The Assistant Legal Counsel is a legal professional advising the Express business primarily in Nigeria and Ghana, as well as Liberia, Gambia or Sierra Leone if required, on all legal matters including employment, labour, eCommerce, tax, commercial negotiations, postal regulation and other critical legal areas.
This role is responsible for defining and recommending legal strategies, supervising litigation to mitigate the organization's legal exposure, and working with Legal Counsel, Head of Legal/supervisor and external counsels to establish best-in-class legal processes and procedures to ensure legal risks are identified and mitigated across Anglophone West Africa operations.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Advisory & Risk Management
- Advise DHL Express on legal and related risks associated with DPDHL's operations in Anglophone West Africa
- Analyse and interpret case law, court reports, and proposed and existing laws and regulations to ascertain how they will impact the organization's operations
- Provide first-line legal expertise to DHL Express and other Business Units when requested
- Review legal analysis and technical reports, making recommendations on how to respond to legal issues or proposed changes in laws and regulations
- Advise business on legal trends and developing areas of law
- Implement legal risk mitigation strategies
Contract Management & Corporate Governance
- Review and approve legal contracts with customers, suppliers, and partners, including letters of agreement and other documents related to trade, corporate, commercial, financial, regulatory, postal, administrative law, labour/employment, customs and operational matters
- Manage loans, leases, purchase agreements, employment contracts and provide internal trainings to protect the organization's legal and business interests
- Oversee recapitalization of legal entities in West Africa and all follow-up on corporate documents of DHL affiliates
- Ensure organization's legal interests are best represented and protected in customer, vendor and third-party contracts
- Actively participate in negotiating contracts in area of responsibility
Litigation & Claims Management
- Hold primary responsibility for defending the organization's legal interests in litigation and claims, including management of significant external legal spend in the sub-region
- Supervise litigation processes to mitigate legal exposure and protect DHL's interests
- Coordinate with external counsels to manage complex legal matters effectively
Financial & Budget Management
- Work with supervisor to better manage internal and external legal spend in area of responsibility
- Assist with minimizing external legal spend through effective resource management
- May assist with budget preparation for legal function
Team Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as a member of a team responsible for assuring organization's legal interests are protected
- Demonstrate ability to adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic business environment
- Collaborate with Legal Counsel and Head of Legal to establish best-in-class legal processes and procedures
Minimum Requirements
Experience & Knowledge
- 2-5 years of legal practice either within a commercial law firm or in-house legal department
- Growing understanding of DPDHL's business operations, goals and strategies in area of responsibility
- Subject matter expert with ability to apply legal knowledge and expertise in business environment
- Anglophone Africa geographical knowledge
- Strong analytical skills with ability to assess complex legal issues
Educational Qualification
- University law degree (LL.B or equivalent)
- Professional law qualifications required
- Bar Affiliation appreciated and preferred
Core Competencies & Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills – Ability to communicate complex legal matters clearly to non-legal stakeholders
- Legal expertise – Deep knowledge in employment, labour, eCommerce, tax, commercial law, postal regulation, customs, and administrative law
- Analytical thinking – Strong ability to analyze case law, regulations, and legal documents
- Business acumen – Understanding of how legal decisions impact business operations
- Negotiation skills – Proven ability to negotiate favorable contract terms
- Adaptability – Ability to manage changing priorities and work under pressure
- Team collaboration – Works effectively with cross-functional teams and external counsels
Essential Requirements: This role requires a qualified legal professional with strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and the capacity to apply legal expertise in a fast-paced international business environment. Experience in Anglophone Africa and understanding of regional legal frameworks is critical for success.
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