Head of Commercial Contracts and Legal

About Artha Group Artha Group is a performance-led investment house managing over ₹1,250 crores (USD 150M+) across five fund platforms - including Artha Venture Fund, Artha Select Fund, and Artha Continuum Fund. With a portfolio of 130+ startups (OYO Rooms, Rapido, Karza, Purplle), over 30 successful exits, and a vertically integrated model that spans venture capital, renewables, and global fund-of-fund structures, we operate with precision, discipline, and long-term conviction. Our legal practice is no exception. It demands excellence—not just in protection and compliance, but in enabling outcomes. We are now hiring a Head of Legal to lead this function into its next phase of depth, agility, and strategic partnership. Legal Strategy, Transactions, Structuring & Governance As Head of Legal, you will serve as the custodian of all legal strategy, execution, and governance across Artha’s entities and investment platforms. You will be the final checkpoint on every transaction-bound document, ensuring clarity, compliance, and timely closure. This is a senior leadership position that blends legal expertise with operational finesse. Your mandate spans end-to-end investment documentation, fund structuring, entity formation, and litigation oversight—along with the implementation of scalable systems and the leadership of a high-performing legal team. You will collaborate closely with external counsel, regulatory advisors, and internal stakeholders across investment, finance, and operations—ensuring that legal precision translates directly into business enablement. Lead all legal documentation and execution for investment transactions, fund raises, and internal structuring—including SHAs, SSAs, SPAs, PPMs, AoAs, NDAs, and employment agreements. Serve as the final reviewer and sign-off authority for all deal-bound legal documents prior to circulation. Ensure that each transaction progresses with rigor, velocity, and risk clarity—balancing legal integrity with commercial intent. Design and advise on structuring for new funds, SPVs, and cross-border vehicles, ensuring regulatory compliance and long-term scalability. Liaise with advisors, regulatory authorities, and internal teams on fund registration, governance documentation, and legal architecture. Provide active counsel on LP frameworks, capital deployment terms, and jurisdictional considerations. Legal Infrastructure & Digital Systems Lead the implementation and upkeep of a contract lifecycle management (CLM) system to ensure visibility, consistency, and timely tracking. Institutionalize workflows for documentation, approval processes, version control, and deadline management. Ensure that legal systems reflect Artha’s broader approach to operational clarity and accountability. Litigation, IP, and Governance Manage ongoing and potential disputes in collaboration with legal retainers—aligning strategy with business priorities. Provide legal counsel for board governance, shareholder meetings, resolution tracking, and statutory compliance. Team Leadership & Department Building Build and lead a legal team that spans contracts, structuring, compliance, and internal advisory. Set expectations, manage capacity, and elevate team performance through clear feedback loops and structured reviews. Drive a culture of clarity, ownership, and continuous learning within the legal function. Maintain strong working relationships with Artha’s external counsel across general corporate, litigation, and fund-specific mandates. Serve as the internal bridge between Artha’s operating teams and its legal advisors—ensuring direction, efficiency, and alignment. Own quality control, budget optimization, and execution timelines across all outsourced legal engagements. 10+ years of progressive legal experience across corporate law, transactions, entity structuring, and fund formation ~ Prior exposure to venture capital, private equity, investment banking, or family office ecosystems preferred ~ Exceptional command of contract law, corporate governance, and regulatory nuance ~ Demonstrated ability to lead high-context negotiations and execute legal workstreams at speed and scale ~ Proficient with contract lifecycle tools, digital documentation systems, and cloud-based legal operations ~ Law degree from a reputed institution; CS qualification is a plus Compensation: ₹51,10,000 per annum ₹4,50,000 retention bonus (paid annually) ₹4,00,000 ESOP grant (as per vesting policy)