General Counsel, West Africa at Unilever

• The main focus of this role is business partnering the West Africa Leadership Team, ensuring the governance, compliance and controls framework is adhered to while also contributing to strategy development and execution for the West Africa business.
• The successful candidate will be a member of the West Africa Leadership Team and the Africa Legal Leadership Team.
• The role will also manage Legal Counsels across the West Africa markets, where three (3) operating entities are listed on the local stock exchanges and contribute in setting strategy and direction for wider Africa Legal team.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Advises on a broad range of complex issues which are of strategic importance to long-term business performance.
• Key areas of activity are: litigation, employment law, commercial law, brand protection, competition/antitrust, marketing legal, privacy and data protection, company secretarial support, among others.
• Company Secretary to the Board and management, including providing advice to the Boards and Management, engaging with regulatory bodies, and ensuring compliance with all listing requirements and other legal requirements.
• Takes responsibility for all legal aspects of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other major organisational transactions.
• Partners with colleagues to identify the options for achieving business objectives within appropriate legal parameters and advising on the optimal solution, taking into account cost, risk and commercial consequences.
• Plans the conduct of substantial projects/litigation over period and may take ownership of significant commercial projects (e.g. joint ventures).
• Appoints, instructs, and manages external legal resources, including law firms, in accordance with the Engagement of the External Legal Professionals and Consultants Policy.
• Leads in negotiation/litigation, directing a team of lawyers, on a project basis.
• Takes the lead in helping the business to identify and manage legal risk and provides advice in a way that ensures achievement of business objectives.
• Interface with external regulators
• Provide a central source of guidance and advice to the Board and the Company on matters of ethics, conflict of interest and good corporate governance.

KEY SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

• Qualified solicitor/barrister with over 15+ years post-qualification experience.
• Proven knowledge and experience in commercial law & practice.
• Good understanding and working knowledge of corporate law, competition law, intellectual property law, regulations.
• Company secretary & corporate governance experience
• Ability to co-ordinate corporate transactional work.
• Good team player having ability to work as a business Partner within an opco and collaborate with other global, sub-regional and regional lawyers.
• Excellent communication skills (oral & written)
• Negotiation skills.
• Good Analytical skills
• Attention to detail

Direct Reports          

• Legal & Brand Protection Counsels
• Legal Admin/ Office               

Key Interfaces

• Category Teams
• Functional Teams
• External Counsel
• Securities & Exchange Commission 
• Stock Exchanges
• Corporate Affairs
• Registrars
• Boards / Board Committees