Legal Counsel

Job Description:

About the Role

The Legal Counsel will work closely with the Leasing, Business Development, Projects, Operations, Finance and Management teams and will take primary responsibility for drafting, reviewing, negotiating and managing agreements with the various brands and operators occupying or operating from Client

A major part of the role will involve lease and sub-lease documentation with F&B/QSR operators, retailers, fuel/OMC partners, EV charging operators and other commercial partners.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leasing & Sub-Leasing

• Draft, review and negotiate lease deeds, sub-lease agreements, leave & licence agreements and other occupancy arrangements with retail, F&B, QSR and service operators.
• Work closely with the Leasing and Business Development teams from term sheet / LOI stage through definitive documentation and execution.
• Review and negotiate key commercial and legal provisions including tenure, lock-in, rent and revenue-share structures, security deposits, escalation, CAM/common-area charges, fit-out periods, operating obligations, exclusivity, signage/branding rights, assignment, termination, indemnities and dispute resolution.
• Ensure sub-leasing and occupancy arrangements remain consistent with Bharat Hub's underlying rights and obligations for the relevant WSA/site.
• Maintain standard agreement templates and develop documentation that can be efficiently deployed across multiple sites and tenant categories.
• Track renewals, expiries, notice periods, contractual obligations and other key milestones across the leasing portfolio.

2. F&B, Retail & Brand Agreements

• Draft and negotiate agreements with QSRs, restaurants, cafés, retailers, convenience operators and other consumer brands.
• Support documentation for different commercial models including fixed rent, minimum guarantee, revenue share and hybrid commercial structures.
• Advise business teams on legal issues arising during brand onboarding, fit-out, commencement of operations, renewals and exits.
• Review agreements relating to kiosks, promotional spaces, signage, advertising, pop-ups and other commercial uses within Bharat Hub developments.
• Support the business in resolving contractual issues with tenants and operating partners.

The importance of this work reflects the project design itself: for example, the Bengaluru development includes multiple retail shops, restaurants and kiosks across the retail and food-court block. 

3. Fuel, OMC & EV Partnerships

• Support the drafting, review and negotiation of lease/licence and commercial arrangements with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), fuel station operators and allied service providers.
• Review documentation relating to the establishment and operation of fuel stations within WSA developments.
• Support agreements with EV charging operators and other mobility/service partners.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external counsel on contractual and regulatory matters relating to these uses.
• 4. Commercial Contracts
  • Draft and review NDAs, MOUs, LOIs, term sheets, service agreements, vendor agreements, marketing/branding agreements, operating agreements and other commercial contracts required for development and operation of the sites.
  • Review contracts from a practical commercial perspective and identify material legal, financial and operational risks for management.
  • Assist business teams during negotiations and convert agreed commercial terms into appropriate legal documentation.
  • Develop and maintain standard templates, clause libraries and contracting processes for recurring transactions.
  5. WSA / Project Documentation & Compliance
  • Develop a working understanding of the underlying concession, lease or project documentation governing each WSA and ensure downstream agreements are consistent with Bharat Hub's rights and obligations.
  • Support interpretation of relevant provisions relating to permitted use, sub-leasing, commercial operations, branding, termination, indemnities and other obligations affecting tenants and operators.
  • Coordinate with external legal counsel where specialist advice or local documentation is required.
  • Conduct legal research on relevant property, contract, leasing and regulatory matters affecting the projects.
  • Maintain organised repositories of executed agreements and key contractual information across all Bharat Hub sites.

  Desired Candidate Profile

  Qualification: LL.B. from a recognised university. Enrolment with a State Bar Council / Bar Council is preferred. LL.M. is not required.

  Experience: 2–4 years of relevant post-qualification experience, preferably gained in a law firm real-estate/leasing practice or an in-house legal team of a retail, mall, commercial real estate, F&B/QSR, hospitality, fuel/OMC or similar consumer-facing business.

  The candidate should have hands-on experience drafting and negotiating lease/sub-lease documentation rather than only advisory exposure. Prior experience working on retail or F&B leasing is strongly preferred, while experience with OMCs/fuel station leases, EV charging arrangements or highway/commercial developments would be particularly valuable.

  Skills & Competencies

  • Strong drafting and negotiation skills, particularly for commercial leases and sub-leases.
  • Good understanding of the Indian Contract Act, Transfer of Property Act, Registration Act, applicable stamp-duty principles and general commercial/property law concepts.
  • Ability to understand commercial leasing structures including rent, revenue share, minimum guarantees, escalation, CAM, security deposits, fit-out periods and lock-ins.
  • Commercial mindset — ability to distinguish between material legal risks and issues that can be practically negotiated.