Dr. Nishith Desai is the founder of the research- and strategy-driven international law firm Nishith Desai Associates, ranked among the Asia-Pacific's most innovative law firms by the Financial Times. His interests span a wide spectrum of law, society, and ethics, and he is a renowned international lawyer, author, lecturer, researcher, innovator, and thought leader. Regarded as the ‘Father of International Tax’ in India and a true pioneer in the field of international tax law, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Amity University in 2023 for his contribution to the jurisprudence of international tax in India.

The Indian Government has appointed him to an expert committee mandated to onshore innovation to GIFT IFSC, and the National Startup Advisory Council appointed him a non-official member focused on nurturing innovation and startups to drive sustainable economic growth. He served as a director on the board of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (2011–2019). After India opened its economy in 1991, he pioneered the roots of the asset-management industry in India and assisted the Governments of Mauritius and India in launching their offshore financial centers. He established the first five India-focused funds and has played a seminal role in structuring numerous private equity and domestic venture capital funds; the firm has now worked for over 1,400 funds across all asset classes.