Legal Assistant at Vivo Energy

Job Purpose

• Managing the Legal Risks that the Company would face, ensure that they are ameliorated and resolved as required by the law and to protect and defend the interests of the Company at all times;
• Providing legal representation, advice, counsel, and opinions in all areas of law affecting the Company, including compliance and legal regulatory issues;
• Keeping a follow up on all the cases allocated to the office in which the Company is a party to ensure quick and optimal resolution for the company;
• Advising the Company, its management and other employees in the course of their work for the company;
• Undertaking legal review of and advise the company upon important legal documents, agreements, policies and procedures;
• Providing legal advice regarding all legal matters involving regulators, complainants or other parties;
• Performing other projects and duties at the request of the Legal Counsel/ Head of Legal as assigned.

Requirements
Legal Advice.

• Ensuring that all statutory and regulatory requirements are properly complied with.
• Offering legal guidance
• Legal research, analysis and preparation of legal opinions on matters assigned.

Contracts.

• Actual generation and drafting of clauses in agreements in line with the needs and requirements of the company.
• Ensuring that the company’s interests are protected in contracting.
• Ensuring that the contracts/agreements are acceptable and not entirely one sided by negotiating clauses.
• Checking and ensuring that important clauses in all contracts have been included
• Preparing addendums amending, correcting or extending validity of contracts.
• Attendance of contract negotiation meetings.
• Commenting on contracts in tender documents and suggesting changes.
• Scrutiny of all securities provided by Buyers to the company to secure credit such as bank guarantees.

Dispute Resolution/Cases

• Receiving and acting upon court summons, pleadings and demand letters served upon the company.
• Keeping a diary of all cases that are in court and when they are coming up for hearing.
• Ensuring that all documentary and other evidence is well preserved and stored, all files are in place and well updated and coordinating the entire litigation process.
• Making quarterly litigation reports to the Head of Legal on the progress of the matters.
• Approval of court pleadings before they are filed in court.
• Appearing as a witness for the Company where requested by Legal Counsel/ Head of Legal / Management
• Preparation of witnesses for hearing- pre trial briefing with the lawyers.
• Accompanying of witnesses to court.
• Arranging and attending strategy meetings with the lawyers on how to proceed.
• Follow up with lawyers on the progress of court matters.
• Negotiating out of court settlements in the best interest of the Company
• Minimizing litigation through proactive strategy on cases closure and closing cases at the least pain to the Company

Debt Collection

• Assisting business in the drafting and issuance of demand letters
• Attendance of LCC meetings
• Following up debtors to pay up debts, working out payment terms with debtors and actual collection of debt
• Advise to the LCC on collectability of debts
• Update to Head of Legal on progress / need to instruct external lawyers

Property matters

• Assistance in the drafting of letters of offer in the acquisition of leases.
• Perusal and confirmation of the terms of the conveyancing documents prepared by external lawyers.
• Ensuring that the company’s interests are properly secured for example by registering mortgages and charges over properties where advance payments are paid such as advance rents for leased properties.
• In disposal of properties, advise to the company on the process, legal requirements and documentation.

Personnel matters

• Advise to the Company on labour and employment issues.
• Advise to the company on staff disciplinary matters.
• Advise to the Human Resource Manager on compliance with the current Employment Act 2007, Work Injury Benefits Act, Retirement Benefits Act among other laws that may touch on employment.
• Advise to the Company on the interpretation, implementation and adherence to the Human Resource Manual and Policies.

Retirement Benefits matters

• Advise to the Company on retirement benefits matters, the law etc
• Participation in the operations of the retirement scheme
• Advise to the company on management of the scheme

Job Knowledge, Skills & Experiences:

• Admitted to the bar
• Should have 3 to 4 years of work experience after admission
• Ability to work independently
• Demonstration of creativity and initiative in attending to tasks
• Capacity for identifying potential legal problems and designing legal solutions