Job Description
Job Title: Legal Counsel Officer
Reporting: CEO
Industry: Real Estate
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Gross Salary: 75,000
Role Description:
The Legal Counsel is responsible for ensuring that the company's business and entire operations are fully compliant with the law. As a key member of our team, they will be tasked to review, interpret and translate legal requirements and effectively communicate these to the business for direction. They will draft and witness contract documents, organize files, liaising with external parties such as lawyers, attend courts, arbitration and mediation as and when need may arise, advise on all contractual and legal matters and maintaining relationships with clients, suppliers and service providers
The Legal Counsel will have a cross-functional interaction with other departments in a bid to align initiatives with the overall brand and organizational goals. They will learn the business and communicate viable and tangible solutions for the risks and legal issues arising in any decision. You will work closely with the necessary stakeholders to ensure that all sales/purchase transactions are well documented and administered to completion. You will administer leases and tenancy agreements to our portfolio of clients and ensure that they are fully adhered. In the events of breach against any of our contracts with stakeholders, you will take lead role in issuing prompt demands for remedial action.
Key Roles and Responsibilities:
• Provide legal opinion to upper management on matters relating to all functions of business.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, statutory regulations and other formalities
• Offer advice to clients on the legal processes involved in purchasing/sale of property
• Work to protect the interest of employer & ensure they are protected against fraud money laundering activities amongst others
• Conduct research and necessary due diligence to identify legitimacy, authenticity of all documents and legal ownership of properties on boarded either for sale or rental by accessing government registry documents or title deeds in case of land
• Representing the company in the sale of its assets and properties i.e., drafting sale agreements, witnessing, reviewing Transfers, issuing completion notices and corresponding with all stakeholders, fast-tracking the sale process and issuing reports on the progress
• Likewise, representing the company in purchase of assets and properties and carrying out the necessary due diligence
• Oversee the fast-tracking & diligent handling of all client matters before the Company Registry, Lands Registry, Local Authorities, and Survey of Kenya & National Lands Commission
• Prepare property lease and tenancy agreements and ensuring contracts are signed prior to the occupation of tenants.
• Pursuing debt collection through distress/auctioneers/court/negotiations Drafting and reviewing other legal documents such as affidavits, contracts, charge documents etc. and ensuring the interests of the employer are well protected.
• Liaising with clients and key stakeholders such as the mortgage lenders, estate agents, land valuers, surveyors and other external counsels and ensuring their timely correspondence and delivery of all matters in their docket
• Negotiating terms of engagement and estimates of fees and disbursements while protecting employers interests and realization of full value for money
• Providing legal opinion on whether to sue, contributing to trial preparation and in defense suits to represent the employer in the whole litigation process
• Record keeping, Organizing and managing files, documents, in a paper and electronic filing system for all legal matters
• Meeting with clients, lawyers, and other professionals to talk about transactions.
• Give legal opinion on matters staffing and disciplinary matters
• Handling correspondences that relate to legal.
• Support other HODs on recruitment
Key Skills & Qualifications
• LLB Degree from a recognized University
• Must be an Advocate of the High court of Kenya with a current Practicing Certificate 2023
• Must have at least 4 years post work experience in a busy law firm or equivalent in a commercial enterprise
• Working knowledge of conveyancing, court rules, land registry procedures
• A solid successful track record in commercial law and litigation
• Arbitration and mediation skills
• Good organizational, prioritization and time management skills
• Must have hands on experience in interpretation & application of legal texts, statutes, rules & regulations.
• Be computer literate Microsoft Office, specifically Outlook, Word, and Excel
• Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Must have the ability to work as a team
• Work with minimum or no supervision
• Meet set deadlines