Legal Counsel - Mergers & Acquisitions

Role Overview :

Legal counsel will be responsible for leading strategic M&A transactions, drafting and negotiating complex, high-value commercial agreements, and managing cross-functional corporate projects. This role serves as a key legal advisor to senior leadership, balancing risk mitigation with business growth, while actively contributing to the overall development and scaling of the corporate legal function.

Key Responsibilities :

1. M&A & Strategic TransactionsEnd-to-end legal support for M&A, joint ventures, strategic investments, and restructurings—from NDA execution to post-merger integration.Drive transaction execution: conduct and manage legal due diligence, draft and negotiate transaction documents (term sheets, SHAs, SPAs, SSAs, asset purchase agreements), and coordinate regulatory/compliance approvals.Partner with Finance, Tax, Strategy, and external legal counsel to structure deals, manage transaction risks, and ensure seamless closing.

2. Complex Contracting & Commercial TransactionsDraft, vet, and negotiate high-complexity, cross-border, and bespoke commercial agreements (MSAs, Software/IP Licensing, Strategic Alliances, Joint Development, EPC/Infrastructure, Outsourcing, Distribution, and Vendor Agreements).Manage standard commercial contracts (Lease/Leave & License, Warehousing, Marketing, Endorsement, Workplace Support, Manpower, SOWs, NDAs) with an emphasis on turnaround time and process efficiency.Identify legal deviations from standard positions, assess risk exposure, and present risk-mitigation strategies to business teams.Lead complex, high-stakes external contract negotiations with senior counterparties.

3. Corporate Projects & Strategic AdvisoryLead legal strategy for key corporate initiatives, new business launches, product rollouts, and internal reorganizations.Provide pragmatic, actionable legal counsel to internal stakeholders across Business, Admin, Procurement, IT, Finance, Tax, Marketing, and HR.Review marketing collaterals, advise on IP/branding strategies, and oversee trademark licensing and enforcement activities across regions.Manage real estate portfolio documentation, ensuring appropriate stamping, registration, and local compliance across India.

4. Corporate Legal Function Development & GovernanceBuild and standardize the legal ops infrastructure: design contract templates, playbooks, SLA workflows, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).Implement and manage digital legal tech tools (Contract Lifecycle Management / CLM platforms, compliance trackers, repository tools).Track regulatory changes and emerging legal risks, translating them into policy updates and internal training for business teams.Monitor and optimize legal spending by managing external counsel retainers, law firm engagement, and fee structures.

5. Litigation Strategy & Risk MitigationFormulate pre-litigation strategies, draft legal notices, and manage responses to dispute notices to avoid litigation.Oversee disputes, legal notices, and arbitrations arising out of M&A, joint ventures, or strategic commercial contracts alongside external counsel.

Knowledge and Skill / Qualification Requirements :

Qualification: LL.B / LL.M from a premier law school or university in India.Experience: 8–12 years of Post-Qualification Experience (PQE) at a leading law firm, top corporate house, or a blend of both.Core Track Record: Proven experience in leading M&A deals, negotiating complex contracts, and advising on multi-stakeholder corporate projects.M&A Expertise: Strong technical expertise in corporate law, structural deal execution, deal documentation, and transaction management.Complex Negotiation: Ability to stand firm on key commercial and legal positions while keeping deal momentum moving.Commercial Acumen: Ability to translate complex legal risks into business context and advise executive leaders on strategic trade-offs.Stakeholder Management: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build trust with C-suite leadership, business partners, and external counsel.Execution & Ownership: High self-motivation, sense of urgency, and ability to manage multiple complex mandates simultaneously under tight deadlines.Process & Technology Orientated: Track record of driving efficiency, introducing playbooks, or deploying CLM/legal tech tools.