Madhu Damodaran has been appointed as a Partner in the Employment & Labour practice at Singhania & Partners LLP, operating from the firm’s Bengaluru office. Damodaran, an alumnus of Bharathiar University, graduated in 1990, and is also an esteemed member of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India. With more than 25 years of expertise in employment law, industrial relations, and labor compliance, he merges legal proficiency with significant leadership experience in compliance operations.
Beyond his legal endeavors, Damodaran holds several prestigious honorary positions. He serves as a Member of the Central Board of Trustees of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), representing the Employers’ Federation of India as an Employer Trustee. Additionally, Damodaran is a member of the National Industrial Relations Committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the CII Karnataka State Council, and the Co-Convener of the CII Karnataka State IR Panel. His involvement extends to the Executive Committee of the Employers’ Federation of India and the National Regulatory Affairs Committee of the India Staffing Federation.
Before this new role, Damodaran was the Regional Managing Partner at AMLEGALS. His inclusion in Singhania & Partners significantly strengthens the firm’s capabilities at a pivotal time as India implements the consolidated Labour Codes, effective since November 2025, alongside the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and the DPDP Rules 2025.
Ravi Singhania, the Managing Partner, commented on Damodaran’s appointment, stating, “Madhu’s arrival coincides with a crucial period for employers in India. The Labour Codes are now operational, and the compliance landscape under EPFO and the social security framework is being reshaped. With the DPDP regime now affecting employee data, employers overseeing large Indian workforces are navigating dual regulatory changes. Few practitioners possess Madhu’s extensive operational experience, notably from Quess Corp, combined with the entrepreneurial insight he demonstrated at Simpliance. His presence greatly enhances our offerings to multinational employers in India, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our partnership.”
Reflecting on his new role, Damodaran expressed, “Singhania & Partners has cultivated over many years the exact kind of employment practice I sought—one that blends rigorous legal advisory with an in-depth understanding of the workings of large, complex organizations. The firm’s client base of multinational corporations, especially those managing significant Indian workforces, aligns perfectly with my expertise. Having managed compliance at scale, I understand that the gap between regulatory intent and operational reality is where employers face the most risk. We are at a significant turning point—the Labour Codes are in effect, their supporting framework is evolving, and the DPDP regime is concurrently focusing on employee data obligations. This convergence creates both challenges and opportunities. I aim to contribute from Bengaluru, which is increasingly becoming a hub for large-scale Technology Services Business, by leveraging my experience at the intersection of law, policy, and operations to provide actionable advice for clients.”
