Litigation Officer at Stanbic IBTC

Job ID: 43478
Location: Lagos Island
Job Sector: Banking

Job Details

• Legal: guidance across all areas and geographies to ensure: every transaction is appropriately negotiated, documented and implemented, losses arising from litigation are minimised, and legal issues carrying negative reputational consequences are avoided.

Job Purpose

• To work directly with the Litigation Team to fulfil their role of managing the litigation portfolio of the HoldCo and other subsidiaries.
• In addition to this, the incumbent is expected to ensure that support the legal risk management function for the HoldCo and other subsidiaries.

Key Responsibilities/Accountabilities
General litigation:

• Liaison with external Solicitors and monitoring their handling of litigation involving the Group or any of its subsidiaries.
• Review and vetting of court processes and pleadings served on the Group/its subsidiaries and those to be filed on behalf of the Group/its subsidiaries.
• Preparing letters of instruction to external Solicitors.
• Procuring relevant documentation and information required to support the Group’s processes in litigation.
• Preparing the Group’s witnesses for court sessions and pre-trial conferences
• Functioning as the Group’s witness in relevant litigation cases and/or representing the Group at mediation/dispute resolution sessions.
• Attendance at court sessions with the Group’s witnesses and to keep a watching brief.
• Attendance at meetings with Clients and their Solicitors aimed at achieving amicable resolution of issues in dispute between the Group and the Clients notwithstanding pending litigation.
• Managing the Group’s compliance with court orders including Garnishee Proceedings.
• Processing payment of fees and reimbursements to Solicitors handling litigation matters on behalf of the Group.
• Providing legal opinion on sundry issues.

Reporting requirements:

• Rendition of monthly reports to relevant departments of the Standard Bank Group as well as other reports to other relevant Units on the pending litigation involving the Group
• Ensure that reports to relevant stakeholders are prepared and sent out as and when due or when required.
• Maintain the Litigation Schedules and other relevant schedules of the HoldCo and other subsidiaries.

Potential litigation:

• Managing Clients complaints referred to the Legal Department on matters which could lead to potential litigation.
• Attendance at law enforcement agencies or regulatory agencies including the Nigerian Police Force, EFCC and providing responses to correspondences and other enquiries from these agencies, etc.
• Debt recovery - issuance of demand letters to defaulting clients and their guarantors as well as handling ancillary issues in respect of debt recovery.

Preferred Qualification and Experience
Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's-in-Law from a university as well as the Nigerian Law School required. Proof of payment of the annual lawyer’s practising fee required.
• 4 - 8 years in the Legal Services Department of a financial institution or a reputable law firm.
• Able to communicate both verbally and in writing.

Knowledge/Technical Skills/Expertise
Technical Competencies:

• Litigation practice
• Banking and relevant regulations
• Banking and regulatory environment.