Corporate Legal Counsel – Trivandrum, India

The Opportunity

You will serve as the company’s principal legal advisor, partnering closely with executive leadership to provide commercially pragmatic legal guidance across multiple jurisdictions. Your work will span corporate governance, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, employment/labour matters, Mergers & Acquisition, legal risk management and litigation.

This role is suited to legal practitioners who enjoy ownership, complexity, and continuous learning—not those seeking narrowly defined responsibilities or highly predictable routines.

You will be trusted with significant autonomy and equally significant responsibility. We value sound judgement, intellectual curiosity, maturity, and thoughtful decision-making over rigid processes and unnecessary bureaucracy.

If you enjoy solving complex problems, understanding how businesses operate, and finding practical legal solutions that enable responsible growth, we’d like to hear from you.

What we look for

Our foundations are based on our key principles – Please see the full description of the key principles at the end of the job description. A keen understanding of them will be required, and you will be asked to recall them if you are shortlisted.

1. Being Open

2. Being Transparent

  • OPENNESS
  • HONESTY
  • CLARITY
  • ACCOUNTABILITY

3. Being Diligent

4. Being Responsible

5. Being Mature

Applicants who progress through the recruitment process will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of these principles and how they apply in practice.

Who you are

  • You naturally take ownership of your work and hold yourself accountable to a high professional standard.
  • You enjoy learning. Whether faced with unfamiliar legislation, a new jurisdiction, or a novel business problem, you are confident researching, understanding, and applying new legal frameworks quickly.
  • You understand that providing legal advice means more than identifying legal risks—you can explain those risks clearly and recommend commercially practical solutions.
  • You remain composed under pressure, can balance multiple competing priorities, and consistently produce thoughtful, well-reasoned work.
  • You possess excellent judgement, communicate with confidence and humility, and are comfortable constructively challenging assumptions, regardless of seniority.
  • Details matter to you. Accuracy, consistency, and thoroughness are evident in everything you produce.
  • You build strong relationships across legal and non-legal teams alike, earning trust through professionalism, integrity, and reliability.
  • You are comfortable working onsite, independently, collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders when required.
  • You are willing and able to travel internationally from time to time.
  • A balance of empathy and pragmatism is essential, with a slight preference towards empathy.

Key Responsibilities:

In-House Counsel Responsibilities:

  • Corporate Governance and Compliance:
    • Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable laws, regulations, corporate obligations, and internal governance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.
    • Serve as the principal legal adviser on corporate governance matters, including board governance, statutory filings, corporate records, and shareholder matters.
    • Draft, review, and maintain governance documentation, including by-laws or constitutional documents, board resolutions, minutes, policies, and corporate records.
    • Monitor legislative and regulatory developments, assessing their impact and recommending appropriate actions.
  • Commercial Contracts & Legal Advisory:
    • Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a broad range of commercial agreements, including supplier agreements, consultancy agreements, service agreements, partnership arrangements, licensing agreements, confidentiality agreements, NDAs, and other contractual documentation.
    • Identify legal and commercial risks while developing pragmatic solutions that enable business objectives without compromising the company’s interests.
    • Partner with business teams and external legal advisers to resolve contractual and legal matters effectively.
    • Develop and continuously improve legal templates, precedents, and contracting practices.
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution:
    • Manage and coordinate litigation, arbitration, regulatory proceedings, and dispute resolution matters.
    • Work with external counsel as needed to protect the company portfolio’s legal interests.
    • Advise executive leadership on dispute management strategies, settlement considerations, and legal risk mitigation.
    • Proactively identify emerging legal risks and recommend preventative measures wherever possible.
  • Corporate Transactions:
    • Lead or support legal due diligence, negotiations, structuring, and documentation relating to mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, restructures, investments, and other strategic transactions.
    • Advise management on legal, regulatory, and governance implications throughout each transaction.
    • Coordinate closely with cross-functional stakeholders and external advisers to facilitate efficient transaction execution while protecting the organisation’s interests.
  • Employment & Workforce Advisory:
    • Advise management and Human Resources on employment-related matters, including contracts, disputes and regulatory compliance.
    • Support Human Resources in managing employee relations and resolving workplace issues.
    • Support the organisation in managing workplace legal risks while balancing compliance with practical business outcomes.
  • Intellectual Property Management:
    • Advise on the protection, registration, management, and enforcement of the organisation’s intellectual property portfolio.
    • Draft and review intellectual property, licensing, confidentiality, assignment, and related agreements.
    • Manage intellectual property portfolios in collaboration with external IP counsel.
    • Ensure intellectual property considerations are incorporated into commercial arrangements and strategic initiatives.
  • Strategic Legal Advisory:
    • Act as a trusted legal adviser to executive leadership.
    • Provide commercially practical legal advice to enable informed business decisions.
    • Contribute legal perspectives to strategic business initiatives.
    • Build scalable legal processes and governance frameworks that support the company’s continued growth.

