Legal Executive

Job title : Legal Executive

Job Summary

The Legal Executive will provide comprehensive legal and corporate advisory support to the organization, ensuring that the company’s activities, transactions, contracts, policies, and business decisions are legally sound and compliant with applicable laws and regulations. The role will be responsible for managing the company’s internal legal affairs, reviewing and drafting commercial agreements, identifying and mitigating legal risks, supporting corporate governance, and coordinating with external solicitors and regulatory authorities where required.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide timely and practical legal advice to Management and various departments on corporate, commercial, operational, employment, contractual, and regulatory matters.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on contracts, agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, service agreements, leases, employment-related documents, NDAs, and other legal instruments.
• Review business transactions and proposed engagements to identify legal risks and recommend appropriate measures to protect the organization.
• Manage the organization’s internal legal affairs and maintain proper records of legal documents, agreements, notices, correspondence, and legal matters.
• Ensure that contracts and other legal documents are properly executed, maintained, monitored, and renewed where applicable.
• Monitor contractual obligations, key legal dates, renewals, expirations, and compliance requirements.
• Conduct legal research and provide advice on applicable laws, regulations, industry requirements, and emerging legal developments affecting the organization.
• Support the development, review, and implementation of company policies, procedures, terms and conditions, and internal legal frameworks.
• Advise HR/Admin on employment-related matters, disciplinary issues, employee relations, workplace policies, and applicable labour laws.
• Liaise with external solicitors and legal advisers on litigation, arbitration, regulatory matters, and other specialised legal issues.
• Coordinate the preparation of legal responses, letters, notices, pleadings, affidavits, and other legal correspondence where required.
• Support Management in corporate governance matters, statutory compliance, corporate filings, board and management documentation, and related corporate activities.
• Monitor regulatory and statutory compliance requirements applicable to the organization and escalate areas of potential exposure.
• Liaise with relevant government agencies, regulators, professional bodies, and other authorities on legal and regulatory matters.
• Assist in conducting legal due diligence on clients, vendors, partners, projects, and prospectivebusiness engagements where required.
• Review procurement, vendor, partnership, and client documentation to ensure appropriate legal protections are incorporated.
• Develop and maintain a central register of contracts, legal matters, litigation, regulatory obligations, and other significant legal risks.
• Support the organization in managing confidentiality, intellectual property, data protection, and information governance matters.
• Provide legal guidance during negotiations with clients, vendors, partners, and other third parties.
• Identify potential legal and commercial risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies to Management.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of company information, legal advice, contracts, disputes, and other sensitive matters.
• Carry out any other legal or corporate responsibilities assigned by Management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in law (LL.B) from a recognised institution.
• Called to the Nigerian Bar and in good standing.
• Minimum of 7 years’ post-call legal experience in corporate, commercial, or in-house legal practice.
• Demonstrable experience in managing corporate internal legal affairs, contract management, legal advisory, compliance, and risk management.
• Strong experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial and corporate agreements.
• Experience working in an in-house legal department or advising corporate organisations will be highly advantageous.
• Good knowledge of Nigerian corporate, commercial, employment, regulatory, and contract law.
• Experience liaising with external solicitors, regulators, government agencies, and other professional advisers.
• Strong legal research, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Membership of relevant professional bodies or additional certifications in corporate governance, compliance, contract management, or related areas will be an advantage.

Competency Description

Legal Advisory

• Ability to provide sound, practical, and commercially focused legal advice to Management and business units.

Contract Management

• Strong ability to draft, review, negotiate, and manage commercial and corporate contracts.

Corporate & Commercial Law

• Strong understanding of corporate structures, commercial transactions, regulatory requirements, and business operations.

Legal Research

• Ability to conduct thorough legal research and interpret legislation, regulations, case law, and legal developments.

Risk Management

• Ability to identify legal and contractual risks and recommend effective mitigation measures.

Negotiation

• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to protect the organization’s interests while achieving commercially practical outcomes.

Communication

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex legal matters clearly to non-legal stakeholders.

Analytical & Problem-Solving

• Strong analytical ability and sound judgement in assessing legal and business issues.

Corporate Governance

• Good understanding of corporate governance principles, statutory obligations, board documentation, and regulatory compliance.

Attention to Detail

• High level of accuracy in reviewing contracts, legal documents, correspondence, and regulatory requirements.

Confidentiality & Integrity

• Ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion, professionalism, and sound ethical judgement.

Stakeholder Management

• Ability to work effectively with Management, employees, clients, vendors, regulators, external solicitors, and other stakeholders.