Legal Lead

Role & responsibilities

1. Corporate & Commercial Legal Affairs

• Manage all legal matters concerning the company's business operations, partnerships, commercial transactions, and corporate activities.
• Provide legal advice and strategic guidance to senior management on business decisions and operational matters.
• Identify potential legal risks and recommend commercially viable solutions.
• Ensure that business operations, agreements, and internal practices comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Act as the primary point of contact for legal matters across business functions.

2. Contract Drafting, Vetting & Negotiations

• Independently draft, review, negotiate, and finalize various commercial agreements, including:
• University and educational institution partnership agreements.
• Student recruitment and agent agreements.
• Service agreements, vendor contracts, and consultancy agreements.
• MOUs, NDAs, and strategic partnership agreements.
• Technology, SaaS, software licensing, and data-sharing agreements.
• International business collaboration and service agreements.
• Ensure appropriate contractual protection concerning liabilities, indemnities, termination, payment obligations, intellectual property, confidentiality, and dispute resolution.
• Develop standardized legal templates and establish effective contract management processes.

3. Legal Compliance & Regulatory Management

• Monitor and ensure compliance with applicable corporate, commercial, employment, consumer protection, and data privacy laws.
• Advise on Indian and international legal and regulatory requirements relevant to the company's business.
• Coordinate with relevant teams on compliance requirements associated with education services, international student recruitment, and cross-border operations.
• Support compliance with applicable data protection regulations, including India's DPDP framework and GDPR, wherever relevant.
• Conduct periodic legal compliance reviews and recommend corrective measures.
• Maintain statutory and regulatory documentation in coordination with relevant departments.

4. Litigation, Disputes & Legal Risk Management

• Manage legal notices, contractual disputes, claims, and other litigation-related matters.
• Draft and review legal responses, notices, settlement documents, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with external legal counsels, law firms, and relevant authorities.
• Manage arbitration, mediation, and litigation matters, where applicable.
• Develop proactive legal risk mitigation strategies to minimize financial, regulatory, and reputational exposure.

5. Corporate Governance & Legal Documentation

• Support corporate governance processes, legal due diligence, and statutory compliance in coordination with Finance, HR, and company secretarial teams.
• Maintain corporate legal records, agreements, licenses, and other essential legal documentation.
• Provide legal support for new business initiatives, entity-related matters, restructuring, and expansion into new markets.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, delegated authorities, and approval processes.

6. International Business & Cross-Border Legal Support

• Provide legal assistance for international institutional partnerships and commercial arrangements.
• Review cross-border agreements, jurisdiction-specific legal obligations, and international contractual risks.
• Coordinate with overseas legal advisors on matters requiring local legal expertise.
• Support international business expansion, market entry, and overseas partnerships from a legal and compliance perspective.
• Evaluate legal implications of international commercial arrangements and intercompany transactions.

7. Employment & HR Legal Matters

• Advise the HR function on employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, employment-related disputes, and workforce policies.
• Support the development and review of employment policies and disciplinary procedures.
• Provide legal guidance on employee exits, disputes, and other employment-related matters.
• Ensure employment documentation aligns with relevant labour and employment laws.

8. Intellectual Property & Data Protection

• Protect the company's trademarks, brand assets, intellectual property, proprietary information, and technology-related interests.
• Support trademark registrations, renewals, and intellectual property enforcement in coordination with external advisors.
• Review website terms, privacy notices, consent mechanisms, and other legal documentation for digital platforms.
• Advise on data-sharing arrangements, confidentiality, privacy, and information protection obligations.

Preferred candidate profile

• Bachelor's degree in Law (LL.B.) from a recognized university is mandatory.
• 712 years of relevant experience in corporate legal, commercial legal, and compliance functions.
• Prior experience in an in-house legal role with independent ownership of legal matters.
• Strong expertise in contract drafting, negotiations, regulatory compliance, and legal risk management.
• Sound knowledge of Indian corporate and commercial laws.
• Experience handling litigation matters and coordinating with external legal counsel.
• Exposure to international contracts and cross-border transactions.
• Experience working directly with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred Background:

• Experience in education, EdTech, international education, technology platforms, or multinational service organizations.
• Exposure to university partnerships, agency networks, international commercial agreements, or multi-country business operations.
• Previous experience independently managing the legal function of a growing organization.