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 at our Mumbai office.

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.
  

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 be LL.B. degree from a recognised university in India.
  
• Must have enrolment with the Bar Council of India.
  
• Must have Approximately 5–8 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.
  

• 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..