Associate Partner - Legal

Treelife; Maharashtra; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Treelife is seeking an Associate Partner - Legal to own and grow the legal practice in India. This practice-led role requires accountability for delivery, client relationships, and P&L, with a focus on originating work and expanding the client base within startups and tech sectors.

The candidate should be a commercially minded lawyer who can recruit, lead a team, and act as strategic counsel to founders and executives, while enforcing high-quality results and innovative AI-assisted contracting

Qualifications

• 12–15 years PQE in top-tier firms or senior in-house roles.
• Expert in Commercial contracts (SaaS, MSA, SOW) and global lifecycle management.
• Strong data protection knowledge (GDPR, COPPA).
• Proven track record leading a high-volume contracting practice.
• AI-native drafting and review mindset.

Responsibilities

• Business development and client growth: originate new Corporate Commercial work and drive revenue for the practice.
• Lead go-to-market for Commercial Contracts with startups and tech focus; convert referrals into retainers.
• Own full contract lifecycle: renewals, renegotiations, and data protection for India/global clients.
• Mentor, recruit, and manage senior/junior associates; build capacity and uphold excellence.

Skills

Business development

Client relationships

P&L management

Team leadership

Contract drafting

Legal leadership

AI in contracting

Education

LLB/LLM or equivalent

Tools

Contract management software

Job description

Position Hiring for : Associate Partner - Legal

Who are we looking for?

Treelife is hiring an Associate Partner to own and grow the Legal practice. This is a practice-lead role with full accountability for delivery, client relationships, P&L, hiring, and growth. Originating work and expanding the client base is as central to the mandate as running the legal work itself.

A commercially minded lawyer who can run a practice as a business: win work, deepen client relationships, hire and lead a team, and be fully accountable for quality and results. Strong contracting craft is assumed. Proven hunger and ability to originate and grow a book of business is essential.

Reports to:

Founder

What will be your key responsibilities?

1. Business development and client growth

• Originate new Corporate Commerical work and personally drive revenue for the practice.
• Build and execute a go-to-market for Commercial Contracts, with a clear focus on startups and the tech industry.
• Convert relationships, referrals, and inbound interest into retainers and mandates. Own the full sales cycle from first conversation to signed engagement.
• Cultivate deep, long-term relationships with founders, C-suite, and in-house counsel, operating as a trusted business advisor rather than transactional outside counsel.
• Expand existing accounts: deepen wallet share, lead renewals and expansions, and identify and close cross-sell into Treelife’s other practice areas.
• Represent Treelife in the market: thought leadership, networks, events, and targeted outreach that build a visible pipeline.
• Develop a repeatable BD rhythm for the practice (pipeline, pursuits, conversion) and coach the team to contribute to growth, not only delivery.

2. Practice leadership

• Independently draft, review, redline, and negotiate mid to high complexity contracts (SaaS, MSA, SOW, amendments, change orders) and secure favourable positions for clients.
• Own the full contract lifecycle: renewals, extensions, renegotiations, amendments, terminations, and data protection compliance (GDPR, COPPA) for India and global clients.
• Act as the senior escalation point on critical contracting issues, and as strategic counsel to founders, C-suite executives, and in-house counsel.
• Hold quality control across every deliverable from the practice.
• Run contracting AI-first: use AI as standard for drafting and review, and embed that operating model in the team.
• Provide occasional support on PE/VC or M&A work where client relationships or capacity require it.

3. P&L and operations

• Take full P&L responsibility for the practice: revenue forecasting, budgeting, and cost management.
• Own the numbers: utilisation, realisation, billing cycles, and practice profitability.
• Drive efficiency through templates, process, legal tech, and AI tools.

4. Team and hiring

• Recruit, train, and mentor senior and junior associates. Building capacity is a core part of the role.
• Foster a culture of excellence, commercial awareness, and accountability.
• Conduct performance reviews and own career progression for the team.

What are the key requirements for the role?

• LLB/LLM or BA (LLB/LLM) from a recognized university;
• 12 - 15 years of Post-Qualification Experience (PQE) at a top-tier law firm, boutique corporate firm, or in a senior in-house legal leadership role, with substantial hands-on experience in:
• Commercial contracts, including SAAS, MSA, SOW and global contract lifecycle management
• Data protection and privacy compliance (GDPR, COPPA and equivalent)
• Exposure to PE/VC transactions or M&A is a plus, though not the core focus of this role
• Proven track record independently leading a high-volume commercial contracting practice, ideally within the startup or tech industry;
• AI-native, using AI tools as the default first step in drafting, reviewing, and researching contracts, not as an occasional add-on;
• Demonstrated success in business development, with experience managing client and business relationships at a senior level;
• Strong financial literacy, with prior experience managing a P&L, team targets, and billing metrics;
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion to opine on legal issues effectively;
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with a history of building and retaining strong legal teams;
• Prior startup or tech industry experience strongly preferred.