Profile: Sr.Legal Advocate
Location : Shivajinagar, Pune
Profile: Sr.Legal Advocate
Year of Experience: 15- 20 Years
Salary : 12 LPA
Senior Advocate / Senior Legal Consultant – Litigation & Corporate Legal Affairs
The Senior Advocate / Senior Legal Consultant will be responsible for managing and providing strategic legal support to the Company across court cases, litigation, arbitration, dispute resolution, contracts, property matters, employment-related disputes, regulatory matters and other legal issues.
The position will act as a key legal advisor to management and internal departments, ensuring that the Company's interests are effectively protected and that legal risks are identified, mitigated and appropriately managed.
The incumbent will independently handle or supervise litigation before appropriate courts, tribunals, authorities and forums and coordinate with external advocates, solicitors, consultants and other legal professionals wherever required.
- Key Responsibilities
- Litigation & Court Matters
- Handle and supervise all litigation and legal proceedings initiated by or against the Company.
- Represent the Company before appropriate courts, tribunals, commissions, statutory authorities and other judicial subject to applicable professional requirements.
- Draft, review and settle:
- Plaint
- Written Statements
- Replies and Rejoinders
- Appeals
- Applications
- Affidavits
- Legal Notices
- Written Submissions
- Interim Applications
- Petitions and other pleadings.
- Prepare cases from inception through final disposal, including appeals and execution proceedings.
- Attend court hearings and ensure timely filing of pleadings, documents and applications.
- Develop appropriate litigation strategies in consultation with management.
- Review evidence, documents, correspondence and records relevant to ongoing disputes.
- Brief Senior Counsel / Advocates wherever specialized representation is required.
- Monitor court orders, directions, next hearing dates and compliance requirements.
- Maintain an updated litigation tracker and provide regular status reports to management.
- Legal Notices & Dispute Management
- Draft, issue and respond to legal notices on behalf of the Company.
- Examine notices, summons, claims and demands received by the Company.
- Evaluate the legal and financial exposure arising from disputes.
- Recommend appropriate action, including negotiation, settlement, mediation, arbitration or litigation.
- Participate in settlement discussions and negotiations wherever commercially appropriate.
- Ensure that settlement terms are properly documented and legally enforceable.
- Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Handle arbitration proceedings arising from contracts, commercial transactions and other disputes.
- Review arbitration clauses and advise management on contractual dispute-resolution mechanisms.
- Coordinate with arbitrators, arbitral institutions, external counsel and consultants.
- Prepare claims, counterclaims, replies, submissions and supporting documentation.
- Advise management on mediation, conciliation and other alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms.
- Corporate & Commercial Legal Matters
- Provide day-to-day legal advice to management and business functions.
- Review and draft agreements, contracts, MOUs, undertakings, declarations and other legal documents.
- Identify legal risks in commercial transactions and recommend suitable safeguards.
- Review contractual obligations, indemnities, warranties, limitation of liability, termination provisions and dispute-resolution clauses.
- Advise departments on legal implications before entering into significant commercial commitments.
- Assist management in developing legally sound business practices and processes.
- Property & Real Estate Matters
- Handle legal matters relating to Company-owned, leased or occupied properties.
- Review title documents, agreements, leases, leave-and-license arrangements and property-related documentation.
- Coordinate with property consultants, surveyors, advocates and government authorities.
- Handle disputes relating to possession, tenancy, title, encroachment, development, construction and property rights.
- Conduct or supervise legal due diligence for acquisition, sale, lease or development of properties.
- Employment & Labour Matters
- Handle disputes involving employees, former employees, contractors and workmen.
- Review disciplinary proceedings, show-cause notices, termination-related documentation and employee grievances from a legal perspective.
- Handle labour court, industrial dispute, tribunal and other employment-related proceedings, as applicable.
- Advise management regarding compliance with applicable labour and employment laws.
- Regulatory & Statutory Matters
- Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting the Company's business.
- Advise management regarding changes in applicable laws, rules, regulations and judicial decisions.
- Coordinate with statutory authorities and regulators wherever required.
- Support the Company in responding to regulatory notices, inspections, inquiries and proceedings.
- Ensure that legal and regulatory risks are appropriately escalated to management.
- Legal Due Diligence & Risk Management
- Conduct legal due diligence relating to contracts, transactions, properties, vendors, customers and other business matters.
- Identify potential litigation and contractual risks before they materialize.
- Develop risk-mitigation strategies and recommend preventive legal measures.
- Maintain a database of material litigation, claims, notices and potential disputes.
- Assist management in assessing contingent liabilities arising from legal matters.
- External Advocate & Law Firm Management
- Appoint and coordinate with external advocates, Senior Counsel, solicitors and law firms.
- Prepare comprehensive briefs and case papers for external counsel.
- Monitor the performance and progress of external legal representatives.
- Review legal opinions, pleadings and advice received from external counsel.
- Ensure that external legal costs and professional fees are appropriately monitored.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of external legal representation and recommend changes where necessary.
- Legal Documentation & Records
- Maintain proper records of all litigation, notices, contracts, legal opinions and court orders.
- Establish a systematic legal documentation and case-management process.
- Ensure that important legal documents are securely maintained and easily retrievable.
- Maintain records of limitation periods, hearing dates, filing deadlines and compliance requirements.
