Legal Counsel at BIC Nigeria

Job Description

• The Legal Counsel for Nigeria will act as a strategic legal partner, delivering proactive and reactive legal support across a wide range of business areas, including commercial, marketing, intellectual property, procurement, manufacturing, and supply chain, finance, HR, and compliance. The role will oversee the legal operations of BIC entities in Nigeria. The Legal Counsel will report directly to the Regional Senior Legal Counsel in West and Central Africa of the Group.
• The candidate must be team oriented and organized.
• The candidate will be part of the Group Legal team. In addition to being the lead on legal matters and support within the MENAWACA region, this role will also support all Group Legal initiatives. This responsibility will include implementation of systems and procedures to ensure that the department is able to provide high quality, time advice to effectively service the business’s needs, prepare and review contracts and undertake contacts with authorities/regulators in relevant markets.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Advisory & Compliance

• With guidance of Regional Senior Legal Counsel and/or external counsel (as applicable), give accurate and timely legal counsel to internal business teams on a myriad of business issues.
• Implement and oversee Group Compliance programs including the Group’s Code of Ethics, anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies, and conduct internal investigations and audits as needed.
• Liaise with government authorities on regulatory, compliance, and legal matters when necessary.
• Review, confirm, and update company policies, handbooks, and processes to ensure compliance with legal requirements and industry best practices.

Corporate and Company Secretary

• Acting as the company secretary of BIC entities in Nigeria
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance standards and applicable regulations.
• Provide legal and governance advice to the board while supporting corporate structuring, subsidiary management and risk mitigation efforts.

Contracting Excellence

• Negotiate, draft, execute, and manage a variety of contracts, including those with suppliers, logistics, customers, distributors, procurement, employees, and consultants.
• Send out prompters for Agreement renewals and arrange for the proper and timely execution of Agreements.
• Negotiate with outside parties on specified contractual issues and legal disputes.
• Provide legal support to project teams and Group Legal on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and other strategic transactions in the region.

Advertising, Marketing, and Brand Protection

• Review and approve advertising and marketing materials, including product claims, promotional campaigns, packaging and terms and conditions of sale, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and ethical standards.
• Coordinate and implement anticounterfeiting operations in Nigeria, collaborating with law enforcement, regulatory authorities, and external counsel to protect the Group’s intellectual property and brand integrity.
• Develop and implement strategies to monitor and address counterfeit activities and strengthen brand protection with the Group Anti-Counterfeit Head Department.

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain a compliance calendar to track important deadlines, filings and reporting requirements.
• Prepare regular reports and updates on the Company’s compliance status at the local level.
• Maintain accurate records of all legal and compliance-related documents, contracts, permits, and licenses specific to Nigeria. Ensure that BIC Group entities are up-to-date with all necessary filings.

Litigation Management

• Assist with reviewing new claims and collaborating with business teams to devise efficient defense, working with the Regional Senior Legal Counsel.
• Collate information and documents to aid the Litigation process and arrangements for Company witnesses and pre-trial briefings.
• Proactively liaise and collaborate with external counsel, including follow-up and obtaining feedback on cases.

Legal Risk Management

• Proactively research and evaluate different risk factors regarding business teams decisions and operations and advise accordingly.
• Perform initial due diligence in legal matters, where required.

Training and Awareness

• Prepare periodic articles, training materials and updates on relevant legal issues for the business' information.

Legal Operations

• Ensure timely payment of External counsel and other Legal Vendors.
• Prepare legal reports and slides as assigned by the Regional Senior Legal Counsel.
• Update and maintain online and physical legal files and documentation.
• Ensure monthly update of templates and other legal departments on the Legal Sharepoint
• Ensure proper filing of the Legal Team's documents.

Projects/Programmes

• Support Legal Projects and/or other such programs within the Company and BIC Group.
• Carry out other legal-related tasks which the Regional Senior Counsel assigns, from time-to-time.

Qualifications
Simple Criteria
Required:

• Master’s degree in business law and admitted to the Nigerian Bar association
• Possesses 6-8 years’ work experience, preferably covering multi-national organizations and industry experience.
• Proven expertise in compliance programs, advertising law, competition, contract law and dispute resolution and FMCG-specific legal matters.
• Candidate must have experience in working with a manufacturing firm or must be a legal counsel for a reputable company.
• Strong leadership skills, and able to build compliance culture within BIC
• Possesses excellent written & verbal communication skills.
• Responsible and accountable - takes ownership of assigned tasks and sees them through to completion without needing constant supervision.
• A collaborative attitude, building strong relationships with all stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and flexibility as well as the ability to work effectively in global cross-cultural and cross-functional teams.
• Ensure accurate and useful reporting on matters worked on to the reporting manager
• Candidate should be willing to resume almost immediately.
• Strong integrity and business ethics.