Head of Legal and Company Secretary at Spire Bank Kenya

Serve as the Chief Legal advisor for the Board of Directors and the Bank, advisor on legal/regulatory and compliance risk management and Secretary to the Board.

Responsibilities

Legal Support

• Administer the legal affairs of the Bank, provide in-house legal research and advice, and manage relationships with external legal advisors for:

1. correct perfection of Bank’s securities
2. efficient management of the litigation portfolio
3. negotiation of agreements/contracts on behalf of the Bank

• Coordinating all commercial legal related matters with the Bank’s external counsel.
• Providing legal advice to management and board as well as identifying new or modified laws and regulations that may affect the Bank’s business and advising management.
• Evaluating legal risks posed by new business activities, products etc. and advising management.
• Assist in structuring of business transactions to minimize legal risks
• Develop and maintain efficient and effective relationships with external counsel, as well as review the performance of the panel of lawyers against the agreed upon SLA’s.
• Scrutinize of all credit and security documents to certify the completeness and correctness
• Preparing and reviewing contracts and other legal documents (facility letters, chattels mortgages, SLAs, contracts)
• Liaise with external lawyers for perfection of security and maintain a bi-weekly schedule of outstanding securities
• Custodian of contracts, certificates, licenses and other legal documents
• Co-ordinate litigation for and against the company.

Regulatory Compliance

• Keeping abreast of developments in Corporate Governance practices and advice the business accordingly.
• Serve as central liaison for all engagements with Regulatory authorities
• Review of all Bank’s standard documents from time to time
• In charge of the bank’s Compliance
• Support to Risk and Compliance by ensuring that Bank’s procedures and laid down instructions are followed to minimize legal risks
• Prepare legal risk reports when so required
• Ensuring the regulator is updated promptly on changes in board membership and direct reports to the managing director
• Preparing the application for renewal of the different licenses and policies, annually, within the prescribed time frame;

Board Support

• Coordinating board and management committee meetings, preparing Board papers, managing attendance of the meetings and ensure minutes are kept
• Preparing, distributing and co-ordinating the follow-up of minutes and matters arising from board and other management committee meetings
• Convening and servicing annual general meetings (AGM) meetings (producing agendas, taking minutes; conveying decisions among other tasks.);
• Providing support to committees and working parties such as the Board of Directors, Board Committees, other banks committee;
• Handling correspondence before and after meetings;
• Providing legal/financial advice during and outside of meetings.
• Secure client financial information and maintain the Bank’s policy and procedure manuals
• Attended to and resolved shareholders’ and directors’ queries and issues.

Qualifications

Education / Qualifications:

• University degree – LLB from recognized university
• Possession of Masters (LL.M, MBA is an added advantage)
• Banking qualifications (AKIB, ACIB is an added advantage)

Professional Qualifications:

• Advocate of the High Court
• CPS(K)
• Experience/Background expected from the job holder:
• An experienced Advocate of the High Court with good exposure to wide complex commercial, conveyancing and debt recovery work pertaining to Banks
• Experience in general company secretarial duties
• Exposure to general banking operations
• Experience in dealing with different stakeholders and diversified viewpoints, and ability to look at issues from multiple dimensions