Litigation and Dispute Resolution Lead

Job title : Litigation and Dispute Resolution Lead

Reports To: Head of Legal

Job Summary

• The Litigation Lead is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction to the Litigation and Dispute Resolution unit of the Legal Department at Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE (DPRP) and its affiliated entities.
• The role entails defining, managing, and executing the Refinery's entire dispute resolution and litigation strategy, mitigating legal risks, managing relationships with external solicitors and Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), directly handling high-stakes corporate disputes, and defending the Refinery's commercial interests across all Nigerian courts and arbitral tribunals.
• The Litigation Lead supervises and mentors the Litigation Specialist(s) and Analyst(s), and ensures consistent, prudent, and cost-effective legal action in the defence and pursuit of the Refinery's interests.

Key Duties and Responsibilities
Litigation Strategy and Oversight:

• Champion the implementation of the Refinery's Litigation and Dispute Resolution framework, processes, and tools.
• Develop and implement the overall strategy for all active and threatened lawsuits involving the Refinery.
• Assess legal risks and advise executive leadership on whether to litigate, settle, or pursue alternative pathways.

Case Assessment and Counsel Recommendations:

• Develop high-level preliminary assessments on litigation and arbitration involving DPRP and, on the strength of these assessments, provide legal advice to management and make recommendations for the assignment of matters to external counsel.

Case Planning and Witness Management:

• Oversee the development and refinement of case plans for the defence of DPRP, including the identification of potential witnesses, coordination with internal teams, witnesses, and external counsel, development of witness statements, filing of witness depositions in court, and conduct of pre-trial conferences to prepare witnesses for trial testimony.

External Counsel Management:

• Select, brief, and manage external law firms and Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). Critically review their pleadings, court processes, and fee structures to ensure cost-effectiveness and alignment with the Refinery's goals.

Courtroom and Tribunal Representation:

• Act as the primary corporate representative in court. Where permissible and strategic, directly appear and represent the Refinery in specialised tribunals or high-level negotiations.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution: Lead mediation, negotiation, and arbitration processes to resolve commercial disputes efficiently out of court, preserving key business relationships.
• Legal Policy Formulation: Lead the formulation and implementation of legal policies and procedures in relation to litigation across the Refinery and its affiliated entities.

Risk Mitigation and Reporting: Conduct routine audits of business operations to identify systemic litigation triggers. Maintain a comprehensive litigation dashboard and provide monthly or quarterly risk reports to the Board of Directors and the General Counsel.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Messaging:
• Provide input into the shaping and communication of the Refinery's messaging and positioning statements on key litigation matters, especially where they relate to regulatory enforcement actions or reputational risk. Actively engage with key internal and external stakeholders on all litigation and dispute resolution issues to ensure that the Refinery's interests are protected and enhanced.
• Cross-Functional Advisory: Partner with HR, Procurement, Operations, HSE, and other business teams to review breach-of-contract incidents, employment disputes, and regulatory non-compliance before they escalate into formal lawsuits.
• Litigation Database and Records: Oversee the development, maintenance, and integrity of a comprehensive litigation database for the Refinery, including all case documents, correspondence, and status reports.
• Claims and Demand Letters: Supervise the review of and responses to claims, demand letters, and pre-action protocols.
• Internal Dispute Resolution: Liaise with relevant departments and divisions to investigate and resolve internal disputes or any breach of internal rules.
• Debt Recovery and Contractual Litigation: Provide input on litigation by or against contractors or other parties arising out of contracts, agreements, or similar documentation, and provide strategic support towards debt recovery initiatives.
• Consolidated Reporting: Regularly prepare and submit consolidated reports on the status of all litigation matters relating to the Refinery to the General Counsel and management.

