Legal head

Job Title: Head – Legal & Compliance

Location: Hyderabad (Flexible)

Experience Required: 8–10 years

Qualification: CS + LLB (Mandatory) from a reputed institution.

Reporting To: VP Finance / CEO

Role Overview:

We are looking for a highly qualified and experienced Head – Legal & Compliance to lead our corporate legal, regulatory, compliance, and secretarial functions. This is a strategic leadership role involving risk management, legal structuring, fundraising documentation, corporate governance, IPO preparedness, contract negotiation, and stakeholder management.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Legal Strategy & Governance

• Develop and execute the company’s legal strategy aligned with business goals and compliance needs.

• Lead all legal risk mitigation efforts and provide strategic legal inputs to the board and CXOs.

• Stay ahead of regulatory changes in the EdTech, education, and fintech sectors impacting business operations.

1. Contract Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate high-value contracts including MSAs, NDAs, vendor agreements, content partnerships, SaaS, licensing, lease and LOIs.

• Establish a standardised, tech-enabled contract lifecycle management process.

• Guide internal stakeholders on contractual obligations and dispute resolution strategies.

1. Corporate Secretarial & ROC Compliance

• Ensure end-to-end compliance under Companies Act, 2013 and other relevant laws.

• Manage all Board, General Meetings, and Committee Meetings including drafting minutes, resolutions, and regulatory filings.

• Maintain statutory registers and coordinate with external consultants/auditors.

1. Fundraising & Investor Compliance

• Support due diligence, drafting of SHA, SSA, term sheets, side letters, and condition precedent fulfilment during fundraising rounds.

• Coordinate with external counsel and investor legal teams.

• Ensure compliance with FEMA, FDI regulations, and RBI reporting for foreign investments.

1.  ⁠IPO Readiness & Capital Markets Compliance

• Lead legal due diligence and compliance groundwork for proposed IPO (SEBI/Companies Act/Stock Exchange/NSDL).

• Work closely with merchant bankers, legal advisors, and internal departments for DRHP preparation.

• Set up systems for ongoing listing and disclosure compliance (if listed).

1. Policy Development & Regulatory Compliance

• Develop internal policies (e.g., POSH, Whistleblower, Ethics, Data Privacy) and ensure organization-wide adherence.

• Monitor compliance with NSDC, MCA, UGC/AICTE (where applicable), and other education sector norms.

• Liaise with regulatory authorities including SEBI, MCA, ROC, RBI, GST, and Education Regulators.

1. Dispute Resolution & Litigation

• Manage pre-litigation strategy, notices, consumer disputes, IP enforcement, and court filings.

• Coordinate with external counsel for ongoing legal proceedings and settlement strategies.

• Represent the company in legal forums when required.

1. Intellectual Property Management

• Oversee filing, registration, and protection of IP – including trademarks, copyrights, patents, and domain names.

• Guide product, content, and marketing teams on IP usage and infringement avoidance.

1. Team Management & Leadership

• Build and mentor an internal legal and compliance team.

• Create a culture of proactive compliance and legal awareness within the organization.

1. Engage in cross-functional collaboration with Finance, HR, Product, Marketing, and Tech teams.

Qualifications & Experience: 

1. Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Qualified Company Secretary (CS), 8–10 years of experience in corporate legal, secretarial, and compliance functions, preferably in a startup or high-growth company.

2. Prior experience with fundraising, due diligence, and IPO preferred.

3. Strong understanding of contract law, company law, SEBI regulations, education sector laws, and commercial negotiations.

Key Competencies:

1. Strategic legal mindset with hands-on execution capabilities.

2. High integrity and a solution-oriented approach.

3. Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

4. Ability to manage ambiguity, fast-changing regulations, and scaling businesses.

What We Offer

1. Opportunity to be part of a leadership team shaping one of India’s fastest-growing EdTech companies.

2. Ownership of a mission-critical vertical with visibility to the Board and investors.

3. Competitive compensation 

4. A culture of innovation, agility, and execution excellence.