THE FOUNDER

Samāna Centre was founded by Aparna Mittal.

She is a leading Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisor, and corporate lawyer with over 19 years of professional experience, and leads the advisory work across our 6 service verticals.

Her industry knowledge and expertise spans a diverse range of sectors including hotels & hospitality, information technology, hospitals & healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecom, wholesale distribution, retail and e-commerce, media & entertainment (including cinema business), banking, insurance, oil & gas, infrastructure, hydro power, automotive, real estate, mining, food and manufacturing and service sectors.

Prior to this, she was Partner – Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions, with India’s leading corporate law firms AZB & Partners, and Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, with more than 13 years of experience in advising leading multinational and domestic clients on significant and complex M&A matters including cross border acquisitions, business/ asset transfers, joint ventures, private equity transactions, investment structuring, commercial contracts, franchises, due diligence, and extensive general corporate and regulatory advisory matters. Labour and employment laws formed a key part of the advisory work undertaken by her.

She has consistently been ranked by international and Indian publications as a leading / recommended advisor for the aforesaid, including :

• Godrej India Culture Lab in their Manifesto for Trans Inclusion at the Workplace, 2018;

• Chambers and Partners (Asia)-  in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and Chambers and Partners (Global) in 2010; and

• Asialaw in 2017 and 2014;

She is a contributing member of :

• G20 EMPOWER -The G20 Alliance for Empowerment and Progression of Women’s Economic Representation focussed on accelerating women’s leadership and empowerment in the private sector.

•  Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion set up by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) since 2019.

• Founding  Advisory Board of ET HR World, a Human Resources focused  platform of the Economic Times, India’s foremost business daily (2020-2023).

She graduated from India’s premier law school, the National Law School of India University, Bangalore (2005), and is registered with the Bar Council, New Delhi (2005).

Recently awarded the “Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All" award at the 32nd edition of the Women Economic Forum, she is also a regular speaker at key conferences, and publishes frequently in national dailies and leading  journals, on issues related to economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, inclusion and diversity, sustainable development goals, workplace harassment, and human resources. She is also a mentor for several leading organisations.

For details please visit the media page of this website.