Legal Officer - First Assurance Kenya

Litigation Management.

• Receiving summons and determining whether liability attaches on the part of the Company.
  
• Appointment of service providers to handle company matters as per policy and maintenance of a register for such appointments.
  
• Reviewing legal claims lodged against our insured’s and engaging third parties in out-of-court negotiations in line with past precedents and set parameters. Always ensuring that adequate reserves are maintained.
  
• Instructions to external lawyers on how the cases are to be handled.
  
• Reviewing correspondence and opinions from external lawyers and advising management.
  
• Engage in pre-trial briefings & in conjunction with external lawyers prepare witnesses for court attendance.
  
• Responding to advocates correspondence and ensuring up to date information is in each file.
  
• Reviewing judgments and recommending settlement or appeals. Making sure that adequate reserves are maintained.
  
• Receiving summons to enter appearance and plaint from our insured’s and distributing the same to our panel of external advocates.
  
• Negotiating matters out of court and keeping registers of such matters.
  
• Periodically review legal files to ensure accurate reserves are maintained and to ensure the files are up to date.
  
• Handling the Company’s recoveries from third parties and other insurance companies by instituting suits or out of Court negotiations and follow up thereof.
  
• Ensuring payments are raised in good time, authorized, and forwarded to Finance Department. Follow up on judgment payments to avoid executions.
  
• Preparing legal reports & opinions.
  
• Pursue Third Party recoveries for the Company.
  
• Distributing the work coming into the claims legal department ensuring that all mails are actioned.
  
• Approving all discharge vouchers and judgments as per the approval limits
  
• Reviewing the external advocates fees to ensure that the fee notes are raised as per remuneration order.
  
• Providing legal advice, opinion and assistance on all legal claims matters to the management.
  
• Attending court hearing on behalf of the organization as and when required.
  
• Ensure Status Reports from service providers are received as per the guidelines.
  
• Prepare monthly reports and any other report that may be requested.
  

Policy development and advisory

• Review internal policies, procedures, and other documentation to make sure they are compliant with statutory and regulatory requirements.
  
• Help management with the interpretation and application of laws and regulations.
  
• Conduct proactive research on any pertinent legal issues and provide strategic legal guidance on the same.
  
• Monitor and communicate relevant changes in regulatory, corporate, and other applicable laws which may impact the business.
  

Regulatory compliance

• Support management in the proactive identification and mitigation of legal, regulatory, and business risks.
  
• Liaise with relevant departments to ensure that where legal risks have been identified, appropriate courses of action are taken.
  
• Monitor and communicate relevant changes in regulatory, corporate, and other applicable laws which may impact the business.
  
• Provide support on the operational areas with day-to-day regulatory insurance compliance issues.
  
• Provide required support in the preparation of the department’s monthly and quarterly reports for executive management meetings and Board meetings.
  
• Timely response to IRA matters and attend meetings as and when required.
  

Operations

• Providing continuous leadership, supervision, training, and development of the legal department staff to ensure an effective and motivated team.
  
• Ensure maintenance of documentation and legal databases.
  
• Ensure biannual review of all outstanding liability claims.
  

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) from a recognized institution.
  
• Certified Public Secretary (CPS) with a valid and current Practicing Certificate issued under the Certified Public Secretaries Act.
  
• Must be an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid and current practicing certificate.
  
• A registered member of the Law Society of Kenya in good standing.
  
• At least 3 years’ experience legal practice in Insurance/financial institution with experience in Commercial Law, Litigation and Conveyance