Khaitan & Co names Dr Vimal Choudhary COO as firm strengthens leadership

Khaitan & Co has appointed Dr Vimal Choudhary as Chief Operating Officer, adding heavyweight operational and strategy experience as the firm prepares for its next phase of expansion. The move comes at a time when India’s top-tier legal firms are sharpening their organisational capabilities to meet rising client expectations and intensifying competition.

Dr Choudhary brings more than 23 years of global consulting and operational leadership, most recently serving as Head of McKinsey’s Global Centres in India and Global Chief Strategy Officer at McKinsey Global Services. He will be based in Mumbai, a hub for the firm’s talent and client operations.

Haigreve Khaitan, Senior Partner at Khaitan & Co, said the appointment represents a significant step in strengthening the firm’s leadership and internal infrastructure. “This appointment marks an important step forward in our continuous pursuit of excellence, transformation and strategic growth,” he said. He added that Dr Choudhary’s record in building world-class teams and driving large-scale transformation aligns with the firm's ambition to deepen client value and reinforce its position as an employer of choice.

The appointment comes amidst a broader trend of professional services firms investing in operational sophistication and digital capability. Reporting in the Financial Times has noted the increasing emphasis across global law firms on AI-enabled work processes, resilience frameworks and integrated delivery models aimed at improving client service and scale. Khaitan & Co’s decision reflects similar priorities.

As COO, Dr Choudhary will lead all internal functions with a mandate to infuse digital and AI-led innovation, implement next-generation technology solutions and optimise operational infrastructure. His remit includes knowledge platforms, collaboration systems, process excellence and capability development — areas that many large law firms have identified as central to their competitive differentiation.

Dr Choudhary’s long tenure at McKinsey underscores the depth of experience he brings. During his 23 years with the firm, he shaped strategy and operations for McKinsey Global Services, oversaw its largest office complex outside the United States and guided initiatives spanning client services, integration of acquired entities, digital capability-building and talent development. He also served on the Boards of McKinsey Global Capabilities and Services and ETML Singapore, an analytics firm acquired by McKinsey.

Industry analysts have pointed out that as legal markets evolve, operational leadership roles increasingly influence a firm’s ability to scale and innovate. According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, firms with strong operational governance and digital adoption outperform peers on productivity and client satisfaction. Khaitan & Co’s reinforcement of its leadership bench aligns with this trajectory.

The firm said the appointment demonstrates its commitment to sustainable growth, organisational resilience and a workplace environment that attracts top legal and business talent. As it continues to expand its footprint in India and Singapore, the strengthened operational function is expected to support more integrated service delivery and sharpen the firm’s long-term competitiveness.