Assistant Legal Counsel - Anglophone West Africa at DHL

The Assistant Legal Counsel is a legal professional advising the Express business primarily in Nigeria and Ghana, as well as Liberia, Gambia or Sierra Leone if required, on all legal matters including employment, labour, eCommerce, tax, commercial negotiations, postal regulation and other critical legal areas.

This role is responsible for defining and recommending legal strategies, supervising litigation to mitigate the organization's legal exposure, and working with Legal Counsel, Head of Legal/supervisor and external counsels to establish best-in-class legal processes and procedures to ensure legal risks are identified and mitigated across Anglophone West Africa operations.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Advisory & Risk Management


Advise DHL Express on legal and related risks associated with DPDHL's operations in Anglophone West Africa
Analyse and interpret case law, court reports, and proposed and existing laws and regulations to ascertain how they will impact the organization's operations
Provide first-line legal expertise to DHL Express and other Business Units when requested
Review legal analysis and technical reports, making recommendations on how to respond to legal issues or proposed changes in laws and regulations
Advise business on legal trends and developing areas of law
Implement legal risk mitigation strategies


Contract Management & Corporate Governance


Review and approve legal contracts with customers, suppliers, and partners, including letters of agreement and other documents related to trade, corporate, commercial, financial, regulatory, postal, administrative law, labour/employment, customs and operational matters
Manage loans, leases, purchase agreements, employment contracts and provide internal trainings to protect the organization's legal and business interests
Oversee recapitalization of legal entities in West Africa and all follow-up on corporate documents of DHL affiliates
Ensure organization's legal interests are best represented and protected in customer, vendor and third-party contracts
Actively participate in negotiating contracts in area of responsibility


Litigation & Claims Management


Hold primary responsibility for defending the organization's legal interests in litigation and claims, including management of significant external legal spend in the sub-region
Supervise litigation processes to mitigate legal exposure and protect DHL's interests
Coordinate with external counsels to manage complex legal matters effectively


Financial & Budget Management


Work with supervisor to better manage internal and external legal spend in area of responsibility
Assist with minimizing external legal spend through effective resource management
May assist with budget preparation for legal function


Team Collaboration & Stakeholder Management


Serve as a member of a team responsible for assuring organization's legal interests are protected
Demonstrate ability to adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic business environment
Collaborate with Legal Counsel and Head of Legal to establish best-in-class legal processes and procedures


Minimum Requirements

Experience & Knowledge


2-5 years of legal practice either within a commercial law firm or in-house legal department
Growing understanding of DPDHL's business operations, goals and strategies in area of responsibility
Subject matter expert with ability to apply legal knowledge and expertise in business environment
Anglophone Africa geographical knowledge
Strong analytical skills with ability to assess complex legal issues


Educational Qualification


University law degree (LL.B or equivalent)
Professional law qualifications required
Bar Affiliation appreciated and preferred


Core Competencies & Skills


Excellent written and verbal communication skills - Ability to communicate complex legal matters clearly to non-legal stakeholders
Legal expertise - Deep knowledge in employment, labour, eCommerce, tax, commercial law, postal regulation, customs, and administrative law
Analytical thinking - Strong ability to analyze case law, regulations, and legal documents
Business acumen - Understanding of how legal decisions impact business operations
Negotiation skills - Proven ability to negotiate favorable contract terms
Adaptability - Ability to manage changing priorities and work under pressure
Team collaboration - Works effectively with cross-functional teams and external counsels


Essential Requirements: This role requires a qualified legal professional with strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and the capacity to apply legal expertise in a fast-paced international business environment. Experience in Anglophone Africa and understanding of regional legal frameworks is critical for success.