Key Relationships

Management, Human Resources, Finance and Operations Teams

Qualifications and Experience

  • Essential
    • Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited institution.
    • Admission to practise law in the relevant jurisdiction.
    • Minimum five years’ post-admission experience in corporate, commercial, or in-house legal practice.
    • Demonstrated experience advising on commercial contracts, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and employment law.
    • Demonstrated experience advising on compliance with the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), including cross-border transactions between Indian entities and foreign group companies, Overseas Direct Investment (ODI), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reporting and compliance obligations.
    • Hands-on experience advising on Indian Goods and Services Tax (GST) as it relates to procurement, manufacturing, exports of services, input tax credit optimisation, reverse charge mechanisms, and transactions involving foreign entities.
    • Working knowledge of Indian transfer pricing provisions under the Income Tax Act, including the arm’s-length principle, transfer pricing documentation requirements, and experience preparing, reviewing, or coordinating Form 3CEB filings in collaboration with internal stakeholders or external tax advisers.
    • Strong commercial judgement with the ability to balance legal risk against business objectives.
    • Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail.
    • High levels of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.

Skills and Competencies

  • Desirable
    • Experience advising organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions.
    • Experience working within an internationally distributed organisation.
    • Familiarity with mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, data privacy, and corporate governance.
    • Experience managing external legal counsel and cross-functional stakeholders.

What we offer:

  • Compensation: up to INR 1,500,000 per annum, subject to consideration of experience and current remuneration
  • Benefits
    • Health insurance allowance
    • Paid time-off: 2 weeks annually, plus national holidays and sick leave
    • End-of-year performance bonus (up to half a month’s salary)
  • Location: Trivandrum (Onsite)
  • Engagement Type: Full-time
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Key Principles – An explanation

1. Being Open

The phrase “being open” can have various meanings depending on the context. As an Adjective and in an interpersonal context:

1. Receptive or Willing to Consider New Ideas:

  • MEANING: WILLING TO LISTEN TO, CONSIDER, OR ACCEPT DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS, SUGGESTIONS, IDEAS OR EXPERIENCES.
  • EXAMPLE: “SHE IS OPEN TO TRYING NEW CUISINES.” ; “BEING OPEN-MINDED CAN LEAD TO PERSONAL GROWTH.”

2. Transparent and Honest:

  • MEANING: BEING CANDID AND STRAIGHTFORWARD IN COMMUNICATION; NOT HIDING ANYTHING.
  • EXAMPLE: “HE WAS OPEN ABOUT HIS FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS.”

3. Open Communication:

  • MEANING: ENGAGING IN HONEST AND TRANSPARENT DIALOGUE.
  • EXAMPLE: “OPEN COMMUNICATION IS CRUCIAL IN ANY RELATIONSHIP.”

In summary, “being open” can describe a state of receptiveness, transparency, accessibility, flexibility, or honesty, depending on the situation.

2. Transparent

The phrase “being transparent” generally means being open, honest, and clear in communication and actions. It involves sharing information freely and being straightforward about intentions, decisions, and processes. Here are some detailed aspects of what it means to be transparent:

1. Clarity and Openness:

  • MEANING: COMMUNICATING IN A WAY THAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND LEAVES NO ROOM FOR MISINTERPRETATION.
  • EXAMPLE: “THE COMPANY WAS TRANSPARENT ABOUT ITS FINANCIAL STATUS WITH ITS EMPLOYEES.”

2. Honesty and Integrity:

  • MEANING : BEING TRUTHFUL AND NOT HIDING ANY RELEVANT FACTS OR INFORMATION.
  • EXAMPLE : “HE WAS TRANSPARENT ABOUT HIS PAST MISTAKES DURING THE INTERVIEW.”

3. Visibility and Accessibility:

  • MEANING : MAKING INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHO NEED OR HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.
  • EXAMPLE : “THE GOVERNMENT PLEDGED TO BE TRANSPARENT BY PUBLISHING ALL PUBLIC SPENDING REPORTS ONLINE.”

