Head of Legal

Job Description – Head – Legal

Position Title : Head – Legal

Department : Legal & Compliance

Location : Chennai

Experience Required : Minimum 15+ Years

Role Overview

The Head – Legal will lead and oversee the company’s end-to-end legal operations, including litigation management, corporate compliance, labour law issues, contract drafting, regulatory matters, property documentation, and strategic legal advisory. This is a senior leadership role requiring strong expertise in corporate law, excellent decision-making ability, and the capacity to manage external legal partners, internal stakeholders, and government authorities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal Proceedings & Litigation Management

NI Act, 1881 (Cheque Bounce Cases)

Oversee drafting and issuance of legal notices.

Supervise filing of complaints, affidavits, and representation as complainant.

Provide support in PW1 deposition responsibilities when required.

Lead coordination with external advocates and direct settlement strategies.

Civil, Commercial & Writ Matters

Vet legal notices and guide litigation strategy.

Attend or supervise participation in court hearings and mediation sessions.

Oversee execution petitions (EP) and property attachment proceedings.

Evaluate and drive settlement negotiations.

Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016

Approve and oversee Demand Notices (Form 3).

Review applications (Form 5, Form B, Form C) submitted before NCLT.

Represent or delegate representation as Operational Creditor before NCLT.

Coordinate with IRPs / RPs during CIRP and guide settlement documentation.

Arbitration

Approve arbitration notices as per contracts.

Represent the company before arbitrators or manage designated advocates.

Finalize advocate appointments and negotiate professional fees with CFO approval.

2. Labour Law & HR Legal Support

Oversee issuance of Show Cause Notices and Termination Notices.

Participate in or supervise internal disciplinary inquiries.

Guide recovery proceedings in cases of financial misconduct.

Approve public legal notices relating to employee matters.

3. Regulatory & Compliance Matters

Legal Metrology Act, 2009

Ensure all products comply with statutory label requirements.

Review responses to inspector notices and closure reports.

Liaise with Legal Metrology authorities and oversee penalty settlements.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

Manage trademark filings, renewals, objections, and hearings.

Supervise user affidavit preparation and coordinate with IP counsels.

Ensure protection of brand assets (trademarks / designs).

4. Contract Drafting & Management

Oversee drafting, vetting, and approval of key commercial agreements such as :

Supplier, Distribution, Agency, Rental & Transportation Agreements

NDAs, Job Work Agreements, Loan Licensing Agreements

Digital Marketing & other commercial contracts

Ensure contract governance, repository maintenance, and renewal tracking.

5. Property Registrations & Documentation

Approve verification of property documents.

Review MoUs, Sale Deeds, and registration-related documents.

Liaise with Sub-Registrar and District Registrar offices where required.

Ensure timely payment of stamp duty and registration charges.

6. Liaison & Reporting

Lead meetings with government authorities and regulatory agencies.

Provide periodic legal updates, litigation status reports, and risk assessments to the CFO.

Maintain comprehensive documentation and support compliance audits.

Advise senior management on legal risks, regulatory changes, and business decisions.

Desired Candidate Profile

Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B); LL.M preferred.

Minimum 15+ years of experience , with strong exposure to corporate legal, litigation, compliance, and contract management.

Prior leadership experience in a senior legal role is highly desirable.

Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Ability to handle high-value litigation, arbitration, and regulatory matters independently.

Excellent drafting ability and strong understanding of business-legal alignment.