Sapna Bhawnani
About Sapna Bhawnani
Sapna Bhawnani serves as the General Counsel for India and Smaller Countries at UBS, a position she has held since 2023. With extensive experience in legal roles across major financial institutions, she has previously worked at Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank, contributing to various committees focused on diversity, inclusion, and governance.
Work at UBS
Currently, Sapna Bhawnani serves as the General Counsel for India and Smaller Countries at UBS. She has held this position since 2023, contributing to the legal framework and compliance strategies for the region. Her role involves overseeing legal operations and ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements within India and other smaller markets.
Previous Experience at Credit Suisse
Prior to her current role, Sapna Bhawnani worked at Credit Suisse in various capacities. From 2016 to 2020, she was the Director and Head of India Legal. She then served as Head of Legal for South Asia from 2020 to 2022, followed by a role as Head of Legal South Asia and General Counsel APAC COO from 2022 to 2023. During her tenure, she was involved in key legal oversight and governance initiatives.
Education and Expertise
Sapna Bhawnani completed her Bachelor of Commerce at Jai Hind College from 1996 to 2001. She further pursued legal studies at Government Law College, where she earned her LLB from 2001 to 2004. Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her legal expertise in corporate and financial sectors.
Background in Legal Practice
Before her roles at Credit Suisse and UBS, Sapna Bhawnani worked as an Associate at Desai & Diwanji from 2003 to 2006. She also held the position of Vice President and Senior Legal Counsel at Deutsche Bank from 2010 to 2016, where she managed legal matters for the India legal team. Her diverse experience spans various aspects of corporate law.
Leadership and Committee Roles
In addition to her legal responsibilities, Sapna Bhawnani is actively involved in leadership roles. She is a General Counsel representative on the APAC Diversity & Inclusion Committee and serves as Co-Chair for the India Philanthropy Committee at Credit Suisse. Furthermore, she chairs the India Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Committee, demonstrating her commitment to governance and ethical standards.