Legal Assistant / Para-legal (East & Central Africa)

The closing date for this role will be 13th March 2014.

JOBSUMMARY:

• Providing reliable and resourceful legal and business advice on a broad spectrum of areas including contracts, trademarks – working in collaboration with the Legal Function’s subject matter experts to associates and management with respect to day to day operations;
• Reviewing and making recommendations with regard to all marketing and promotional materials for the East & Central Africa region under CEWA Business Unit, managing applications for new trademarks and challenges to infringements;
• Management of various legal databases within the function and ensuring constant update thereof and availability of relevant and necessary information to enable the function adequately support the business;
• Provide, where necessary, support in preparing training material to drive appropriate training to associates and management in relation to compliance, governance, litigation, trademarks, policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with outside counsel in relation to specific litigation matters by supporting Operations Counsel in setting clear objective, defining a strategic direction, reviewing work product for quality assurance, securing evidence, and providing ongoing information to outside counsel in order to ensure that objectives are fully met, and at all times keeping line manager and relevant management fully informed of all relevant developments on all such matters.
• Provide support to Operations Counsel in legal and company secretarial support to CEWA subsidiaries and associated entities as may be required. Provide legal language support to Operations Counsel for contract drafting and communication for the East & Central Africa Franchises.

KEYDUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Drafting contracts, memoranda and other documents of a contractual nature, procuring drafted contracts in local language and confirming local law compliance, negotiating the terms with related parties to minimize Company’s legal risks - 30%
2. Reviewing and making recommendations with regard to all marketing and promotional materials for the East and Central Africa region under CEWA BU, managing applications for new trademarks and challenges to infringements. - 30%
3. Management of various legal databases within the function and ensuring constant update thereof and availability of relevant and necessary information to enable the function adequately support the business; - 20%
4. Coordinating and managing litigation matters involving the Company with outside counsel and making every effort to prevent litigation - 5%
5. Supporting internal trainings on a variety of areas including compliance, governance, litigation, trademarks, policies and procedures to help foster a strong culture of compliance and good governance within the Business Unit. - 5%
6. Work closely with the various function teams to support compliance with Company policies and implement routines to ensure system alignment is achieved. - 5%
7. Working on processes to ensure having a more efficient and productive way of doing business - 5%


COMMUNICATION COMPLEXITIES: 
Need to communicate to diverse business clients in the BU, EAG, the Legal Function and Corporate Licensing, Trademarks as may be necessary as well as outside counsel and other Vendors. Support to Operations counsel role in Coca-Cola Juices (K) Limited a CBO in Kenya.

ANALYSIS: 
Basic and mid-level complex contracts; regional statutory compliance; short and long-term supply arrangements; employment-related matters; IP rights including trademark matters; consumer complaints, disputes with external parties.

JUDGMENT AND DECISION MAKING: 
The role requires a solid knowledge of the law and a good working understanding of basic commecral practices. Decisions are made with respect to contractual obligations, statutory requirements and issues on intellectual property which require a sound legal mind with ability to appreciate all factors including those unidentifiable by the business team. The role would be required to hold fort on certain basic tasks done by Operations Counsel in the absence of the Operations Counsel.

INNOVATION:
Creative ways of approaching issues, improving existing processes and policies and offering solutions and improvements where necessary, including keeping abreast with changes in the law that affect business operations. Review systems and process of data management and suggest improvements.

QUALIFICATIONS / COMPENTENCIES / SKILLS: 

Degree in Law from a recognized university
Good written and spoken communication skills
Good working knowledge of company and commercial law, litigation, intellectual property and corporate governance principles and a basic appreciation of competition, consumer and employment law.
Attention to detail and problem solving abilities.
Analytical Thinking
Influencing Skills
Planning & Organising
Delivers Results
Imports and Exports Good Ideas
Lives the Values ( integrity, sets an example)

RELATED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS/ QUALIFICATIONS: 2 – 3+ years post-qualification experience in a busy corporate environment or law firm.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 
University/Bachelors degree - (Law Degree) with membership in good standing of Bar Association - Mandatory
University/Advanced degree - Optional
Postgraduate/Masters degree - Optional

CULTURAL DIVERSITY: English – Fluent written and spoken business and legal.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Office. No known hazards.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Limited travel within the BU (20%)

APPLY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 
East & Central Africa encompasses the majority of the Countries in East & Central Sub Saharan Africa and the franchises have some of the fastest growing and/or highest potential economies on the continent and account for about 50% of the BU Volume. The evolving structure for the legal function in CEWA provides for a Legal assistant reporting to the Operations Counsel – East & Central Africa, who has potential to grow into the Operations Counsel role over time. Besides knowledge on a broad range of legal topics such as corporate, litigation, employment, data protection, IP etc, acting as a business partner of other functions is expected.

At The Coca-Cola Company you can cultivate your career in a challenging and dynamic environment. We are the largest manufacturer and distributor of nonalcoholic drinks in the world-selling more than 1 billion drinks a day. Unlock your full potential with a future-focused company that is known and respected throughout the world.