Chief Legal Officer (CLO)

Location: Delhi

Position Overview:

The Chief Legal Officer (CLO) will lead the Company's Legal & Compliance function and serve as a strategic advisor to the Board of Directors, Managing Director & CEO, and senior leadership team. The incumbent will be responsible for managing all legal, regulatory, litigation, recovery, enforcement, compliance, and governance matters while ensuring that the Company operates in accordance with RBI regulations and all applicable laws.

The CLO will play a critical role in stressed asset acquisitions, enforcement of security interests, insolvency proceedings, recovery strategies, litigation management, and legal risk mitigation.

Key Responsibilities:

- Provide strategic legal counsel to the Board, MD & CEO, and senior management on corporate, commercial, regulatory, recovery, and litigation matters.

- Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, including the RBI Act, SARFAESI Act, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC), Companies Act, Transfer of Property Act, Contract Act, Stamp Act, Registration Act, FEMA, SEBI Regulations (where applicable), Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and other relevant statutes.

- Lead the legal due diligence of distressed asset acquisitions, assignment agreements, security documents, title verification, and transaction structuring.

- Develop and implement legal strategies for recovery of stressed assets through SARFAESI proceedings, DRT, DRAT, NCLT, High Courts, Supreme Court, Arbitration, Lok Adalat, and other judicial or quasi-judicial forums.

- Oversee enforcement actions under the SARFAESI Act, including demand notices, possession notices, symbolic and physical possession, sale of secured assets, auctions, and recovery proceedings.

- Lead and manage litigation involving borrowers, guarantors, promoters, regulators, financial institutions, and third parties.

- Vet, draft, negotiate, and review all legal documents, including Assignment Agreements, Loan Agreements, Security Documents, Settlement Agreements, NDAs, MoUs, Vendor Agreements, Employment Contracts, Service Agreements, and other commercial contracts.

- Advise business teams on One-Time Settlement (OTS), debt restructuring, compromise settlements, restructuring schemes, and legal recoverability of stressed assets.

- Liaise with RBI, legal advisors, law firms, statutory authorities, insolvency professionals, resolution professionals, liquidators, and regulatory bodies on legal and compliance matters.

- Monitor and manage legal risks associated with acquisitions, recoveries, investments, funding arrangements, and strategic transactions.

- Ensure timely legal compliance under applicable corporate, labour, contractual, and regulatory laws and oversee periodic legal audits.

- Formulate, review, and update internal legal policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and governance frameworks.

- Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing legal team while managing external counsel, litigation budgets, and legal costs efficiently.

Qualifications & Experience:

- LL.B. from a recognized university. LL.M. and Company Secretary (CS) qualification will be an added advantage.

- Minimum 1020 years of post-qualification legal experience, with significant experience in an NBFC, Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC), Bank, Financial Institution, or reputed law firm handling banking and finance matters.

- Demonstrated experience in SARFAESI, DRT, DRAT, NCLT, IBC proceedings, debt recovery, enforcement actions, and distressed asset resolution.

- Strong knowledge of banking laws, commercial laws, corporate laws, financial sector regulations, and RBI guidelines.

- Experience in handling high-value litigation, complex commercial transactions, regulatory matters, and legal due diligence.

Skills & Competencies:

- Strong leadership and team management capabilities.

- In-depth understanding of SARFAESI, IBC, DRT, Companies Act, Contract Law, Property Law, Banking & Finance Laws, and RBI regulatory framework.

- Ability to develop legal strategies that support business objectives while effectively managing legal and regulatory risks.

- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to interact confidently with the Board, senior management, regulators, lenders, external counsel, and government authorities.

- Excellent communication, presentation, and decision-making skills.