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’.
Technology, Media and Telecom
Privacy and Data Protection
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.
Advised on regulatory issues related to Cloud based communication systems.
Advised on regulatory aspects of SDWAN connectivity, interconnection between data centres and OSP centres.
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.
Advised on IoT services for offering a special feature in cars to be sold in India.
Advised on telecom regulatory issues pertaining to merger with Sistema.
Advised on internet telephony-based services in India.
Advised on deployment of Aeronautical Mobile Satellite System (AMSS) in India and met senior officers from Department of Telecommunication for it.
Advised on the deployment of Distributed Antennae System (DAS) in India.
