In the demanding corridors of Indian litigation, where strategy matters as much as stamina, Aakanksha Munjhal stands out as a litigator who blends sharp courtroom advocacy with pragmatic business sense. A Partner at Saikrishna & Associates, she brings over 17 years of experience spanning dispute resolution, regulatory advisory, and high-stakes commercial litigation before the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts.
This Koffee Conversation goes beyond legal victories to reveal the human journey of a lawyer who has questioned her path, stepped away from litigation, and consciously returned — each time with greater clarity. Aakanksha represents the modern litigator: intellectually rigorous, emotionally grounded, and unafraid to evolve while staying true to her core identity as a courtroom professional.
Aakanksha’s career has been shaped by exploration and self-realisation. She moved fluidly between litigation, in-house roles, and policy work — including stints with Walmart and UNDP — only to discover that litigation was not just a profession, but her natural calling. Each return to the courtroom reinforced her belief that strategy, preparation, and negotiation are inseparable from effective advocacy.
Over the years, her exposure to corporate advisory and regulatory interaction transformed her into a business-minded litigator. She learned that law cannot function in isolation — businesses must keep running, regulators must be anticipated, and disputes must be resolved, not merely fought. Today, her practice reflects this balance: strategic litigation supported by commercial awareness, leadership maturity, and deep respect for mentorship and teamwork.
Key Highlights of the Koffee Conversation with Aakanksha Munjhal:
- Left litigation multiple times, only to realise she is a “thoroughbred litigator.”
- Believes litigation strategy begins at day zero, even before disputes arise.
- Sees negotiation as the ultimate goal of litigation, not endless courtroom battles.
- Handled complex celebrity and sports-body negotiations, including with cricket boards.
- Emphasises indemnity and service clauses as the toughest points in negotiations.
- Observes India is adapting to AI and personality rights, but privacy challenges remain.
- Credits Delhi High Court for pioneering judicial thinking on AI-related rights.
- Believes contract law will play a crucial role in future data-privacy protection.
- Feels fortunate to have worked in gender-agnostic professional environments.
- Warns against misguided gender policies that dilute merit-based growth.
- In-house experience transformed her into a business-oriented litigator.
- Strong advocate for broad legal training across litigation, corporate, and trial work.
- Leadership evolution: from micromanaging to empowering teams with trust.
- Advises young lawyers to observe court proceedings, ask questions, and stay diligent.
- Personal recharge comes from swimming, travel, and exploring new cities.
🎥 Watch the full Koffee Conversation with Aakanksha Munjhal on YouTube — an honest, insightful journey through litigation strategy, leadership evolution, AI-era legal challenges, and the life lessons that shape a resilient litigator.
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