Head: Legal and Corporate at Dark Fibre Africa

Main purpose

Head the legal and corporate department and be accountable for the legal affairs of the entire organization. This role includes providing legal counsel to the chief executive officer and other senior management. Drive the development and implementation of best practice legal strategies, frameworks and practices for the company. Provide advice and litigation support to DFA and its subsidiaries.

Key performance areas and tasks

• Cultivate and manage effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including external attorneys and legal services, to ensure that business in a position to obtain expert opinion on specialist areas of Law
• Translate strategies into actionable goals and execute relevant projects or initiatives aligned to strategic objectives with specific performance measures and control systems to track progress.
• Lead complex legal projects that span legal, business, and functional boundaries.
• Ensure compliance with governance in terms of legislative and audit requirements.
• Identify and communicate current and anticipated legal issues or risks.
• Collaborate with Company Secretary to design, implement, and enforce the compliance strategy.
• Collaborate with Company Secretary to develop and implement compliance-related (both legislation and internal codes and policies) campaigns to create awareness of importance of compliance and provide staff with knowledge and skills related to compliance.
• Remain abreast of new legislation and industry best practice (both domestic and international).
• Review company compliance regarding legislation.
• Inform top and senior management of the impact of the legislation and recommend action.
• Review company policies and codes in light of legislation and make recommendations.
• Ensure compliance to internal codes and policies.
• Inform top and senior management of the impact of the non-adherence to policies and recommend action.
• Provide competent and timely guidance and clarity on any internal policies and procedures that may have a legal impact internally.
• Review or draft contracts and other legal documents prior to company signatures.
• Review legal documents and provide guidance or advice on risk, legal accuracy, applicability, etc.
• Propose or draft changes or alternatives to contracts.
• Assist with discussions or negotiation and propose changes where appropriate.
• Update and return amended contracts to stakeholders for input.
• Liaise with external legal parties where relevant.
• Measure results against signed off project plan/s.
• Respond to breaches by investigating the facts around the matter with departmental heads.
• Meet with recovery officers monthly to establish network damage or relocation and outcome of investigations.
• Assist in implementing standard documents and processes to facilitate collections.
• Based on business instruction, consider supporting documents, prepare initial opinion, highlight risks etc., in order to remedy breach.
• If required, hand over to external attorney to attend to remainder of legal proceedings.
• Manage recovery process by recovering outstanding debts or correctly briefing external attorneys where applicable.
• Follow up and report on progress.
• Defend actions against the company.
• Peruse all relevant documentation, facts, etc. and request missing information, if any.
• Consult with business to identify any risks.
• Provide initial view on matter to business.
• Prepare thorough briefs to attorneys to litigate on matters on behalf of company.
• Attend to drafting, reviewing, or settling all legal correspondence, e.g. letters, notices, court pleadings.
• Settle or close matters under dispute through alternative dispute resolution or via courts.
• Manage dispute resolution process by attempting to resolve disputes before proceeding with litigation.
• Oversee all litigation and casework conducted by external attorneys.
• Set and manage full departmental budget, ensuring costs remain within budget.
• Deliver exceptional service that exceeds customers' expectations through proactive, innovative and appropriate legal solutions and advice.
• Manage and empower the Legal and Corporate team to meet goals.
• Provide ad-hoc legal advice on legal issues, risks, etc.

Working conditions

• Office based
• Some travel may be required
• Extended working hours may be required

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications

• LLB or related legal degree
• Admitted Attorney of the High Court
• 8 years of corporate legal experience with strong drafting exposure and good negotiation skills
• 5 years of post-admission litigation experience in a law firm
• ICT industry experience preferable