This individual is responsible for the provision of legal services across the Company and its Subsidiaries.
These include but are not limited to, preparing contracts, engaging external solicitors, and providing legal advice and guidance to the Company and the Board on matters related to commercial, corporate, and financial laws.
The incumbent will also play a support role in driving the Company’s compliance efforts - liaising and managing relationships with regulatory agencies, preparing regulatory reports, and ensuring compliance with the statutory and corporate governance practices and guidelines.
Responsibilities
Legal:
Draft, negotiate, review and maintain all legal agreements as required
Review all documentation that has legal implications for the business prior to signing and implementing
Provide legal support on the formation and administration of funds, including drafting and coordination of Trust Deeds/Legal Partnership Agreements, negotiating side letters with LPs, and other required documentation
Provide legal support on the funds’ investment activities.
Establish and implement appropriate legal policies for processes across the business .
Provide corporate governance and company secretarial support to the Boards of Directors in the business.
Compliance:
Review all relevant laws and regulations applicable to the Company, its funds and investee companies and ensure compliance.
Ensure that business activities conform with all applicable laws, regulations, internal policies and procedures.
Ensure that all regulatory permissions remain current and appropriate for business needs, and carry out required reporting.
Continual compliance risk assessment of business practices together with the development of internal policies and procedures, compliance training and protocols.
Serve as liaison for all regulatory bodies as well as maintaining relationships with relevant legal bodies and trade associations.
Keep abreast of global regulatory developments and industry initiatives and advise management accordingly.
Partner with colleagues in each of the Business Units’ key stakeholders to develop and implement compliance standards, processes, programs, and best practices.
Any other duties as required by the Head, of Legal and Compliance.
Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree in Law (2.1 preferred)
5 - 8 years of working experience.
Good Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (particularly Excel and Word)
High level of determination and tenacity
Articulate, effective communication skills with the ability to communicate internally and externally
(lawyers, regulators, auditors, and investors) at all levels
Familiarity with project finance, deals origination issues, and transnational transactions is desirable
Fully conversant with SEC, NSE, CAC, NFIU, and other regulatory directives and guidelines.
Required skills:
Strong skills in drafting a variety of legal documents and communicating complex issues clearly and concisely
Strong attention to detail
Proven management experience of legal administration and projects
Strong knowledge of investment management and related regulations, including ability to identify requirements
Applied knowledge of legal concepts, effective collaboration with programmes, fund-raising team, project initiation
Litigation skills to handle administrative procedures within public authorities
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills and ability to work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
Strong integrity, credibility, and dedication to Business
Negotiating skills and capacity to work with other professionals including non-legal professionals