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 Transactions

- End-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 Transactions

- Draft, 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 Advisory

- Lead legal strategy for key corporate initiatives, current 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 & Governance

- Build 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 Mitigation

- Formulate 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.

📌 Legal Counsel - Mergers & Acquisitions (Mumbai)
🏢 Nykaa
📍 Mumbai