Prateek Srivastava

About Prateek Srivastava

Senior legal professional with 13+ years of post-qualification experience (PQE) in the FMCG sector, currently leading legal strategy for USD 2.7 Bn business units at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)-Proven track record of delivering strategic legal counsel, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation in fast-paced, high-growth environments-Former Head – Legal & Corporate Affairs for Unilever Nepal, a listed entity, with experience in cross-border legal advisory, international compliance, and stakeholder management-Deep expertise in Consumer Protection Laws, Employment & Labor Laws, Food Safety Regulations, Intellectual Property (IP), Brand Protection, Contract Management, Commercial Agreements, Dispute Resolution, and Statutory Compliance-Skilled in litigation management, contract negotiation, regulatory audits, and policy development aligned with business objectives-Successfully implemented legal tech solutions, compliance frameworks, and internal governance policies to enhance operational efficiency and legal safeguards-Recognized for a leadership mindset and ability to partner with CXOs, Boards, and external regulators to provide actionable legal insights and drive compliance-led transformation-Adept at managing enterprise-wide legal risks, supporting corporate governance, and enabling sustainable business growth through proactive legal strategy-Passionate about aligning legal operations with business continuity, profitability, and long-term value creation.

Experience

1. Regional Legal Counsel- Central India

   Unilever

   Jan 2024 — Present · Lucknow, IN

   Serve as Legal Partner to Regional Leadership Team for Central India (4 States, USD 1.5 Bn turnover, 2 offices), providing strategic counsel on business-critical issues.• Partner with the Sales (Customer Development) ecosystem of distributors, advising on policies, structuring, disputes, and compliance across the distribution network.• Advise the Supply Chain network comprising 4 factories & 8 depots on governance, compliance, external engagement, and regulatory risk management.• Lead a 6 member legal & brand protection team, ensuring agile legal support and business enablement.• Spearhead litigation strategy across 150+ active cases (civil, criminal, FSSA, consumer, labour, metrology), securing 100% targeted disposals and limiting new litigation inflow to single digits in the last 2 years.• Direct and oversee litigation management through 40+ external law firms, senior counsels & advocates, ensuring effective resolution and cost optimization.• Manage an annual legal budget of INR 2 Cr, deploying legal tech tools (Provakil, Jurisphere, in-house dashboards) to drive efficiency and cost savings.• Lead offline brand protection agenda across both regions; executed seizures worth INR 50+Cr through coordination with regulators (FDA, Customs, Police), industry bodies (FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, IBHA), and IP firms.• Represent the Company before Chief Minister’s Office, senior bureaucrats, and Central authorities, safeguarding business interests and influencing policy advocacy.• Drive ethical, compliance & policy governance across the region, embedding legal awareness and risk-proofing business operations.• Champion process simplification & adoption of emerging legal domains (privacy, dark patterns, digital law), strengthening the organization’s future-readiness.

Education

• Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow

  B.A. LLB(Hons), Corporate Laws, IP Laws

  2007 — 2012

• Mahanagar Boys' Inter College, Lucknow

  HSC/SSC, PCM

  2000 — 2007

Skills

• Courts
• Arbitration
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Litigation Management
• Negotiation
• Legal Research
• Management
• Corporate Governance
• Due Diligence
• Employment Law
• Patents
• Legal Compliance
• Intellectual Property
• Consumer Law
• Legal Advice
• Leadership
• Competition Law
• Copyright Law
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Communication Strategy
• Trademarks
• Cyberlaw
• Legal Recruiting
• Trademark Infringement
• Domain Names
• Legal
• Licensing
• Joint Ventures
• Legal Opinions
• Legal Assistance
• Criminal Law
• Networking
• Strategic Communications
• Copyright Litigation
• Legal Issues
• Corporate Law
• Recruiting