Legal Officer - First Assurance Kenya

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Job Summary

Responsible for offering legal counsel, Coordinate operations of external advocates, negotiations to ensure settlement of third-party claims, and recovery on behalf of the company.

Job Description

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

Education

Higher Diplomas: Law, Military Science and Security (Required)