Senior Associate - General Corporate

ASCENDUS LAW PARTNERS | SENIOR ASSOCIATE (SA1 & SA2) – GENERAL CORPORATE & M&A |

Detailed Job Description

Office Location

Indicative PQE

·       SA1: 4 - 5 years

·       SA2: 5 - 6 years

in a corporate / M&A team of a law firm or a active in-house team.

Key Responsibilities

Transaction Execution and Management - M&A / PE, VC

·       Work on and gradually lead execution of share purchases and secondary transfers, primary investments, business / asset transfers and slump sales, joint ventures and strategic partnerships.

·       Supervise and conduct legal due diligence exercises - prepare requisition lists, review documents, identify legal issues, and draft clear, comprehensive, commercially-oriented DD reports.

·       Assist on structuring deals (Companies Act, FEMA, sectoral laws etc).

·       Draft, review and negotiate transaction documents, including, share purchase / share subscription / shareholders’ agreements, JV and business transfer agreements, term sheets, closing documents etc.

·       Prepare and review corporate actions required for closings: board and shareholder resolutions, notices and explanatory statements; share certificates, registers and filings (in coordination with company secretarial teams).

·       Coordinate with clients, counterparties, advisors and internal teams to manage timelines and drive signings/closings.

General Corporate & Regulatory Advisory

• Advise on day-to-day corporate issues under the Companies Act, including: board/shareholder processes and records, related party transactions, loans/guarantees; issue and transfer of securities, buyback, ESOPs; corporate reorganisations and governance.
• Support on FEMA / foreign investment aspects of transactions (entry routes, sectoral caps, reporting and compliance).
• Draft and review commercial contracts, such as services agreements, distribution/franchise agreements, supply contracts, NDAs and basic employment/ESOP documentation.
• Prepare notes, opinions and email advice.

Client & Team Responsibilities

• Act as a day-to-day point of contact for clients on matters.
• Guide and review the work of associates and trainees; provide feedback and help them grow.
• Support partners in matter management.
• Assist the team in business development initiatives, including, contributing to pitch decks, attending industry conferences, and contributing to firm thought leadership (articles/blogs).

Desired Candidate Profile

Essentials

• LL.B. / integrated law degree from a recognised university.
• Enrolled with a State Bar Council in India.
• Strong experience in general corporate and M&A / PE / VC with a reputable law firm or in-house team.

Technical Skills

• Understanding of: Companies Act and rules; FEMA and foreign investment rules; familiarity / prior experience with SEBI / listing and sectoral regulations is an advantage, not a must; familiarity with AIF regulations is an advantage, not a must; familiarity / prior experience with intellectual property and data privacy matters is an advantage, not a must.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting and negotiating: transaction documents (SPA, SSA, SHA, JV); conducting legal due diligences; core corporate and commercial contracts.
• Comfort with cap tables and investment structures.
• Strong research and writing skills; ability to turn complex issues into clear, actionable advice for clients.

Soft Skills & Fit

• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• High attention to detail and ownership mindset.

·       Ability to work in a lean team, manage priorities and stay organised across matters.

• Collaborative and comfortable working directly with partners and clients in a non-hierarchical environment.

What We Offer

• A genuinely partner-led environment with direct visibility and feedback from partners and direct access to decision-makers and clients.
• Opportunity to work on varied, corporate and M&A matters across sectors, without being siloed.
• Scope to take ownership early, lead matters and grow within the practice.
• A collaborative and non-hierarchical culture, with focus on quality, learning and long-term growth rather than just headcount and hours.
• Flexibility with remote working based on firm policies.