Legal Counsel - India

If you’re passionate about becoming a Nationwide associate and believe you have the potential to be something great, let’s talk. At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

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Job Description Summary

Would you thrive in an environment where you can deliver top-quality legal services to support the mission of a Fortune 100 insurance company? If you enjoy having a diverse workload, are adaptable, highly skilled and bring a collaborative approach to complex and important legal work, we want to know more about you!

As a Consultant, Legal Counsel – India, you will manage legal matters involving Indian corporate law, labor and employment law, data privacy, anti-bribery/anti‑corruption, and regulatory compliance. You will facilitate governance processes, support internal investigations, coordinate with external counsel, and ensure alignment with enterprise legal standards and risk posture. This role provides specialized legal and corporate governance advisory support while partnering closely with local India leadership and U.S.-based Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO) colleagues.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides in‑country legal subject matter expertise for India, delivering counsel on corporate, commercial, and employment law matters aligned to enterprise legal strategy.

• Advises HR and business leaders on Indian labor and employment requirements, including policy interpretation, employee relations considerations, and workplace compliance obligations.

• Researches and interprets Indian statutory requirements—including data privacy, anti‑bribery/anti‑corruption, and other regulatory frameworks—and recommends appropriate risk mitigation actions.

• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates vendor, employment, and commercial contracts; provides guidance on contract interpretation and associated legal exposure to support business decision‑making.

• Coordinates and oversees engagements with external counsel in India to ensure cost‑effective, high‑quality legal support; manages matter updates, guidance, and recommendations.

• Supports internal investigations and legal risk assessments by gathering relevant information, documenting findings, and collaborating with stakeholders on corrective action plans.

• Contributes to corporate governance and secretarial activities by preparing, reviewing, and maintaining governance materials, reports, policies, and related documentation in partnership with leadership.

• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with internal partners, regulators, and external advisors; represents the company in appropriate regulatory interactions.

• Prepares and delivers clear legal and governance communications, summaries, and presentations to leadership and cross‑functional teams.

• Collaborates with U.S. OCLO colleagues and India leadership to align local legal practices with enterprise policies, standards, and risk posture.

• Monitors developments in Indian laws and regulations; updates stakeholders and recommends policy or process adjustments to maintain legal and regulatory compliance.

• Supports regular and special legal/governance reporting by tracking issues to closure and communicating progress to leadership.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience:

Education:  Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) required; Master’s degree (LLM) or equivalent preferred and Company Secretary (CS).
 

License/Certification/Designation: Must be licensed to practice law in India.

Experience:  Minimum 8-10 years of legal experience, including in-house counsel roles with multinational corporations.

Soft Skills & Attributes:

• Deep understanding of Indian labor law, privacy regulations, and corporate governance.

• Strong negotiation and contract drafting skills.

• Ability to manage external counsel and legal budgets.

• Strong communication and cross-cultural collaboration skills.

• Strategic thinking and ability to operate independently in a matrixed environment.

Additional Information:

Reporting Structure:

Reports to Senior Vice President.  May lead up to two legal professionals or support staff.

Working Hours:

Aligned to India business hours with flexibility for global collaboration.

Location Flexibility:

[Hybrid/Remote/In-office] with periodic in-office collaboration.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Nationwide is committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, gender, disability, religion, or other protected categories.

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