Advocate

Job Title: Advocate Sugar Industry

Location:Pune

Department: Legal & Compliance

Reports To: Head – Legal & Compliance / Managing Director / Company Secretary

Experience Required: 5+ years (depending on seniority level)

Qualification: LLB or LLM from a recognized institution; enrollment with Bar Council

Job Summary:

We are seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Legal Officer / Advocate to handle legal matters related to our sugar manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate should have experience in industrial law, land and labor issues, regulatory compliance, and litigation specific to agri-based or manufacturing industries, preferably sugar.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Legal Advisory & Compliance

Provide legal advice to management on commercial, labor, environmental, and regulatory matters.

Ensure compliance with applicable laws such as the Factories Act, Sugarcane Control Orders, Essential Commodities Act, Pollution Control Board (PCB) norms, labor laws, etc.

Monitor and update the management on changes in laws affecting the sugar sector.

2. Contract Drafting & Vetting

Draft and review agreements, MoUs, vendor contracts, sugarcane supply agreements, ethanol supply contracts, land lease deeds, and power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Ensure legal safeguards in commercial transactions with farmers, suppliers, buyers, and government entities.

3. Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Represent the company in civil, criminal, labor, and commercial litigation before various courts and tribunals.

Coordinate with external legal counsel for ongoing cases related to revenue disputes, land acquisition, farmer payments, or pollution compliance.

Prepare legal notices, responses, and affidavits.

4. Liaison with Government Authorities

Liaise with statutory and regulatory authorities such as:

Department of Sugar and Cane Commissioner

Pollution Control Board

Labour Commissioner

District administration

Excise and Tax departments

5. Land & Property Management

Handle due diligence for land acquisition, ownership/title clearance, lease documentation, and land records management.

Coordinate with local authorities for registration, mutation, and other property-related formalities.

6. Internal Support

Work closely with HR, Finance, Company Secretary, and Operations teams for day-to-day legal matters.

Provide legal training to staff on compliance and contract risks.

Key Skills & Competencies:

In-depth knowledge of corporate, industrial, agricultural, and environmental law.

Familiarity with Sugar Control Orders, ethanol procurement policies, and renewable energy regulations.

Strong drafting, negotiation, and litigation skills.

Ability to handle pressure in a regulated and operationally intense environment.

Preferred Experience:

Previous work in sugar, distillery, ethanol, FMCG, or agri-processing companies.

Exposure to dealing with farmer cooperatives, cane societies, and state sugar departments.