Legal Associate(Corporate Commercial & Conveyancing) at MAL Consultancy

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties and responsibilities will include but not be limited to;

Conveyancing

• Conduct legal research and analysis on commercial and conveyancing matters.
• Prepare and review legal documents, such as contracts, agreements, leases, and conveyancing papers.
• Collaborate with partners and senior associates to develop legal strategies and solutions.
• Communicate with clients, government agencies, and stakeholders to gather necessary information.
• Providing legal advisory to the Clients on enquires relating to the regulatory framework and any emerging changes in their transactions.
• Supporting Banks in the securitization process by safeguarding their interests by carrying out due diligence and perfecting the process.
• Assisting Clients investing in the real estate sector by carrying out due diligence on the properties and subsequent registration of the processes.
• Business development and brand visibility for the department.
• Attend meetings, negotiations, and court proceedings as required.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case files, documents, and databases.
• Stay informed about changes in legislation, regulations, and case law relevant to the field.
• Manage client relationships and provide high-quality customer service.
• Support business development initiatives, including proposals and client pitches.
• Stay updated on industry trends and developments in commercial and conveyancing law.

Commercial Law

• Contracts: Draft, review and negotiate contracts such as sales agreements, distribution agreements, licensing agreements, and service contracts
• Business Organizations: Advise clients on the formation and dissolution of business entities such as corporations, partnerships, and LLCs, including drafting of articles of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreements, and operating agreements
• Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Assist in mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring transactions and conduct due diligence, draft transaction documents, and advise on regulatory compliance
• Intellectual Property: Advise clients on intellectual property matters such as trademarks, copyrights, and patents and draft licensing agreements and handle any infringement disputes as and when they arise
• Commercial Transactions: Handle various commercial transactions for clients, including financing arrangements, secured transactions, and commercial leases
• Employment Law: Advise clients on employment contracts, workplace policies, and compliance with employment laws and regulations.

Corporate Law

• Formation of Corporations: Advise the Partners on the formation and structuring of corporations, including drafting articles of incorporation, bylaws, and shareholder agreements, including choosing the appropriate type of corporation (e.g., C corporation, S corporation) based on client business's needs and goals
• Corporate Governance: Provide guidance on corporate governance matters, such as the rights and responsibilities of directors, officers, and shareholders, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices
• Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Assist in mergers, acquisitions, and other forms of corporate restructuring and conduct due diligence, negotiate and draft transaction documents (such as merger agreements and asset purchase agreements), and navigate regulatory approvals
• Securities Law: Advise clients and Partners on compliance with securities regulations, including the issuance of stocks and bonds, disclosure requirements, and reporting obligations to regulatory authorities
• Corporate Finance: Provide advice on financing transactions, such as private equity investments, venture capital financing, and debt financing and draft financing agreements and ensure compliance with financial regulations
• Corporate Compliance and Ethics: Ensure that clients comply with applicable laws and regulations, including corporate governance standards, employment laws, environmental regulations, and anti-corruption laws
• Intellectual Property: Advise on intellectual property matters relevant to clients, such as trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets and draft licensing agreements and handle intellectual property disputes
• Corporate Dissolution and Insolvency: Handle all the legal aspects of corporate dissolution, bankruptcy proceedings, and insolvency matters for clients.

Client Management

• Attend consultations with clients
• Develop and implement adequate SLA’s with the Partners and/or clients (where relevant) and ensure deadlines are met and client expectations are managed by reporting progress as required
• Consistently deliver high quality work in keeping with the standards set by the firm
• Establish strong relationships with existing clients and deliver against set expectations while anticipating their immediate and future needs.

Team Development

• Actively participate in the integration and induction of juniors into practice areas by being available to answer queries or provide guidance on team practices and processes
• Ensuring the positive moral of juniors by being collegial and demonstrating ability to work well, demonstrate teamwork and act as a “buddy”
• Drive internal teams’ capacity to handle client needs by providing internal sensitization on basic legal frameworks and laws relevant to their execution of day to day work requirements.

Business Development & Support

• Write articles for internal and external publication under the guidance of the Partner
• Participate in business development through proposal writing, expression of interests, cross selling and upselling business services as applicable
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking best legal practices and participating in professional societies aligned to the business and functional competencies for this role
• Maintain metrics and analyze data to assess performance and implement improvements across the various parameters of assigned duties.

Financial Management

• Work closely with the partners to determine relevant budgets for daily operations of the legal function
• Actively track approved budgets and meet monthly budget targets as set by the Partners

Any other duties as assigned in alignment to the legal practice.

EDUCATION SKILLS & COMPETENCIES DESIRED

• An Undergraduate Degree in Law (LLB) from a recognized institution of learning
• A Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law(KSL)
• A registered and practicing Attorney of Law
• Member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK)
• A Post Graduate Diploma in Law, Organization Administration or Commercial focus will be an added advantage
• At least three - five (3 – 5) years’ work experience in a law firm with a focus on conveyancing, commercial and corporate law
• Strong knowledge and experience working with and interpreting legal frameworks
• Attention to detail with strong legal research, drafting and writing skills
• Ability to administer and execute instructions, from receipt to conclusion, with minimal professional supervision
• Strong organizational skills, meticulous and high attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize and co-ordinate work to meet deadlines in a highly pressurized environment
• A client service orientation, being able to engage with clients who will interrogate your reasoning and require you to justify your legal arguments and commercial input.