Junior Legal Counsel (Commercial & Corporate) - Nairobi, Kenya

JUNIOR LEGAL COUNSEL (COMMERCIAL & CORPORATE) - NAIROBI, KENYA We are looking for a skilled Junior Legal Counsel and Company Secretary to join our team and provide comprehensive legal, commercial, regulatory, and company secretarial support across our group operations. You will be based in Nairobi, reporting directly to the Group Chief Executive Officer, and will be instrumental in managing our day-to-day legal affairs, contract administration, litigation matters, corporate governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, and legal risk management strategies. This role encompasses support for the Group's diverse portfolio, including upstream oil and gas activities, specialized waste management operations, multiple subsidiaries, special purpose vehicles, and related corporate entities. You will work at the intersection of legal expertise and business strategy, ensuring that all operations remain compliant, well-governed, and protected from legal exposure. WHAT YOU WILL DO You will provide pragmatic legal guidance to leadership on corporate, commercial, regulatory, employment, contractual, and operational matters. Your contract management responsibilities will include drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements, operational contracts, procurement documents, service agreements, and other business-critical contracts. You will assess contractual risks, manage claims and liabilities, advise on variations and renewals, and guide dispute resolution approaches. You will support the full lifecycle of litigation, claims, disputes, and arbitration proceedings, coordinating with external legal advocates as needed. As Company Secretary, you will facilitate Board and shareholder meetings, prepare resolutions and minutes, maintain statutory registers and corporate records, and ensure all filings meet legal requirements. You will advise the Board and management team on corporate governance principles, directors' duties, company law obligations, and statutory compliance matters. Your compliance responsibilities will involve monitoring and advising on legal and regulatory requirements, including licensing, permits, and sector-specific obligations. You will extend legal and regulatory support to renewable energy operations, upstream oil and gas ventures, mining activities, and waste management initiatives. You will also serve as the primary legal resource for subsidiaries, special purpose vehicles, joint ventures, and other corporate entities, providing guidance on corporate, contractual, and regulatory issues. You will manage relationships with external legal advisors, oversee external legal matters, and monitor legal costs. Additionally, you will identify emerging legal, contractual, regulatory, and compliance risks for management review, develop and maintain legal templates and policies, and establish robust legal documentation systems. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR You must hold an LLB degree and be admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, with current membership in the Law Society of Kenya. A qualification as a Company Secretary and membership in the Institute of Certified Secretaries is highly preferred. You bring a minimum of three years of professional experience as a Legal Counsel, with substantive expertise in renewable energy, oil and gas, mining, or waste management sectors. You have demonstrated strength in commercial contract management, litigation support, corporate governance, company secretarial functions, and regulatory compliance. You have supported subsidiaries, special purpose vehicles, joint ventures, or been involved in corporate transactions. You possess a strong grasp of the legal and regulatory landscape governing renewable energy, oil and gas, mining, and waste management sectors. Exposure to upstream oil and gas operations represents a valuable advantage. Beyond technical legal knowledge, you bring sound commercial judgment, strong negotiation skills, excellent legal drafting abilities, clear communication, and effective stakeholder management capabilities. You are capable of working independently, solving complex legal problems with a business-focused perspective, and thriving in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.