book – Legal Era – Powerful GC–2022
•Coffee Table Book - ‘THE PHENOMENAL SHE’ by Indian National Bar Association(INBA)
What would be your advice to the budding leaders in litigation?
Sometimes, it’s good to move away from the rat race and rest for a while to progress and grow in life. Unlearning is important. All this helps in knowing the strength of the competition. So the next relay comes as a surprise, and you can put your organization ahead of everyone.
Debolina Partap, Senior Vice President Legal & Group GC, Wockhardt
An award winning counsel, Debolina is a Gold Medalist in masters of law and boasts close to three decades of experience in banking, finance, pharma, and healthcare. Her first corporate tint was in the banking industry with IDBI Bank, wherein she caught eyeballs with several iconic judgments in her favor, especially in South India. In 2006, she joined Wockhardt Ltd. A plethora of lawsuit wins and more than 100 awards later, Debolina is one of the pillars of the organization in the global arena. She has been thrice awarded the ‘Women General Counsel of Year Award’ by renowned legal associations and congress. Today Debolina is responsible for all corporate legal activities of the company, including M&As, IP & Litigation Management, legal compliance, transactions management and real estate transactions, among others. She also advises top management on legal risks to the organization. Debolina is also one of the few general counsels globally who handle forensics and data analytics, not to mention her tremendous contributions to Covid-19 vaccine contracts amidst the pandemic.
Hobbies:Abstract Sketching.
Favorite Cuisine:Indian
Favorite Book:Bhagavad Geeta
Favorite Travel Destination: Auroville
Awards & Recognition:She has won over 100 awards from renowned legal
associations and congress. This includes:
•Outstanding Achievement In House award in 2016 by Legal Era
•Leadership Excellence award for continuous growth in 2017-18 by Legal Era
•Outstanding contribution towards the Indian In house Legal community by ICCA
(Indian Corporate Counsel Association) in 2018
•Woman General Counsel for the year’ 2018 by Indian National Bar Association
•Legal World TOP 100 General Counsels’ by BW Business world &exchange4media
•Best InHouse Counsel at Individual Level under healthcare & Life sciences category by IBLJ (India Business Law Journal)
•Powerful Women in IP India 2021 by WIPF (World IP Forum)
•Best Leading Lawyers 2022 by WIPF (World IP Forum)
•Coffee Table Book – Legal Era – Powerful GC–2022
•Coffee Table Book - ‘THE PHENOMENAL SHE’ by Indian National Bar Association(INBA)