Purpose
The Senior Legal Counsel functions as the primary liaison and authoritative advisor for all existing and potential legal matters involving the company across its entire network. This position entails delivering comprehensive legal support and advisory services throughout the organization by proactively identifying, addressing, and mitigating legal risks in alignment with the company’s strategic objectives.
The role will involve overseeing all legal risks associated with the Company’s commercial legal transactions and litigation proceedings, ensuring progress aligns with the directives of the Departmental Team Leader (Company Secretary & Director of Legal, Risk, and Compliance) and designated external legal counsel.
Responsibilities
Deliver strategic legal guidance and proactive legal solutions to both the Hub and all outstations, proactively identifying critical legal obligations, potential risks, and emerging opportunities to ensure that legal challenges and risks are addressed and mitigated before escalating into major threats to the business.
Responsible for advocating the Company’s interests in contractual matters encompassing Commercial agreements, Joint Ventures, financing arrangements, Aircraft Leases, Registration processes, as well as Procurement and tendering activities—both domestically and across all outstations.
Craft viable solutions and integrate clauses to afford KM greater flexibility in commercial agreements.
Serve as the primary liaison for all litigation-related matters within the organization, overseeing legal issues across the Group and individual countries in collaboration with external legal counsel and relevant third parties.
Oversee the coordination of external legal representation, ensuring clear and effective communication of instructions to counsel while negotiating optimal fee arrangements for all legal engagements.
Review and draft all legal documents executed by the company to safeguard its interests and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Offer strategic guidance to all stakeholders regarding corporate authorities while collaborating closely with senior management to secure necessary board and committee approvals promptly.
Design governance-related instruments, documents, and templates to facilitate operational efficiency within the Legal department.
Prepare legal and quasi-legal documents, including proxy forms, powers of attorney, and tender documentation, and coordinate with notaries to ensure proper legalization of such materials.
Assist in maintaining accurate documentation across various jurisdictions, including updates to the company’s international locations and subsidiaries, as well as business and trade registrations and license renewals.
Oversee and evaluate external counsel to confirm the efficacy of legal representation.
Facilitate the resolution of disputes in alignment with the company’s best interests, ensuring all outcomes uphold and protect its legal and operational standing.
Offer strategic guidance on competition law matters to the business while delivering comprehensive training sessions to ensure adherence to compliance requirements.
Overseeing the company’s intellectual property portfolio in collaboration with external legal advisors and the marketing department.
Effective leadership and growth of direct reports encompass performance development, goal establishment, and ongoing support, coupled with essential mentorship and career guidance aligned with daily responsibilities and project execution.
Performs various other legal duties as assigned by the Departmental Director, including special projects and ad hoc tasks within the scope of legal operations.
The ideal candidate will possess a robust skill set encompassing both technical and soft skills, including proficient knowledge of relevant software and tools, strong analytical abilities, and exceptional communication and teamwork capabilities. They should have experience in project management, problem-solving, and the ability to work under pressure while maintaining high standards of accuracy and efficiency. The role requires a minimum of three years of related experience in a similar field, along with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. Additionally, familiarity with industry-specific regulations and the capacity to adapt to evolving technologies and methodologies are essential.
The position demands a strong commitment to confidentiality, the ability to foster trust, and the consistent display of personal integrity.
Proven expertise in budget formulation and strategic planning is required.
Proven capability to develop legal defensive strategies or proactive approaches.
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline such as Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field is required. Minimum of three years of experience in a similar role, with a proven track record in project management and team leadership. Strong proficiency in industry-standard tools and software is essential. Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are necessary to succeed in this position. Ability to work independently, manage deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities is critical. Experience with data analysis, reporting, and strategic planning is a plus.
A recognized university must confer a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree as the minimum educational qualification.
Qualifications for the Certified Professional in Sustainability-Knowledge (CPS-K) credential stand as a prerequisite requirement.
A Master’s degree in Law (LL.M) or a Master of Business Administration (MBA), along with certification as a Certified Secretary or another pertinent legal credential, would be advantageous.
Holding a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law (KSL) is required for this position.
Senior management professionals with a minimum of eight years of experience in a publicly listed company or a high-paced commercial environment are required, with a focus on Company Secretary, Legal, and Governance responsibilities.
A master’s degree is considered a beneficial qualification.
Skilled in aviation or commercial laws and regulations, with a proven ability to apply them effectively in practice.
Proven understanding of applicable laws and regulatory frameworks is required.
Additional Information
Demonstrates exceptional conceptual and analytical abilities, coupled with a keen aptitude for crafting comprehensive documentation and delivering compelling presentations. Exhibits the capacity to effectively persuade and negotiate across diverse organizational levels with tact and influence.
Demonstrates exceptional leadership, fostering cohesive teamwork and collaboration while adeptly steering organizational change initiatives.
Demonstrates a strategic mindset coupled with creative and analytical prowess, while excelling in stakeholder engagement and risk mitigation.
Proven expertise in analytical reasoning, problem-solving, and interpersonal relations, complemented by outstanding communication abilities.
Must demonstrate unwavering integrity and ethical conduct at all times while actively contributing as a collaborative team member.
Achieves measurable outcomes with a strong emphasis on measurable success and tangible results.
We prioritize a customer-centric approach to deliver exceptional service and exceed expectations.
Results oriented.
Professionalism is essential, requiring strong communication skills, ethical conduct, and a commitment to maintaining high standards in all interactions and responsibilities. The role demands adherence to organizational policies, respect for confidentiality, and the ability to represent the company with integrity and poise in both internal and external settings. It also involves demonstrating reliability, accountability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving while upholding the organization’s reputation and values.
With a strong capacity for decisive action and resilience, the ideal candidate will effectively navigate challenges and maintain performance under pressure.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , Diploma , MBA/MSc/MA , Professional Certificate
Experience Required
8 years
