BENAZIR AFSHAN
Legal and Compliance Mangaer
Bangalore,KA
Summary
Insightful Manager with experience directing and improving operations through effective employee motivational strategies and strong policy enforcement. Proficient in best practices, market trends and regulatory requirements of industry operations. Talented leader with analytical approach to business planning and day-to-day problem-solving.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
48
48
years of post-secondary education
5
5
Certifications
2
2
Languages
Work History
Manager, License and Permit Department
Flipkart Internet Pvt Ltd
09.2020 - 12.2024
- License Procurement: Successfully managed the procurement of essential licenses, including Trade License, Shop and Establishment License, FSSAI License, 365 Days License, and Contract Labour License, ensuring full regulatory compliance for Flipkart facilities.
- Government Collaboration: Actively engaged with government officials and third-party intermediaries to facilitate the timely acquisition of required licenses, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Renewal and Surrender Management: Effectively oversaw the annual renewal of licenses and managed the surrender process for licenses when facilities closed, maintaining consistent compliance.
- Stakeholder Training: Provided thorough training to internal stakeholders on license display requirements and compliance, ensuring legal standards were consistently met across all business locations.
- Compliance Integration: Applied a systematic approach to license procurement and renewal, strengthening the company's overall compliance framework.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and executing strategic plans and performance metrics.
- Built high-performing teams through effective recruitment, onboarding, and talent development initiatives.
- Mentored junior team members for career advancement, fostering a pipeline of future leaders within the organization.
Associate Vice President, Legal & Compliance
Kinara Capital
12.2019 - 06.2020
- Legal Oversight: Managed legal and compliance operations across multiple states, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, ensuring regulatory adherence for working capital and SME products.
- Third-Party Coordination: Recruited and managed third-party intermediaries and legal agencies to execute legal strategies effectively.
- NPA Reduction: Implemented legal measures to reduce Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and recover bad debts, contributing to the financial stability of the organization.
- Implemented data-driven decision-making practices to inform business strategy and optimize performance metrics across all departments.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements and innovation.
- Mentored junior team members, providing guidance on best practices and strategies to overcome challenges while simultaneously strengthening their professional skillsets.
- Cultivated a culture of continuous learning among employees through professional development opportunities, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.
- Optimized team performance through effective leadership and staff development programs.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
Zonal Legal Manager
Reliance Money
04.2018 - 12.2019
- Legal Management: Directed legal operations for auto loans, commercial vehicle loans, personal loans, and SME products across the zone.
- Debt Recovery: Devised and executed strategies to address NPAs, significantly reducing bad debts and improving recovery rates.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensured compliance with legal standards and regulations, protecting the company from legal risks.
- Mentored junior staff members by sharing knowledge and expertise, contributing to their professional growth and enhancing the overall capabilities of the team.
- Assisted human resources department in navigating complex employment law matters, reducing potential liabilities related to labor disputes.
- Established strong relationships with external counsel, enabling efficient collaboration on complex legal issues and cost-effective services.
- Improved legal department efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing new case management systems.
- Drafted and negotiated contract agreements and transactions on behalf of company.
- Negotiated favorable settlements in high-stakes litigation cases, saving the company significant financial resources.
- Managed a team of attorneys and paralegals, consistently meeting performance goals while maintaining high levels of employee satisfaction.
- Enhanced communication within the legal department through regular meetings, progress reports, and open dialogue, fostering a collaborative and efficient work environment.
- Developed comprehensive compliance policies, ensuring strict adherence to industry regulations and minimizing potential violations.
- Drafted clear and concise contracts that protected the company''s interests while fostering positive business relationships with clients and partners.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams on strategic projects, providing expert guidance on legal matters and risk mitigation strategies.
- Attended court hearings and depositions to take notes and document proceedings.
- Assisted attorneys with reviewing and organizing witness reports.
State Legal Head
Tata Motors Finance Ltd
08.2016 - 03.2018
- Statewide Legal Operations: Oversaw legal functions for auto loans and commercial vehicle loans across the state, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
- Agency Recruitment: Hired and managed legal agencies and advocates to handle legal processes, including the execution of warrants and property attachments.
- Risk Mitigation: Implemented effective legal strategies to mitigate risks and recover outstanding debts.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
Deputy Manager
Axis Bank Ltd
07.2012 - 06.2016
- Legal Support: Provided legal support for home loans, personal loans, credit cards, and commercial loans, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
- Court Representation: Represented the bank in various courts, including Magistrate Court, High Court, Consumer Court, and Arbitrator, for cases related to NPAs and cheque bounces.
- Lok Adalat Conducting: Organized and conducted Lok Adalats for the speedy disposal of cases, enhancing the efficiency of the legal process.
- Improved team efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing innovative management strategies.
- Identified areas for improvement within the department, implementing strategic initiatives to address gaps in performance or resources.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to drive business growth and achieve corporate objectives.
