Legal Officer, Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Fields) at Oando

Job Purpose

• To render legal services by monitoring and managing litigation against the company and rendering legal advice to the company on legal issues as it relates to the operations of the company.

Job Responsibilities

• To act as Company's legal representative responsible for claims and litigation arising from its field operations.
• To participate in negotiations and meetings with host communities and other stakeholders involving the department with a view to resolving disputes
• To participate in court where required and, on the specific instruction of superiors, any administrative or legislative panels in respect of matters involving the company and liaise with relevant departments in the company for the timely collation of facts and preparation of witnesses for effective defense and prosecution of the company's matters and tracking of these matters till completion.
• To prepare necessary terms of settlement/resolutions for the approval of superiors and proffering advice on settlement of legal disputes involving host communities and other stakeholders
• Liaise with external solicitors and obtains regular updates on ongoing litigation and dispute resolution matters.
• Draft and review letters, maintain files and archives of legal documents and case folders.
• Maintain and periodically update electronic and paper databases maintained by the legal department.'
• To provides project administration support, handle time and fee schedules, project work plan monitoring, status report preparation, project documentation and filing.
• To handle all incoming and outgoing correspondence and court processes, prioritize in terms of urgency and redirect as necessary to the user department, track and ensure timely responses and information from the user departments and preparation of status reports for the Division Manager.
• To study and keep abreast of all legislations and regulations relating to the company's activities
• To follow up the performance of assigned external counsel and their service charge invoices
• To comply with the requirements of the different HSE policies of the Company, by applying the HSE Integrated Management System and the HSE Management System Guidelines and providing proper HSE conditions of work to everyone.
• To carry out all other tasks as may be assigned by superiors and the Division Manager Legal District.

Job Requirements

• University Law Degree, Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Nigeria Law School Certificate, Barrister at Law (BBL)
• 7-10 years' experience in Legal Department of Oil & Gas Company or Law Firm involved in Oil & Gas Matters.
• Good knowledge of the ONELGA LGA and experience in dealing with host communities will be an added advantage.
• General knowledge of the law particularly the oil and gas industry.
• Good knowledge of environmental law and follow up of new developments in the law at both local and international levels.
• Knowledge of the court practice and procedures
• Sound knowledge of legislations and regulations applicable to the oil & gas industry.

Required Competencies:

• Problem Solving
• Flexibility
• Communication
• Listening and reception
• Relations management
• Analytical Ability

Main Internal Interfaces:

• Lands department, Community Relations department, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) department, Procurement department, Logistics department, Land Area, Swamp Area, Security department

Main External Interfaces:

• Host Communities, Federal/ State high Court, Nigerian Ports Authority, National Inland Waterways Authority, EFCC, Nigerian Police Force, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, National Assembly, External Solicitors and other oil companies