During the London International Disputes Week 2026, Preet Sethi, Deputy General Counsel at Vedanta Limited, emphasized the increasing demand among corporate clients for unequivocal legal advice from external counsel. Sethi addressed the evolving expectations during a panel discussion organized by Stewarts and Brick Court Chambers, themed General Counsel – or Global Counsel.
Sethi articulated frustrations in-house teams face with external legal advisors who provide overly cautious guidance. ‘What I particularly am asking from external counsel is clear-cut advice. With yes or no answers and black and white answers. I do not like when external counsel caveat everything with, ‘it may happen and it may not happen’ and try to be all evasive without actually giving you a clear decision on the query which has been asked,’ Sethi said. She acknowledged the inherent complexity of legal matters but insisted that external attorneys must offer definitive direction. ‘We will deal with the grey areas but external counsels have to be very precise and clear. Without disclaimer.’
The panel, moderated by Sherina Petit, Head of International Arbitration and India Practice at Stewarts, and Chintan Chandrachud of Brick Court Chambers, explored the changing dynamics between general counsel and external legal advisors in a global business context. Esteemed speakers included Neena Gupta, Arnaz Kotwal, Osman Aboubakr, and Pallavi Saluja.
External counsel, traditionally engaged for specialized legal advice or dispute representation, are increasingly redefined by empowered in-house teams, access to information, and heightened expectations around speed, clarity, and commercial relevance. Neena Gupta, CEO of Miiro Hotels and former Group General Counsel at InterGlobe Enterprises, highlighted the importance of speed and efficiency, especially in a landscape influenced by technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). ‘Reduce your fees and come to the decision faster than you do. I think that would be my very strong advice,’ she suggested. Gupta encouraged external lawyers to prioritize early directional advice over extensive analysis, emphasizing the need for prompt yet substantial guidance.
Arnaz Kotwal, General Counsel at VFS Global, emphasized predictability and transparency, particularly concerning costs and risks, as vital for maintaining client confidence. ‘My specific thing would be no surprises. Absolutely none with regard to the costs. Absolutely none with regard to when you’re giving the advice if there is something which is a risk I would need it to be very clearly stated out…no ambiguousness in the memo,’ she stated. Kotwal stressed that companies seek more than just transactional legal advice, desiring judgment, trust, and partnership from their external counsel.
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Osman Aboubakr, co-founder of Argentum Law, addressed broader client needs in a post-AI environment, advocating for speed, commerciality, and coordination. He warned against equating legal success with business success, urging lawyers to provide an additional layer of insight. ‘Lawyers lose credibility when they confuse legal success with business success. You know lawyers shouldn’t just answer legal questions. They just have to provide that additional layer.’
The discussion also explored the role of AI in legal practice. Petit queried whether panelists expect external lawyers to adopt AI tools and how this would affect the quality of advice. Gupta and Aboubakr acknowledged AI’s efficiency, with Gupta noting that clients often preemptively use AI for initial answers and seek more nuanced guidance from lawyers. ‘Please assume that your client would have already put the query in the AI and got the answer. So (they are) obviously looking for something more nuanced,’ Gupta observed.
Kotwal supported AI use but emphasized the necessity for human oversight, citing mixed results. ‘I absolutely think that law firms should be using AI. But I think that the advice would need to be re-looked at before it’s sent out… I’ve had some misses and hits with regard to AI…I think if it is used responsibly it would be hugely enhancing and cost saving,’ she noted.
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Sethi expressed skepticism about AI’s role in external counsel, differentiating between internal AI use and reliance on it by external advisors. ‘I am paying for a human mind. I should get the human mind to think and give me the answer…When you are approaching an expert external counsel, after I have my 70 member team…few of the best lawyers and legal minds have gone through the query. Then I am asking that particular individual or lawyer or law firm to answer. And if I see that it has been made through AI, I wouldn’t be very happy about it,’ she remarked.
