Regional Legal Advisor - Africa

Role Overview

This Regional Legal Advisor position is based in Zimbabwe and reports directly to the Regional Legal Officer. The role primarily involves offering expert legal counsel and compliance support across multiple African countries including Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Travel within the region will be required to effectively fulfill duties.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough legal research covering corporate governance, operations, accounting, taxation, labor relations, litigation, health and safety, immigration, investment, liquidation, and other relevant legal areas affecting company operations across jurisdictions.
• Collaborate closely with the Regional Legal Officer to interpret laws and devise appropriate legal strategies within the organization’s Operating Guidelines.
• Provide timely and accurate legal advice to top management such as Country Managing Directors, General Managers, and Department Heads on request.
• Engage and coordinate with external legal experts and counsel for specialized matters, ensuring alignment with the Regional Legal Officer.
• Draft and review all legal agreements and contracts, assessing their adequacy and identifying potential risks in conjunction with the Regional Legal Officer.
• Identify and communicate legal risks that could impact company, group, or global agreements.
• Ensure Operating Guidelines compliance prior to signing agreements or contracts.
• Maintain a comprehensive legal case register across the region and manage quarterly litigation reporting through external counsel.
• Monitor litigation processes and collaborate on case strategy development with external attorneys to ensure favorable outcomes.
• Serve as the Local Compliance Manager in Zimbabwe and support compliance managers in other countries as directed by the Regional Legal Officer.
• Work closely with the Corporate Compliance Officer on all compliance-related issues.
• Manage and update company secretarial records ensuring legal compliance, proper director appointments, and timely filing of annual returns.

Qualifications and Experience

• Law degree with admission to the Bar or equivalent certification.
• Membership in a recognized Law Society.
• Minimum 3 to 5 years practice experience either at a well-regarded law firm or within a multinational corporate legal setting.
• Demonstrated expertise in Corporate and Commercial Law, Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Debt Collection, Labour Law, Company Secretarial responsibilities, Contract Drafting, and Taxation.

Required Skills

• Strong analytical capabilities with keen attention to detail.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with AI-driven legal tools such as Copilot or similar technologies.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and work independently with minimal supervision.