Team Management:

• Supervise, mentor, and build the capacity of the Litigation Specialist(s), Litigation Analyst(s), and other legal officers within the unit.
• Contribute to the training and professional development of the litigation team.
• Ensure compliance with legal, statutory, and professional responsibilities and obligations relating to litigation practice, health and safety, and other applicable standards.
• Assist in achieving a complete litigation management system in accordance with organisational plans and adherence to legislation and agreed procedures.
• Supervise the day-to-day management of the litigation portfolio, including assignment of tasks, review of work product, and quality assurance.
• Management of Litigation Matters
• Supervision of and ensuring that all court filings, processes, and statutory deadlines are met within stipulated time frames and that appropriate records are maintained.
• Supervising the management and maintenance of timely notifications and filings upon receipt of required information from external counsel, courts, and other external sources.
• Provide timely and quality legal advice to successfully analyse and resolve issues.
• Perform other duties, as assigned by the Acting Head of Legal and/or the General Counsel.

Key Requirements

Education and Work Experience:

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from an accredited university.
• Barrister-at-Law (B.L) from the Nigerian Law School.
• Master of Laws (LL.M) or an MBA is preferred.
• Professional Call:
• Must be duly called to the Nigerian Bar.

Years of Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years and above post-call experience (PQE) in litigation and dispute resolution.
• A substantial portion of this must be core, hands-on commercial litigation experience, preferably split between a top-tier Nigerian law firm and an in-house corporate role.
• Proven experience managing a litigation portfolio and supervising a team of legal professionals.

Key Certifications (Advantageous):

• Membership in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb Nigeria) is highly advantageous.
• Technical Knowledge:
• Deep mastery of the Civil Procedure Rules of Nigerian High Courts, the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.
• Extensive knowledge of Nigerian case laws, court processes, and the Nigerian Legal System.
• Deep knowledge and experience in Constitutional law, courtroom presentation, and negotiation procedures.
• Thorough understanding of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and industry-specific regulations.
• Extensive knowledge of dispute resolution processes, including mediation and arbitration.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws.
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory issues in a manufacturing and refinery environment.
• Knowledge of Oil and Gas law (particularly Midstream operations) is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of Maritime law and admiralty practice is an added advantage.
• Experience in real estate law, occupational safety, and regulatory law is an added advantage.
• Experience in arbitration (domestic and international) is an added advantage.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office and legal research tools.
• Soft Skills and Core Competencies 
• Exceptional Advocacy and Drafting: The ability to spot gaps in complex legal briefs and confidently interface with top-tier SANs.
• Crisis Management: Composure under pressure when confronted with sudden freezing orders (Mareva injunctions), regulatory penalties, or emergency litigation situations.
• Commercial Acumen: Understanding that a legal victory is meaningless if it costs the company more than the settlement value. Ability to balance legal strategy with business objectives.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to drive, motivate, and develop a team of legal professionals.
• Strong interpersonal skills for working with legal professionals, business units, and clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Has integrity and sound professional ethics.
• Has an eye for detail and is an excellent team player.
• Excellent time management and planning skills.
• Very good analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Functional Competencies:

• Strong ability to manage and oversee litigation and dispute resolution processes, including case evaluation, strategy development and mitigation of legal exposure.
• Expertise in drafting pleadings, legal opinions, settlement agreements and dispute-related documentation, ensuring accurate representation of the company’s position.
• Proven capability to assess litigation and regulatory risks and provide practical, commercially sound legal advice to support decision-making.
• Effective management and supervision of external counsel, ensuring alignment with company strategy, timelines and cost efficiency.
• Sound understanding of applicable laws, court procedures and regulatory frameworks relevant to dispute resolution, including interaction with regulatory authorities.
• Strong ability to negotiate and resolve disputes through settlement or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms where appropriate.
• Ability to analyse complex legal issues and translate them into clear, actionable recommendations for management.
• Behavioural and Soft Skills
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• High level of commercial awareness, with the ability to balance legal risk with business priorities.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal teams, management and external parties.
• Clear and effective communication skills, including the ability to present complex legal issues in a simple and structured manner.
• High level of integrity, professionalism and sound judgment, with strict adherence to confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple disputes and competing priorities.
• Collaborative approach, with the ability to work across functions and support team development.