The road less travelled – Cipla GC Murali Neelakantan resigns to focus on policy work, education projects

Cipla’s Global General Counsel Murali Neelakantan has resigned to focus on a variety of policy, education and other projects, reported Legally India. Murali had joined Cipla in 2013 from Khaitan & Co, making a move from law firm role to in-house role..On his decision to resign, Murali commented,.“There is a stage in people’s life to move forward. There are some clients of mine who want me to consult; I will continue to do that.”.He further said,.“I have tried to teach last couple of years but it is very difficult to take time off from work and do that. I want to do more of that. There is a lot of policy work, which I don’t think is done enough in India. Think Tanks are still very young. There is a chance to put to use my 20 years of experience and get beyond just mere transactions.”.Murali is a graduate of National Law School of India University, starting his career at Nishith Desai Associates after which he moved to London to work at Simmons & Simmons. He worked there for six years after which he moved to Arnold & Porter. In 2005, he was made equity partner and co-chair Asia working group at Arnold. Thereafter, in 2007 he moved to Ashurst as Head of India practice..However, after a brief stint at Ashurst, Murali moved back to India in 2008 when he joined Khaitan & Co as a Senior Partner..Last year, Gautam Rohidekar, former VP and Deputy Head of Legal at Infosys, joined Cipla as Chief Legal Officer.