Legal Manager - Retail/Food/Hospitality

As the Legal Manager, you will play a key role in providing legal support to various functions within the company, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

You will be responsible for drafting and vetting contracts, managing compliance with food and labor laws, liaising with government authorities, and handling disputes or litigation.

You will collaborate closely with internal teams, external legal advisors, and government bodies to facilitate business operations while ensuring legal protection.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lease Agreements: Draft, review, and negotiate lease agreements for store locations, ensuring terms are favorable and compliant with relevant regulations.

- Manage the legal aspects of store locations to facilitate smooth operations.

- Licensing and Permits: Obtain, renew, and manage store licenses and permits (including retail licenses, health & safety certifications, etc.), ensuring timely compliance with local regulations.

- Legal Agreements: Draft and review various legal documents, such as vendor contracts, service agreements, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), franchise agreements, etc.

- Ensure that contracts are legally binding, mitigate business risks, and protect the company's interests.

- Initiate and oversee compliance processes under food laws, legal metrology, labor laws, and other relevant legislation.

- Stay up-to-date on any changes in regulations affecting the business.

- Manage the company's statutory compliance obligations, including timely filings, licenses, and any other legal requirements as per national and local laws.

- Ensure business operations meet compliance standards.

- Ensure that the company's operations are legally sound and in compliance with industry standards and regulations, focusing on minimizing legal risks and exposure.

- Review existing processes to identify and address potential legal risks proactively.

- Act as a point of contact for government authorities, including the labor department, police, statutory bodies, and other relevant governmental agencies.

- Manage relationships and communication with these authorities to ensure smooth operations.

- Coordination with Regulatory Bodies: Liaise with government departments to resolve regulatory or legal issues, and ensure timely submission of any required documentation, such as compliance reports or regulatory applications.

- Dispute Resolution: Represent the company in disputes or litigation processes involving governmental authorities, such as licensing issues, permits, and compliance matters.

Dispute Management and Legal Advisory:

- Litigation Management: Manage legal disputes or litigations involving the company, including providing strategic advice on litigation matters, settlement negotiations, and managing external legal counsels where necessary.

- Advisory Role: Provide legal advice to business units on various aspects of operations, including new business ventures, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory changes, and other business decisions that have legal implications.

Internal Coordination and Support:

- Maintain close coordination with various business teams (e., operations, HR, finance, procurement) to ensure that legal considerations are addressed in day-to-day activities and business initiatives.

- Conduct training sessions for internal teams on legal compliance, risk management, and company policies to ensure a well-informed workforce.

- Maintain and organize legal records, contracts, and compliance documents in accordance with company policy and legal standards.

Reporting and Legal Trackers:

- Develop and maintain legal trackers and Management Information System (MIS) reports.

- Track the status of ongoing contracts, legal issues, and compliance activities to provide regular updates to management.

- Ensure timely delivery of legal notices, replies to regulatory authorities, and ensure compliance with deadlines related to legal matters.

- Ensure proper documentation of all legal matters, keeping records organized and easily accessible.

- Liaise with external lawyers or legal advisors when necessary, and coordinate with them for legal proceedings, opinion requests, or complex legal issues.

Experience: 6-10 years of experience in a legal role, with a focus on commercial contracts, corporate law, compliance, and litigation management.

Industry Knowledge: Experience in the retail, food, hospitality, or services sector is highly desirable, with knowledge of relevant laws affecting these industries.

Litigation & Dispute Handling: Proven experience in managing disputes, resolving legal issues, and interacting with regulatory authorities