British American Tobacco is all about freedom of choice - whether it’s our people or our products. Combined with our entrepreneurial spirit, it’s what’s driven our phenomenal success. We started trading tobacco over a hundred years ago. Today, we’re a multibillion dollar company with more than 200 brands in our portfolio. With robust positions in each of our regional markets, our future looks equally bright too.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Operations & Litigation Counsel
Job Number: 31694 Location: Lagos, Nigeria (frequent weekly/monthly trips to Ibadan required)
Reports to: Head of Legal, West & Central Africa
Reporting Level: Senior Level
Geographic Scope: Nigeria
Function: Legal
Role Positioning And Objectives
This role is part of Legal & External Affairs function.
The role is responsible for providing legal and advisory support to all the core functions at the Factory; Manufacturing, Engineering, Finance, HR, IDT, EHS, Quality, R&R, Procurement, and Supply Chain & Logistics.
In addition, we are looking for someone who leads and superintends over the Litigation portfolio of the Company, collaborates closely with and handles all external counsel providing legal representation and collaborates with all partners on driving the objectives of litigation avoidance and litigation mitigation measures.
What You Will Be Accountable For
Ensure the provision of OTIF (On Time in Full) legal support to drive a ‘zero litigation against the Company’ strategy
Manage external Litigation counsel
Update and manage the Litigation tracker
Review Litigation Processes
Manage and engage BAT witnesses and partners in preparation for trial
Work towards improvement in the control environment (ABAC, SoBC, Federal and State Legislations and Company Policies) in order to mitigate litigation risks.
Draft, negotiate and review contractual documentation for all functions within Operations and develop where applicable standard formats, to ensure that the Company’s interests are protected through legal, valid, binding and enforceable contractual Agreements.
Provide legal advice on all matters
Ensure contracts are renewed as and when necessary and terminated as applicable.
Provide active support to the Operations Human Resources Dept on all pre, during and post-employment matters including industrial relations
Review all demand notices from the Federal, State and Local Governments and agencies and provide appropriate advice and mentorship to the Company.
Effective management of BAT’s relationships with Third Party Vendors and Government Authorities and Agencies
Ensure Business Operating Procedures are rigorously adhered to and cost management drivers are implemented.
Ability to identify and engage internal and external partners to build awareness of ‘a zero-litigation strategy’
Essential Experience, Skills And Knowledge
A lawyer with:
Professional legal qualifications and practical commercial, business and legal experience of not less than 10 (ten) years.
Ability to formulate, advise on and implement legal strategy within a multinational business context
Working knowledge of commercial law, company law and company secretarial management, finance, tax, employment law
Dispute resolution skills
Ability to work well as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
Ability to manage and direct external litigation counsel and BAT’s witnesses.
Experience in collaborating with government and regulatory authorities
Ability to apply knowledge of legal drafting to produce standard business critical agreements and adapt creatively where necessary, and proactively communicate legal concepts to business colleagues in clear, simple terms.