Rishi Bansal: Law, Legacy, and the Life of Ideas

Working at the intersection of law, technology, and responsibility to protect original thought! 

Every day moments often teach the strongest lessons. For Rishi Bansal, those moments came through listening, observing, and absorbing the values that surrounded him while growing up. Conversations carried weight. Work carried meaning. Ideas held value. Long before courtrooms entered his routine, he understood one simple truth. Ideas move people forward, and those ideas need care. 

This belief grew from a legacy that began in 1954, when his grandfather, Late Shri K.G. Bansal established the family’s legal practice. The foundation rested on discipline and trust. Over time, his father, Mr. Shravan Bansal, carried this vision forward with steady commitment to integrity and excellence. Growing up in a household where intellectual property stood as both profession and responsibility gave Rishi a clear sense of direction early in life. 

Rishi strengthened this foundation through his Master’s in Law from National Law University, Delhi. The experience provided exposure to advanced intellectual property frameworks, global jurisprudence, and the intersection of technology and law. This period clarified his path and deepened his conviction that modern organisations rely heavily on intangible assets. Innovation, identity, data, strategy, and confidential knowledge drive progress, while remaining highly vulnerable without strong legal safeguards. 

With close to 10 years of experience, Rishi serves as Advocate and Managing Associate at United and United. His work spans the full spectrum of intellectual property and technology enforcement. This includes brand protection, anti-counterfeiting efforts, civil and criminal IP litigation, domain name disputes, design and trademark prosecution, digital infringement matters, and cross-border investigations. 

He has handled several notable matters and recent wins involving complex counterfeit networks, online piracy, domain name hijacking, and design infringement. Each case reinforced his belief that intellectual property law carries a deeper meaning. It defends creativity, identity, economic value, and innovation. 

Rishi views himself as a custodian of creativity. His work focuses on ensuring that knowledge guiding the future remains protected, respected, and allowed to flourish. This mission continues to fuel his commitment to the legal profession, guided by values passed down across generations and strengthened through experience. 

Let us learn more about his journey: 

Where the Journey Began Before It Had a Name 

Long before law became an active choice, it was already part of Rishi’s environment. It existed in daily conversations, in examples set, and in standards that were never announced but always enforced. The influence did not come from ambition or expectation. It came from proximity. 

“My earliest inspiration came from my father, Mr. Shravan Bansal, and my grandfather, Mr. K. G. Bansal, who has been in the field since 1954.” 

Both were practising lawyers, but more than that, they were practitioners with reputations shaped by consistency rather than visibility. His grandfather, widely regarded as a pioneer in intellectual property law, founded Delhi Registration Services in 1954. Later, through foresight and resilience, he helped build United and United into a respected IP practice. These were not abstract achievements to Rishi. They were living examples. He saw what it meant to commit to the law over decades, to remain steady through change, and to treat fairness as a duty rather than an option. 

Growing up, he watched his grandfather champion fairness even when circumstances made that choice difficult. It was not always convenient. It was not always rewarded. But it was constant. 

“It wasn’t the profession alone that influenced me; it was the integrity with which he practised it.” 

That distinction stayed with him. The law, as he came to understand early on, was not just a profession or a means of authority. “Law, I realised early on, has the power to equalise, empower, and uphold dignity.” This understanding shaped his decision to pursue legal education at National Law University, Delhi. 

At NLU Delhi, intellectual property law emerged as more than a specialisation. It became a lens. The discipline demanded an understanding not only of legal doctrine, but of technology, creativity, behavioural economics, and global policy. It required curiosity beyond precedent and comfort with uncertainty. What began as admiration for his father’s principles gradually evolved into a personal commitment. Over time, that commitment crystallised into a clear goal: to help strengthen India’s leadership in protecting innovation, especially in emerging fields like trade secrets and technology-driven industries. 

When Theory Was Replaced by Consequence 

Every lawyer encounters a moment when abstract ideas about justice collide with real risk. For Rishi, that moment arrived through a matter involving a major technology client that had detected a sophisticated leak of proprietary algorithms. 

