Senior Legal Counsel

AI summary

HBM Nigeria Plc, a leading building solutions company and member of the Huaxin Building Materials Group, is hiring a Senior Legal Counsel to be based in Lagos. The role involves leading litigation and dispute resolution, managing external law firms, drafting and reviewing contracts, providing legal advisory across all business units, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The position requires a seasoned legal professional capable of handling complex commercial, corporate governance, and regulatory matters.

• Senior in-house legal role with litigation, contracts, and compliance responsibilities
• Based in Lagos, Nigeria
• Opportunity to work with a major building solutions company listed on the NGX
• Involves managing external law firms and leading dispute resolution strategy
• Covers broad legal advisory across procurement, commercial, employment, and regulatory matters

Original source description

Senior Legal Counsel at HBM Nigeria Plc (Formerly Lafarge Africa Plc) ⏲ Aug 14, 2026, 5:16 AM ⋕ View all Law & Legal Services jobs HBM Nigeria Plc, formerly known as Lafarge Africa Plc, is a leading Nigerian building solutions company and a member of the Huaxin Building Materials Group, a globally recognized manufacturer of construction materials founded in 1907 and headquartered in Wuhan, China. Listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), HBM Nigeria Plc is actively participating in the urbanisation and economic growth of Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa. We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel Location : Lagos Responsibilities: Litigation, Claims & Dispute Resolutions: Settlement Negotiations: Lead negotiations, mediations and arbitration to achieve favourable out-of-court resolutions. Assist the Legal Director to hire, direct and manage external law firms, setting case strategies, controlling budgets. Claims Management: Investigate and evaluate incoming claims, customer disputes and vendor disagreements before they escalate into formal lawsuits. Proactively prevent litigation and initiate conciliation proceedings and/or litigation when required. Risk Advisory: Counsel senior executives and business units on litigation risks tied to corporate operations and new policies. Draft, Review and advise on contract agreements and ensure they are compliant with all statutory and legal requirements. Litigation Strategy: Coordinate document collection, witness preparation and fact-finding internally to support active legal proceedings. Lead the strategy and handling of active lawsuits, pre-litigation claims, regulatory claims, and regulatory inquiries. Attend Court proceedings and advise prosecutors as the case may be. Proffer and implement legal, practicable and workable solutions to mitigate legal risks, disputes/public complaints while upholding the Company’s legal position and reputation consistent with the values and ethics of Huaxin Group. Assist in obtaining necessary permits and requisite licenses to operate Plants at different locations; Review and advise on all Court Processes and Summons. Legal Business Partner: Provide legal advice to the whole spectrum of the business in procurement, supply, distribution, agency, production, marketing, logistics, finance and commercial, employment matters, compliance, innovation, etc. Liaise with relevant departments to ensure that where legal risks have been identified, appropriate courses of action have been taken. Understand and manage community issues that may have legal implications for the company and advise the Plant Managers or Public Affairs department accordingly. Assist in obtaining necessary permits and requisite licenses to operate Plants at different locations; To provide legal advisory to the Cement, A&C and HBM Eco operations of the Company. Support departments by attending meetings in which legal opinion will be required. Ensure compliance with all relevant laws and any other statutes that may come into effect. Assist in providing legal advisory and opinions to the business operations. Keep abreast of all relevant laws and any other statutes that may come into effect and to formulate strategies/action plans to communicate and ensure compliance by the organization. Render legal opinion and give advice to other departments whenever required. Provide legal support to ensure good and solid relationships with all stakeholders. Provide proactive legal counsel on compliance, corporate governance and other relevant information/matters. Provide timely legal advice on competition, labour and all other commercial law. Conduct regular legal risk assessment of the Cement, A&C and HBM Eco operations and proffer legal recommendations. Commercial & Procurement Contracts Draft Lease/Tenancy Agreements and Confirm Performance Bonds. Provide legal protection and risk management advice to management, especially on contract management. Review all Mortgage, Debenture and Contractual Agreements. Assist with negotiation and finalization of all agreements; Ensure appropriate contracts are in place for all business relationships in line with the Contracts Management policy and procedures. Manage the end-to-end Contract Management System. Conduct due diligence in structuring commercial transactions. Assist in creating standard templates for contracts relevant to the manufacturing sector: technical services, contracts with foreign partners, engineering works, tenancy/lease Agreements, supply of mechanical parts for plants, supplies, consultancies, maintenance agreements, service contracts, warranties, Insurance, Performance Bonds. This would improve our turnaround time for delivering contracts. Also include Safety, determination and commencement clauses, country of arbitration best for the company in all cases etc. Conduct quarterly risk legal assessment of the Company and proffer legal recommendations. Manage and liaise with external legal counsel for legal opinion and external representation where need be. To structure transactions to achieve the Company’s objectives; Develop structured contractual frameworks. Prepare, draft and vet all agreements and liaise with the Group Legal, when necessary. Compliance: Annually cascade HBM Code of Business Conduct and Competition Compliance Programs to existing and new employees. Initiate and implement the Document Retention Policy for filing and archiving documents. Liaise with the Legal Director to ensure that the Cement, A&C and HBM Eco Operations comply with Internal control processes and procedures in accordance with the Huaxin Control Standards, International Legal Reporting Process, as well as the Nigerian corporate governance rules. Conduct Legal Risk, Compliance and Code of Business Conduct trainings among others. Closely follow up on antitrust and competition law issues and keep the Company constantly informed. This list of responsibilities: is not exhaustive, and the job holder may be required to perform duties outside of this as operationally required Requirements: Critical Experience: Minimum of 5 years of post-call experience: dedicated to litigation gained at a top law firm. Work experience: in a multinational business environment or commercial law firm will be an added advantage. Critical Knowledge: Compliance, risk, contract and legal management Advisory and legal support to the business units Vetting and drafting of contracts. Legal and business negotiation. How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply online View all Jobs in Nigeria Lagos State Senior Legal Counsel job vacancies in Nigeria