Panel Discussion – Beyond Compliance: The New Currency
March 18, 2026
The Chair on Consumer Law and Practice (CLAP) at NLSIU had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) to analyse legal challenges surrounding advertising regulation in India. The collaboration was aimed to establish a collaborative platform for joint research, capacity building and policy engagement in advertising and consumer law. It aims to advance cutting-edge work in consumer protection law and institutional reforms. We had hosted a webinar in December 2025 and are exploring the possibility of research projects. In furtherance of this collaboration, CLAP anchored a panel discussion for the AdTrust Summit 2026 on “Beyond Compliance: The New Currency – Compliance of laws and regulations are essential to function within the framework of law” in Mumbai on 18 March 2026.
Advertising Standards Council of India’s Ad Trust Summit, 2026 was aimed at bringing together the sharpest minds in advertising, policy, and technology to explore how brand trust and credibility are evolving. The inaugural edition was aimed at navigating the powerful collision of Culture, Technology, and Compliance unpacking the forces shaping the future of responsible advertising.
The session was moderated by Ms. Meenakshi Ramkumar, Assistant Professor, NLSIU. The panelists were Mr. Amit Bhasin, Chief Legal Officer, Marico, Mr. Satish Sahoo, Senior Director, Marketing, Cipla Health and Mr. Harsha N., Assistant Professor, NLSIU.
The moderator thematised the issues into three larger subsegments focusing on:
- What the Law Demands, and What It Leaves Unanswered
- Where Compliance Ends and Trust Begins
- Consumer Voice, Digital Environment & Institutional Trust
Brands do face challenges when the society at large expects more from the brands and the reason for this is anchored on an element of trust. The panel explored the interest echoed in building brand trust. The panelists highlighted that it was not sufficient for brands to comply with mandates under the law but to go beyond the mandates if they have to acquire customer trust.
The panel also explored ideas surrounding influencer advertising, de-influencer impact, modern trends, ethical positioning and practice, response to social media claims and accusations. The panel also engaged with the participants in the event answering questions on compliance and ethics.