In today’s fast-changing regulatory landscape, businesses need more than just legal advisors; they need partners who can bridge compliance with growth. Simran Gupta is one such professional. A Corporate & Privacy Lawyer and Compliance Specialist, Simran brings a rare blend of corporate law expertise, data privacy specialization, and hands-on freelancing experience. Armed with an LL.M. from Amity University, she has already advised startups, fintechs, SaaS companies, and enterprises on GDPR, India’s DPDPA, and ISO standards.
What makes Simran’s journey unique is her decision to pursue freelancing over traditional firm life. From drafting privacy policies and contracts to conducting gap assessments for ISO 27001/27701 and DPDPA compliance, she has built a reputation for delivering custom, scalable, and practical compliance solutions. With a strong foundation in legal research, corporate advisory, and contract negotiation, Simran stands out as a lawyer who helps businesses thrive securely in the digital era.
Who is Simran Gupta?
Simran Gupta is a dynamic legal professional with experience across data privacy, corporate law, and regulatory compliance. She started her career with internships and advocacy projects, steadily moving toward data privacy as global and Indian regulations began reshaping industries. Unlike many of her peers, Simran chose to build her career as an independent freelance privacy lawyer, allowing her to work closely with clients, offering personal attention, affordability, and tailored strategies.
Her portfolio includes advising IT firms, SaaS startups, hospitality businesses, and e-commerce ventures, helping them navigate GDPR, HIPAA, and India’s DPDPA. With certifications in OneTrust, ISO frameworks, and Data Protection Officer training, she has quickly positioned herself as a trusted advisor for companies that want compliance to enable, not block, business growth.
Q1. Can you share your journey into the data privacy field? What led you to freelancing rather than joining a company?
Simran: My journey in data privacy has been really exciting. After my bachelor’s, one of my seniors showed me this field, and I helped him make privacy policies. That first experience made me very curious. Later, during my master’s, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 came into the picture. It mixed law and technology together, and I found it very interesting. After finishing my master’s successfully, I knew I wanted to build my career here, where law and technology come together.
About freelancing, honestly, I didn’t plan it. While doing one of my internships, a startup found me on LinkedIn and asked for help with privacy work. That one chance turned into many more projects with other companies, and slowly, freelancing became my path. I realized sometimes work doesn’t come with big signs; it comes quietly, and if you notice it, it can change your life.
Q2. What aspects of data privacy excite you the most, and how have they shaped your service offerings?
Simran: What excites me most about data privacy is that it keeps changing, and it connects law, technology, and people’s behavior. Every time a new law comes up, like GDPR, HIPAA, or India’s DPDPA, businesses have to rethink how they use people’s data. It’s not a burden, it’s actually about building trust and handling data responsibly.
For me, the best part is turning these complicated rules into simple and useful steps for companies. It feels like solving a puzzle; laws give the rules, but the solution must fit the company’s work style and culture. Because of this mindset, my services are not just about writing policies or giving documents. I help companies with full compliance roadmaps, training, and most importantly, creating a privacy culture inside the team. I don’t see privacy as just ticking boxes; it’s about helping businesses grow confidently while still respecting people’s rights.
Q3. Were you already a subject matter expert before freelancing, or did you build your expertise while working independently?
Simran: Before freelancing, I already had a strong legal background, especially in corporate and contract law, and I had done certifications and internships that exposed me to global privacy standards. But in my opinion, real expertise doesn’t come just from studying; it comes when you apply your knowledge to different industries.
By freelancing, I got to work deeply with IT, SaaS, and hospitality companies. Each one had different problems. Over time, I saw that expertise is something you build step by step by solving many real cases, not something you can just claim from day one. Freelancing gave me that fast learning journey; every project pushed me to sharpen my skills and adjust quickly.
Q4. How did you land your very first data privacy client?
Simran: My first client came through a referral from my legal network. It was a startup working heavily with data, and they needed help with privacy rules. I worked directly with them on compliance writing policies, aligning them with India’s new privacy rules, and setting up systems that could grow with them.
That project gave me confidence and also brought me new clients through word of mouth. It became a turning point in my career.
Q5. Did you focus on a niche (e.g., GDPR audits, DPDPA readiness, HIPAA compliance) or offer broad services from the start?
Simran: In the beginning, I offered broad services, from corporate advisory to privacy documentation, because I wanted to learn about the different needs of businesses.
Later, I saw that focusing is more powerful. Now I mainly work on DPDPA readiness and GDPR compliance, because these matter most for Indian startups, SaaS companies, and IT firms. At the same time, I still do contract drafting and corporate law because they go hand in hand with privacy. This way, I specialise while staying flexible enough to meet client demands.
