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Legal and Compliance · Mid level

Corporate Lawyer job description

A Corporate Lawyer handles the company law, commercial and transactional work of a business: agreements, corporate governance, joint ventures, fundraising and regulatory matters. The role reports to the Head of Legal. A good corporate lawyer structures deals and agreements that hold up, advises the business on company law and regulation in plain terms, spots and manages the legal risk in transactions, keeps corporate records and approvals in order, and helps the business grow and raise capital without falling foul of the law.

DetailFor this role
DepartmentLegal and Compliance
LevelMid level
Reports toHead of Legal
Direct reportsNone
Experience3 to 7 years in corporate or transactional law

Corporate Lawyer job description template

Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.

Job title: Corporate Lawyer

Department: Legal and Compliance

Reports to: Head of Legal

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

A Corporate Lawyer handles the company law, commercial and transactional work of a business: agreements, corporate governance, joint ventures, fundraising and regulatory matters. The role reports to the Head of Legal. A good corporate lawyer structures deals and agreements that hold up, advises the business on company law and regulation in plain terms, spots and manages the legal risk in transactions, keeps corporate records and approvals in order, and helps the business grow and raise capital without falling foul of the law.

Key responsibilities

  • Advise on company law, corporate governance and regulatory matters for the business.
  • Structure, draft and negotiate transaction documents for deals and investments.
  • Support fundraising, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures from the legal side.
  • Conduct and coordinate legal due diligence on the company transactions.
  • Prepare board and shareholder resolutions and corporate approvals with the secretary.
  • Manage the legal risk in transactions and propose ways to reduce it.
  • Draft and review commercial agreements linked to corporate deals.
  • Advise on the regulatory approvals needed for corporate actions and deals.
  • Keep transaction and corporate records in order for audit and closing.
  • Coordinate with external counsel on complex and cross border transactions.

Requirements

  • LLB, with an LLM or company law focus
  • Enrolled with the Bar Council of India
  • Experience in corporate and transactional law
  • 3 to 7 years in corporate or transactional law

KRAs and KPIs for a Corporate Lawyer

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result areaHow to measure it
Transaction supportDeals legally supported and closed on the agreed schedule
Due diligenceDue diligence completed accurately within the deal timeline
Document qualityTransaction documents passing review without major rework above target
Risk managementTransaction legal risks identified and managed before closing
Governance supportCorporate approvals and resolutions prepared correctly and on time
Advisory turnaroundCorporate law queries answered within the agreed service time

Skills and tools

Company lawTransaction structuringDue diligenceLegal draftingCorporate governanceRegulatory knowledgeNegotiationRisk analysisJudgementCoordination

Tools used day to day: Legal research databases, Contract lifecycle software, MS Office, Data room tools, MCA and regulatory portals.

Reporting line and career path

Head of LegalCorporate Lawyer

Interview questions for a Corporate Lawyer

  1. How do you structure a transaction to manage its legal risk?
  2. How do you run legal due diligence under a tight deal timeline?
  3. How do you explain a company law requirement to a business team?
  4. How do you handle a red flag found during due diligence?
  5. How do you coordinate with external counsel on a complex deal?
  6. How do you keep corporate approvals and records in order for a closing?

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Corporate Lawyer do?

A Corporate Lawyer handles company law, commercial and transactional work: agreements, governance, joint ventures, fundraising and regulatory matters. They structure and draft transaction documents, run due diligence, prepare corporate approvals and manage legal risk in deals. They help the business grow and raise capital within the law.

What is the difference between a Corporate Lawyer and a Litigation Manager?

A Corporate Lawyer works on transactions, agreements and company law, mostly outside court. A Litigation Manager handles disputes and court cases, managing the litigation portfolio and advocates. Corporate work is about deals and governance; litigation is about resolving disputes, often in court.

What qualifications does a Corporate Lawyer need?

Most roles ask for an LLB and enrolment with the Bar Council of India, often with an LLM or a company law focus, and three to seven years in corporate or transactional law. Employers value transaction structuring, due diligence and drafting skills, plus sound judgement on legal risk in deals.