Legal Officer, Rest of Africa at United Bank for Africa (UBA)

Job Objective(s)

• Responsibility for legal oversight in the subsidiaries
• Ensure coordination and adequate management of cases in the subsidiaries
• Manage the litigation portfolio to ensure that the Bank is adequately protected
• Review contracts, facility and security documentation to ensure that the Bank is adequately secured
• Provide effective legal support and advisory services to the subsidiaries and ensure excellent customer experience.

Reporting Relationships:

• Functionally reports to:  Head, Subsidiary Legal, UBA Africa
• Administratively reports to:  Group Head Legal, UBA Plc.

Role and Responsibilities

• Review legal agreements, provide opinion and quality advice in line with the local laws and generally ensure the bank’s interest is protected
• Prompt and strategic review and assessment of litigation portfolio to ensure that the Bank is adequately protected.
• Review and assessment of the Bank’s defence in matters in litigation and recommendation on settlement in respect of cases in which the Bank has no defence
• Effective prosecution of fraud cases to ensure judicially logical conclusions to serve as deterrent to others.
• Compile list of fresh actions instituted against the Bank on monthly basis to be included to the schedule pending cases.
• Review interlocutory injunctive order and Judgments entered against the Bank in order to determine whether to submit to judgment or whether there are sufficient grounds on which to sustain an appeal
• Represent the Bank and participate in the mediation sessions and engage in negotiating settlement in terms most favorable to the Bank
• Review contracts, facility and security documentation to ensure that the Bank is adequately secured
• Provide effective legal support and advisory services to the subsidiaries and ensure excellent customer experience
• Liaise with subsidiary Heads of Legal and solicitors on matters in litigation and respond to requests from subsidiaries on such matters.
• Ensure implementation of structured changes to initiatives affecting the subsidiaries
• Perform other functions delegated by the Unit Head or Divisional Head

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Litigation Claims retention: Minimize claims due lost legal cases
• Litigation Success Rate. Ensure successful prosecution of cases instituted by the Bank through diligent follow up and provision of adequate support to external solicitors
• Execution of judgment against the Bank leading to business disruption. Zero (0) incidences across African subsidiaries.
• Achieve a satisfactory Board Corporate Governance rating by external auditors
• Execution of judgment against the Bank leading to business disruption. Zero (0) incidences across African subsidiaries.
• Documentation/Reviews: Ensuring Comprehensive Legal Review of Agreements/Contracts/Facility Documents are carried out in line with stipulated TAT in the Operational Frame.
• Providing Top-notch Advisory services through: (1) Timely delivery of legal opinion/advice to subsidiaries in line with agreed Service Level Agreement (SLA) / TAT  (2) Review/draft letters, or other documents before issuance by Subsidiary Legal Offices (3) Organizing Monthly COP meetings to share opinions and discuss key issues among legal officers. from subsidiaries

Education Requirements

• Minimum education level - Bachelor’s Degree in Law. Must be a registered lawyer under the legal association of the country.

Experience:

• Minimum experience - 7 years post call experience in Legal Advisory & Company Secretarial/Governance preferably in a financial institution;
• Work experience in/with relevant regulatory bodies will be an added advantage.

Competencies:
Knowledge:

• Good knowledge of the Civil Law / OHADA Business Law systems in African Francophone and Anglophone countries
• Comprehensive knowledge of Corporate Governance best practice
• Good knowledge of Financial Sector laws/regulations and operations;
• Good understanding of French and English Languages.   

Key Skills:

• Excellent communication Skills (written and oral)
• Attention to details
• Good interpersonal skills and adaptability to different cultures
• Alternative dispute resolution skills
• Research and Analytical Skills
• Brief writing skills.