Q6. How important were networking, certifications, or thought leadership in building credibility?
Simran: All three are very important.
● Networking gave me chances I wouldn’t have found otherwise.
● Certifications like OneTrust gave me technical proof that I knew my subject.
● Thought leadership (writing, training, sharing insights) showed people I can not only understand laws but also make them useful in real life.
The mix of showing my knowledge, staying certified, and engaging with the community has been the main way I built trust.
Q7. In your experience, why would a client choose to work with an individual consultant rather than a large consulting firm?
Simran: Startups and SMEs usually choose independent consultants because they need personal attention, flexibility, and lower cost. Big firms charge high fees and often use standard solutions that don’t match every company’s situation.
When I work with clients, I take time to understand their exact business stage and design solutions that fit them. They get direct accountability and faster response from me, which they may not get as easily in a big firm setup.
Q8. Do you rely more on inbound (referrals, content, reputation) or outbound (cold outreach, proposals) lead generation?
Simran: I use both.
- Inbound (referrals, reputation, content) brings clients who already trust my work.
- Outbound (cold emails, proposals) helps me reach companies that may not yet understand how urgent privacy compliance is, but need it.
Inbound builds long-term credibility, while outbound keeps new opportunities flowing.
Q9. From your perspective, what unique value can an independent bring that a company might not?
Simran: As an independent, I bring flexibility, cost savings, and full accountability. Clients know exactly who is doing their work, without it being passed to juniors. I can also quickly adjust the deliverables to match their size, stage, and budget.
This personalised approach is often more valuable to smaller businesses than the one-size-fits-all style of big firms.
Q10. What tools, platforms, or methodologies are critical in delivering privacy compliance services effectively?
Simran: I use a mix of structured frameworks and practical tools. For assessments, I use templates and checklists for assessments, policies, and requests, which make compliance easier to run daily.
By combining structured standards with easy-to-use tools, I make sure compliance is not just theoretical but becomes part of the company’s regular work.
Q11. What have been the biggest challenges in building your data privacy freelancing career?
Simran: The biggest challenge was building credibility as an independent in a field dominated by big firms. Another challenge is keeping up with ever-changing laws around the world.
In this field, even a small mistake can be costly for clients, so I always need to stay updated.
Q12. How do you keep up with rapidly changing privacy laws across jurisdictions?
Simran: I track updates from regulators, industry groups, and OneTrust’s knowledge hub. I also attend webinars, trainings, and legal forums.
Being connected to professional networks helps me compare practices across industries. For me, continuous learning is not optional; it’s necessary.
Q13. What mistakes should aspiring freelancers avoid when starting in data privacy consulting?
Simran: Some common mistakes are:
- Jumping in without understanding privacy laws properly.
- Offering too many services instead of focusing on one or two areas.
- Not preparing sample work to show clients.
- Skipping contracts and scope, which later causes disputes.
- Promising more than what can be delivered.
- Staying invisible, because in freelancing, your visibility is your credibility.
Q14. What qualifications or experiences do you consider essential for someone to succeed in this niche?
Simran: A strong legal or compliance foundation is a must because privacy is based on law. Hands-on experience, like drafting policies or leading compliance, builds real expertise.
Soft skills also matter: being able to explain privacy rules in simple words and being transparent with clients. In this field, trust is as important as technical skill.
Q15. How do you handle clients who want only “minimal compliance”?
Simran: Sometimes clients only want the bare minimum, just to tick a box. In such cases, my first step is to explain the risks like fines, reputational loss, and higher long-term costs.
I make them understand that compliance is not just about papers, it’s about building trust with their customers and partners.
Q16. How do you see the freelancing market in data privacy evolving over the next 5 years?
Simran: In the next 5 years, freelancing in data privacy will grow a lot. As rules like India’s DPDPA and global laws get stricter, companies will need stronger compliance. Startups and SMEs especially will prefer independent consultants because they give flexibility, affordability, and focused expertise that big firms can’t always provide.
Globally, too, privacy freelancing will become more respected, with independents seen not as backups but as specialised partners of choice.
Closing Summary
As India enters its DPDPA era, voices like Simran Gupta’s become invaluable. She represents a new generation of privacy professionals, independent, adaptive, and deeply connected to both law and technology. Her freelancing journey shows that expertise isn’t limited to big firms; sometimes, the most practical, future-ready guidance comes from professionals who combine legal rigor with entrepreneurial spirit.
Through her advisory work, compliance roadmaps, and client-first freelancing approach, Simran is proving that privacy and business success are not opposites; they grow stronger together. For startups and enterprises navigating new rules, her story is a reminder that clarity, adaptability, and personal accountability make all the difference in compliance.
