Paradigm Shifters
Website:
paradigmshifters.in
Job details:
Our client, a global HR payroll company HQ'ed in USA is looking to hire a Head of Legal- India.
The Head of Legal – India will build, lead, and scale the India-based legal function within the company’s Global Capability Center (GCC) and will report to the Head of Legal, International. This role is responsible for establishing a fully functioning in-house legal department in India, identifying and prioritizing the needs of the business and the global legal organization, and integrating legal operations between the US and India.
Location: Bengaluru
Key Responsibilities
1. Build & Lead the India Legal Function
• Establish, manage, and develop a high-performing in-house legal team in India supporting the GCC and global business.
• Define the legal needs, operating model, team structure, roles, and hiring roadmap.
• Understand company-wide procedures, policies and practices and oversee their development and adoption in India to the extent applicable.
• Develop India-specific policies, procedures, playbooks, and governance for the India legal function as needed.
• Ensure appropriate coverage across key legal domains (e.g., commercial, employment, compliance, privacy, IP, corporate, litigation support, etc.).
2. Strategic Partnership with the Business
• Act as the senior legal advisor to India business and functional leaders.
• Align with the legal department’s goals, objectives, practices, protocols, and global business stakeholders.
• Provide pragmatic, business-oriented legal advice aligned with company strategy and risk appetite.
• Serve as a key member of the India leadership team and the global legal leadership team.
3. Global Legal Integration & Work Migration
• Identify legal workstreams suitable for transition or shared execution between the US and India (e.g., contracts, compliance operations, corporate governance support, legal ops, etc.).
• Design and implement end-to-end workflows to integrate India and US legal teams.
• Drive standardization, process optimization, and quality controls across geographies.
• Ensure clear service levels, escalation paths, and accountability models.
4. Legal Operations & Process Excellence
• Build scalable legal processes, templates, and playbooks aligning with those established in the US wherever applicable.
• Implement metrics, dashboards, and KPIs for legal delivery, quality, and efficiency.
• Partner with legal colleagues and key stakeholder teams globally to drive continuous improvement.
• Support technology adoption to gain efficiencies (AI, matter management, knowledge management, etc.) wherever feasible.
5. Governance, Risk & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with Indian laws and regulations applicable to the GCC and local operations.
• Coordinate with US Legal on global policies, risk management, and governance.
• Oversee management of external counsel in India, including selection, performance, and cost control.
• Support internal investigations, regulatory matters, and audits as needed.
6. Talent Development & Culture
• Recruit, develop, and retain top legal talent in India.
• Build a strong performance culture aligned with global legal values and standards.
• Coach and develop future legal leaders.
• Promote collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and integration with global legal teams.
Qualifications & Experience
• Law degree and admission to practice in India required.
• 10+ years of relevant legal experience, including significant in-house experience in a multinational company.
• Proven experience building or scaling legal teams or functions integrated within a global legal team.
• Strong background in one or more of: commercial contracting, corporate/compliance, employment, technology, or operations-heavy legal environments.
• Demonstrated experience working with US-based legal partners and stakeholders.
• Experience with process transformation, shared services, or GCC models strongly preferred.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Business-minded, pragmatic, and comfortable operating in a fast-scaling, complex environment.
Click on Apply to know more.