Director – Legal & Compliance

Masai; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Masai in Bengaluru seeks an experienced Director – Legal Counsel to lead legal, compliance, governance, and risk management for a fast-growing startup. This role partners with senior leadership to protect the company’s interests and ensure regulatory adherence.

You will oversee contract management, corporate governance, and external counsel, while guiding strategic business decisions with rigorous risk assessment and due diligence. A background in corporate law and leadership is essential.

Qualifications

• LLB/LLM from a recognized university; additional corporate/commercial law or compliance qualifications are a plus.
• 8-12 years of relevant experience in corporate legal, commercial law, compliance, or advisory roles.
• Strong experience in contract management, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, litigation, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization’s legal strategy and provide strategic advice to leadership on business decisions, policies, and risks.
• Oversee drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of commercial agreements, vendor contracts, NDAs, employment agreements, and partnerships.
• Drive regulatory compliance and corporate governance across the organization.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks; establish risk-management frameworks.
• Lead litigation management and collaborate with external counsel as needed.
• Provide guidance on employment and IP matters and support cross-functional business initiatives.
• Build and mentor the legal/compliance team; develop policies and governance processes.
• Develop and review internal policies in line with evolving regulations.

Skills

Contract management

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Business acumen

Independent work

Education

LLB/LLM

Job description

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Director – Legal Counsel to lead the organization’s legal, compliance, governance, and risk management functions. The ideal candidate will have 8-12 years of experience in corporate law, legal advisory, contract management, regulatory compliance, and risk management, preferably in a startup or high-growth organization.

The role will work closely with the leadership team and business stakeholders to provide strategic legal guidance, protect the organization’s interests, ensure regulatory compliance, and proactively identify and mitigate legal risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Legal Strategy & Advisory: Lead the organization’s legal strategy and provide strategic advice to leadership on business decisions, new initiatives, policies, and potential legal risks.

• Contract Management: Oversee the drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of commercial agreements, vendor contracts, NDAs, employment agreements, partnership agreements, and other legal documents.

• Regulatory Compliance: Drive organization-wide compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry requirements, ensuring timely filings and adherence to statutory obligations.

• Corporate Governance: Oversee corporate governance matters, board processes, statutory records, resolutions, and other corporate legal requirements.

• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across business functions and establish appropriate legal risk-management frameworks.

• Dispute & Litigation Management: Lead the management of litigation, disputes, arbitration, and other legal proceedings, working closely with external legal counsel where required.

• Employment & Labour Law: Provide strategic guidance on employment contracts, labour laws, employee policies, workplace compliance, and other employment-related legal matters.

• Intellectual Property: Oversee the organization’s IP portfolio, including trademarks, copyrights, licensing, and protection of intellectual property rights.

• Business & Commercial Legal Support: Partner with business, finance, HR, product, sales, and operations teams to structure business initiatives while ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.

• External Counsel Management: Manage relationships with external law firms, legal consultants, and regulatory advisors, ensuring effective and cost-efficient legal support.

• Legal Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and lead the legal and compliance team while establishing effective processes, policies, and governance mechanisms.

• Policy Development: Develop and periodically review internal legal, compliance, and governance policies in line with evolving regulations and business requirements.

Requirements

• LLB/LLM from a recognized university; additional qualifications in corporate/commercial law or compliance will be an advantage.

• 8-12 years of relevant experience in corporate legal, commercial law, compliance, or legal advisory roles.

• Strong experience in contract management, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, litigation, and risk management.

• Experience working with senior leadership, boards, external legal counsel, and regulatory authorities.

• Strong understanding of applicable corporate, commercial, employment, and intellectual property laws.

• Experience managing and mentoring legal teams.

• Excellent negotiation, communication, stakeholder management, and analytical skills.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance legal requirements with business objectives.

• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to lead the legal and compliance function of a fast-growing organization.

• Direct exposure to senior leadership and strategic business decisions.

• Opportunity to build and strengthen legal, compliance, and governance frameworks.

• Work across diverse and evolving legal and commercial matters.

• Collaborative, high-ownership, and learning-driven work environment.