Senior Legal Counsel - (Corporate Aobo & Country Services) at Benmaris Limited

Service Purpose

• To ensure within ep activities, the safety and defence of the group and its affiliates, providing inhouse counsel and ensuring the affiliate's operations are conducted in a manner that prevents and limits liabilities of TotalEnergies arising from internal and external interactions.

Responsibilities

• Undertake legal research and provide legal advisory and support to people and country services directorate on a wide range of issues related to people & talent development, corporate social responsibility, medical and TotalEnergies country services.
• Provide legal advisory and support to corporate services directorate on a wide range of issues related to audit & assurance, compliance & investigation, facilities management & administration, information systems & technology, and government relations.
• Provide legal support to non-operated assets via analysis of legal risks and impact of potential transactions, specifically assets operated by SNEPCO and ESSO, through participation in negotiations, drafting and review of all agreements, and giving legal opinions.
• Responsible for litigation planning.
• Strategy and analysis. Prepare arbitration matters including organisation of internal documents, discovery and witness preparation, where required representing the company in court and tribunals;
• Provide support in cross-border disputes and liaising with operator under the general guidance of the legal manager
• Provide legal support and opinions on corporate governance and operational matters
• Identify, analyse and interpret national and international statutory and regulatory texts and contractual documents at draft stage or in force; advise on the interpretation, application and enforcement of such texts.
• Handle other legal dossiers and take part in negotiations with partners, contractors and government agencies.
• Responsible for regulatory and total group reporting including, NCDMB, OGFZA, SOX ARO, TELA cms updates
• provide legal support in all gas matters including GSPA, domestic gas obligations, NLNG and energy transition and renewable energies, carbon credit and agreements.
• Carry out any other tasks or activities assigned by legal manager or general counsel.

Context and Environment:

• Provide company with legal guidance to advance transactions and dealings with third parties
• Assessment of legal risks and provision of appropriate solutions and recommendations
• Participate close-up in devising, preparing, drafting, negotiating and executing agreements
• Advise and assist the group and affiliates, as required, in cases of pre-litigation and dispute
• Provides company and its departments with legal guidance in transactions with third parties.
• Provides advice to orient risk management and company commitments.
• Validates the opinions of external counsel.

Qualifications / Experience Required

• First Degree in Law; having an LLM will be an added advantage
• Call to the Nigerian bar plus at least 12 years post call experience, 5 of which must be experience in a law firm or commercial environment.