Legal Lead

MSM Global Education; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 2,000,000 - 4,000,000; Full time

Job summary

MSM Global Education seeks a seasoned Corporate & Commercial Legal Counsel to manage all corporate, commercial, and regulatory matters for the organization. You will draft and vet agreements, advise senior management on strategic decisions, and oversee compliance across domestic and international activities.

The role covers governance, cross-border contracts, IP and data protection, litigation coordination, and coordination with external counsels to mitigate risk.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Law (LL.B.) is mandatory.
• 712 years of relevant experience in corporate legal, commercial legal, and compliance functions.
• In-house legal experience with ownership of legal matters.
• Strong contract drafting, negotiations, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Knowledge of Indian corporate and commercial laws.
• Experience handling litigation and coordinating with external counsel.
• Exposure to international contracts and cross-border transactions.
• Experience collaborating with senior management and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage corporate, commercial, and regulatory legal affairs for business operations.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize commercial and service agreements.
• Advise senior management on legal risks and strategic business decisions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with external counsels and manage litigation where needed.
• Maintain corporate records, licenses, and essential legal documentation.
• Support cross-border contracts and international partnerships from a legal standpoint.
• Guide HR and policy development to align with labour laws and governance standards.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiations

Regulatory compliance

Legal risk management

Intellectual property

Data protection

In-house legal

Education

LL.B. degree

Job description

Role & responsibilities

1. Corporate & Commercial Legal Affairs

• Manage all legal matters concerning the company's business operations, partnerships, commercial transactions, and corporate activities.
• Provide legal advice and strategic guidance to senior management on business decisions and operational matters.
• Identify potential legal risks and recommend commercially viable solutions.
• Ensure that business operations, agreements, and internal practices comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Act as the primary point of contact for legal matters across business functions.

2. Contract Drafting, Vetting & Negotiations

• Independently draft, review, negotiate, and finalize various commercial agreements, including:
• University and educational institution partnership agreements.
• Student recruitment and agent agreements.
• Service agreements, vendor contracts, and consultancy agreements.
• MOUs, NDAs, and strategic partnership agreements.
• Technology, SaaS, software licensing, and data-sharing agreements.
• International business collaboration and service agreements.
• Ensure appropriate contractual protection concerning liabilities, indemnities, termination, payment obligations, intellectual property, confidentiality, and dispute resolution.
• Develop standardized legal templates and establish effective contract management processes.

3. Legal Compliance & Regulatory Management

• Monitor and ensure compliance with applicable corporate, commercial, employment, consumer protection, and data privacy laws.
• Advise on Indian and international legal and regulatory requirements relevant to the company's business.
• Coordinate with relevant teams on compliance requirements associated with education services, international student recruitment, and cross-border operations.
• Support compliance with applicable data protection regulations, including India's DPDP framework and GDPR, wherever relevant.
• Conduct periodic legal compliance reviews and recommend corrective measures.
• Maintain statutory and regulatory documentation in coordination with relevant departments.

4. Litigation, Disputes & Legal Risk Management

• Manage legal notices, contractual disputes, claims, and other litigation-related matters.
• Draft and review legal responses, notices, settlement documents, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with external legal counsels, law firms, and relevant authorities.
• Manage arbitration, mediation, and litigation matters, where applicable.
• Develop proactive legal risk mitigation strategies to minimize financial, regulatory, and reputational exposure.

5. Corporate Governance & Legal Documentation

• Support corporate governance processes, legal due diligence, and statutory compliance in coordination with Finance, HR, and company secretarial teams.
• Maintain corporate legal records, agreements, licenses, and other essential legal documentation.
• Provide legal support for new business initiatives, entity-related matters, restructuring, and expansion into new markets.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, delegated authorities, and approval processes.

6. International Business & Cross-Border Legal Support

• Provide legal assistance for international institutional partnerships and commercial arrangements.
• Review cross-border agreements, jurisdiction-specific legal obligations, and international contractual risks.
• Coordinate with overseas legal advisors on matters requiring local legal expertise.
• Support international business expansion, market entry, and overseas partnerships from a legal and compliance perspective.
• Evaluate legal implications of international commercial arrangements and intercompany transactions.

7. Employment & HR Legal Matters

• Advise the HR function on employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, employment-related disputes, and workforce policies.
• Support the development and review of employment policies and disciplinary procedures.
• Provide legal guidance on employee exits, disputes, and other employment-related matters.
• Ensure employment documentation aligns with relevant labour and employment laws.

8. Intellectual Property & Data Protection

• Protect the company's trademarks, brand assets, intellectual property, proprietary information, and technology-related interests.
• Support trademark registrations, renewals, and intellectual property enforcement in coordination with external advisors.
• Review website terms, privacy notices, consent mechanisms, and other legal documentation for digital platforms.
• Advise on data-sharing arrangements, confidentiality, privacy, and information protection obligations.

Preferred candidate profile

• Bachelor's degree in Law (LL.B.) from a recognized university is mandatory.
• 712 years of relevant experience in corporate legal, commercial legal, and compliance functions.
• Prior experience in an in-house legal role with independent ownership of legal matters.
• Strong expertise in contract drafting, negotiations, regulatory compliance, and legal risk management.
• Sound knowledge of Indian corporate and commercial laws.
• Experience handling litigation matters and coordinating with external legal counsel.
• Exposure to international contracts and cross-border transactions.
• Experience working directly with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred Background:

• Experience in education, EdTech, international education, technology platforms, or multinational service organizations.
• Exposure to university partnerships, agency networks, international commercial agreements, or multi-country business operations.
• Previous experience independently managing the legal function of a growing organization.