General Counsel

ABOUT PAYTM EUROPE Merchants deserve better from their payments provider: fairer pricing, faster settlement, easier tools, and support from a partner that understands their business. Paytm Europe Payments S.
A. is being established in Luxembourg, backed by One97 Communications Limited, one of India’s largest fintech groups, with the ambition of transforming how SMEs across Europe accept and manage payments. Following launch in Luxembourg, the business will expand into other European markets. THE ROLE The General Counsel will lead the legal function of Paytm Europe, acting as a trusted adviser to the CEO, senior management and Board. You will provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice across corporate, commercial, regulatory, employment and governance matters, while protecting the Company’s interests as it launches and scales across Europe. You will work closely with Compliance, Risk and other control functions, own the Company’s legal affairs, and manage relationships with external counsel and Group Legal. RESPONSIBILITIES Corporate Governance Â
· Act as principal legal adviser to the CEO, senior management and Board on corporate and governance matters. Â
· Advise on Board and shareholder matters, delegations of authority, corporate approvals and other governance requirements. Â
· Maintain the Company’s corporate legal framework and ensure appropriate legal documentation of material corporate decisions. Â
· Support the establishment of subsidiaries, branches and other legal structures as Paytm Europe expands across the Europe. Â
· Work closely with authorised management and relevant control functions on governance matters. Commercial Contracts & Partnerships Â
· Lead the drafting, review and negotiation of material commercial agreements, including technology, outsourcing, payment processing, banking, scheme, distribution and strategic partnership arrangements. Â
· Develop and maintain appropriate contract templates, contracting standards and approval processes. Â
· Provide commercially pragmatic advice on contractual risk, liability, indemnities, termination, intellectual property and other material legal provisions. Â
· Support Product, Commercial and Operations teams in structuring new products, partnerships and commercial propositions. Â
· Ensure material contractual obligations are appropriately identified, communicated and managed within the business. Regulatory and Payments Legal Â
· Provide legal advice on the regulatory framework applicable to Paytm Europe as a Luxembourg Payment Institution and its activities across the EEA. Â
· Advise management on the legal implications of PSD2/PSD3, PSR, DORA, AML/CFT, data protection and other legislation relevant to the Company’s activities. Â
· Work closely with Compliance to assess the legal implications of new regulatory requirements while maintaining a clear distinction between Legal advice and second-line Compliance oversight. Â
· Support interactions with the CSSF and other competent authorities on legal matters where required. Â
· Provide legal input into new products, payment services, safeguarding arrangements and market expansion. Data Protection, Technology & Intellectual Property Â
· Advise on data protection and privacy matters in collaboration with the DPO and Compliance function, including commercial data-processing arrangements and international data transfers. Â
· Provide legal support for technology development, software licensing, cloud and ICT arrangements and intellectual property matters. Â
· Protect Paytm Europe’s intellectual property, brands and other proprietary rights. Â
· Advise on the legal implications of AI, emerging technologies and new digital products relevant to the business. Employment & Corporate Legal Matters Â
· Advise management and HR on employment contracts, incentive arrangements, workplace matters and other employment-law issues. Â
· Support recruitment and termination matters where legal advice is required. Â
· Manage legal disputes, claims, litigation and other contentious matters. Â
· Advise on insurance and other corporate legal matters affecting the Company. Expansion & Strategic Initiatives Â
· Provide legal support for Paytm Europe’s expansion into new European markets, including passporting, local legal requirements, distribution structures and partnerships. Â
· Support M&A, investments, joint ventures, financing arrangements and other strategic transactions where relevant. Â
· Work with Group Legal and external advisers on cross-border matters while ensuring the interests and regulatory responsibilities of Paytm Europe are appropriately represented. Legal Risk, Processes, & External Counsel Â
· Identify and manage material legal risks and provide clear, proportionate advice to management on their mitigation. Â
· Establish scalable legal policies, processes, templates and contract-management arrangements. Â
· Select, instruct and manage external legal counsel, ensuring appropriate quality, responsiveness and cost control. Â
· Manage the Legal budget and seek to build appropriate internal capability as the business scales. Â
· Work collaboratively with Group Legal while maintaining appropriate local governance, accountability and decision-making within Paytm Europe. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR A commercially minded lawyer with broad experience in financial services, payments or fintech who combines strong technical judgement with a practical approach to getting business done. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating autonomously, advising senior executives and Boards, negotiating complex commercial arrangements and building the legal framework of a regulated business.
- 8+ years’ relevant post-qualification experience (private practice and/or in-house)
- Qualified in Luxembourg or another EU/EEA jurisdiction, or another jurisdiction with substantial relevant European legal experience
- Strong experience in financial services, payments, banking or fintech
- Complex commercial and technology agreements
- EU financial-services regulation and the legal framework for payment services
- Experience advising senior management on corporate, commercial and governance matters
- Strong English drafting and negotiation skills Highly desirable Â
· Direct experience within a Payment Institution, E-Money Institution, acquirer, bank or payments business. Â
· Knowledge of Luxembourg financial-services law and experience dealing with the CSSF. Â
· Experience with outsourcing, DORA, technology and data-protection matters. Â
· Experience supporting cross-border European expansion, strategic partnerships, M&A or joint ventures. Â
· French and/or German language capability. Personal Attributes Â
· Commercial and pragmatic, with the judgement to distinguish material legal risk from theoretical risk. Â
· High ownership and accountability, with the confidence to provide clear advice and challenge constructively where necessary. Â
· Comfortable working in a lean organisation and personally handling matters as well as managing external advisers. Â
· Strong negotiator and communicator, able to explain complex legal issues clearly to non-lawyers. Â
· Collaborative and solutions-oriented, with an instinct to enable the business while protecting the Company. MEASURES OF SUCCESS Â
· Material legal risks identified early and managed proportionately. Â
· Commercial contracts negotiated efficiently without unnecessary delay to the business. Â
· Strong corporate governance and legal documentation maintained as the Company scales. Â
· Effective legal support for new products, partnerships and European expansion. Â
· A scalable, commercially focused legal function with disciplined use of external counsel. WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS Paytm Europe is building a regulated payments business in a complex and rapidly evolving European market. The decisions we make now, from our contracts and partnerships to our products, technology and expansion strategy, will shape the Company for years to come. The General Counsel will ensure that we make those decisions with a clear understanding of the legal risks and opportunities, protecting the Company without unnecessarily constraining its ambition. This is not simply a legal-control role: it is a key business leadership position helping Paytm Europe grow confidently, responsibly and at pace.