Lead Counsel -

Job Purpose

The Lead Counsel - Strategic Litigations is responsible to lead and manage high-stakes, strategic, and regulatory litigations impacting the airport business, including arbitrations, tariff disputes, environmental matters, and constitutional or statutory challenges. The role involves end-to-end litigation strategy, coordination with external legal counsel, and active monitoring of legal developments. It also includes assessing the impact of legal and regulatory changes on airport operations and advising senior management on risk mitigation, advocacy, and compliance measures.

ORGANISATION CHART

Sr. Lead Counsel - Litigation --> Lead Counsel – Strategic Litigation --> Reportees --> Reporting to --> Position Title

Responsibilities

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Strategic & High-Stakes Litigation Management

Manage all high-value, precedent-setting, and regulatory litigations across airports, including arbitrations, writ petitions, tariff-related disputes, SLPs, and environmental matters before forums such as NGT, High Courts, and the Supreme Court.Develop litigation strategy, including legal positioning, key arguments, and long-term implications for the airport business.Lead case briefing, documentation review, and argument development in coordination with senior counsels and law firms.% of favorable outcomes in strategic casesAverage turnaround time for strategy and filing preparationLitigation cost vs. budget deviation

Regulatory & Contractual Dispute Resolution

Address disputes arising from concession agreements, airport service contracts, and regulatory directions.Support legal teams and business units in interpreting contracts and resolving disputes through arbitration or legal notices.Draft responses, counterclaims, or legal notices as required in coordination with internal and external counsel.Resolution time for contractual disputesNo. of contract disputes mitigated at pre-litigation stage

Legal Representation & Advocacy

Prepare representations or responses to government/regulatory authorities in response to amendments in policies or draft laws affecting airport operations.Participate in consultations, policy review forums, and industry/legal association meetings where representation of airport legal interests is needed.No. of policy/legal representation inputs submitted

Legal Research, Monitoring & MIS

Conduct detailed legal research for ongoing and upcoming cases, identify judicial trends and maintain internal legal precedent databases.Track and report ongoing litigation matters, deadlines, hearing outcomes, and legal risks through structured MIS and dashboards.Review legal judgments and new legislation or regulations relevant to the aviation and airport sector, highlighting implications to key stakeholders.Timeliness and accuracy of MIS submission

External Counsel & Stakeholder Coordination

Coordinate with law firms, senior counsels, and subject-matter experts for litigation strategy, documentation, and hearings.Represent legal team in internal review meetings with cross-functional stakeholders including finance, operations, compliance, and regulatory affairs.Liaise with relevant government and quasi-judicial authorities as part of litigation or representation processes.No. of legal escalations resolved proactively

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES - Additional Details

EXTERNAL INTERACTIONS

Law firms and lawyers Senior AdvocatesGovernment Authorities

INTERNAL INTERACTIONS

The Group General Counsel and the CLOAirport Legal HeadsBusiness teams and Departmental heads

FINANCIAL DIMENSIONS

NA

Other Dimensions

NA

Education Qualifications

LL.BLL.M preferred

Relevant Experience

10-12 years of post-qualification experience in litigation and regulatory legal work, with at least 5 years in managing high-stake cases preferably in infrastructure, aviation, or regulated sectors

COMPETENCIES

Intellectual Property (IP) Management (Proficient) Knowledge of Rules and Regulations of Aviation Sector Legal Frameworks (Proficient) Real-Estate Management (Proficient) Warehousing Legal Management (Proficient) Regulatory Compliance and Governance (Proficient) Employment and Labour Law (Proficient) Legal Research and Analysis (Proficient) Litigation and Dispute Management (Proficient) Networking Personal Effectiveness Teamwork & Interpersonal influence Stakeholder Focus Entrepreneurship Capability Building Social Awareness Planning & Decision Making Execution & Results Strategic Orientation Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking