Reliance Nippon Life Insurance - General Counsel - Tax - Direct & Indirect

A reputed infrastructure conglomerate is seeking an accomplished legal professional to lead its tax legal function, encompassing both direct and indirect tax matters. The incumbent will serve as the key legal advisor on all tax-related issues, ensuring compliance, managing litigation strategy, and supporting strategic transactions with strong commercial acumen and legal precision.

Key Responsibilities

Advisory & Strategy

- Advise senior management and business units on tax structuring, implications of transactions, and tax risk mitigation.

- Interpret evolving tax legislation and regulatory changes to align tax positions with business goals.

- Collaborate with internal stakeholders on M&A, restructuring, and international tax matters.

Tax Litigation & Dispute Management

- Lead the management of high-stake tax litigation cases before appellate authorities, tribunals, and courts.

- Strategize and oversee representations before tax authorities, including drafting of responses, appeals, and petitions.

- Manage external counsel engagements and drive favorable outcomes.

Compliance & Governance

- Ensure legal oversight on all tax compliance, including TDS, GST, income tax, transfer pricing, and other statutory requirements.

- Participate in audits and tax assessments; ensure risk-free operations from a tax governance standpoint.

- Review and strengthen internal tax controls and SOPs from a legal perspective.

Cross-functional Coordination

- Liaise with Finance, Tax, Audit, and Business teams to provide proactive legal support on ongoing and proposed operations.

- Act as the legal point of contact for any regulatory notices, show cause notices, or enforcement matters related to taxation.

Candidate Profile

- LL.B. from a reputed law school; LL.M. or CA qualification will be an added advantage.

- 12 to 18 years of post-qualification experience in Direct and Indirect Tax laws.

- Experience in leading tax litigation and advisory functions in large corporates or top-tier law firms.

- Strong knowledge of Indian taxation laws including GST, Income Tax, Transfer Pricing, and tax treaties.

- Proven ability to interpret complex tax legislations and judicial pronouncements.

- Excellent drafting, negotiation, and advocacy skills.

- Sound judgment with the ability to assess legal risk in a business context.

Preferred Background:

- Candidates from infrastructure, energy, utilities, or capital-intensive sectors will be preferred. A blend of law firm and in-house corporate experience is desirable.