Job Purpose:Â Reporting to the Senior Manager, Legal Services, the position leads a team to manage all litigation and dispute resolution processes and provides legal advisories to the Retail and Branch network, Corporate and Head Office Functions on legal issues with a view to mitigating legal risks and preventing adverse consequences to the Bank.
Main Responsibilities:
- Managing the Litigation team and ensuring excellent service provision and performance management and team motivation and development.
- Manage all major litigation and disputes in which the Bank is a party to ensure the bank is adequately represented including appearing before any court or tribunal as a witness or to watch brief as necessary.
- Conduct legal research, collate evidence, prepare witnesses for pre-trial and hearing, develop concept papers, prepare legal briefs and opinions as well as develop effective defense strategies, arguments and testimony in preparation for legal proceedings of cases in liaison with external lawyers. Create legal awareness and provide advice on suitable action to avert and/or minimize litigation.
- Manage and measure external lawyers’ performance to ensure efficiency.
- Manage litigation costs to a minimum including but not limited to negotiating suitable settlements in favor of the Bank where deemed appropriate and also scrutinizing legal fees and ensuring they are raised in accordance with the Remuneration Order and Service Level Agreement.
- Manage database of all litigation to ensure the same is consistently up-to-date and prepare relevant reports, presentations and analysis of all litigation monthly/quarterly or as may be required.
- Manage all debt collection related matters and create legal awareness and provide advice on suitable action to avert and/or minimize litigation including ensuring all Statutory Demand Notices are issued correctly and in time.
- Render legal guidance to Retail branches on matters relating to bank policies, processes and procedures on all queries received with a view to mitigating legal and reputational risks.
- Peruse, review and analyze quarterly reports and court judgments and make recommendations to the business on the findings and take corrective action where appropriate.
- Any other duties as assigned.
Daily Responsibilities.
Maintain an effective court diary and follow up of matters pending in court including watching brief in court. Review and action daily correspondence/reports via email of matters that are in court. Ensure all Statutory Demand Notices are issued correctly and in time. Responding to legal queries from the branches. Vetting of fee notes to ensure compliance with the Remuneration Order and SLA.
Educational qualifications and work experience:
- University Degree preferably in law
- Professional Qualifications, Diploma in Law, Arbitration Certificate
- Minimum 6 or more years of progressive experience in Litigation, Legal Drafting, and Legal Communication and advocacy.
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