Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Personal Information
Timeline
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Sathish SM

Summary

A dedicated professional, targeting senior level assignments in Legal Affairs | Statergic Advise | Contracts | Litigation Management| IPR Management| Labour Disputes| Trade Union Disputes |Risk Mitigation | Compliances with an organisation of high repute across Automotive, Software or Service Industry , preferably in Chennai


· Legal professional with over 20 years of robust experience , combining 8 years of high-stakes litigation practice at a prestigious Chennai-based law firm and 12+ years of senior in-house legal leadership across major manufacturing sectors — including tractor manufacturing, Tier 1 automotive supplier, commercial vehicles, and passenger cars

· Proven ability to lead and shape legal strategy for complex, multi-location manufacturing businesses, aligning legal frameworks with corporate goals and facilitating sustainable growth

· Expert in providing strategic legal counsel to senior management and boards , influencing decision-making on high-value contracts, corporate governance, compliance, labour relations, intellectual property, and risk mitigation

· Demonstrated leadership in contract lifecycle management —leading negotiations, drafting, and execution of critical commercial and joint venture agreements, ensuring alignment with regulatory and business imperatives

· Extensive experience managing high-value litigation and arbitration across civil, commercial, labour, and regulatory domains, safeguarding corporate interests and minimizing operational risks

· Skilled in directing labour law compliance and industrial relations , including advising on trade union negotiations, collective bargaining, disciplinary actions, and resolving sensitive workforce disputes while supporting business continuity

· Strong expertise in Intellectual Property Rights management , overseeing trademark, design, and patent portfolios to protect innovation and brand equity in competitive markets

· Ensured comprehensive statutory compliance across multiple manufacturing sites, encompassing Factories Act, labour laws, environmental regulations, and safety standards, driving operational excellence and regulatory adherence

· Adept at building and leading high-performing legal teams , fostering collaboration with external counsel and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver impactful legal solutions in dynamic, fast-paced environments

· Trusted advisor and business partner, capable of anticipating legal challenges and delivering pragmatic solutions that support strategic objectives and enhance organizational resilience

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

General Manager – Head-Legal (Plant)

Hyundai Motor India Limited
08.2024 - Current
  • Serving as the plant- legal head, overseeing all legal, regulatory, labour and compliance matters for one of India's largest automotive manufacturing operations.
  • Act as the key legal advisor to plant leadership while ensuring full alignment with global legal policies and frameworks.
  • Focus on legal risk management, contract governance, litigation management, ipr management, industrial relations, statutory compliance, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Act as the legal head for Hyundai's manufacturing plants in Chennai and Pune, overseeing end-to-end legal, labour, and compliance functions aligned with corporate and global legal frameworks.
  • Providing strategic legal advisory to plant leadership on operational risk, regulatory challenges, and statutory obligations.
  • Ensuring complete legal oversight of contracts, including supply agreements, service contracts, acquisition contracts, infrastructure, licensing and employment agreements.
  • Leading the legal management of high-stakes commercial arbitrations and litigations, those arising from dealership contracts, vendor contracts, labour conflicts, employment disputes, and regulatory matters.
  • Advising employee and labour disciplinary actions, grievance redressal, and compliance with standing orders and settlement agreements.
  • Drive intellectual property strategy and enforcement to protect and commercialize automotive innovations, trademarks, copyrights, and designs.
  • Oversee plant-wide statutory compliance under the Factories Act, Labour Codes, Industrial Disputes Act, Contract Labour Act, EHS laws, and applicable state-specific regulations.
  • Providing legal support for plant expansion, land-related matters, and local regulatory approvals, in coordination with Government authorities.
  • Liaisoning with external legal counsel, statutory bodies, Government departments to ensure resolution of legal matters.
  • Report critical legal issues and compliance deviations to the Board ensuring proactive risk communication.
  • Leading the in-plant legal team, embedding a culture of ethics, compliance, and preventive legal risk management.

Assistant General Manager-Legal

Ashok Leyland Limited
01.2023 - 08.2024
  • Handled high value litigations by coordinating with external counsels.
  • Handled high volume of consumer cases.
  • Drafted, negotiated and finalized commercial contracts.
  • Advised filing and managed trademarks, designs, patents, oppositions and all proceedings arising therefrom.
  • Advised the management on requirements under Legal Metrology Act and Rules and managing proceedings.
  • Overseeing labour litigations in Labour Courts, Tribunals and criminal proceedings arising under Factories Act.
  • Standardisation of Agreements.
  • Advised & initiated/Defended: Cases challenging the action of Electricity Board and obtained favorable order.
  • Trademark Litigation to safeguard Intellectual Property Rights of the company and obtained favorable order.
  • Advised & Implemented: Standardized Legal Metrology declarations for spareparts involving complexities.
  • Advised, coordinated and implemented software for printing Legal Metrology declaration labels.

