From courtroom due diligence to boardroom advice, Amit K. Vyas, the Head of Legal and Company Secretary of Nocil Ltd., is a distinguished legal leader known for his exceptional legal expertise, one-of-its-kind leadership approach, and sharp analytical thinking. With a career spanning three decades, his journey is inspiring and highlights his abilities defined by grit, resilience, innovation, and an undying commitment to justice. With truth as his guiding principle, Amit has effectively navigated complex regulatory challenges and significant legal disputes using his legal knowledge, strategic approach, and ethical standards.
Over time, Amit has built a lasting legal legacy and made a meaningful impact in the legal profession. He adds “The journey was challenging—navigating hostile work environments, professional resistance, and the perception of C.S. and legal roles as secondary—but persistence, continuous learning, and integrity guided my path.”
The Inspiration
Amit’s inherent passion for pursuing a career in law came to the fore during his undergraduate days (B.Com) at the University of Delhi, way back in 1986. In those days, he was fond of reading reports on legal cases, and even while watching movies, he used to be fascinated by scenes involving Court proceedings and lawyerly combat. He has always been deeply passionate about the legal field and continues to recall most of the iconic cases to this day.
After his B.COM, he pursued C.S. and LLB (from Delhi University) and completed both courses simultaneously. Amit profoundly adds, “I must admit these were the most exciting times of my life since I enjoyed attending classes, arguing with professors, participating in debates on controversial subjects, and writing small articles on the latest legal issues.”
Amit’s approach from day one (way back in 1992, when he started his career as a Management Trainee) has been to contribute to an organization both as a Company Secretary and a Legal functionary, instead of confining himself to either the CS role exclusively or as a corporate lawyer only. This is where the “Value Addition” to the Board and consequently the business gets recognized.
Today, Amit is a fellow member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (FCS) and holds more than more than 30 years of experience as a highly resourceful and skilled Company Secretary and Corporate Lawyer/ Legal Head/ Counsel and his areas of exposure and expertise include Corporate Secretarial Function, Corporate Governance, Legal & Statutory Compliance Mechanism; Litigation/Arbitration & Contract Management; Sustainability & ESG initiatives, supporting CSR initiatives and related compliances; ESG Policy Formulation & Implementation; Due Diligence/Audit; Stakeholder Management & Investor servicing; and Risk Mgt and mitigation.
Spearheading at NOCIL
Currently, Amit is the Head of Legal & Company Secretary of NOCIL Ltd., functioning since April 2019, which is the largest rubber chemical manufacturer in the country and listed on BSE & NSE. Amit oversees the entire gamut of corporate legal, secretarial, and governance functions, apart from substantially contributing to ESG, Risk Mgt, Corporate Governance, CSR, Overall compliance with all applicable laws, litigation, legal advisory, and Stakeholder/Investor servicing. He defacto and dejure functions as the chief legal advisor to the Board and is designated as the Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) of the Company. Apart from this, Amit has exposure to diversified businesses spanning investment banking, Heavy Engineering, FMCG, agriculture, and chemicals, and has held senior-level positions at top corporations, including SBICAPs, L&T, and Procter & Gamble/Gillette India (an American MNC).
Throughout Amit’s professional journey, he has received numerous awards and recognitions for his outstanding work and dedicated performance. Some of the recent accolades include the Fortunna Global Excellence Awards 2025, the India Legal Award at the General Counsel Vision, and Innovation Summit and Awards 2024, Legal Era Awards, CNBC-TV18 India Risk Management Awards, The Economic Times – GLOBAL LEGAL CONVENTION & AWARDS, Most distinguished Co Secy of the year 2025 – AWARDED by DigiOne+ Corporate Leadership Awards 2025, Featured in Business World Eureka Magazine, Legal Leader of the Year 2025 award, and many more.
Projects of Impact
Amit’s journey stands instrumental in many ways. As a lawyer, his career has been marked by numerous successful projects. He would like to highlight some projects involving CSR contributions to eligible NGPOs and those NGOs that have been time-tested, which were very close to his heart. He was always keen to do something for society, for the downtrodden, for the underprivileged, and for those suffering from terminal diseases but are unable to afford medical treatment. This opportunity came to him while working as the Legal Head & Co Secy at NOCIL Ltd (An Arvind Mafatlal Enterprise), where the Hon’ble Chairman, Mr. H.A. Mafatlal, gave him the responsibility of supporting all CSR initiatives of the company. The company has the rare distinction of being associated with NGOs that build on a strong foundation, credentials, and reputation beyond any doubt. NGOs, in particular, have been associated with the Group for the last 40 years.
Amit as the Head – Legal and Company Secretary at NOCIL Ltd, practices that same belief throughout. NOCIL is a part of the Arvind Mafatlal Group (AMG) of Industries, a well-known Business House of India having diversified business interests. NOCIL has a rich legacy of over 50 years in the chemical industry, with over 40 years of rubber chemical expertise. The Company has emerged to be the largest rubber chemicals player in India today. Amit is deeply aligned with NOCIL ‘s unwavering commitment to Corporate Governance, embodying the Company’s philosophy that prioritizes the protection of stakeholder interests and fosters enduring, trust-based relationships. This ethos seamlessly extends into the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which are rooted in the longstanding dedication of the Promoter—Arvind Mafatlal Group—towards social upliftment As the Company Secretary and Head of Governance, Amit has consistently demonstrated exemplary dedication to upholding the Promoter Group’s enduring credo: “More than an Obligation, More than a Duty.” His unwavering commitment reinforces NOCIL Ltd.’s values of responsible stewardship, stakeholder trust, and purpose-driven leadership.
