– Head – Legal

Designation: Head – Legal

Function: Legal

Reporting to: Chief Compliance Officer

Location: Mumbai

Role Purpose The Head – Legal will be responsible for leading the Legal function of Axis Securities Limited (ASL) and providing comprehensive legal advisory and support across the organization.

The role will partner closely with the Chief Compliance Officer, senior management and business/support functions to ensure that ASL's business activities, products, contracts and strategic initiatives are undertaken within an appropriate legal framework while effectively managing legal, contractual, litigation and reputational risks.

The incumbent will be expected to provide pragmatic and commercially balanced legal advice while maintaining strong governance standards appropriate for a regulated securities intermediary.

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal Advisory & Business Support

1. Provide legal advice to senior management and business/support functions on matters arising from ASL's operations and strategic initiatives.
2. Advise on legal implications relating to new products, business models, partnerships, digital journeys, distribution arrangements and process changes.
3. Evaluate legal risks associated with proposed business initiatives and recommend appropriate risk-mitigation measures.
4. Provide legal interpretation and advice on applicable laws, rules, regulations and contractual obligations.
5. Partner with Compliance, Risk, Operations, Technology, Information Security, Finance, HR and other functions on matters having legal implications.

2. Contracts & Documentation

1. Lead the drafting, review, negotiation and finalization of material contracts and legal documentation entered into by ASL.
2. Review agreements with vendors, technology partners, service providers, business partners, distributors, referral partners and other third parties.
3. Review confidentiality agreements, service agreements, technology and software contracts, outsourcing arrangements, commercial arrangements, indemnities and other legal documents.
4. Establish appropriate standards/templates for contracts and ensure consistency in key legal and risk-protection clauses.
5. Ensure appropriate internal approvals are obtained prior to execution of material agreements.
6. Maintain appropriate governance and oversight over the contract lifecycle and legal documentation.

3. Litigation & Dispute Management

1. Manage and oversee litigation, arbitration, consumer matters and other legal proceedings involving ASL.
2. Develop litigation strategy in consultation with relevant stakeholders and external legal counsel.
3.



Review pleadings, notices, affidavits, submissions, responses and other legal documentation.
4. Monitor material legal matters and ensure timely action, escalation and reporting.
5. Maintain oversight of contingent legal exposures and provide periodic updates to senior management.
6. Manage empanelment, engagement and performance of external advocates and law firms.

4. Regulatory & Enforcement Matters

1. Provide legal support in matters involving SEBI, stock exchanges, clearing corporations, depositories and other regulatory/statutory authorities, as applicable.
2. Support Compliance in responding to regulatory inspections, observations, show-cause notices, enforcement proceedings, settlement matters, appeals and other regulatory actions.
3. Review material regulatory representations and submissions from a legal perspective.
4. Advise management on legal implications and potential exposure arising from regulatory matters.
5. Work closely with Compliance to ensure a coordinated approach to significant regulatory and enforcement matters.

5. Legal Risk Management & Governance

1. Develop and maintain an effective framework for identification, assessment, monitoring and mitigation of legal risks across ASL.
2. Identify emerging legal risks arising from changes in legislation, judicial decisions, regulatory developments and evolving business models.
3. Escalate material legal risks to the CCO and senior management, as appropriate.
4. Develop and periodically review legal policies, SOPs, standard contractual clauses and internal legal guidance.
5. Support management and governance forums with legal inputs on significant matters.

6. Legal Opinions & Interpretation

1. Provide reasoned legal opinions on complex matters referred by business and control functions.
2. Interpret applicable statutes, regulations, contractual provisions and judicial/regulatory precedents.
3. Engage specialist external counsel where necessary and assess external legal opinions from the perspective of ASL's business and risk framework.
4. Maintain appropriate records of material legal opinions and positions adopted by the organization.

8. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

1.



Lead and develop the Legal team and ensure appropriate allocation and prioritization of legal matters.
2. Build a strong legal risk culture and enhance awareness across business and support functions.
3. Establish effective working relationships with senior management and key stakeholders across ASL and the Axis Group.
4. Manage relationships with external law firms, advocates and legal consultants.
5. Ensure quality, consistency and timely delivery of legal advice across the organization.

Key Deliverables / Success Measures

1. Effective identification and mitigation of material legal risks.
2. Timely and commercially appropriate legal advice to business and management.
3. Robust contract review and contracting governance.
4. Effective management of litigation and regulatory legal matters.
5. Reduction in contractual and litigation exposure through preventive legal controls.
6. Timely escalation of significant legal risks to the CCO and senior management.
7. Strong coordination between Legal, Compliance and business/support functions.
8. Effective management of external legal counsel and associated costs.

Qualification & Experience

1. Qualification: LLM / LLB. from a recognized university; additional professional/legal qualifications would be an advantage.
2. Experience: Approximately 10-15 years of relevant legal experience, preferably with significant exposure to financial services, securities markets, banking, broking or other regulated financial institutions.
3. Strong experience in commercial contracts, litigation/dispute management and regulatory legal matters.
4. Experience interacting with senior management, regulators and external counsel would be preferred.
5. Prior experience leading a Legal function or a substantial legal team in a regulated financial-services organization would be desirable.

Key Competencies

1. Solid knowledge of corporate, commercial and securities-market laws.
2. Sound understanding of the regulatory environment applicable to financial-services and securities-market intermediaries.
3. Strong legal drafting, negotiation and analytical capabilities.
4. Ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical and commercially workable advice.
5. Strong judgment with the ability to balance business objectives with legal and reputational risk.
6. Ability to independently handle sensitive and high-impact legal matters.
7. Strong stakeholder-management and influencing skills.
8. High standards of integrity, confidentiality and professional judgment.
9. Strong leadership and team-management capabilities.

📌 Head – Legal (Mumbai)
🏢 Axis Direct
📍 Mumbai