Manager – Legal - Compliance & Company Secretarial

Skechers India is looking for a qualified Lawyer and Company Secretary to join the Legal function as Manager – Legal, Compliance & Company Secretarial. The role will provide comprehensive legal and governance support to the business across contracts, regulatory compliance, litigation, intellectual property, company secretarial matters, and other legal requirements.
The role will work closely with internal business functions, senior stakeholders, external legal counsel, and regulatory authorities to ensure that business activities are supported by appropriate legal documentation, sound compliance practices, and effective governance processes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal Advisory & Contract Management

• Draft, review, negotiate and provide legal inputs on a wide range of commercial and business agreements.
• Handle and review lease agreements, Leave & License agreements, vendor agreements, customer agreements, service agreements, NDAs, and other commercial contracts.
• Identify contractual risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures while protecting the Company's interests.
• Monitor key contractual obligations, renewals, notices, and compliance requirements under executed agreements.
• Provide timely legal advice to business functions on day-to-day operational and commercial matters.
• Research applicable laws, regulations and judicial developments and prepare legal opinions and recommendations.

2. Regulatory Compliance

• Support the Company in identifying, interpreting, and implementing applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Advise internal stakeholders on legal and regulatory compliance requirements applicable to business operations.
• Coordinate with relevant functions to track and address compliance requirements across the organization.
• Support compliance requirements relating to corporate operations, retail stores, offices, sourcing/manufacturing activities, and other business operations, as applicable.
• Monitor regulatory developments and communicate relevant changes to stakeholders.
• Legal Metrology experience and exposure will be an added advantage.

3. Litigation & Dispute Management

• Coordinate and assist in managing litigation, notices, claims, disputes, and other legal proceedings.
• Liaise with external lawyers and legal counsel on ongoing and potential litigation matters.
• Support preparation of case briefs, legal responses, documentation, and other information required for legal proceedings.
• Maintain appropriate records and trackers for litigation and legal matters.
• Provide timely updates to relevant stakeholders on significant legal matters and associated risks.

4. Intellectual Property Rights

• Support the Company's IPR and brand protection initiatives, including trademarks and other intellectual property matters.
• Coordinate with external legal counsel on trademark, infringement, opposition, and other IPR-related matters.
• Assist in addressing unauthorized use of the Company's brand, trademarks, and other intellectual property.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and records relating to IPR matters.

5. Company Secretarial & Corporate Governance

• Provide support to the Company Secretary in corporate governance and secretarial matters.
• Assist in preparation and coordination of Board / Committee meetings, agendas, notices, minutes, resolutions, and related documentation, as required.
• Support statutory filings, registers, records, and other corporate secretarial requirements.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders for timely completion of governance-related activities.
• Support compliance with applicable provisions of the Companies Act and other relevant corporate laws.
• Assist in managing key stakeholder communication relating to governance and secretarial matters.

6. Data Privacy & Emerging Legal Areas

• Support the organization in understanding and implementing applicable data privacy and protection requirements.
• Review relevant business processes and agreements from a data privacy and legal risk perspective.
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders on privacy-related requirements, contractual provisions, and compliance initiatives.
• Exposure to applicable data privacy laws and their practical implementation will be an added advantage.

7. Business Partnering & Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with Finance, HR, Procurement, Retail, Operations, Sourcing, IT, Marketing, and other business functions to provide timely legal support.
• Liaise effectively with external lawyers, consultants, vendors, government/regulatory authorities, and other external stakeholders.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance while ensuring appropriate risk management.
• Conduct legal and compliance awareness sessions / training for business teams and relevant stakeholders.

8. Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare and submit periodic reports and updates to the Head of Legal / reporting manager.
• Maintain appropriate trackers for contracts, litigation, compliance, IPR and other legal matters.
• Ensure timely escalation of material legal, regulatory, or contractual risks.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity of sensitive legal and business information.

Educational Qualification

• LL.B. / Bachelor of Law – Mandatory
• Company Secretary (CS) – Mandatory
• Additional legal / compliance qualifications will be an advantage.

Experience

• 8–12 years of relevant post-qualification experience in legal, compliance and/or company secretarial functions.
• Experience in retail, consumer, FMCG, e-commerce or other consumer-facing businesses will be preferred.
• Strong exposure to commercial contract drafting and review is required.
• Experience in handling legal, regulatory, litigation, IPR and company secretarial matters.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of commercial contracts and legal documentation.
• Good understanding of applicable corporate and commercial laws.
• Exposure to statutory and regulatory compliance management.
• Knowledge of litigation and dispute management processes.
• Understanding of intellectual property / trademark matters.
• Working knowledge of Company Secretarial and corporate governance requirements.
• Familiarity with data privacy laws and their business application will be an advantage.
• Exposure to Legal Metrology regulations will be an advantage.

Core Competencies

• Strong legal drafting and contract review skills.
• Sound analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Strong attention to detail and risk orientation.
• Ability to interpret legislation and translate legal requirements into practical business advice.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professional judgment.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic business environment.

Key Success Areas

The incumbent will be expected to contribute to:

• Effective and timely legal support to business functions.
• Robust contract review and risk mitigation.
• Timely management of litigation and external legal counsel.
• Effective regulatory and legal compliance.
• Protection of Skechers' intellectual property and brand interests.
• Strong corporate governance and company secretarial support.
• Increased legal and compliance awareness across business teams.
• Timely identification and escalation of legal and regulatory risks.

Why Join Skechers India?

This role offers an opportunity to work closely with a growing, consumer-facing organization and gain broad exposure across commercial legal, compliance, litigation, intellectual property, corporate governance, and company secretarial matters while partnering with multiple business functions across India.

About Skechers

Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations.