“The real shift ahead will be from treating privacy as a legal checkbox to making it part of core business strategy.” – Ankita Sabharwal, Managing Associate at Chadha & Chadha.

This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

Being in this industry with such diverse experience, what initially motivated you to choose law as a career, and what inspired you to specialize in Intellectual Property, Data Privacy, and Technology Law?

As a child, I was always writing poems for school magazines. I still recall one incident when I shared an unwritten poem with a classmate, only to find it published under his name in the very next issue. I came home in tears, and that’s when my mother first introduced me to the concept of copyright. That moment sparked my curiosity about how law can protect creativity and original thought.

Naturally, when I began my career, intellectual property became my first area of focus. Over time, as I engaged with clients and industries evolving rapidly in the digital age, I found myself drawn to the adjoining fields of technology and data privacy. It felt like a natural transition, broadening my horizon from protecting creative works to safeguarding innovation, digital assets, and personal data.

Today, my work allows me to bring these threads together: using IP, technology, and privacy law not just as legal tools, but as enablers of innovation and trust in an increasingly interconnected world.

You started your career at top-tier firms specializing in IP. What early experiences helped lay the foundation for your practice, and how did you navigate your way into such prestigious firms straight out of law school?

When I first joined my law firm, most of my work was around intellectual property including litigation, opinions, and strategy. That’s when the GDPR had just come in, and suddenly everyone was talking about data privacy. I remember being really curious about it and actively looking for ways to get involved in those matters, even while my main focus was IP.

What struck me was how naturally the two fields connected. On one hand, I was helping protect brands and creative works, and on the other, I was seeing how technology and privacy were becoming equally critical for businesses. That overlap made me want to broaden my horizon beyond IP, and it eventually set me on the path of building a practice at the intersection of IP, data privacy, and technology law.

With years of experience across various domains in IP law, how do you approach complex IP disputes especially in the brand protection domain, and what are the key challenges in managing global IP portfolios?

In IP disputes, whether trademarks, patents, or copyrights, I focus on aligning enforcement with the client’s long-term strategy and reputation. In brand protection, a recurring challenge is timing. Many businesses delay securing rights until the brand has grown or infringement has already occurred. The same happens with patents, where filings are often an afterthought instead of being integrated with R&D. Another common issue is skipping clearance searches, whether for trademarks or prior art in patents, which leads to avoidable disputes and costs. The key is to start early, secure strong and defensible rights, and stay proactive rather than reactive.

You have advised clients on data privacy compliance under DPDP, GDPR, CCPA, and other international regulations. What are the major challenges companies face while ensuring compliance with these data privacy frameworks?
One of the biggest challenges is procrastination. Companies know compliance is important but tend to delay it until there’s a breach or regulatory action, when it’s already too late. Another recurring issue is the way data is handled: it’s often scattered across departments, systems, and vendors without proper mapping or controls. Many organizations don’t even have a clear view of what data they collect, where it’s stored, or how long they retain it. Without that foundation, compliance with frameworks like DPDP, GDPR, or CCPA becomes patchwork. The real solution is to start early, streamline data handling, and embed privacy into day-to-day processes rather than treating it as a last-minute fix.

What are the most critical considerations when drafting and negotiating technology contracts, licensing agreements, or cross-border data transfer agreements?

For me, the most critical part of drafting or negotiating technology contracts, licensing agreements, or cross-border data transfer agreements is balance. On one side, you have the legal and regulatory requirements i.e., data transfer restrictions, liability, compliance with GDPR or DPDP, and so on. But on the other, you have the business reality: both parties want a workable, commercial arrangement that doesn’t get buried under red tape. I’ve seen that the real challenges often lie in the details, how data is actually handled day to day, who has access, how risks are allocated if something goes wrong. Cross-border transfers especially demand extra care, because you’re not just dealing with contracts but also with differing legal regimes and enforcement landscapes. So the key for me is clarity and practicality, making sure the contract reflects not just what looks good on paper but how the technology, data, and partnership will function in real life. That’s where the trust between parties really gets built.

