“My journey was shaped by the environment I grew up in” she reflects. “For me, choosing law wasn’t just a career choice – it was an extension of who I was becoming.”

She began her legal career in Delhi, India, before life led her to Dubai, UAE. There, she immersed herself in a rapidly transforming legal ecosystem, working first with law firms and later transitioning into corporate roles. With time, she progressed to positions of leadership, eventually serving as Head of Legal for multinational companies. This shift allowed her to expand beyond the purely legal lens, developing a strategic mindset capable of balancing compliance, commercial realities, and cross-border complexities.

That evolution would eventually lead her toward a new calling. Three years ago, she founded her consultancy – Focal, a platform where she advises international clients, supports business setup in the UAE, and continues shaping legal strategy with purpose and clarity.

A Defining Chapter of Resilience

While her professional achievements are notable, Shilpa considers her greatest milestone to be one rooted in courage rather than accolades.

In 2003, she survived a life-altering medical crisis – an experience she later chronicled in her book All Battles Aren’t Legal. The illness forced a seven-year pause in her legal career, creating a chapter filled with uncertainty, reflection, and rebuilding. Returning to full-time work after such a gap – particularly to the same company where she had previously served as Head of Legal – remains the achievement closest to her heart.

“To be called back was deeply meaningful” she says. “It affirmed that the quality of my work had left a lasting impression. That was the highest compliment.”

Today, Shilpa’s career stands at the intersection of two passions: law and writing. Her dual identity as lawyer and author has led to several recognitions, including much-valued awards for legal excellence. One honor particularly meaningful to her is the UAE Golden Visa, awarded by the Ministry of Culture for her contributions as a creative intellectual.

“It reminded me that we don’t need to confine ourselves to a single identity” she says. “We are capable of excelling in multiple fields, and embracing that truth can lead to fulfilling and unexpected recognition.”

The Future of Law: Technology, Transformation, and Adaptation

Few industries have been disrupted as fundamentally – or as rapidly – as law. Shilpa believes the pace of transformation is only accelerating.

“Artificial intelligence is no longer a concept of the future – it’s an active force reshaping legal services” she notes.

Routine legal tasks – document review, contract analysis, due diligence, and research – are increasingly automated by legal technology. For forward-thinking firms and professionals, this change represents a profound opportunity: a chance to shift focus from administrative functions to strategy, advisory excellence, nuanced negotiation, and meaningful client relationships.

“AI won’t replace lawyers” she says thoughtfully. “But lawyers who embrace AI will replace those who don’t.”

A Message to the Future of Leadership

When asked what advice she would give to emerging leaders, her response is clear, direct, and deeply aligned with her own journey.

“In a world evolving at extraordinary speed, staying still is no longer an option.”

For her, the most critical differentiators of tomorrow’s leaders are not technical capabilities alone, but the qualities AI cannot replicate – critical thinking, empathy, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, ethics, and relationship-driven leadership.

She sees Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) – particularly arbitration and mediation – at the forefront of the industry’s future. With its ability to reduce costs, protect business relationships, and resolve conflict efficiently, ADR is rapidly becoming the preferred global standard.

“Those who stay curious, adaptable, and committed to lifelong learning will not just succeed – they will thrive.”

Her guidance is both practical and meaningful:

Lead with purpose. Be client-centric. Stay humble. Never stop learning.

For Shilpa Bhasin Mehra, leadership isn’t defined by titles or achievements – it is shaped by resilience, reinvention, and the willingness to grow beyond boundaries. Her story serves as a masterclass in perseverance and a reminder that even in a world transformed by technology, humanity remains the most powerful skill of all.