Assistant General Counsel

Role Summary

As Senior Attorney / Principal Counsel – Labor & Employment (India) , you will serve as the principal legal advisor on labour, employment, and employee relations matters across India. You will partner closely with senior business and HR leadership to provide strategic, solutions-oriented legal counsel on complex workforce issues, including compliance with India’s evolving labour law framework, workforce restructuring, industrial relations, investigations, and litigation.

This role requires the ability to operate at a high leadership and influence level , balancing legal risk management with commercial objectives, and guiding the organization through regulatory change, business transformation, and growth.

Strategic Legal Counselling & Leadership

• Act as a trusted legal advisor to senior business and HR leadership on all labour and employment matters in India, including hiring, terminations, discipline, performance management, leaves, and workforce policies.
• Provide strategic counsel on complex and sensitive employee relations matters , including senior-level separations, whistleblower issues, and high-risk disputes.
• Participate in leadership discussions and decision-making forums, offering pragmatic, business-focused legal advice aligned with organizational objectives.

Labor Law & Regulatory Expertise (India)

• Maintain deep and current expertise in Indian labour and employment laws , with particular emphasis on the new labour codes (wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety & health).
• Translate legal and regulatory developments into clear guidance, risk assessments, and implementation strategies for HR and business stakeholders.
• Advise on union-related matters, collective issues, industrial action, and employee representative engagement.

Compliance, Risk Management & Governance

• Assess employment policies, practices, and processes to ensure compliance with applicable laws and internal standards; drive remediation where gaps are identified.
• Provide legal input and counselling on labour law compliance activities, including audits, statutory filings, and engagement with compliance vendors or internal teams.
• Anticipate, identify, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks impacting the workforce and broader business operations.

Dispute Management & Investigations

• Manage and oversee labor litigation, arbitrations, and regulatory proceedings , working with and supervising external counsel as needed. Advise HR and other functions on responding to notices and also interactions with Labor Authorities and other related Government agencies / departments.
• Lead or advise on complex internal investigations, including business conduct and compliance investigations, ensuring procedural fairness and legal integrity.

Business Transformation, M&A & Restructuring

• Provide labour and employment support for business restructuring, reorganizations, site changes, and workforce transformations .
• Advise on labour and employment aspects of M&A activities , including due diligence, transaction structuring, and post-acquisition integration.

Training, Capability Building & Influence

• Design and deliver targeted labour and employment law training for HR, managers, and leadership teams.
• Serve as a mentor and role model within the legal and HR community, contributing to capability building and knowledge sharing across the organization.

Mandatory Requirements

• Law degree (LL.B. or LL.M.) from a recognized institution.
• Licensed to practice law in India .
• Minimum 10+ years of post-qualification experience , with substantial focus on labour and employment law.
• Strong, hands-on experience with Indian labour laws , including demonstrated understanding of and experience implementing or advising on the new labour codes .

Preferred / Valued Experience

• Prior in-house experience in a multinational or large, complex organization.
• Experience advising on both white-collar and blue-collar workforce issues , including manufacturing and/or multi-site operations.
Exposure to cross-border matters, regional or global stakeholder engagement, and matrixed organizations.

Key Competencies

• Executive presence and leadership capability , with the ability to influence at senior and executive levels.
• Strong judgment, analytical rigor, and the ability to manage ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• High standards of ethics, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Ability to balance legal risk with business pragmatism and commercial outcomes.