IN SPECIFIC CONTEXTS:

1. In Business and Organizations:

  • MEANING : PROVIDING CLEAR AND HONEST INFORMATION ABOUT BUSINESS OPERATIONS, DECISIONS, AND FINANCIAL MATTERS TO STAKEHOLDERS.
  • EXAMPLE : “TRANSPARENT BUSINESSES BUILD TRUST WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS AND INVESTORS.”

2. In Personal Relationships:

KEY CHARACTERISTICS:

1. Openness:

  • SHARING INFORMATION FREELY WITHOUT WITHHOLDING ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT.

2. Honesty:

  • BEING TRUTHFUL AND STRAIGHTFORWARD IN ALL COMMUNICATIONS.

3. Clarity:

  • MEANING : BEING OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT ONE’S FEELINGS, INTENTIONS, AND ACTIONS.
  • EXAMPLE : “A TRANSPARENT RELATIONSHIP IS BUILT ON MUTUAL TRUST AND OPEN COMMUNICATION.”
  • PROVIDING INFORMATION IN A CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE MANNER, AVOIDING AMBIGUITY.

4. Accountability:

  • BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE’S ACTIONS AND BEING WILLING TO EXPLAIN THEM.
  • EXAMPLE SENTENCES:
    • “THE MANAGER WAS TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE REASONS BEHIND THE LAYOFFS.”
    • “A TRANSPARENT PROCESS HELPS TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND BUILDS TRUST.“

In summary, being transparent means being open, honest, clear, and accountable in communication and actions, ensuring that relevant information is easily accessible and understandable.

3. Diligent

The word “diligent” is an adjective that describes someone who is careful and persistent in their work or efforts. It implies a sense of thoroughness, attention to detail, and consistent hard work.

  • MEANING – SHOWING CARE AND CONSCIENTIOUSNESS IN ONE’S DUTIES OR WORK.
  • USAGE – TYPICALLY USED TO DESCRIBE A PERSON WHO WORKS HARD AND PUTS A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THEIR TASKS, CONSISTENTLY STRIVING FOR ACCURACY AND QUALITY.
  • EXAMPLE – “SHE WAS A DILIGENT STUDENT, ALWAYS COMPLETING HER ASSIGNMENTS ON TIME AND PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO EVERY DETAIL.”IN SUMMARY, A DILIGENT PERSON IS ONE WHO IS DEDICATED, ATTENTIVE, AND HARD-WORKING.

4. Responsible

The word “responsible” is an adjective that describes someone who has the duty or obligation to deal with something or someone, and who is reliable and trustworthy in fulfilling those obligations. Here is a more detailed definition:

  • MEANING(S)
  • 1. HAVING AN OBLIGATION TO DO SOMETHING AS PART OF A JOB OR ROLE.
  • 2. BEING THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF SOMETHING AND SO ABLE TO BE BLAMED OR CREDITED FOR IT.
  • 3. CAPABLE OF BEING TRUSTED TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT OR TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE EXPECTED OR REQUIRED.
  • USAGE – USED TO DESCRIBE A PERSON WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND DUTIES, AND WHO CAN BE TRUSTED TO HANDLE TASKS AND MAKE DECISIONS RELIABLY.
  • EXAMPLE(S)
  • “SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE PROJECT AND ENSURING IT IS COMPLETED ON TIME.”
  • “HE WAS FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT.”
  • “A RESPONSIBLE PERSON ALWAYS KEEPS THEIR PROMISES AND MEETS THEIR COMMITMENTS.”

In summary, being responsible means being accountable, dependable, and trustworthy in fulfilling one’s duties and obligations.

5. Mature

The word “mature” can be used as both an adjective and a verb, with slightly different meanings in each case. Here are the definitions for the use case of an Adjective:

1. Emotionally or Mentally Developed:

  • MEANING: HAVING OR SHOWING THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL QUALITIES OF AN ADULT; BEHAVING IN A SENSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE WAY.
  • EXAMPLE – “SHE IS VERY MATURE FOR HER AGE, ALWAYS HANDLING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS CALMLY.”

2. Considered and Thoughtful:

  • MEANING: MADE AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION; SHOWING CAREFUL THOUGHT.
  • EXAMPLE: “HE MADE A MATURE DECISION AFTER WEIGHING ALL THE OPTIONS.”

In summary, as an adjective, “mature” can refer to the state of being fully developed, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally.