Chief Spec: Legal Business Partner at Liberty Group South Africa

Purpose

• The primary objective of this role is to provide accountable and expert legal support, delivering comprehensive legal solutions to all Liberty and short-term businesses operating across nine countries in Africa. This involves advising on legal and regulatory requirements, supporting and contributing to documentation, resolving legal issues, and minimizing legal risks. The role ensures legally sound solutions for products, services, and applicable legislation, aligning with and advancing the strategic objectives and goals of each business unit.
• In addition, the role encompasses managing and coordinating the department's legal resources to ensure that all in-country businesses receive adequate legal support.

Key Responsibilities

Exco - Legal Executive for Liberty Africa Insurance

• Serve as a key member of the Liberty Africa Exco, representing GCFL.
• Ensure alignment with the Africa Business Strategy and Legal Strategy to support the business.
• Drive strategy and execution plans with Africa business and the Legal Team.
• Engage with business owners to understand short-term and long-term deliverables.
• Identify business gaps and determine how the Legal team can provide support.

Management

• Manage a team of legal specialists providing legal support and advice to the Liberty Africa business unit, including other African entities.
• Oversee the daily activities of the team, including workflow management, in accordance with agreed service levels with in-country and business units.
• Facilitate the ongoing professional development of the team through informal coaching, training, and formal training where necessary.
• Handle all IR aspects concerning team members in consultation with the Group Counsel and HR department.

New Ways of Working / Leadership Role:

• Serve as Project Manager on the Client Solution Delivery Agile Release Train (ART) for new ways of working in Africa.
• Oversee the execution of Africa strategic objectives delivered by legal risk, compliance, and operations (production fixes and small enhancements) teams.
• Ensure teams deliver value-adding features, operational efficiencies, and maintain a model citizen perspective from regulatory, customer, and employee viewpoints.
• Embed a risk management culture within the business.
• Lead/Direct the ART to focus on creating value and driving the overall business strategy.
• Participate as the legal team representative on dependencies required by other teams/ARTs for overall legal support/advice on project-specific matters for all countries.

Additional Key Responsibilities

Specialist Legal Services

• Maintain expert knowledge on relevant legislative amendments, industry best practices, and provide proactive, holistic advice and solutions to stakeholders across all jurisdictions in Africa.
• Understand and apply relevant legal requirements in providing advice, training, contracts, projects, and product development for each African business.
• Stay updated on new and emerging legislation and regulatory changes, conduct impact assessments, and manage/oversee implementation for each business.
• Manage legal risks in company policies and procedures for each business in Africa.
• Oversee the management of legal costs, litigation, and legal advice when utilizing external attorneys in-country.
• Draft, review, and manage contracts, policies, and service level agreements.
• Provide oversight on contract management in each country.
• Address general legal queries and advice, including but not limited to insurance matters.
• Research complex legal issues and provide input into business projects.
• Advise on legal components related to new and existing products and services.
• Lobby and provide input to in-country regulators on legislation.
• Deliver exceptional service through proactive, innovative, and appropriate legal solutions.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with stakeholders, including external attorneys and Group Legal Services, to ensure access to expert opinions on specialist areas of law.
• Translate strategies into actionable goals, executing relevant projects/initiatives aligned with strategic objectives, and implementing performance measures and control systems to track progress.
• Identify and communicate current and anticipated legal issues or risks.
• Assist and support the Group Legal Divisional Executive.
• Contribute to a TCF service excellence culture, fostering positive relationships and providing opportunities for feedback and exceptional service.
• Provide legal analysis and opinions on legislative and regulatory requirements related to in-country businesses.
• Draft and vet legal agreements, ensuring contracts are legally appropriate and meet commercial needs.
• Standardize legal documentation, balancing business and legal requirements pragmatically.
• Conduct legal analysis, draft contracts, and execute legal documentation for in-country projects.
• Proactively monitor new in-country legislation (long-term and general insurance) to manage legislative risks and opportunities.
• Review and advise on ongoing changes in regulatory environments.
• Prepare reports for Liberty Africa Exco and related forums.
• Assist in managing in-country litigious matters.

Key Skills

• Strong commercial thinking and business acumen, with a clear understanding of the organization's commercial objectives.
• Expert knowledge of legislation and regulations affecting the financial services sector.
• Proven ability to effectively manage relationships with team members and internal clients.
• Capacity to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Proficiency in providing technical guidance when necessary.
• Ability to provide assistance to legal dispute resolution team to resolve disputes.

Minimum Experience

• 8 - 10 years experience in a similar environment, of which 2 - 3 years at senior specialist level

Additional Minimum Experience

• Experience in handling legal matters across multiple African countries.
• Proven track record of providing strategic legal support to senior management and executive teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or a higher qualification.
• Admitted attorney or advocate.
• Extensive knowledge and a thorough understanding of retirement funds, insurance, and the financial services industry.
• Proven management experience.
• Expert knowledge of relevant financial services legislation.
• Comprehensive understanding and detailed knowledge of retirement fund and insurance products.