Principle Accountabilities

LEGAL FUNCTIONS                                                                                              

• Supporting business units during contracting by preparing and/reviewing contracts, negotiating the terms with the Vendors, identifying the legal risks and incorporating suitable provisions to mitigate legal risk.
• Proposing new and innovative ideas that ensure that contract management and the quality of the contracts entered into by the Company and its subsidiaries are of the highest standards.
• Preparation and adherence to a contract drafting and review checklist and a contract management system – where practical, ensuring creation and ensuring adherence to approved standard templates for contracts and customer documentation.
• Assisting the Head of Legal in the preparation of legal opinions as may be requested by management, business units and/or the Board of directors of the Company.
• Providing concise, responsive and practical legal opinions and legal solutions of the queries raised by the business and support units for both self and direct reports.
• Timely review and dissemination of information and market/practice trends useful in management of legal Risk to different business units
• Monitoring and following up on Kenyan legislation as well as advising the Bank on the impact of existing and newly enacted legislation on the Bank’s overall activities, and providing guidance to management and the Bank on the law, legal matters, rules and regulations affecting the Bank, its projects and its operations and ensuring legal compliance thereof
• Advise the Bank on its rights and remedies under any legal documentation, including conducting due diligence on any proposed projects and obtaining appropriate signoffs before commencement of the project.
• From time to time conduct review of financing proposals and suggest best possible legal structure and documentation for deal transactions
• Maintaining & constantly updating a record of the Company’s contracts, leases, trademarks, professional indemnities and status thereof
• Liaising with external advocates to receive legal opinions as sought by the Board, filing of various resolutions at the Companies Registry, Corporate Restructuring among others
• Probate Administration: oversee administration of probate accounts and support of management of banking succession matters.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES                                                                  

• Handling & exchanging daily correspondence with Branches & other Departments of the Company
• Maintaining & constantly updating a record of the Company’s contracts, leases, trademarks, professional indemnities and status thereof

STAFF FUNCTIONS                                                                                                    

• Ensure fair and equitable distribution of work and duties.
• Supervise all staff and ensure discipline is maintained.
• Attend to staff complaints, personal grievances and counsel them when necessary.

CUSTOMER CARE                                                                                                      

• Listen to problems and offer timely and workable solutions.
• Treating external staff and internal staff courteously and making every effort to be of assistance.
• Counseling staff on legal matters.

TRAINING                                                                                                                                  

• Training staff on new regulatory developments and other matters of a legal nature in liaison or collaboration with external counsel.
• Follow up on performance of the trained Staff at the respective work stations
• On Site Training.

OTHER DUTIES                                                                                                

• Represent the department in certain meetings when called upon and as delegated from time to time.
• Represent the Company whenever called upon to do so.
• Any other duties as assigned from time to time.
• Conducting workshops for specific needs of business units
• Representing the department in Company projects that require legal input
• Sitting in & actively participating in nominated committee & task forces

Key Competencies and Skills

Personal Attributes

• Integrity
• Agility and Attention to detail
• Good Judgment
• Commitment
• Dedication
• Honesty
• Teamwork

Skills required to undertake the role

• Analytical Skills
• Communication Skills- Oral and Written. High English command (Writing, speaking, Listening)
• Conceptual Skills
• Decision Making Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Excellent Interpersonal Skills
• Influencing and Negotiation Skills
• Computer Literacy Skills

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Law from a recognized institution; and
• Diploma of Law from the Kenya School of Law.
• Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public;
• Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
• Registered CPS with the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya is an added advantage

Experience:

• An Advocate of minimum 5 years’ experience, practising in a busy commercial law firm or in-house legal department of a financial company
• Working knowledge of the legal environment for Banking and general business/commerce in Kenya
• Working knowledge of the lending practice for financial institutions, particularly lending to the different market segments – corporate, SMEs and retail banking
• Working knowledge of business management and banking acquired through practical experience in a work environment, seminars and courses on business and banking related subjects
• Participant in Continuous Education programs under both the Law Society of Kenya and ICPSK;
• Working knowledge of banking business acquired through working in a banking institution
• Participation in facility structure meetings, due diligence exercises and management of non-performing loan portfolio.