Neha Sharma: Guiding Business with Law and Integrity

How a courtroom expert fuels ethical growth at Corporate.

Building a strong business is much like preparing a perfect meal, it requires the right ingredients, careful attention, and respect for the process. At Barbeque Nation, where every dish is crafted to bring people together, trust and consistency are key. Behind this smooth experience is more than just chefs and servers; it is also a careful framework of rules and decisions that keep the company honest and growing. This is where Neha Sharma steps in.

She knows that law is not only about courtroom battles but about setting a firm foundation for a business to thrive. With an LL.B. and an LL.M. focused on Corporate, Commercial, and Business Laws, she spent over 7 years in litigation, learning how to argue cases and think on her feet. Yet, she realized that law’s real power lies in guiding companies to act responsibly and build lasting trust.

Switching from litigation to the corporate side was a turning point. At Barbeque Nation Hospitality Ltd., Neha applies her legal knowledge to help the business grow ethically and sustainably. She works behind the scenes, making sure every decision aligns with legal standards and moral values.
For her, legal work goes beyond avoiding risks. It means shaping policies that support transparent operations and foster long-term relationships, with customers, partners, and employees alike. In a hospitality business, where reputation matters immensely, Neha’s role ensures that trust remains at the core.

She believes that law is a tool for positive change, a way to protect the company’s future by embedding fairness and integrity into its everyday actions. Her job is to understand the business fully and guide it through the complex web of regulations without losing sight of its mission.

Neha’s journey from courtroom advocate to corporate guide shows how law can be a foundation for real growth. Her work at Barbeque Nation is a reminder that the strongest businesses are built not just on good products but on values that stand the test of time.

The Influences That Shape a Legal Mind

One of the most formative influences in Neha’s career was growing up around people who valued discipline and fairness. Early in her career, she worked on high-stakes litigation matters, representing big corporates before Courts & Tribunals

That experience formed her mindset: law must be precise, but it must also be principled. Later, entering the corporate space gave her a new lens, to see law as a tool for collaboration, innovation, and value creation. It is this blend of courtroom clarity and boardroom strategy that defines her current philosophy: to be the lawyer who listens, leads, and lifts not just legally, but ethically and intelligently.

When Decisive Action Secures Success

Building on the foundation shaped by discipline and fairness, Neha recalls a pivotal moment when a major deal faced collapse due to a last-minute legal challenge. While others hesitated, she stepped forward, took charge, and proposed a revised structure.

Her clear approach quickly gained alignment from all parties involved, ultimately saving the deal. She emphasized that clarity, speed, and the confidence to act when others hesitate can make all the difference in critical situations.

Integrity Above All

Following decisive action, Neha stands firm on a principle she considers essential, integrity. There have been situations where commercial interests clashed with compliance boundaries.

Instead of giving in to shortcuts, she focuses on resolving issues through communication because she believes a lawyer’s credibility is their biggest currency. Ethics are not roadblocks; they are roadmaps. Standing her ground respectfully earns her respect in return.

Bridging the Gap Between Law and Technology

Aligned with her commitment to integrity, Neha recognizes a pressing challenge where legal frameworks lag behind fast-moving technology. Areas such as fintech regulation, data privacy, and digital disruption present complexities where laws trail behind innovation.

Through her work, she addresses this gap by enhancing her expertise in emerging fields like FinTech Law and International Contract Enforcement. Her focus remains on helping organizations move beyond mere compliance to becoming prepared for future legal landscapes.

Challenging Tradition to Drive Legal Innovation

As Neha works to bridge the gap between law and technology, she remembers a key moment early in her career when she proposed overhauling traditional legal workflows with automation and specialized software. Although, the idea was met with skepticism.

However, she stood by her vision. The change led to faster decisions, reduced legal spend, and empowered internal teams with better legal awareness and quicker results. The reward was not just operational but cultural as well. She learned that innovation begins with conviction, not consensus.

Strength Through Purpose and Reflection

Neha explains that resilience is not formed in courtrooms or boardrooms but in moments when one chooses to continue despite challenges. She has encountered public scrutiny and internal pressure, yet a clear understanding of purpose has helped her remain steady.

Reading serves as her anchor, with books broadening her thinking, vocabulary, and ability to communicate effectively. They reinforce the idea that every setback represents a moment in time and that no single case outweighs the importance of one’s greater purpose.

Leadership as Influence and Mentorship

Neha believes leadership transcends titles and is rooted in influence. She has consistently embraced the principle of lifting others while advancing in her own career. Her guidance extends beyond technical skills such as contract drafting, aiming to help colleagues discover their unique legal voices.

Mentorship, for her, encompasses fostering the right mindset, clarity, and confidence, values instilled during her own upbringing. Watching those she mentors grow into independent legal professionals provides a deeply rewarding experience.

Standing Firm in Difficult Decisions

There was a time when Neha faced pressure to support a course of action that seemed quick and commercially convenient, but legally and ethically she could not align with it. She stepped into that meeting with data in hand, law on her side, and calm conviction in her voice.

She respectfully laid out an alternative path that took longer but preserved the company’s legal standing and brand reputation. It was not the most popular choice at the time, but eventually, it proved to be the right one. That experience taught her that influence is not about pleasing everyone; it is about standing steady when it matters and building trust through truth.

Driving Legal Strategy Through Growth and Innovation

Neha treats legal strategy like growth hacking, involving experiment, optimization, and adaptation. She uses tools to streamline contract cycles, automate compliance tracking, and integrate legal with business thinking.

Personally, she commits to ongoing learning, starting from CS finals to international certifications in fintech and contracting. Growth is not just what she does; it is also how she thinks.

The Cost of Legal Excellence

Neha reflects on her journey, acknowledging the late nights, missed birthdays, and emotional fatigue that accompany the path she chose. These experiences have built her into a sharper, stronger, and more grounded individual.

The sacrifices taught her discipline with time, emotional balance, and the power of perseverance. These lessons have influenced not only her career but also her character.

Guided by Truth, Structure, and Adaptability

In moments of doubt or uncertainty, Neha relies on three core values to guide her decision-making as a legal mind of influence. Truth serves as her anchor, keeping her grounded in reality. Structure enables her to think with clarity and order.

Adaptability allows her to evolve alongside the ever-changing demands of the legal profession. Rather than seeking perfection, she strives for precision, a well-defined process, and clear purpose.

Redefining Legal Leadership for the Future

Neha wants to leave behind a new definition of legal leadership, one that is tech-savvy, ethically grounded, and strategically aligned. She envisions a future where in-house legal teams are not just reactive support systems but proactive value creators.

Every time she mentors, optimizes a workflow, or chooses integrity over convenience, she moves one step closer to that legacy.