Senior Associate – Corporate, Commercial & Legal Advisory

ContractBazaar – We provide provides legal expertise, business advisory, contracts, compliance, risk management and dispute prevention to startups and MSMEs

? Location: Noida / Delhi NCR

? Experience: 7–12 years

? Employment Type: Full-time

⚖️ Function: Legal Services

? Reports To: Senior Legal Manager / Head of Legal Services

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ROLE OVERVIEW

You will independently manage client consultations and legal matters across corporate-commercial transactions, contracts, shareholder documentation, labour and employment laws, litigation, intellectual property and legal risk mitigation.

You will take complete ownership of every matter:

Understanding the requirement → Analysing legal and commercial risks → Advising the client → Drafting / reviewing → Negotiating → Coordinating execution → Closing the matter

You will also oversee legal assignments, review the work of junior lawyers, maintain quality standards and ensure timely delivery.

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1️⃣ Client Consultation & Legal Advisory

- Conduct independent consultations with founders, promoters and management
- Understand the client's business model and commercial objectives before recommending solutions
- Identify legal, commercial and operational risks and explain them clearly to non-lawyers
- Give practical, commercially workable advice, not purely theoretical opinions
- Explain the pros, cons, risks and alternatives of each course of action
- Advise on preventive measures to minimise disputes and business risks
- Act as the primary legal point of contact for assigned client accounts

2️⃣ Contract Drafting, Review & Negotiation
- Draft, review, vet and negotiate corporate and commercial agreements, including:

– Service, vendor, supplier and consultancy agreements

– MSAs, SLAs and NDAs

– Partnership, franchise and distribution agreements

– Technology, software and licensing agreements

– Employment documents and commercial terms & conditions

- Review contracts for legal risk, commercial impact and enforceability, not just language
- Advise on indemnities, limitation of liability, warranties, termination, confidentiality and dispute resolution
- Independently handle negotiations with clients and counterparties

3️⃣ Shareholder & Corporate Transactions
- Draft and review shareholders' agreements, share subscription and share purchase agreements, investment agreements, term sheets and founders' agreements
- Handle share transfers, exit / buyout documentation, board and shareholder resolutions and governance documents
- Advise on shareholder rights, dilution, exit mechanisms, reserved matters and corporate governance




- Support structuring for investments, reorganisations and corporate transactions

4️⃣ Labour & Employment Laws
- Advise on employment issues, workplace matters and labour law compliance
- Draft and review employment agreements, HR policies, handbooks and separation documents
- Advise on exits, misconduct, disciplinary proceedings, termination and restrictive covenants
- Advise on statutory registrations, wages, social security and employee benefits
- Handle POSH matters, including policy reviews, Internal Committee support and inquiries

5️⃣ Legal Risk Assessment & Mitigation
- Identify legal risks before they become disputes or regulatory issues
- Assess contracts, business arrangements, processes and proposed commercial actions
- Build mitigation strategies based on probability × impact × commercial reality × cost of mitigation
- Help clients build legally sound processes, not just fix problems after they arise

6️⃣ Legal Notices & Dispute Prevention
- Draft and review legal notices, replies, demand notices and pre-litigation communications
- Review evidence such as contracts, invoices, emails, WhatsApp messages and purchase orders
- Advise on remedies, options and risks
- Lead pre-litigation negotiations and settlements wherever appropriate

7️⃣ Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- Independently manage civil, commercial, corporate and contractual litigation
- Handle disputes on breach of contract, recovery of dues, shareholder issues and employment matters
- Draft and vet plaints, written statements, petitions, applications and affidavits
- Handle proceedings before District Courts, High Courts, Commercial Courts and Tribunals
- Manage arbitration, mediation and other ADR proceedings
- Coordinate with external advocates and arguing counsel, and maintain litigation trackers

8️⃣ Intellectual Property Rights – Oversight & Advisory
- Oversee trademarks, copyrights, designs and other IP matters for clients
- Advise on IP protection, ownership, licensing, assignment and enforcement
- Supervise registrations, renewals, objections and oppositions
- Review IP assignment, licensing, technology transfer, brand licensing and co-branding agreements
- Oversee IP due diligence and handle infringement, passing off and unauthorised use
- Coordinate with trademark agents and external IP counsel

9️⃣ Legal Research & Analysis
- Conduct independent research using primary and secondary sources




- Analyse statutes, rules, case law and regulatory developments
- Convert research into clear, actionable advice
- Prepare legal opinions, research notes and internal knowledge resources

? Quality, Team Management & Knowledge Building
- Review and improve documents prepared by junior associates
- Supervise and mentor junior lawyers on drafting, research and consultations
- Contribute to templates, SOPs and internal training
- Ensure adherence to turnaround times and service standards

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WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Must have

- LL.B. from a recognised law university
- 7–12 years of experience in a law firm or corporate legal practice
- Strong hands-on experience in corporate-commercial law and contract drafting, review and negotiation
- Experience in client consultations and independent matter management
- Demonstrable litigation experience, including pleadings and court matters
- Positive working knowledge of Indian labour and employment laws
- Experience overseeing IP matters, especially trademarks, copyrights and licensing
- Exposure to shareholder agreements, investment documentation and corporate transactions
- Excellent research, drafting and communication skills
- Strong ownership, accountability and problem-solving mindset

Added advantage

- Experience advising startups, MSMEs and technology-driven businesses
- Exposure to commercial litigation, arbitration and shareholder disputes
- Experience in IP due diligence, brand protection and technology licensing
- Experience managing external advocates, trademark agents and consultants
- Prior experience supervising and mentoring a team of lawyers
- Experience in a legal-tech or technology-enabled legal services environment

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KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

- Legal Expertise – Strong command of corporate, commercial, labour, litigation and IPR matters
- Contract Management – Independent drafting, review, negotiation and risk identification
- Litigation – Practical experience in dispute management, pleadings and litigation strategy
- IPR Oversight – Managing IP portfolios, supervising filings, advising on protection and enforcement
- Client Management – Independently handling consultations and client relationships
- Commercial Understanding – Commercially viable advice aligned with business objectives
- Legal Analysis – Strong interpretation, research and problem-solving
- Communication – Clear, confident written and verbal communication
- Leadership – Supervising junior lawyers and reviewing deliverables
- Ownership – Managing matters independently from start to closure

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📌 Senior Associate / Client-Facing Corporate Lawyer (Noida)
🏢 Contract Bazaar
📍 Noida