GM-Legal (Litigation)

Coromandel International Limited; Chennai District; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Coromandel International Limited in Tamil Nadu seeks a senior Head - Legal to lead the organization's litigation function and provide strategic direction across India. The role handles civil, criminal, regulatory and corporate disputes, partnering with senior management and external counsels to safeguard the company’s interests.

Qualifications include 18–20+ years in the legal function, LLB (LLM preferred), and a proven ability to manage high‑value litigation pan‑India, drive proactive risk

Qualifications

• LLB from a recognized university; LLM preferred.
• 18–20+ years of post-qualification experience in the legal function.
• Proven experience handling pan-India litigation across civil, criminal, regulatory, and corporate matters.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the company's litigation portfolio across civil, criminal, regulatory, and corporate matters on a Pan-India basis.
• Develop litigation strategies in consultation with senior leadership and external legal counsels.
• Ensure timely preparation, review, and filing of petitions, affidavits, written statements, appeals, and other legal documents.
• Monitor progress of matters before courts, tribunals, quasi-judicial authorities, and arbitration forums across India.
• Drive timely resolution of disputes through litigation, arbitration, mediation, and other ADR mechanisms.
• Establish governance mechanisms for tracking litigation, legal risks, contingent liabilities, and financial exposure through a robust Litigation MIS.

Skills

Litigation leadership

Stakeholder management

Legal drafting

Risk management

Arbitration

Education

LLB

LLM preferred

Job description

Location: Tamil Nadu (Preference for Local Candidates)

Experience: 18–20+ Years

Reportees: Can have 1 or 2 reportees (Yet to be decided)

Role Purpose

To lead the organization's litigation function by providing strategic direction and end-to-end management of the company's litigation portfolio across India. The role will be responsible for handling complex civil, criminal, commercial, regulatory, and corporate disputes, partnering with senior management, business leaders, and external counsels to safeguard the organization's legal interests while ensuring effective risk mitigation and timely resolution of disputes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the company's litigation portfolio across civil, criminal, commercial, regulatory, and corporate matters on a Pan-India basis.
• Develop litigation strategies in consultation with senior leadership and external legal counsels to protect the organization's interests.
• Ensure timely preparation, review, and filing of petitions, affidavits, written statements, appeals, and other legal documents.
• Monitor progress of matters before courts, tribunals, quasi-judicial authorities, and arbitration forums across India.
• Drive timely resolution of disputes through litigation, arbitration, mediation, and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Establish governance mechanisms for tracking litigation, legal risks, contingent liabilities, and financial exposure through a robust Litigation MIS.

Legal Advisory & Risk Management

• Provide strategic legal advice to business and functional leaders on litigation risks and dispute management.
• Assess legal exposure and recommend appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
• Support business decisions through practical legal guidance while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Identify recurring legal issues and recommend preventive actions to minimize future disputes.

Counsel & Stakeholder Management

• Build and manage relationships with leading law firms, senior advocates, and external legal consultants across India.
• Evaluate the performance of external counsels and optimize legal expenditure without compromising quality.
• Act as the primary interface between business teams, leadership, and external legal advisors.
• Represent the legal function in discussions with regulators, statutory authorities, and government agencies, wherever required.

Governance & Leadership

• Ensure effective documentation, record management, and compliance with internal legal governance processes.
• Prepare periodic updates and litigation dashboards for senior leadership and the Board, as required.
• Mentor and guide the legal team while fostering a high-performance and collaborative work environment.
• Strong expertise in civil, criminal, commercial, corporate, and regulatory litigation.
• Deep understanding of arbitration, dispute resolution, and court procedures.
• Excellent legal drafting, analytical, and negotiation skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Proven stakeholder management and influencing capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple high-value and complex litigations simultaneously.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) from a recognized university (LLM preferred).

Experience Profile

• 18–20+ years of post-qualification experience in the legal function.
• Experience with reputed Indian or multinational organizations, preferably from large manufacturing, infrastructure, engineering, EPC, chemicals, energy, FMCG, or similarly complex industries.
• Proven experience in independently handling high-value litigation and dispute resolution across multiple states in India.
• Strong Pan-India exposure in managing litigation before various courts, tribunals, and regulatory authorities.
• Demonstrated success in managing external counsels and leading litigation strategy for large organizations.

Preferred Profile

• Candidates currently working with reputed organizations known for strong legal and governance practices.
• Preference for candidates based in Tamil Nadu or willing to relocate.
• Strong understanding of the legal and regulatory environment across India.
• Assertive, proactive, execution-oriented leader with excellent judgment and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively with CXOs, business leaders, regulators, and external legal stakeholders.