Are you an accomplished Legal Professional with a deep understanding of the West African legal landscape, particularly in Nigeria and Ivory Coast? A reputable company is actively seeking a senior-level, hands-on Legal Professional to serve as Legal Counsel, managing the intricate legal affairs of its West African operations and contributing to its international holding structure.
A Pivotal Role in West African Legal Landscape
This is a strategic opportunity for a seasoned legal expert to provide critical legal opinions and advice to management on a broad spectrum of matters. The role demands more than just legal acumen; it requires a pragmatic, business-focused individual capable of translating complex legal frameworks into actionable solutions. While the breadth of legal expertise is vast, the emphasis is placed on exceptional legal research skills and the ability to autonomously evaluate West African and international frameworks, providing sharp initial assessments and clear guidance.
What We're Looking For: The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will possess hands-on experience in both Nigeria and Ivory Coast, coupled with exposure to international laws and legal environments. Compensation for this significant role will be commensurate with your caliber and extensive experience.
Your Core Responsibilities Will Include:
- Managing the legal affairs of operational entities across West Africa.
- Providing expert legal opinion and advice to management on all relevant matters.
- Supporting legal work pertaining to the company's international holding structure.
- Autonomously evaluating West African and international legal frameworks.
- Delivering clear guidance and sharp initial assessments on complex legal issues.
- Managing and critically evaluating local external law firms for specialized matters.
Strict Requirements for Success:
This role demands a highly specialized professional. Please review the following strict requirements carefully:
- Regional Jurisdictional Expertise: A proven track record of executing hands-on legal work for corporate entities in both Nigeria and the Ivory Coast is non-negotiable.
- Deep Legal Framework Knowledge: Demonstrable experience navigating the following laws and regulations at a minimum:
- Nigeria: Corporate law and regulations (CAMA), consumer protection laws, and labor/employment laws.
- Ivory Coast: Corporate law and regulations (OHADA), consumer protection laws, and labor/employment laws.
- ESG: International Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, including policy development and implementation.
- Affinity with Other International Legal Frameworks (Bonus): Experience with either US, UK, or Continental Europe legal frameworks will be considered a significant advantage.
- External Counsel Management: Proven experience in effectively managing external law firms. You must be able to brief external counsel with comprehensive internal analyses and thoroughly vet/challenge their final work product.
- Investigative Mindset: A keen eye for granular detail and a willingness to deep-dive into complex, ambiguous legal issues is essential.
- Pragmatic and Business Focus: The ability to translate legal findings into pragmatic, business-oriented solutions. This includes effective communication with business stakeholders and delivering legal solutions that are robust and legally sound.
- Bilingual – English & French: Professional proficiency in reading and writing both languages is mandatory. While translation tools can aid efficiency, you must be capable of independently understanding, reviewing, and drafting legal documents without sole reliance on software.
We kindly request that you only apply if you meet 100% of the requisite experience listed above. This is an unparalleled opportunity for a highly qualified legal professional to make a substantial impact within a dynamic international organization.
Method of Application:
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their resume to: SeriousProfessionals@hotmail.com using the position as subject of email.
