Legal Manager - Non Litigation

Job Description Designation: Manager / Sr. Manager – Legal (Commercial & Arbitration) Function: Legal & Compliance Reporting to: Head – Legal / CFO / CEO (as applicable) Location: [Specify Location] --- Role Purpose The role is responsible for legal evaluation of bid/tender documents, contract risk assessment, and end-to-end management of arbitration and dispute resolution processes with customers and vendors. The incumbent will safeguard the organization’s legal and commercial interests while ensuring compliance, risk mitigation, and structured dispute resolution. --- Key Responsibilities (KRAs) 1️⃣ Bid & Tender Legal Evaluation · Review and evaluate RFPs, RFQs, tender documents, and bid submissions · Identify legal, contractual, and commercial risks · Highlight deviation clauses and recommend mitigation strategies · Draft and review bid qualifications and legal clarifications · Support Go/No-Go decisions from a legal risk perspective · Ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory, and contractual obligations --- 2️⃣ Contract Drafting & Commercial Agreements · Draft, review, and negotiate: o Customer contracts o Vendor agreements o NDAs, MoUs, SLAs, AMC contracts o Turnkey / project agreements · Ensure appropriate risk allocation (indemnity, liability caps, penalties, LD clauses) · Standardize contract templates and maintain clause repository · Advise business and commercial teams on contractual exposure --- 3️⃣ Arbitration & Dispute Management · Manage arbitration matters with customers and vendors · Coordinate with external counsel and represent company interests · Prepare legal notices, replies, claims, and counter-claims · Compile documentation and evidence for arbitration proceedings · Track dispute exposure, timelines, and potential financial impact · Advise management on settlement strategies and litigation risk · Maintain dispute MIS and legal risk registers --- 4️⃣ Legal Risk Advisory · Provide proactive legal advice to Sales, Projects, Procurement & Commercial teams · Assess contractual risks in large turnkey and long-term projects · Recommend structured risk mitigation strategies · Support internal investigations and compliance reviews where required --- 5️⃣ Governance & Compliance · Ensure compliance with applicable laws including: o Companies Act o Contract Act o Arbitration & Conciliation Act o Industry-specific regulations · Maintain centralized contract documentation · Support internal and external audits --- Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) · Acceptance of high-risk contractual clauses without mitigation · Escalation of disputes due to contractual gaps · Financial exposure from arbitration awards · Liquidated damages triggered due to contractual weaknesses · Delays in legal response to notices or claims · Inadequate documentation impacting dispute outcomes --- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) · Turnaround time (TAT) for contract reviews · Reduction in contractual risk exposure · Favorable arbitration outcomes / settlements · Reduction in dispute escalation cases · Standardization and implementation of contract templates --- Education & Qualification Parameters Mandatory: · LLB (Bachelor of Laws) Preferred: · LLM (Corporate / Commercial Law preferred) · 5–10 years of experience in commercial contracts and arbitration · Experience in telecom / infrastructure / project-driven industry · Strong understanding of Arbitration & Conciliation Act and commercial dispute handling --- Key Competencies Functional: · Contract drafting & negotiation · Legal risk assessment · Arbitration handling & dispute management · Commercial awareness · Regulatory knowledge Behavioral: · Strong analytical and risk-oriented mindset · Negotiation and influencing ability · High attention to detail · Ability to work under pressure · Strong stakeholder management --- Interface Departments · Sales & Business Development · Projects & Operations · Procurement & Commercial · Finance · External Legal Counsel · Customers & Vendors