- Mentored junior staff members on best practices for project management and team collaboration skills, fostering a supportive work environment.
- Developed strong relationships with stakeholders to facilitate smooth communication and project completion.
- Liaised with team members, stakeholders and vendors to coordinate activities, provisioning, environment setup, risk mitigation and follow-up.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
Team Leader
Tata Motor Finance Ltd
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Team Leadership: Led a team responsible for executing legal actions against NPAs, improving the recovery process.
- Legal Coordination: Coordinated with legal agencies and internal departments to ensure effective legal action and compliance.
- Set performance expectations for the team, monitoring progress towards goals and providing constructive feedback as needed.
- Enhanced team productivity by implementing efficient work processes and regularly reviewing performance metrics.
- Collaborated with other department leaders to establish shared goals and ensure alignment across teams.
- Increased customer satisfaction ratings by closely monitoring service quality standards and addressing any issues promptly.
- Maintained an inclusive and diverse team culture, promoting respect and understanding among all members.
- Maintained database systems to track and analyze operational data.
Senior Officer - Legal
Bajaj Finance Ltd
04.2009 - 03.2011
- Legal Action Execution: Managed legal actions for cheque bounce cases under Section 138 and NPAs under the SARFAESI Act, enhancing the recovery process.
- Court Appearances: Represented the company in various legal proceedings, ensuring effective defense and prosecution.
- Established strong relationships with key clients to maintain customer loyalty and drive repeat business opportunities.
- Implemented innovative process improvements that enhanced productivity and reduced operational costs.
- Coached junior team members, fostering professional growth and improving overall team performance.
- Evaluated staff performance and provided coaching to address inefficiencies.
Team Leader
I-process Services India Pvt Ltd
01.2007 - 01.2009
- Legal Strategy Implementation: Executed legal strategies to address NPAs and recover bad debts, improving the financial health of the organization.
- Developed team members'' skills through targeted coaching sessions, resulting in improved individual performance.
- Conducted regular reviews of operations and identified areas for improvement.
- Collaborated with other department leaders to establish shared goals and ensure alignment across teams.
Education
Intellectual Property Rights And Technology Law
Presidency University
Bangalore, Karnataka 04.2001 - Current
Bachelor of Law - BA, LLB
K.L.E Law College
Bangalore, Karnataka09-2007
Master - Law
National Law School
Bengaluru, India 04.2001 -
Skills
Legal knowledge
Compliance Management
Government Liaison
Court Representation
NPA Reduction
License Procurement
Stakeholder Training
Problem-Solving
Risk Mitigation
Interdepartmental Coordination
Regulatory Compliance
Cost Management
Contract Management
Training and Development
Process Improvement
Team leadership
Operations management
Strategic planning
Decision-making
Performance management
Time management
Project management
Relationship building
Contract management
Cross-functional teamwork
Documentation and reporting
Expense tracking
Staff training and development
Goal setting
Negotiation
Performance evaluations
Problem-solving
Certification
Labour and Industrial Law Training, MSME
Accomplishments
- Consistently received annual awards in previous roles for exceptional performance in legal and compliance operations.
- Awarded multiple times in the current role for successfully procuring licenses on time despite facing significant regulatory hurdles.
Voluntary Projects
- License Surrender Projects, Led independent projects for license surrender at the current company.
- Executed Section 138 summons and warrants in a previous role.
Professional Highlights
- Managed the execution of court-issued summons and warrants by establishing effective agency networks.
- Expertly liaised with government authorities to secure essential licenses.
- Overcame challenges in government interactions by recruiting third-party intermediaries.
- Coordinated with various in-house departments to resolve legal issues.
- Played a pivotal role in reducing Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and recovering bad debts.
- Represented companies in legal proceedings across various courts.
- Managed end-to-end license procurement and renewal processes.
- Implemented new systems by recruiting agencies and advocates.
- Hired agencies at competitive rates to focus on reducing NPAs.
- Received multiple awards for exceptional performance in license procurement and legal execution.
- Conducted training for internal stakeholders on compliance and legal display requirements.
Timeline
Manager, License and Permit Department
Flipkart Internet Pvt Ltd
09.2020 - 12.2024
Associate Vice President, Legal & Compliance
Kinara Capital
12.2019 - 06.2020
Zonal Legal Manager
Reliance Money
04.2018 - 12.2019
State Legal Head
Tata Motors Finance Ltd
08.2016 - 03.2018
Deputy Manager
Axis Bank Ltd
07.2012 - 06.2016
Team Leader
Tata Motor Finance Ltd
01.2011 - 01.2012
Senior Officer - Legal
Bajaj Finance Ltd
04.2009 - 03.2011
Team Leader
I-process Services India Pvt Ltd
01.2007 - 01.2009
Intellectual Property Rights And Technology Law
Presidency University
04.2001 - Current
Master - Law
National Law School
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Law - BA, LLB
K.L.E Law College