Legal Head - Agriculture Chemical Business - LLB/LLM

We are looking for a Legal Head with a Top MNC Agriculture Chemical Brand

Location - BKC, Mumbai.

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Legal Head to join our team in the Agriculture Chemical Manufacturing and Products industry. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing all legal matters related to our operations in India, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, managing contractual relationships, and providing strategic legal advice to support business objectives

What you do with us (Responsibilities)

1. Legal Compliance:

- Stay updated on changes in relevant laws and regulations affecting the agriculture chemical industry in India.

- Ensure the company's compliance with local, state, and national legal requirements.

2. Contract Management:

- Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of agreements, including vendor contracts, distribution agreements, and licensing agreements.

- Develop and implement contract management best practices.

3. Litigation Management:

- Manage and oversee any legal disputes, litigation, or claims involving the company.

- Work closely with external legal counsel as needed and represent the company in legal proceedings.

4. Intellectual Property:

- Protect and manage the company's intellectual property, including trademarks, patents, and trade secrets.

- Conduct due diligence on intellectual property matters related to business initiatives.

5. Regulatory Affairs:

- Interface with regulatory authorities and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for agriculture chemical products.

- Provide guidance on product registrations and approvals.

6. Indirect Tax (IDT) Counsel - APAC

- Indirect Tax Counsel Partnership with IDT team in key APAC markets on non-trade indirect taxes to:

- Provide strategic legal guidance on critical business issues to optimize tax positions, including work with external consultants, to identify if there are any country specific tax customs duty benefit or drawback or remission schemes and processes to achieve those

- Review critical commercial schemes to enable the organization / legal entity to defend its position before concerned IDT tax authorities/ assessments.

- Partner with IDT team to review legal entity level risks and overall governance from indirect tax perspective.

- Indirect Tax Counsel Partnership with IDT team and Global Trade team in key APAC markets on trade-related duties and indirect taxes to:

- Provide strategic legal guidance, in a prioritized manner, on trade compliance issues in APAC, including work with external lawyer / consultants, to identify if there are any country specific customs duty benefit or drawback or remission schemes and processes to achieve those.

- Review critical legal aspects of commercial schemes to enable the organization / legal entity to defend its position before concerned Customs authorities.

- IDT Investigations/litigation matters in key APAC markets:

- Legal advice in handling any IDT govt. investigations viz., search, seizure matters, litigation, etc.

- Engage in reviewing the issues involved and selection of tax consultants and lawyers to handle sensitive IDT investigation matters and support risk mitigation efforts.

- Set up cadence calls (with IDT team & external lawyers, consultants) to review the merits & progress of ongoing litigations (only for high exposure / critical litigations).

- Participate with IDT lead to appraise local, regional & global stakeholders about potential legal related implications & recommend path forward.

Provide proactive updates:

- Work with IDT team to interpret and proactively create awareness internally wrt new notifications, guidelines, circulars, judicial pronouncements, etc.

- Partner with IDT team to drive implementation of processes/ SOPs to ensure appropriate documentation for taking well thought-out tax positions to ensure good governance and effectively defend before relevant tax authorities.

7. Corporate Governance:

- Advise on corporate governance matters and ensure compliance with corporate policies and procedures.

- Assist in the preparation of materials for board meetings and governance-related activities.

8. Risk Management:

- Identify legal risks and propose strategies to mitigate potential liabilities.

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to assess and address legal risks associated with business initiatives.

Educational Background and Competencies)

- LLB/LLM degree from a recognized institution.

- Minimum of 15 years of experience in a legal role within the agriculture or chemical manufacturing industry.

- Admitted to the Bar in India.

- Strong knowledge of Indian laws and regulations related to agriculture and chemical industries.

- Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders

Priti Patwal
Smart Source