Assistant General Manager-Legal

Tube Investments of India Ltd.
12.2014 - 01.2023
  • Drafting, negotiating and finalising commercial contracts.
  • Managing litigation by coordinating with external counsels.
  • Advising, filing and managing trademarks, designs, patents, oppositions and all proceedings arising therefrom.
  • Staying updated on laws and resultant actions and advising management on the same.
  • Monitoring statutory compliances including pollution control.
  • Advising the management on requirements under Legal Metrology Act and Rules and managing proceedings.
  • Overseeing labour litigations in Labour Courts, Tribunals and criminal proceedings arising under Factories Act. along with statutory compliances of the factories and reporting the same to the Board.
  • Presenting periodical legal updates to the senior management.
  • Standardisation of Agreements.
  • Periodically updating the standard clauses depending on the change in law or jurisprudence.
  • Establishing and maintaining effective compliance policies, procedures and/or manuals across all business lines.
  • Providing in-house legal counsel on strategic projects to various internal stakeholders and leading successful implementations.
  • Administering day-to-day execution of legal operations.
  • Mentoring & monitoring the performance of Legal Team to ensure efficiency in process.
  • Setting up of overseas Representative offices.
  • Advising on all legal requirements for setting up of new manufacturing facilities.
  • Advised end-to-end legal requirement and provided support for establishing new EV manufacturing facility.; drafted agreements for collaboration with Supplier, Dealership Appointment also acted as a part of the team in creating SOPs for operations of the new EV business.
  • Finalized: Acquisition of a company in India.
  • Joint venture with foreign partners in India.
  • Major contracts with International Cycle Manufacturers for securing manufacturing rights in India.
  • Contracts with major Auto OEMs and raw material suppliers in India and overseas.
  • Advised & initiated: Trademark & Designs Litigations to safeguard Intellectual Property Rights of the company.
  • Cases challenging the actions of Pollution Control Board and closure orders.
  • Money recovery suits, arbitration proceedings, 138 NI cases for collection of outstanding amounts.
  • Writ petitions challenging the action of Government Agencies.
  • Assisted in demerger of Tube Investments of India Ltd. as part of the team.

Assistant Manager-Legal

Tractors & Farm Equipment Ltd. & Group Companies (TAFE Group)
06.2012 - 12.2014
  • Managed & supervised litigations including consumer cases.
  • Drafted & reviewed contracts including new business acquisitions.
  • Finalized contracts by negotiating with stakeholders; also worked on standardization of contracts.
  • Interacted with agencies for purchase of land for expansion activities.

Associate- Advocate

Sai, Bharath & Ilan, Law Firm
09.2004 - 06.2012
  • Met & advised clients on proper course of action.
  • Worked on drafting of cases and conducted trials.
  • Presented arguments in courts, tribunals and also negotiated settlements.

Education

Post Graduate Diploma - Intellectual Property Rights

National Law School of India University
01.2017

MBA - HR

University of Madras
01.2009

Bachelor of Arts (Law) & Bachelor of Law - undefined

Dr. Ambedkar Govt. Law College
01.2004

Skills

  • Strategic Legal Advisory
  • Legal Risk Mitigation
  • Contract Management & Negotiation
  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution
  • External Counsel & Litigation Management
  • IPR & Commercial Law Management
  • Labour Law & Industrial Relations
  • Statutory Compliance
  • Legal Systems & SOP Development

Languages

English
Tamil
Telugu

Personal Information

Date of Birth: 08/07/82

Timeline

General Manager – Head-Legal (Plant)

Hyundai Motor India Limited
08.2024 - Current

Assistant General Manager-Legal

Ashok Leyland Limited
01.2023 - 08.2024

Assistant General Manager-Legal

Tube Investments of India Ltd.
12.2014 - 01.2023

Assistant Manager-Legal

Tractors & Farm Equipment Ltd. & Group Companies (TAFE Group)
06.2012 - 12.2014

Associate- Advocate

Sai, Bharath & Ilan, Law Firm
09.2004 - 06.2012

MBA - HR

University of Madras

Bachelor of Arts (Law) & Bachelor of Law - undefined

Dr. Ambedkar Govt. Law College

Post Graduate Diploma - Intellectual Property Rights

National Law School of India University
Sathish SM