Sr Legal Counsel (10+ Years in General Insurance, Brokers, TPAs, Insurtech + Regulatory & Compliance + Legal Expertise)

Overview

Senior Legal Counsel to serve as a trusted advisor to senior business stakeholders, providing strategic legal guidance across insurance operations, distribution, claims, regulatory matters, corporate governance, litigation, arbitration, employment and contract negotiations.

What you'll do

• Draft, review, negotiate and finalize commercial agreements, including distribution agreements, service agreements, vendor contracts, technology agreements, confidentiality agreements and strategic partnerships.
• Advise business stakeholders on contractual risks, obligations and mitigation strategies; lead contract execution and oversee contractual compliance obligations.
• Review renewal requirements and advise on amendments, extensions and contractual risk exposures.
• Partner with business teams to structure commercial arrangements aligned with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Manage complex legal matters and strategic initiatives in consultation with the Head of Legal.
• Monitor, analyze and interpret developments in insurance, corporate, data privacy, consumer protection and related regulatory frameworks; advise on regulatory implications and implementation requirements.
• Coordinate and obtain external legal opinions and assess their impact on business operations.
• Support and lead regulatory filings, annual renewals and compliance-related projects.
• Develop and implement legal strategies for disputes, customer complaints, regulatory proceedings, arbitration and litigation; review and finalize legal responses, notices and communications.
• Manage engagements with external counsel and oversee litigation and arbitration budgets and case strategies.
• Partner with claims, operations, finance and business teams on dispute resolution matters.
• Conduct detailed legal analysis and provide practical, business-oriented legal advice, including on employment law matters, investigations, disciplinary actions and workplace policies.
• Review and approve policies, procedures, governance documents and operational frameworks.
• Analyze legal risks associated with new products, distribution channels, technology solutions and business initiatives.
• Review, analyse and validate reinsurance slips against policy documentation, underwriting records and internal approvals.
• Advise stakeholders on insurance coverage matters, policy interpretation and contractual obligations.
• Oversee legal repositories, records management systems and document governance; establish standards for document retention and governance controls.
• Review and approve legal invoices, external counsel engagements and related budgets.
• Lead development and enhancement of legal processes, templates and operational efficiencies.
• Lead legal support for internal audits, external audits, compliance reviews and regulatory inspections, including remediation guidance.
• Act as a trusted legal advisor to senior business leaders and cross-functional teams, including Finance, Operations, Claims, Compliance, Risk, HR, Product and Commercial.
• Manage relationships with regulators, industry bodies, external counsel and other advisors; represent legal and compliance positions externally.
• Review, refine and present legal updates, management reports, dashboards and strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Mentor junior legal team members and contribute to capability building within the legal function.
• Support strategic transactions, acquisitions, partnerships and other corporate initiatives as required.

What you'll need

• 10-15 years of post-qualification experience, with substantial experience in the insurance, financial services and other service entity and/or reinsurance industry.
• Experience supporting insurance products, distribution arrangements, claims and regulatory compliance matters.
• Strong understanding of Indian insurance laws, IRDAI regulations, IFSC Regulations, contract law, corporate law, employment law and regulatory frameworks.
• Strategic legal and commercial judgment; contract negotiation and drafting expertise.
• Insurance, financial services and regulatory advisory capability.
• Litigation, arbitration and dispute management; risk assessment and problem solving.
• Leadership and project management; excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced business environment.
• Deep understanding of insurance and financial services operations, reinsurance structures, corporate governance, risk management and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Ability to provide commercially practical, business-oriented legal advice while balancing legal and operational risks.
• LL.B. degree from a recognized university.
• Qualified to practice law in India.

Nice to have

• Prior in-house legal experience within the insurance, financial services or insurtech sector.
• LL.M. or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
• Strong expertise in insurance laws and regulations; exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience working with senior management and cross-functional leadership teams.
• Significant experience within insurance, reinsurance, financial services or insurtech organizations.
• Experience managing complex litigation, arbitration, regulatory matters, governance projects and external counsel relationships.

Details

• Work from Office at the Mumbai, India location.
• Responsible for managing legal spend, including review and approval of legal invoices, oversight of external counsel engagements, and monitoring legal budgets for disputes, litigation, arbitration and advisory matters.