Legal Manager

Legal Counsel Head

Hyderabad, India

Manufacturer Defence manufacturing

Bachelors or Masters degree in Law from a reputable institution; bar qualification in India or other Commonwealth countries is a plus.

Experience: 10+ years of experience in manufacturing corporate and commercial law.

• Strong knowledge of laws (corporate and commercial), with experience in South Asia or other common law jurisdictions being a plus.

Job Overview:

This role involves handling corporate and commercial legal matters, ensuring compliance, managing disputes, and overseeing corporate governance. The position offers an excellent opportunity to work in a dynamic and develop expertise in diverse legal areas.

Key Responsibilities:

Commercial Legal Support:

• Provide accurate and timely legal counsel to stakeholders on a wide range of legal topics, including contractual matters, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Draft, review, and negotiate various legal documents such as commercial contracts, GTCs, NDAs, MOUs, and other contractual arrangements related to sales, purchases, supply, consultancy, agency, distribution, real estate, construction, mining, and banking.
• Develop or update contract templates and adapt existing templates to local requirements.
• Assist and liaise with the Group Insurance Department and local brokers for insurance claims and queries.
• Alert stakeholders to legal and regulatory risks, providing solutions to mitigate those risks.

Compliance:

• Act as the compliance point of contact for the region, ensuring implementation of Group compliance programs.
• Assist in training business teams exposed to compliance risks.
• Provide advice on compliance-related issues, with support from the Group Compliance team.

• Dispute and Litigation Management:

• Manage disputes, pre-litigation, and litigation matters, including arbitration.
• Develop effective strategies to resolve legal issues, protect the company's interests, and address commercial claims.
• Liaise with and supervise external counsel for outsourced legal matters, ensuring cost-effective and efficient legal representation.
• Supervise and coordinate with business teams to gather facts and evidence, execute litigation strategies, and provide regular updates on litigation progress.

Corporate Governance:

• Oversee corporate secretarial and compliance-related matters for legal entities in South Asia.
• Manage corporate governance projects, including acquisitions, restructurings, and the establishment of new legal entities.
• Coordinate with external consultants for corporate restructuring initiatives.

• Advisory and Stakeholder Support:

• Offer legal and strategic advice to internal stakeholders, translating complex legal concepts into actionable recommendations.
• Collaborate with sales, operations, and support teams to align legal support with business objectives.

• General Legal Support:

• Handle special assignments, projects, and other duties related to the Legal Department as directed by the APAC General Counsel.
• Maintain updated records and reports to ensure regulatory compliance and support audits.

Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent legal and strategic judgment with strong business partnering skills.
• High level of integrity, meticulous attention to detail, and a quick learner.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to provide legal solutions proactively and mitigate risks effectively.
• Proficiency in translating complex legal concepts into practical business advice.