Associate General Counsel, Contracts Lead-Legal

Associate General Counsel, Contracts Lead-Legal

Location: Bengaluru, India

Department: Global Capability Centre (GCC)

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Associate General Counsel to join our team. As the Chief legal advisor for our organization, the Associate General Counsel will play a crucial role in providing strategic legal guidance and managing complex legal issues. The ideal candidate will have a passion for helping our company succeed and will have a proven track record of success in a similar role.

Welcome to Dibber! Dibber is a global family-owned early childhood education group from the Nordics, operating over 600 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers across 9 countries. Our mission is to ensure that every child feels valuable and experiences holistic development, preparing them for success in life.

As we embark on our journey in India, we are looking for a talented Associate General Counsel, Contracts Lead to join our team and play a pivotal role in providing strategic legal guidance and managing complex legal issues. The ideal candidate will have a passion for helping our company succeed and will have a proven track record of success in a similar role.

About the Role:

As an Associate General Counsel, Contracts Lead, you will collaborate with many other functions and get to know all perspectives of business. You will work both on domestic and international matters. When relevant you will liaison with local lawyers and other advisors. With an analytical, hands-on and autonomous-yet-team-oriented approach, you shall be a reliable partner in the day-to-day legal operations but also contribute strategically. This is a job at the centre of our business and heart!

Responsibilities and tasks: General Responsibilities:

• Utilize legal knowledge, sustainability practices, and business acumen to support Dibber's mission of fostering lifelong learners with a global perspective.

• Work independently and collaboratively within the legal team to align educational initiatives with regulatory requirements, ethical standards, and sustainable practices.

• Provide strategic advice to navigate complex legal landscapes and expand Dibbers impact globally with integrity.

• Contribute to shaping an educational environment that nurtures compassionate and responsible individuals empowered to create a positive impact.

Contracts and Agreements: • Draft, review, and modify contracts, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and alignment with company standards and laws.

• Assess the impact of new regulations on operations and contracts.

• Manage contracts throughout their lifecycle, identifying baseline terms and conditions, risks, and opportunities.

• Draft, review, and negotiate various agreements such as MSAs, Franchise Agreements, Supply Agreements, NDAs, and more, ensuring legal compliance and business alignment.

• Collaborate with the legal team to support contract-related legal matters, including dispute resolution and interpretation.

• Monitor contract compliance and performance, conducting audits as needed to ensure adherence to terms.

• Identify and address contractual, commercial, and operational risks, providing input to mitigate them.

• Document and communicate deficiencies during the contract closeout process. Processes and Standard Documentation: • Develop and implement standards for critical documentation, including agreements and contracts, and maintain accurate records.

• Uphold standard practices across the contract portfolio, addressing and communicating changes or claims with third parties. • Review due diligence reports and title documents to ensure properties have a clear and marketable title. • Provide support in due diligence reviews for properties and parties involved, ensuring accurate evaluations and safeguarding company interests throughout project lifecycles.

• Provide legal advisory on corporate governance, business structuring, and regulatory compliance.

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including franchise agreements, vendor contracts, and employment policies.

• Ensure compliance with education sector regulations, labor laws, and company laws applicable to preschools in India.

• Manage risk mitigation strategies, dispute resolution, and litigation matters.

• Handle intellectual property protection, including trademarks, copyrights, and brand-related legalities.

• Oversee franchise and real estate agreements for new preschool locations. • Engage with government authorities, regulators, and external legal counsel as needed.

• Support M&A activities, partnerships, and corporate restructuring initiatives.

• Advise on data privacy and cybersecurity laws relevant to student and parent data.

Qualifications & Experience:

• LLB/LLM from a reputed law school in India.

• 10+ years of experience in corporate law, preferably in education, franchising, or a multinational company.

• Strong understanding of Indian Companies Act, Contract Law, FDI regulations, and education laws.

• Experience in franchise models, commercial real estate, and employment laws is a plus.

• Excellent negotiation, drafting, and stakeholder management skills.

• Experience in working on Franchise agreement, Commercial & Real estate agreement.

• Experience in handling corporate matters.

Other information:

• The base location is Bengaluru

• Monday to Friday, with hybrid working