What Makes a Trusted General Counsel? | Anurag Chauhan | General Counsel, Axis Max Life Insurance

How do you become the lawyer a business trusts? And how do you build a successful career while making room for life beyond work? In this episode of The Daily Lawyer’s General Counsel Series, presented in collaboration with Zoho Sign, we speak with Anurag Chauhan, General Counsel, Company Secretary & Chief Sustainability Officer at Axis Max Life Insurance. From studying by lamplight in Meerut to taking on responsibilities across Asia-Pacific at Deutsche Bank, Anurag reflects on the decisions, setbacks and relationships that shaped his career across finance, telecom, banking and insurance. He shares why he deliberately moved between industries, how his company secretary qualification opened an opportunity 17 years later, and why understanding the business is essential to earning its trust. We also explore: • What he looks for when hiring lawyers and the interview questions he asks • The responsibility of keeping an insurance company’s promise to its customers • Making ESG part of everyday business decisions • How digital signatures, legal technology and AI support his team’s work • Why he wishes he had developed his public speaking skills earlier • How yoga, reading and time beyond work shape his approach to leadership It’s a candid conversation about professional growth, practical judgment and the person behind the designation. CHAPTERS 00:00 Highlights 00:57 Introduction: The General Counsel Series with Zoho Sign 02:20 Finding his way into law and company secretarial work 05:28 Career moves: Escorts Finance, Bharti Airtel and Deutsche Bank 08:24 Joining Max Life and expanding his responsibilities 10:46 What ESG means in everyday business 19:34 Insurance, trust and the promise to customers 26:28 Digital signatures and faster contract execution 27:30 Building trust within the business 29:01 Hiring lawyers: attitude, values and interview questions 34:02 Yoga, priorities and life beyond work 38:49 Legal technology, AI and digital transformation 43:36 The skill he wishes he had developed earlier 45:00 The 5–4–3–2–1 round: career advice, books and changing perspectives 50:04 “Life is short. Don’t take yourself so seriously.” 51:12 About Zoho Sign Also available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music About The Daily Lawyer Podcast The Daily Lawyer Podcast is a growing archive of conversations about the profession of law - the careers, choices, people and ideas shaping lawyers and the legal industry. Connect with us: Contact: contactus@thedailylawyer.in Website: https://thedailylawyer.in/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailylaw... LinkedIn:   / jenna-v-krishnan   This episode is part of our General Counsel Series, in collaboration with Zoho Sign. Connect with Zoho Sign: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zohosignoff... X: https://x.com/zohosign?lang=en LinkedIn:   / zohosign   YouTube: @zohosign Explore: https://www.zoho.com/en-in/sign/ Subscribe to The Daily Lawyer for more conversations with General Counsels, law firm leaders, founders and professionals shaping the future of the legal profession. #TheDailyLawyer #AnuragChauhan #GeneralCounsel #LegalCareers #ZohoSign #LegalLeadership DISCLAIMER This podcast is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. The views and opinions expressed during the conversation are personal to the speakers and do not represent the official position of any court, institution, organisation, client or other entity. Nothing discussed in this episode constitutes legal advice or should be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a qualified legal professional. Laws, judicial decisions and procedural requirements may change over time. Viewers should independently verify the applicable legal position and obtain professional advice for their specific circumstances. Watching or listening to this podcast does not create a lawyer-client relationship with the guest, host, The Daily Lawyer or any associated person or organisation.