General Counsel - Plantations at LIPTON Teas and Infusions

• The General Counsel provides legal services to the total company while overseeing Legal operations in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. You are also a business partner to the relevant departments within the Company. You will safeguard the Company’s reputation by guaranteeing that the company strictly follows laws, guidelines and give legal advice to management about all relevant issues while ensuring legal conformity and minimize probability of exposure.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal

• Identifies legal risks and helps the business navigate them, providing legally compliant creative solutions which deliver competitive advantage to the business objectives taking into account compliance, reputation, cost, risk and other consequences.
• Advises communications, industrial relations, tax and finance on statutory obligations under the relevant legal Acts and associated legislation and regulations relating to matters such as governance frameworks, share dealing and associated disclosures, directorships, annual accounts, company incorporations, acquisitions, disposals, restructurings.
• Development and maintenance of relationships with relevant external contacts (e.g. external lawyers, registrars, regulators, external bodies etc).
• Contracts and other legal documents – Review and draft legal contracts and other legal documents generally
• Manage records of contracts & other legal documents deposited with Legal department for safekeeping.
• Litigation Support – Lipton representation at court sessions and follow up of external advocates to deliver value for legal fees paid.
• Facilitate appropriate legal documentation and witnesses for the litigation process responsible for litigation update reports.
• Legal review – Facilitate the availability of laws and regulations relevant to company operations research and review laws and regulations regulating the company advisor on all changes to laws and regulations.
• Services Management/ Rates & Rents – Insurance and licensing, manage the company’s lease portfolio, alert the relevant functions on expiry of leases and facilitate renewal and termination of leases, facilitate payment of rent and rates.
• Process Artwork approval.
• Establishment and implementation of Code of Business Principles (COBP) specific structured awareness and training
• Facilitate Motorisation of documents and Affidavits in Court.
• Process payments for external legal services.
• Provide other ad hoc legal services as may be required from time to time.

Company Secretary

• Ensure Company secretarial services including preparation of Board resolutions and minutes of Board meetings and Annual General Meetings are provided to the Company and ensure proper governance of all entities.
• Ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, reporting requirements and disclosures for listed companies.
• Ensuring the Finance Team is well advised on the reporting requirements and disclosures required under the Companies Act and other relevant laws.
• Liaising with the Company Secretary to organise for the company and subsidiary’s Board meetings as well as Board Committee Meetings.
• Ensure filing of Annual Returns, and resolutions relating to appointment and resignation of Directors and Secretaries.
• Ensure Company Registers are always up-to-date and use of the Company Seal is managed properly.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• A Graduate of Law (LLB)
• Call to Bar (Diploma from Kenya School of Law)
• Member of Law Society of Kenya & current practicing certificate
• 7+ years post- qualification experience in Corporate/Commercial Law practice or related job experience
• A good working knowledge in the following legal areas – commercial contracts, product liability, employment, antitrust, litigation and marketing

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• Proactive, open and outward looking attitude
• Good analytical skill and ability to work with line managers and others as a team.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and listening) and ability to establish collaborative relationships.
• Resilient under pressure, excellent organization skills and an ability to prioritize effectively.
• Excellent IT and record keeping skills.
• High level of integrity & capacity to handle confidential data/information sensitively.
• Planning & Co – ordinations skills
• Practical Creativity
• People Management skills
• Growing & Learning
• Curiosity & Drive