Having handled numerous brand protection, domain name disputes, and anti-counterfeiting enforcement cases, can you share one of the most challenging cases you’ve worked on and how you navigated it?

While I can’t share client names, I can say I’ve handled everything from pharma to fashion to OEMs, and each sector brings its own unique challenges. One of the toughest situations I dealt with was a large-scale counterfeiting network spread across multiple jurisdictions. It wasn’t just about seizing counterfeit goods, it involved coordinating with law enforcement, navigating cross-border enforcement hurdles, and simultaneously managing domain name takedowns and online marketplaces. What made it challenging was the scale and speed at which counterfeiters adapt. Every time we shut down one channel, another would emerge. The way we navigated it was through a multi-pronged approach through legal actions, customs enforcement, online monitoring, and working closely with investigators. It taught me that brand protection today isn’t just about one-off enforcement, but about building a continuous, layered strategy.

How has speaking at global conferences and publishing on technology and data privacy shaped your perspective and practice? What advice would you offer to students aspiring to enter this field, and what resources would you recommend to stay current?

I still remember my very first global conference as a young attorney. I was so anxious, sitting in the audience, just trying to absorb everything and wondering if I would ever have the courage to stand on that stage. To look back now and see the journey from being an eager attendee to becoming a speaker is something that feels very special. Speaking at these forums and writing on technology and data privacy has given me incredible exposure. It has shaped the way I think and connected me with inspiring people from all over the world. More than anything, it has taught me that this field never stands still, and the best way to grow is to keep learning and sharing.

For students who want to step into this space, my advice would be to focus on upskilling and to trust the process. Don’t feel pressured to be part of the rat race. Choose your own path, follow what excites you, and keep nurturing that interest. In the long run, it is passion and consistency that will set you apart. To stay current, I would suggest keeping an eye on regulatory updates, following thought leaders, and most importantly, engaging in conversations, because some of the most valuable insights come not from books, but from exchanging ideas with others who share your curiosity.

As someone who oversees high-stakes matters, manages teams, and mentors the next generation of associates, how do you manage everything such as handling complex legal mandates, and what qualities do you value most in your team members?

To be honest, I don’t think I do much! It’s the young associates who make it all possible. They come in with so much commitment, energy, and willingness to learn that managing high-stakes matters becomes a shared effort rather than a burden. My role is simply to guide and support them, but the drive really comes from their side.

What I value most in my team is sincerity, curiosity, and ownership. These are qualities they already bring to the table, and they inspire me as much as I hope to mentor them. At the end of the day, it’s their dedication that keeps everything moving, and I feel fortunate to be surrounded by such motivated people.

What emerging trends in AI, blockchain, or digital technologies do you see shaping the future of IP and data privacy law?

I think the future of IP and data privacy law will be shaped by how we respond to technologies. With AI, the big questions are around authorship and ownership, who owns AI-generated outputs and the privacy risks that come from training on massive datasets. Blockchain adds another dimension: while decentralization is powerful, it raises real challenges for enforcement and even basic rights like data erasure.

What excites me most is data privacy itself. It’s often seen as a compliance burden, but I see it as business-friendly. Strong privacy practices don’t just avoid penalties, they build trust, open up cross-border opportunities, and become a differentiator in crowded markets. The real shift ahead will be from treating privacy as a legal checkbox to making it part of core business strategy.

Looking ahead, where do you see your practice evolving over the next five years, and what areas are you most excited to focus on?

I honestly don’t know what life will look like five years from now, and maybe that’s the beauty of it. What I do know is that I want to keep learning, keep growing, and keep challenging myself to create a deeper impact through my work in IP, technology, and data privacy. But more than that, what excites me is the opportunity to create a path for others.

As a first-generation lawyer, I know what it feels like to start without a roadmap, to rely on sheer hard work and belief. Over the next five years, I want to not only grow but also make sure that others like me, first-gen lawyers know they can dare to dream, carve their own space, and make it big. If my journey can inspire even a few to believe that it’s possible, that would be the most meaningful achievement of all.

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