Head of legal

About the Company

Our client is a large, established Indian listed consumer company with a strong domestic presence and a growing international footprint across markets including the Middle East, North America, Africa and Australia. The organisation is scaling its international business and investing in strong legal and governance capabilities to support this growth.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Lead the end-to-end management of international commercial contracts, including drafting, negotiation, execution and ongoing obligations.
2. Draft and negotiate NDAs, distributor, supply, vendor, procurement, warehousing, service and employment agreements.
3. Partner with business and sales teams on complex and high-value commercial arrangements.
4. Develop and execute strategies for international disputes, arbitration and litigation, working with local and external counsel.
5. Manage the company's international IP portfolio, particularly trademarks, including registrations, renewals, oppositions and enforcement.
6. Ensure legal and regulatory compliance across overseas entities and markets.
7. Advise on data privacy, employment law and legal aspects of international transactions in partnership with relevant functions.
8. Act as a trusted legal advisor to senior leadership on commercial, contractual and strategic matters, including JVs, overseas entities and business expansion.
9. Drive legal process improvements, technology adoption, governance and external counsel management.

Skills and qualifications

1. 12–16 years of relevant legal experience, preferably with a leading consumer/FMCG company or law firm.
2. LLB mandatory; LLM preferred.
3. Strong expertise in commercial contracts, negotiation and risk assessment.
4. Experience in international/cross-border transactions and working across multiple jurisdictions.
5. Strong exposure to dispute resolution, arbitration and commercial litigation.
6. Experience managing IP portfolios, particularly trademarks.
7. Strong commercial acumen and ability to balance legal risk with business priorities.
8. Excellent drafting, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.
9. Experience managing external counsel and legal budgets.
10. High ownership, sound judgement and ability to independently advise senior leadership.

What's On Offer

An opportunity to lead the legal function for a high-growth international business, with significant exposure to cross-border contracts, disputes, IP and global expansion. A high-ownership role with direct exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to shape a scalable legal function.