Senior Legal Officer at Mogo Finance

What you will do:

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated In-House Senior Legal Officer to join our legal team at Mogo Auto Limited. The ideal candidate will have a strong litigation background. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in corporate, regulatory, and in-house legal practice, with a particular understanding of the financial services industry. 

As a Senior Legal Officer, you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to provide comprehensive legal support, ensuring the company’s operations and activities are fully compliant with applicable laws and regulations. The role will include management of litigation, day-to-day legal advisory, contract management, and regulatory compliance, and providing guidance, mentorship, and oversight to junior legal staff to support their professional development and ensure high-quality legal output. 

This is an exciting opportunity for a driven legal professional to contribute to the growth and success of a dynamic company providing affordable financing options in Kenya. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert, strategic legal advice to management and business units on a broad range of matters, including corporate governance, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, disputes, and litigation.
• Lead, manage, and coordinate all litigation and dispute resolution matters, including development of legal strategies, preparation and review of legal documentation, court representation where necessary, and oversight of external counsel. Monitor ongoing matters and provide regular updates to management on case status, risks, and potential outcomes.
• Oversee the handling and resolution of legal complaints and disputes, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, timely resolution, and effective risk management to minimize legal exposure.
• Oversee day-to-day in-house legal operations, including review, drafting, negotiation, and approval of agreements, MOUs, leases, service contracts, financing documents, and other business documentation.
• Ensure the company’s full compliance with all regulatory obligations, including licensing, reporting, and ongoing engagement with financial services, consumer protection, and data privacy regulators.
• Develop, review, and implement internal legal policies, procedures, and compliance frameworks to ensure adherence to local and regional laws, regulatory requirements, and best practices.
• Supervise and provide legal oversight to the recoveries and enforcement process, working closely with collections, credit risk, and operations teams to ensure lawful and effective recovery actionsConduct and oversee legal research, and proactively monitor changes in laws, regulations, and judicial precedents affecting the company’s operations in existing and target markets.
• Partner with internal departments to ensure that contracts, transactions, and business initiatives align with company objectives while identifying and mitigating legal and regulatory risks.
• Lead legal training and awareness sessions for management and staff on legal, regulatory, and compliance matters relevant to the business.
• Oversee and maintain the contract management system, ensuring all agreements are properly executed, stored, monitored, and renewed in a timely manner.
• Support corporate secretarial functions, including preparation of board and committee resolutions, agendas, minutes, and statutory filings, as required.
• Provide mentorship, supervision, and guidance to junior legal staff, ensuring high standards of legal work, knowledge transfer, and professional development within the legal team.
• Perform any other legal, compliance, or risk-related duties as may be assigned by management.

What you will need:

Education:

• A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognized institution. 
• Post Graduate Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law. 
• Admitted to the Roll of Advocates in Kenya. 
• Current practicing Certificate. 

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of post admission proven experience as a legal professional. 
• Experience in managing junior legal officers.  
• Experience working in-house or with financial institutions, particularly within the microfinance sector, or regulators, is highly preferred. 
• Experience working in-house or with financial institutions, particularly within the microfinance sector, or regulators, is highly preferred. 

Competencies:

• Strong understanding of the Kenyan regulatory framework, including CBK guidelines, microfinance institutions regulations, data privacy, and consumer protection laws.
• Excellent legal drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Experience in dispute resolution.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into practical solutions.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and legal research tools.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to think critically and strategically.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion in handling sensitive information.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to identifying legal risks and solutions. Results-oriented, self-motivated, self-starter, who is flexible and adaptable to rapid change and able to work in a fast-paced, high demand environment.