New Delhi, Aug 06: Aahna Mehrotra, Founder of AM Sports Law & Management Co. (AMSL), has been named in the Leaders Under 40 Class of 2026 by Leaders in Sport, one of the most respected global networks in the business of sport, that connects senior executives from the world’s biggest leagues, clubs and rights holders. Selected by an international judging panel, the Class of 2026 joins an alumni network of more than 300 executives across 29 countries, with previous members drawn from organisations including FIFA, NBA, City Football Group and Formula 1.
Mehrotra is among a handful of India-based professionals, and one of very few lawyers, to be recognised in the Class, at a time when India’s sports economy, valued at around USD 19 billion and projected to reach USD 40 billion by 2030, is drawing growing global attention.
A specialist sports and gaming lawyer and strategic advisor, Mehrotra entered the field in 2011 and founded AMSL in 2017, at the age of 29. Over her career she has worked on more than twenty national and international leagues and advised across the sports value chain, from media rights and league structuring to athlete representation, esports and online gaming. Having served as Vice-Chairperson of the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, where she chaired panels adjudicating doping charges, she is also recognised for her work in sports governance and integrity, including as a member of the committee re-drafting the National Code Against Age Fraud in Sport, and as one of only two Indian experts invited to contribute to the review process of the UNODC Global Report on Corruption in Sport.
“When I started out, nobody really knew what a sports lawyer was. I explained it at dinners. I defended it in rooms that did not expect a young woman to be the one talking about the business of sport. So to be recognised for it on a global stage means a great deal,” said Aahna Mehrotra, Founder of AM Sports Law & Management Co. “This, however, says less about me and more about how far Indian sport has travelled, and how much the legal and governance side now matters to where it goes next. None of this would have been possible without the clients who took a chance on a young firm in an emerging field, and a team that has backed the work every step of the way. This recognition is as much theirs as it is mine.”
The recognition comes at a time when India’s sports industry is witnessing increased investment, commercial growth and regulatory development. As the sector continues to evolve, legal and governance expertise is playing an increasingly important role in supporting athletes, organisations and businesses across the ecosystem.