This was not a routine dispute. The stakes were immediate and commercial. The damage was not yet fully visible, but the threat was real. The responsibility placed on his team went far beyond drafting pleadings. Evidence had to be preserved with precision. Enforcement authorities across jurisdictions had to be coordinated. A rapid litigation and investigation strategy had to be designed not only to respond, but to contain. 

That experience altered how he viewed the function of law. 

“The law is not merely a remedy after harm; it is a defence against harm.” 

The matter reinforced that effective legal intervention must be preventive, strategic, and farsighted. It also clarified something that would remain non-negotiable regardless of scale or complexity. “No matter how complex the commercial stakes may be, integrity must remain the immovable centre of gravity.” 

From that point onward, his legal philosophy was set. Anticipate vulnerabilities before they surface. Respond with discipline. Lead with ethics always. 

Where Legal Rights Meet Moral Boundaries 

In commercial practice, particularly within IP disputes, legal rights often exist alongside ethical tension. There are moments when the law allows more than conscience should endorse. Rishi does not approach these situations instinctively or emotionally. He relies on structure. 

He navigates them through three guiding principles that remain consistent regardless of client or circumstance. 

• Transparency: candid communication about risks, outcomes, and boundaries. 

• Proportionality: measured actions aligned with factual and legal necessity. 

• Fairness: advocacy that is firm yet never exploitative of legal technicalities. 

For him, professional responsibility and moral responsibility are distinct but inseparable. Professional responsibility demands diligence and loyalty. Moral responsibility requires conscience and restraint. 

“When these are harmonised, justice becomes both principled and effective.” 

Learning to Move With a Shifting System 

India’s legal ecosystem is in constant transition. Digitisation, global commerce, and rapid technological disruption continue to reshape it. Laws relating to cybercrime, digital evidence, and trade secrets evolve steadily, but innovation often moves faster than regulation. 

Rather than treating this gap as an obstacle, Rishi approached it as a responsibility. He committed to continuous learning beyond traditional legal boundaries, investing time in digital forensics, AI governance, and cross-border enforcement mechanisms. His involvement with international organisations such as INTA and MARQUES provided global exposure and opportunities for policy participation. 

Another significant challenge emerged through complex counterfeiting and information leak networks. These were not problems that could be solved through litigation alone. They required collaboration. Strengthening engagement with enforcement and customs authorities through training initiatives and hands-on operations became essential to achieving tangible outcomes. 

Over time, adaptation stopped being reactive. 

“Adaptability today is not a response to change; it is a daily discipline.” 

When the System Meets the Citizen 

At its core, the intellectual property system exists to empower creativity and innovation. It gives an ordinary creator the means to protect a brand identity, monetise artistic expression, commercialise an invention, or preserve cultural heritage. When used effectively, IP law acts as a significant equaliser, allowing small businesses and first-time innovators to stand against unfair competition. 

Yet access remains uneven. 

Procedural complexity, high professional and litigation costs, long delays, and a lack of awareness discourage individual creators from securing and enforcing their rights. Digital infringement has intensified. Content misuse, counterfeit goods, and online piracy now move faster than enforcement mechanisms can adapt. As a result, innovators often feel powerless despite having a lawful entitlement to protection. 

Rishi views this gap as systemic rather than incidental. To address it, he would champion reforms that focus on inclusion and responsiveness. Wider IP awareness at grassroots levels, including startups, art communities, and rural craft clusters. Simplified and affordable filing procedures for individuals and MSMEs. Stronger digital enforcement with faster online takedowns and proactive monitoring tools. Institutionalised ADR to enable faster and less expensive dispute resolution. Targeted support for indigenous and local creators to prevent exploitation by commercial entities. 

“Ultimately, the legal system must evolve to ensure that the economic and moral ownership of ideas lies with their true creators.” 

Only then does IP law fulfil its purpose. 

