Manager Legal - India

Location: Thane (HO Mumbai)

Department: Legal

Reports To: Director Legal - India

About the Role

This role is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to support the growth and success of Vertiv and to work seamlessly with the business teams in India cluster. The Legal Business Partner will be responsible for contract review and negotiations, identifying and mitigating legal risks and providing high quality, expert legal advice and support to the business.

The candidate should demonstrate a proactive approach by taking ownership of assigned responsibilities, identifying opportunities for process improvement, and driving the effective implementation of enhanced processes and best practices.

The role will be responsible for working with the Head of Legal India to craft the strategy for the function.

Key Responsibilities

- Contract Negotiation & Drafting: Review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including master sales agreements, distribution agreements, procurement contracts, NDA, bank guarantees, tenders, and service-level agreements.

- Ensure that all contracts comply with applicable laws and regulations and align with the company's policies and objectives. Identify potential legal risks in contract terms and conditions and provide solutions to mitigate such risks.

- Lead contract negotiations with customers, vendors, and other third parties to achieve favorable terms and mitigate risks. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and provide legal guidance during negotiations.

- Business Advisory & Risk Management: Provide strategic legal and commercial advice to internal stakeholders on business practices, risk allocation, policy compliance, and dispute avoidance. Actively participate in deal structuring and early-stage issue spotting.

- Dispute Resolution & Litigation Oversight: Manage and coordinate external counsel for dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Provide internal guidance on potential claims and pre-litigation matters.

- Compliance & Regulatory Insight: Assist with regulatory issues including statutory compliance, data protection, and employment law across the India region, working closely with local teams and external counsel where necessary.

- Executive Reporting & Strategy: Prepare clear, concise legal summaries and recommendations for senior leadership, enabling informed, risk-aware business decisions.

Qualifications & Experience

- LLB degree from a reputed law college in India. CS qualification is not a must but will be an added advantage.

- Minimum 8 years of experience in a fast-paced company with a focus on contract review and negotiations.

- Strong knowledge of contract law and commercial law.

- Legal drafting skills and good attention to detail, including when operating under pressure. Highly developed ability to successfully negotiate to achieve desired outcomes.

- Exposure to regulatory compliance, employment, corporate governance, and litigation matters