Waymaker Wednesday: Women in LegalTech – Meet Sruthi Bandhakavi

Sruthi Bandhakavi works at the intersection of law, technology, and policy in India. She is currently a Senior Legal Counsel at Leegality, a legal technology company that provides digital infrastructure and privacy compliance solutions for businesses. Her work spans the full spectrum of in-house legal functions, with a particular focus on technology and privacy laws, product compliance, and driving technology adoption within legal operations.

Prior to joining Leegality, Sruthi worked with Karan Talwar & Associates, a boutique law firm in Hyderabad, where she advised on mergers and acquisitions, general corporate matters, and tax law. She also gained in-house experience at Jersey, part of the Godrej Group’s FMCG business, before transitioning into the legal technology space.

Her work is driven by a keen interest in how law can enable innovation while ensuring responsible and compliant adoption of emerging technologies.

Here’s a peek into her world:

1. What inspired you to join the Women in LegalTech community?

I believe community is essential, especially for women navigating a demanding profession. I am always in search of spaces where I can find meaningful interactions and support. Women in Legal Tech felt like that kind of space which drew me in.

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2. If you could solve one problem in the legal world (or beyond) with technology, what would it be?

I wish for technology to do more heavy lifting on addressing social injustice and civic issues. While the intersection of law and technology is powerful, it needs to be leveraged to make public systems more transparent and institutions more accountable.

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3. What’s one book, podcast, or resource that’s made a big impact on how you think about work or life?

There are multiple! I consciously seek out feminist literature and my best reads have always been books by women. In fiction, both Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin stayed with me long after I finished them. I am currently enjoying reading Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. In non-fiction, I lately find myself revisiting Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg and Unfinished Business by Anne Marie Slaughter, both of which admit how the balancing act for working women is not easy but also remind us why it's worth attempting.

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4. Outside of work, what’s something you’re passionate about or love spending time on?

Cooking and reading are my go-to activities to unwind after a long week. Lately, I have been surprising myself with video games especially offbeat story-driven indie games like Gris and Tiny Bookshop. Although they tend to test my patience initially as I try to get a hang of them, they’ve been a genuine discovery.

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5. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received as a woman in your career journey?

All the women in my life, especially my mother, remind me that it's the best time in history to be a working woman. It sounds very simple but women have come so far in their fight to make space for their equal rights and for a seat at the table. I am grateful that a career for women means so much more beyond holding a job. It means freedom and financial independence.

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6. If you weren’t working in Law/LegalTech, what’s another path you could totally see yourself in?

Education. I think educators hold one of the most powerful roles in our society where they are shaping young minds and how the next generation thinks. I find that kind of impact very meaningful and rewarding.

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Sruthi’s work highlights the evolving role of in-house counsel in driving technology adoption and navigating complex regulatory landscapes. She continues to focus on enabling innovation while ensuring responsible and effective legal governance.

Are you a woman shaping the future of legal tech? We’d love to hear your story. Our Women in LegalTech community is a space to connect, inspire, and spark conversations that matter. Click here