Komal Kalha

Komal leads the Intellectual Property & Trade Policy portfolio. She works with UN Members States, International & Regional Organisations to promote global health solutions by advocating international best practices for IP protection, removal of market access barriers and the need to create a sustainable ecosystem necessary to incentivise innovation.
Prior to IFPMA, Komal led the United States Patent & Trademark Office’s attaché program in South Asia. She was the principal strategic advisor to the US Government (USG) on all aspects of Intellectual Property for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives. She led negotiations with South Asian Governments relating to IP policy initiatives of the USG. She has developed and executed several technical assistance and capacity building programs aimed at creating a sustainable innovation ecosystem one that promotes, protects and enforces IP.
Her experience as a corporate attorney and a trusted government advisor allows her to work across multiple sectors to resolve complex domestic and international policy and business challenges. Her thorough understanding of the law as well as a strong grasp of the trade and economic implications, has allowed her to better understand the practical challenges raised by both industry and governments, as new policies are considered.
She has designed and taught law courses at leading law schools. Komal serves as an expert on IP law and policy at various at national, regional, and international conferences. She has also been a TeDx speaker on the Importance of Innovation for Entrepreneurs.
She was recognised as one of the Powerful Indian Women in IP, World IP Forum 2021. She is the recipient of the Director’s Award for Professional Excellence, Organisation and Contributions to USG, US Businesses & Stakeholders 2019. She holds a LLM in Intellectual Property from the George Washington University and a BSc/LLB from the National University of Juridical Sciences.