General Manager-Legal

Sembcorp Industries Ltd; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Sembcorp Industries Ltd seeks a GM Legal to lead all litigation and dispute resolution for its renewable energy portfolio, including solar, wind, hybrid, and storage projects. The role demands deep expertise in sector-specific regulatory frameworks, EPC/O&M issues, and government interface.

Responsibilities include devising litigation strategy, managing external counsel, reviewing contracts and land-related documents, and providing proactive legal advisory across Projects, EPC, Finance, Land,

Qualifications

• LL.B or LL.M from a reputed law school.
• 10–15+ years of experience in litigation, preferably in energy, infrastructure, EPC, or utilities.
• Strong exposure to regulatory bodies like CERC, SERCs, APTEL, and state authorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all litigation across civil, commercial, regulatory, arbitration, and land acquisition matters.
• Develop and implement litigation strategy aligned with business goals and project timelines.
• Coordinate with external counsel and manage multi-state litigation portfolios.

Skills

Litigation strategy

Regulatory affairs

Contract drafting

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Education

LL.B / LL.M from a reputed law school

Job description

Job Description:

Role Overview The GM Legal will lead and manage all litigation and dispute resolution matters for the renewable energy business, including solar, wind, hybrid, storage, transmission, and related infrastructure. The role requires deep understanding of sector‑specific regulatory frameworks, commercial disputes, land‑related litigation, EPC and O&M issues, and government interface.

Key Responsibilities 1. Litigation Strategy & Management - Manage and oversee all litigation across civil, commercial, regulatory, arbitration, criminal, environmental, labour, and land acquisition matters. - Develop and implement litigation strategy aligned with business goals and project timelines. - Provide risk analysis and strategic inputs for high‑value disputes and contingencies. - Ensure effective case lifecycle management including tracking, reporting, and closure.

• Renewable SectorSpecific Dispute Handling - Handle disputes related to: - EPC/O&M contractors - Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) - Open access, transmission, and grid‑connectivity issues - Land acquisition, ROW, and local authority challenges - DISCOMs and state nodal agencies - SLDC / RLDC / CERC / SERC regulatory litigation - Support negotiations for tariff issues, curtailment, scheduling, penalties, liquidated damages, and performance claims.
• Regulatory & Government Interface - Draft and review replies for regulatory bodies: CERC, SERCs, MNRE, SECI, revenue authorities, forest/environment departments, and state land authorities. - Handle show‑cause notices, compliance matters, and appeals before tribunals. - Represent the organisation in government hearings, regulatory proceedings, and compliance audits.
• External Counsel & Advisor Management - Identify, empanel, and manage external advocates and law firms across multiple states. - Review pleadings, statements, notices, and legal opinions prepared by counsel. - Ensure high‑quality representation and cost optimisation.
• ### 5. Contractual & Documentation Support - Review litigation‑sensitive clauses in EPC contracts, PPAs, land agreements, vendor contracts, and financing documents. - Ensure documentation, evidence, and internal approvals for litigation are timely and accurate. - Oversee drafting of replies, complaints, petitions, affidavits, and arbitration submissions.
• Internal Advisory & Stakeholder Coordination - Collaborate closely with Projects, EPC, Finance, Land, Regulatory, and Operations teams. - Conduct internal investigations, fact‑finding exercises, and legal audits. - Provide preventive legal advisory to reduce disputes.
• Governance, Risk & Compliance - Build SOPs for dispute resolution and legal risk mitigation. - Conduct training on litigation risk, regulatory compliance, and contract safeguards. - Monitor legal budgets, case outcomes, timelines, and recurring risk patterns.

Qualifications & Experience - LL.B / LL.M from a reputed law school. - 10-15+ years of experience in litigation, preferably in energy, infrastructure, EPC, or utilities. - Strong exposure to regulatory bodies like CERC, SERCs, APTEL, and state authorities. - Experience handling arbitration, high‑stake commercial disputes, and land‑related matters. - Prior leadership experience in managing multi‑state litigation portfolios.

Key Skills & Competencies - Deep knowledge of the Electricity Act, renewable energy regulations, transmission codes, land laws, and contract laws. - Strong analytical, drafting, and negotiation skills. - Ability to handle high‑pressure, time‑sensitive regulatory matters. - Excellent stakeholder and cross‑functional coordination abilities. - High integrity, strong business acumen, and leadership maturity.