Director - Legal & Compliance - eCommerce - LLM/LLB (12-15 yrs)

Job Description:

- We are seeking a highly skilled legal professional to lead and manage all legal, regulatory, and compliance functions across our portfolio of brands.

- The ideal candidate will have expertise in corporate law, M&A, contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property rights, with a strong background in retail and e commerce.

- This role requires a strategic thinker with the ability to manage multiple legal processes in a fast-paced environment and strong stakeholder management capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A):

- Lead legal due diligence, structuring, and execution of M&A transactions, including restructuring and funding strategies.

- Develop and standardize investment documents, term sheets, and transaction agreements for acquisitions.

- Manage future funding rounds (debt or equity) for portfolio brands, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.

Contract Management & Regulatory Compliance:

- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including supplier contracts, lease agreements, logistics agreements, and service contracts.

- Standardize legal documentation across all business functions to ensure risk mitigation and consistency.

- Oversee statutory compliance, including professional tax enrolment, business licensing, and regulatory registrations.

- Ensure legal readiness for offline store expansion, including lease negotiations, title diligence, and registration compliance.

- Develop a structured data bank of local counsels for stamp duty, regulatory registrations, and litigation support.

- Monitor adherence to e-commerce regulations, consumer protection laws, data privacy (GDPR, CCPA), and corporate governance standards.

- Represent the organization in regulatory proceedings, ensuring timely filings and compliance reporting.

Risk Management & Legal Advisor:

- Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks in business operations by providing practical, business-friendly solutions.

- Ensure that all legal instruments and contracts are structured to minimize risk exposure and protect company interests.

- Provide strategic legal counsel to internal teams on corporate, operational, and regulatory matters.

- Establish strong relationships with external legal partners, vendors, and authorities to ensure effective dispute resolution.

- Advise on fund recovery strategies from gateways and partners, leveraging legal mechanisms for dispute resolution.

Leadership & Team Development:

- Identify training needs, develop talent, and mentor team members within the legal function.

- Set clear performance expectations and provide constructive feedback to drive professional growth.

- Develop a strong succession plan to ensure leadership continuity in key legal roles.

- Foster a high-performance, collaborative work culture that thrives in a fast-paced business environment.

Qualifications & Experience:

- Education: LLB/LLM from tier-1 University is preferred.

- Experience: Minimum of 12+ years of legal experience, with in-house experience in ecommerce, retail, or a technology-driven company preferred.

- Strong expertise in contract drafting and negotiation, corporate law, M&A, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.

- Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, high-growth environment while managing multiple legal priorities.

- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

- Strong leadership experience with the ability to manage and develop high-performing legal teams.