Legal Counsel - Litigation at Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited

Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited is a leading integrated energy company committed to advancing energy security and industrialisation across Nigeria and the African continent through sustainable and innovative solutions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Legal Counsel - Litigation

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Individual Contributor or Supervisor Role: Individual Contributor

Job Purpose

• The Legal Counsel Litigation is primarily accountable to the Managing Counsel – Litigation and provides day to day management of litigation matters to support risk reduction and effective dispute resolution.
• The role requires deep technical competence and significant practical experience handling high risk litigation, arbitration, and other contentious matters for Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and its affiliates.
• The candidate will interface with internal departments to identify and oversee the collation of materials and witnesses’ preparation for the defence and prosecution of litigations which include High risk matters.
• The candidate will work with External counsel firms to ensure best representation for Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and its affiliates in these litigations to formulate and execute fit for purpose strategies that mitigate threats to the personal liberty of staff, financial, and reputational risks arising from litigations.
• The candidate will be accountable for developing and executing case management strategies and coordinating internal and external stakeholders to achieve outcomes that safeguard business interests and deliver value.
• The Legal counsel will also contribute to horizon scanning for developments in the industry and growth opportunities; sharing of learnings from Litigations with the business for process improvements and to maintain a litigation avoidance culture in the company, contribute to the Team’s sundry reporting responsibilities; relationship management with internal and external stakeholders, all geared towards delivering litigation outcomes that support achievement of business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing more than 120 Contract, Commercial, Community, Employment, Tax, land compensation, oil spill, gas‑flare impact, and other sundry disputes, carrying significant financial exposure of circa USD 4 billion and substantial operational and reputational risks.
• Oversees cases filed, some of which pose substantial risks to business continuity, operations, and staff safety both in Nigeria and internationally.
• Accountable for articulating and supervising implementation of approved matter management strategies with External counsel firm, including ensuring regular updates to Legal leadership on the status of the matters, and prompt payments to external counsel firms and experts engaged in the matters.
• The role requires close engagement with cross‑functional leaders to secure necessary resources—such as witnesses and documentation—for effective case assessment and management, including recommending settlements where appropriate.
• Identifying critical legal issues and strategic business options based on complex and ambiguous data.
• Supports the Managing Counsel – Litigation in providing updates and analyses to senior leadership, including the MD/CEO and CFO, particularly on high-risk litigation matters.
• Drives Ethics and Compliance implementation in the assigned matters and generally supports the Ethics & Compliance Team in staff training as and when required.
• Providing strategic advice on litigation and arbitration procedure, Tactics and Dispute clauses.
• Collaborating with and influencing senior internal and external stakeholders with diverse cultural backgrounds, with ability to adapt style and communication technique for different stakeholders.
• Drawing the attention of management to legal implications of significant development, rulings, decisions and case resolutions in a proactive, timely and business-oriented manner.
• Act as Legal representative in the Emergency Response Team as and when assigned to support the management of crisis as may arise in Company operations.
• Provide Renaissance Ethics and Compliance (E&C) trainings to staff, identify and advise on E&C issues that arise in Litigation management, espouse Renaissance’s Business Principles and be committed to continuous improvement.
• Adopting a learner mindset to maximise our performance, live our values, grow trust in Renaissance, inspire and engage.
• Drafting and reviewing pleadings and other court papers, collating evidential materials, preparing witnesses and attending court proceedings.
• Seeking challenge and setting stretch targets for own performance, and supporting and collaborating with other lawyers, oversee Paralegals and support staff.
• Encouraging and contributing to a team culture of strong performance, collaboration and an enterprise first mentality. 

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree from a reputable institution
• This position requires a very experienced lawyer (at least 10 years PQE) with minimum 8 years’ experience in hands-on management of high-level and complex litigation matters, including drafting pleadings (desirable) in a highly rated law firm in Nigeria
• Experience in different forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms disputes involving sovereign states or state-owned entities (desirable)
• Significant experience leading, project managing and/or acting as integrator in a team Problem-solving and decision-making skills with demonstrated sound judgment in sensitive areas and on difficult issues
• Strong team player, collaboration, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to think creatively and develop pragmatic solutions in difficult circumstances and under time constraints
• Ability to influence outcomes without direct authority; lead projects and partner effectively with other legal departments, playing a support role where needed to deliver networked performance.
• Effective oral and written communication across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated resilience and ability to manage unpredictable outcomes in challenging legal environments
• Good external networks within the Disputes professionals and participation in professional bodies including the Nigerian Bar Association.

Special Challenges/Additional Comments:

• Operating within a highly complex and litigious legal environment with increasingly challenging regulatory framework and uncertainty in the judicial processes
• Will be responsible for managing critical high-risk cases arising within responsible geographical boundaries including high profile environmental matters which may also require a significant travelling time
• Developing and managing the implementation of pragmatic solutions for litigation challenges, including case assessment, strategy development, client communication, management of external counsel, recommendation of provisions and disclosures, settlement recommendations and compliance with Renaissance’s policies and procedures relating to settlement authorities, and management of reputational issues.
• High level of interface with staff on litigation matters including providing strategic legal advice to avoid, minimize and manage litigation risks within the assigned portfolio  

Application Closing Date
29th May, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online