Legal Counsel – Retail

Job Summary

The Legal Counsel – Retail will serve as a key legal advisor responsible for managing the legal aspects of real estate, retail operations, and commercial transactions. The role involves overseeing site acquisition, leasing, store operations, vendor agreements, compliance, and dispute resolution. The successful candidate will support the broader corporate legal agenda across group entities, balancing legal risk with business objectives, and acting as a trusted partner to the retail and business teams.

Responsibilities

• Real estate & leasing: Draft, review, and negotiate LOIs, lease deeds, leave-and-license agreements, and related documentation for retail stores, warehouses, offices, and other properties. Manage legal due diligence, including title verification, land-use/zoning, RERA compliance, stamp duty, and registration processes. Oversee the full lifecycle of real estate assets, including renewals, rent revisions, negotiations, terminations, and landlord correspondence. Advise on CAM/mall agreements, fit-out, and licensing requirements such as Shops & Establishments, trade licenses, and fire NOC approvals.
• Retail operations: Provide legal guidance on day-to-day retail activities, including consumer protection laws, legal metrology, e-commerce regulations, advertising, signage, and return/exchange policies. Structure and negotiate distribution, franchise, and retailer agreements, including CNF, outright, and SOR models. Draft and manage agreements with logistics, security, housekeeping, and visual merchandising vendors.
• General corporate & commercial: Draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts such as vendor agreements, service agreements, supply contracts, licensing agreements, and MOUs. Assist with intra-group structuring, brand licensing, and cross-entity arrangements. Monitor and advise on compliance with applicable laws related to retail operations, including marketing, SOPs, store policies, and promotional terms.
• Negotiation & dispute management: Lead negotiations with landlords, developers, mall operators, vendors, and other stakeholders to achieve favorable commercial outcomes. Manage pre-litigation strategies, litigation, and arbitration processes, including drafting legal notices, overseeing enforcement, and recovery efforts.

Qualifications

• Educational Qualification: LL.B. from a recognized university.
• Experience: 6+ years post-qualification experience spanning litigation, real estate due diligence, and corporate legal work.
• Legal Skills: Demonstrated expertise in negotiating and closing real estate and commercial agreements.
• Legal Knowledge: Working knowledge of Indian statutes including the Transfer of Property Act, Registration Act, Stamp Act, RERA, Shops & Establishments Act, Indian Contract Act, and Consumer Protection/E-commerce laws.
• Drafting & Negotiation: Strong drafting, negotiation, and commercial judgment skills.
• Legal Due Diligence: Experience managing legal due diligence processes related to property and leasing.
• Dispute Resolution: Ability to manage litigation, arbitration, and legal notices effectively.
• Stakeholder Management: Capable of managing multiple stakeholders independently with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.

Preferred Skills

• Prior experience in retail, consumer goods, FMCG, QSR, or multi-site business environments.
• Exposure to managing large-scale real estate portfolios and coordinating with external counsel.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance specific to retail and consumer laws.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to operate in a fast-paced, growth-stage environment.

Experience

• Minimum of 6+ years of relevant legal experience, including in-house or corporate legal roles, with a focus on real estate, retail, and commercial law.
• Proven track record of negotiating and closing complex agreements and managing legal risks in a retail or consumer-focused business.

Environment

This role is based in Gurgaon and involves working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. The position requires managing multiple high-volume legal tasks, often coordinating with external counsel and internal teams. The work setting is primarily office-based, with potential for remote or hybrid arrangements as per company policy.