Principal Counsel

Job Description

This role demands a seasoned lawyer to support Air India's aircraft acquisition and financing initiatives. The ideal candidate will be an important member of our in-house legal team, supporting the airline's fleet modernisation program through astute legal architecture and risk management. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of India's flag carrier through transformative fleet transactions and financing strategies. The successful candidate will be at the forefront of Air India's ambitious growth trajectory, leveraging legal expertise to drive operational excellence and financial optimization.

Job Overview

• Responsible to provide comprehensive legal support and guidance to Air India Group, ensuring compliance with aviation laws and regulations while protecting its interests.
• Support multi-jurisdictional aircraft and engine transactions including leasing, financing, novation, restructurings, and sale-leasebacks.
• Ensure regulatory compliance across domestic (DGCA, RBI, IFSC, etc.) and international jurisdictions affecting Air India Group's fleet acquisition.
• Formulate strategic legal positions for Air India Group's aircraft acquisition, aircraft delivery and redelivery negotiations, maintenance reserve disputes, and lessor default scenarios.

Functional Activities

• Assist with financing transactions within the aviation industry, such as debt or equity offerings and finance arrangements for aircraft purchases or leases.
• Participate in transactional negotiations with external parties, such as clients, vendors, or business partners.
• Support and mitigate risks, manage contract lifecycles, track deadlines, and facilitate effective contract administration to protect Air India’s interests
• Drafting and negotiation of purchase agreements, facility agreements, aircraft and engine lease agreements, mortgages, security agreements and technical acceptance protocols.
• Collaborate with engineering, finance, commercial, and operational teams to ensure transaction alignment with Air India's business objectives.
• Develop compliance frameworks addressing ECB, OFAC sanctions, CAR, and FEMA requirements pertinent to Air India's cross-border transactions.

Candidate Profile

Must-Have

• 12+ years PQE with demonstrable expertise in aircraft (or asset) financing, leasing and acquisiton transactions with good grounding in commercial law.
• Demonstrated ability to independently handle complex negotiations and documentation with minimal supervision.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail with capacity to resolve complex legal issues under tight timelines.
• Proven track record managing transactions with stringent delivery timelines.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills.

Good-to-Have

• Prior experience at major Indian or international airlines or leasing companies or law firms handling fleet transactions.
• Strong understanding of aviation technical terms and ability to incorporate them appropriately in legal documents.
• Understanding of aircraft maintenance economics, engine performance metrics, and residual value dynamics, aircraft technical specifications, warranties, sale of goods, FEMA and default remedy provisions.
• Understanding of Indian aviation regulatory landscape.
• Aircraft financing structures leveraging SLB, EETCs, JOLCOs and tax-optimized cross-border SPVs.
• Familiarity with english law.

Behavioral requirements

• Capacity to make time-sensitive legal determinations during critical windows.
• Ability to align legal strategy with Air India's commercial and operational objectives.
• Ability to comprehend and translate complex ideas and requirements into legally enforceable documents.
• Demonstrated ability to close multiple concurrent aircraft transactions within compressed timeframes.
• Exceptional skill navigating complex internal matrices across Commercial, Engineering, Finance, and operational departments.
• Understanding of regulatory frameworks governing transactions in aviation sector.
• Commitment to maintaining highest standards of corporate governance and compliance.

Competencies