Manager - Legal (APJ Commercial Legal Team)

Cognizant; Chennai District; Hybrid; INR 2,500,000 - 3,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is recruiting a Manager - Legal to join the APJ Commercial Legal team in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This full-time role focuses on drafting, negotiating, and managing client contracts for Japan, India, and Australia, ensuring compliance with data protection, AI regulations, and corporate governance standards.

The candidate should have extensive experience reviewing IT services contracts across managed, professional services, licensing, and PaaS/SaaS, with strong English fluency and ownership

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in reviewing and negotiating IT services contracts (managed services, professional services, subcontracting, licensing, and PaaS/SaaS).
• Strong understanding of transactional (commercial) nuances, ability to assess risks and mitigations, and strong fluency in written and verbal English.
• Self-directed, strong ownership, and ability to act as the key point of contact for deals from proposal to post-signature.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts for clients in Japan, India, and other APJ regions.
• Partner with business units to create contractual frameworks, improve templates, and incorporate internal domain provisions.
• Manage legal risks and provide strategic advice to protect company reputation and interests during commercial or delivery challenges.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws, including AI regulations, data protection, and corporate governance, in collaboration with specialist compliance teams.
• Provide advance warning to senior management regarding deal risks and drive deals to closure.

Skills

Contract negotiation

IT services contracts

Risk assessment

English fluency

Job description

jobs Verified: 5 Oct 2026 Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (Hybrid: 2-3 days/week in office)

Manager - Legal (APJ Commercial Legal Team)

C

Organising Institution / Firm

Rolling Basis (Official)

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (Hybrid: 2-3 days/week in office)

Not Specified

Extensive, demonstrated experience in reviewing and negotiating IT services contracts (managed services, professional services, subcontracting, licensing, PaaS/SaaS) at a global IT services or technology company. Strong understanding of transactional/commercial nuances, risk assessment, and fluency in English. Mid-Senior level experience required.

Job

Full Opportunity Brief

Manager - Legal at Cognizant

Cognizant is recruiting a Manager - Legal to join the APJ Commercial Legal team in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This full-time, mid-senior level role focuses on drafting, negotiating, and managing client contracts for Japan, India, and Australia, while ensuring compliance with data protection, AI regulations, and corporate governance standards.

Key Eligibility Criteria

• Experience: Extensive, demonstrated experience in reviewing and negotiating IT services contracts (including managed services, professional services, subcontracting, licensing, and PaaS/SaaS arrangements) at a global IT services or technology company.
• Skills: Strong understanding of transactional (commercial) nuances, ability to assess risks and mitigations, and strong fluency in written and verbal English.
• Attributes: Self-directed, strong ownership, and ability to act as the key point of contact for deals from proposal to post-signature.

Responsibilities & Scope of Work

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts for clients in Japan, India, and other APJ regions.
• Partner with business units to create contractual frameworks, improve templates, and incorporate internal domain provisions.
• Manage legal risks and provide strategic advice to protect company reputation and interests during commercial or delivery challenges.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws, including AI regulations, data protection, and corporate governance, in collaboration with specialist compliance teams.
• Provide advance warning to senior management regarding deal risks and drive deals to closure.

Compensation & Work Model

• Stipend/Salary: Not specified in the source.
• Work Model: Hybrid (2-3 days per week in a client or Cognizant office).
• Employment Type: Full-time.