GM – Legal

Job Title:
General Manager – Legal & Company Secretary

Location:
Gurgaon

Reporting To:
CFO

Industry:
Retail

Role Overview

The GM – Legal & Company Secretary will oversee all legal, compliance, and corporate governance functions for a leading retail brand with pan-India operations. The role requires a deep understanding of retail business complexities—store operations, leases, vendor contracts, consumer laws, and regulatory requirements. The position will act as a key strategic advisor to the leadership team and ensure the organization operates with strong legal discipline and governance excellence.

Key Responsibilities

1. Corporate Governance & Secretarial Functions

• Ensure compliance with Companies Act, SEBI, FEMA, Shop & Establishment Act, and all applicable retail-related laws.
• Manage all Board, Committee, and Shareholder meetings — preparation of agenda, minutes, resolutions, statutory registers.
• Maintain timely ROC filings and ensure adherence to governance norms.
• Advise management and the Board on regulatory updates, risk exposure, and compliance obligations.
• Liaison with regulators, statutory bodies, and external stakeholders.

2. Legal Advisory for Retail Business

• Provide legal oversight on retail operations including store openings, closures, licenses, and compliance.
• Draft and negotiate agreements related to leases, franchise, vendors, marketing, logistics, ecommerce, technology, and partnerships.
• Address consumer complaints, legal notices, and ensure compliance with the Consumer Protection Act.
• Drive compliance for retail policies including POS, data privacy, pricing disclosures, and product/packaging regulatory norms.

3. Lease & Property Management

• Lead all commercial lease negotiations for stores, warehouses, and offices.
• Ensure timely renewals, compliance with lease terms, property documentation, and dispute resolution with landlords.
• Support expansion teams with strong legal risk evaluation for new site acquisitions.

4. Litigation & Dispute Management

• Manage litigation across consumer forums, labour matters, property disputes, and regulatory bodies.
• Coordinate with external law firms and legal counsel.
• Develop strategies for efficient and cost-effective resolution.

5. Risk, Compliance & Process Excellence

• Identify legal risks specific to multi-store retail operations and implement strong controls.
• Conduct internal compliance audits for stores and backend operations.
• Train store teams on legal awareness — leases, local laws, consumer handling, etc.
• Implement standardized legal templates and workflows across regions.

6. Strategic Business Partnering

• Work closely with leadership on expansion, M&A, key partnerships, and strategic initiatives.
• Provide practical, business-friendly legal solutions that support growth while ensuring governance discipline.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to CXOs and business heads.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of retail industry laws, store operations, and commercial real estate.
• Excellent expertise in contracts, negotiations, and dispute management.
• High integrity, judgement, and risk awareness.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, multi-location retail environments.
• Proactive, practical, and solution-oriented approach.

Qualifications & Experience

• LLB + Company Secretary (CS) – both mandatory
• 12–18 years of experience in Legal & Secretarial roles, with strong exposure to retail, consumer-facing, or multi-location businesses.
• Proven experience in handling Board processes, commercial agreements, leases, and regulatory compliance.
• Prior experience in leading legal strategy for large-format or omni-channel retail preferred.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to work with one of India's most respected retail brands.
• High strategic visibility and influence across business functions.
• Key role in shaping legal strategy and enabling retail expansion across India.