Head - Legal & Compliance

Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Bengaluru

On-site

INR 3,500,000 - 6,500,000

Full time

12 days ago

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Job summary

Mercedes-Benz Group AG, through its Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, seeks a Head of Legal & Compliance to serve as chief legal advisor to the MD and executive leadership in India. The role leads the legal function for one of the largest global engineering centers, enabling innovation while ensuring ethics and governance.

Collaboration with global legal teams, HR, finance, and engineering is essential to manage risk and support strategic business growth in a complex, multinational

Qualifications

Bachelor of Laws required; Master of Laws preferred.
15–20 years of progressive corporate legal experience.
Experience in multinational corporations, technology or automotive sectors is a plus.
Experience leading legal teams and managing complex global legal matters.

Responsibilities

Lead the Legal & Compliance function for MBRDI as chief legal advisor to senior leadership.
Provide strategic legal guidance on expansion, partnerships, and global collaborations.
Drive governance frameworks aligned with Mercedes-Benz standards and ensure regulatory compliance.
Oversee drafting, negotiation, and management of technology development and IP licensing agreements.
Advise on employment, labor law matters, policies, and investigations.

Skills

Corporate & commercial law

Technology & IP law

Regulatory compliance & governance

Employment & labor law

Contract negotiations & risk mgmt

Education

LLB

LLM preferred

Job description

Job Description - Head - Legal & Compliance (MER00040JU)

Head - Legal & Compliance Group : Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Description

Mercedes‑Benz Research and Development India is the largest research and development center of the Mercedes‑Benz Group AG outside Germany. Since its establishment in 1996, MBRDI has been at the forefront of engineering innovation across mobility, software-defined vehicles, and next-generation automotive technologies.

The organization contributes across multiple domains including:

Software-defined vehicles and automotive platforms
Autonomous driving and ADAS technologies
Connected vehicle ecosystems and cloud platforms
Digital engineering, data platforms, and AI solutions
Body electronics, infotainment systems, and vehicle architecture

MBRDI partners closely with global Mercedes-Benz engineering and product teams to deliver technology that powers the future of mobility.

Role Overview

The Head of Legal & Compliance will serve as the chief legal advisor to the Managing Director and executive leadership team, responsible for safeguarding the organization’s legal, regulatory, and governance framework.

This role will lead the legal function for one of the largest global engineering centers within the Mercedes-Benz ecosystem, supporting strategic business initiatives, enabling innovation in automotive technologies, and ensuring the organization operates with the highest standards of compliance, ethics, and corporate governance.

The position will partner closely with global legal teams, engineering leadership, HR, finance, procurement, and corporate functions to manage legal risk while enabling business growth and technological innovation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Legal Leadership

Lead the Legal & Compliance function for MBRDI and act as the principal legal advisor to senior leadership.
Provide strategic legal guidance on business expansion, partnerships, and global engineering collaborations.
Translate legal requirements into pragmatic business solutions that enable innovation while managing risk.

2. Corporate Governance & Regulatory Compliance

Ensure full compliance with applicable Indian laws and regulations including corporate, labor, competition, and technology regulations.
Drive strong corporate governance frameworks aligned with global Mercedes‑Benz Group standards.
Lead internal compliance programs including ethics, anti-corruption, and regulatory reporting.

3. Technology & Engineering Legal Advisory

Provide legal guidance on complex engineering and technology agreements including:
- Software development and licensing
- Automotive technology partnerships
- Data platforms and digital services
- AI and emerging technologies
Support cross-border engineering collaboration with global Mercedes-Benz entities.

4. Commercial Contracting & Negotiations

Oversee drafting, negotiation, and execution of complex commercial agreements including:
- Technology development agreements
- Vendor and supplier contracts
- Strategic partnerships and joint innovation agreements
- Intellectual property licensing arrangements
Establish strong contract governance and risk mitigation mechanisms.

5. Intellectual Property & Innovation Protection

Advise engineering teams on protection of intellectual property generated within MBRDI.
Manage patent, technology transfer, and IP licensing frameworks.
Support strategic protection of proprietary automotive technologies.

6. Employment & Labor Law Advisory

Partner with HR leadership on employment law matters including workforce policies, disciplinary actions, and workplace investigations.
Ensure compliance with Indian labor regulations and evolving labor codes.
Support leadership on complex employee relations matters and internal governance.
Manage litigation, arbitration, and regulatory matters involving the organization.
Work with external law firms and advisors on high-impact legal cases.
Develop proactive strategies to minimize legal exposure.
Identify legal risks across engineering operations, commercial partnerships, and technology programs.
Promote a strong culture of ethics and compliance across the organization.

9. Global Stakeholder Management

Collaborate closely with global legal teams across the Mercedes-Benz network.
Support international projects involving cross-jurisdictional legal frameworks.
Represent MBRDI in global legal forums and governance councils.

The Head of Legal is expected to operate as a strategic business partner, balancing legal rigor with business agility.

Key leadership attributes include:

Strategic thinking and sound legal judgment
Ability to influence senior stakeholders and business leaders
Strong commercial and technology law expertise
Ability to operate in a complex global matrix organization
Commitment to ethical leadership and governance excellence

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a reputed university
Master of Laws (LLM) preferred from a reputed university

Experience

15–20 years of progressive experience in corporate legal roles
Experience in multinational corporations, technology companies, or automotive industry preferred
Prior experience leading legal teams and managing complex global legal matters

Expertise