Head Legal Advisory at Equity Bank Kenya

Job Purpose

The Head of Legal, Advisory at Equity Bank Kenya Limited leads the legal advisory team, delivering strategic and practical legal guidance on corporate, regulatory, and financial matters. This role involves managing legal risks, ensuring compliance with banking regulations, supporting the bank’s business activities, and advising senior management and business units on legal issues. The position requires an experienced lawyer with expert knowledge of Kenyan banking laws, financial regulations, and the ability to navigate complex legal challenges in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Legal Advisory:

• Provide comprehensive legal advice to senior management, business units, and the board on issues impacting the bank’s operations and strategies.
• Support the development and execution of the bank’s strategic objectives by assessing legal risks and opportunities.
• Oversee the development and implementation of legal policies and procedures to mitigate risks.

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure the bank’s compliance with Kenyan banking and financial services regulations, including Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) guidelines, anti-money laundering (AML), anti-corruption, and data protection laws.
• Advise and monitor regulatory developments, ensuring that the bank’s policies align with the latest legal and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement risk management strategies, policies, and frameworks to identify and mitigate legal risks in the bank’s operations.

Corporate Governance:

• Advise on and oversee corporate governance structures, practices, and policies to ensure adherence to best practices and legal standards.
• Collaborate with the company secretary to ensure that board and committee meeting agendas, minutes, and resolutions comply with statutory requirements.
• Provide legal guidance on shareholder rights, board responsibilities, and governance-related matters.

Legal Support for Business Units:

• Serve as the primary legal point of contact for business units, offering guidance on legal aspects of products, services, and transactions.
• Advise on the structuring, documentation, and risk assessment of banking products and services, including lending, treasury, and investment services.
• Support the bank’s digital transformation initiatives by providing legal counsel on technology contracts, data protection, and cybersecurity issues.

Policy Development and Training:

• Develop and maintain internal policies on legal, compliance, and regulatory matters, ensuring staff awareness and adherence.
• Conduct training sessions for employees on key legal topics such as AML, data privacy, and regulatory compliance.
• Stay updated on industry developments and organize legal knowledge-sharing sessions with the legal team and relevant departments.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead and manage the bank’s legal advisory team, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous learning.
• Conduct performance appraisals, offer mentorship, and identify development needs within the team.
• Promote effective collaboration within the legal team and across departments to enhance service delivery.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience 

• Education: Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) degree from a recognized university. Master’s degree or further specialization in Banking and Finance, Corporate Law, or Business Law is a plus.
• Professional Qualifications: Admitted as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid practicing certificate and in good standing with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). Certification in Corporate Governance, Compliance, or similar fields is advantageous.
• Experience: Minimum of 10–12 years of legal experience, with at least 5 years in a senior management role within the banking or financial services sector.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies:

• In-depth knowledge of Kenyan banking and finance laws, regulations, and CBK guidelines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Expertise in contract drafting and management.
• Experience managing regulatory relationships and legal risks in a commercial banking environment.
• Strategic Vision: Ability to align legal objectives with the bank’s broader strategic goals.
• Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates high ethical standards, promoting transparency, accountability, and compliance.
• Attention to Detail: Ability to work accurately and efficiently, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
• Team Leadership: Proven leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and guide a team of legal professionals.