CCLS Alum Recognized as India's Future Legal Leader, 2026
Read about Yashvardhan Rana’s recent achievement and what he thinks about it.
India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) has recognised Yashvardhan Rana (Intellectual Property Law LLM, 2016) as one of India's Future Legal Leaders, 2026.
Yashvardhan says: “Being named one of India's Future Legal Leaders, 2026 by India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) is a moment I accept with deep gratitude and humility. It arrives at a fascinating juncture when India's legal profession is maturing in real time, when businesses are thinking globally, and when intellectual property has moved from the margins to the core of corporate strategy.
My journey into IP law began more than a decade ago, sparked by a simple realisation: that ideas, brands, and innovation deserve as much protection as tangible assets. After graduating with a BBA LLB from Symbiosis Law School, Pune, I knew I wanted to specialize. Pursuing an LLM in Intellectual Property Law at Queen Mary University of London allowed me to immerse myself in global IP thinking, to see how different jurisdictions approach brand protection, and to understand that great IP practice is as much about commercial instinct as it is about legal precision.
Founding YVR Law Offices was born from that conviction. I wanted to build a practice where clients didn't just receive legal opinions but instead, they received strategy, clarity, and solutions that worked in the real world. Over the years, I've had the privilege of working with individuals and startups protecting their first trademark, multinational corporations defending portfolios across borders, and FMCG brands navigating the messy, competitive world of consumer goods. Every matter has reinforced one truth: intellectual property isn't an abstract legal exercise. It's the invisible infrastructure that allows businesses to grow, compete fairly, and build trust with their customers.
This recognition doesn't belong to me alone. It belongs to the clients who trusted me with their most important assets, the mentors who challenged and shaped my thinking, the colleagues who brought rigour and energy to every case, and the broader legal community that continues to raise the bar. It's also a reminder of responsibility to keep contributing, whether through writing for leading journals, engaging with professional bodies, or simply doing the work with care and integrity.
What excites me most is what lies ahead. The IP landscape in India is transforming: new laws, new technologies, new questions that don't yet have settled answers. My focus remains unchanged: to help businesses navigate complexity with confidence, to advocate for a legal system that rewards genuine innovation, and to be part of building an ecosystem where fairness, strategy, and growth go hand in hand.
Recognition is wonderful. But the real reward is in the work itself and in knowing there's so much more to do”.