Head of Legal

  • Pune
  • Searce Inc

What we want is to hire someone who is Independent, self-starting, and self-motivated for high performance, has ability to handle multiple legal authorities, their terms, validating clauses and ability to protect the company against any inherent legal risks maintaining data confidentiality with a strong sense of professional integrity.


To take it further, in an ideal world, we are not just looking for someone with legal exposure, effective communication and analytical skills but also keen observation on internal controls and improvements.


We are looking for a natural leader who is responsible for ensuring that the company's legal strategies align with its business objectives and for managing the legal team effectively.



Job Responsibilities


Legal Strategy and Guidance:


  • Develop and implement legal strategies that align with the company's goals and objectives.
  • Provide proactive legal advice and guidance to the CEO, executive team, and business unit heads.
  • Stay updated on changes in laws and regulations relevant to the company's operations and industries.


Legal and Regulatory Compliance:


  • Ensure the organization's compliance with IT-related laws, regulations, and industry standards.
  • Stay updated on evolving IT and data protection regulations and recommend necessary actions to maintain compliance.


Contract Management:


  • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts and agreements, including client contracts, vendor agreements, and partnership agreements.
  • Ensure contracts protect the company's interests while complying with applicable laws.


Litigation and Dispute Resolution:


  • Manage external legal counsel when litigation arises.
  • Develop and execute legal strategies to resolve disputes efficiently.


Data Privacy and Security:


  • Oversee data privacy and security compliance, including GDPR, HIPAA, or other relevant regulations.
  • Develop and implement data protection policies, procedures, and incident response plans.


Cybersecurity Risk Management:


  • Identify, assess, and mitigate cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities.
  • Develop and implement cybersecurity strategies and incident response plans.


Intellectual Property (IP) Protection:

  • Protect and manage the organization's IT-related intellectual property assets, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
  • Enforce IP rights and defend against infringement claims.


Team Management:

  • Manage the legal department's budget and allocate resources effectively.
  • Recruit, train, and manage a team of legal professionals.
  • Delegate responsibilities and provide leadership and mentorship to the legal team.


Qualification


Is Education overrated? Yes. We believe so. But there is no way to locate you otherwise. So we might look for at least a LLB, LLM (preferred) preferably in business/competition/commercial/company laws, Ph.D in Law (desirable).


  • Proven experience as a technology attorney or IT legal professional, with 10 - 15 years of relevant legal practice.
  • Previous leadership experience in IT legal and compliance roles is highly desirable.
  • Strong understanding of IT law, data protection regulations, and cybersecurity principles.
  • Excellent negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.
  • Ability to handle high-pressure situations and make sound legal and strategic decisions.
  • Ethical and principled with a commitment to promoting a culture of IT compliance and security.