Legal Counsel at Absa Bank Limited

Job Summary

The Legal Function provides legal advice and support to Absa Bank Kenya PLC and its subsidiaries (Absa Bank Kenya) in all Absa Bank Kenya’s businesses and enterprise functions including areas such as litigation management, transactional support, commercial contracts review, compliance with laws reviews and general legal advice.

Legal Counsel provides legal support and assistance to Absa Bank Kenya’s Head of Legal in identifying and managing legal risk for the Bank and its subsidiaries while liaising directly with the business as appropriate and working with the legal team to address legal service requirements for the Bank and its subsidiaries.

Job Description

Litigation Management - 50% 

Assist Head of Legal in: 

• Managing the litigation portfolio and enhancing litigation outcomes.
• Arranging Trail Ready Forums and case management conferences.
• Reviewing pleadings Court documents and evidence.
• Liaising with External Counsel on all litigations and attending Court.
• Streamlining litigation portfolio through timely resolution of cases and alternative dispute resolution.
• Negotiating settlements outcomes.
• Managing and controlling external legal resources in terms of budgets, costs and performance. Act as liaison between banking personnel and external legal advisors as appropriate. 
• Raising of provisions where necessary as advised by External Counsel.
• Develop and roll out litigation risk management and strategy in line with Bank policy. 

Legal Risk Management - 30% 

Assist Head of Legal in: 

• Ensuring that all aspects of legal risk are identified covered and controlled in the implementation of new projects, systems, procedures and products. 
• Developing and delivering strategic legal risk management initiatives. 
• Ensuring best practices are adopted and guidelines complied with, and that all activities comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations. 
• Ensuring that changes and developments in legislation, regulations, guidelines and practices affecting the markets in which the business operates are analysed, evaluated and reported as required.  
• Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework, internal Absa Policies and Policy Standards and strong knowledge of legal risk management and controls.
• Identifying and meeting management information requirements for the measurement of legal risk exposure, performance (both of internal and external legal resources) and productivity. 

 Business Support - 20%

Assist the Head of Legal in: 

• Contributing to the development of business strategy by providing innovative solutions to legal risk management. 
• Supporting the business in the long-term growth by providing pragmatic and effective advice to manage legal risk across the business and assist in the design and implementation of procedures to manage this risk at an appropriate level. 
• Liaising with various Business Heads as a legal point of contact. 
• Addressing and managing resolution of Legal queries arising from the business. 
• Provide education, training and support to the businesses on relevant legal risk issues and developments as appropriate. 
• Ensure an up to date and relevant knowledge of principal areas of law and practice within Bank. 
• Managing the legal budgets for the business. 

Role/person specification 

Qualification 

• Bachelor of Laws (LL. B).
• Advocate of the High Court of Kenya - 5 years post admission experience.
• Professional qualifications will be added advantage.

Experience and Competencies

• Practical and demonstrable experience in litigation.
• Experience in business law that is relevant to financial services.   
• Knowledge and understanding of banking and financial business strategy, business, and markets. 
• Strong technical legal ability including drafting and review of documentation.
• Demonstrable ability to properly interpret and review legislation and regulation. 
• Strategic planning and negotiation skills.
• Effective communication in written and spoken English.
• Analytical, problem-solving skills with the ability to develop innovative solutions. 
• Project and resource management.
• Stakeholder management and networking skills.