Principal Associate - Economic Offences

About the Role

Metalegal Advocates is seeking an accomplished and commercially astute legal professional to join the Firm as a Principal Associate for Economic Offences Practice Area.

This is a senior professional role designed for a lawyer capable of independently leading complex legal matters, providing strategic legal advice, managing client relationships, and supervising multidisciplinary teams across advisory, investigations, regulatory, commercial, and dispute-related engagements. Relevant experience in Economic Offences will be preferred, particularly experience involving investigations, enforcement proceedings, regulatory matters and related litigation.

As a Principal Associate, you will lead assigned matters from strategy through execution, mentor junior professionals, strengthen client relationships, support practice development initiatives, and contribute to the Firm's institutional capabilities.

SCOPE OF WORK

As a Principal Associate, your responsibilities will extend
beyond the execution of legal work and will encompass leadership of complex
matters, client engagements, multidisciplinary teams, and institutional
initiatives. You will be expected to:

• Lead and supervise complex Economic Offences, regulatory, investigation, advisory, and dispute-related matters from inception through completion, including matters involving investigations, enforcement proceedings, white-collar crime, financial crimes, and related litigation. 
  
• Develop
  matter strategy, identify legal and commercial risks, establish execution
  plans, allocate responsibilities, and ensure timely delivery of
  high-quality outcomes.
  
• Exercise
  sound professional judgment in resolving complex legal and commercial
  issues while proactively managing risks and escalations.
  
• Serve
  as the primary point of contact for assigned clients, providing
  commercially informed legal advice and maintaining strong professional
  relationships.
  
• Coordinate
  effectively with regulators, external counsel, forensic experts,
  consultants, auditors, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless execution
  of engagements.
  
• Lead,
  mentor, and develop Associates and Senior Associates by providing
  direction, supervision, constructive feedback, and opportunities for
  professional growth.
  
• Foster
  collaboration, accountability, and knowledge sharing across teams,
  offices, and practice areas.
  
• Maintain
  oversight of legal advice, drafting, documentation, and client
  deliverables to ensure compliance with the Firm's professional standards
  and quality expectations.
  
• Strengthen
  client relationships, identifying growth opportunities, and supporting the
  Firm's market presence through networking, publications, seminars, and
  thought leadership initiatives.
  
• Contribute
  to the Firm's institutional capabilities by supporting recruitment,
  mentoring, training, knowledge management, capability development, and
  continuous improvement initiatives.
  

Requirements

PREFERRED CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is an accomplished legal professional who
combines strong technical expertise with commercial acumen, leadership
capability, and an institutional mindset. The role requires intellectual
curiosity, professional maturity, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate
complex legal and commercial issues while consistently maintaining the highest
standards of integrity, quality, and client service.

MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have LL.B. degree from a recognised university in India.
  
• Must
  have enrolment with the Bar Council of India.
  
• Must
  have Approximately 6–9 years of relevant post-qualification experience.
  
• Candidates with relevant experience in the Economic Offences practice area, including investigations, enforcement proceedings, regulatory matters, white-collar crime, financial crimes, and related litigation, will be preferred.​
  
• Demonstrated
  ability to exercise independent professional judgment, independently
  manage complex client engagements and matters with minimal supervision,
  and lead assignments effectively.
  
• Proven
  ability to supervise and mentor junior lawyers, coordinate
  multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders, and manage multiple matters and
  assignments simultaneously.
  

PREFERRED BACKGROUND

Preference may be given to professionals possessing one or
more of the following:

• Experience
  in a leading law firm, Big 4 firm, professional services organisation,
  consulting environment, or as an in-house legal counsel within a reputed
  corporate organisation.
  
• Strong
  understanding of accounting principles, financial statements, financial
  analysis, and data analytics, with the ability to interpret commercial and
  financial information in a legal and regulatory context.
  
• Experience in managing client relationships, advising senior stakeholders, and leading cross-functional engagements involving legal, forensic, compliance, investigation, finance, and regulatory stakeholders.​
  

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate should possess:

• Strong
  ability to exercise sound professional judgment while balancing legal risk
  with commercial objectives.
  
• Exceptional
  drafting, research, advisory, and problem-solving capabilities.
  
• Ability
  to translate complex legal and commercial issues into practical,
  commercially sound solutions.
  
• Demonstrated
  leadership, mentoring, and team management capabilities.
  
• Excellent
  organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex
  assignments simultaneously.
  
• Strong
  communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to
  effectively manage internal and external stakeholders.
  
• Ability
  to lead assignments by ensuring timely, clear, and effective communication
  with Partners, clients, junior professionals, and support teams, while
  promoting collaboration, accountability, and efficient execution of
  matters.
  
• Collaborative
  mindset with the ability to work effectively across teams, practice areas,
  and offices.
  
• High
  professional maturity, integrity, discretion, accountability, and sound
  professional judgment.
  
• Commitment
  to continuous learning, professional excellence, and delivering
  exceptional client service.
  

Benefits

• Performance
  Recognition: Performance-based fee revisions, bonuses,
  and enhanced leadership opportunities based on sustained contribution,
  matter leadership, client impact, and institutional contribution.
  
• Professional
  Growth: Significant opportunities to lead complex
  engagements, mentor professionals, deepen client relationships, support
  practice development initiatives, and prepare for future leadership
  responsibilities within the Firm.
  
• Success
  in this Role : Measured by the ability to independently
  lead complex matters, deliver commercially sound legal solutions, build
  trusted client relationships, develop high-performing teams, uphold the
  Firm's professional standards, and contribute to the continued strengthening
  of the Firm's institutional capabilities.
  

·        Remuneration: Competitive

 
The responsibilities described
above are illustrative in nature and are intended to indicate the broad scope
of the role. They are not exhaustive and may be modified, expanded, or
supplemented from time to time having regard to the Firm's business requirements, client engagements, operational needs, and the professional's experience, capability, and professional development..