Assistant Manager - Legal

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Advise on and effectively manage the full range of litigation (civil, criminal, food safety, IPR, Legal Metrology, APMC, land revenue, etc.), including appearing in courts, coordinating with external counsel, and ensuring proactive dispute resolution.
• Lead strategy and execution in all IPR (Trademark, Copyright, Design, Patent, Domain, IP enforcement) matters, including enforcement actions, oppositions, anti-counterfeiting, and portfolio management.
• Take complete ownership of end-to-end Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM): drafting, reviewing, negotiating, vetting, and renewing commercial agreements (supply chain, manufacturing, distribution, technology, marketing, HR, etc.), and maintaining accurate documentation for all contracts.
• Provide decisive business advisory on complex food safety regulations, FSSA compliance, Legal Metrology, packaging compliance, EPR/CPCB, and ensure business operations are aligned with statutory requirements (this is a must-have KRA).
• Ensure timely compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements, including periodic updates and implementation of new legal regimes affecting the FMCG business, including the Legal Metrology Act, Food Safety & Standards Act, and relevant environmental legislations.
• Proactively identify legal risks affecting the business; craft mitigations and provide actionable guidance to business leadership and operational teams.
• Advise on and manage customer complaints, regulatory queries, and notices from authorities, ensuring prompt resolution and minimizing risk exposure.
• Engage with municipal, quasi-judicial, and regulatory authorities as required for efficient business operations and regulatory approvals.

Candidate Profile

• Mandatory: LLB/LLM with 3 to 5 years of post-qualification experience exclusively in FMCG sector.
• Demonstrated practical expertise in litigation, regulatory compliance, business advisory relating to food laws and environmental legislation, contract management, and IPR matters.
• Willingness to relocate to Ahmedabad and travel as required for litigation, internal audits, and cross-functional business support.
• Strong commercial acumen, business partnership skills, and excellent communication for interaction with internal stakeholders and external regulators.
• Experience in both in-house legal departments and law firms will be considered an advantage.