About the role

Job Title: AGM – Legal-Non-Litigation

Industry:

Home Finance / Housing Finance Company (India)

Experience:

15+ Years

Location:

Mumbai or Pune or Indore or Jaipur

Reporting To:

National Head – Legal

Role Objective

To lead and manage all non-litigation legal functions for the assigned area, including property due diligence, title verification, documentation, compliance advisory, and risk mitigation, ensuring legally enforceable mortgage creation and adherence to RBI/NHB and other applicable regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Property Due Diligence & Title Verification

Vet and approve property-related legal documents for Home Loans, LAP, and other mortgage-backed products.
Conduct detailed scrutiny of title chain, encumbrance certificates, revenue records, approved plans, layout approvals, and occupancy certificates.
Assess risks related to agricultural lands, converted lands, joint developments, society apartments, and builder projects.
Provide structured and reasoned Title Search Reports (TSR) and Legal Scrutiny Reports (LSR).

2. Mortgage & Documentation Management

Oversee execution and enforceability of loan agreements, mortgage deeds (equitable/registered), guarantee agreements, indemnities, and related security documents.
Ensure proper CERSAI registration and charge creation compliance.
Guide operations on stamping, registration, and admissibility requirements.
Review and standardize documentation templates in line with legal and regulatory changes.

3. Regulatory & Compliance Advisory

Provide legal guidance aligned with RBI Master Directions, NHB guidelines (as applicable), SARFAESI provisions (preventive stage), and other applicable laws.
Ensure compliance with RERA, Transfer of Property Act, Registration Act, Stamp Act, Companies Act (where applicable), and state-specific land laws.
Support internal audits, statutory audits, and regulatory inspections.

4. Builder & Project Approvals

Conduct legal due diligence of builder projects for empanelment.
Review land acquisition documents, development agreements, power of attorney, and statutory approvals.
Identify litigation risks or title defects before project approval.
Maintain legal database of approved projects and risk flags.

5. Risk Mitigation & Fraud Prevention

Identify red flags in property transactions, forged documents, and title discrepancies.
Advise credit and underwriting teams on legal risk scoring.
Assist in fraud detection and recommend preventive controls.

6. Panel Advocate & Vendor Management

Empanel and supervise external advocates for property searches and opinions.
Evaluate performance, quality of scrutiny, and turnaround time.
Ensure consistency and standardization across the area.

7. Stakeholder Management

Act as legal advisor to Sales, Credit, Operations, and Risk teams.
Provide quick and commercially viable legal solutions without compromising compliance.
Conduct training sessions for business teams on property-related legal risks.

Key Skills & Competencies

Strong command over:
- Transfer of Property Act
- Registration Act
- Indian Stamp Act & State Stamp Laws
- RERA
- Land Revenue Laws (state-specific)
- SARFAESI (preventive legal structuring)
Expertise in property law, mortgage structuring, and secured lending documentation.
Strong analytical and risk assessment capability.
Excellent drafting and documentation skills.
Ability to manage high-volume legal scrutiny within TAT.
Strong commercial acumen aligned with lending business.

Preferred Profile

Prior experience in Housing Finance Company / Bank / NBFC handling retail mortgage products.
Exposure to multi-state property due diligence.
Experience handling high-value LAP and complex property structures.
Team handling experience at regional or area level.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Zero major title-related losses.
Reduction in documentation defects and audit observations.
Turnaround time for legal scrutiny.
Regulatory compliance adherence.
Effective risk mitigation and fraud prevention.

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