Legal Manager at HBM Nigeria Plc (Formerly Lafarge)

About the Job

The Job holder is responsible for the effective management and administration of the legal aspects of the Cement, Ready Mix and Geocycle operations in Ewekoro, Sagamu, Mfamosing, Lagos, FCT-Abuja and other locations across the country. He/she will also assist the Company Secretary on all Company Secretarial matters, Contract drafting and review, Litigation & Claims and Compliance for Lafarge Africa Plc.

What you'll be doing

• Legal Business Partner
  • To assume the role of the Business Partner to provide legal advisory to the Cement, Ready Mix and Geocycle operations of the Company
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant laws and any other statutes that may come into effect
  • Assist to provide legal advisory and opinions to the business operations
  • Provide legal support to ensure good and solid relationships with all stakeholders
  • Conduct regular legal risk assessment of the Cement, Ready Mix and Geocycle operations and proffer legal recommendations
  • To keep abreast of all relevant laws and any other statutes that may come into effect and to formulate strategies/action plans to communicate and ensure compliance by the organisation
  • Provide proactive legal counsel on compliance, corporate governance and other relevant information/matters
  • Assist to obtain necessary permits and requisite licenses to operate Plants at different locations
  • Render legal opinion and give advice to other departments whenever required
  • Understand and manage community issues that may have legal implication for the company and advise the plant managers or Public Affairs department accordingly
  • Support departments by attending meetings in which legal opinion will be required
  • Provide legal advisory to the whole spectrum of the business in procurement, supply, distribution, agency, production, marketing, logistics, finance and commercial, employment matters, compliance, innovation, etc
  • Liaise with relevant departments to ensure that where legal risks have been identified, appropriate courses of action have been taken
  • Provide timely legal advice on competition, labour and all other commercial law;
• Corporate Governance & Company Secretatriat 
  • Provide support to the Company Secretary in preparing for quarterly Board & Committee meetings 
  • Attend Board & Committee meetings and to draft the minutes of meetings;
  • Render Quarterly, Half-Yearly and Annual Returns and/or filings to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the Financial Reporting Council, Corporate Affairs Commission and the Securities & Exchange Commission as and when due
  • Support the Company Secretary to prepare and organize Annual or Extra-Ordinary General Meetings
  • Responsible for preparing Board and Company’s Resolutions passed at the Board/ General Meeting
  • Support the Company Secretary to manage Directors’ welfare
  • Support the Company Secretary to organize Investors’ Relations Forum or pre-AGM Meetings and other AGM logistics
  • Responsible to prepare step-by-step AGM guide and timetable on processes to be followed and to monitor its implementation
  • Support the Company Secretary to collate and prepare the Annual Reports and Audited Accounts of the Company in accordance with Nigerian laws and Lafarge Group Standards
  • Maintain and keep Statutory Registers up to date
  • Ensure that policies, procedures, agreements and practices comply with commercial, intellectual property (IP), labour and competition laws as well as all other statutory requirement
  • Monitor and implement compliance with the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance
  • Review and Update the Board Charter and the Terms of Reference as the need arises
  • Manage and maintain Shareholders and Stakeholders’ relations
  • Liaise and manage relationship with the Company’s Registrars to resolve Shareholders’ complaints and requests, demands for Share Certificates and Unclaimed Dividends
  • Participate in other Company Secretariat and corporate activities as determined by the General Counsel & Company Secretary;
  • Manage effective relationship with Regulatory Authorities e.g. SEC, CAC, NSE to ensure interest of Lafarge Africa Plc is always positively projected;
  • Preparation of Annual Reports and Audited Accounts of the Company in accordance with Lafarge Group standard;
• Commercial & Procurement Contracts
  • To structure transactions to achieve the Company’s objectives
  • Develop structured contractual frameworks
  • Assist in creating standard templates for contracts relevant to the manufacturing sector: technical services, contracts with foreign partners, engineering works, tenancy/lease Agreements, supply of mechanical parts for plants, supplies, consultancies, maintenance agreements, service contracts, Warrantees, Insurance, Performance Bonds. This would improve our turnaround time for delivering contracts. Also include Safety, determination and commencement clauses, country of arbitration best for the company in all cases etc
  • Prepare, draft and vet all agreements and liaise with the Group Legal, when necessary
  • Manage and liaise with external legal counsel for legal opinion and external representation where need be
  • Draft Lease/Tenancy Agreements and Confirm Performance Bonds
  • Review all Mortgage, Debenture and Contractual Agreements
  • Provide legal protection and risk management advice to management especially on contract management
  • Assist with negotiation and finalization of all agreements
  • Ensure appropriate contracts are in place for all business relationships in line with the Contracts Management policy and procedures
  • Manage the end-to-end Contract Management System
  • Conduct quarterly risk legal assessment of the Company and proffer legal recommendations
  • Conduct due diligence in structuring commercial transactions;
• Litigation, Claims & Dispute Resolution
  • Proffer and implement legal, practicable and workable solutions to mitigate legal risks, disputes/public complaints while upholding the Company’s legal position and reputation consistent with the values and ethics of Holcim Group
  • Assist to obtain necessary permits and requisite licenses to operate Plants at different locations
  • Review and advice on all Court Processes and Summons
  • Attend Court proceedings and give advice to prosecutors as the case may be
  • Proactively prevent litigation and initiate conciliation proceedings and/or litigation when required
  • Draft, Review and advise on contract agreements and ensure they are compliant with all statutory and legal requirements
• Compliance
  • Conduct Legal Risk, Compliance and Code of Business Conduct trainings among others
  • Liaise with the General Counsel to ensure that the Cement, Ready Mix and Geocycle Operations complies with Internal control processes and procedures in accordance with the Minimum Control Standards, International Legal Reporting Process, as well as the Nigerian corporate governance rules
  • Closely follow up on antitrust and competition law issues and keep the Company constantly informed
  • Annually cascaLafarge Code of Business Conduct and Competition Compliance Programs to existing and new employees
  • Initiate and Implement the Document Retention Policy for filing and archiving of documents
  • This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and the job holder may be required to perform duties outside of this as operationally required

Who you'll be working with

List of direct reports

• None

Key interfaces, stakeholders and relationships:

• The incumbent interacts regularly with all cadres of staff.
• He/she also interacts regularly with shareholders, regulators/governmental agencies and the Board as required.

What we are looking for 

• Must have an LL.B, BL degree
• Minimum of 5 years post call with at least 3 years’ cognate experience.
• Work experience in a multinational business environment or commercial law firm will be an added advantage.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and codes of good practice
• Knowledge of current legal, statutory and regulatory issues
• Excellent relationship management skills
• Good IT skills and computer literacy
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to prioritize with excellent time management skills
• Good attention to detail

Behavioral Competence:

• Good interpersonal skills
• Strong team player
• Adaptable
• Tact and tolerant
• Ability to work well under pressure and adhere to set deadlines
• Resilient and Motivated

Leadership and Managerial abilities:

• Excellent managerial skills and ability to organize and plan effectively to meet both short and long range goals and objectives.
• Ability to manage multiple project plans successfully and simultaneously.
• Ability to motivate individuals and teams
• Able to coach and direct a diverse team