Ahmedabad: The newly established Cyril Shroff–IIMA GC Leadership Academy will focus on developing leadership capabilities that go beyond traditional legal education, with the aim of preparing General Counsels (GCs) and senior in-house legal professionals for increasingly complex enterprise-level responsibilities.
Paridhi Adani, Founder Family and Partner (Head – Gujarat) at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM), said the academy has been created to address a gap in the professional development of legal leaders who are increasingly expected to contribute to business strategy, technology, finance, governance and organisational decision-making.
The academy was formally established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Cyril Shroff, Managing Partner of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) on August 8, 2026. The initiative is designed as a research and executive-development platform for the General Counsel community.
Focus Beyond Traditional Legal Education
Speaking about the initiative, Paridhi Adani said the academy would concentrate heavily on areas outside conventional legal and technical subjects.
According to her, today’s General Counsels operate at the intersection of finance, capital, technology, policy, regulation and business. However, traditional legal education and professional training do not always provide the broader leadership skills required to manage these responsibilities.
The new academy is intended to bridge that gap by helping legal professionals develop a wider understanding of how organisations operate and how legal leadership can contribute to enterprise-level decision-making.
The programme is expected to cover areas including policy and technology, human behaviour, business principles and other subjects that legal professionals may not routinely encounter during law school or traditional legal practice.
Why IIM Ahmedabad Was Chosen
Paridhi Adani described IIM Ahmedabad as a natural partner for the initiative because of the institution’s long-standing focus on institution-building and leadership development.
She also highlighted IIMA’s interest in examining the broader role of law and lawyers within the economy and enterprise, rather than limiting the discussion to conventional legal education.
The collaboration brings together IIMA’s expertise in management education and research with CAM’s understanding of the evolving role of in-house legal professionals.
The academy’s executive education programmes are expected to draw on IIMA’s case-based teaching approach and interdisciplinary learning capabilities.
Preparing General Counsels For Enterprise Leadership
The role of a General Counsel has changed considerably in recent years.
Rather than functioning solely as a legal adviser, senior legal executives are increasingly involved in corporate governance, risk management, business transformation, technology decisions and strategic planning.
The academy aims to help GCs develop the judgement and confidence required to participate in boardroom discussions and contribute to enterprise-wide decisions.
According to the academy’s founding announcement, its key areas of focus include boardroom and enterprise leadership, business and finance integration, technology and emerging risks, and international peer networking.
Technology And AI Among Key Areas
Technology is expected to be an important part of the academy’s broader curriculum.
As companies increasingly adopt artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, legal leaders are being asked to understand not only regulatory requirements but also the business, operational and risk implications of these technologies.
The academy therefore seeks to help General Counsels develop perspectives that connect legal expertise with technology, strategy, governance and business transformation.
Building A Stronger GC Community
Beyond classroom learning, the initiative is also expected to create a professional network for senior legal executives.
The academy’s stated objectives include structured leadership education, certification, peer learning and global exposure. This could provide General Counsels with opportunities to learn from professionals facing similar challenges across industries and markets.
The initiative is being positioned as a long-term institution-building effort rather than simply another executive education programme.
Cyril Shroff has described the academy as part of a broader commitment to strengthening leadership pathways for the in-house counsel community and preparing future legal leaders for responsibilities that extend beyond legal advisory work.
A Changing Role For Legal Leaders
The launch comes at a time when businesses are dealing with increasingly complex regulatory environments, rapid technological change, geopolitical uncertainty and evolving expectations around corporate governance.
In this environment, General Counsels are increasingly expected to understand the commercial and strategic context behind legal decisions.
The Cyril Shroff–IIMA GC Leadership Academy seeks to respond to this shift by developing professionals who can combine legal expertise with business judgement, leadership capabilities and a broader understanding of enterprise management.
