Job Description

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Job Title: Legal Counsel- Specialist (Litigation)
About the Function:
We're legal experts, understanding the complex laws that surround our business and our much-loved brands. Our Legal team are responsible for a range of legal challenges, from Corporate and Intellectual Property to Merger & Acquisitions and Compliance.
We're always seeking new and creative ways to take on the evolving challenges that today's commercial world presents. Our talented colleagues around the world are not just outstanding lawyers but also brilliant communicators and advisors. Whatever your skill as a lawyer, your distinct and valuable perspective will be celebrated and nurtured in our inclusive culture.
About the team:
The Senior Manager-Litigation has the responsibility for handling Diageo India's (USL) disputes / litigation. The person will be responsible for formulating a strategy for active case management and for the management of litigation as well as arbitration matters in an effective manner, to mitigate risk for USL, and to maximise value and resources. This includes engagement with external counsel to drive productivity and reviewing the merits of existing and legacy matters and charting the best approach whether to settle or proceed with litigation.
Desirable Qualification & Work Experience:

• Minimum 8 years' Post Qualification Experience (PQE) from a reputed law school or university in India.
• Admitted to practice law in India.
• Experience in the litigation department of a law firm or a reputed corporate (preferably in the FMCG/ manufacturing sector) is essential.
• Knowledge of Indian excise/ tax legislations will be an added advantage.
• Strong legal drafting skills and experience of appearing before Supreme Court, High Courts, and Tribunals.
• Strong knowledge of international anti-bribery legislation (US and UK) and ensuring complete adherence to their provisions.
• Experience in business partnering with senior executives, demonstrating the ability and desire to provide pro-active, pragmatic advice in furtherance of the business agenda.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate in legal environments where laws can be unclear and judicial system not always robust and/or negative.
• Previous experience in effectively and efficiently managing legal budgets (especially external counsel spends) with a pronounced stress on productivity.
• Work remotely with external law firms and lawyers in multiple locations across India.
• Complete and independent ownership of critical matters and deliver effective results for the Company.
• To consistently deliver great performance through brilliant execution and being thorough and applying a high standard at workplace.
• Working knowledge of MS PowerPoint and Excel would be added advantage.
• High level of professionalism, integrity and commitment.

Areas of responsibility:

• Legal Business partnership:
• Instill confidence in senior leadership teams in delivering pragmatic and timely legal advice and support.

• Act as a Project Manager for the litigation cases and ensure effective tracking of the matters with regular and timely updates to stakeholders.
• Litigation management:
• Proactively manage and take responsibility for all matters handled.

• Develop and implement the Company's litigation / dispute resolution strategy including plan for active case management. This will entail revisiting the merits of all matters and charting the best approach whether it be to settle or proceed/ continue with litigation.
• Assess the merits of a case and identify the dispute resolution alternatives; engage stakeholders to understand and own the likely outcomes of claims.
• Reason with stakeholders to help them understand and endorse the approach of using appropriate external lawyers whenever required.
• Financial:
• Manage legal budget with respect to disputes with a focus on reducing spends.

• Review the capabilities of external counsel in all fields and jurisdictions and seek to rationalise the external counsel, driving cost savings and in the interest of effective responses.

Leadership Responsibilities:

• Being authentic - standing up for what you feel is right and important; demonstrating high integrity and being honest and open at all times. Effectively building trusting relationships and motivating others to achieve common objectives.
• Being a solution generator - thinking in the future, anticipating trends and opportunities, being imaginative in finding business solutions and driving opportunities; develops and applies a great understanding of the business to your work.
• Demonstrate willingness to grow/ develop and be open to receiving feedback.

Best Suited for someone who is able to:

• Organised and structured in their approach in handling work.
• Manage multiple stakeholders and deliver results under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Move between strategic big picture and detail-oriented analysis.
• Demonstrate an owner's level of pride and accountability for the success of Diageo.
• Connect strongly with the Diageo purpose and values. Uses this to inspire themselves and others.
• Act as a model for ethics and compliance, contributes to Diageo building our reputation as one of the most trusted and respected companies.
• Travel at a short notice to manage notices/ complaints/ court cases.

Barriers to Success in Role, includes inability to:

• Influence key stakeholders.
• Manage time and prioritize effectively.
• Work hard and deliver timely results.
• Analyse litigation cases and advocate a coherent strategy for improvement.
• Be consultative in approach and receive feedback.

Flexible Working Statement: Flexibility is key to our success. From part-time and compressed hours to different locations, our people work flexibly in ways to suit them. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you're supported from day one.
Diversity statement: Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.
We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you'll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You'll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.
Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.
Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you.
If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.
Worker Type : Regular
Primary Location: RPC Gurgaon
Additional Locations :
Job Posting Start Date : 2025-11-07

Skills Required