Legal Counsel Africa

Job Description

Philips is a world leading health technology company with a vision to make life better for people worldwide through meaningful innovation. Making good on this promise depends on our passionate, inspirational, collaborative and diverse team. We have over 80,000+ brilliant people around the world but are always looking for more like-minded, motivated, focused minds to join us in creating a healthier, more connected society while transforming themselves personally and professionally.

Philips Africa comprises all 54 countries of Africa, from the Cape to Cairo, and from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Philips Africa is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa and it has a direct presence in four other African countries, in the cities of Accra, Casablanca, Cairo and Nairobi.

Currently we have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic Legal Counsel Africa to join our team and to be based in Woodmead Johannesburg.

You will be reporting to the Head of Legal META (Middle East, Turkey and Africa).

As a Leal Counsel for Africa you will be responsible for providing general business legal advice or legal advice in a specialized area to management from a country or international context.

You will provide general business legal advice or legal advice in a specialized area. You will anticipate on business developments, and provide the necessary (preventive) conditions. You will involve the legal expertise of other legal experts either internally e.g. Corporate Legal or the Legal Counsel of the involved country, or from external legal experts.

You will anticipate on business developments and prevent potential future legal risks. Advise business management on legal implications of transactions, organizational developments, etc., and manages legal projects as an individual contributor.

You are responsible for

• Providing legal advice to business that can be defined or established within the clear definition of the law.

• Arranging and administers draft standard agreements or contracts.

• Provides research, factual information, counsel, and guidance on straightforward legal questions or issues.

• Assisting in the preparation of cases for litigation, reviewing complex documents relating to transactions in which the company is to participate.

• Working on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors. The development of the solution requires a multi-disciplinary approach and knowledge of principles, theories and concepts.

• Formulating the solution for (technical) partial problems that cannot be found by combining previous experiences but by composing newly acquired knowledge.

• May lead multi-disciplinary change projects, managing a number of people. Works independently and provides consultative advice within specific functional areas.

• Introducing methods/procedures that are new for the organization.

• Applying advanced process principles to multiple tasks. Proficient in area of specialization and contributes in other disciplines. Determines feasibility of concepts or projects. Has basic knowledge of related disciplines.

• Provide business integrity trainings and compliance trainings to employees across the continent of Africa.

To succeed in this role, you should have the following skills and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, LLB

• Minimum 10 years of related experience post articles.

• Admitted attorney. 

• Theoretical knowledge of legal affairs across the African continent (a must have)

• Good legal experience from a reputable law firm or corporate

• Experience in drafting distribution agreements and non-standard contract templates.

• Good understanding project related contracts like MES Contract, PFI Contract and PPP Contracts.

• Acts as ‘main collecting point’ for the day-to- day issues.

• Career-level professionals, who are fully qualified, experienced professionals.

• A seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of area of specialization; resolves a wide range of issues in creative ways.

• Has a complete knowledge of company products and services.

• Frequently interacts with customers, and/or functional peer group managers, normally involving matters between functional areas, other company divisions or units, or customers and the company.

• Often must lead a cooperative effort among members of a project team.

• Handles straightforward contracts, including routine revisions.

• Arranges tailor-made contracts, often derived from a standard model.

• Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors.

• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

• Networks with senior internal and external personnel in own area of expertise.

• Arranges standard contracts.

• Results are checked by Senior Legal Counsel.

• Normally receives little instruction on day-to-day work, general instructions on new assignments.

In return, we offer you

A meaningful career, with new challenges in our dynamic organization, working in an encouraging multinational and multicultural environment. We are happy to provide you with this opportunity to work with new technologies. You will be surrounded by passionate and committed, colleagues who share your ambition to create outstanding customer experiences. Your work will be ambitious and full of opportunities for growth. Variety and challenge will be part of your daily routines.

Employment Equity

The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.