Ranganath Khanolkar

About Ranganath Khanolkar

A seasoned legal director and business partner with 18+ years of experience steering technology companies through complex legal landscapes. My career has purposefully evolved from a foundation in corporate governance to a leadership role encompassing commercial contracting, technology law, global data privacy, and APJ employment matters, allowing me to serve as a comprehensive legal advisor. My expertise lies in building and leading legal teams that go beyond risk mitigation to become true business enablers, committed to achieving operational excellence and enabling company objectives while upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.My approach is pragmatic and solutions-oriented, focused on finding a clear path to \"yes\" while ensuring robust compliance and governance.My core areas of expertise include:• Technology & Commercial Leadership: Leading legal support for software licensing, SaaS/PaaS agreements, procurement, and channel partnerships across the APJ region. Proven track record of successfully negotiating multi-million-dollar contracts with diverse counterparties, from global financial institutions to public sector entities.• Privacy & AI Governance: Certified expert (CIPP/A, CIPM, AIGP) in global data privacy and program management. Adept at navigating cross-jurisdictional data protection laws, managing privacy assessments, and building frameworks for emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence. I am passionate about leveraging the opportunities presented by India\'s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA).• Team Leadership & Legal Operations: Experienced in building, mentoring, and leading legal teams. In my current role, I have lead the set up of a global Legal Center of Excellence (CoE) in India, streamlining processes for NDA reviews, procurement, and trade compliance to serve the global organization.• Generative AI & Legal Tech Evangelist: As an early adopter of Generative AI tools, I actively leverage technology to enhance legal service delivery, significantly improving turnaround times and team efficiency.

Experience

1. Director, Legal

   Elastic

   Aug 2024 — Present · IN

   a) Build & Lead a global Legal Center of Excellence (CoE) of 3 lawyers in India, establishing and managing global processes for customer NDA reviews, procurement contracting, and trade compliance screenings.(b) Serve as the lead APJ Regional Counsel for all employment law and litigation matters, providing strategic guidance across multiple jurisdictions.(c) Directed a critical remediation project to overhaul labor law compliance for the Indian entity, mitigating significant legal and financial risk.(d) Architected and launched the company\'s first formal POSH Committee in India, including redrafting the policy and implementing robust internal procedures for administration and compliance.

Education

• The Institute of Company Secretaries of India

  ACS, Corporate Law

  2003 — 2008

• University of Mumbai

  B. Com, Commerce, Accountancy & Audit

  1999 — 2004

• National Law School of India University

  Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Laws, Intellectual Property Law

  2013 — 2014

• University of Mumbai

  LL. B., Law

  2008 — 2011

Skills

• Legal Advice
• Company Secretarial
• Company Secretarial Work
• Trademarks
• Expectations Management
• Corporate Law
• Intellectual Property
• Legal Compliance
• Contracts Review
• Risk Management
• Team Management
• Legal Assistance
• Joint Ventures
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Corporate Governance
• Corporate Finance
• Commercial Contracts
• Compliance
• Due Diligence
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Time Management