Senior Legal Counsel At Hbm Nigeria Plc (formerly Lafarge)

Litigation, Claims & Dispute Resolutions

• Lead the strategy and handling of active lawsuits, pre-litigation claims, regulatory claims, and regulatory inquiries.
• Proffer and implement legal, practicable and workable solutions to mitigate legal risks, disputes/public complaints while upholding the Company's legal position and reputation consistent with the values and ethics of Huaxin Group.
• Assist in obtaining necessary permits and requisite licenses to operate Plants at different locations; Review and advise on all Court Processes and Summons.
• Attend Court proceedings and advise prosecutors as the case may be.
• Proactively prevent litigation and initiate conciliation proceedings and/or litigation when required.
• Draft, Review and advise on contract agreements and ensure they are compliant with all statutory and legal requirements.
• Claims Management: Investigate and evaluate incoming claims, customer disputes and vendor disagreements before they escalate into formal lawsuits.
• Assist the Legal Director to hire, direct and manage external law firms, setting case strategies, controlling budgets.
• Litigation Strategy: Coordinate document collection, witness preparation and fact-finding internally to support active legal proceedings.
• Risk Advisory: Counsel senior executives and business units on litigation risks tied to corporate operations and new policies.
• Settlement Negotiations: Lead negotiations, mediations and arbitration to achieve favourable out-of-court resolutions.

Legal Business Partner

• To provide legal advisory to the Cement, A&C and HBM Eco operations of the Company.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws and any other statutes that may come into effect.
• Assist in providing legal advisory and opinions to the business operations.
• Provide legal support to ensure good and solid relationships with all stakeholders.
• Conduct regular legal risk assessment of the Cement, A&C and HBM Eco operations and proffer legal recommendations.
• Keep abreast of all relevant laws and any other statutes that may come into effect and to formulate strategies/action plans to communicate and ensure compliance by the organization.
• Provide proactive legal counsel on compliance, corporate governance and other relevant information/matters.
• Assist in obtaining necessary permits and requisite licenses to operate Plants at different locations;
• Render legal opinion and give advice to other departments whenever required.
• Understand and manage community issues that may have legal implications for the company and advise the Plant Managers or Public Affairs department accordingly.
• Support departments by attending meetings in which legal opinion will be required.
• Provide legal advice to the whole spectrum of the business in procurement, supply, distribution, agency, production, marketing, logistics, finance and commercial, employment matters, compliance, innovation, etc.
• Liaise with relevant departments to ensure that where legal risks have been identified, appropriate courses of action have been taken.
• Provide timely legal advice on competition, labour and all other commercial law.

Commercial & Procurement Contracts

• To structure transactions to achieve the Company's objectives; Develop structured contractual frameworks.
• Assist in creating standard templates for contracts relevant to the manufacturing sector: technical services, contracts with foreign partners, engineering works, tenancy/lease Agreements, supply of mechanical parts for plants, supplies, consultancies, maintenance agreements, service contracts, warranties, Insurance, Performance Bonds. This would improve our turnaround time for delivering contracts. Also include Safety, determination and commencement clauses, country of arbitration best for the company in all cases etc.
• Prepare, draft and vet all agreements and liaise with the Group Legal, when necessary.
• Manage and liaise with external legal counsel for legal opinion and external representation where need be.
• Draft Lease/Tenancy Agreements and Confirm Performance Bonds.
• Review all Mortgage, Debenture and Contractual Agreements.
• Provide legal protection and risk management advice to management, especially on contract management.
• Assist with negotiation and finalization of all agreements; Ensure appropriate contracts are in place for all business relationships in line with the Contracts Management policy and procedures.
• Manage the end-to-end Contract Management System.
• Conduct quarterly risk legal assessment of the Company and proffer legal recommendations.
• Conduct due diligence in structuring commercial transactions.

Compliance

• Conduct Legal Risk, Compliance and Code of Business Conduct trainings among others.
• Liaise with the Legal Director to ensure that the Cement, A&C and HBM Eco Operations comply with Internal control processes and procedures in accordance with the Huaxin Control Standards, International Legal Reporting Process, as well as the Nigerian corporate governance rules.
• Closely follow up on antitrust and competition law issues and keep the Company constantly informed.
• Annually cascade HBM Code of Business Conduct and Competition Compliance Programs to existing and new employees.
• Initiate and implement the Document Retention Policy for filing and archiving documents.
• This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and the job holder may be required to perform duties outside of this as operationally required

Requirements

Critical Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of post-call experience dedicated to litigation gained at a top law firm.
• Work experience in a multinational business environment or commercial law firm will be an added advantage.

Critical Knowledge

• Advisory and legal support to the business units
• Vetting and drafting of contracts.
• Compliance, risk, contract and legal management
• Legal and business negotiation