Legal Counsel

Role Introduction

The position of Legal Counsel involves reporting within the Risk Management business unit, specifically under Corporate Legal. This role does not mention direct reports or financial metrics and is located in the Greater Kolkata area.

Purpose of Role

The Legal Counsel is tasked with providing comprehensive legal assistance to the Bank covering corporate, commercial, lending, regulatory, and litigation matters. Key duties include drafting and reviewing documents, advising multiple business units, mitigating legal risks, managing disputes and compliance with banking laws and regulations. The role supports senior management and heads in various deals and legal issues.

Key Responsibilities & KPIs

• Collaborate closely with business, risk, compliance, credit, and operations teams to ensure smooth transactions aligned with the Bank’s legal interests.
• Advise early on deal structure options including secured/unsecured loans, syndications, guarantees, and escrow arrangements while considering regulatory and risk factors.
• Create and update standardized templates for agreements and security documents to reduce turnaround time.
• Interpret and apply RBI directives, AML/KYC regulations, embedding legal safeguards into product structures and contracts when launching new offerings or negotiating terms.
• Negotiate or adapt non-standard and third-party documents to protect the Bank's legal rights.
• Track and prioritize critical litigations in DRT, NCLT, courts, consumer forums, and arbitration with a focus on high-value and reputationally sensitive cases.
• Provide advisory services helping business lines structure deals, resolve legal challenges, and ensure policy compliance with Indian legal requirements.
• Draft, review and maintain policies, local legal procedures, and standardized contract templates consistent with applicable laws and Bank regulations.
• Offer legal counsel to varied stakeholders including corporate clients, Wholesale Banking, Structured deals, Trade Finance, and Recovery teams; also advise branches and subsidiaries on governance and operational legal matters.
• Maintain stakeholder relations through regular coordination and problem resolution to foster constructive working partnerships.
• Stay updated on regulatory changes and legal trends impacting banking operations, suggesting necessary adaptations.
• Minimize external legal consultancy costs by drafting documents and policies internally wherever feasible.
• Manage disputes and litigation, overseeing external counsel and ensuring timely responses to avoid penalties or escalation.
• Promote innovation by supporting digitization, smart documentation, and efficiency improvements in legal processes.
• Assess legal risks, conduct detailed due diligence on deals including property and regulatory compliance, and recommend mitigations.
• Maintain comprehensive MIS reports on deal handling and litigation status to track activities and legal risks.

Operating Network

Internally liaise across various stakeholders related to the handled profile; externally coordinate discussions and negotiations with clients, lawyers, and manage litigation processes.

Role Profile Requirements

• Must hold a law degree (LL.B); Company Secretary qualification is an added advantage.
• Requires 8 to 11 years of corporate legal experience, preferably in banking or leading NBFCs.
• Possess excellent subject matter expertise with strong communication abilities.
• Demonstrate independence in executing legal functions and risk assessments, creativity in problem-solving, and agility in adapting to different work settings.
• Exhibit willingness to learn, leadership capability (optional), and maintain balanced, research-driven approaches to issue resolution and stakeholder management.