Legal Counsel

Job Summary The job holder is responsible for providing legal support to Absa Bank (Seychelles) Limited and will be based in Mauritius. The role operates under a dual reporting model combining functional oversight from the Head of Legal (Indian Ocean) and local reporting to the Managing Director / Chief Risk Officer of Absa Bank Seychelles Ltd. Whilst the role operates within the broader Indian Ocean Legal team model based in Mauritius, the job holder may be required to travel to Seychelles as and when required. The role provides broad-based legal support across Personal & Private Banking (PPB) and Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Human Capital, Compliance, Sourcing and Procurement contracts, litigation and disputes, including the identification, management and reporting of legal risks across Absa Seychelles. Responsibilities Actively identify, manage and report legal risks across key areas of responsibility. Provide legal advice, opinions, drafting and negotiation of legal and contractual documentation. Support litigation and dispute management including debt recovery. Support business initiatives and project delivery. Provide training to Business Units in key areas of law affecting business operations. Participate in key committees. Provide legal input on employment and Human Capital-related matters where required. Provide legal support to Business Units at meetings with other banks and/or clients. Remain up-to-date with the latest legal developments and ensure legal advice is current and correct. Instruct and liaise with external counsel regarding legal advice, opinions, and cost management. Manage litigation matters, liaise with external counsel, review pleadings and case strategy, and monitor progress. Ensure accurate internal reporting and tracking of litigation matters. Contribute to early identification and mitigation of dispute-related risks. Monitor compliance of the legal risk control framework and report breaches promptly. Act on legal risks notified in the legal risk reports to enable mitigation. Provide legal input on draft bills, regulatory documents, and regulations issued by governmental departments and/or regulatory bodies. Identify and meet management information requirements for measurement of legal risk exposure, key legal issues and trends. Ensure all activities comply with regulatory requirements, Enterprise Wide Risk Management Framework, and internal policies. Participate in the development and provision of training on legal risk issues for stakeholders and business units. Role / Person Specification Preferred Education Law Degree with at least 7 years of post-qualified legal work experience in a law firm or in-house banking team. Preferred Experience Qualified Lawyer – admitted attorney or barrister. At least 7 years’ post-qualified experience as an in‑house legal counsel in a financial institution or at least 7 years working experience in a reputable law firm. Knowledge of Banking and Finance law, Commercial law, Contract law, Employment law, Data Protection Act. Experience in litigation and dispute resolution and management of litigious matters. Expert working knowledge of banking and relevant documentation. Strong knowledge of Banking Regulation. Experience in managing projects. Sound knowledge of financial services legislation. Knowledge and Skills Excellent verbal and written communication skills. High resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Strong digital proficiency. Highly developed interpersonal skills and stakeholder management. Demonstrated coaching ability. Advanced negotiation skills. Strong analytical capability. Effective presentation skills. Sound risk management capability. Education Bachelor Honours Degree: Law, Military Science and Security (Required). #J-18808-Ljbffr