Building Strength Under Pressure 

Legal practice, especially at high stakes, demands more than technical competence. For Rishi, empathy begins with listening. Understanding a client’s vision, concerns, constraints, and fears is not a preliminary step. It is foundational. 

Resilience, in his view, is built through preparation. 

“When every element has been meticulously examined, pressure becomes a stimulant rather than a burden.” 

Critical thinking is sustained through intellectual curiosity. Questioning assumptions. Evaluating evidence. Remaining alert to patterns that others may overlook. 

“These are not traits by birth but habits intentionally strengthened every day.” 

Mentorship that Defined the Practice 

Throughout his career, Rishi has been guided by senior practitioners whose clarity of thought, insistence on precision, and unshakeable integrity shaped his understanding of the profession. Their influence did not come through instruction alone, but through example. 

They reinforced principles that continue to guide him. 

“The practice of law is not about aggression; it is about clarity. Not about volume, but about substance. Not about winning at all costs, but about advocating responsibly.” 

Why Human Judgment Still Matters 

Technology and AI are reshaping the IP practice domain. Automated prior art searches, trademark surveillance, and predictive infringement analytics have changed how portfolios are managed and disputes anticipated. Efficiency has improved. The scale has expanded. 

Yet, intellectual property law remains fundamentally rooted in human creativity and commercial intent. 

AI may detect similarity between marks or designs, but it cannot interpret goodwill, market perception, or cultural nuance. It may flag resemblance, but it cannot assess originality through the lens of human expression. 

Rishi sees the future as one of balance. Lawyers must leverage technology while preserving human discretion, particularly in advocacy, negotiation, and ethical decision-making. 

“Human judgment, not algorithms, will continue to define what deserves protection and what constitutes infringement.” 

Leadership Where Ethics, Power, and Creation Intersect 

In IP law, leadership carries a unique responsibility. Creators entrust lawyers with the products of their imagination, their identity, livelihood, and often generational legacy. 

For Rishi, leadership means protecting ingenuity without compromising ethics. 

• It requires integrity in defending rights against exploitation. 

• Courage to challenge unlawful appropriation regardless of scale. 

• Commitment to mentoring younger professionals to value precision, diligence, and fairness. 

• Responsible use of legal power to strengthen innovation rather than burden it. 

“To lead is not merely to win disputes; it is to preserve the dignity of creation itself.” 

Authority can be granted. Ethical leadership must be earned. 

Values that Refuse to Bend 

Ethical dilemmas arise frequently in IP practice, especially when market advantage tempts aggressive enforcement or when creators lack commercial sophistication. Rishi remains anchored in honesty, fairness, and discipline. 

“At such moments, I prioritise what is right over what is expedient.” 

Transparency with clients remains central. Explaining risks. Setting realistic expectations. Refusing strategies that stretch the law beyond fairness. Creativity deserves protection, but rights should never be weaponised to suppress legitimate competition or public interest. 

Adhering to values, in his view, protects not only the client but the credibility of the IP system itself. 

A Legacy Built Beyond Recognition 

When Rishi considers legacy, he looks beyond individual wins. He focuses on structural change. 

• A more accessible and efficient enforcement ecosystem 

• Advocacy that respects both innovation and ethical boundaries 

• Young lawyers trained to practice IP with purpose, not mere aggression 

• Policy improvements that address emerging technologies and digital rights 

• Greater recognition for local and indigenous creators 

If future practitioners feel empowered to safeguard ideas with integrity and empathy, and if innovators feel confident that the law will protect their labour, that would be a legacy worth pursuing. 

Redefining Success Beyond the Courtroom 

Success, as Rishi defines it today, is not measured solely in injunctions granted or orders secured. It is found in lasting security for innovators and entrepreneurs. In watching a brand grow stronger because its identity was protected. In seeing an artist receive fair credit. In ensuring a small business can compete, counterfeiters were stopped. 

It also exists in mentoring colleagues, supporting younger lawyers, and contributing to legal frameworks that future creators will rely on. 

“Courtroom victories are important. But building systems that protect thousands of victories in the future; that, to me, is the true definition of success.”