Lawyer - West/Central Africa

Position: Legal Counsel / Company Lawyer

Location: Flexible within Africa (Preference for candidates with experience in West & Central Africa) Travel expected 

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Lawyer to join our team, supporting our operations across West and Central Africa. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of working with manufacturing, trading, or industrial companies, providing legal oversight across multiple jurisdictions, and ensuring full compliance with regional regulations and international business standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on all aspects of company operations, including contracts, trade agreements, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution.

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts (supply, distribution, manufacturing, JV, agency, and service agreements).

• Ensure company compliance with local laws, import/export regulations, and corporate governance frameworks across West and Central African markets.

• Support cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate structuring.

• Advise management on labour, tax, and trade law matters affecting the companys operations.

• Coordinate with external counsel and regulatory authorities where required.

• Manage risk mitigation strategies and ensure proper contract enforcement and dispute management.

• Provide legal training and policy updates to internal teams.

Requirements

• Law Degree (LLB) and admission to practice in at least one African jurisdiction.

• Minimum 710 years of post-qualification experience, ideally in an industrial, trading, or manufacturing environment.

• Proven experience working in West and/or Central Africa (countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Côte dIvoire, Cameroon, DRC, Congo-Brazzaville, etc.).

• Strong understanding of international trade, commercial law, and corporate compliance.

• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills with attention to detail.

• Ability to operate independently and make pragmatic, business-oriented legal decisions.

• Fluency in English is required; French proficiency is a strong advantage.

• Experience liaising with government authorities and cross-border legal teams is preferred.