General Counsel

Job description / Role

Providing legal counsel to the Executive Management Team on management and control of legal and corporate affairs. To support internal departments through legal consulting including contracting, due diligence, litigation and ensure adherence to legal provisions and protection of company rights.

• To discuss and approve Company legal and regulatory matters
• To resolve any legal issue faced by the Department Heads and advise on legal risks
• To provides guidance on legal matters to legal offices inside and outside Kuwait
• To represent Company in court and other regulatory bodies

Key Strategic Responsibilities:

• Works closely with the Executive Management Team and other Department Heads to identify the key organizational strategic priorities and establishes the Legal department’s short and long term strategy
• Conceptualises mandates for improving departmental functioning and establishes the policy framework, standards, operating procedures and manuals to guide the long-term effectiveness of the Legal Department
• Develops the annual plan for the department to drive implementation and guides execution
• Participates and provides inputs in various control, governance and advisory committees, as applicable to the role

Managerial Responsibilities:

• Forecasts the Legal budgets in conjunction with the organizational budget and secures subsequent approval, tracks expenses and ensures adherence
• Finalizes the manning needs of the department and obtains requisite approvals
• Manages the team under Legal department by evaluating the performance of team members, provides feedback on an on-going basis, identifies development needs and coaches them to ensure on-going capability development
• Identifies training needs and organizes trainings for the department on various aspects on which the role holder has responsibilities

Core Responsibilities:

• Reviews and guides the drafting of the standard legal documents / agreements / contracts
• Liaises with and prepares briefs for lawyers and external counsels whenever required, to handle Company's legal matters
• Clarifies specific legal issues referred to the Legal Department by other divisions within Company and counsels them on appropriate resolution(s)
• Reviews, drafts and validates all financial, leases, franchise, distribution, construction, IT and other contractual agreements to ensure that they are in compliance with the legal provisions
• Maintains a record of all Corporate and Commercial documents, agreements, property papers and rights agreements etc. including certified copies obtained from various authorities in safe custody
• Creates long term compliance strategies and establishes compliance-related standards and procedures that support legal and operational compliance with all laws, regulations, policies and procedures and ensures adherence
• Prepares and present reports (as required) to the Executive Management Team to appraise them of the progress of compliance initiatives and keep them abreast of significant decisions, legislation and regulatory rulings that may affect the Group’s business or policy
• Reviews and analyses pan-organizational operating policies, processes and procedures and establishing adequate controls to minimize the legal risk from a corporate transactions perspective (such as Recruitment Process, Procurement Process, Labour laws, Intellectual Property and Copyrights etc.).
• Oversees the provision of legal opinion and counsel on Financing and Corporate transactions in line with policies and procedures and provides legal approvals in order to minimise financial, legal and reputational risks
• Maintains a panel of lawyers / counsellors to solicit advice on matters outside the Kuwait jurisdiction
• Ensures adequate representation for Company in legal proceedings and guides the senior management on the most optimal course of action on complex litigations and high value recovery cases to safeguard organizational interests at all times
• Advises the Executive Management Team on legal matters, emerging trends, developments and risk factors in the external legal environment

Self Management:

• Strives to achieve the highest levels of proficiency on all competencies and skills required to perform the role
• Identifies the training and development requirements for self and agrees on them with the CEO to ensure that the required trainings are arranged and attended
• Sets performance goals in the beginning of the year after discussion with the CEO and ensures that the goals are achieved during the course of the year

Requirements

• Degree in Law

• Additional Management qualification preferred

• Professional qualification or equivalent BAR membership desirable

• Strong English and Arabic language skills (written and spoken)

• 10 - 12 years experience

• 4 – 6 years in a Leadership role

About the Company

MRINetwork provides executive and management search services locally, regionally and throughout the world. We specialise in numerous industries and our clients include small to midsize firms as well as Fortune 500 companies.

MRINetwork is independently owned and a part of Management Recruiters International (MRI). MRI is the largest executive search firm in the country, and enjoys a global reach of over 800 offices. MRI offers a broad range of state-of-the-art services and resources to enable our clients and candidates to successfully fulfill their unique goals.