Rahil Setia

About

I’ve reviewed more than 2,000 contracts in-house.

Rahil Setia

I’m a senior legal manager at one of India’s largest private-sector banks. I support the bank’s technology procurement, so most of my day goes into deals with some of the biggest technology vendors: SaaS, cloud, AI, software licensing, source code escrow and IT outsourcing. It’s a bank, so all of it has to fit within the RBI’s rules, and with the DPDP Act a fair bit of it is privacy work now.

Before that I spent about three and a half years at one of India’s largest IT services companies. I negotiated MSAs, SOWs, change orders, NDAs, and reseller and alliance agreements, mostly with enterprise clients in the US. I was promoted early, in March 2025.

For recruiters: if you’d like my CV, you’ll find it on Naukri, or write to me and I’ll send it.

Experience

Roles

January 2026 to present

Senior Legal Manager

One of India’s largest private-sector banks

  • Review, draft and negotiate API integration, cloud, SaaS, AI and software licensing agreements, along with software development, maintenance and support contracts.
  • Handle IT outsourcing, source code escrow and service-level arrangements, covering data protection, information security and outsourcing requirements under the RBI’s directions.
  • Prepare data privacy playbooks, and advise on privacy for banking products and technology engagements.
  • Train new team members, and train the technology procurement team on contracting requirements.

August 2022 to January 2026

Associate Corporate Counsel March 2025 to January 2026

Legal Counsel August 2022 to March 2025

One of India’s largest IT services companies

  • Drafted, reviewed and negotiated more than 1,300 commercial contracts: MSAs, SOWs, work orders, change orders, NDAs, BAAs, and licensing, reseller, alliance, partnership and teaming agreements, mostly with enterprise clients in the US.
  • Independently supported the company’s healthcare, consumer, technology and AI customers, and worked on multi-million-dollar deals and US state-government bids.
  • Prepared master contract templates and helped develop SOW templates.
  • Ran training sessions for trainees and graduate recruits.

Education

Law school

  • B.A. LL.B., 2017 to 2022. First Division with Distinction, in the top 10% of my class at one of the best law schools in India.
  • Internships at the National Company Law Tribunal, Chandigarh (2019), and with three departments of the Government of Punjab (2021).
  • Languages: English, Hindi, Punjabi and French (A2).

Recognition

Honours

  • Winner, National Amendment Writing Competition, Kanooniyat (2021)
  • 4th Best Research Paper, Supremo Amicus 20th Research Paper Writing Competition (2020)
  • Top 10% performer, National Online Quiz on Insolvency Law, IBBI (2020)
  • Quarterfinalist, 2nd Shoolini University National Moot Court Competition (2018)

Beyond the day job

Writing and mentoring

I’ve written and co-written papers across different subjects, including insolvency, election law, taxation, air and space law, and the right to be forgotten. Several of my papers have since been cited by other researchers. They’re listed on the Writing page, along with my posts on LinkedIn.

Over the years I’ve trained more than 20 recent graduates who joined under me, and I mentor law students and young lawyers.

I grew up in Abohar, in Punjab.

Get in touch