Pillars of Strength
Amit’s personal growth revolves around the three core pillars:
- First, his family and their well-being; for him, family always comes first and foremost
- Secondly, his passion for writing and his abilities as a Writer on legal issues, and
- Thirdly and finally, his love for his Hobbies – Studying Alternative Medical Systems, Understanding Human Psychology, Supporting Animal Welfare and Wildlife Conservation, and Travel to Wildlife Sanctuaries
Additionally, what keeps Amit motivated and gives him strength in trying times is his ability to always opt for the harder right than the easier wrong. This philosophy, along with a burning desire to keep learning as a student, staying curious, being steadfast, and having a firm commitment to the legal field, has been pivotal for Amit in the long run.
These are the most relieving factors in combating professional stress and occupational challenges, and he often finds solace in them. His family, writing, and hobbies, and core values and philosophies have shaped his professional journey, helping him climb the ladder of success.
Amit’s Legal Wand
Amit developed a keen interest in writing on legal topics /latest case laws, and implications since his Graduation days, and after initial struggles, he developed an extraordinary flair and passion for writing on legal issues. He started working as a contributing writer for numerous Articles on Company Law since 1992, including Chartered Secretary (a leading publication from ICSI having the largest circulation in the corporate law), Legal Era (India’s top Legal E-magazine), and LinkedIn. Amit has written the first book on the Companies Amendment Act 2000 (published through Snowhite Publishers), and also the first book on the SEBI Insider Trading Regulations published in 2001. For more than three decades, he has successfully written articles on numerous topics including Constitutional Law, Corporate Law, Arbitration & Mediation, Securities Laws, and Anti-Trust, etc.
Leadership at the Intersection of Science and Strategy
Due to Amit’s keen interest in medical science, particularly alternative medical systems, he knew that while a majority of antibiotics kill all the bacterial organisms that cause any infection, there are very few molecules that also prevent the infection from recurring. Their company (an MNC) was launching a new toothpaste brand in India, and they were directed to prepare for any legal challenges from the competitors in the courts by deeply studying the scientific data to support certain specific claims of the product, which were superior to the nearest rival. Their product contained a specific ingredient, “STANNUS Fluoride,” which was not found in any other toothpaste brand in India. An antibacterial agent that not only destroyed the bacteria but also prevented the infection from recurring for a limited time period, unlike other toothpastes, which contained only Fluoride.
Amit knew this critical aspect and discovered that their brand managers had not properly highlighted this superiority in advertisement claims. The advertisement campaign was reworked to capture the claim, and within a few months of the toothpaste’s launch, the success was stupendous.
A Team-Driven Leader
Amit believes that an individual one-man army can never win a war. Although they may win small battles, unless a motivated team supports one, there is no question of winning the war. One doesn’t need a Harvard MBA or an IIM degree in H.R. to motivate their team. A simple magical formula (which he subscribes to) “Always Inspire, Motivate, Empower, and Recognize: but never be a faultfinder. Do not hesitate to appreciate and acknowledge.”
As a team-focused leader, Amit proudly states that his team is his way to success. His simple advice to his team members is “Follow the ICSI motto: ‘Speak the Truth, Abide by the Law,” no exceptions are permitted. There is no question of Gross Negligence on the part of the Company Secretary in matters of compliance with Corporate and Securities Laws where he is directly accountable. You are the future conscience keepers and torchbearers of good corporate governance. Remain steadfast in the commitment to implementing best-of-breed governance practices. Love your profession more than your employer or client; your employer/client may leave you one day, but the profession never will.”
Wellness Rooted in the Mind and Beyond
Amit has never had the time to exercise, go to the gym, meditate, or adopt a regular exercise regimen, although he always had control over his food habits. He made it a point not to pounce on food at office parties, and being a teetotaller, he was never tempted to hit the bottle at the smallest sign of depression. He personally feels that as long as one’s brain can absorb the onslaught of the devils at their workplace with a powerful punch, one’s physical health does not really suffer. Balancing work and life can be challenging; try building mental toughness, which will benefit both personal and professional lives.
As a professional, leader, or entrepreneur, the fire in one’s belly to fight tenaciously should never disappear. He was passionate about alternative medical systems (particularly homeopathy and ayurveda) since his childhood, and during the most distressing times, his age-old books and internet research on the latest developments always came to his rescue.
Wisdom Gained from Both Mentors and Tormentors
Amit was surrounded by both- the best mentors and the worst tormentors in his professional journey. And as it is said, one learns more from adversity and experience. Amit learned from his tormentors, as they were all geniuses in one way or another and had possessed unique skills that eventually rubbed off on him as well. Being a firm believer in medical science, he always followed the simple rule- the digestive system one. He states, “Your mouth may eat whatever is fed through it, but your digestive system will absorb only the nutritional value from the same and throw the remaining out as waste. I examined the consumable and nutritional value of the learnings from my Tormentors, and though I suffered temporarily, I have benefited in the long run.” For every role he served and each case he fought, each one of his mentors and tormentors became the beacon light for his progress, teaching him far more than any theoretical knowledge.
Amit Defines Success
On the Professional Upfront: To be seen as an asset to the organization by providing constructive and positive guidance to the Board and top leadership. To highlight and get external recognition for my organization ‘s Sustainability Initiatives (at par with Global Standards).
On the Personal Upfront: To stand by my family through thick and thin and be treated more as a mentor rather than as an elderly family member who dictates behavior.