- Ensure timely escalation of critical legal developments to management.
- Management Reporting
The incumbent shall periodically provide management with:
- Litigation status reports.
- Case-wise exposure and risk assessment.
- Upcoming hearing and filing schedules.
- Details of adverse and favourable court orders.
- Pending legal notices and claims.
- Settlement opportunities and recommendations.
- Major contractual/legal risks.
- Regulatory developments affecting the Company.
- Estimated financial exposure and contingent liabilities, wherever ascertainable.
- Recommendations for preventive and corrective legal action.
- Authority & Decision-Making
The position shall have authority to:
- Provide legal advice within the scope of assigned responsibilities.
- Recommend litigation strategies and legal remedies.
- Recommend appointment of external advocates and legal consultants.
- Review and negotiate legal documents.
- Recommend settlement or alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms.
- Escalate high-value, high-risk or strategically important matters to senior management.
Any settlement, compromise, admission of liability, withdrawal of proceedings or financial commitment shall require approval from the Company's authorized management in accordance with the Company's delegation of authority.
Essential
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from a recognized university.
- Valid enrolment with the appropriate Bar Council, wherever required for the nature of the role.
- Strong knowledge of Indian laws and legal procedures.
- Proven experience in litigation and corporate legal matters.
Preferred
- LL.M. or relevant postgraduate qualification.
- Additional qualification in Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Arbitration, Labour Law or related field.
- Experience working with a corporate legal department or established law firm.
- Experience in handling complex commercial and corporate litigation.
- Experience
- 15–20 years of relevant legal experience, preferably with substantial litigation exposure.
- Demonstrated experience handling matters before:
- High Courts
- District and Civil Courts
- Commercial Courts
- Tribunals
- Labour/Industrial Forums
- Arbitration proceedings
- Statutory and regulatory authorities.
- Experience in managing external advocates and legal consultants.
- Experience in advising senior management on legal risks and litigation strategy.
- Key Skills & Competencies
Legal Skills
- Litigation management
- Legal research
- Legal drafting
- Contract review
- Arbitration
- Dispute resolution
- Corporate law
- Property law
- Labour and employment law
- Regulatory compliance
- Legal due diligence
Professional Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
- Excellent drafting and communication skills.
- Strong negotiation and settlement skills.
- Ability to independently manage multiple legal matters.
- Strong understanding of court procedures and litigation strategy.
- Ability to assess legal and commercial risks.
- Excellent documentation and case-management skills.
- Ability to work under strict deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills.
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Performance may be assessed based on:
- Timely handling and closure of litigation matters.
- Effective management of Company's legal exposure.
- Quality and accuracy of pleadings and legal documentation.
- Successful representation and protection of Company's interests.
- Timely response to legal notices and court proceedings.
- Reduction/prevention of avoidable litigation.
- Effective management of external advocates and legal costs.
- Timely identification and escalation of legal risks.
- Successful negotiation and settlement of appropriate disputes.
- Compliance with court orders, statutory requirements and legal deadlines.
- Quality and timeliness of legal advice provided to management.
- Maintenance of accurate litigation and legal records.
- Key Deliverables
The incumbent will be expected to ensure:
- Zero avoidable missed court dates or statutory deadlines.
- Timely filing of all pleadings and applications.
- Accurate and updated litigation records.
- Timely legal advice to management and departments.
- Effective control and monitoring of external legal counsel.
- Proper documentation of all material legal matters.
- Early identification of potential disputes.
- Effective protection of Company assets, rights and contractual interests.
- Appropriate escalation of high-risk legal matters.
- Continuous improvement of the Company's legal risk-management framework.
- Confidentiality & Professional Ethics
The Senior Advocate / Senior Legal Counsel shall maintain strict confidentiality regarding:
- Company information.
- Litigation strategy.
- Legal opinions.
- Contracts and commercial arrangements.
- Employee and customer information.
- Financial and business information.
- Privileged legal communications, wherever applicable.
The incumbent shall conduct all professional activities in accordance with applicable laws, professional standards, ethical obligations and the Company's policies.
- Interdepartmental Coordination
The position will work closely with:
- Board / Directors / Senior Management
- Finance & Accounts
- Human Resources
- Procurement
- Projects & Operations
- Administration
- Contracts & Commercial
- Property / Real Estate
- Compliance
- External Advocates and Law Firms
- Government and Regulatory Authorities
- Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate should be a senior litigation professional with strong courtroom experience combined with sound corporate legal judgment. The candidate should be capable of independently assessing legal matters, developing litigation strategy, advising management and coordinating multiple external legal professionals.
The candidate should possess a practical understanding of both legal principles and commercial/business considerations, with the ability to provide solutions that protect the Company's interests while minimizing unnecessary litigation, cost and risk.
- Reporting & Escalation Structure
Senior Advocate / Senior Legal Counsel
↓
Board of Directors, wherever matters require Board-level consideration or approval
Application Question(s):
- Are you qualified with Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from a recognized university.
or relevant field?
- are you most comfortable with location Shivajinagar, Pune?
- what is your current annual salary / ctc?
- what is your expected annual salary / ctc?
- How many years of Proven relevant legal experience, preferably with substantial litigation exposure and litigation, arbitration, dispute resolution, contracts, property matters?
- what is your notice period? (in days)
Work Location: In person
