Head of Law

Responsible for ensuring the delivery of effective and efficient legal advice and support to the businesses of Continental Automotive, India through leading and managing the Law department.

Management & Cooperation

• Contribute to the department strategy and operational goal setting and budgeting to meet business objectives and expectations.

• Develop and provide input to regional organizational structures, best business practices, policies and processes (including training and communication) to optimize resource allocation, support company and business needs, increase efficiency and reduce risks.

• Ensure and facilitate smooth and balanced information and communication flow between the legal team and General Counsel APAC (excl. China)

• Cooperate with central functions and departments within Continental, develop and strengthen relationships with business partners in India.

Legal Advice

• Proactively identify legal risks at the earliest opportunity, develop and implement strategies to reduce the risks (or avoid if possible)

• Provide legal advice in different areas of law: civil, business, corporate, labor, procedural (with support of external or other inhouse lawyers if necessary)

• Communicate and negotiate with external stakeholders if required (customers, suppliers, public authorities etc.)

Contracts

• Draft, review and participate in negotiations of various contracts (with support of external or other inhouse lawyers if necessary)

• Draft and update various contract templates for use in India.

• Use available contract management tools.

Claims and Litigations

• Assist and support in claim management, both in and out of court, both as claimant and as defendant.

• Represent the interests of Company in all instances of courts and in state authorities for administrative processes

Compliance & Legislation Monitoring

• Ensure compliance with corporate rules and applicable law in areas of responsibility.

• Consistently monitor changes in legislation applicable to Company and keep affected stakeholders informed of the implications of such changes on their businesses.

External legal providers

• Manage engagement of external legal service providers, the procurement of external legal advice, ensuring that external lawyers are provided with relevant information enabling them to provide advice that is accurate, targeted and in the interests of Continental.

• Check and control the cost of external legal services.

• Communicate external legal advice to internal colleagues and stakeholders in a way which makes it easy for them to understand and apply it appropriately.

Bachelor of Laws from a reputable university with strong academic records

Professional Experience

• (Variety of Functions, Variety of Business, General Management Experience) at least 15 years of post-qualification experience as a legal practitioner, preferably including both private practice and inhouse experience

Project and/or Process Experience

• At least 8 years of developing and/or managing contract review and approval tools; at least 3 years of leading and managing transactions from a legal perspective.

Leadership Experience

• 3 years of leading an inhouse legal team or other inhouse lawyers

Intercultural / International Experience

• Experience of working in a multi-national corporation is preferred;

• Fluency in a language other than English and Indian local languages is preferred but not a must.

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Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2024, Continental generated sales of €39.7 billion and currently employs around 190,000 people in 55 countries and markets.

The Automotive group sector comprises technologies for passive safety, brake, chassis, motion and motion control systems. Innovative solutions for assisted and automated driving, display and operating technologies, as well as audio and camera solutions for the vehicle interior, are also part of the portfolio, as is intelligent information and communication technology for the mobility services of fleet operators and commercial vehicle manufacturers. Comprehensive activities relating to connectivity technologies, vehicle electronics and high-performance computers round off the range of products and services.