Legal Counsel

Company- Arcot GroupJob Role - Legal CounselCompensation - 5 to 8 LPAJob Location - Navi Mumbai ABOUT ARCOT GROUPArcot Group is a technology-first holding company that builds, owns, and operates AI-driven businesses. Our portfolio includes Arcitech.ai, Haire.ai, ProSchool.ai, All Talent Agency, BPObox, InterpretIQ, and more.We operate across three countries (USA, UAE, India) through five legal entities, with offices in New York, Dubai, and Mumbai. Our engineering team of 170+ is scaling to 300 by end of 2026 — serving clients from seven-quarry mining operations to international hotel brands to prestigious schools.This is not an AI company that talks about AI. This is an AI company that ships it.THE OPPORTUNITYWe are hiring a General Legal Counsel to own the corporate legal function for a multi-entity, multi-jurisdiction, high-growth technology group. This is not a support role buried inside a department — it is a high-impact position with direct CEO access.You will work directly with the CEO, owning contracts, compliance, employment law, partnerships, disputes, governance, and data protection across five entities and three countries. You will be one of two legal hires (alongside an IP-focused Legal Counsel), and together you will build the complete legal function for the Group.WHAT YOU WILL OWNContractsEvery client contract, vendor agreement, partnership deal, and inter-company arrangement across the Group passes through you. You will build the entire contract framework from scratch — standardized templates (NDA, MSA, SOW, inter-company, employment, contractor, vendor, partnership), a clause library, and a contract register with proactive deadline alerts.Turnaround targets: 2 business days (NDA)· 3 days (MSA/SOW) · 5 days (complex agreements)Multi-Jurisdiction ComplianceFive entities across India, UAE, and the USA — each with its own regulatory regime. You will build the master compliance calendar, ensure every filing is on time, manage relationships with external auditors, and advise on entity structure for new ventures.Working knowledge required across: Indian Companies Act & ROC, GST, ESIC/PF; UAE free zone regulations (DSOA/Dtec, economic substance, beneficial ownership); and US corporate basics (Delaware LLC, franchise tax, state-level requirements).Employment LawScaling from 170 to 300 employees across India, UAE, and the USA. You will standardize employment and contractor agreements, advise HR on terminations and disputes, manage contractor classification risk (particularly in UAE), and ensure employment practices are legally compliant and defensible.Partnerships & InvestmentsArcot Group actively creates new ventures by partnering with industry experts. You will lead the legal structuring of these deals — shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, technology credit investment documentation, equity structures, vesting, and exit mechanisms. You will conduct commercial due diligence, advise on deal terms, and manage the legal close process.DisputesYou are the Group's first responder for any legal dispute — client claims, vendor disagreements, employee grievances, partnership issues, regulatory matters. You assess, strategize, negotiate, and resolve. You engage external litigation counsel only when matters require court representation.Target: Resolve 80%+ of disputes before formal proceedingsData ProtectionThe Group processes personal data across multiple jurisdictions and domains — employee, client, student (ProSchool), candidate (Haire), healthcare-adjacent (InterpretIQ), and entertainment talent (All Talent) data. You own privacy compliance across the board.Coverage: DPDP Act (India) · UAE data protection law · US state privacy laws · Privacy policies · Data processing agreements · Breach response protocolsGovernance & PolicyYou will establish the corporate governance framework for the Group: board meeting cadence, minutes, resolutions, signing authority matrices, and corporate policies (anti-corruption, whistleblower, conflict of interest, related party transactions, document retention). The governance infrastructure must satisfy enterprise client vendor audits.CEO AdvisoryYou report directly to the CEO as his primary legal advisor on all non-IP matters. Quarterly legal briefings, real-time advice on business decisions, proactive risk identification, and practical recommendations. The CEO values speed, clarity, and commercial judgment over academic legal analysis.WHAT YOU WILL NOT OWNIP matters (trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, domain protection, brand name clearance) are owned by the IP Legal Counsel — your peer. You will coordinate on overlapping matters (IP clauses in contracts, IP diligence in deals, data protection for proprietary algorithms) but do not own the IP function.WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORRequiredLLB or equivalent law degree from a recognized Indian university (LLM is a plus)Enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of India. Registration as a Patent Agent with the Indian Patent Office is a significant advantage.1–2 years of post-qualification experience in corporate and commercial law, in-house at a technology company or at a reputable firm with a technology practiceDemonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts (MSA, SOW, NDA, vendor agreements, partnership agreements)Working knowledge of Indian corporate law (Companies Act 2013, MCA filings, board governance) and Indian employment law (Industrial Disputes Act, Shops and Establishment, ESIC/PF)Familiarity with data protection frameworks — India DPDP Act at minimumAbility to provide practical, commercially-minded legal advice — not just identify risks but recommend solutionsExcellent written and verbal communication in English — contracts, policies, and CEO communications must be clear, precise, and professionalPreferredIn-house experience at a technology company or SaaS businessCross-border legal experience or exposure to UAE and/or US corporate lawExperience with multi-entity corporate structures (holding companies, subsidiaries, inter-company transactions, transfer pricing)Experience supporting M&A, investment, or partnership transactionsFamiliarity with UAE free zone regulations (DSOA, DIFC, DAFZA, or similar)Experience with employee dispute resolution and labor law compliance across jurisdictionsThe Right PersonIs commercially minded first and legally qualified second — understands that legal exists to enable business, not slow it downWorks fast — a 2-day contract turnaround is the standard, not the exceptionIs comfortable building systems — standardizing templates, creating policies, and establishing processes where gaps existCan operate independently — this is you and one peer building the functionHas strong judgment about when to push back and when to find a way throughIs comfortable working directly with the CEO and senior leadership on a daily basisIs energized by variety — contracts in the morning, an employment dispute after lunch, a partnership term sheet by eveningWHAT WE OFFERDirect reporting line to the CEO of a high-growth, multi-country technology groupFull ownership of the legal function — your frameworks, your templates, your policiesComplex, multi-jurisdiction legal work across India, UAE, and USA from day oneA front-row seat to how AI companies are built, scaled, and operated — professionally distinctive workCompetitive compensation aligned with Mumbai market benchmarks for in-house legal counsel at technology companies

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