Legal Counsel

Benefits

Additional Information

Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together...one story at a time. With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group. My Career Development Portal : Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you. Design your future. Discover leading-edge guidance, tools and support to unlock your potential. You are Absa. You are possibility. Job Summary The job holder is responsible for providing legal support to Absa Bank (Seychelles) Limited and will be based in Mauritius. The role operates under a dual reporting model combining functional oversight from the Head of Legal (Indian Ocean) and local reporting to the Managing Director / Chief Risk Officer of Absa Bank Seychelles Ltd. Whilst the role operates within the broader Indian Ocean Legal team model based in Mauritius, the job holder may be required to travel to Seychelles as and when required. The role provides broad-based legal support across Personal & Private Banking (PPB) and Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Human Capital, Compliance, Sourcing and Procurement contracts, litigation and disputes, including the identification, management and reporting of legal risks across Absa Seychelles. The job holder acts as a trusted partner by: - Actively Identifying, managing and reporting of legal risks across key areas of responsibility. - providing legal advice and opinions; - drafting and negotiating legal and contractual documentation; - supporting litigation and dispute management including debt recovery; - supporting business initiatives and project delivery; - Providing training to Business Units in key areas of law affecting the operations of Business Units; and Participating in key committees. Job Description Business Partnering & General Legal Risk Management Provide quality, effective and timely legal advice and/or legal opinions to all Business Units (including but not limited to Personal & Private Banking (PPB) and Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Human Capital, Compliance, Sourcing and Procurement contracts, dispute and litigations, which opinions clearly identify legal risks, are commercial in nature, demonstrate an understanding of the needs of Business Units and add value to Business Units. Undertake and apply comprehensive and accurate legal research in providing legal advice and/or opinions. Clearly and concisely explain legal risks, concepts and clauses in agreements to Business Units. Draft, review and negotiate customer agreements, facility and security documentation, third-party/vendor contracts Support transactional, contractual and project-related workstreams. Provide legal input on employment and Human Capital-related matters where required. Provide legal support to Business Units at meetings with other banks and/or clients. Ensure that legal advice and/or opinions are current and correct by remaining up to date with the latest legal developments. Provide comments on existing agreements and/or agreements drafted by other banks, clients or their attorneys. Ensure that legal agreements, security documents and other documents contain adequate provisions to manage and mitigate legal risks. Ensure effective and appropriate verbal and written communication of the legal risk control framework policies to Business Units. Escalate complex, specialised or high-risk matters to the Head of Legal (Indian Ocean) and the Managing Director / Chief Risk Officer (Absa Bank Seychelles). Instruct and liaise with external counsel in terms of legal advice, opinions and cost management. Litigation and Dispute Management Support the management of litigation and contentious matters involving the Bank. Liaise with external counsel and assist with review of pleadings, case strategy, monitoring of matter progress Ensure accurate internal reporting and tracking of litigation matters. Contribute to early identification and mitigation of dispute-related risks. Reporting and Management Information Monitor compliance of the legal risk control framework. Immediately report any breach of the legal risk control framework to the Head of Legal (Indian Ocean) and Chief Risk Officer and accurately record legal risks on the legal risk reporting forms. Act on legal risks notified in the legal risk reports to ensure the successful mitigation of the risks. Provide legal input on draft bills, regulatory documents and regulations issued by governmental departments and/or regulatory body. Identify and meet management information requirements for the measurement of legal risk exposure, key legal issues and trends. Provide input into legal risk report submissions. Provide input on litigation exposure, contractual risk trends and emerging legal risks across PPB, CIB and support functions, including Human Capital. Risk and Control Ensure that all activiti