In an era where technology evolves faster than regulation, and businesses operate in constant uncertainty, the role of a Chief Legal Officer has moved far beyond interpreting laws and drafting contracts. Few leaders embody this shift as clearly as Sameer Chugh, Chief Legal Officer at Games24x7.

With nearly three decades of experience spanning litigation, law firms, global conglomerates, telecom giants, manufacturing leaders, and now one of India’s most high-impact tech startups, Chugh’s career is a masterclass in adaptability, leadership, and problem-solving under pressure.

In a candid conversation with Indian Startup Times, he reflects on his unconventional journey into law, the defining moments that shaped him, the regulatory shockwaves that transformed the gaming industry, and the mindset required to lead when the stakes are at their highest.

A Lawyer by Choice, a Leader by Evolution

Unlike many professionals who chart their careers early, Sameer Chugh’s journey into law unfolded organically. Coming from a family deeply rooted in the armed forces, his early aspiration was to serve in uniform. Life, however, had different plans.

Drawn to the intellectual rigor and influence of legendary legal minds like Fali Nariman and Ram Jethmalani, Chugh pursued law at Symbiosis Law School, later complementing it with a Master’s in Marketing. Further, he also completed his MSc in Telecom Business from University College London in his later years.  

His early years in litigation at the Delhi High Court and subsequent stints at law firms exposed him to cross-border transactions, foreign investment regulations, and high-stakes mergers and acquisitions.  By 2001, when in-house legal roles were still seen as support functions, Chugh made a bold transition. He joined NCR directly as General Counsel, becoming one of the early architects of India’s modern in-house legal leadership model.

“I never climbed the in-house ladder step by step. I joined as a General Counsel, and I’ve remained one ever since,” he reflects.

Learning Across Industries: Law Meets Business Reality

From British Telecom to Essar Group, Cummins, Bharti Airtel, and now Games24x7, each organization added a distinct layer to Chugh’s professional philosophy.

• NCR taught him the art of balancing customer expectations with corporate requirements and boundaries.
• British Telecom exposed him to complex regulatory ecosystems where government, business, and consumers intersect.
• Essar Group sharpened his understanding of promoter-driven agility and decision-making under uncertainty.
• Cummins reinforced the importance of people on the shop floor and the human side of industrial operations.
• Bharti Airtel placed him at the center of one of India’s fiercest telecom battles—navigating competition law, regulatory scrutiny, and industry disruption during the rise of Jio.
• Games24x7 brought him into the heart of India’s sunrise tech ecosystem—where innovation, behavioral science, AI, and law collide daily.

Each role, he says, reinforced one truth: a lawyer’s real value lies in enabling solutions, not just flagging risks. He says: ‘If you can’t find a solution, it’s not done.’

When Regulation Redefines Reality: The Gaming Law Shock

One of the most defining chapters of Chugh’s career unfolded in August 2025, when the Indian government passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill. Overnight, the legal distinction between games of skill and chance, upheld for decades, was erased for real-money gaming. For Games24x7 and similar platforms, operations halted almost instantly. Revenues stopped, teams faced uncertainty, and leadership had to respond not just legally, but ethically and strategically. Chugh and his team shifted focus toward casual gaming, content, and tech-driven alternatives, leveraging the company’s core strengths: data, technology, and user engagement. The legal team became deeply embedded in business planning, evaluating feasibility, compliance, and future-ready models.

Law, Technology, and Responsible Innovation

At Games24x7, legal collaboration extends far beyond compliance. Chugh describes close partnerships with product and tech teams to ensure innovation remains ethical, legal, and user-centric. Using AI and behavioral science, the company tracked gameplay patterns to identify addictive behavior, prevent fraud, and promote responsible gaming. Players showing signs of addiction were restricted or guided toward counselling long before regulations mandated it or required it.

Yet, Chugh is clear about boundaries.

“Technology can assist, but it cannot exploit. Bots can help in testing games, but never in real-money play. Data can guide decisions, but privacy can never be compromised.” This balance between innovation and integrity defines modern legal leadership in tech-driven businesses.

From Fax Machines to AI: A Legal Career Through Transformation

Having started his career in an era of typewriters, fax machines, and physical law reports, Chugh has witnessed the legal profession’s radical transformation. “Earlier, due diligence meant sitting for weeks with physical files. Today, AI can process documents in hours. But thinking, judgment, and ethics—those still belong to humans.”

While he embraces technology, he remains grounded, still reading a physical newspaper every morning, valuing conversation over constant screens, and believing that learning comes as much from listening as from researching.

Lessons for Young Lawyers: Courage, Curiosity, and Character

For aspiring lawyers and future general counsels, Chugh’s advice is both practical and philosophical:

• Be fearless and uphold the law with integrity.
• Read relentlessly; never guess when you can learn.
• Work hard; there are no shortcuts.
• Embrace challenges, even when answers aren’t clear.
• Know what you don’t know, and know where to find help.
• Focus on your own journey, not comparisons.
  

“The future of law is more exciting than ever. Technology will change tools, but values, logic, and courage will always define great lawyers.”

The Lawyer as a Strategic Leader

Sameer Chugh’s journey reflects the evolution of law itself from a reactive function to a strategic cornerstone of modern business. Whether closing large mergers & acquisitions, navigating billion-dollar litigations, regulatory upheavals, or technological revolutions, his approach remains consistent: find solutions, empower teams, and lead with clarity and calm. In a world where uncertainty is the only constant, leaders like Chugh remind us that the true role of law is not to resist change but to guide it responsibly.

-Interview conducted by Shivani Solanki