Legal Counsel (Junior) at DP World

Job Context

• Support the company Secretary/LA in the provision of Secretarial, statutory, and regulatory compliance and corporate governance services. 
• Play a key role in coordinating all the legal services, management of litigation/external lawyer, debtors’ portfolios, police matters, court attendance and all matters related thereto.

Key Performance Areas (KPAs)

• Assist in organizing Annual General Meetings, Extra-Ordinary General Meetings of the Company, the Board of Directors and its Committee.
• Undertakes the filing returns and giving of notification to the Corporate Affairs Commission and all regulatory authorities on behalf of MDS Logistics Limited as directed by the CS/LA
• Handles the litigations, policy matter, debt recoveries and coordinate relationship with external legal consultants.
• Represent the Company in Courts and report proceedings thereat
• Assist in the processing of expatriate quota, residence permits, visa and other immigration requirements on behalf of expatriate employees of the Company and its Business Units with the Federal Ministry of Interior/Internal Affairs.
• Undertakes such other secretarial, legal and managerial duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors, MDS/CEO from time to time.
• Represent or facilitates the representation of the Company in courts, administrative and other dispute resolution fora.
• Manage the company’s relationship with external counsel/law firms and serves as the link between the group and external law firms/counsel.
• Drafting and vetting contracts, leases, licenses, Joint Venture Agreements, and other forms of agreements referred by various departments in the business
• Assist in managing the intellectual property portfolio of the Company, including but not limited to registration and protection of Trademarks, designs, Patents, etc. within and outside Nigeria and on the web, management of copyright and confidential information etc.
• Take steps to protect and prevent infringement of the intellectual property of the company through registration and other protective strategies.
• Develop and implement an effective contract management process/database including contract depository, contract register, contract templates, contract filing and contract status reporting and compliance feedback.
• Prompt all departments on timely renewal of leases, certificates of occupancy, commercial services, joint venture agreements, international agreements etc.
• Assist the CS/LA ensure compliance by the business with all applicable federal, state, local and international statutes, case laws, regulations and byelaws through periodic legal audit & review, advisory and legislative, policy monitoring and reporting.
• Undertakes and ensure proper filings of all documents in Secretarial/Legal services
• Following up with all external legal consultants on briefs to ensure timely completion of assignments/briefs.
• Handles the intellectual property portfolio, renewal of expiring trademarks.
• Preparing first drafts of agreement, correspondence for the Company Secretary/LA for vetting, review and approval
• Ensure adequate and proper filings of all correspondence acts, Agreements.
• Handles contract depository for all departments.
• Assist the CS/LA in handling the Company’s property portfolio.

Qualifications Required

• LL. B (HONS)
• Member of Nigerian Bar Association and or other relevant professional bodies
• Member of institute of Chartered secretariate & Administrator of Nigeria al

Skills and Experience Required:

• 3-5 years post call experience in secretarial and legal practice and exposure to business experience in a reputable law firm or blue-chip company or conglomerate.
• Sound knowledge of and experience in Company Secretarial Practice, meetings, Business/commercial, Corporate Law, Real Estate property Laws, intellectual property and practice with experience