AGM- Litigation

Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited; New Delhi; On-site; INR 2,800,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals is seeking an AGM/DGM to lead the drug regulatory litigation and related civil, commercial and IP matters. The role involves managing prosecutions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, drafting replies, coordinating with CDSCO and other authorities, and building a centralized litigation framework across group entities.

The incumbent will oversee governance, budgeting and reporting, while mentoring a litigation team and ensuring timely, compliant resolution of disputes

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in regulatory and corporate litigation.
• Exposure to Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945.

Responsibilities

• Manage prosecutions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 including NSQ, misbranding and adulterated drug issues.
• Draft, settle and file replies to notices and applications before courts and authorities.
• Prepare responses to show cause notices, deficiency letters and demand notices from CDSCO and other authorities.
• Maintain a repository of regulatory precedents and approved responses for reuse.
• Handle commercial and civil litigation including suits and enforcement actions.
• Oversee IP and brand protection litigation, including trademarks and patent actions.
• Govern litigation registers with status, dates, exposure and counsel.
• Prepare litigation dashboards and risk reports for senior management and Board.
• Lead, mentor and develop the litigation team; establish SOPs and templates.

Skills

Regulatory litigation

Prosecutions

Drafting & replies

Regulatory authority liaison

Job description

Company name- Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals

Location- Mangolpuri, Industrial Area, (Near Peeragarhi Metro Station)-Akums House

Working Days- Mon to Sat

Timing- 9:30 am to 6:30 pm

EXP: 8+ years

Job Description

Designation: AGM/DGM

Job Description (Please mention detailed JD)

1. Drug Regulatory Litigation and Prosecutions

Manage the complete lifecycle of prosecutions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, including matters arising from products declared Not of Standard Quality (NSQ), misbranding, spurious and adulterated drug allegations, and laboratory and packaging contraventions.

• Draft, settle and file replies to pre-cognizance notices, show cause notices, complaints filed by Drugs Inspectors, applications for discharge, petitions for quashing before High Courts, applications for exemption from personal appearance, anticipatory and regular bail applications, and revision and appellate proceedings.

2. Regulatory Queries, Notices and Representations

Independently prepare, structure and finalise responses to queries, show cause notices, deficiency letters and demand notices issued by CDSCO, State Drug Control Authorities, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, FSSAI, Legal Metrology Departments, State and Central Pollution Control Boards, DGFT, Customs, Labour Departments and other statutory authorities.

Establish a disciplined intake, ownership and turnaround-time protocol for every regulatory communication received across sites and entities, so that no notice is missed, every response is factually verified, internally approved and dispatched within limitation, and language is precise and non-admissive.

Build and maintain a searchable repository of regulatory queries and approved responses, together with a precedent bank of successful defences, for reuse across sites and entities.

3. Commercial and Civil Litigation

Manage recovery and enforcement actions, including commercial suits summary suits under Order XXXVII of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, ordinary civil suits, complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, and execution proceedings.

Defend and prosecute suits for damages, specific performance, declaration and permanent injunction, and applications for interim relief under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 and Order XXXVIII Rule 5.

Conduct arbitrations end to end invocation notices under Section 21, interim measures under Section 9, appointment applications under Section 11, statements of claim and defence, counterclaims, evidence and cross-examination, and challenges and appeals under Sections 34 and 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

Handle disputes arising from institutional and government tenders, including bid disqualification, blacklisting, forfeiture of earnest money and performance guarantees, liquidated damages, risk purchase claims and writ remedies against tendering authorities.

Support property, tenancy, municipal, motor accident and miscellaneous civil matters affecting the Group.

4. Intellectual Property and Brand Protection Litigation

In coordination with the IPR vertical, manage trade mark infringement and passing off suits, rectification and cancellation proceedings, oppositions and appeals, and applications for interim and Anton Piller type relief.

Support patent litigation and appellate proceedings, including infringement actions and defences, revocation and post-grant challenges, and statutory appeals to High Courts.

5. Litigation Governance and Reporting

Own a single, reliable litigation register covering every matter across every Group entity, forum and jurisdiction, with case status, next dates, exposure, counsel, internal owner and documented strategy.

Support the Company Secretarial function on materiality assessment and disclosure of litigation under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 and on litigation disclosures in the Annual Report, offer documents and information memoranda.

Prepare periodic litigation dashboards and notes for the Group General Counsel, the Chief Financial Officer, senior management, the Audit Committee and the Board, with clear articulation of risk, trend and mitigation.

6. Litigation Governance, Reporting and Provisioning

Own a single, reliable litigation register covering every matter across every group entity, forum and jurisdiction, with case status, next dates, exposure, counsel, internal owner and documented strategy.

Grade each matter for probability of outflow and quantum, and drive provisioning and contingent liability disclosure under Ind AS 37, including quarterly certifications and schedules to the statutory and internal auditors.

Support the Company Secretarial function on materiality assessment and disclosure of litigation under the SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015 and on litigation disclosures in the Annual Report and offer documents.

Prepare periodic litigation dashboards and notes for the Group General Counsel, the Chief Financial Officer, senior management, the Audit Committee and the Board.

Own the litigation budget forecasting, accrual, invoice scrutiny, cost-per-matter analysis and year-on-year cost reduction.

7. External Counsel and Panel Management

Evaluate and manage advocates, senior counsel and law firms across jurisdictions;

Prepare briefs, case notes and chronologies of a quality that materially reduces counsel time; attend conferences and, where appropriate, appear personally.

Monitor hearings, adjournments, effective dates and orders, and hold counsel accountable to agreed timelines and outcomes.

Progressively internalise drafting and appearance work to reduce external legal spend without compromising outcomes.

8. Preventive Litigation and Advisory

Draft and issue legal notices, replies, cease and desist communications, demand notices, settlement and compromise deeds, consent terms and withdrawal applications.

Evaluate settlement and mediation opportunities objectively against the cost, delay and reputational profile of continued litigation, and secure internal approvals with a documented rationale.

9. Team Leadership and Process

Lead, allocate work to, review and mentor the litigation team; set key result areas, conduct appraisals and build a visible succession bench.

Institutionalise standard operating procedures, drafting templates, checklists, limitation trackers and document retention protocols for the vertical.

Support the ongoing centralisation of the Group legal function by bringing site-level and entity-level disputes onto common systems and standards.