Kanishk, currently Director of Legal at Uber for India, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, is set to join Google as India Legal Head in September 2026. Google confirmed the appointment to Bar & Bench, marking one of the more closely watched in-house moves in India’s technology sector this year. Kanishk brings close to two decades of legal experience spanning private practice and in-house roles.
The move comes months after Google’s previous India Head of Legal, Bijoya Roy, stepped down after serving in the role for approximately 16 months. Kanishk steps into the position at a time when Google continues to navigate a series of legal and regulatory challenges in India, including ongoing antitrust proceedings and a recent Delhi High Court ruling holding the company liable for trademark infringement in the Hindware keyword advertising dispute.
Kanishk joined Uber in 2022 as Director of Legal for India, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, transitioning from a 15-year career in private practice to his first in-house role. His appointment at Google signals a significant step up in the scope of his in-house responsibilities.
Education Background and Career Progression
Education
Kanishk is a 2007 graduate of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata.
Career Journey
Kanishk began his legal career at the erstwhile Amarchand Mangaldas, before continuing at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, with a cumulative tenure of approximately 15 years across both firms. His private practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, defence procurement, and general corporate advisory. In 2022, he made his transition to an in-house role, joining Uber as Director of Legal for India, South Asia, and Southeast Asia — a position he has held until his upcoming departure. He is scheduled to formally take up the India Legal Head role at Google in September 2026.
Strategic Significance
Kanishk’s nearly two decades of experience in M&A, defence procurement, and general corporate advisory equips him well for the breadth of legal challenges Google faces in India. His arrival consolidates Google’s India legal leadership at a moment of heightened regulatory scrutiny, including antitrust proceedings and active litigation in the Delhi High Court over keyword advertising practices. The hire signals Google’s intent to anchor its India legal function with counsel who has deep transactional and regulatory grounding.
For more partner moves and lateral updates, see Inside the Partnership.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on the details provided.
