Legal Associate

Job Description :

The Legal Associate (Mid-Level) will play a critical role in supporting the legal and compliance needs of a fast-paced SaaS and IT services organization. This role involves independently handling a wide range of legal matters including commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, and corporate governance. The associate will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams such as Sales, Procurement, HR, Product, and InfoSec to ensure that legal risk is managed effectively while enabling business operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Contract Lifecycle Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements including SaaS subscription agreements, MSAs, SOWs, partner/channel agreements, NDAs, DPAs, and vendor contracts.
• Ensure inclusion of key SaaS-specific clauses (e.g., service availability, data protection, uptime SLAs, limitation of liability, and IP ownership).
• Act as a legal point of contact for internal stakeholders to support timely deal closure and risk mitigation.
• Maintain accurate records and version control using CLM tools or internal repositories.

2. Contract Renewals & Amendments

• Proactively track key dates for renewals, expirations, and amendments across customer and vendor contracts.
• Coordinate with business and delivery teams to prepare updated documentation and avoid service disruptions.

3. Legal Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare and maintain legal trackers and assist in generating MIS reports related to:

• Contracts under negotiation or pending execution

• Renewals due in the upcoming quarter

• Contractual risks or gaps flagged during internal audits

• Ensure legal documents are organized and audit-ready.

4. Intellectual Property & Brand Protection

• Support trademark filings and renewals in coordination with IP counsel.
• Help manage IP-related agreements (e.g., IP assignment, licensing) and maintain records of proprietary software/code elements.

5. Insurance and Risk Management Support

• Assist with reviewing insurance policies relevant to SaaS/IT services (e.g., cyber liability, tech E&O, general liability).
• Support documentation and queries related to policy renewals or claims.

6. Regulatory & Corporate Compliance

• Assist in legal and regulatory compliance related to ISO 27001, ISO 27701, GDPR, and HIPAA by reviewing policies and providing legal documentation.
• Coordinate with external secretarial firms for compliance with corporate filings, board meetings, and statutory reporting.
• Monitor updates in IT Act, Data Protection laws, export control regulations, and SaaS-specific legal developments.

7. Legal Advisory & Research

• Be updated on SaaS-specific laws, commercial contract trends, data privacy regulations, and sector-specific guidance.
• Draft internal legal advisories and risk assessments for business teams.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelors degree in Law (LLB); LLM or certifications in Technology or Data Privacy Law is a plus.
• Experience: 47 years of post-qualification experience, with a strong focus on SaaS/IT contracts, data protection, and commercial legal issues.

• Skills:

• Drafting and negotiating technology and SaaS-related contracts.

• Good working knowledge of GDPR, HIPAA, and India's data protection frameworks.
• High attention to detail, responsiveness, and commercial understanding.
• Comfort with legal technology tools, document automation, and CLM platforms.

Competencies

• Proactive, business-friendly legal approach.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and stakeholders in a dynamic environment.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• High integrity and discretion in handling sensitive business matters.
• Ownership mindset with a willingness to continuously learn and grow.