Legal Counsel At Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (Kwal)

Job Purpose
This position is responsible for providing expert legal advice and support on a wide range of issues, including contract negotiation and management, legal and regulatory compliance, intellectual property, employment law, and corporate governance to drive responsible business conduct.
Main Responsibilities
Legal Advisory
Provide expert legal advice to management
Create associations of trust and respect with key stakeholders
Deal with external parties (regulators, external counsel) ensuring the business' legal interests are represented adeptly and ethically.
Draft agreements that effectively minimise risk exposure while maximising legal rights
Proactively keep abreast of legislative changes that impact the business
Handle all potentially litigious matters and ensure where possible that recourse to courts is a last resort. In that regard, write letters of demand where appropriate and reply adequately to letters of threat from law firms and others
Ensure that the legal universe and registers are updated and comprehensive to support compliance.

Intellectual Property
Manage the registration of new IP including trademarks, patents and designs and their renewals and updates on behalf of the Company, and collaborate with external service providers
Maintain up to date IP registers

Case Management
Maintain and regularly update a record of all cases and legal holds involving the Company
Collaborate with external lawyers who are appointed to represent the Company in litigation matters
Assist external lawyers in researching and preparing the Company's cases either as plaintiffs, defendants or interested parties and vet all papers/documents to be filed by the lawyers on behalf of the Company
Engage with the Company's external contacts, other lawyers, other persons and government officials with a view to resolving legal and general corporate and regulatory matters

Compliance
Facilitate the roll out of Code of Business Conduct, legal and compliance policies to all staff members and relevant third parties, including communication and training
Communicate anti-bribery framework to key stakeholders
Maintain the regulatory universe, ensuring it is up to date, and communicate relevant changes to business units.
Implement and optimise all policies and procedures to meet legal requirements and business needs

Ad-hoc Legal Matters
Provide support in preparation and dispatch of meeting packs and facilitate meeting arrangements
Update internal and statutory registers - legal registers, contract register, directors and shareholders.
Make required statutory filings on provided platforms eg Business Registration Services
Provide support and coordinate court case preparation - pleadings, witnesses, hearing dates and related matters
Ensure statutory compliance of subsidiaries with proper record keeping
Manage and co-ordinate ad-hoc legal projects
Liaison with regulatory bodies on behalf of the company, ensuring timely filing of statutory periodic returns
Provide support in legal matters arising from the Company's operations, including interactions with customers, suppliers, competitors, regulators and the public.
Draft and advise on commercial, financial, property and general agreements on behalf of the company.
Manage corporate business licenses and permits, and related application and renewal processes, and provide oversight to functions on their respective business licenses and permits

Minimum Required Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
Academic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB)
Postgraduate Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law

Professional Qualifications
Professional qualification in Law such as Certified Public Secretary of Kenya (CPS - K), or equivalent
Professional membership with the Law Society of Kenya
Master's degree in Law (LLM) is an added advantage
Professional membership with a professional body in the legal space such as data privacy is an added advantage

Experience
At least 6 years, 2 years' experience in management role in a similar role or busy function
Proven experience as a Legal Counsel, in an FMCG or a Corporate environment is an added advantage
Practical experience in the use of MS packages and ERP systems

Competencies
Technical Competencies
Demonstrate a thorough understanding of corporate law, contract law, and regulatory compliance, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and reporting on legal matters
Possess a strong grasp of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing KWAL's operations across various countries
Excellent legal research and analytical skills
Ability to communicate complex legal concepts effectively to non-legal stakeholders
Skilled in engaging and overseeing outsourced legal services to safeguard the organisation's interests
Capable of viewing and analysing issues from a comprehensive perspective, considering their impact on the organisation's direction
Demonstrates business acumen with knowledge of the organisation's strategic direction, key deliverables, programs, services, and the environmental factors influencing it
Proficient in using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to streamline financial processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve overall efficiency

Behavioural Competencies
Possess a strong grasp of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing KWAL's operations across various countries.
Skilled in engaging and overseeing outsourced legal services to safeguard the organisation's interests.
Capable of viewing and analysing issues from a comprehensive perspective, considering their impact on the organisation's direction.
Demonstrates business acumen with knowledge of the organisation's strategic direction, key deliverables, programs, services, and the environmental factors influencing it.
Highly critical thinking and be able to work flexibly in a diverse working environment.