The loss of our guiding light and North Star: A tribute to Ashok Sharma

It is with unbearable sorrow and profound love that I share the passing of my beloved father, Dr Ashok Sharma, who left us on October 2, 2025.

Dad was far more than a parent, he was my friend, philosopher and Google to my problems. His quiet wisdom, unwavering patience and deep sense of fairness shaped not only my life, but also touched the lives of all who had the privilege to know him.

He was born on September 9, 1952 in Bathinda, Punjab to Late Shri HL Sharma and Late Smt Chandra Kala Sharma.

He served as Chief Law Officer of MMTC Limited, India's first Golden Super Star Trading House, where he oversaw complex legal matters involving international trade, joint ventures, commercial and maritime arbitration and high-stakes litigation. With over five decades of professional experience as an advocate and in-house counsel, he became a towering figure in India's corporate legal landscape.

For his exceptional contribution to the legal profession, he was conferred the National Law Day Award in 2008 by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for his Outstanding Contribution to the Practice of Law relating to Public Sector Undertakings.

He was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London) and served as a Director on the CIArb India Board, continuing to practice as an arbitrator in commercial and maritime disputes until his passing. He was one of the few maritime arbitrators based out of Delhi.

I feel deeply grateful to have had the privilege of working closely with my father and contributing, in some measure, to his vision and mission for in-house corporate lawyers through the Federation of Indian Corporate Lawyers (FICL), which he founded and led as its Founder and CEO. Under his inspiring leadership, FICL fostered collaboration, professional excellence and a shared sense of community among corporate legal professionals.

His vision extended beyond borders. FICL forged global partnerships across 17 countries through associations with In-house Counsel Worldwide (ICW), the Asia Pacific Corporate Counsel Alliance (APCCA) and the African Corporate and Government Counsel Forum (ACGC Forum), positioning India's in-house legal fraternity on the global stage. FICL also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre during his tenure.

In addition to his institutional contributions, Dad served on the Editorial Board of the Indian Business Law Journal and Law.asia, where he shared his insights and helped shape thought leadership within the legal community.

Over the years, my father had a unique way of connecting with people. Many cherished his daily WhatsApp statuses - a delightful blend of humour and satire that reflected his wit and optimism. He also had an endearing fondness for collecting rare fountain pens, which he used to sign his arbitral awards.

To me, he was the person I looked up to in life. And now, I look up to the sky, finding solace in his eternal presence above. 

Rest in peace, Dad.

You will be loved, remembered and missed beyond measure today and always.

Rohan Sharma is a dual-qualified Advocate (India) and Solicitor (England & Wales), and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). He currently serves as a Director of the Federation of Indian Corporate Lawyers (FICL).