Will AI Replace Lawyers by 2030? A Corporate Lawyer Explains | ft. Ddharaniikota Ssuyodhan

Industry Magnates Premier: Interview with Ddharaniikota Ssuyodhan, International Corporate Lawyer, Board Advisor, Author, Governance, Risk, ESG and CSR Leader with FaceTime with Leaders—A WDC Initiative. We are honored to premiere the "Industry Magnates" with our esteemed guest, Ddharaniikota Ssuyodhan. Explore leadership philosophy, ideas, and best practices that have propelled them in their professional and personal lives. Brief about Ddharaniikota Ssuyodhan: Dr. Ddharaniikota Ssuyodhan is an accomplished legal strategist, governance expert, and CSR leader with over two decades of experience in corporate law, international legal affairs, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, workplace ethics, and social impact. He currently serves as Lead Counsel – India & International Corporate Law and Head of CSR at Pega India, where he advises on domestic and cross-border legal matters, corporate governance, regulatory requirements, and risk mitigation. He also leads CSR initiatives in collaboration with government bodies, developing sustainable models that align business objectives with stakeholder interests and measurable social impact. His multidisciplinary academic qualifications include a Doctorate in Social Service, an LL.M., an MBA, and a Master’s degree in English Literature, complemented by executive learning and academic honours associated with Harvard University, Dale Carnegie Institute, and the University of California, Berkeley. His core expertise spans ESG and sustainability, policy advisory, government relations, stakeholder management, and strategic leadership. A recognised authority on workplace ethics and organisational integrity, Dr. Ddharaniikota has delivered over 1,000 global Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) training programmes, investigations, and awareness initiatives, helping organisations build inclusive and accountable workplace cultures. He has contributed to national capacity-building initiatives through the Government of India’s Centre for Entrepreneur Development and has served as a guest lecturer, industry expert, visiting faculty member, and external examiner. An accomplished author, he has written fiction and non-fiction works, including *Disha*, and co-authored *Professional Ethics for Engineers*, a textbook prescribed across more than 300 engineering colleges. His work as a television legal commentator further reflects his ability to communicate complex legal and governance matters effectively. Guided by integrity, accountability, and responsible decision-making, he advocates governance that extends beyond compliance to strengthen institutional resilience, ethical leadership, and sustainable value creation. With his combined expertise in legal strategy, risk oversight, CSR, ESG, investigations, public policy, and institutional engagement, he aspires to contribute at the board level, supporting effective governance, informed strategic decisions, stakeholder trust, and long-term organisational success. Watch the exclusive interview where our esteemed guest shares views on: 00:00 Introduction 02:21 – What inspired you to pursue law, and why did you choose to explore multiple interests rather than follow just one career path? 05:17 – Is corporate India taking POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) seriously today, or has it become just another compliance checkbox? 09:23 – From your experience as Head of CSR at Pega, where is Indian CSR genuinely creating impact, and where has it become a tick-box exercise? 13:04 – How can corporate leaders convince boards to view CSR as an opportunity to attract talent and create social impact rather than simply a regulatory mandate? 14:17 – Where is AI genuinely helping in-house legal and compliance teams, and where is it still doing more harm than good? 17:39– Rapid-fire round with Ddharaniikota Ssuyodhan 19:52 – What important conversations about corporate ethics are Indian boards still not having seriously enough? 20:41 – How can Indian companies make workplace ethics a regular leadership priority rather than something addressed only when problems arise? 22:49 – What brought you to Directors Institute, and what has been the most meaningful part of your journey there so far? #DdharaniikotaSsuyodhan #FaceTimeWithLeaders #DirectorsInstitute #CorporateGovernance #CorporateLaw #EthicalLeadership #CorporateEthics #CSR #ESG #POSH #LegalTech #AIinLaw #BoardroomLeadership #RiskManagement #Sustainability #Leadership #WorldCouncilOfDirectors