Main Job Purpose

To provide legal advice to the business and anticipate, identify and manage legal risks that affect the business in Ethiopia and other East African Markets.

Liaising with the BI team on the delivery and implementation of COBP specific structured awareness and training and deliver the Business integrity Agenda as required.

Job Summary

• Partners with line management to identify the options for achieving business objectives within appropriate legal constraints and will advise on the optimal solution, considering cost, risk and commercial consequences, laws and regulations relevant to business operations.
• Provide update on all changes to laws and regulations within the territory of operations.
• Effective management of legal risk e.g. through clear commercial advice to business functions, contract negotiation and documentation, management of litigation, brand-building, labor law brand protection locally, competition/antitrust, training of staff and driving ethical and compliant behavior to drive sustainable growth.
• To manage litigation and dispute resolution by or against the business including management of external counsel and other service providers.
• To attend and support the various business leadership team meetings as well as other legal leadership meetings and support the General Counsel in providing secretarial services to the board(s) of directors of the various Unilever entities and their subsidiaries.
• To oversee and manage activities or transactions affecting property belonging to the business including ensuring compliance with the terms under which title to the property is held.
• To support in the drafting, reviewing, negotiation and finalization of legal documents pertaining to the Unilever business.
• Establishment and implementation of COBP specific structured awareness and training as directed by the BI leadership
• Interface with external regulator
• To advice and respond to queries on arising legal issues affecting the business. 

Job Requirements

Key Requirements

• Qualified solicitor/barrister with at least 6-10 years post-qualification experience as a lawyer. (Formal legal qualifications to practice in Ethiopia, a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Degree )
• Strong commercial law background especially in the negotiation and documentation of commercial contracts. Experience in product liability, Intellectual Property, Employment law, litigation, company secretarial practice, Data and Privacy law.
• Strong inter-personal/communication skills.
• Good analytical skills, able to work confidently and influence decisions.
• Proactive, Strong commercial and pragmatic approach.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. 

Female candidates encouraged to apply

How to Apply

Applicants who fulfill the above criteria can send their non-returnable CVs before the application deadline to Ruth.Tewodros@unilever.com email address referring the position title in the subject line of your email; no photocopies of educational/training certificates are required at this stage; applicant who doesn't follow the required application procedure will automatically be disqualified from the competition.

Please title your application with a subject line: - " Legal Counsel ”

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted