Leo Kuriakose

Results-driven Legal Head and Compliance professional with a 12 plus years of experience in managing regulatory and legal compliance risk. Targeting a challenging role in a dynamic organization where to leverage the regulatory requirements, and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive compliance initiatives and support global expansion goals.

Skills:Financial, Corporate and Commercial Compliance, Labour Law SME, Legal and Regulatory risk management, Internal audit, Contract Management, Policy drafting and implementation, and change management, and Legal Advisory SME.

Jun 2023 till date | Ernst & Young | Senior Manager Responsibilities:  Successfully managing diverse clients' exclusive labour compliance managed services in India  Developing and implementing strategic initiatives to ensure adherence to complex labour laws and regulation  Providing the expert guidance on labour compliance matters, addressing client-specific challenges and minimizing legal risks  Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver efficient and effective solutions, optimizing compliance processes  Fostering strong client relationships and identifying opportunities for business growth and upselling EY services Identifying and analyzing emerging trends in labour compliance, advising on necessary adjustments  Spearheading the business development efforts, capturing new clients and expanding service offerings in the labour compliance domain  Building a robust network of industry contacts to identify potential business opportunities  Conducting market research and analysis to identify market gaps, competitive positioning, and growth potential  Developing the customized proposals, delivering impactful presentations, and negotiating the contracts to secure new partnerships  Leading the cross-functional teams to ensure seamless service delivery and client satisfaction  Pioneering the development of technology platforms for labour law compliance processes in India, leveraging emerging technologies  Conducting thorough market research to understand client pain points and industry-specific requirements  Leading the development and deployment of intuitive user interfaces and comprehensive compliance modules  Continuously monitoring industry trends and evaluating the enhancements to optimize platform functionalities Dec 2021 to May 2023| Simpliance Technologies Pvt. Ltd.  Legal Head (Dec’21 to Dec’22)  Deputy General Manager (Dec’22 to May’23) Responsibilities:  Diverse Experience: Deputy General Manager at Aparajitha Corporate Services Limited with experience in Business Development, Product Management, Legal and Regulatory Compliance Advisory, and Team Management  Key Role in Compliance Advisory: Led the development and implementation of an enterprise risk management framework and supported policies and procedures  Comprehensive Risk Management: Designed and implemented a robust risk management process, including risk assessments, evaluations, and establishing risk appetites  Regulatory Compliance: Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements by reviewing documentation, processes, and practices, and provided training in compliance practices and procedures  Market Expansion and Revenue Growth: Led business development efforts through strategic planning, market research, and target market initiatives  Risk Identification and Reporting: Maintained risk registers and facilitated risk identification and reporting to relevant stakeholders  Team Leadership: Supervised the work of the Legal Consulting and Legal Tech Team, fostered a collaborative work environment, and promoted professional growth and development  Liaison with Upper Management: Performed as a liaison between the team and upper management, ensured the alignment with company goals and objectives  Project Management: Led the Legal and Compliance team, supporting product implementation with multiple compliance operational teams  Global Market Expansion: Scoped and communicated product and compliance requirements to support expansion in global markets  Regulatory Compliance Strategies: Designed go-to-market strategies that comply with regulatory obligations for global products and programs  Stay Updated: Kept up-to-date on regulatory changes, best practices, and industry developments May 2021 to Nov 2021 | HGS- Hinduja Global Services| Senior Manager- Corporate Compliance Responsibilities:  Managed IT compliance, data governance, and Information Security risk management functions  Supervised the implementation of a compliance framework across various global locations, ensured adherence to regulatory requirements  Coordinated internal and third-party audits is a key aspect, ensured any findings are properly addressed and remediated  Led the development and maintenance of an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, including implementation of the supporting policies and procedures  Conducted the risk assessments, identified potential risks and analyzed their financial impact on the company; which includes evaluating the company's previous handling of risks and establishing risk appetites  Collaborated closely with department and business heads to ensure proposed actions effectively manage risk areas, while also cultivating a risk management philosophy and culture within the organization Nov 2020 to May 2021 | EY | Consultant Responsibilities:  Conducted comprehensive business strategic research, product-based research, legal, regulatory, and taxation research, and entity due diligence  Developed and implemented robust control systems to proactively prevent and addressed any violations of legal guidelines and internal policies for clients  Evaluated the effectiveness of existing controls and consistently enhanced the same to ensure optimal efficiency  Regularly reviewed and updated procedures, reports & other relevant documentation to identify any hidden risks or non-compliance issues  Created, revised, and implemented company policies as necessary to maintain compliance standards  Assessed various functions within the business to identify potential compliance risks and developed appropriate mitigation strategies  Stayed up to date with regulatory developments and emerged best practices in compliance control  Prepared detailed reports for senior management and external regulatory bodies as required 

EDUCATION Master of Business Law, International Business, Trade & Tax Law; National Law School of India University in 2023 Master of Business Administration (Finance); Welingkar Institute of Management in 2021 Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.), Civil, Criminal & Corporate Law; Government Law College, Ernakulam in 2015 Bachelor’s Degree (Finance- General); Christ University, Bangalore in 2011