Position Profile:

Job Title: Legal Officer

Location: Pune, India

Work Mode: Work from Office

Job Description:

Role Summary:

This role is for a multifaceted legal expert who combines hands-on execution of daily legal tasks with the ability to deliver senior-level strategic advice and guidance to management. The incumbent will be the person in charge for all legal matters of the organisation, while also being an enabler and advisor on compliance, corporate governance and other regulatory adherence.

Essential Functions:

Legal and Regulatory Compliance:

- Advise management on compliance with applicable local, national, and international laws and ensure adherence to these.

- Monitor legal and regulatory developments, assess their impact, recommend appropriate actions, and take needful initiatives.

- Ensure statutory records are maintained with timely filings, registrations and renewals.

Contracts and Documentation:

- Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, NDAs, MOUs (with clients, strategic partners, collaborators, vendors, contractors, employees) and other such docs.

- Develop standardized templates of these for consistent use across business functions.

- Maintain a secure and accessible documentation system.

Advisory and Risk Management:

- Advise management and the Board on corporate governance, ethical business practices, and dispute regulatory obligations.

- Provide day-to-day legal advice to management and teams across business functions.

- Identify potential legal risks and provide preventive strategy and solutions.

Dispute Resolution and Litigation:

- Represent the firm in legal proceedings, hearings, or liaise with external counsels as and when required.

- Prepare case strategies, supporting documents, and ensure timely filing of responses/pleadings.

- Facilitate and manage alternative dispute resolution or settlement options where feasible.

Policies and Ethics:

- Develop, implement, and monitor internal legal and compliance policies.

- Support management in implementing ethical business practices and compliance frameworks.

- Conduct periodic awareness sessions with employees on compliance, governance and ethical standards.

Cross Functional Support:

- Assist business development and operations teams with legally sound strategies and agreements.

- Partner with HR for legal aspects of various HR Policies, employment law compliance and other employee related matters and disciplinary actions.

- Support Finance in tax, compliance, and regulatory filings.

Candidate's Profile:

Essential Qualifications:

- Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Law (LL.B/LL.M) from a recognized institution.

Experience:

- Minimum 5 years of experience as an in-house counsel, legal officer, or in a reputed law firm.

- Experience in handling corporate legal matters and litigation support.

- Experience partnering with senior management and cross-functional teams to enable compliance and governance.

- Exposure to regulatory and compliance frameworks, corporate governance processes, and ethical standards.

Skills and Key Traits:

- Strong knowledge of corporate, commercial, employment, and contract law.

- Good understanding of litigation processes, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

- Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.

- High ethical standards, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

- Independently, resourceful and comfortable working in a lean organizational setup.

- Problem-solver with ability to balance detailed execution and strategic thinking and guidance.