Legal Manager

Position Title: Legal Manager Litigation & Recovery Territory Scope: Southern States (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana & Andhra Pradesh)

Sitting location- Chennai Department / Sector: Legal Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Reporting To: Head of Legal / National Litigation Head CTC Range 8-15 lakh
1. Role Purpose The Legal Manager – Litigation & Recovery will serve as the core custodian for all legal disputes, hard recovery actions, and defense litigation across the Southern Zone. The incumbent will be responsible for accelerating the recovery of non-performing assets (NPAs) through proactive legal initiation, providing robust on-ground support to collection teams, defending the company against consumer or third-party lawsuits, and maintaining clear, data-driven dashboards (MIS) for executive review. This role requires an absolute balance of rigorous banking statutory knowledge and sharp field execution.

2. Key Result Areas (KRAs) & Core Responsibilities KRA I: Litigation Initiation & Strategic Recovery

• End-to-End Asset Enforcement: Formulate and execute aggressive strategies under the SARFAESI Act, 2002, including issuing Section 13(2) and 13(4) enforcement notices.

• Physical Possession Management: Liaise with District Magistrates (CMM/DM) under Section 14 of SARFAESI to secure timely physical possession orders and manage physical repossessions smoothly.

• Criminal & Retail Action: Drive swift legal actions for retail portfolio delinquencies, including filing cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (cheque bounce) and Section 25 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act (ECS/NACH bounce).

• Tribunal & Arbitration Proceedings: Initiate and steer arbitration filings, execution petitions, and represent the NBFC effectively before Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT) and Civil Courts.

• Obtaining Repo and sale Orders- Obtain orders for repossession of machinery/equipment and pursue necessary proceedings for sale. Take necessary actions for recovery of loss on sale.

KRA II: Collection & Ground Support

• Field Alignment: Partner seamlessly with regional and bucket-wise collection/recovery heads to resolve high-ticket delinquent accounts through legal leverage.

• Legal Conciliation Frameworks: Organize, participate in, and represent the firm at Lok Adalats and corporate settlement tables to fast-track out-of-court settlements.

• Notice Verification: Draft and issue demand notices, warnings, and default alerts tailored to localized recovery demands to prompt overdue loan repayments. KRA III: Managing 'Against' Cases & Defense Litigation

• Defense Management: Protect the NBFC’s reputation and financial interests by aggressively defending against consumer cases, civil lawsuits, injunctions, or counter-claims filed by defaulting borrowers.

• Law Enforcement Liaison: Liaise strategically with local police authorities, Cyber Cells, and Economic Offences Wings (EOW) to handle and dismiss frivolous criminal complaints or FIRs registered against the company or its field personnel.

• Written Statements & Appeals: Draft precise written statements, counter-affidavits, and appeals to be filed in State/District Consumer Forums, High Courts, and Appellate Tribunals. KRA IV: MIS Updation, Reporting & Analytics

• Data Integrity: Maintain, update, and own a comprehensive, real-time regional Management Information System (MIS) tracking all active, pending, and closed litigations.

• Executive Reporting: Provide daily/weekly status updates on critical recovery metrics, interim court stays, execution progress, and legal cost-benefit analysis to the National Head. • Predictive Risk Tracking: Analyze regional litigation trends, case lifecycles, and advocate performance data to identify operational bottlenecks and recommend process improvements. KRA V: External Counsel & Vendor Management

• Empanelment: Identify, vet, and empanel competent local advocates, title investigators, and handling agents across urban and rural districts in all five southern states.

• Performance & Cost Auditing: Audit professional legal fee structures, clear monthly billing pipelines against predetermined Turnaround Times (TATs), and critically review counselor success rates.

3. Job Specifications & Requirements

• Educational Background: Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. / 5-Year Integrated Degree) from a recognized university or premium law school. An LL.M. is an added advantage.

• Work Experience: Minimum 6 to 10 years of post-qualification experience (PQE) specializing heavily in litigation, hard recovery, and asset enforcement within a reputed Bank, NBFC, or FinTech institution.