Employment Counsel (10-15 PQE)

Aquis Search has partnered with a global financial services analytics firm in their search for an Associate Director Legal in Mumbai to support employment legal matters across the group's businesses globally.

The role will have a strong focus on employment law, providing day-to-day legal advisory and support on employment-related matters across multiple jurisdictions. The successful candidate will partner closely with Human Resources, business leaders and other functional stakeholders on employment law issues, workplace matters, employee relations, and employment-related risk.

In addition to employment law, the role will support vendor contracting, including negotiation and review of technology and other strategic vendor agreements, data protection, information security, confidentiality and related contractual risks.

This is an individual contributor role requiring a hands-on lawyer who can independently manage matters, work across functions and geographies, and provide practical, commercially oriented legal advice.

The ideal candidate is likely to come from a large IT/ITeS, technology, SaaS or technology-enabled business, with significant exposure to employment law and experience supporting a global workforce. Candidates from BFSI and other regulated sectors may also be considered where they have substantial experience supporting technology/IT businesses.

Key Responsibilities

Global Employment Law & HR Advisory

• Provide day-to-day legal advice to HR and business stakeholders on a broad range of employment law matters across India and international jurisdictions.
• Advise on employee lifecycle matters including hiring, employment terms, transfers, promotions, performance management, disciplinary actions, exits, terminations and separation arrangements.
• Advise on complex employee relations matters, workplace issues, grievances, investigations and disciplinary proceedings.
• Support HR and business teams on employment-related disputes, claims and litigation, working with external counsel where required.
• Review and advise on employment contracts, offer letters, policies, employee handbooks, confidentiality agreements, restrictive covenants and other employment documentation.
• Advise on employment law implications of organisational restructuring, workforce changes, business transfers, outsourcing and other strategic initiatives.
• Partner with HR on the development, review and implementation of employment policies and processes across jurisdictions.
• Advise on local employment law requirements and coordinate with external counsel on jurisdiction-specific matters where required.
• Identify employment-related legal and regulatory risks and provide practical, business-oriented recommendations.

Vendor Contracting

• Draft, review and negotiate agreements with technology vendors, IT service providers, consultants, outsourcing partners and other strategic suppliers.
• Manage the legal aspects of vendor relationships from contract negotiation through execution and, where required, renewal or termination.
• Ensure appropriate contractual protections around confidentiality, data protection, information security, intellectual property, service levels, business continuity and liability.
• Partner with procurement, information security, technology and business teams to assess and manage contractual risks.
• Support negotiations with global vendors and manage legal issues arising during the vendor lifecycle.

Skills & Competencies

• 10-15 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience, with significant exposure to employment law and corporate legal advisory.
• LLB from a reputed university.
• Strong hands-on experience advising on employment law matters across multiple jurisdictions, preferably in a global organisation.
• Significant experience partnering with HR and senior business stakeholders on complex employee relations, disciplinary, termination, restructuring and employment-risk matters.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating technology/vendor agreements, particularly with IT, SaaS, outsourcing or technology service providers.
• Strong understanding of contractual provisions relating to information security, data protection, privacy, confidentiality and cybersecurity.
• Experience working in a global IT/ITeS, technology, SaaS, fintech or technology-enabled organisation would be strongly preferred.
• Candidates from BFSI or other regulated sectors will also be considered where they have substantial exposure to technology/IT businesses and global employment matters.
• Ability to independently manage matters across multiple businesses, functions and jurisdictions.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to advise senior HR and business leaders.
• Practical, commercially minded approach to legal risk.
• High level of ownership, attention to detail and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
• Comfortable working as an individual contributor with limited supervision.

If this sounds like you, please click apply or drop a note on [Confidential Information] for a confidential chat.