Associate Director – Legal

Location: NCR / Mumbai / Bengaluru

Experience: 10+ years

Function: Legal, Compliance & Risk

Qualification: LLB

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Associate Director – Legal / Senior In-House Counsel to lead and manage legal, contractual, compliance, and risk-related matters for the organization.

The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of relevant in-house legal experience, preferably within an IT services, technology, professional services, consulting, or Big 4 environment. The role requires strong expertise in commercial and technology contracts, government tenders, regulatory matters, legal advisory, risk management, and business partnering.

The candidate will work closely with business leadership, internal stakeholders, clients, vendors, regulators, and other external parties to provide practical and commercially sound legal advice.

Key Responsibilities

1. Government Tenders & Business Proposals

- Review and provide legal support for Government Tenders, Request for Proposals (RFPs), Expressions of Interest (EOIs), and related procurement documents.
- Identify legal, contractual, compliance, and commercial risks in tender documents.
- Support business teams in responding to legal and contractual requirements during the bidding process.
- Review and advise on tender-related declarations, undertakings, eligibility requirements, and contractual obligations.

1. Commercial & Technology Contracts

Draft, review, negotiate, advise on, and finalize a wide range of commercial and technology-related agreements from both client and vendor perspectives, including:
- Master Services Agreements (MSAs)
- Statements of Work (SOWs)
- Software Purchase Agreements
- Software Licensing Agreements
- SaaS and PaaS Agreements
- System Integration Agreements
- Application Management Services Agreements
- Reseller Agreements
- Vendor and Supplier Agreements
- Teaming Agreements
- Strategic Outsourcing Agreements
- Go-to-Market / GTM Agreements
- Partnership and Collaboration Agreements
- Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
- Other technology and commercial arrangements
- Work closely with sales, procurement, finance, delivery, technology, HR, and business leadership teams to ensure contracts are commercially aligned while managing legal and business risks.
- Support contract negotiations with clients, vendors, partners, and other stakeholders.

1. Policies,



Templates & SOPs

- Draft, review, update, and maintain internal legal policies, standard contractual templates, guidelines, and SOPs.
- Develop standardized legal processes to improve contract governance and compliance.
- Ensure legal documentation remains aligned with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational requirements.

1. Legal, Compliance & Risk Advisory

- Provide day-to-day legal, compliance, and risk advisory support to business units and support functions.
- Identify potential legal and contractual risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
- Advise leadership on legal implications of business decisions, commercial arrangements, and operational matters.
- Monitor relevant changes in Indian laws and regulations and assess their impact on the organization.
- Support internal stakeholders in ensuring appropriate legal and regulatory compliance.

1. Regulatory & External Matters

- Draft and review responses to regulators, government authorities, clients, administrative bodies, and other external stakeholders.
- Handle legal notices, regulatory communications, and other formal correspondence.
- Coordinate with external counsel wherever required.
- Conduct legal research and provide clear, practical advice on applicable laws and regulations.

1. Employee & Employment-Related Matters

- Provide legal support on employee-related matters, including employment documentation, workplace issues, disciplinary matters, and other employment-related concerns.
- Partner with HR and business leadership on employee matters requiring legal interpretation or intervention.
- Review employment-related policies, agreements, and documentation as required.

1. Business Leadership Advisory

- Act as a strategic legal partner to senior business leadership.
- Translate complex legal issues into practical business recommendations.
- Balance legal and compliance requirements with commercial and operational objectives.




- Participate in cross-functional discussions involving significant contractual, compliance, risk, or business matters.

1. Team Management

- Lead, mentor, and manage members of the legal team.
- Allocate responsibilities, review work quality, and establish effective legal processes.
- Build a strong culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the legal function.

Qualifications

Mandatory

- LLB / Bachelor of Laws from a recognized institution.
- 10+ years of relevant professional experience, preferably with substantial experience as an in-house legal counsel.
- Strong experience in commercial contracting and technology/IT contracts.
- Solid understanding of Indian laws and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
- Strong computer proficiency and ability to work with legal and business documentation.

Preferred / Added Advantage
- Experience in an IT services, technology, professional services, consulting, or Big 4 organization.
- Prior experience as part of the in-house legal team of a large consultancy / professional services organization.
- Experience handling government tenders, RFPs, and public-sector contracts.
- Knowledge of the Chartered Accountants Act and ICAI Code of Ethics will be an added advantage.
- Experience managing legal teams or junior legal professionals.

Key Competencies
- Commercial and Technology Contracting
- Contract Drafting & Negotiation
- Government Tender / RFP Review
- Legal Research & Interpretation
- Compliance & Risk Management
- Corporate Legal Advisory
- Regulatory & Legal Notice Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Business Partnering
- Policy & SOP Development
- Employment / Employee Matters
- Team Leadership
- Strong Written & Verbal Communication
- Commercial Acumen
- Attention to Detail

What We Are Looking For We are looking for a legal professional who can operate as a business-facing in-house counsel, rather than limiting the role to documentation or contract review.

The ideal candidate should be comfortable working independently, engaging with senior leadership, negotiating with external stakeholders, identifying business risks, and providing practical legal solutions in a fast-paced technology / professional services environment.

Pay: ₹200,000.00 - ₹270,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person

📌 Associate Director (Bengaluru)
🏢 Warp Drive Tech Works
📍 Bengaluru