Partner | Technology, Media and Telecom, Privacy and Data Protection
- T: +91 120 479 1000
- E: Write to me
education
- LL.B., ILS Law College, Pune (2004)
Harsh Walia is a distinguished Partner in the TMT and Data Protection Practice Groups at Khaitan & Co, advising Indian and global clients across telecom, technology, and data privacy-driven sectors. With over 20 years of experience, including in-house roles with global telecom and tech majors, Harsh brings unmatched depth in regulatory, transactional, and contractual matters.
He has led complex mandates involving telecom licensing, data protection, OTT services, satellite connectivity, spectrum trading, M2M, VNOs, and infrastructure sharing. His commercial expertise spans high-value contracts for software, hardware, managed services, outsourcing, network interconnection, and roaming, among others.
A recognised thought leader in data protection, Harsh is a Certified Data Protection Officer (India) and holds the GDPR FAS Certification from the EU GDPR Institute. He advises on data privacy compliance, cross-border transfers, breach response, and global best practices.
Harsh has been named a ‘Leading Partner’ (Data Protection) by Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025, and consistently ranked over the years as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ for TMT and ‘Recommended Lawyer’. He features in India Business Law Journal’s Indian Law Firm Awards, BW Legal World’s 40 Under 40, ALB India’s Top TMT Lawyers, and as a ‘Highly Regarded / Leading Lawyer’ for Telecom Networks (IFLR1000). Chambers and Partners has also recognised him as a ‘Notable Practitioner’.
Professional Affiliations
- Bar Council of West Bengal
- Associate Member of International Association for Contract & Commercial Management (IACCM)
- GDPR Foundation, Application & Substance (FAS) certification from EU GDPR Institute
Representative Matters
Harsh Walia has represented and advised the following clients
Reliance Jio
Advised (i) on regulatory issues pertaining to cable landing station and negotiated a USD 25 million agreement for taking fiber pair on IRU basis from India to Singapore, and (ii) for the launch of mobile services in India.
Microsoft
Advised on regulatory issues related to Cloud based communication systems.
Salesforce.com Inc
Advised on regulatory aspects of SDWAN connectivity, interconnection between data centres and OSP centres.
Maxis Group
Advised on regulatory issues in merger of Aircel with RCOM and conducted telecom regulatory due diligence for reporting licensing and spectrum issues to top management of Aircel.
BMW
Advised on IoT services for offering a special feature in cars to be sold in India.
Reliance Communication
Advised on telecom regulatory issues pertaining to merger with Sistema.
Microsoft
Advised on internet telephony-based services in India.
A US based MNC
Advised on deployment of Aeronautical Mobile Satellite System (AMSS) in India and met senior officers from Department of Telecommunication for it.
IBM
Advised on the deployment of Distributed Antennae System (DAS) in India.
Publications
Ergo Update
Ergo Update
Ergo Update
Article
Ergo Update
Ergo Update
News and Events
Harsh Walia has featured in the following news and webinars
