Junior Counsel - Contract Assistant - Sales/Commercial Transactions

The Junior Counsel - Contract Assistant will join Zelis' Sales Legal Team in Hyderabad, India. This full-time role involves providing legal support to the Sales and Client Management teams, focusing on drafting, reviewing, and finalizing agreements with clients like health plans and self-insured plans, as well as strategic partners. The position assists with various sales transactional matters, including regulatory and policy areas such as federal and state health insurer regulations, ERISA, and HIPAA privacy and security. The role reports to the Vice President—Managing Counsel, Sales, and collaborates with other legal team members to deliver timely legal advice.

Must Have

• Draft, review, revise and complete a variety of sales contracts and documents, including Amendments, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Business Associate Agreements, Master Service Agreements, Statements of Work and Notifications.
• Collaborate and assist team members with deal support, including preparing redlines, reviewing customer markups, and compiling contract packages and summaries.
• Assist with legal intake and matter management review and research to advance to next stage of process.
• Support contract-related queries and provide guidance to sales and client management.
• Analyze and advise on various contractual matters and issues.
• Collaborate with fellow Sales Legal Team members on process and procedure initiatives, such as contract template updates and management and internal playbooks, samples, and clause libraries.
• Conduct research and analysis of various legal issues.
• Maintain organized record of pending legal matters and projects and status and next steps.
• Manage and prioritize workload to meet Sales and business timing objectives.
• Escalate complex legal or business issues to senior counsel as appropriate.
• Expert English drafting and communication skills.
• Experience in reviewing and drafting commercial contracts for US-based companies.
• Demonstrated accountability and keen ability to meet aggressive time frames.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of business law and contractual obligations.
• Exceptional analytical and communication skills for analyzing risk in agreements.
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
• Demonstrated ability to create legal defensive or proactive strategies.
• Experience working with sales teams to close transactions.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree (3- or 5-year).
• 7 years of experience drafting/reviewing commercial contracts for a US-based company.
• 3+ years’ experience as a transactional attorney, with focus on drafting and negotiating agreements.
• Collaborative team player with a professional attitude and strong sense of discretion.
• Experience utilizing contract management systems for US-based companies.
• Experience following up and keeping internal stakeholders accountable for timelines.

Good to Have

• Sales, Technology, Healthcare, Health plans and/or HIPAA experience is preferred.

Perks & Benefits

• Hybrid work flexibility
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Financial wellness programs
• Cultural celebrations
• Collaborative work culture
• Leadership development
• Global exposure

Position Overview

The Junior Counsel - Contract Assistant - Sales/Commercial Transactions will be part of the Sales Legal Team and responsible for providing legal support and advice to the Sales and Client Management team. This role will work closely with senior management and Sales to draft, review and complete agreements with clients, such as health plans and self-insured plans, and strategic partnerships that Zelis has with other organizations. This role will assist with a wide variety of sales transactional matters spanning a range of regulatory and policy areas, including, but not limited to federal and state regulation of health insurers, ERISA, and HIPAA privacy and security. This role will be located at the office in Hyderabad, India and report to the Vice President—Managing Counsel, Sales and work closely with fellow Sales Legal Team members and other members of the Enterprise Legal team to provide effective, efficient, and timely legal advice to the Sales.

Responsibilities:

• Draft, review, revise and complete a variety of sales contracts and documents, including but not limited to Amendments, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Business Associate Agreements, Master Service Agreements, Statements of Work and Notifications.
• Collaborate and assist team members with deal support, including preparing redlines, reviewing customer markups, and compiling contract packages and summaries.
• Assist with legal intake and matter management review and research to advance to next stage of process.
• Support contract-related queries and provide guidance to sales and client management.
• Analyze and advise on various contractual matters and issues.
• Collaborate with fellow Sales Legal Team members on process and procedure initiatives, such as contract template updates and management and internal playbooks, samples, and clause libraries.
• Conduct research and analysis of various legal issues.
• Maintain organized record of pending legal matters and projects and status and next steps.
• Manage and prioritize workload to meet Sales and business timing objectives.
• Escalate complex legal or business issues to senior counsel as appropriate.

Skills:

• Expert English drafting and communication skills is a must.
• Experience in reviewing and drafting commercial contracts companies based in the United States (both US and India based contracts).
• Demonstrated accountability and keen ability to meet aggressive time frames.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of business law and contractual obligations.
• Exceptional analytical and communication skills needed for analyzing the risk in agreement.
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
• Demonstrated ability to create legal defensive or proactive strategies.
• Experience working with sales teams to close transactions.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.

Experiences/Background:

• Education: 3- or 5-year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
• 7 years of experience drafting/reviewing commercial contracts for a US based company.
• 3+ years’ experience as a transactional attorney, with focus on drafting and negotiating agreements. Sales, Technology, Healthcare, Health plans and/or HIPAA experience is preferred.
• Experience working with sales teams to close transactions.
• Collaborative team player with a professional attitude and strong sense of discretion.
• Experience utilizing contract management systems for US based companies.
• Experience following up and keeping internal stakeholders accountable for timelines.