Legal Counsel

SECTION I: ROLE INTRODUCTION

Job Title

Legal Counsel

Reporting To

Job Code ID

Business Unit

Risk Management

Grade/ Level

Sub Business Unit

Corporate Legal

Management Band

Location

Section II: JOB ROLE SCOPE

Number of Direct Reports

Financial Metrics (Budget, Revenue, etc.)

Total Team Size

SECTION III: PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Legal Counsel will be responsible for providing end-to-end legal support to the Bank across corporate, commercial, lending, regulatory, and dispute matters. The role involves drafting and vetting documentation, advising business units, mitigating legal risks, managing litigation, and ensuring compliance with banking laws and regulatory guidelines .The role will also involve assisting senior team members/segment heads and Vertical heads in any deals/matters being referred.

SECTION IV: KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & KPIS OF THE ROLE

Responsibilities

KPIs

Strategy and Planning

• The counsel is expected to partner closely with business, risk, compliance, credit, and operations teams to facilitate transactions while safeguarding the Bank’s interests.
  
  

Early-stage involvement to advise on optimal deal structures (secured/unsecured, syndicated, bilateral, escrow, guarantees).

Align the transaction structure with the bank’s risk appetite, regulatory conditions, and security enforceability.

• Develop standardized templates for facility agreements, security documents, pledge deeds, mortgages, and inter‑creditor arrangements to reduce TAT.
• Interpret RBI Master Directions, circulars, KYC/AML rules, Embed legal safeguards into product features in relation to setting up/launching of new products or structuring any deals including drafting/vetting and negotiating all contracts, agreements and other documentation.
• While negotiating with third parties/lawyers orsettling non standard documents/client documents for new products ensure that the interest of the Bank is protected from a legal perspective
• Map critical cases in DRT, NCLT, High Courts, consumer forums, arbitrations, criminal complaints.
• Prioritize high-value exposures, reputationally sensitive matters, and systemic risks.
• Ensure meeting up with TAT as a single contributory or that of a team
  
  

Advisory ,Policies, Processes & Procedures

• Helping business lines and function structure transactions, products, contracts, set up procedures along best practices, negotiate arrangements and legal terms with third parties, resolve legal problems, and propose and advise on solutions that help the business lines complete their transactions/resolve issues within the bank’s operational/legal framework.
• Assist the General Counsel/Corporate Legal Head /seniors in compliance with Bank legal policies and assist in setting up, where necessary, relevant local legal policies and procedures to reflect specific legal requirements of India.
• Ensure that all transaction/Document is in consonance with Applicable Law and/or Policies and Process as stipulated by the Bank.
• Any policy renewals for other stakeholders/LRM to be reviewed, updated and adhered to
• Advise on substantive legal issues and questions of law.
• Provide legal advice and support as required generally by business teams and other functions like human resources, finance, compliance etc.
• Advise and support businesses in relation to the structuring, negotiation and execution of third-party agreements entered into by relevant legal entities within India
• Develop standard agreements and templates together with legal guidelines for products and documentation as appropriate and keep such documentation and guidelines updated.
  
  

Stakeholder Management

In Consultation With Team Leads And Seniors

• Highlight the consequences and liabilities to the stakeholders/management so as to ensure that calculated calls are taken
• Primary responsibility will be to provide support and legal advice to Large Corporates/Wholesale Banking/Structured deals/Trade Finance/Transaction Banking Products/Recovery Teams/IBU etc
• Provide legal advice and support and transaction management services for all Bank business activities.
• Provide general advise to the Bank branches, subsidiaries and affiliates, as required, on legal issues arising from the organization and management of the relevant legal entities within India including corporate structure governance and operations.
• Regular coordination and joint meetings with stakeholders to ensure that any teething issues are resolved.
• Maintain harmonious and cordial rapport with stakeholders.
• Develop a balanced and calculated approach in arriving at solutions keeping in mind the larger interests of the Bank
  
  

Systems, Processes and Controls

• Monitor trends in the regulatory and statutory environment for their impact on an organization and suggest an action plan for addressing them.
• Keeping abreast with latest legal developments.
• Monitor legal developments which may affect the businesses especially bank business operations and provide appropriate legal advice and support in relation to such issues.
  
  

Cost Management

• Endeavour to prepare/draft documents or address legal issues in house without any dependence on external counsels or law firms.
• Ability to draft bespoke documents/communications/Policies, Processes etc.
  
  

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

• Manage Disputes, Co-ordination and follow-up with outside legal counsels and drafting of Complaints, Replies, Misc Applications, Affidavits etc. in Civil as well as Criminal litigation matters including Recovery of debts.
• Any letters/correspondences/complaints/ litigations where a reply/written statement to be sent/filed should be promptly completed within the requite timelines to avoid any escalation /penal consequences to the Bank.
  
  

Innovation

To assist in innovations within the Bank and ensure that processes are built around bringing efficiencies. Ideate and implement digitization ,smart documents and time saving techniques wherever possible

Risk and Internal Control

• Management of the legal risks of the businesses of the Bank.
• Assist in evaluation and conducting thorough due diligence for all deals and transactions including property related matters and regulatory perspective, and to highlight concern areas and recommend risk mitigation strategies / options.
• Supervise and manage local litigation and pre-litigation disputes as appropriate.
• Provide legal support to analyze and assess contractual risks in credit and other agreements and documents to protect the interest of the Bank.
• Prepare MIS of deals handled on a regular basis
• Keep an MIS of Litigations and status thereof.
• Ensure that any approvals/opinions rendered are discussed internally and legal risks are adequately assessed
  
  

SECTION V: OPERATING NETWORK

Internal

Internal liaising across stakeholders with respect to the Profile handled

External

Discussions and Negotiations with clients/Lawyers/Litigation Management etc

SECTION VI: ROLE PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

Education

A qualified lawyer with a degree in law (LL.B),Company Secretary (optional)

Experience

8-11 years of corporate legal experience preferably in the Banking sector or top NBFCs only.

Competencies

CORE COMPETENCIES

LEADERSHIP/ BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES

• Strong Subject Matter knowledge
• Good Communication Skills
• Good Pedigree (Education/Workplace)
• Willingness to learn
• Execution experience independently.
• Ability to assess risks and provide solutions within the legal framework
• Out of the box thinking
• Leadership experience(optional)
• Ability to execute
• Agility to adjust in different work environments
• Attitude to learn and deep dive into issues.
• Develop a harmonious approach towards stakeholders
• Balanced approach at resolutions.
• Deep dive into issues and research well